“Preposterous!”
“You dare bring us here for nothing?!”
“Leave this place, Eldred!”
Boisterous, ear-splitting jeers filled the gold-white, grandiose hall. Insulting remarks and feverous arguments bounced around the room.
Gathered here for the first time in nearly twenty years sat the Cervil Empire's War Council, and it seemed like it would fall apart just as quickly as it was brought together. This council prided itself as the Empire's shining breadwinner. Every victory that the Empire achieved began with this very council. And now, it was a disheveled mess.
The men and women of the Empire filled the elevated stands lining around the circular chamber. They were grouped, each wearing a different style of silk robe and color. Those donning the color blue were not as loud as the others. Instead, they shrank back, a couple of the younger ones winced at the intensity of the others' yells.
The reason for all of the conflict and mayhem in the room stood in the center, a brooding and grim expression painted on his face.
Pravo Eldred, one of the continent’s most prominent names, stood still as everyone chastised him.
One man, however, kept his emotions in check.
“Silence.” The mere whisper of his voice forced the room to quiet down. He stood from his throne and looked down on Pravo with gentle, yet intimidating eyes. “Proceed.”
“Thank you, your Excellency.” Pravo bowed graciously. Some nobles in the room scoffed. He stood straight and stretched his arms out wide. “As I said, we must declare war on the Beastmen once again.”
Many grunted and groaned at his proposal.
He continued, “They are in control of something incredibly powerful. Something so powerful and dangerous that if they were to learn about and master it,” He paused. “It would spell the end of the Human race as we know it.”
The room silenced. Pravo, heart pounding in his ears, glanced around. Those that had looked down on him now sat with their arms crossed, seemingly giving him their full attention. He continued,
“The territory holding this artifact is a couple days away from the west of Gallia. If we were to invade their territory and take control of it-”
“Cease this discussion, Eldred,” a thin man said as he rose from the stands.
He and the people around him donned dark yellow robes. Two bands of white wrapped around his collar. Embroidered onto his chest was an emblem of three interlacing circles. Even the quietest of murmurs hushed at his standing. Some even stared in surprise.
“The west of Gallia, you say?” he said. “I will be honest. I was enamored by this plan of yours to eliminate those wretched animals for good, but this is where I must object,” he said firmly. “I will not allow you to use my territory to lead the advancement.” He glared at Pravo. “To even suggest a thing…”
Pravo stood his ground and said, “There is no other way to fight them and get what we want, Lucius.”
‘“What we want?’ You dare speak for the people of Central and Gallia?” The others in the room staunchly agreed. “Why don’t you inform us about this ‘world-changing artifact’? Tell us where you’ve even heard of such a thing.”
“Where I learned this information has nothing to do with this. As for the artifact…” He paused. Sweat trickled down his cheeks, and he gulped. “I have to inform you of it later. It is not important right now.”
“Of course it is, Pravo.” The emperor interjected. “Lucius is correct. You cannot gather the War Council and omit details such as this. Because allow me to say this,” he said. “The Icalians have no intention of taking down the Wall. The only way to get to Beastmen territory is through the Gallian mountain range. And that is not something I want any of the Empire’s soldiers traversing through,” he said sternly. “What is this artifact that you are looking for?”
The room stood dead silent as Pravo shifted around uncomfortably. Every eye was on him. The silence was deafening. Pravo blinked. His heart was in his throat. Then, he nodded and said slowly,
“It is the power to use magic directly.”
The room erupted into an outrage. Those at first angered at the sudden call to war now directed their fury at Pravo's audacity to tell such a ridiculous and superficial lie in front of the Emperor. The floor trembled as the people banged their feet against the wooden steps.
However, the room fell silent once more at the Emperor’s command. “Is this the truth, Pravo?” Beneath the stern and unwavering gaze of the Emperor, Pravo had no choice but to say yes. Murmurs sprouted. The Emperor narrowed his eyes and said, “Where did you come to learn of this?”
“The ancient texts regarding the Aldrians, my lord,” Pravo said.
“The Aldrians…?” The Emperor’s expression softened, and he looked upon Pravo with kinder eyes. Many others in the room began laughing at what he had said. “The Aldrians are a fairy-tale. A bedtime story you’d tell your child. You of all people should know tha-”
“They existed, Vika.” Pravo’s gaze pierced the Emperor. Before anyone could object and denounce him for his rash behavior, he said, “If the Devils to the South claim that they are descendants of the Clansmen, then the Aldrians must have existed.”
“Enough, Pravo.” Vika stood. “The desire to use magic will undoubtedly create a stir within this council. Within the empire. I have done everything I needed to do with the other countries. I have no desire to take more from the Gaeans lest they rise and declare another war. If you have no definitive proof that this powerful artifact truly exists, then I’m afraid-”
“I can prove it,” Pravo said, borderline yelling. The air chilled in the room. “If you’ll allow me.” He pursed his lips. His fingers trembled as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a withered piece of papyrus. “These texts detail the necessary steps to summon a powerful being from another world,” he said.
It was then that the tide suddenly fell into his favor, for the people who were standing in protest now sat down, and even Vika once again rested on his throne. Pravo smiled widely.
“If you will trust me, we will be able to get what we need in less than a year. And afterward, nothing will stand in the way of the Empire and its people.
We will be the Survivors.
We will be the Victors.”
So Beastmen are gonna be the good guys? I'm ok with this. It's also kind of rare to see the Beastmen have a form of government and not immediately be slaves. I feel like almost every story has them as slaves and Humans just being Number one.
Sadly true I feel like 90% of stories with multiple races have humans at the top spouting "human supremacy" despite being the weakest race and only having sheer numbers on their side.