SIS B5: Chapter 5: Shovel Testing and Majestic Gains

"Any suggestions for a simple edict that I can use for the test?" Daz asked Lyle though he wouldn't mind if Crosius offered an idea too despite not being an active part of the conversation.

Lyle frowned. "I still wish to advise against using it at all in truth, but if you insist, I do have some ideas. I would assume the more vague and impactful the edict, the more durability of the item it consumes, and, consequentially, your lifespan."

Daz nodded, having reached the same conclusions himself.

"As an example, if you decree that it is no longer allowed for anyone you rule over to hurt another citizen, I can imagine that turning the healthiest of demigods into a raisin. Although, we have little basis to go off of to cement that idea," Lyle suggested.

"I find myself agreeing," Daz replied.

His advisor wore a ponderous expression. "Perhaps declare that I, Lyle Middleton, May never dismount or perhaps touch the crystal shovel you have hanging above your throne. That is specific, simple, and entirely inconsequential. Then again, I know little of this device and how it works beyond its description, Your Imperial Majesty."

Daz glanced at the golden tool. "The average durability usage is 400 per edict, at least between all of its prior uses. I can't imagine no one before me has made such powerful and far-reaching edicts like 'no one can harm me', 'no one can lie to me', 'no one shall commit crimes', and such before."

"Certainly, Your Imperial Majesty," Lyle nodded. "But if such edicts have been made before and the average is only 400... Well, forgive me for being quite as curious as I am regarding how much durability a simple edict would consume. Lifeforce too, sadly."

Focusing on the sceptre, Daz activated the item. It began glowing with a powerful red hue as he felt layer upon layer of the world unravel around him.

He could see strings everywhere, almost to the post that the world was unseeable. The only thing that prevented such was the fact that these cords were slightly transparent.

They all connecting everything to everything else. Lyle alone easily had millions upon millions of these lines attaching to him.

Some went to the floor, some to Crosius, some, the walls, many went directly to Daz and many more clearly left the throne room.

As far as he, himself, was concerned, billions upon billions of lines completely surrounded Daz, making him look like some sort of ethereal string nexus of some sort.

"I, Emperor Daz Crowthorne of New Earth, declare this edict to be true," the words flowed from his mouth as if he had spent years saying them over and over again, "My subject and citizen, Lyle Middleton, may never be allowed to grace the Crystal Shovel of Castle Crowthorne's throne room with his touch."

Power flowed out of Daz- no, more than power. He felt himself growing weaker but on such an infinitesimally small scale that it was hard for him to even notice it.

That energy was sucked into the sceptre before it flowed forth into the world of strings. It found one of the hundreds that connected Lyle to the shovel on the wall above him before it turned into a blade and cemented that string in place.

All fluidity in the string was long as a golden hue made the ethereal thing solid and unmoving; never to be changed again for all eternity.

Within moments, the world unpeeled itself and Daz's vision returned to normal, the layers having returned to where they belonged and the strings becoming hidden to his sights once more.

At the same time, some power flowed into him. This power felt like it had belonged to him all along but he simply did not know it yet. It was a power of understanding, of regality.

[Ember of Majesty [Entry-level (initial mastery)] has increased to 37%.]
[Ember of Majesty [Entry-level (initial mastery)] has increased to 38%.]
[Ember of Majesty [Entry-level (initial mastery)] has increased to 39%.]
[Ember of Majesty [Entry-level (initial mastery)] has increased to 40%.]
[Ember of Majesty [Entry-level (initial mastery)] has increased to 41%.]
[Ember of Majesty [Entry-level (initial mastery)] has increased to 42%.]

The notification just kept coming as coming as the power swelling within him, making it fully a part of his very being.

[Ember of Majesty [Entry-level (initial mastery)] has increased to 98%.]
[Ember of Majesty [Entry-level (initial mastery)] has increased to 99%.]
[Ember of Majesty [Entry-level (initial mastery)] has increased to 100%.]

[The Host's understand of the Ember of Majesty has evolved into [Entry-level (middle mastery)].]

And it didn't stop there. No, not at all. It seemed that witnessing that peeled world of grey and string had awoken some instinctive ability to rule, to be regal, to be majestic with Daz's core, within his very soul.

Another hundred notifications greeted Daz's eye before he was informed of the Ember reaching a new height again.

[The Host's understand of the Ember of Majesty has evolved into [Entry-level (final mastery)].]

And again, another hundred notifications made themselves prominently known as energy and knowledge fused into Daz's being.

[The Host's understand of the Ember of Majesty has evolved into [Beginner-level (initial mastery)].]

The throne room was engulfed in silence. Clearly, both Lyle and Crosius had felt the powerful shift in their lord.

Meanwhile, Daz cracked his knuckles as he pulled up this Ember's information.

[Ember of Majesty [Beginner-level Ember] ✧
The host [Daz] has come to gain some insight into the concept of majesty, and thus, can draw on the power of its Ember.

