The sun had hardly climbed above the gold spires of Sharath's capital before the emissaries and monarchs of the allied empires gathered again. The air was charged with potential, each ruler and their court filled with expectation. Today was not formal. Today was pragmatic: it was a day for trials, demonstrations, and laying the groundwork for a common future.
Sharath stood on a raised platform in the middle courtyard, the wind pulling gently at his robes. Engineers, magicians, scholars, and guards stood around him, arranged like pieces on a strategic board. The wireless walkie-talkies rested in neat rows on polished wooden pedestals, each device humming faintly with magical power. A row of platforms supported the Skycarriages, floating silently, their rotors whirring in a balance of magic and machinery. And around the courtyard, saplings—treasure trees—had been planted, their roots contained in enchanted soil to regulate growth for study.
"Let us start," Sharath shouted, his voice ringing over the crowd gathered. "First, communication. Take up your devices and send greetings."
At once, voices were heard from various directions. Marcel's dwarven voice was deep and sonorous, piercing clearly over Ronan's rugged beastmen device. "Testing. Can you hear us, Ronan?"
Ronan laughed a bark, the sound remarkably melodic over the enchanted device. "Loud and clear. Can hear every grunt and growl!"
Serphnia's elven voice flowed effortlessly across the channels. "Indeed, the clarity is almost on par with our magical whispers. Interesting."
Sharath smiled. NeuroBoop, hovering harmlessly in the background, grumbled silently to himself: "Wow. Who knew cooperation sounded like a bard singing in a brewery?" Sharath paid him no mind, enjoying the instant success. The four monarchs chatted briefly, and then they set about probing the boundaries: across courtyards, through palace corridors, and even outside, where the signal remained strong. Engineers from each empire scribbled down notes, monitoring efficiency, magical shielding stability, and signal clarity.
After the Skycarriages came next. Sharath indicated to Marcel, who let the dwarven flying device out into open sky. The rotors buzzed, then the vehicle crept upward smoothly, its runes glowing softly. Gasp waves went through the throng as the machine went higher than any man-made flying device ever had. Serphnia's elves watched closely, documenting wind currents and magical stabilizing methods. Ronan's beastmen experimented with payload, having loaded barrels of purified oils onto their own smaller Skycarriages.
Sharath got into one of his own oil-fueled tricycle Skycarriages, providing a demonstration. "Notice, not only flight, but controlled lift, coordinated maneuvers, and multi-passenger capacity. These are intended to fly in any weather, and with enough magical augmentation, even longer distances." He swooped elegantly around the courtyard, creating sparkling trails in the air from small magical stabilizers. Children in the audience applauded, and guards stretched their necks, both awed and a little frightened.
Lastly, focus was on the treasure trees. Serphnia told how the saplings could reach the clouds, if nutrients and water were available. The group tested by varying magic soil treatments, watering enchantments, and growth stimulants. Sharath proposed testing the trees in the newly appearing zones of the new multi-race kingdom. "We need forest, but also utility. Food, purification, and strategic coverage."
As the rulers pondered, an idea came to Sharath. "If we are constructing a kingdom spanning several races, several empires, and a new period of commerce and intercourse, we will require a common medium of exchange. Gold, silver, and bronze are unreliable and sluggish. Let us fashion something that will be compatible with all our economies, but carry innate trust."
The concept caught instant interest. Serphnia's brow went up. "You suggest substituting our metals? All of them?"
"Not substituting, augmenting," Sharath clarified. "We can keep our coins for local uses, but issue a new currency, magically certified, standardized to value against gold, silver, and bronze. Every note will be printed on Darsha special paper, charmed by dwarves for resilience and protection, certified by elves for magical authenticity."
Ronan groaned. "And you want everyone to just accept this… paper?"
Sharath smiled. "Not at once. Gradually, over months. Initially, within internal trade, then in open markets. Every note will have enchantments to guarantee authenticity, tamper-resistance, and traceability." He nodded at his scribes, who started writing preliminary designs. We will name them Unity Notes, in values of 1, 2, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000. After one year, each empire will print 100,000 notes, tapering off to 10,000 a year until a limit of one million is reached. We will make an oath before the gods to uphold the honesty of this currency.
The rest of the emperors nodded, in awe of the combination of usability and magical advancement. Serphnia's elves proposed additions with growth symbols infused for easy authentication, Marcel's dwarves advised spells for fire and water protection, and Ronan's beastmen offered logistics for deployment and safe storage. Sharath took it all in note, storing each suggestion mentally for implementation.
