Chapter 63: Chapter 63: A Network of Allies

Lucian sat in the grand chamber of the recently rebuilt palace, his fingers lightly tracing the edges of a map that spanned the entire table before him. It showed not only his empire but the neighboring territories—some neutral, some hostile, and some still recovering from the Church's devastation. His empire was strong, yes, but it was far from invincible. And Lucian knew better than to assume that its strength alone would guarantee its survival.

The events of the past few months had made it clear that while his innovations in technology and magic were potent, they were not enough to keep future threats at bay. The Church had been weakened but not destroyed, and other empires, seeing his rise, would soon be positioning themselves either as allies or rivals.