"The legions have returned to Rhodes. They will soon be sent to all the provinces to finish suppressing the last of the servile revolts."

General Theodore spoke as if he had just been told of the death of his firstborn, but the other participants in the meeting were not in a better mood either.

"The trade agreements have already gone into effect, and metal from the mines of Eirinn has begun to flow into our deposits again," Marcellus said.

Celleno was the only one who had welcomed the changes of the last few months with a certain relief: "The economy is also improving. The goldie is regaining value, and in some areas the franc is circulating freely without problems."

"And how did the Holy Father react?" asked Ademar

Archbishop Herman gritted his teeth. "To say he was resentful would be a polite understatement. On the other hand, it is inconceivable for the enlightened and devout Montgomery family to lead a nation of heretics, and so he was forced to lift the excommunication."

"I assume Haselworth's threat to make the Spear of Gaia incident public contributed to his choice, right? Apparently he even found correspondence between the old Archbishop of Eirinn and some people close to the Pope to keep the Spear's existence a secret. Until the Holy Father has cleaned up the Conclave, they won't be able to lift a finger against that boy. Does anyone know how the election went?"

"Exactly as you might expect," Marcellus replied grimly. "Even though they allowed the establishment of a party aligned with the Empire, outside of a few border villages, none of their representatives were elected to any office, and they garnered less than a tenth of the Assembly seats. Even candidates supported by the Grand Duchess Montgomery struggled to be elected. Basically, Daemon Haselworth is more powerful than ever."

Everyone looked down, wondering how it had come to this situation.

If the Empire had not lost its face completely, it was only thanks to the trade agreements and the end of tensions with the Union, which overshadowed the fact that for the second time in less than twenty years Saedonia had been forced to cede part of its territory at the end of a war.

"The first shipments of weapons have already arrived in the capital, and we have put our best craftsmen and scholars to work," Theodore said as if trying to find a piece of good news in that sea of tears. "It's only a matter of time, sooner or later we will figure out how to replicate them."

"Your Majesty, if I may. Are you really going to establish this new office for the Senate? This Tribune of the Plebs?"

"As much as I do not share Senator Marcellus's pessimism, I too cannot help but feel a certain fear," said Celleno. "Since the Senate's inception, the Emperor has been the only one to hold the power of veto. Do you truly believe it is wise not only to grant this privilege to another person, but for that person to even be elected by the people?"

"We have discussed this before, my friends. The dial of time never moves backward. Daemon Haselworth has bodily brought us into a new era. If we are to survive, we must adapt to it."

Ademar paused, and a light that many of those present had not seen in many years suddenly appeared in his eyes.

"On the other hand, if we cannot prevent the birth of a new world, we can ensure that it happens on our terms."

Just what everyone in the room wanted to hear.



After driving out Victor and taking power, Daemon had worked hard to ensure that the fertile plains around Faria returned to their former glory and began to generate all kinds of food once again.

But there was one area, the one hit by the ray of the Spear of Gaia, where nothing had grown anymore despite the efforts. According to Sylvie and the other sages, the soil was not contaminated or poisoned by the miasma, but it was as if the power of the Relic had completely deprived it of the possibility of generating life.

It certainly wasn't a pretty sight, but on the other hand the area was so vast that no one could think of a serious and effective way to enhance it.

Then, finally, the right idea: an amphitheater.

Not one like the others, but the largest ever seen, an enormous oval building capable of housing twice the population of Faria.

Such a majestic, sumptuous and expensive work could not be undertaken lightly, so the project had been postponed several times waiting for the right moment to come to put it into practice.

And now, the moment had arrived: what could justify such an expenditure of men, materials and money if not to celebrate the rebirth of the Grand Duchy of Eirinn, finally reunited and free after centuries?

In the wake of emotion, everyone got to work.

Rich and poor, nobles and commoners, humans and monsters.

Landowners, lords, farmers, clerics, worked side by side digging the foundations, raising the stands, or simply bringing water and food to those who after hours of work under the summer sun asked only for a little refreshment.

A common effort like the world had never seen, all aimed at one great purpose.

Especially in the aftermath of the elections, which in addition to sanctioning a largely predictable result had defined the composition of the first National Assembly of Eirinn, there had been a long discussion among the various ministers and deputies on what was the best date to organize the ceremony.

