The airship swiftly cruised the imperial capital's sky as the vessel made its way toward the great palace at the center of the city.
Despite the city's massive size, our airship was the only one flying above the capital.
"I heard huge cities have many airships flying on top of them, my lady. That they had so many of them coming and going they had to separate a huge field just for landing those ships."
I said to the black-armored knight beside me.
"Only permitted vessels are allowed to fly through the imperial capital's airspace. Given Tsuaka is the home to the imperial family, we needed to make sure the city is safe, including its sky."
"Impressive! You honorable knights thought of everything."
"It is the duty of the Viulan knight order to think of the imperial family's safety. Eliminating threats to the Great Pioneer's descendants is what we do."
The Seven Great Houses were the extensions of the Eternal Throne.
Each family led by a patriarch or a matriarch called a Watcher of the Realm. Powerful people whose authority was only inferior to the one of the imperial monarch.
It was told in legends that the ancestors of the Watchers were loyal vassals to the Great Pioneer during the foundation of Tsatu.
If the Eternal Throne was the pillar of the empire, then the Great Houses were the pillars of the Eternal Throne.
For three thousand years the Great Houses had continued serving the descendants of Manusha.
Each House shouldered their own role in the empire and all of them excelled in what they tasked themselves to do.
The Great House Viulan dedicated their lives to ensure the safety of the imperial family.
It was their never-ending mission to prevent any harm to befall the royalties, especially the Eternal Throne's occupant and its heir.
A Viulan noble or those sworn to Viulan's banner would lay down their lives just to prevent an imperial royalty from being wounded.
There was a saying that went 'a grave of Manusha was built upon thousands of Viulan tombstones.'
Their dedication was not in vain.
No imperial royalty had ever been assassinated during the three-thousand-year reign of the Eternal Throne.
Except for the monarchs whose life was bonded to the Eternal Throne, every person of Manusha's blood had always died of old age.
Although it was true that the only royalties that could produce offspring were those that sat on the Eternal Throne, and that no Manusha had ever contested an Eternal Throne heir in the three-thousand-year history of Tsatu, it still was an incredible feat from the Viulan.
The imperial family had many enemies despite its peaceful internal relationships.
Rebels would sometime emerge every couple hundred years inside the empire that refused to acknowledge the Eternal Throne's authority.
And, of course, those sub-human species that waged those huge wars many years ago. Most people in my village thought those wars were just fairy tales however.
Whenever one of those antagonizing factions appeared, the empire would be thrown into turbulent times.
And during those eras, the Viulan had always kept the imperial family unharmed.
It was truly incredible to think that the beautiful and kind woman next to me was part of such esteemed institution.
And even more incredible that I was able to be of help to her.
"Do they really need me, Lady Reingand? The people in the palace, I mean."
I told the armored woman next to me.
She immediately nodded.
"The healer department has been looking for a skilled worker for some time now. You are definitely needed there."
"But I'm just a healer's apprentice. I'm not even a mage. I simply know my way around with herbs. Surely there are more capable people that deserves my new position in the palace."
"Nonsense! I've seen you worked in the battlefield tending to my soldiers. The way you carried yourself with calm and precision in the middle of all that chaos, it took great courage and immense skill. I can assure you, Miss Andal. You are needed."
The Viulan knight said to me with firm convincing tone.
Given the way she delivered those words, I could not help but wanting her to be true.
I did wish her to be true.
For I did want to go to the palace. So that I could see the Eternal Throne.
To see the kind of man that was the symbol of the empire and the rest of the world.
The airship soon landed on a massive courtyard at the northern wing of the palace.
A row of black-armored soldiers was awaiting the vessel there. Each of them was bearing the symbol of a single-horned crimson bear that Lady Reingand was displaying on her breastplate.
Upon the landing, a metal ramp extended from the deck onto the courtyard.
Lady Reingand gestured to the pathway.
"Allow me to escort you down, Miss Andal."
I was about to object her by saying that I needed to return to my cabin and grab my luggage, but a couple of the airship's crew soon appeared on the deck carrying them already.
"V-very well, my lady."
I then followed the knight off the ship.
The row of black-armored soldiers immediately saluted once they caught sight of Lady Reingand. Their metal wear clanged in unison upon the motion.