Mastery
Initial: 1% [+263%]]

'... Even if the risks of the edict are strong, if I can gain such improvements of an Ember again, it's worth it. I simply need to see that string-filled world again.' Daz closed his eyes and searched within himself.

After a few moments, he got the very distinct feeling that he could now use his Ember of Majesty outside of his throne room and official situations, though its effects would be greatly diminished.

'It isn't my favourite Ember but it is certainly one of my most useful. I will gladly accept this boon,' he thought with a nod.

"... Never be allowed to grace?" Crosius mumbled from his corner with a short cough. "Very well said but somewhat unlike you, Your Imperial Majesty."

Daz felt a slight pain in the back of his mind before it quickly winked out of existence. Perhaps some residual effects of his lifespan being decreased.

Absentmindedly, he replied, "The sceptre made me say those words more so than anything else. It turned my will into an edict."

"Ah, I see. Very useful," the elderly head advisor noted. "And my suddenly newly reinforced desire to bow and scrape at your feet...?"

"My Ember of Majesty profited from the edict's creation," Daz answered.

Lyle furrowed his brow. Unconcerned with anything else, he spoke his mind, "You don't feel any older to my skills, Your Imperial Majesty. Nor less healthy."

Daz frowned. "I don't like that title. It's too long. Before we do anything else, change how you address me, both of you. I accept the need for some formality but 'Your Imperial Majesty' is too much for me to feel comfortable outside of major public events."

Both of them said in unison, "As you wish, My Liege."

Daz watched in mild amusement as Lyle and Crosius paused to glance at one another in shock. Crosius growled and returned to his papers immediately.

Lyle coughed and asked, "Shall I try to touch the shovel now, My Liege?"

Daz nodded. "Yes, do so."

He felt no need to explain the world of strings to his advisors since he likely wouldn't be using the sceptre much outside of training his Ember of Majesty.

As Lyle had stated, New Earth was an incredibly crime-free empire. There was no need to risk himself to eliminate that tiny percentage.

He had already felt the smallest of slivers of his lifespan leaving him which proved that despite his Curse of Loneliness, his lifespan was not immune to being damaged.

Daz could feel the slippery slope that was the sceptre and fixing every problem that came his way with it. Pennies added up, as too would his spent lifespan.

He watched with careful eyes as Lyle approached him and his throne, his mind busy. 'What would happen if I drained my lifespan entirely? Will the curse keep me alive still? Will I have to deny my death every waking moment or will I just have to let the curse know I do not wish to succumb to my natural passing once and be done with it?'

It was an interesting topic, one that made him feel his Embers of Empathy and Love stir, oddly enough. Not enough to improve, but stir nonetheless.

Lyle bowed his headly respectfully as he passed Daz and his throne. The spindly man then pulled out one of his syringes and stabbed himself in the leg lightly with it.

Noticing Daz's raised eyebrow, Lyle smiled. "I use enhancements to fight, My Liege. I may not get the chance to hunt monsters and clear quests often due to my obligations, but both Mave and I find the time to go out and get stronger at least once a week. What I just used is a simple solution that triples my natural jumping height."

"Are these enhancement-inducing solutions addictive and inexpensive? If yes on the first account, stop immediately and find a new way to fight. We've discussed addictive substances before. If no on the second account, then that was a waste as I could have simply moved the shovel to you with my abilities," Daz said calmly and with a stoic expression on his face.

Lyle shook his head. "No, they are not addictive. Mave made quite sure of that. And yes, they are inexpensive. Both she and I can produce them ourselves as we've taken up a slough of alchemical focused skills. The ingredients from this specific solution only cost 13 to 16 crows a batch."

Daz nodded slowly. 'A crow is equal to about 50 merits exchange-wise. It's good to hear he's been developing though. Cautious as I am of him, I have been concerned that my employment of him has been limiting his growth. A needless worry considering the godlike being living within him, but a worry nonetheless. Emotions are such a complex thing.'

Lyle smiled kindly then jumped without making even the slightest of sounds.

Daz, with his head turned upwards and to the back of his throne to watch, witnessed as Lyle tried and failed to make physical contact with the shovel.

He elegantly somersaulted back to be in front of Daz's throne. With a proper bow, Lyle said, "It seems that it is physically impossible for me to touch it, My Liege. Tried as much as I could, regardless of my mental screaming to just reach out and lightly glance it with a finger, my body would not allow me to do so."

"I wonder what would happen if I were to throw you at the wall," Daz mused aloud. 'Would the laws of physics bend, moving him out of the way to prevent him from touching it? Would he simple freeze and drop to the floor? An interesting thought.'

Crosius chuckled from his corner. "Given your magnificent powers, My Liege, we would likely need to get the cleaners to scrap him off the walls and then we'd have to find you a new personal advisor."

Daz raised a hand to stop Lyle from retorting. "If you cannot be quiet while I conduct business in here, Crosius, then I will have to ask you to leave the throne room. Your petty squabbling means little to me beyond the annoyance it causes me. If you two do this again even once more in my presence, there will be consequences. I've warned you both for this already."

