Tale of a Hedonistic wizard

Zenumus very much about his brother's behaviour. It wasn't the first time he had gone off the radar without informing them.

But what he didn't understand was his arrival right after Jaegar's release.

Did he come to talk about his son? About him not being part of the crown system?

Lately, he couldn't guess his brother's movements, as he had gone completely off radar. Every time he disappeared, they could find him in some part of the forest or some city around the edges of the empire, but now they couldn't find him anywhere.

Zenumus suspected that Angus was scheming something, perhaps to covet his throne. No, Angus long since declared his uninterest in the throne, and he even expressed his gratitude when Zenumus stepped up to take the role of Crown Prince at that time. He wasn't the type to go after the positions held by the court.

He at least knew that much about his brother.

Then he entered the corridor and saw men standing on either side of the wide corridor.

It was a wide corridor leading to his office chamber on the west wing of the palace. The palace was a place spread over a minimum of ten acres of land and the surrounding walls; they reach further with open grounds and various other settlements inside the palace walls.

The palace was a symbol of their power and the brand of the House Gadfraye. It was built with such opulence and grandeur that it was impossible not to feel awe and marvel when one came across such a sight.

The men stood on either side of the corridor, close to the white columns.

The men dressed in black clothes were Anugs' Legion men.

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Opposite to them stood the men of the Order of the Chryso, the golden knights.

He was escorted by four black armoured knights; they had no helmets, and all of them were at the grand knight level. There were the strongest and fiercest knights assigned to the protest, the Emperor.

The Grand Knights were a class of superior men, a brotherhood bound by oath and purpose to serve only one master—the Emperor.

His word was absolute, and to them, it was law. Their loyalty was unshakeable, forged through years of rigorous training that stripped them of all distractions. They took no families, renounced all pleasure, and cast aside worldly desires.

From the moment they were inducted into the order, their lives belonged to the Empire. Their sole focus was their duty, to uphold the Emperor's will without question, no matter the cost. These men were not merely soldiers; they were weapons, honed to perfection, their hearts cold as steel, and their minds unwavering in resolve.

Legends whispered of their unmatched prowess in battle, but it was their devotion, their complete abandonment of anything personal, that made them truly formidable.

The Grand Knights were more than just elite swordsmen—they were the embodiment of discipline, sacrifice, and unwavering loyalty to the Emperor.

Chosen from a young age, boys destined for the order were often plucked from families across the empire, each one possessing extraordinary strength, intelligence, or a rare very skill.

Once selected, they disappeared from the world, taken to the Blaakraven Stronghold, where they underwent years of gruelling training that tested their minds, bodies, and spirits.

Their training was not just physical. It involved a complete breaking down of their individuality.

Each knight was taught that personal desires were weaknesses—ties to family, love, or any form of attachment were seen as potential threats to their dedication.

Through this, they became a single-minded force, existing only to fulfil the Emperor's will.

Their motto: "The Emperor's word is life, and life is his command."

The Grand Knights were also trained in ancient and forgotten forms of combat, making them exceptional swordsmen.

After reaching a certain age, they were taken to the great Malahar jungle, into the deeper parts where the habitat of drakes dwelled.

Each of them was to tame one for themselves and return to the Stromhold. It was one of the trials for them held by the stronghold.

Their armour was distinctive—crafted from a rare, enchanted black steel, etched with golden sigils that shimmered with latent magic. The armour was lightweight yet impenetrable, designed to protect them from both physical and magical attacks.

Each Grand Knight carried a sword infused with ancient power, passed down from previous generations of knights who had served the Emperor. The blade was a symbol of their undying loyalty and the authority they wielded.

But the most striking aspect of the Grand Knights was their total detachment from the world they protected. They did not participate in politics, they did not interfere with the squabbles of noble houses, and they did not indulge in the pleasures of life.

They stood apart, silent and stoic, only present to protect the Emperor.

There were whispers, though, among the people.

Some said that behind their cold, emotionless exteriors, the Grand Knights carried the burden of their sacrifices. There were rumours of former knights who had gone mad after years of isolation and battle, haunted by memories of the lives they could never live.

Others believed that the order's purpose had a darker side, that the Emperor used them not just as protectors but as enforcers of his will, silencing dissent and removing rivals with brutal efficiency.

At the end of the day, they were only rumours, a mere whisper in the dark nights.

Regardless of the rumours, the Grand Knights were both feared and revered across the empire.

To see them was to witness the Emperor's power made flesh. They were the living, breathing instruments of his control, and to defy them was to defy the Emperor himself—a crime punishable by death.

The Emperor's power doesn't end there; he has wizards stationed at the wizard tower who pledged their undying loyalty to the imperial family.

Overall, the House Gadfraye can alone topple the empire if they want, and no army wouldn't be able to stand against them. It was how omnipotent their presence was within the empire.Nôv(el)B\\jnn