Chương 50: 4 Teachers

1 year later - 289 AC

Since returning to Heaven's Reach, Maximus has been focused on dealing with the more day-to-day operation of his empire which mostly consisted of signing papers. He was the highest authority in the Imperial Union, but most things were delegated to certain individuals such as Olorin and Eonwe who were granted the Authority to act on his behalf.

Alongside this, every day in the courtyard of his palace, he would spend several hours practicing magic with both Merlin and Lilith or some days Olorin and Eonwe. By learning from 4 different teachers, he could learn a great deal from each of them, including their distinct styles, philosophies, and techniques so that he can have a cohesive and formidable mastery of magic.

Merlin emphasized the ancient, elemental forces of the world, teaching him to mold fire, earth, wind, and water as easily as one might shape clay. Lilith took a more cerebral approach, focusing on the nuances of magical theory and manipulation of the arcane weave itself, she claimed that true power lay in understanding not just 'what' magic could do, but 'why' it worked.

Olorin's guidance was rooted in wisdom and restraint; his lessons often felt like philosophical debates more than spellcasting practice, yet Maximus found his mind sharper for it. And then there was Eonwe, whose martial discipline combined magic with physical prowess, a combination of swordplay and spell work that turned battle into an art form.

The courtyard was filled with sounds of magic spell eruptions as Maximus pushed himself to his limits under their watchful eyes. His mind was absorbing the knowledge almost instantly.

Though he was already powerful by virtue of the abilities granted to him by the system and by being an otherworlder, he knew that raw talent alone would not ensure his continued survival in this world, especially during the trials that he would need to take in order to transform into a Demi-God.

"Again!" barked Eonwe during an afternoon session in which Maximus struggled to maintain his footing. The clash of energy between his sword and Eonwe's enchanted blade sent sparks flying around them like a meteor shower.

Maximus grinned through the exhaustion, wiping sweat from his forehead, "You enjoy this too much," he said, raising his blade in preparation for another attack. His muscles ached, but he had learned that Eonwe's relentless approach was what forced him to improve.

Eonwe's stern expression changed into a faint smile. "Perhaps. But your enemies will not be kinder than me. Again."

Maximus lunged forward, channeling magic into his blade as Eonwe parried. The wind shifted violently around them as Maximus unleashed a burst of wind magic, attempting to knock Eonwe off balance. But Eonwe was ready, he twisted his body and countered with a blow that sent Maximus stumbling back.

From the edge of the courtyard, Lilith watched with a raised brow, her arms folded across her chest. "You're relying too much on brute force," she called out. Her voice carrying a bit of critique. "Eonwe is testing your precision, not your power."

"Noted," Maximus muttered under his breath, planting his feet firmly on the ground and taking a deep, steadying breath. He adjusted his grip on the blade, letting Lilith's words sink in. 'Precision, not power'. The next strike needed to be precise.

Eonwe raised his blade, "Focus. A single moment of clarity can turn the tide of any battle," he said.

Maximus closed his eyes for a fraction of a second, tuning out the world around him. He felt the wave of magic in the air, the energy coursing through his body. When he opened his eyes again, he knew what his next move needed to be.

He surged forward, this time with measured steps. Eonwe moved to intercept, but Maximus feinted to the right, twisting his blade at the last second to send a wave of fire toward his opponent. The flames slightly hit Eonwe's armor, forcing him to pivot. Seizing the opening, Maximus followed up with a precise arc of lightning, his blade crackling with energy as it struck.

Eonwe deflected the blow, but barely. His expression shifted to one of approval as he stepped back, lowering his weapon. "Better. You're learning to think beyond the immediate attack," he said, nodding. "But remember, precision isn't just about the strike, it's about timing. You'll need both to give you a greater chance in your trials."

Maximus straightened, breathing heavily. "Noted. Again?"

Before Eonwe could respond, Merlin clapped her hands from across the courtyard. "Enough sparring for today. It would be terrible for the emperor to end up burnt and half-dead," she said jokingly. "Besides, Lilith has been glaring at you like she's about to unleash an hour-long lecture on magical finesse."

Lilith smirked; her crimson eyes gleaming as she stepped forward. "Perhaps I will. If you insist on exhausting yourself, the least you could do is make it worthwhile."

Maximus groaned but didn't argue. He knew better than to challenge Lilith when she was in one of her teaching moods. He was the one who ordered them to speak with him freely when they weren't in an official setting, while it took a few months for it eventually become normal to them.

"Fine, but don't expect me to stay awake if this turns into another philosophical debate."

Everybody chuckled lightly as Maximus sheathed his sword and joined the others at the edge of the courtyard.

The trials to ascend to Demi-Godhood loomed closer with each passing day, a shadow on the horizon that he couldn't ignore. Yet, with his powerful subordinates by his side, teaching him how to fully utilize his power.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Maximus went inside to take a bath, followed by Lilith and Merlin who used their positions as his personal aids to accompany him even in the bath.

Maximus wasn't complaining, well… who would in this situation having on one side a goth witch and on the other side a dark-haired sorceress. He had no complaints and was actually the more aggressive one as he often needed to unwind after training for several hours. Lilith and Merlin were glad to step up and be the ones to help him unwind.

———

In the east, Alexander had finished his conquest of the Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh, the three cities now under the control of the Imperial Union. Now the Imperial Union controlled almost every Free city except for Norvos, Pentos, Braavos, Qohor, and Lorath.

Braavos and Pentos had already sent people to improve the relations between the Imperial Union and their city. As a result, trade agreements were signed allowing for an exchange of resources, in exchange for an end to slavery. Braavos was already anti-slavery so something like this was no problem, as for Pentos, it had been recently forced to end the practice of slavery after losing their last war with Braavos.

And to get around this, they created a system of indentured servitude to replace chattel slavery which was different from slavery as one could earn their freedom. Maximus decided to overlook this since the system in which Pentos had in place benefited even those in indentured servitude and they were not treated as slaves.

Trade flourished between the Imperial Union and the two Free cities as they relied heavily on trade with other cities which were now a part of the Imperial Union.

As for Qohor, Norvos, and Lorath, the three cities did not want to abide by Maximus's mandate of abolishing slavery. In Norvos, the bearded priests couldn't come to terms with abolishing slavery. They saw it as a prelude to allowing the Imperial Union to just throw its influence around and expect people to obey. They believed it was their religious mandate to resist the Imperial influence.

For now, Maximus didn't move against Norvos and just ignored the city, for now at least.

Qohor and Lorath had surprisingly caved in to the pressure and agreed to Maximus's terms. This allowed trade to continue to flourish throughout all of the Free cities, except for Norvos who was cut off from any trading from the Imperial Union. The Silver Serpent Trading Company had closed up their buildings within the city and left causing even the people to become concerned at what was going on.

The bearded priests held the power now, but if they continue to ignore the people's needs, then Maximus will not have to do anything at all.

Slaver's Bay has been renamed to the Bay of Horizon's, representing new opportunities and a break from the dark past, this name evokes the idea of looking forward to a brighter horizon.

In addition to this, Maximus created 6 new noble families from people who have proved their loyalty and dedication to him and the Imperial Union which inspired many others to strive for such success and be granted a title of nobility. Unlike other places where nobility is usually from people of noble blood, it was different for the Imperial Union.

Maximus established a clear Merit-based system where people could become a noble through military service, civil service, economic contributions, and scholarly and cultural achievements. This allowed anyone who worked hard enough to be able to achieve a higher status within the Imperial Union.

With the promise of nobility tied to accomplishments, people are incentivized to work harder and contribute to the empire's prosperity, fostering a culture of ambition and innovation.