In the end, the choice fell on the day when the poster announcing the birth of the Free State after the Revolution appeared in all the cities of Western Erthea.

Such a close date required working quickly, but this did not frighten anyone, starting with those who were forced to alternate work in the fields, in the shop or taking care of the house with work on the construction site, in an absolutely voluntary manner, moreover.

Even Daemon and his entire staff set a good example by contributing to the work, despite the abnormal amount of things to do that the new Prime Minister had on his hands.

Once the work was completed, the Gaia Field appeared in its entire glory, a white monument of wood, stone and iron erected to the glory and freedom of all the inhabitants of the new Free State of Eirinn.

On the day of the ceremony, everything was organized down to the smallest detail, and so many people had wanted to be present that there was no room for everyone in the stands; those who had not managed to find a seat crowded together at the edges of the arena, laboriously kept at bay by the security service.

On the top level of a special dais sat Adrian, Borg, Mary and the other ministers, and immediately below were the most important members of the Assembly who had just been elected.

Aria and her entire entourage sat on a special dais, with the Grand Duchess in the center in military uniform surrounded by all the Army Generals – including General Lefde, recently promoted to command the First Corps after Adrian's appointment as Chief of the Assembly.

The ceremony opened with a fifty-two-gun salute, one for each fallen soldier in the first battle of the Revolution fought outside Dandee, while platoons of veterans of the last battles marched across the dirt.

Then, astride his trusty Marengo, Daemon rode in, and the theater nearly collapsed under all that shouting.

At a slow trot, he traveled from the entrance of the building to the foot of the central altar, while around him the soldiers presented arms and saluted him proudly.

Once he dismounted, he slowly climbed the twenty-seven steps of the staircase, one for each day that had passed from the beginning of the Revolution to the conquest of the Castle. A smiling Sylvie was waiting for him at the top, next to the lectern where the Holy Book of Gaia and the new Constitution were placed side by side.

As he drew his sword and placed it on the books, the crowd quieted to hear his words.

"I, Daemon Haselworth, Prime Minister of the Free State of Eirinn, do hereby swear to be faithful to the Constitution deliberated by the National Assembly and approved by Her Excellency the Grand Duchess! And I swear to always and in every way strive to defend the freedom, rights and well-being of the nation, its people, and our sovereign!"

The applause and shouts of approval lasted only a few moments, the time it took Aria to rise from the throne.

"I, Aria Rosalinde Montgomery, Grand Duchess of Eirinn, solemnly swear to be faithful to the Constitution deliberated by the National Assembly! I swear to faithfully apply and defend its principles within my kingdom! And I swear to use the powers granted to me to the extent and in the ways that the law has established! Finally, I swear to always and in every way commit myself to defend the freedom, rights and well-being of my nation and my people!"

A roll of drums announced the appearance of an honor guard bearing the new flag of the Free State.

Some had not approved of the idea of replacing the old banners of Ende and Eirinn, which would still be in force as the flags of the two prefectures into which the nation was now divided. However, Daemon and Aria had insisted that they needed a completely new symbol, something that all citizens could recognize and that the entire world would forever associate with the new Free State of Eirinn.

After a brief discussion, it was decided to keep a bit of both; the blue, white and red colors of the Free State and the three-column division of Eirinn, without bees or coats of arms.

Simple.

Effective.

But that was not the only novelty.

It was already a widespread custom for each nation to associate its name with a characteristic melody, a musical composition or a folk song.

Daemon had wanted to take this to the next level, ordering the writing of a song that would represent, together with the flag, the very soul of Eirinn and her people.

The melody and the new flag had been circulating among the people for a few days already, but this would be the first time that both would officially make their appearance.

The three soldiers solemnly approached the very high flagpole in front of the altar, and when a little girl dressed in the same colors began to sing, the amphitheater fell into absolute silence.

https://youtu.be/Bmpg-jnvDn8

The Free State of Eirinn was born.

And no human or divine force would ever break it.





"Why is the Sultan not here?"

Putting a member of the royal family of Volkova and one of the Great Palace of Ishandra in the same place was sure to see the situation end in blood and knives.

Besides, Grand Prince Alexandr Durnot did not like the desert, and knowing that he had come all that way without being able to meet the sovereign of Torian wasn't the best way to start such an important meeting.

The Holy Father's chamberlain didn't seem to be doing any better, and he continually waved his whip in an attempt to chase away the flies that filled the tent, which was mercilessly battered by the scorching sun of the southern deserts.

