Morning sunlight stretched across the Veyris Empire.
Floating islands drifted slowly above the skies while crystal rivers carried shimmering streams of light through the capital.
For once.
there were no dimensional alarms.
No invading gods.
No reality fractures.
No mysterious beings appearing from nowhere.
Just a normal day.
Which somehow felt stranger than war.
Inside the Imperial Palace.
the enormous dining hall had become noisy.
Very noisy.
Aurelia Pyrestar leaned back in her chair with crossed arms.
Why is breakfast for this Empire larger than most kingdoms?
Zeraphiel looked at the endless table.
...I counted fourteen kinds of fruit and gave up.
Universe Tree – Elaris Verdwyn blinked.
I thought trees would make me understand plants better.
She stared at the mountain of food.
...I was incorrect.
Abyssia rested her face on one hand.
Her golden eyes moved toward the table.
...I witnessed universes being born.
A pause.
...This amount of food still scares me.
Morrigan laughed quietly.
Luxryth Solaris covered her mouth while trying not to laugh.
Lilith looked completely serious.
I already warned all of you.
Everyone looked toward her.
Lilith pointed across the room.
Wukong arrived first.
Silence.
Everyone slowly turned.
Wukong sat at the far end of the table surrounded by empty plates.
Stacks.
Mountains.
Entire civilizations of empty plates.
Wukong froze.
...I can explain.
Elsewhere in the palace garden.
many of Kael's wives were talking beneath crystal trees.
Seraphina sat beside Ignisia, Yunara, Aetheria, Cosmyra, Eternya, Kitsune Reina, Shiori Amateru, Ayakari, Tsukiyora, Elowen, Genesisra, Valthera, Elysia and the others.
The atmosphere felt peaceful.
Seraphina looked around.
...Where is Kael?
Ignisia crossed her arms.
"Probably handling work.
Umbryssia smirked.
Or escaping all of us.
Several people immediately looked at her.
Then everyone laughed.
Meanwhile.
Kael himself had quietly left the palace.
No guards.
No announcements.
Just walking through the city.
The Veyris capital was alive.
Children ran through streets carrying glowing toys.
Merchants sold enchanted fruits.
Knights trained in open arenas.
Music drifted through marketplaces.
Then someone noticed him.
...My King?
Another person looked.
Emperor Kael!
Soon voices spread.
Good morning, my Emperor!
My King!
Hello!
Kael gave small nods while walking.
People smiled.
Children waved.
Some merchants tried giving him food.
Others simply greeted him.
Further down the street.
a bowling center stood beside a crystal plaza.
Laughter echoed from inside.
Kael stopped.
Looked inside.
Pins made from glowing crystal stood at the end of lanes.
Groups of people were competing.
One man looked up.
His eyes widened.
...MY EMPEROR?!
Entire lanes stopped.
People immediately stood.
Hello my King!
My Emperor!
Good morning!
Kael looked around.
Then quietly asked:
...Can I try?
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then everyone shouted at once.
OF COURSE!
Hours later.
inside the palace.
Lilith looked outside.
...He's late.
Aurelia looked up.
Where did he go?
Suddenly.
Wukong burst through the doors.
EMERGENCY!
Everyone stood immediately.
"What happened?!
Wukong pointed dramatically.
...KAEL IS WINNING AT BOWLING.
Silence.
Then Morrigan blinked.
...That's the emergency?
Wukong nodded seriously.
He's somehow naturally good at EVERYTHING.
The room exploded into laughter.
Outside.
for one ordinary day
the Veyris Empire simply lived.
And sometimes
that was enough.