The Empire of lights

-- POV General --

Night had fallen, the moon was shining in the starry sky and everyone without exception was standing in the throne room waiting for the arrival of the Empress. After a full day of relaxing and enjoying the new city, Freya would finally be crowned.

The last week of the month was spent by Taegen making an outfit for the Empress at the request of the she-wolf. So the preparations for the wedding and the coronation had been taken care of by the teams that weren't building.

The decoration of the throne room was the work of the dryads who had volunteered, supervised by Persea. There were white, black and purple flowers that softened the room because it seemed scarier at night than during the day. Indeed, there was only moonlight coming through the windows illuminating this imposing black and white throne. Simple black flags hung from the pillars on either side of the room. There was no symbol representing the Empire because it had not yet been decided, but their deep color contrasted well with the moonlight.

In the throne room, the door to the reception hall was wide open and there were many tables filled with good food cooked by Irrena and her team. The citizens were all present and at that moment the Empire was completely empty. The entrance had been blocked with the help of the guards' skills, so it was no longer possible to enter. Brambles, roots and a wall of earth prevented anyone from entering during the official ceremony and wedding. As for Ynir, she had used her magic of light based on illusions to try to conceal the entrance as well as possible. The butterfly woman did not yet control a large perimeter but a mystical mist had spread around. Thanks to the various measures that had been taken, no one could leave or enter the Empire on the Empress' orders for the next 2 days.

When one entered this throne room, the first people to be spread out on either side of the red carpet near the entrance were Freya's citizens. She had hardly ever met them again except when they had pledged allegiance because they were not among those who worked with her directly. They made up more than half of the population and had a boundless respect and admiration for the she-wolf, whom they saw almost as a goddess. There were absolutely all the races that were present and working in the city in the different positions that existed, so there were many.

Continuing along the carpet there were all the soldiers of the Empire, standing up straight, hands at their sides, in a line and perfectly placed. They too were numerous and were longing to be able to see the Empress pass the step of this enormous door. These soldiers didn't have uniforms yet, but it was easy to tell which section each one belonged to by the white armbands they had. Depending on the section, a different symbol was in the center of the armband, corresponding to the different commanders. A black flame for Nixia, a red fang for Ralph, a dark blue sword for Emilia, a grey wing for Trioa, a yellow lightning bolt for Luna, a green leaf for Ynir and Persea, a red eye for Thorunn and finally a golden cross for Caipy.

After the soldiers, the line came to an end and approached the throne. On the right side, there were all the female commanders slightly more relaxed because of their positions. They were waiting patiently, looking towards the door, with great excitement in their eyes. For all of them, the Empress was the young woman they respected most in the world and who had brought them all together. These half-human women were ready to follow Freya to the end of the world if she asked and entrust their lives to her if necessary.

On the left side, there were all the other section leaders who, like these commanders, saw the Empress as their protector. Only Taegen was missing, who was finishing up with Freya on the final adjustments to her Imperial outfit.

At the very end of the big red carpet, in front of the small stairs leading to the throne, stood Shiro and Gaya. The dragoness was dressed in a big and beautiful black dress with some red points and a white imperial cloak without hood with black fake fur as collar. The white-haired half-human was wearing, as usual, a very cute white dress with exactly the same cape as her mother.

Everyone was waiting impatiently for the she-wolf and as everyone's heart was beating faster and faster, the spider man slipped through the door to his place at the front of the line. Everyone in the room was holding their breath waiting for a glimpse of Freya when suddenly the large door opened at last, drawing a silhouette in its frame.

"WE GREET EMPRESS FREYA !"

At that moment, all the voices of those present had risen as one in greeting as they all leaned forward with their hands over their hearts.

The young woman said nothing as she walked with a confident step to the back of the room. She was dressed majestically in an outfit reminiscent of both the modern suit and the clothes an emperor would wear. Not to be outdone, Freya wore black pants and a white shirt, but this time over her shirt was a black button-down jacket that came down to her waist. This jacket was not feminine at all and looked like a very classy officer's jacket. The end of the sleeves as well as the collar raised, were embroidered with golden threads which appeared on the black. The buttons were also gold and buttoned on the side. The Empress had white boots up to her calves and white gloves hiding her powerful hands. On her shoulders, was put exactly the same white cloak with the same black fur at the level of the collar which reminded her own. Unlike Gaya's and Shiro's, Freya's cloak had golden embroidery at the end and reached almost to her ankles.

As the Empress walked forward with a cold face, her fists closed, her eyes looking straight ahead, the people present could not take their eyes off the spectacle. Everyone was silent and the only sound that echoed in the huge hall was the clacking of the she-wolf's boots with every step she took. Her cloak and loose hair fluttered behind her as she walked with the same determination. Her violet eyes didn't even look at those around her as they still sparkled as brightly as two gems.

After slowly ascending the steps and positioning herself in front of her throne, Freya grabbed her cloak with her right hand, making it fly gracefully as she turned around. Her face, with black strands falling across it, was perfect and the lack of emotion gave her an air of inaccessibility. The she-wolf's black ears pointed to the sky while her long tail was hidden by the cloak. The two black horns on either side of her forehead were evidence of her special course that was unknown to all and made most tremble. As the Empress finally faced her people, despite the fear they felt, respect and admiration, some could not help but murmur, entranced by the one standing before them.

"Gorgeous..."

A kobold in the back couldn't hold back that word as he blushed like many in the room. From her beauty alone, Freya could take the hearts of men and women alike.

"So powerful and at the same time so beautiful !"

