From high above Zol County, the world sprawled beneath like a fractured canvas. Haphazard tin roofs glimmered in the morning light, dirt roads cracked like old scars, and the market square—once vibrant—now lay in charred silence. Smoke rose in pale spirals from overturned stalls, and scattered bodies bore witness to chaos that had swept through like a storm.
Above it all, Kaelthar, a winged beast with scales the color of molten iron, glided through the air, carrying a lone rider on his back. Hephion's armor bore streaks of dust and blood, his spear resting easily in his hand. Yet his mind was elsewhere, retracing months spent not in training or honing his skill, but being ferried across the Dominion to suppress rebellions, quell unrest, and enforce law.
When Terion told him to join impeiral school he had warned him of these things. He squeezed the reins of the Kaelthar. He knew yet he told him to join, sent Teiylor on a dangerous misson that could end her life all because of a friend we didn't know then vanished…..
Argggggh!
They robbed me of the chance to fight, to grow…. Yet their methods mean little. Whatever they make me endure, I will become an Imperial Hero, and the Concord Trial will be the first step.
Kaelthar banked sharply over the city, wings slicing the wind with a soft whistle that carried the promise of judgment. Below, the red haze of morning revealed the aftermath of terror: carts overturned, fires flickering along market stalls, and a single figure kneeling over a headless woman. Her stump still sprayed crimson, her torn clothing clinging to her body in tatters—a grotesque flag of loss.
The man kneeling beside her trembled violently. Then he looked up. His eyes flared red, an unholy light igniting within them.
Hephion's gaze hardened. With a sudden dip of Kaelthar's wings, they descended—an unstoppable shadow cast over the square. [Position cue: Rider and Kaelthar descending, shadow falling across the square]
They landed like a mana stone overloading. Dust swirled at their approach, scattering survivors who cowered behind the remnants of their homes. [Position cue: Rider dismounting slightly forward on Kaelthar's back]
The red-eyed figure shrieked, a sound like metal tearing, and unleashed a searing beam of energy. Kaelthar arched, wings snapping like thunder, and Hephion rolled with fluid grace, evading the strike by inches. Sparks danced across scorched stone, and the air shimmered with heat.
Hephion did not pause. Spear in hand, he approached the villain in measured, deliberate steps. Each motion was precise, each strike calculated. Kaelthar's tail whipped the ground, toppling debris in the path, forcing the red-eyed figure into a defensive posture. [Position cue: Rider closing distance, Kaelthar behind, tail sweeping obstacles]
Hephion grabbed the headless girl's body and hurled it at the man. He stood frozen in place, and by the time he started moving, it was already too late.
With a flash step, Hephion vanished from view and reappeared behind the man. A spear stabbed straight through the man's throat. Slowly but surely, blood spurted like a geyser.
The red-eyed figure gagged, "May the God's punish y—" and collapsed, hands clawing at the spear still lodged in him.
Hephion paused only long enough to unfold a scorched scroll, raising his voice so it rang over the square:
"By the Supreme Decree of the Dominion of Te, I remind all present of the law."
Survivors trembled at the words, their cries rising above the crackle of dying fires. Hephion recited, each clause deliberate, each sentence a hammer striking order into chaos:
Article II — Regulation of the Awakened
No academy, temple, sanctuary, sect, guild, or state may house more than two (2) Awakened individuals without written sanction from the Crown. Breach shall be deemed Aggressive Posturing and punished as such.
The red-eyed figure writhed beneath Kaelthar's shadow, powerless to resist. Hephion's movements were now ritualistic: spear striking, sword following, a ballet of judgment that left no room for chance. [Position cue: Rider circling the enemy, Kaelthar hovering close]
An old woman watched, clutching her grandson, whispering in Igbo: "Nwa m nwoke…" The weight of grief hung heavy, but the law was absolute.
Article V — On the Unknowns
Any being displaying essence, knowledge, or traits of extradimensional origin shall be designated Unknown. All Unknowns must report to an Imperial Nexus within ten (10) years of emergence. Failure to do so is a First-Order Transgression punishable by nullification, exile to the Wastes, or public Deconstruction.
Suspicion of Unknown status is grounds for immediate containment.
All citizens must report suspected Unknowns to the Office of Integration without delay.
When Hephion finally straightened, armor dusted with ash and streaked with the remnants of battle, Kaelthar's wings stretched wide, catching the dawn light. Together, they were a living emblem of Imperial authority: unstoppable, precise, and unyielding. [Position cue: Rider standing at Kaelthar's feet, overlooking the square]
The survivors understood. The Astral Dominion's decree was not just words on parchment—it was law, enforced with wings and steel.