The Mechanical Era

12th of Sunt, 5018

The warm breeze rustle and take down the weak orange leaves of the forest, down to the ground. Next to the forest, was the start of a giant blue lake that housed a large degree of life within it, and was a source of fresh water for anyone who lives nearby.

Within this giant lake, there was a small island that can see seen at the edge of this forest. The lake was enacted as a barrier for anyone, demon or human, to cross through it and take hold there. Not that anyone bothered anyway. It didn't have the proper resources to maintain a community. Yet, it still had visitors. Or, more accurately, one visitor.

From within the forest comes out a feminine figure. She had wavy black hair, and brown eyes, wearing a royal white gown. She was as beautiful as she was powerful. Behind her, was a man, with short brown hair and brown eyes, carrying a satchel bag.

"Your imperial majesty, what are we doing here? What does this have to do with..." the man exclaimed. The woman turned her head to look at the man, making him stop speaking.

"Do not worry, Minister Nathan. This won't take long. Besides, I have something to do here,"

"Can't you do that in the comfort of your own home, your imperial majesty?" Nathan asked Rose, who by that point turned to face the island once again.

"No. I cannot."

She extends her hand and casts a spell. The lake's vast water, transforms into solid ice, extending out all the way to the island. Once she feels that the ice bridge had been completed, she turns to Nathan.

"Let us walk on this bridge, shall we?" With that, the two started walking. Even if Nathan wore heavy leather shoes, he could still feel the cold pain coming through to his feet. However, he keeps it to himself, as he sees Rose walking along, appearing to feel nothing.

The two both arrive at the island, holding a forest and flower gardens like the other side. The trees were all orange, with the leaves slowly falling down due to the small, warm breeze.

"Your imperial majesty, what is this place?" Nathan asks.

"You will get your answer soon, Minister," Rose replied. Her eyes scanned the area, stopping until she found what she was looking for; a dirt path.

"Follow me, minister," Rose asks. Nathan obliges and follows the empress through the path. The dirt path was utterly littered with reddish-brown and orange leaves, all that fell from the trees. Rose, with a whip of her magic, swept them away with the wind.

They follow the path until they saw a small stone palace, build with bricks, and painted white, residing on top of the hill, looking down below at the dirt path. Fascinated, Nathan asks Rose another question.

"Your imperial majesty, what is that? Why is it up there? Who built it?" he asked while pointing his index finger to the castle. They were pretty good questions, considering someone had ordered this place to be built.

"You will find out soon, Minister," Rose replied. They continue walking on the dirt path until they come across a garden. The place was a mess. Leaves were littered everywhere. The flowers had bits of their petals falling apart, and the birds have shat on the paved roads.

"Minister, would you please help me with this?" Rose asked.

"Oh! Of course your imperial majesty! What would you require me to do?" Nathan asks.

"Just clean up this mess real quick. Use your magic to clear out the bird dump."

"As you wish, your imperial majesty." Nathan cast a spell that washes away the bird dump with ease. Meanwhile Rose takes care of the leaves and the flowers. They walk through the garden, cleaning everything up in their way until they reached a metal gate.

"Let us continue on this path," Rose instructs. The two now take off the dirt path, onto a wooden path. They cross the gate and arrive upon a set of stairs, that lead all the way up to the hill.

"Your imperial majesty, where will this lead to?"

"To the palace, you saw up on the hill. Now, let us go. It won't take too long," Rose claimed. After climbing up ten thousand steps, they had made it to the palace. It was much grander, and more beautiful up close than from afar. It incorporated gothic architecture, with sculptures of a younger Rose and a young man.

In front of the palace, was a fountain, no longer functioning as it did not pour out blue water down to the small green pond it held. Rose walks up to the fountain, and purifies the dirty green water, to a crystal clear.

Nathan looked at the crystal clear pond and observed it. He notice there was something underneath the dense water. Something shiny and metallic. Before he could investigate further, Rose called out his name, instructing him to follow her.

Rose walked up to the door and opened it. Inside, the place was much grandeur, with marble tiles, and well-maintained white walls. Although it was made homes to some animals, such as spiders, roaches, and snakes, Rose took care of all of them, before heading up the stairs, followed by Nathan.

As she walks through the halls and stairs, her brain gets flooded with memories of a much simpler time, when she had it all. She was so happy until those bastards showed up.

They walk up all the way to the 5th and final floor, where Rose opened the door to the balcony. From there, the two can see the city of Vallina from a distance, with its gigantic imperial palace, and the smaller buildings that surround it.

"Do you know where we are, Minister Nathan?" Rose questioned Nathan.

"No, your imperial majesty. I do not. Where are we?"

"This place was a little secret. When I was much younger, he had this place built for me, as a birthday present.

We often came here on every 10th of Sunt, when we first met. To go away from everyone else and their problems, so that we can be alone. To talk, to dance, and to sing together.

It was beautiful, and I was in total bliss. It was all perfect until..." her fists clenched at the thought. She took a deep breath before she continued.

"Until they came. They had taken everything away from me. My father, my siblings. My lover... Everything..." Rose turned to face the minister.

"Do you not believe, that they should not go unpunished, minister?"

"I... I guess so..."'

"Good. Now do you understand why I did it?" she asks.

"I... I guess so... but..."

"But what, minister? Do you dare object to me?" she asks, all while staring at Nathan. He was silent for a minute, before responding.

"No, your imperial majesty. I do not." Rose made a smile upon hearing him.

"Good! Now, would you please hand over the ring please?" she asks. Nathan reached for his bag and grabbed a bloody ring. Rose held out it in her hand, examining it, before throwing it into the fountain pond.  It drops down into the pond, gathering together with the other rings that it held within the small pond of water.

Rose smiles once the ring sinks into the pond. She puts up a smile and mutters to herself.

"Justice... It feels too good..."