William walked at the head of the parade, saluting as he walked. At the end of the street, he saw a podium where Alfred stood with a smile watching. The crowd cheered in delight for the soldiers who struggled to keep down their smiles looking at everything. Parents made sure to hold their children tightly to stop them from running out and getting hurt, whilst others threw small things at the soldiers.

Suddenly William stopped with the rest of the parade ding so. William knelt, slamming his fist on his heart, followed by everyone behind him. It created a large echoing explosion. "LONG LIVE THE EMPORER!" They all screamed the words out simultaneously as William slowly rose, followed by the rest.

Walking up the step he saw Alfred and grabbed Alfred’s outstretched hand. Alfred leaned into his ear. "Any news from Desmond?"

"A couple of fights here and there. Nothing to concern yourself with." Alfred pulled away and smiled giving a nod before taking a seat behind William. He raised his hand to silence the watching civilians as he looked around with pride at the sight before him.

Before he would have never dreamed of seeing a sight like it, a unified armed force, a city beaming with pride in itself, the populace unified behind one identity. It made him proud and happy to be one of the people who helped guide this change in the empire.

"The Ammary People," William called out, forcing everyone to straighten their backs as if they were one of the soldiers next to them. "For so long we have been on a path that has had no sight, no end goal. We have been trudging along a path with no destination. We have had glory and tragedy walk hand in hand with us, led by fools and heroes."

"But that has all changed. We have a purpose. We have a path. The Ammary people will be the guiding light of civilization and prosperity for the world. A beacon of morality and advancement, under the rule of he who Sol himself has blessed. He ended slavery, allowed all to go to school no matter their status, and gave religious freedom to those who would have faced the sword." Alfred felt a little embarrassed hearing William’s words but didn’t move.

"We have been given an identity. We are no longer a disorganized mob of people who serve a lord who serves another lord. We no longer work just to see another day, to put bread on the table, and wonder if it will be the last meal. No longer do we work to help fuel the hedonistic desires of those who claim to be superior, and left to live in luxury."

"We work, we move now, to support our fellow man or fellow citizen, our fellow brothers and sisters, all who claim to Ammary. We all play a role in the future of the nation, each no less important than the other. The farmer feeds us, the soldier protects us, the teachers enlighten us, the Emporer guides us."

William paused and looked out at the eyes of the people. Fear, hope, and pride all weaved into their eyes as they dreamed of the future that they had been promised. They all thought about what they had been offered. How their children could now go to school and learn. How their neighbors had become more helpful under the belief of an identity. They dreamed of a future where they would be the ones to help the world see the beauty of looking past the next day.

William breathed in as he carried on in a serious voice. "We now have a split in the path. A pivotal moment in our nation’s history, where the very fate of our future will be decided. We must decide on stagnation, a return to our previous way of life. The path our enemies want. The path where we are suppressed as slaves to a corrupt system that masquerades as a beacon of hope, stability, and prosperity."

"But I see a greater vision, a life where we are the ones who decide our own future, one where we upend the current way of the world. The world was already destined to change with the return of the Blessed One and yet everyone fears it; fear what they see as the end of their reign."

"I ask you all, choose the right path, the right future. Stand on the right side of history, and don’t bring shame to the others who wish to take control of their destiny." William paused and looked at everyone. He dropped his head and looked down at his hands.

They slightly shook in excitement as he imagined the future he spoke of himself. He was sold and maybe wouldn’t see it, but to give his son the chance for it. To give the people he had defended a chance to see it. It excited him and gave him hope. Alfred had shown him a new way forward. One built on the nation, not the lords who controlled their lands. One built on advancement and education, not reserved for only those who could afford it.

He had been scared, skeptical of it the whole time, but like he said, he told everyone before him; it was a cross in the path now. If he didn’t make the right choice himself, why would anyone else do it?

William closed his eyes for a couple of seconds and smiled. Looking up he opened them again, a deep resolve in them. Slamming his fist on his chest he looked out. "GLORY TO EMPIRE! GLORY TO THE AMMARY PEOPLE! GLORY TO EMPORER! LET HIM GUIDE US!"

The silence was palpable as everyone looked at one another. The military hesitated for only that second before returning the salute. "GLORY TO EMPORER!" They spoke the words back as the people clenched their fists.

