We entered the palace.
Me, Girishika, Kel, Grimori, Lila, and Mala.
There was silence everywhere.
It may sound suspicious, but it was creepy for sure.
My senses are awfully quiet today.
Girishika was the one guiding our path, and that was what concerned me the most.
My concern was justified because she wandered on a single floor for half an hour.
Everyone else thought this was some kind of pattern to reach the next floor, while I was the only one who knew she had just forgotten the path.
We finally reached the courtroom.
It wasn't a courtroom in the real sense.
It was a small meeting hall, to be precise.
There were 34 chairs around a huge table.
There was no one in the room except for Germio.
He was sitting on the second-largest chair.
The largest chair was empty.
The others were all the same size.
The largest chair was placed opposite Germio.
[Germio]: Take a seat, everyone.
He said calmly.
We started sitting on the smaller chairs.
Surely, the big chair was meant for someone important.
I won't ignite this guy.
Girishika was trying to sit beside me on a smaller chair when suddenly Germio spoke again.
[Germio]: Not you, Princess Girishika. You belong to the Ruler's chair.
We glanced at Girishika and then at each other.
Girishika looked surprised, then let out a throaty laugh.
[Girishika]: Hahahaha... You are mistaken, Germio. Have you forgotten that I have given up on the Ruler's Monarchy?
[Germio]: I do remember it, Princess Girishika—and that is exactly why the Kankaar Society was formed. Giving up the Ruler's Monarchy for Subject Monarchy was a grave mistake.
Kankaar Society was created to erase Gem Society and its laws, and to re-establish the Ruler's Monarchy. You have seen it yourself, right? People in Gem Society are suffering because of their choices, have they not?
Wait, what? But… the people of Gem Society looked happy and peaceful.
What is happening?
Girishika looked conflicted.
Germio glanced at us with cold eyes.
[Germio]: You must have judged good and evil from outward appearances, but Gem Society has been rotten. Princess Girishika must have told you about our past, but that would only be half the truth...
[Girishika]: Stop it, Germio! They are Immortalus Society sorcerers! Brother Arun, Krishna, and Tego won't take this lightly if they learn about it.
[Germio]: Even in this state of despair, you are thinking about others. Doesn't that make you a better ruler?
I glanced at Girishika with determined eyes.
[Pratik]: Girishika. Please let us hear the whole story. My master always told me to think from all perspectives.
Yeah, because—
IN A WORLD WHERE JUSTICE AND INJUSTICE EXIST, THE THING THAT MATTERS MOST IS PERSPECTIVE.
With a conflicted mind, Girishika took her seat.
Germio began his speech again, and we were about to witness the rotting of a civilization.
The Dragon Empire was established in this galaxy 4000 years ago.
It is said that this small galaxy was the head of a living dragon that was slain by the legendary General of Immortalus Society, Gomo Taka, about 4500 years ago.
The Dragon Empire was quite peaceful and stable during its initial phase. However, after 3800 years, the 20th ruler of the Empire—who was also Girishika's father—turned rogue and began committing cruel acts.
He became a dictator.
People were shocked to see a kind ruler turn into a tyrant.
The Empire collapsed.
Soon, Girishika was born.
Her father neglected her.
And things only kept getting worse with each passing day.
Girishika ran away from the palace when she turned 80 years old (her appearance was that of an 8-year-old child).
Even the Sorcerer Hunters of the Dragon Empire were either slaughtered or exiled.
In 1986 AD, just as Girishika's father attempted to sell the entire Empire to another Community—the Buster Community—a team of student sorcerers was sent to stop it.
The team was GATSKALTT, with Arun as their captain.
While staying in disguise for some time, they met Girishika in a forest and befriended her (bribed her with toffee), and also taught her the basics of Range Shifting.
Just before the day of the deal, Team GATSKALTT, along with Girishika, attacked all the royals supporting the ruler.
A fierce battle took place, destroying the farthest planet of this small galaxy.
They also helped a rising Sorcerer Hunter reach his goal, and then left.
This was the story Girishika told us.
It was true, without a doubt.
But… it was only half the story.
The real story began after this disaster.
The story that decided the lives of all Dragolings.
The story where a man lost his wife and asked for justice—and even justice turned away.
The corruption within the judiciary gave birth to the greatest revolt in the Dragon Empire.
Germio.
---
EXTRAS :-
The communities or factions that are under Kae's control, directly or indirectly.
(They are either being manipulated by him or observed through his pawns.)
1)Kankaar Society :: His pawn is Wedgermio. Germio also follows Kae indirectly.
2)Gem Society :: Follows a deity—Kae himself—who never revealed himself. Though Kae wasn't the one who initially sowed corruption, he later began manipulating Gem Society after learning about its corruption and evil.
3)Xero Faction :: This faction opposes the Gof Community, which follows the Asura Community. Xero Faction is currently in the shadows, building strength. Its leader believes he is rebelling on his own, but in reality, Kae made him believe that.
4)Gof Community :: Follows the Asura Community. Kae influences this community heavily through indirect methods.
5)Hagino's Paradise :: Hagino is one of the smartest tyrants to ever live in his galaxy. However, he is just a pawn of Kae—without knowing it.
6)Rakt Realm :: A realm under the Asura Community, ruled by Karnakasur. Karnakasur follows Kae, so this realm is directly under Kae's control.
7)Time Gap :: Kae has formed an alliance with K-3, allowing him to operate freely in the Time Gap—a place where the Temporal Guardian Gigas does not exist, meaning no temporal laws apply.
8)Buster Community :: A rival community of the Asura Community, existing in another Multiverse. It has many of Kae's pawns within it, who pass information to him.
9)Immortalus Society Authority :: Bound by a contract with Tai, who himself is a puppet king for Kae.
There are many more communities and factions that operate directly or indirectly under Kae.