The knight lady made a small gesture with her hand and caused the soldiers to return to their straight rigid stance.
"Florenzine, you're finally here!"
Suddenly from inside the palace walked out a young woman cladded in luxurious black dress.
The young woman would had seemed like a typical noble lady given the way she dressed.
If it were not for the magnificent sword belted on her hip, she would look the part.
Silver-haired with piercing crimson eyes. She somehow made Lady Reingand's appearance looked pale in comparison.
And upon closer observation, despite her frilly black gown, this young woman even carried stronger aura than Lady Reingand.
The symbol of single-horned crimson bear embroidered on her black dress would explain such overwhelming attribute.
"Milady Zaphyra,"
Lady Reingand called the young woman while bowing slightly to her. I curtseyed along the knight in fear of showing disrespect.
The knight continued in great reverence.
"I did not know you were expecting me, my lady. I am currently on my way to bring reports to His Excellency from the Mala region."
"Father has heard enough from what you told him through the communication equipment. He's now deploying you and me to the Pratama Rise. We're supposed to help the Farista and the Anashta forces set up a blockade around the whole plateau."
"My sword is yours, my lady."
Lady Reingand said, bowing once more.
The young woman then turned to me.
"And who is this woman with you, Florenzine? I thought you never wanted a maid?"
"This is Tania Andal. I brought her from the Mala region to work in the palace as a healer."
"Ah, she's the one in the report, then? The heroic healer who marched alone through a dangerous forest filled with monsters. All just so she could bring medicine and supplies for the soldiers trapped in the frontline."
"The very one, my lady."
Despite how badly I wanted to refute their words, I kept my curtsy and head down in the middle of their conversation.
Someone with low social standing such as myself was not able to speak to a high noble directly, unless spoken to.
"You are a remarkable character, Miss Andal."
The young woman said to me.
"Your Ladyship's praise is wasted on me. I am nothing but a healer's apprentice."
I replied in a humble tone, while still maintaining my curtsy.
"Nonsense, Miss Andal! The Viulan detest nonsense!"
The young woman said with the firmness of an army general.
She continued with the tone of a commander addressing her officers.
"For many generations since the Great Pioneer's time, the soldiers of the Crimson Bear have been taught to recognize the value of a person, both of themselves, of their allies, and of their enemies.
"It is considered a great sin by the Viulan Household to misjudge a character. For the unknown and surprise kills more than the sword.
"Now, you wouldn't say I have shamed myself by committing a sin, would you?"
I immediately lifted my gaze and shook my head.
"N-NO, MY LADY!"
The young woman chuckled at my response.
"Be proud of yourself, Miss Andal. By working in the palace, you will serve the Eternal Throne. And by serving the Eternal Throne, you will also serve the empire and all of Dunia."
"I shall commit my whole being for the sake of the Eternal Throne and the Realm, my lady."
I said while performing another deep curtsy.
It was then that an elderly woman in simple dress approached us.
"I've heard of your arrival and that Florenzine was supposed to escort you to your new station, but I need her to depart with me immediately. So the Head Maid will show you around."
The Viulan noble lady said while gesturing to the elderly woman.
She proceeded to walk up the ramp of the airship behind us.
"Let's go, Florenzine. I want to reach camp before sundown. We need to make it for the evening briefing. Those Farista hotheads likes to start the session early so the Viulan will look like fools showing up late."
"Right away, my lady!"
Lady Reingand replied promptly.
The knight then turned to me.
"I must beg your pardon, Miss Andal. I know it's rude to suddenly leave you like this when I was the one who invited you to the palace."
I shook my head immediately to her apology.
"It's alright, my lady! I am truly grateful for all the aid you've given me!"
With a relieved face, Lady Reingand nodded to me and returned to the airship. The black-armored soldiers standing on the courtyard followed close behind her.
The elderly woman in simple dress then walked up to me.
"Miss Tania Andal, I presume?"
She asked in a rigid dignified tone, as expected of someone who worked in the imperial palace.
"Y-yes! Her Ladyship said you're going to show me where I'd work?"
The elderly woman nodded. Though it was just a very slight tilt of her head.
"I'm Hailene Talryle, the Head Maid of the imperial palace. Allow me to show your role in His Majesty's service."