Velian's heart raced with anticipation as he pushed open the heavy doors of the Union guild. The bustling atmosphere hit him like a wave, as adventurers from all walks of life engaged in various activities. Some were sharpening their weapons, while others were engrossed in lively conversations or studying maps spread out on the tables. The air was thick with excitement and the promise of thrilling quests.
"This is totally different from the other guilds, this looks like some kind of a castle," Ellena muttered surprised by the space and the crowd it had.
Velian's group members, Daphnia, Kyla, Ellena, and her brother followed closely behind him, their eyes wide with wonder. They formed a tight-knit group, and their camaraderie was forged through countless battles and shared victories they had gone through.
Right now, they were a force to be reckoned with, and they sought their next adventure with fervour hoping to finish the mission they are currently doing.
The quest board stood tall and imposing against the guild's sturdy wooden walls, adorned with a colourful assortment of parchments detailing the tasks that awaited brave souls. Velian approached it, scanning the notices with a discerning eye.
Daphnia leaned in closer to Velian, her voice laced with excitement. "Any interesting quests catch your eye, Velian? Maybe we can find some clue about that woman!"
Velian's gaze swept over the board, his fingers tracing the edges of one particular parchment. "There's one here, I'm interested in," he said, his voice tinged with intrigue.
"A village on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest has been plagued by a mysterious creature. The townsfolk are desperate for assistance and look for the person who gave them this quest."
He said and pointed at the requester's name.
"Ohhh~ one of the councillors from the Union,"
Velian said and looked at Daphnia, who quickly understood what he was after.
Their weary journey through the Union of Dukas had revealed a land where grandeur and mystery intertwined, where a royal family reigned as mere symbols of veneration for the people.
With a wry smile playing upon his lips, Velian began to unravel the intricacies of power that lay hidden beneath the glittering facade.
"Mother, let me share with you the secrets of the Union, where the true peers reside not within the royal lineage, but among the mysterious council of seven," Velian spoke with a hushed tone, his voice carrying an air of intrigue.
He got to know all the information he needed within three days and he found many suspicious, as well as curious information about the control structure of the Union.
"The royal family, you see, were but figures of reverence, woven into the tradition, their significance spanning generations. It is the seven councillors who truly held sway over the Union, their hands guiding its fate."
He leaned closer, his voice barely a whisper.
"These councillors, shrouded in secrecy and wisdom, were the architects of the Union's destiny. They governed with an iron fist, yet their power was veiled beneath the guise of democracy. The council represented the various facets of society: warriors, scholars, merchants, healers, and more. Each councillor held a key to a different aspect of governance, their authority stemming from knowledge and expertise, rather than birthright."
Velian's eyes sparkled with the thrill of the tale.
"But what made this structure truly remarkable was the absence of nobles. In most kingdoms, nobility dictated the path of power, their bloodlines determining their standing. Yet here, in the Union, birthright mattered little. It was merit, intelligence, and capability that held sway. Nobles were but spectres of the past, their influence diluted by the hands of the councillors."
He paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to sink in.
"Picture it, Mother. A realm where the ascent to power is not determined by one's ancestry but by one's skill, knowledge, and loyalty. It is a rare and delicate balance, for it is all too easy for such a structure to falter. But the councillors of the Union, bound by an unspoken code, carried the weight of their responsibilities with unwavering resolve."
Daphnia and Kyla who hears all this information couldn't help but think how perfect that method sounded.
"Instead of incompetent nobles, they choose competent citizens, that sounds like a great idea, but hard to apply practically,"
Velian knew this was the early stages of democracy but what surprised him wasn't this, instead, it was the loyalty they had.
eaglesnovɐ1,сoМ "In this kingdom, even though royalty don't have any political power, they have everything else in their hand, with one word from them, the council can be easily disbanded,"
"Instead of Royals and nobles, this kingdom is Royals and Councils, so nothing has changed, it's just the method,"
Velian was reminded of how loyal the commander and soldiers of this army are. And the main reason for their loyalty is because of the royal family that is worshipped.
"Let's do this quest, and meet this council, we can make him confess about what's going on then," Velian said and tried to take the paper out of the announcement board.
As he turned to leave with the paper, his eyes caught sight of another woman approaching the board with purposeful strides. Time seemed to slow as their gazes met, and a sudden shock of recognition ran down Velian's spine.
"That woman!" Belgian thought to himself and he knew, who she was since he remember all of their faces without any mistake.
It was her. The woman who had mercilessly attacked them during the tournament, the one who had managed to escape their clutches. She was a member of the infamous Blazing Sun group, known for their demonic attack and cunning tricks.
Velian's instincts screamed at him to be cautious, but his resolve remained unyielding. He had to confront this woman, find out what he knew, and put an end to the chaos that had befallen their lives.
"Everyone follow me, don't let that woman escape, she's our only clue, forget about councillors,"
Velian said and there the paper away and started chasing her down the street, while the woman ran with her whole face sweating like a pig.
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