To The Empire

Janae pulled Inian into her room in the building she was renting. It was small but had everything she needed.

"What took you so long, Inian?" She asked.

"I've been busy, but I've gotten so much stronger! Look what I can do now!" Inian stretched out his hands and lightning crackled between them. Janae's mouth opened wide, "you are not human anymore."

Inian smiled, "nope! I'm the king, so now I get a whole array of awesome powers."

Janae crossed her arms, "that's just unfair. You could fight against a whole army all on your own."

Inian winked, "I know. What have you been up to all this time? Why did you leave Kraque and Reclusa?"

Janae frowned, "you left me with a couple of giant bugs. I stayed with them for a while, but it drove me mad! Reclusa would go and hunt low-tier monsters for us all to eat, and it was disgusting! I needed people, so I came to this place and got a job. I work as a shop mechanic. My experience in the military working on mechas has helped me out a lot."

Inian said pitifully, "I'm sorry, Janae. Reclusa and Kraque would keep you safe, but I should've been more thoughtful of how you felt about it."

Janae smiled, "I've already forgiven you. By the way, that was quite the entrance you made at the bar."

Inian frowned, "they shouldn't have been threatening you. What did they want with you anyway?"

Janae answered, "that bastard wanted me to join his 'mecha crew' here in town. A lot of the mecha crews here in Preah are hired by Irigia to pilot their own mid to high-tier mechas. Although these crews are more like gangs when they aren't piloting the mecha. I've refused him several times because all he wants is a pretty girl to join his crew. He doesn't care about my abilities as a pilot or mechanic."

"I see," Inian said. "Well, you don't have to worry about them anymore now that I'm here. We can leave and figure out our plans against the Empire."

Janae looked down, "well, you see Inian I don't want to leave here. I like working here. My Kingdom has already been taken over, and there's nothing left for me out there. But I've got a job now, and I enjoy it. I don't want to leave."

Inian's hands clenched, "but Janae! We have a responsibility to fight against them! It was your father's wish! I'm the king! I have a responsibility."

"Do you though? Does my father's wish want our lives as payment? Can't we leave the fight to the leaders of other nations? I'm tired, Inian; I want to stay here and live my life as a mechanic."

Inian stepped back and looked out her window, 'do I need to fight the Empire?'

He watched as a low-tier mecha walked outside the building, 'yes, I do. Marc is still there.'

"I still need to go, Janae, I can't stay here."

Janae sighed, "I understand. However, let me treat you to a farewell drink before you head out."

Inian gave a half-smile, "thanks."

The two left and walked to a different bar than the one Janae was just at. They found a table and talked and drank with one another. Inian told her about his adventures in the monster lands, and Janae told him about her time in Preah.

Suddenly, the radio blared from the bar counter, "BREAKING NEWS! We have just received news that Emporer Kotus has perished in an assassination. The associates involved have been apprehended. A sergeant who was in the position of one of the Emporer's guards has stepped in the new position as Emporer. The leader of the Empire is now Emporer Marc. Listen in tonight for more details!"

Inian paled as he heard Marc's name. He listened to the breaking news broadcast two more times. His palms were sweating, and his eyes were wide. Janae was just as shocked, "wait, is that your Marc? Your brother Marc?!"

Inian was frozen, "I don't know, but I need to go find out for myself immediately."

"Good luck then Inian, this could be the end of the war against the Empire!" Janae followed Inian outside.

Inian sprouted his wings and was about to take off when Janae gave him a peck on the cheek. He froze then smiled. Janae giggled while walking back in the direction of her room. Inian watched her go, and reluctantly jumped into the air.

He didn't want to leave Janae right now, but he needed to see if Marc is the Emporer now. If he is, then the wars can stop, and he would've made his family proud.

Inian only stopped for a few hours a day to find food and rest, but it still took him a couple of weeks to fly to the Aysel palace. After all, Irigia was on the complete opposite side of the continent.

He landed just outside of the city. Inian didn't want to freak anybody out by landing in a crowded area with wings on his back.

He quickly ran up to the main gates, where they checked him for weapons then let him in. Inian chuckled in his mind, 'my whole body's a weapon,' he thought.

Inian quickly found his way to the keep and saw the Emporer's guards standing outside. "Excuse me, gentlemen, but I am here to see Emporer Marc."

