After one by one mind blowing discoveries were presented, by Rafaela, Professor Bar and Captain Polly Grokham. Right now on the stage were someone who is fairly new to the Conference Hall and me standing before the crowds and she was visibly shaken by the attentions that she get as she was on stage. She wasn’t alone on the stage, but she was with 5 others researchers with her, all of them were the same age as her, earl twenties, and I can sense that all of them were fresh graduates of Aeternum Royal University.
“..Who are these kids?..”.
“Them?…They were our Research and Development, newest members, a recent Graduates…Very intelligent, dedicated…and honestly quite passionate about their duty….3 of them were actually wanting to join the Military..but were rejected due to their limited physical strength…another 3…well, they were hidden genius that found their ways to Me…&
โThere she is!โ shouted a teenager, pointing at Queen Zanesia, radiant in indigo robes. โThatโs our queen!โThe crowd erupted into cheers.โShe stood among the greatest!โ another exclaimed. โAnd we belong there now.โAnd on the distant coastlines of the Island Kingdom of Eloesa, sailors and dockworkers stopped their tasks to gather at makeshift amphitheaters, screens positioned on cargo crates and tower decks. The sailors saluted as Queen Aqeesha and her daughter appeared onscreen, their navy uniforms gleaming with pride.โI never thought Iโd live to see it,โ said an old captain, his weathered hands gripping a mug of rum. โA summit... not about war, but peace. And they sang, aye. They sang.โEven in the most remote corners of the UNA, the Cultural Exchange Extravaganza had reached hearts and homes.In rural villages with little more than a small relay post, farmers gathered outside taverns, their eyes wet with joy at the sight of their countryโs flag soaring high among the banners of
โ[My friends. My fellow citizens. My allies,]โ his voice rang clear, projected into the hearts of all listening. โ[It is with great prideโand even greater hopeโthat I declare the opening of the UNA Cultural Exchange Extravaganza!]โThe stadium erupted once more into applause, fireworks blooming above in symmetrical harmony, each explosion tinted with the national colors of all UNA members.President Mies continued, his tone deepening with gravitas.โ[Tonight, we gather not only as leaders or citizens of different lands, but as kindred spirits of this age. We gather to celebrate what makes us unique, and to embrace what binds us together. Culture, language, tradition, and innovationโeach of these is not a wall to separate us, but a thread in the great tapestry of unity we now weave together.]โHe glanced at the audience, meeting the gaze of monarchs, prime ministers, generals, and peasants alike.โ[Aeternum is honored to host this first cultural celebration of the UNA. But let it not b
Meanwhile, Queen Aqeesha Eloesa watched her daughterโs naval training academy set up a simulated navigation experience in the Eloesan booth. She turned to one of the local officials nearby. โTell your President, he has our gratitude. Thisโฆ this was brilliant.โIndeed, it was clear to all who attended that only Aeternumโvisionary, progressive, and deeply thoughtfulโcould have conceived of such an event. There were no rankings. No contests. No judging. Each booth was a celebration of individuality under a shared banner.Director Kwak Lum, who had been overseeing the setup since before sunrise, stood quietly on one of the upper terraces, watching the crowd below. Hundreds of thousands flowed through the walkways. The laughter of children. The mingling of different languages. Dances. Music. Spontaneous performances.He turned to the Aeternum Press Secretary beside him.โLook at them,โ he said softly, the corners of his mouth lifting in satisfaction. โThis is what unity feels like. Not man
First, the Kingdom of Zaredonโthe poster child of Aeternumโs success. Once faltering, now flourishing after pledging itself as a vassal, its delegation emerged in pristine white vehicles etched with golden veins of runestone.Queen Zanesia Von Zaredon, regal in indigo and gold, stepped from her custom SUV with the bearing of a ruler reborn. Her people adored her. So did many in the UNA. Her reign had proven the merits of Aeternum's guidance.And last, from the skies above, descended a sleek dark ship of gleaming blacksteel and obsidian sails: the flagship of the Island Kingdom of Eloesa, military might of the seas and pride of Aeternumโs vassal fleet.When the ship touched down, all eyes turned to the descending ramp.Out walked Queen Aqeesha Eloesa, striking and statuesque, a proud commander in her own right. Her presence was enough to silence a crowdโand then ignite it into a thunder of admiration.โShe is the mother of Duchess Kolarova Qoon Eloesa,โ someone whispered. โThe Admiral.
