Things changed, and in truth I have no idea when it changed but things drastically changed very quickly, with the size of New Cetsiphon, and not only with the sheer population allowing the expansion of the city, but the wealth coming in.
In the past year since the Dial was built we've grown the city by nearly five times, unheard of and absolutely terrifying in terms of current history, and right now, I've recently turned 13 and the palace has started to be made.
Now, despite my protests and orders I have been convinced to make a rather large palace, and for some reason a lot of people were further behind the construction of my palace.
Apparently when you build a fire dial close to the side of the Colosseum people expect an even grander and bigger palace to accommodate it.
And within months the palace was done building, I know, kinda short, but the sheer manpower behind it was nearly triple that of the Sanctuary and as such I barely had to wait until winter for the completion of my palace.
Double in size of the Fire Dial with a massive open courtyard where I will that petitions and courtiers, with an underground court when it rains.
However now it's the time I was dreading.
My deal with my Advisor and my other council members, and because I'm the last of both bloodline and house and I expected to carry on the lineage as such, I am to take a wife.
As such this brings me to my conundrum; I, probably the most powerful beings on the planet in my age currently sitting on my Royal Pillow.
Yes I call it that.
Either way, I am sitting and currently in talks with my council and Advisor.
"Yes, yes, yes, I understand that women from all over the world are on their way here, and I'm expected to give guest rooms and further guest rights, and I fully expect envious paramours to challenge me and to take 'their' women" I went over the obvious.
"But do we seriously need nearly every kingdom to send a woman just so they could be potentially denied and sent back within a month?" I dragged a hand over my face as I stared at them.
"Ahem" my chancellor cleared his throat, "My Višpazana, there's thousands of potential suitors and hundreds of rulers wishing one thing and that is the alliance with you, and if they were to marry into your family, their family could claim they revived your bloodline"
"My bloodline matters little with the millions of bloodlines within my Empire, there's thousands of people with dreams as grand as my empire could be… and people worry over my bloodline."
"That. Is ridiculous" I shook my head and sighed "but carry on"
My steward, an Indian man with a well groomed mustache took a step forwards, "Višpazana, as much as your displeasure is known at this… responsibility and duty often triumphs that of personal wants and needs"
As much as I wanted to refute that he was right, my needs and wants are far outweighed by the duties and responsibilities of someone at my station.
Bastard.
"Ahem, noted" I vainly attempted to keep my dignity as I glanced at my council and my now greying Advisor.
I remember when he had brown hair.
"Okay, who's the highest rank person I can expect to come here?" I asked as I leaned back a bit "which daughter should I look out for in case their father is insulted"
"Most likely that of the Byzantine's daughter Constans II the father, who's been ruling Byzantium for three years now, his daughter who aged 17 looks for a proper suitor and Constans II looks to end the Persian and Roman hostility after hundreds of years" my steward rattled off and I could only accept the fact that now the Byzantine Empire wishes to seek an alliance.
"I do not know how an alliance with Byzantium would work out" my Admiral spoke, she of the only two females within my council "the troops have open hostility towards them, not to mention the average citizen"
"True" I nodded at that.
"Correct me if I'm wrong" I said. "but, Jerusalem is a holy site for both Orthodox and Catholic Christians, am I wrong?"
"It is" the only Christian, my Marshal spoke.
"Give me parchment I have a letter to write to Constan II"
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You know what's insane?
My potential coronation, and the reason why I said potential is because I'm yet to be sure if I want a spectacle that is a coronation, from the parades, to the feasts.
It's too much of a dick measuring contest for me.
Which is why I'm letting it be up in the air, usually kings and queens, simply couldn't help but be extremely excited to be crowned in front of others and their peasants.
Me?
I'd rather build up my empire, be marked in history as one of the largest empires in the ancient world and as a great man.
Yet people continuously and yet repeatedly get on my nerves, such is the nature of my current situation.
"Is… there no proof?" I asked after both sides spoke to me.
Currently three beings stood before me. Two men, one woman, with the husband of the woman accusing the other man of seducing his wife.
"I understand you wish justice for this, however, I will not allow my justice to be blinded by mere words; without proof of adultery you cannot come to me and claim injustice" I spoke as I met the eyes of the three.
"However, if continuous harassment of the wife carries on I will be forced to punish you both" both men seemed taken back at my words.
"Voiceless as she may be, but she will not be harassed for her flesh just for the crime of her wifely duties" the woman who was mute via reasons unknown to me seemed to nod at my words.
"Now, be gone, others' must come forth with their issues, I cannot parent you" they gave a courtly bow as I left all three somewhat embarrassed with my words.
The small duties that many books and shows go over are moments like those, people hitting on others wives, stealing sheep, sodomizing, small letters from diplomats of other countries, vassals issues.
"Višpazana, a word of you will" My Advisor spoke softly as those beyond that of the doors settled themselves.
"Speak" I shifted towards his direction.
"A small force of outcasts have found themselves in our port, they fancied themselves as mercenaries yet, when questioned they lack that of a mercenary's badge. Their cargo is that of herbs and spices, however when we looked underneath we've found this"
My advisor showed a pendant with a symbol of two triangles meeting together at the tips, taking it in my hand I recognized the metal of iron as I let magic roam over it, divinity once touched it that was for sure.
Achlys is the goddess of poison of Greek mythology, and the western taste of magic is practically stuck to the pendant, not to mention the snakes engraved into the pendant.
"I see, keep a parchment on them, I wish for their every moment watched" I handed the pendant back to my Advisor.
"Announcing Uulium of Clocktower!" The herald spoke out as a young man walked forwards.
