A large golden eagle flew over the wide bay that harbored Vweiyalor, the capital city and headquarters for the Vweiyan Empire. It was a clear day out, far away from the smoky sky covering the massive battlefields.
The eagle soared smoothly, never diverting its direction. Up ahead, on top of a small hill, stood a massive building made of gargantuan stone blocks and intricate wooden designs. Its roofs and overhangs were comprised of black tiles, which snaked their way across each sub-building all the way to the top of a central tower; its walls formed open arches allowing the citizens below to see through to the other side.
The eagle flew through the lower arch and disappeared. Landing on the floorboards, a brilliant young woman transformed from the stoic bird and briskly headed down the stairwell in the middle of the tower.
Her sharp blue eyes, like those of the ocean, glowed with remnant energy. Her dirty blonde hair waved itself down to her shoulders, that were padded in dark leather which contrasted the brighter chalk uniform she wore. Her dark boots stomped along the stairs as they made their way to a large room just under the tower.
Two guards, who wore much darker uniforms than the majestic lady's own, gave curt salutes as she approached the door behind them.
"Commander Leida," the men announced, as both guards symmetrically opened the doors with one arm each.
Without bothering to respond, Leida quickly entered the room, making her way around a massive table supporting a large map of the known world. Three imperial commanders were quietly discussing and moving markers around the map as she walked by, not even sparing them a glance.
Two of them looked up from the map to watch her back as she left them behind. Noticing the dirty glances, the lady commander amongst the three simply smacked the back of their heads.
Leida made her way to the other side of the room and exited into a long hallway, which branched off towards the Emperor's quarters as well as the room she was headed to, the Karada throne room.
As she reached the end of the hall, she placed her hand on a stone wall that guarded the entrance to the throne room.
A sudden shift of energy sent the air swirling away from the point of contact as Leida's eyes grew brighter. A few seconds passed before the wall started to move. The stone's shape was then remodeled by the will of the commander's energy until finally forming itself into an arch.
Up ahead, the quarters of Ilka Merric were revealed. The room was spacious and beautiful, decorated by various curtains of light and dark. Behind the curtain directly in front of the entrance was Ilka Merric herself, who was just about to leave to go reward the new recruits of the Karada.
Leida entered urgently, quickly kneeling to the floor.
"Mother."
She bowed her head down as she saw her mother emerge.
"I have urgent news regarding Kokoronashi."
Ilka Merric walked out from behind a couple lightly colored curtains. Her dark brown hair seemed to move on its own, snaking around her body, which was clothed by... nothing. Being the inheritor of her ancestor's energy, which flowed powerfully through her mastered Body Trait, Ilka's physical form had reached its peak long ago.
She was truly the most beautiful woman in the Empire, so why did she need to restrain herself within her own quarters? She found it quite silly.
Leida, on the other hand, was highly opposed to the idea. She hadn't bowed her head out of respect for her mother and her direct superior, but simply because she was flustered.
However, Ilka understood it wouldn't do the Empire good to walk around in public completely naked.
As her delicate iron hand smoothed its way along the edge of the light curtain—decorated by dark silk that was stitched eloquently into the face of Sennirad—a bright light burned behind her ocean blue eyes, and the curtain swiftly fell and wrapped itself around Ilka's body, forming into a beautiful robe with devil faces on either arm.
Her hair, which was roaming freely before, lifted itself to make way for the curtains and tied itself into an intricate bun.
"What of that island? Has Fey finally bit the dust?"
Leira stood back up, her eyes staring straight into the similar pair across from her.
"It's become a battlefield. The Seishin have made it past the northern islands and raided on the western coast. They aren't near the capital yet, but I fear that Kokoro will fall within the month."
Ilka's eyebrows raised quizzically.
"I haven't received reports of any islands falling. I'm sure your scouts would prevent any ship trying to circle their way around. How have they made it all the way to Kokoronashi?"
"Because they only sent one ship. I spotted Takeo's rogue commander personally destroying the farmlands as he makes his way towards the capital. He only brought a small squad of soldiers to back his attack. I assisted the elite guards in driving them back, but they won't hold out indefinitely. You know how that man fights. Fey Draven requested that I ask for your assistance in killing him."
The two began to walk back along the hall. Leida closed the wall again as she explained the details of the situation. Ilka remained quiet as she processed the heavy information.
They eventually reached a separate hall that turned into stone steps leading down to one of the many exits of the giant headquarters.
The two stopped in front of the doors. Leida had shared all of the information at that point and was silently waiting for her orders. Her eyes narrowed as she watched her mother's face, planning future strategies of her own.
As their minds continued to search for future moves to combat this unexpected piece, time slowly passed by. Eventually, Ilka broke the silence. She had much more to do that day; she couldn't waste it on an unexpected variable.
"You are to head back to the island immediately and assist Fey in bringing that monster down. Tell her I won't be appearing on the battlefield, but there'll be plenty of new soldiers on their way to the capital for assistance."