One of the soldiers with an armband representing a leaf, felt perfectly the enormous power that emanated from Freya despite the fact that she was hiding it. In order not to frighten the others she contained her aura and power. He was an elf and for people of his race, beauty was always a normality, however she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

"Later I would like to be this strong !"

Little orphan boys and girls were many who said this to themselves in hushed tones. It was the first time for them to see the Empress up close, so powerful, so terrifying, so majestic and so confident. But despite the fear she inspired, everyone respected, admired and trusted her completely.

Everyone was hypnotized by the Empress, unable to look away and in a second state. Even the commanders and section leaders who used to work with her couldn't help but shiver at her presence.

After sweeping the room with her piercing gaze, Freya finally spoke, her powerful, cold and commanding voice shaking the walls of the room.

"Today I officially announce the creation of our Empire ! Thank you to all of you who have helped make this dream possible and have agreed to trust me. Here, for the first time in the history of this world, stands a city of people hunted, hurt and humiliated by humans. Difference and weakness do not deserve contempt, gratuitous violence and insults, but today all that is over ! Raise your head, be strong, be proud to be who you are and to exist because I am proud of you ! From now, no more evil humans will reach you and none will ever dare to lay a hand on any of you again !"

Suddenly, Freya released some of her power into the room as she continued, her voice filled with unwavering determination, her eyes shining with a savage glow.

"Today those who dare stand in my way will end up in hell ! I will stop at nothing to protect this paradise that we have built together with courage ! I will watch over all of you...I will do so, even if I have to end up covered in the blood of my enemies or called a ruthless Empress by the whole world !"

As Freya made her aura disappear in front of the silent and emotional crowd, she tapped her sword on the floor making the thud echo through the room before resuming.

"I, Freya, in my name as Empress, here and now name this Empire : Elysium ! In an ancient language this word means skies. Elysium...where the sun, the moon and the stars are. This place will bear that name and you who are the lights of the sky and of this Empire, wear it proudly in your hearts !"

To Freya, the sun represented her wife, the moon her daughter and the stars her people. If they represented that, then it was not wrong to say that the she-wolf was the sky itself. Elysium...where the many lights that illuminated the world were gathered, where everything begins and everything ends. The Empress was the sky that carried and watched over those lights so that they would never be extinguished.

"Long live the Elysium Empire !"

Freya had raised her sword in the air and was barely finishing her sentence when everyone, fist to heart, serious face, determination in the eyes took up her sentence.

"LONG LIVE THE ELYSIUM EMPIRE !"

At that moment, the moon that was high in the sky, made its rays sparkle through the window illuminating the whole room with its magnificent white rays. They fell on the Empress giving her a heavenly and hypnotic look while Yuric the dwarf leader approached with three crowns.

The first to be crowned was Shiro, her crown was a small white tiara made of lots of small moonstones with the same full moon carved on the front.

"Thank you !"

The little girl thanked Thorunn who was in charge of placing them on the heads of the three leaders. Earlier, the female commanders had drawn straws and it was the vampire who had been chosen, to the displeasure of the other 9.

The beautiful woman bowed respectfully as she heard the words of the little Princess as she came before the dragoness. It was Gaya's turn to wear her white tiara which was larger than Shiro's and made of small moonstones too. It also had small red stones that met in the front where the largest one was inlaid, carved in the shape of a sun.

"Thank you."

Then Thorunn arrived in front of Freya, who towered over her. The young blonde woman's hands trembled slightly as she reached for the last crown. The Empress's was not a tiara but a real crown, it was white like the other two but the difference was that it was made with the ice element. It was big but not too imposing and there was neither sun nor moon in front of it but rather a black and sparkling gemstone. It was a stone that had been brought back by the dwarves...the only black stone they had found in the ancient cave of Gaya.

"Y..your highness."

The vampire and dwarf bowed as their work was done and moved to the front of the line to resume their seats, standing among the others.

After sweeping the room with her piercing gaze, Freya, crowned, finally sat down on her throne and crossed her legs. At that very moment, absolutely all her subordinates knelt before her as one. The scene was spectacular, everyone was in unison, their hearts were beating to the same rhythm, their minds and souls as well while in this great room an Empress was born.

"ALL HAIL EMPRESS FREYA ! ALL HAIL GAYA-SAMA AND PRINCESS SHIRO...AND ALL HAIL OUR ELYSIUM EMPIRE !!!"

In this throne room Freya smiled very slightly, imperceptibly as she looked at her daughter and then her wife before rising from her throne again and speaking.

"Rise, from now on you are all invited to join the reception hall where there is food and drink for everyone. This is an exceptional event so enjoy it, have fun, laugh, sing and dance because today you are all free and you will remain free !"

As radiant smiles appeared one by one on the many faces, the she-wolf spoke to deliver her final sentences.

"Tomorrow, in front of you all, I will marry Gaya here. Do not forget, this event is just as important as tonight !"

"YES YOUR HIGHNESS !!"

In a final bow, the citizens dispersed to the large hall to the side, supervised by the section leaders and commanders leaving Freya alone with her wife and daughter. Shiro looked tired and as she yawned, the she-wolf took her in her arms to give her a kiss on the forehead as the little one murmured softly.

"Mommy...you're amazing..."

The dragoness would also come up to hug them both as she immediately replied to her daughter.

"You're right...she's the best"

Freya didn't answer as for the very first time in this life, her eyes were wet as she had never felt as happy and loved as she did that night, bathed in moonlight.

___

[N/A: Sorry to all those who don't like the name, please bear with me. For those who wonder Elysium means "heavens, skies/sky" in Latin]