As we were standing beside the currently hectic Field Hospital, Sergeant Deckard and his second in command of the squad, Corporal Mendy, went ahead and made their report, and explained everything to me and Colonel Alessia, according to their explanation, they found the injured locals as they were scouting their designated area, at the South West of the base, around 1.5 kilometers away. And just like what Alessia had speculate before, they were coming from the local settlements in the area, and were devastated by the large wild monster stampede that hit the base before.“At first me and my team didn’t really noticed the settlements as we go passed the place for the first time…because at the first glance..that village is looking like nothing like a village at all…all we saw just a mound of dirt that is slightly higher than the ground…so instead me and my teams just decided to continues with our designated mission areas…”. (Sergeant Deckard)It was understandable that they just got pass
Despite the new discovery at the Field Medical Hospital in the Aeternum Wasteland Base, the rest of the base were moving just as the usual. To all Aeternums that were currently working on all of the aspect of the base, be it constructions, management and the soldiers, everyone were doing their best and enjoying to do so, as they all know and proud that they were the one that is selected to performed these honourable, duty, that is to spread the utopia known as Aeternum to the entire world. At the Base Aero Port which is known as one of the busiest place on the base, it was filled with actions, as the constant departure and arrival of Airship on the port and tarmac.“….alright stop backing up!…guys, let’s hurry up and load the frozen goods!…Wizards Staff, please maintained the temperature of the pallets as we moved the cargo!…let’s start moving people!!…Oh Corporal Milk…thanks for the help…”. (Supervisor Rio)“Nah don’t mention it, Supervisor Rio…beside us Transportation
Before anyone realize, the news about the base sudden changed of mission objectives has become spread all over the base and already reached Aeternum Mainland, all thanks to a single group conversation at the Tarmac, all the flight staff of the Airships that docks at the base, started to go around asking about these matters, as they have heard of it from the previous crews that flew from the base to Aeternum. All of the sudden, these humanitarian story from the Wasteland become famous, is a matter of a few hours.“Master, is it true that our Scouts now have an additional objectives?…what is is again….hmmm.. ah search and rescue…is that true?..”. (Colonel Yvone)“Hmm?…well, it was still under my consideration at the moment…I haven’t made it official yet….how did you heard about these?..”.It was 7 in the evening right now, Alessia has gone off to joined the Base wall inspections duty, whilst Yvone is just coming in duty after her brief travel back last night to Aeternum to arranged all
As the whole nation were currently speculating on their own, on whether the President is going to do another unexpected benevolence act or not. Meanwhile at the Wasteland Aeternum Base, everything were still continued at it’s own normal phase. Although just in the Command Centre alone, the fact that the Scouts would be having their objectives added, is already a well known agenda, as last evening the President has already discussed these matters to all the Commanding staff. Thanks to the President that are willing to air these matters to everyone in the Command Centre, everyone has gotten a clear pictures about why the President still haven’t confirmed anything.“Another Squads asking whether we will be doing Search and Rescue mission…….these guys is really have no patience at all..”.(Communication Officer Jane)Among the 10 Communication officer that are currently working inside the Command Center tent, Officer Jane, frustratingly ended up her recent call, with a clear annoyan
Inside of the Command Centre tent, at the Communication and Strategy sections, the Communication officers that were on duty has keeping track of everything and each single time that they received a contact from the A.C.I.A agents that were on the field, they would stands up and go to the Map of the wasteland that is centered around the base. As time goes by, the originally empty map, were now started to get filled. All the information about the terrain and situation around the base were carefully marked, be it dungeons, forest, mines, monster dens. Everything were being marked.The marking on the map is slowly being over crowded by icons, and one in particular that have been recently marked is the destroyed settlements and also the settlements around the Aeternum Base. The numbers of these settlements has been steadily going up, especially the fully destroyed ones, also, right now, there no sighting of any settlements that does not have any damaged at all, all of them were barely stan
In just a span of 2 days since their arrival, the A.C.I.A agents that I have put to task for collecting the information and also building a network of intelligence inside the Wasteland, they have already succeeded in doing so in just a single day. Not only that, these morning they also told me that they were able to also connected with the intelligence networks in the Dukedom of Angela, and already started to works of investigating the Guilds and also all those connected Merchant groups that has an hand in the Wasteland territory, and also covering the facts that Aeternum already set foot inside the Wasteland.Until now, it was safe to say that when in regards it was about controlling information, the A.C.I.A has already got everything under controlled. So since then, I were able to relaxed a little bit, because from now, Aeternum will have all the information that it needs to get everything under control. Also, due to some dig up works and also an assassination works that has silentl