As currency was discussed, Sharath's thoughts drifted back to the Skycarriages. He inquired of the group, "Are any of these cars capable of going beyond our atmosphere? Could they venture. space?
The words elicited shocked silence. Eyes opened wide. Exploring space was beyond any project underway now. Questions exploded at the same time. "Space? You're kidding, right?" Marcel demanded, his voice laced with incredulity. Serphnia's voice trembled with a combination of fright and wonder. "You're talking about going past Eldora itself?"
Sharath nodded. "Yes. With enough energy, magical augmentation, and scaled engines, it is possible. We are not trying this today. But the concepts—engine power, flight stabilization, energy control—could be used for future exploration. The solar system, maybe life beyond Eldora, still lies unexplored. It is an idea, a dream. One we must nurture with our Earth advances.
The emperors glared at each other, the gravity of potential dawning. Even Ronan, perpetually pragmatic, grumbled, "That is ambitious… and daunting. But… fascinating."
After a short interval, Sharath resumed. "Before we arrive at those far-off destinations, we need to establish what we can control: the new multi-race kingdom. Roads, water networks, cleansing networks, schools, banks, and marketplaces. All need coordinating, standardizing, and sustaining. The Unity Notes will facilitate trade; Skycarriages, communication tools, and treasure trees will provide mobility, efficiency, and nourishment."
The summit lasted throughout the day, alternating between serious testing and fun competition. Walkie-talkie competition was born: messages were transmitted through courtyards ahead of runners' sprints. Treasure trees were measured for height and health, subtly rivaling elven and human saplings. Skycarriages competed in coordinated flights, each empire striving to enhance lift, velocity, or payload. NeuroBoop hovered unseen, whispering cynical remarks in Sharath's thoughts: "Ah yes, the grand contest of empires, measuring trees, racing air, and tallying coins.". Diplomacy at its best.
With nightfall, Sharath convened all monarchs for one last meeting. "Today, we have tried communication, flight, nourishment, and first notions of inter-empire currency. Each mechanism needs refinement, each tool experimentation. But these are the building blocks. With concerted effort, we can make sure that the new empire we construct is efficient, viable, and collaborative."
He took a moment, allowing his eyes to pass over the group. "We stand at the edge of a new world. A world where technology, magic, and government blend. Where commerce, information, and expansion are not hindered by boundaries. And where our children, and theirs, can inherit a world made to flourish instead of merely endure."
The rest of the emperors bowed gravely. Marcel struck his metal gauntlet on the podium. "Then let us make the commitment. To cooperation, to experimentation, and to future conferences. Our engineers and mages will cooperate, exchanging knowledge and resources."
Serphnia bowed slightly. "We will share our forests, spells, and academicians to maintain sustainability. These trees will not just nourish our people but keep the balance of nature and technology."
Ronan's approving growl was milder than normal. "And our oils, our equipment, and our understanding of resilient structures will contribute to infrastructure and defense.
Sharath smiled, observing the harmony thus achieved. "Then we shall proceed. The next summit will be a summit of results, highlighting the refinement of all our experiments and the deployment of these systems. In the meantime, carry on your work, share your discoveries, and get the new empire prepared to accept the full potential of these innovations."
As evening fell, the leaders left, their brains whirling with ideas, enhancements, and potentialities. Walkie-talkies beeped softly with salutations and news as messengers bore magic communications over the empire. Skycarriages docked, their rotors slowing to a soft murmur, and treasure trees glimmered softly under protective charms, a promise of nourishment and loveliness.
Sharath stood there, gazing out into the courtyard. Madhu came up quietly. "You appear. pensive," she noted.
"Yes, I am," Sharath said. "We've established the groundwork today, but there is so much more to prove. The calculators, walkie-talkies, Skycarriages, treasure trees, and now the Unity Notes—they're just the starting point. The second phase, the actual harmonization, will come when our people fully embrace them and we implement them on a large scale throughout the empire."
Madhu smiled. "And your daughter and son?"
"They will witness it all," said Sharath softly. "A world created to flourish. And one day, they will lead us, carrying forward what we have started." He felt a quiet pride and expectation. The summit had been successful—not merely a gathering of leaders, but an experimental ground for the future.
And as dusk fell on the capital, the courtyard cleared except for Sharath, Madhu, and NeuroBoop's unseen presence. The stars in the sky glimmered dimly, mirrored in the mystical wards that hung around the palace. Somewhere in that endless expanse of sky, Sharath permitted himself