Role

Chapter 4

I am a citizen of the Empire. It is an odd thing to say, and odder still
that I find a bit of pride in the fact.

I never cared much for the Empire.. before. They were just a stepping
stone. A means to an end. Sure, I respected the Emperor as one who took
what he wanted. But the Empire as a whole? Their goals of taking over
Thera, putting it all under one rule? It was a punch line to a poor joke
in my younger days.

But I see it now. It makes sense. The Empire provides Order where there
is none. It puts men and women in their place, where they can be of
value. Be that as an Oath serving the superior, or the Emperor himself.
All have their place. All know their place. Or will very quickly learn
it.

It is a good system. A system I look forward to spreading throughout
Thera.

And it is a system I am still navigating for myself.

I navigate the Shadow Sect now. There is no Shadow Lord. There is barely
a Shadow Sect, in truth. There are only two of us of note. No more. One
of us will become the next Shadow Lord. The other of us has pledged
loyalty to me. The Emperor has hinted at the likelihood.

Both have their own agendas. I trust neither of them. But I do not intend
to make it a competition. I intend to prove my worth to the Emperor, and
to take what is mine.