It was on the second day after I received and collected all the gathered information that the A.C.I.A agents has collected, that finally the Radio News Reporter comes to the Wasteland Base for their own coverage of the news. Naturally I have decided and also only permitted the news to only broadcast the news regarding anything about these matters only on the limited and restricted local news sections. Since at these time advertising that Aeternum is now entering and expanding it’s territory isn’t really a bright thing to do. Beside before the base can fully stands on it’s own and functions as any other Aeternum towns or cities, I dared not to have it opened as of yet.“So, Your Highness, what is the Wasteland Base main priority as of now?…”. (Quara Raedrim)“Hmm…for now, naturally it was for us to fully established ourselves in these new foreign land…although we are invited here by the locals….the matter of our safety and security is entirely up to ourselves to maintained….hence, in
Right After the Command Center Building were finished, I immediately ordered for the search and rescue mission to be launched. After all, with these building now up and running and can be used, I can keep up with the Aeternum good image, after all, I don’t want all the rescued survivor arrived at the base and saw that the entire command structures of those that saved them are still doing their duty from inside a tent. Rather than reassuring them, instead they would think that Aeternum is nothing better than themselves. To me, that is important, and image of Aeternum is doing much better than all of them.By now, I am sure that everyone in the wasteland saw that Aeternums are not that much different from them as Aeternum is diverse in race, these people can see themselves in Aeternums, as they were the same Demi-Human as any of them, but what differentiate them with Aeternum, is how better Aeternum are doing than them, not only living a good life and stronger than them, instead Aeternu
“It is said that if knowledge was water,” said their guide, a half-elf librarian named Vestra, “then Aeternum’s library is the ocean.”In a grand central chamber, they passed under a dome showing a starmap that changed with real-time sky positions. Every known nation had a section—yes, even the smallest and poorest. Aeternum had made it a point of pride to gather the history of every people in the continent, even those now forgotten by time.“This is… our old crest,” Queen Inariel whispered, her fingertips trembling as she reached toward an illuminated tome. “From three centuries ago… when our land was still one forest, before the wars divided it…”“We thought this was lost,” murmured Thelric as he came upon a scroll written in his kingdom’s ancient language, long dead and unspoken.Their tour grew quiet. There was no mocking here, no pompous declarations of Aeternum’s superiority. Only quiet reverence. A nation this strong, this secure, chose to preserve—not dominate. It guarded the
A knock at the door interrupted the quiet hum.It was Director Kwak Lum, again dressed in his signature dark blue robes, his draconic features smiling as he entered.“Honored guests,” he said, bowing respectfully. “Allow me to welcome you, on behalf of the Aeternum Crown and President Mies Sai. You are the first stars to light the Summit’s sky, and we are honored by your presence.”The gathered leaders rose and bowed in return.“We will ensure your time here is not just comfortable,” Kwak Lum continued, “but fruitful. Tours of the city have been arranged. Economic delegates will arrive within days for pre-summit discussions. And the Four-Leaf’s hot springs are now fully prepared—though I dare say our chefs may be the true stars of the Resort.”Laughter rippled through the room.As Kwak Lum left, Queen Inariel turned to the others. “Let them come in airships. Let them come with fanfare and marching bands. We came with purpose.”“And humility,” Brogath added.“Let’s make sure the world
Ambassador Roland cleared his throat. “Director Kwak… if I may speak freely?”“Always, Ambassador Roland.”He stood, brushing a hand across his waistcoat. “We are humbled. To house our people in such a place… it is more than any of us expected. We… we feared being seen as the weaker voices among the UNA.”Kwak Lum’s smile broadened, his eyes gleaming like starlight. “We do not see you as weak. We see you as family.”The moment lingered in silence, the kind that needs no words. Roland sat down; cheeks slightly flushed but heart a little lighter.Outside, beyond the floor-to-ceiling window, the sprawling city continued its dance of preparation. Massive floral displays were being installed at the roundabout leading to the Summit Plaza. Colorful banners were raised in quick succession, displaying the names of each arriving nation. Already, the delegation from the Dukedom of Angela had arrived in a train of shimmering glass carriages. The Republic of Telvinia’s airship hovered just beyond
