Herald of Steel

After Alexander was given a tour of the impressive library and shown the magnificent scenery it overlooked, Alexander was then taken out of the front building to explore the other parts.

As for the third floor of the building that remained yet unexplored, Lapitus off handedly informed him that place was mostly abandoned.

It contained another set of bedrooms but was only opened when a lot of guests visited, like the king and his many entourage.

So Lapitus then Alexander took to visit perhaps the most lavish of the rooms- the grand ballroom.

The huge hall was placed behind the main building, in an almost separate house of its own, which was one of the reasons Lapitus was able to kill everyone without alerting others.

Upon entering this huge room, Alexander's foot found itself stepping on a floor covered in a huge luxurious red and white fur carpet with intricate golden stickwork, which Lapitus informed being sewn out of real gold threads.

The walls were draped with ornate tapestry and intricate mosaics, while the high ceilings featured intricate moldings and gilding made using gold leaf, with numerous massive chandeliers 

hanging down from them like gigantic, metallic fruits.

And lately, to fill the room, there were luxurious tables, candelas, and beautiful potted plants, though Alexander noticed the room to be emptier than he would have expected.

And the reason was because many of the furniture broke when Lapitus had initiated his attack, as many people tumbled or knocked them over, breaking them.

But still, it was a very luxurious room, fit to entertain any king, with the only sore spot that Alexander could spot was the carpet.

It was a very beautiful carpet no doubt, but along many points there were deep, reddish, almost matt black stains on it.

And even before Lapitus could explain, Alexander knew where they came from.

It seemed no amount of scrubbing could get all the blood out.

'Pity… looks like I will have to throw it out.' And seeing so Alexander lampooned a bit, observing the spots being too big and numerous to hide with tables or over coverings.

Which was a true shame since Alexander guessed the thing should have cost close to a hundred thousand ropals.

And worse, it was not like he could even sell the darn thing.

Who would buy a bloodstained carpet, no matter how great its stickwork was?

So the best Alexander would be able to do was tear it down for the fur.

But such regretful musings lasted only a second, as he was then taken out on tour of the rest of the mansions.

He was shown the two pools along with how they were supplied with underground channels, the various beautifully lawned gardens, furnished with swings, decorative arches and one even containing a small maze, the stables housing many of Lord Ponticus's prized steads and lastly the temple, which even had its own crypt.

The temple even had an old priest who was still there even though almost every one of the servants who could run had fled.

The old man even had some spice in him as upon seeing Alexander, not only did he cower, but clenched his teeth and growled, "This is a place of rest for the ancestral spirits. Only those related can enter."

Tibian did not believe in gods per se but worshiped their dead ancestors. 

Facing the old man, Lapitus and his group appeared more than ready to cut him down, and if looks could the old man too would have killed Lapitus given what he had done.

But disinterested in shedding any blood, Alexander only pleasantly smiled, 

"Reverant, I mean no disrespect. I have only come to pay my respects to the ancestral spirits. Since this is my home now, I only felt this was basic courtesy. Please."

This gentle, polite answer surprised the old man, and though he had a lot to say about how this was not Alexander's home, he reluctantly stepped aside to let Alexander enter. 

It really helped to have good manners.

The entire tour of the mansion took Alexander hours, and by the end, it was nearing midday.

So at this point Lapitus very eagerly let him know that they had prepared a great feast for him.

Something which caused Alexander to frown a bit.

Not at the feast of course, but at the timing, for he had a speech to give around that time.

And feasts tended to last to last hours and sometimes even days.

So Alexander decided to postpone the meal to after it.

Thus only having a small snack to fill themselves, Alexander and his entourage exited the mansion and headed to the market square where Melodias had already finished setting up the makeshift stage.

And it was truly a makeshift stage- made of just a huge high table, possibly one of those that were used to host a banquet, with a wooden plank slated against it to climb up.

Circling all around it were rows and rows of armed legionnaires in blue, numbering close to a thousand, all wielding shields and swords, ready to defend their lord from any attacks.

While around them were an ocean of people, all looking at those men with fear in their eyes, their faces dirty, exhausted, and sunken.

The countenances of the crowd clearly reflected the kind of ordeal they were made to suffer for the last three days or even the last five months.

'Melodias did a good job gathering so many so quickly,' And getting on stage to see the vast masses, Alexander was pleased by the numbers.

"My friends and subjects!" He began his address from atop his horse, making him appear grand and powerful, 

"I know that many of you are fearful of the future. You fear what will happen to you. But let me reassure you that we are not the monsters your lords have proclaimed. They are liars!"

"I swear things will only better from now on. Even better than before!"

Alexander pumped his fisted arm saying so, 

"For my first promise, I, Alexander, Pasha of Zanzan hereby swear that citizens of all ages who have managed to escape detection are free to leave their hiding places throughout the city and come out into the open. They shall be free to return to their houses and no harm will come to them, nor will any questions be asked."

The reason why Alexander said this was because once a city was captured, many of its inhabitants were turned into slaves.

And many times this did not have to be ordered by the higher ups, like when the Romans intentionally sold every single Carthaginian after the Third Punic War.

Something it was something the soldiers did themselves, selling them to nearby slave traders.

That was also why slave traders tended to follow armies.

So as of right now, after Alexander's declarations, forcefully turning anyone into slaves became illegal in Thesalie. 

This first promise was nothing unusual, being the standard rule or more like the custom of the time.

So there was not much reaction, except perhaps a sigh of relief from the masses at being reassured that they were not going to be outright slaughtered or sold as their lords and ancestors had warned.

But though Alexander's first promise received a lukewarm response, his next one produced quite a commotion, 

"As for my second promise, I Pasha Alexander swear to bear the cost of rebuilding and restoration of all houses and property destroyed in this war! Those who have had their houses will get a brand new one and those those who have abandoned the city before the siege can return to their without fear. They will be treated according to their rank as if nothing had changed."

Alexander's promise was quite unusual for the time, and the latter half was not something he had offered before, either when taking Adhan or Zanzan.

And the reason for that was simple.

That part mainly affected the nobles and rich merchants and back then, Alexander was busily carving those benefits for himself and his retainers.

But now that there was no such pressing need, he was willing to share.

But though Alexander's latter part was the noteworthy one, it was the former part that drew many incredulous gasps.

"What! Did I hear right?"

"My home! I can get back my home?"

"Oh, finally a roof!"

Most of the gathered were common folks who only cared that Alexander was going to given them a home. 

Allowing a bit of time for the disturbance to subside, Alexander then continued, 

"For lastly for my third promise, I promise to compensate all citizens for their hardships.

All will be provided two free meals a day until the end of this month, as well as receive three hundred libra in gold!"

Tibias's most common currency was libra, which was roughly half the value of a ropal, so Alexander basically promised a month's wage along with meals.

This was Alexander's standard tactic after taking a city, but like before, it was seen as such a generous move that it produced a far greater cheer than the previous one.

"Wooo! Hoooo! Ahhhhh!" As soon as he finished saying this, a thunderous cheer erupted, a din so large that the soldiers guarding the stage were shocked to the point of almost drawing swords, with some of the men thinking that the crowd was getting ready to charge.

But soon cheers like this began to drift out of the crowd, 

"Long live Lord Alexander"

"Glory to him, ruler of Zanzan."

 "Praise to the benevolent Pasha!"