"I am the official envoy of the Sublime Majesty. He has charged me to be his eyes and ears."

"That fat old man doesn't even have the strength to get up from his golden throne? It makes my stomach turn to think that Volkova was a vassal of Torian for centuries. Today we could arrive in Ishandra and impale the entire population before you even have time to deploy your so-called army."

"Save that talk for when you've solved the Jormen problem. I've heard that the last expedition against those raiders was a disaster too. How many ships did you lose? Ten? Fifteen?"

The Grand Prince was a model of self-control, but he had no qualms about cutting off a finger, an ear, or a nose from anyone who didn't show him proper respect.

Luckily, King George Grenville II of Patria was quicker to intervene.

"Enough! We didn't come all this way to fuel our differences!"

The Grand Prince stunned the Sultan's emissary, then with a single swing of his sword took away the top of his turban without cutting off a single hair.

"But was it really necessary to meet in a place like this?" protested the chamberlain. "This filthy camp would not even be suitable for a shepherds' gathering."

"Secrecy is necessary, Your Eminence," Victor said, entering the tent. "Daemon Haselworth has spies all over this continent now. He's even created a kind of secret police force, ruthless assassins who do his bidding without a word. For all we know, he could have your throat slit in your bed at any time, if he wanted to."

"Here he is." The Prince smiled mockingly. "The boy who lost a kingdom in less than three months."

"In your place I would take this more seriously, Alexandr." King George warned him. "To you and the Sultan the problem may seem far away, but in Patria everyone is petrified with fear. Do you really believe that the lands of the elves or the Kingdom will protect you from that damned brat and his army of fanatics?"

"His Highness is absolutely right," said the chamberlain. "The Holy Father himself is more concerned than ever about the situation. While Daemon Haselworth has never expressed any hostile feelings toward the Circle or the Conclave, his benevolence toward pagan cults and his repeated acts of insolence toward the dogmas of the faith can no longer be tolerated."

"So I assume that the Circle will stand by us if we take action against him, will you?" said the Sultan's emissary in a deliberately provocative tone.

"I beg you to understand. Now that the Holy Father has been forced to lift the excommunication, his position on this matter is more precarious than ever. But I am here to tell you that he intends to grant his blessing to anyone who decides to take up arms against this enemy of Gaia and his blasphemous ideas."

"Of course," said the Prince. "It's always the same, ever since the Holy Wars. You call, you take credit, but then we kings do all the work."

"The Holy Father clearly hasn't quite grasped the situation," said Victor. "The threat from Haselworth is far greater than you can imagine. It's no longer a matter of defending your lands, or helping me reclaim mine. The future of all of us is at stake."

"How do you know these things, boy?" asked King George.

Victor sneered, snapping his fingers.

"If you don't believe me, you'll believe him."

The tent flaps parted slightly, and a huge, sapphire-scaled, anthropomorphic dragon with old, withered wings appeared before the five dignitaries.

"How dare you bring a beast before us?" the Emissary roared angrily.

"I suggest you listen to what he has to say. It could be very enlightening."

"Greetings. My name is Zorech. I was a General of the Dark Lord during the Holy Wars five hundred years ago. Distinguished rulers of Erthea. I humbly come before you, and I beg your aid. As His Excellency Montgomery said, the danger that looms over us goes beyond a power struggle, or the consequences the Revolution might have for your realms. It's about our very survival. For the sake of all you hold dear, Daemon Haselworth must be stopped by all means, or the calamity we all escaped five centuries ago will be doomed to happen."

"What are you talking about?" asked the chamberlain, terror shaking his entire body. "You mean that boy is—"





Author's Note

This chapter closes not only the Union Saga, but also the second of the Arcs in which the light novel is divided.

We could almost consider it the end of the Second Season, where the first one lasted from the beginning of the story to the end of the war against Victor.

If with the First and Second Arcs we witnessed the birth of the Revolution and the Free State, starting from the Third we will see its affirmation as the new superpower of Erthea, and the attempts by other nations to stop its rise.

Not for nothing, the Connelly Saga that will begin next week will be the first act of the Coalitions Arc.

What can I say except that I am grateful to each of you for the affection and interest you have shown towards this light novel of mine?

Thank you all, and I hope to always be able to keep your expectations high!^_^

Cj Spencer