Baron Rathiel of the Ivory House spoke with Queen Inariel about building a Skyglass Cliff Retreat in Liryaโs mountaintops, while Countess Morwen from the Flameveil Family began sketching ideas for a fire-themed volcanic spa in the rocky outskirts of Halberd.Competition, it turned out, was not just among the UNA nationsโbut fiercely alive among the Aeternum nobility.โI want my family crest flown over three resorts by next year,โ Morwen said to her assistant, a glint of challenge in her eye.โI will not be outdone by Ysmene again.โWhat was once admiration had turned into practical movement. Papers were signed. Resource lists were exchanged. Contact crystals activated. Even Aeternumโs local trade officials watched with pleasant surprise at how quickly the visiting nations adapted to the pace of the cityโs economic ecosystem.By evening, the smaller nation leaders regrouped at the Four-Leaf Resort, each carrying documents, proposals, and ideas in their handsโand something else in their
โThat settles it,โ said Queen Inariel. โI want one. Noโtwo. One for me, and one for my heir.โThere was laughter, yesโbut beneath it, genuine interest and burning ambition.These werenโt simply rulers indulging in luxury. They were leaders who understood symbols. In their home countries, where roads were still dirt and carts still squeaked over stone, returning in a Presidential SUV would not merely signify allianceโit would inspire transformation. A visual cue to their people that change had come.Brogath turned to Cassana. โAnd how do we acquire theseโฆ symbols?โCassana smiled. โEach vehicle is available through our UNA Government Procurement Program. With subsidies for infrastructure partners. If your country commits to hosting an AAM-supported maintenance center, we offer reduced fleet prices.โPrince Thelricโs eyes lit up. โSo, we wouldnโt just buy cars. We could build an AAM branch?โโExactly,โ said Cassana. โItโs part of Aeternumโs development outreach.โThe implications were e
Mrs. Jamey blinked. โPardon?โThe Queenโs proposal was gentle but clear. โOur kingdomโLiryaโis small, yes. But we have abundant cotton, some of the finest silk-spinning traditions in our mountain region, and a rising population of tailors looking for stable work. Nicoleโsโฆ would be cherished there.โIt wasnโt long before other leaders joined the conversation. Prince Thelric spoke of his nationโs dye-producing forests. A dwarven delegate mentioned an offer to help forge enchanted weaving machines. Everyone wanted to be the first to secure Nicoleโs expansion.Mr. Jamey chuckled, both overwhelmed and humbled. โWe always thought expansion meant bigger cities in Aeternum. Butโฆ I suppose weโve been looking too closely. Nicoleโs could mean something far more if we carry her name into the world.โBy the time the sun began to set, the Jameys had exchanged contact crystals with six different representatives. Nicoleโs might soon go international.And Nicoleโs was just the beginning. Across New C
โIt is said that if knowledge was water,โ said their guide, a half-elf librarian named Vestra, โthen Aeternumโs library is the ocean.โIn a grand central chamber, they passed under a dome showing a starmap that changed with real-time sky positions. Every known nation had a sectionโyes, 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.โThis isโฆ our old crest,โ Queen Inariel whispered, her fingertips trembling as she reached toward an illuminated tome. โFrom three centuries agoโฆ when our land was still one forest, before the wars divided itโฆโโWe thought this was lost,โ murmured Thelric as he came upon a scroll written in his kingdomโs ancient language, long dead and unspoken.Their tour grew quiet. There was no mocking here, no pompous declarations of Aeternumโs superiority. Only quiet reverence. A nation this strong, this secure, chose to preserveโnot 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.โHonored guests,โ he said, bowing respectfully. โAllow me to welcome you, on behalf of the Aeternum Crown and President Mies Sai. You are the first stars to light the Summitโs sky, and we are honored by your presence.โThe gathered leaders rose and bowed in return.โWe will ensure your time here is not just comfortable,โ Kwak Lum continued, โbut fruitful. Tours of the city have been arranged. Economic delegates will arrive within days for pre-summit discussions. And the Four-Leafโs hot springs are now fully preparedโthough I dare say our chefs may be the true stars of the Resort.โLaughter rippled through the room.As Kwak Lum left, Queen Inariel turned to the others. โLet them come in airships. Let them come with fanfare and marching bands. We came with purpose.โโAnd humility,โ Brogath added.โLetโs make sure the world