The two guards looked him up and down. Inian didn't have any unique clothes on and appeared reasonably common.

"The Emporer is busy, and not seeing anyone right now." Said one of the guards. Inian frowned, "I get that you can't let anybody in, but if you tell him Inian wants to see him, I guarantee that he will let me in."

The guard scoffed, "I don't think so, now leave." Inian's thoughts were becoming frantic. He shouldn't just barge into the keep. That would cause a lot of unnecessary drama.

"Wait, did you just say Inian?" Came a voice from behind him.

Inian turned around to see a beautiful young woman behind him. She looked at Inian with questioning eyes. "Yes! My name is Inian. Why do you ask?"

The woman's eyes returned to normal as her question was answered, "my name is Sophia, and I can get you in to see Emporer Marc. Just follow me."

Inian thanked his luck that this woman knew who he was to Marc and that he was able to get in. The guards let him in when Sophia told them to.

Walking inside, Inian was amazed by the stunning garden. Its beauty was dampened, however, a bit from all the construction going on around the keep.

Sophia led Inian inside the keep through several doors and many corners. They came upon a solid door where Sophia stopped.

"Marc is in there, but he may not be who you remember. He feels different than he used to."

Sophia left, and Inian was left standing with questions. He couldn't wait any longer, however, and opened the large doors.

There, sitting on the throne was Marc, wearing expensive purple and black clothes to accentuate is new status. He was looking at reports and signing papers when he heard the door open.

Marc looked up, and his eyes began watering when he spotted Inian. Tears streaked down Inian's eyes as well, "Marc..."

Marc stood from the throne and ran to Inian. Inian ran forward, and the two embraced one another. They quietly cried tears of joy at their reunion.

"I've been wanting to see you again for so long Inian," Marc said. "I've missed you brother, and I can't believe you're the Emporer now!"

Marc wiped his eyes, "a lot of things happened, come, let's eat and talk!"

Inian realized he was starving and gladly took up his offer.

Marc led him to the dining room where he ordered the cooks to make a grand feast. Inian and Marc sat to eat and talk for hours. They told each other everything that's happened since they last saw each other at the Rye Fort.

"So you have the heart of the king? That gives you incredible strength and all of these abilities?" Marc asked.

Inian nodded, "crazy, right? A lot has been happening while you've been here."

Marc smiled, "that is crazy! It's like we were born to be kings!" Marc stood up and walked to a nearby window, "I've meant to find you and bring you here for the longest time. It's even better now that I hear you can control all the monsters when you become strong enough!"

Inian went and stood next to him, "we can be together again," he began, "we can finally have peace."

Marc looked at him with a craze in his eye, "We can create a lasting peace! With the resources of the Empire and your newfound powers, we can force the whole world to come under the Empire's rule. Then there will be no more wars, no more pain. We can end it all with just a few more lives lost."

Inian wasn't sure he heard Marc right, "What do you mean Marc? Now we can leave the other nations alone and make peace where we are. There doesn't have to be any more lives lost."

Marc shook his head, "it won't last unless the world falls under one rule. Otherwise, history will repeat itself." Marc held out his hand, "us brother's have to stick together in this."

Inian's heart raced as he looked at his brother's hand. "This isn't the way Marc. You know this isn't right."

Marc looked downcast, "I've already done horrible things. Things I haven't told you. There is no turning back for me. This is the only way for lasting peace."

Inian took a step back, "You aren't the same brother I knew who joined a mercenary crew with me. This isn't how our parents raised us."

Marc's face contorted in anger, "you mean my parents. You were adopted. Don't you want to honor their memory by helping their blood son create a lasting peace Inian?! Make the right choice."

Inian's face became angry, but tears streamed down his face at the same time, "this isn't you. I don't know what happened to you, and I'm sorry I couldn't get to you sooner. Forgive me, brother."

Inian walked away from Marc, leaving him with his hand stretched out. "Inian! Don't walk out on me! I need you!" Marc yelled

Inian didn't stop and walked outside. He instantly sprouted wings and flew away, leaving anybody who was watching to gasp in shock.

Inian wiped his eyes while in the air. He didn't care where he was going; he just needed to go as far away as he could.