“Attention citizens of the Free Nation,” a cheerful voice echoed across cobblestone streets, “this is an international broadcast. In four weeks’, time, the UNA Summit will commence in New City, Aeternum. Thirty-one proud nations will stand together under one flag of progress, cooperation, and shared security. We celebrate an era of peace—an age of unity…”The words echoed like thunder in the council chamber.Outside, people paused to listen. While many among the elite scowled and turned away, others in the lower districts paused, curious. Some even smiled. The promise of unity, safety, and growth was seductive—especially to the common folk, burdened by Triangle Guild’s centuries of unchecked power and exorbitant fees.Kennedy noticed it. “Look at them… even our own people are considering it.”“They’re weak,” Carn muttered. “They don’t understand what’s at stake.”Alphonse’s brow furrowed. “Or maybe they do. Maybe they’re tired of being bled dry by guild taxes and levies. Aeternum gave
In New City, President Kaiser Mies Sai met with his advisors. The room buzzed with discussions about the upcoming summit and the potential threats from dissenting nations.Advisor Elena: "Mr. President, intelligence reports suggest increased propaganda from the Principality. They aim to discredit the summit and our initiatives."President Mies: "We anticipated resistance. Our focus remains on unity and progress. Let their words be drowned by the chorus of cooperation and shared prosperity."The President's resolve was clear. The UNA would not be deterred by the dissent of those clinging to outdated and oppressive ideologies.As the summit drew nearer, the world watched with bated breath. Supporters of the UNA saw it as a beacon of hope and collaboration, while detractors viewed it as a threat to their traditional power structures.In the Principality of Light, the Church intensified its rhetoric, urging its followers to resist the UNA's influence. Yet, whispers of dissent emerged even
The Ministry of Infrastructure has begun preparations to reroute major traffic corridors to accommodate the anticipated diplomatic convoys and foreign delegates. The Ministry of Culture is also curating a week-long cultural exposition to showcase Aeternum’s diversity and progress.President Mies’ spokesperson confirmed that multiple major policy announcements are expected during the summit’s plenary sessions, including topics rumored to include:Official designation of the Aeternum Credit as the UNA’s preferred trade currency. Establishment of the UNA Education Oversight Bureau. Expansion of continental transport infrastructure, and. Strengthened defense cooperation under UNA guidelinesNo foreign media has yet been granted interview access to the President ahead of the summit, but sources within the Black House suggest the upcoming event is being viewed as “a generational turning point.”"The world is watching. The people are ready. And in five weeks’ time, New City will become more
Aeternum would continue to offer education, security, and infrastructure assistance—but always in a way that ensured we maintained our lead.We would teach them how to build schools, but we would own the publishing rights to the most advanced textbooks. We would help them create local militias, but they would still call for Aeternum troops when true threats loomed.We would help them modernize, industrialize, prosper—but they would know, always know, that Aeternum had already blazed the trail further ahead. I didn’t want vassals. I wanted allies who could never quite catch up—because they didn’t need to. They needed us to lead.I rose from my chair and walked toward the window. New City stretched into the horizon, its shining towers and clean streets proof of what discipline and vision could achieve.If left alone, the world would fall back into darkness. If left to their own devices, these medieval kings and nobles would tear each other apart again. The future needed guardians. The U
I knew what was at stake. We had to uphold this example. We had to show, beyond doubt, that the age of “Human First” was over.That the only supremacy left was the supremacy of character. Wisdom. Unity. Vision. And if we could carve that truth into the very soul of the UNA—if we could bury the old hatreds under libraries, not graves—then maybe, just maybe, this world could finally, finally leave its chains behind.I stood up from my chair, moving to the window. Out there, the city pulsed—an endless, living testament to what was possible when walls were torn down, not built higher. I closed my eyes for a moment. I didn’t want to be remembered as the conqueror of nations. I wanted to be remembered as the architect of a new era.One where no child was born inferior. One where no citizen was condemned by the shape of their ears or the color of their skin or the tail on their back. One where power didn’t mean oppression—but opportunity.Aeternum would be the beacon. And the UNA? The vessel
I took another sip of tea, letting the warmth spread through me.Because here’s the delicious irony: by copying our education system, they didn’t just adopt our books and schedules.They were adopting our mindset.Every child who learned using our curriculum. Every teacher trained by our methods. Every official who quoted Aeternum textbooks. They were all little seeds planted deep within foreign soil.In ten years?Those nations would think like us.In twenty?They would be like us. All without a single sword being drawn. I leaned back in my chair, utterly content.Without armies, without bloodshed, we were gaining soft political power over thirty-one nations.Real power.The kind that shaped futures. Mina clinked her cup lightly against mine in a silent toast, her green eyes sparkling.“To the future?” she teased.I smiled, lifting my cup.“To the future we’re writing,” I said.And out there, beneath the quiet, darkening sky, the seeds of a new world had already begun to bloom.The n