Taking a look at him, I expect full arrogance of that which comes from Magi from the Clocktower, his blond hair reaching his neck as his clean shaven face seemed to bare the resemblance of arrogance. Not the arrogance that conquers would have nor pride one would have if they poured their heart into a craft.
Pride in that of the fact they are born in 'better' blood.
He gave a court bow to me as he met my own eyes "Great Višpazana, I am Uulium, I am a well versed magi from the Clocktower, and I'm simply here to offer my services in that of the way of magecraft."
If he was arrogant he hid it very well, as for his offer it was redundant, as if I have a need of the supernatural I will simply lean on me.
"Your offer is unneeded, Uulium of Clocktower, as I have no need for magecraft nor have I sent any letter requesting the aid of one" I gave him an easy yet slightly embarrassing out, as any rejection will be embarrassing to a certain degree.
"Ah, we send out envoys every quarter century to offer both our services and expertise at the cost of items that I treat us" he said, keeping his knee to the floor.
"I see" now here comes something that I personally want magical items, not because I'm greedy but because I simply do not believe that all magical items should be housed in a single place.
Nor should those in the Clocktower have free reign to items that simply do not belong to them.
"So let me get this straight, you go to countries and to convince them to hire you for your services and expertise as to take things that simply belong to you?" I asked.
"We do not take, as it is simply the conquers' right to take what they wish" he was right in that statement.
"And how many items have you taken from Persian hands? From Indian and Chinese hands?" I asked "shall I go west and ask how many items have you taken from Greek or Roman hands? I wonder if the boots of Hermes are underneath your little tower?" I asked as he stared into my eyes.
"I truly wonder if those items are given under stable minds or under duress or shall I go further and ask how many items were taken from families of slain and how many were taken from mind controlled people" I spoke as his mask slipped for but a moment.
"Let me be perfectly clear, unless I state otherwise, you and your disgusting ilk shall have no quarter nor any right to any lands east of mine" I decided with a small nod.
"I-I'm sorry? I-I don't understand" he blinked multiple times.
"Then allow me to dumb it down: you and your magecraft of the Clocktower are hereby banned from the Persian Empire and it's vassals underneath the crimes against morality, law, and religion ethics"
"You and the rest of the Clocktower have until the morn of next week to leave my empire in its entirety" I warned as I waved my hand at him.
"That is what I think of you Magi, few of your ilk is that of human, the rest parade around in falsified skin claiming even falser power, as such until you've found your humanity, you shall find no warm harth nor warmer meetings here" I spoke before I stood up from my pillow.
"If you have issue with this then I will move my armies western and conquer there, and force you to stay on your little island of infighting as we keep what is rightfully ours" I said as I stood before him staring down at him as I saw sweat piling on the back of his neck.
"Mayhaps we've started on the wrong foot?" Uulium offered.
"No foot" I corrected "this is the fifth time a magi has come forth with arrogance and pride stuck onto them, and frankly, I've had enough of your prattling" I sat back down on my pillow.
"Until the morn of next week, now leave" I commanded this time as he stood up and his face simply looked like he sucked on more than one lemon as he walked out.
"Do you believe that was wise?" My Marshal spoke, her frown present on her face as her sword balanced between her hands.
"Maybe, we shall see within the months" I spoke as I shook my head.
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Omake (Non-cannon)
Hercules is a god, some say a great god in fact, but in Ragnarok there's barely anything that hasn't been said about humanity.
But to say he's upset is an understatement, he loves humanity, he was raised from it; divine blood may run through his veins but humanity has it's clutches deep into his brain and soul.
As such when the decision to erase humanity he wept.
He knew his father: Zeus, would chose him as a contestant, and unjustly killing a human would never sit right with him, and as such he was forcing himself to come to terms with it.
And he would be lying through his lips if he was saying it was easy.
It wasn't.
The Personification of Justice.
How can it be justice when it comes to the extinction of the race he came from?
4,000 years old he may be, but the humanity with him still sings just as strong and as loudly during his twelve labors.
So here he stood, waiting to be called out, and all he felt within his stomach was pure unrelenting regret.
Alcides, that was his human name, he was born half god half human, then fully god, fully divine, he knows both eyes, he knows both flaws, and neither god nor humans deserve destruction.
He'll win, and he'll plead the case of humans!
"On the god's side, The Valiant warrior who pummeled into submission The Nemean Lion and Cerebus, the Hound of Hell!" He heard himself be called out as he rode forth with his chariot.
Before him was a desert city, clay buildings with rugs and aqueducts that went to and fro with clean spring water.
"…after completing the 12 labors he became half-god, half-man! He is the envoy of justice who shines light upon all of Heaven and earth! An unrivaled, valiant warrior! Hercules!"
Cheers came from the crowd as the sun heated down onto his form as he scanned, around he saw a majestic fountain, the crowd's cheers and jeers drowned out the beauty of the city before him.
"And humanity's chosen one…" Heimdall stuttered for once which immediately caught Hercules' attention as he looked towards the open area where humanity's fighter came forth from.
"He is the one who combined the east together underneath a one single empire, he declared himself the Beast of Humanity" recognition came to Hercules' mind, the name was familiar but the true name and the face was not.
"He came forth and brought a second age of heroes, he commanded large armies and had the entire world under his influence, from a young age he was a conqueror and to his death he was a greater man"
The man came from the darkness, he wasn't really tall as was his presence, around him it seemed reality bowed to him. He wore purple tuned to a darker shade, a white cloak and perfectly wrapped turban on his head.
"He created an empire above all, a hegemony so high that it needed a new name - only one man claims his title! Višpazana Afsaneh Sasanian, the Višpazana of the Persian Empire"
For once Hercules wanted to puke as he saw the burning sun touch the form of Afsaneh as the roars of humans drowned out his own thoughts.