[center]
Cyrus sighed deeply. There was no turning back now, what was said was said and what the heir would do with this new knowledge was up to him. The Wizard only hopped that Aleko would keep his real age a secret, lest the word spread and this secret would become public, not for his own old self, it was the reputation of the New Empire and all those involved that he feared would suffer. Wearily, the old man made his way through the halls in order to inform the envoys of tomorrow’s meeting. 

A few eyes were upon the heir as he stormed in the Dining Hall, making his way through the small crowd of people, searching for one individual whom he assumed to be present there. Sure enough, general Planestalker was indeed there, engaged in a conversation with a few people whom were strangers to Aleko, yet the heir did not care, pulling the Dark Elf at aside and wasting no time as he explained his request. The general listened, his expression unfazed, not uttering a single solitary sound and simply letting Aleko talk. Finally, the Dark Elf nodded, after the heir’s detailed explanation, and responded with a simple “[b]It will be done, sire.[/b]” After which he carefully tucked the paper with the deceptively important message underneath the collar of his uniform and resumed the previous conversation as if nothing happened.  

Aleko remained shut behind the doors of his private chambers for the rest of the day. Nothing of any particular interest reached his ears save for the report that general Primelyt had returned to the Escalyber. His slumber was troubled and often he awoke during the night, sometimes having the eerie sensation that he was not alone in the dark room, that….something was watching him sleep. Whenever he tucked and turned, his gaze fell momentarily on the strange tome he had acquired a few days ago, its black surface barely visible save for the moments when the moonlight glossed over it through the window. A few times he could swear the book had changed its position and resting place to a different one whenever he spotted it, yet surely it was his mind playing tricks on him under the stress and burden of the day’s mind-wracking stress.[/center]

[h3]Day 14[/h3]

[h2]Reports[/h2] 

The Mage-Tree forests have all been cut down, the sap gathered and distributed in equal measure, along with saplings, between the Human and Anthro institutes with sufficient competence in working with them as well as swearing allegiance to the New Empire. Work on both the balm and the gas has already started and both institutes have been promised funds to bring these projects to good end. Some of the Elven folk felt outraged that the Mage-Trees have not been burned, yet officially they show contentment with them being used for humanitarian purposes. 

[i][Human Esteem +] [Anthro Esteem +] [Elven Esteem -] [Wealth - - ][/i]

Dwarven hunting parties have been formed and sent to thin out the population of Ice Trolls that threatened their settlements, yet were ordered not to aggressively pursue them until further notice. While thankful for the evasion of out-right extermination, the Elves made their outrage clear to their officials. Angry or not, the population feels safer without the danger of Ice Trolls looming over their heads while the military do not relish the thought of confronting such dangerous beasts in the wild.

[i][Dwarven Esteem +] [Elven Esteem -] [Population Morale +] [Military Morale -] [/i]

Work has already started on the mass-producing of the new long-distance-communicators, now equipped with a magical decryption which will render the devices useless unless the ‘password’, “Hail Emperor Frosty”, is spoken before delivering the message. The password was made public to the higher officials which will be carrying the devices and was suggested by a certain General. Already engineers claim that this invention will revolutionize communication and will be well worth the investment made while soldiers agree that the direct and clear uttering of orders and plans over long-distances will present a major advantage over the enemy.

[i][Population Morale +] [Military Morale +] [Wealth -] [/i]

As per the orders of Emperor Aleko Sendrakon, General Asimov Dunngard of the Old Empire faction has been officially released from custody and is en-route to be delivered to a small official force which will meet with the escort on neutral territory where the exchange will take place. 

[i][Wealth +]  
[/i]
[h2]Report End[/h2]

[center]The envoys were all seated at their respective places and waited in silence for their Emperor to appear and state the nature of this meeting. Cyrus was among them, looking tenser than all of them combined. The recent news regarding the conquering of Zeiserbrerg had reached the ears of almost everyone aboard, yet the reason as to why the Emperor is so concerned about it remains still to be speculated. No news came from the captured province and the Stainless Empire’s presence there stirred quite a bit of tension to the surrounding ones, be them allied to either one of the New or Old Empires or be them neutral.[/center]