Magic Chronicles : Fallen Race

Upon entering, she saw the old king sitting in a chair by a window that looked out over the royal city. Even at this late hour, he was still awake.

The old king seemed to have anticipated Yuffie's arrival.

He showed no surprise at the sound of footsteps behind him.

Yuffie was the first to speak, "Father, I will inform the other nobles and ministers that you have suddenly fallen ill and will not be able to attend the banquet tomorrow before the arrival of the envoy."

"Is this your final act of kindness?" The old king shook his head.

He then turned around, his slightly cloudy eyes from old age gazing upon Yuffie, his eldest daughter.

"Yuffie, I am your family, and your younger sister Sophia is as well. Not to mention your cousins and the rest of the royal family in Ilinor, we all share the same blood. Do you really have to do this?"

As the old king spoke these words, it seemed as though he was not trying to persuade Yuffie, but rather, muttering to himself.

For he knew his eldest daughter well.

Once Yuffie made a decision, no one could change it. This could be seen in her unwavering, cold and ruthless gaze.

However, perhaps Yuffie still held some sentiment for her family.

She still respected her father greatly.

Yuffie walked to the old king's desk and read out loud the suggestions for national policies that were piled on top, sent by the ministers and royal family members.

"Reduce tariffs on the empire, increase the import of excellent products from the empire, and improve the living standards of the people of Ilinor."

"Join the Kingdom Alliance led by the empire and sign the 'Prohibition of High-Level Magic Clause' - in the future, no academy in the kingdom will be allowed to offer courses above third-level magic."

"The Five Flowers Alliance is deeply loved by the people and should receive more rewards and honors, lest the hardworking nobles become disheartened."

"Establish an exchange academy with the empire and attract imperial students with more subsidies to keep high-achieving students in their homeland."

"Abolish the military system of the kingdom and introduce the more advanced self-defense force concept from the empire."

"Suggest that tomorrow be set as a public holiday in the Kingdom of Ilinor, and distribute imperial flags to the citizens of the royal city to show the importance attached to the arrival of the imperial envoy and to express the joy and welcome of the people of Ilinor to the envoy."

"An independent Ilinor is doomed to failure."

Yuffie did not continue reading.

There were many more such proposals for reform.

Of course, they didn't write it so bluntly, Yuffie had simplified the core content.

If only a few people had made such "reform" proposals, it would have been fine.

But in reality, Yuffie knew that among the nobles, even the royal family, the majority were rulers like this.

So,

"Father, as a member of the royal family, with the blood of our ancestors flowing through our veins, I do not consider these people to be my kin. Their existence is a disgrace to me and to the ancestors of the royal family."

"Disgrace should be eliminated, not tolerated in the hope of redemption."

There was not the slightest hesitation in Princess Yuffie's voice.

The old king sighed.

As if making a final plea, he asked, "What about your sister, Sophia?"

"Yes."

The crown princess added expressionlessly, "I have given her many opportunities, but every time, she has chosen a different path."

The old king fell silent.

As if he had aged many years, after a few seconds, he smiled bitterly, as if giving up, and said slowly, "I will attend the banquet tomorrow night. If the king does not come in the middle, that envoy and the other nobles will become suspicious, which is not good for your plan."

"Let this failed king do one last thing for you."

The Five Flowers Alliance wanted to take the opportunity of the envoy's arrival to eliminate the royal family and seize power.

But Yuffie was not the only one with a plan. This crown princess wanted not only to eliminate the Five Flowers Alliance but also to use them to get rid of these disappointing worms of the royal family of Ilinor.

"Yuffie, be careful of the envoy. The envoy from the Empire is not as simple as you imagine.... Can you tell me what kind of trump card gave you such great confidence to make such a risky move?"

Obviously,

The old king believed in his daughter, who was not just an adventurer on the surface. With his knowledge of Yuffie, there must be some invincible deeper power.

Regarding this, Yuffie hesitated for a moment, but ultimately said,

"Please rest assured Father, I have mastered the power from a thousand years ago."

Yuffie did not finish her sentence.

This was the limit of what she could reveal.

However, even so, it was enough to shock the old king. He even stood up from his chair and stared at his grown-up daughter with disbelieving eyes.

"No wonder."

The old king repeated twice with a tremble.

He seemed to have completely set his mind at ease and sat back down in his chair. He was ready to act as bait for his eldest daughter Yuffie, and to fulfill his last bit of worth as an old man to bring hope to Ilinor.

However.

Yuffie's purpose for coming this time was not only to talk to her father.

She also wanted to get the truth, a secret from her father.

About the secret from a hundred years ago.

"Father, during the period when the Empire changed its emperor for the seventh time, a rebellion broke out in the world. Those anti-Empire forces from underground once made the Empire in a desperate situation."

"Subsequently, the Empire joined forces with many other kingdoms to suppress this rebellion, and at that time, our Ilinor was also one of them."

Yuffie recounted this history lightly.

She used to not care about it.

But later, after the "Gray Cloak Man" told her the truth and she saw more history, she discovered the intricacies and wanted to ask, to ask her old king father who had experienced the rebellion war.

"Father, what exactly was the rebellion war that year? What were those anti-Empire rebellion forces?"

To his eldest daughter's question, the old king shook his head.

"Yuffie, don't you already have the answer in your heart?"

"That is not a level we can reach. I can only tell you that it is a terrifying power that only exists in 'ancient history,' or as you say, it is the power from a thousand years ago."

"But even so, they could not resist that emperor, and even the final fate of those rebel armies, those extremely powerful ancient heroes in my eyes, was to be thrown into the dungeon by that emperor and become prisoners in the basement."

The old king's eyes showed a color of reminiscence, as if one could still see the fear and aversion from those years.

After seeing that invincible emperor, he completely lost his fighting spirit and became dispirited. He chose to let Ilinor join the ranks of the imperial army in the "Rebellion War" of that year and stand with the empire.

It was because of this that Ilinor is now like this.

But also because of this, the Kingdome of Ilinor still exists.

And those countries that had helped the "Rebellion Army" in the beginning, their royalty, nobles, ministers, and even their people have all become slaves who can never rise again, to be sent to other countries in the world for play.

The old king's original intention was to remind Yuffie and warn her not to go too far. The outcome of resisting the empire was only one.

But Yuffie's focus was entirely on,

"Father, are you saying that those ancient heroes from that year, the leaders of the Rebellion Army, did not die? But were imprisoned in the Empire's dungeon?"

"Dungeon is just a term. I'm not clear on how the emperor dealt with them specifically, but I can confirm that the emperor on the battlefield at that time did not kill them. He only captured them.

But to the outside world, it was declared that the rebel leaders had all been beheaded to glorify the empire's victory. That's why the historical records say so."

"I understand. Thank you Father, for telling me this."

After the crown princess got the information she wanted, she prepared to turn around and leave. She still had a lot to prepare for tomorrow night.

As the old king watched his daughter's departing back, he moved his lips and gave his final warning as a father.

"Yuffie, some powers are not under your control. What you're doing will only... set yourself on fire."

The crown princess paused.

The last sentence after leaving the room echoed in the desolate room of the old king.

"In ancient history, there is another name for self-immolation."

"Nirvana."