One by one, they slammed their hearts and looked up with hope and fear for the future they had been told they could have. Around the cries were returned to William as he nodded in satisfaction. Alfred got up and walked behind his general. Tapping his shoulder he smiled.

"You’ve worked up the crowd." He joked and looked at all of them, waving as gave thanks.

"I told no lies. I may not know your mind, but I know you wish to change things."

"You’re not wrong." Alfred stood in silence next to William for minutes as he watched the people cheer.

"We have things to discuss, wrap up whatever you need and meet me in the Mayoral building." William gave a small nod as Alfred walked away from the cheers.

’A guiding light.’ A chuckled slightly repeating those words in his mind.

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"Another bunch of mercenaries getting drunk?" Desmond said exhausted as he grabbed his head in annoyance. "Just throw them in a cell until things are over."

"We are running out of room Mayor." An Unyeilding guard said in a flat tone. "Not only are the mercenaries being an annoyance we have had to arrest a couple of normal drunks, a few criminals, and preachers who say some unsavory things."

"Those criminals, unless it’s a very petty crime, just execute them. Esmond has already begun plans to remove them. I need to make this explicitly clear. No public executions and only very minor crimes, like petty theft and things of that level, are to be brushed aside. Just fine them keep them locked up until sundown."

The Unyielding guard nodded and before he could leave the door opened. The soldier fell to his knee seeing Alfred walk in with Desmond quickly getting up and bowing. "Am I intruding?" Alfred asked playfully getting a shake of the head from the Mayor.

"You have your orders," Desmond said to the soldiers who got up and left, giving another bow of his head to Alfred. "You earlier than I expected."

"My job right now is to simply stand by and wave to the people, maybe give a treat to a disobedient child who ran too close. Usually, I’m late to things so it’s a nice change of pace."

Desmond chuckled at Alfred’s words. "I’ll happily take that job if you find it too taxing." Alfre laughed at Desmond’s words as the door opened again, William walking in. Desmond once more gave another bow, this one reserved for those of upper nobility.

"Whats the situation?" Alfred suddenly became serious as Desmond narrowed his eyes, them going hard.

"A lot of scuffles by the same mercenary corp. Don’t get me wrong because of the nature of Far Mile, a lot of them are rowdy right now, but most are reigning themselves in. However, this one corp is strangely annoying."

"Something going on then?" William asked with a cold voice getting a shrug and sigh form Desmond.

"I don’t know. This corp is quite... infamous for their methods when fighting so it could just be a quirk you have with a bunch of blatant criminals playing warrior, but I can’t tell. I have Esmond’s men working overtime and the old snake himself said he would look into it, but right now we have nothing."

Alfred rubbed his eyes as he thought. "Have they met with anyone recently, like church officials? It could just be the church trying to sabotage our side of the event." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Looked into it, no official dealing. If they have been hired its all under the table."

Alfred and William looked at one another in confusion. "They can’t do anything too dangerous. The amount of military power around the city is too extreme for them to try a massacre or anything like that. The harbor is also closed thanks to Catherine and Sasha."

"Esmond did say the church has been worming its way into the criminal elements of the city so it could just be a chance to create chaos and ruin the Empire’s image in the city," Alfred said sighing as he couldn’t think. "If they wanted to do something to me or any high-ranking official they also have their own men."

"Your Majesty," Desmond called out as he smiled. "The church may be desperate right now."

"It’s possible." Alfre tapped the armrest as he looked to the roof. "William. Have some of your men go on patrol once they are finished with official duty. Only those who are willing, I want them to enjoy the festival aswell. I’ll pay extra for any who do."

William nodded. "Desmond, I need you to check the security detail of the final speech. Not around me but the city. If they are to act, it will be then, when everything is centered around me and the bishops." Desmond nodded as Alfred tired to think.

’What am I missing? Do they only wish to cause a ruckus for us.’ Alfred got lost into thought as he tried to think of what the Churchs plans truly where. No matter what he did though he found it hard. They were all split vying for the same position so it was possible to be a rouge element instead of a unified front.

"Look into my security detail aswell." Alfred said without thinking as he got up. "WIlliam, contact Sasha, have her people check for anything strange in the port." William nodded as he got up aswell. Desmond got up and bowed as he watched the two leave, quickly working on the order the had been given once alone.