Both men wore serious expressions on their faces and said in unison once more, "Yes, My Liege."

This time, they didn't make noises or faces at one another. Their emotions even settled a bit as far as Daz's Embers could tell.

With a content sigh, he ordered Lyle, "Go get Mu and Crusher for me, would you, Lyle? And thank you for your advice and help. I won't be using this tool unless absolutely necessary. Perhaps once or twice more to see if it can become a tool for training my Ember of Majesty. Outside of that, never."

"Your will is my command. It pains me to know you won't be destroying it, but I understand. I will also write up a plan to perhaps use it while minimizing the risks to yourself to absolutely zero beyond your personal training purposes," Lyle offered.

Daz narrowed his eyes. "I will not give up my emperorship just to force a person to consume their lifespan in my place to create edicts. Regardless of how easily doing so could be. Never suggest such a thing to me again."

He could see the pride in Lyle's expression just for him having realized the man's intentions so easily, but regardless, his advisor still acquiesced. "As you wish, My Liege. I apologise for the suggestion."

Daz leaned back into his throne and he held his chin in his hand while he watched the former jeweller leave the room.

Crosius noted, "It would be a sound plan with inmates on death row, My Liege."

"It is distasteful. It is something my father would do without hesitation. I am not him. I will not kill just to use this double-edged sword," Daz declared as he stared at the sceptre in his hand.

He then shook his head and stored it into his Industrial Item Box. He would wait for Crusher and Mu's arrival. In the meantime, Daz was content to just simply think as he wiggled the crystal shovel Lyle could never touch now that the strings that allowed him to had been overshadowed by the one that disallowed him to.

***

Daz flashed a rare smile when he saw Crusher and Mu being ushered into his throne room by the servants with Lyle at their sides.

With a short and respectful bow, Lyle said, "Miss Crusher and Lord Mu, My Liege. I shall take my leave now."

They all watched Lyle practically slither out of the throne room.

Crusher chuckled as she held her open palm to her head and compared heights with Mu. "That dude still creeps me the fuck out. Hey! You're taller than me now."

Mu smiled kindly at her. "An odd experience for the both of us, I'm sure."

"Always with the mystical crap, eh, Confucius?" Crusher shrugged before she glanced at Daz. "So, Uriel, what's up? Decided to put me to use before my expiration date hits, eh?"

Daz nodded. "Yes, more or less. I'll jump straight to the point. I want you two to add both China and India to my sphere of influence. Japan too if those two don't take over a month."

Mu frowned. "I am aware of Crusher's predicament, of course, but a single month..."

The Asian man shook his head before he sighed and smiled. "I assume you want me to go since I have expressed a desire to handle my father myself. Also, to be the diplomat before overwhelming force is the only option we are left with."

Daz didn't deny that. "Indeed. From what I've seen of Emperor Bei, you'll likely need to kill him but if you can somehow convince him that it makes more sense to bend his knee, then I am more than willing to offer that chance to you, Brother."

Crusher chuckled. "One reaper with daddy issues asking another reaper who also has daddy issues to handle said daddy."

Mu creased his brow. "Your use of the word 'daddy' makes me incredibly uncomfortable, Crusher."

Her chuckling evolved into a full-on throat laugh. "You shouldn't have told me that. I'm gonna have a fuckin' blast in China. I can feel it in my nuts."

'I sure hope that was just a turn of phrase, otherwise Dorian may have some reflection of his life choices lined up in his schedule somewhere,' Daz mused. "I trust you both to get this done. Mu, I don't imagine my input is needed here, but leave at least one of your clones to your responsibilities as you usually do. Dismiss it if you two get in any serious trouble. I'll get Rose to contact me if that happens. Again, very unlikely, but it's never unwise to cover all of our bases."

"I was already thinking of such a plan, Brother. What will you be doing while we're away? Also, While I understand that Crusher is incredibly... mobile now with her hammer's powers - she has been flying all over the city at high speeds for some time now - I cannot. I would ask permission to bring Fort Sky with us."

Daz nodded. "Go ahead. I don't need Grid for anything right now. I'll be doing some... how would Rose say it? Empire-building? I'll be compiling all of the local taxes and using them to upgrade the empire as a whole. Once that's done, I think I'll take a couple of days to rest. Crusher is on a strict time scale. Me? Not so much. I will be leaving for Great Britain with Madison soon, however."

Crusher wore a ponderous expression. "Y'know, when I was a wee girl in rural bumfuck Russia, I never once thought I'd end up taking part in world domination... Well, that's a lie, 'cause who the fuck hasn't, right? but I never thought it'd actually happen. World's a pretty fucky place."

Both Daz and Mu grinned a little at that.

Mu glanced at Daz before abruptly saying, "I'm glad you're taking some days to rest, Brother. You sorely need them. Stay safe and healthy."

"Thanks, you too. As for you, Crusher... worrying would be beyond foolish," Daz shook his head.

Crusher laughed in agreement.