Princess Of The Skulls - Chapter 55: Chapter 55
You are reading Princess Of The Skulls, Chapter 55: Chapter 55. Read more chapters of Princess Of The Skulls.
"And in return?" Lord Garrett pressed, his political instincts still sharp despite the upheaval.
"Protection," I said simply. "When the barriers fail again—and they will—you'll have the knowledge and power to defend your lands and your people. The alternative is watching your kingdoms consumed by things that exist beyond mortal understanding."
The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken fears and calculations. These nobles had built their lives around predictable power structures, careful alliances, and the assumption that magic was something that happened to other people. Now they were being asked to embrace a world where every farmer might need to know how to seal a dimensional rift.
"How long do we have to decide?" Lady Minerva asked finally.
"You've already decided," I said, reading the resignation in her voice. "The question is whether you'll help implement the changes or simply try to survive them."
Through the soul-bond, I felt Aldric's approval of my direct approach. We'd discussed this strategy during the long nights since the cathedral's destruction, weighing the risks of moving too fast against the dangers of moving too slowly. The nobility's cooperation would make the transition smoother, but it wasn't strictly necessary.
"What about the succession?" Lord Garrett asked, shifting to more familiar ground. "If traditional marriage alliances are no longer viable—"
"The succession will be determined by competence and magical ability," Aldric interrupted. "Children who show aptitude for dimensional magic will be trained regardless of their birth circumstances. Those who don't will find other ways to serve."
"You're eliminating the hereditary nobility," Lady Minerva said, her voice flat.
"We're evolving it," I corrected. "Power based solely on bloodline was always an illusion. Real power comes from ability, knowledge, and the willingness to make difficult choices. Those who can adapt will thrive. Those who can't ."
I let the sentence hang, but the implication was clear. The old world was dying, and clinging to its corpse would only ensure destruction.
"When do we begin?" Lord Garrett asked, his tone suggesting he'd made his peace with the inevitable.
"Immediately," I said. "Master Dorian will oversee the establishment of new schools. Kael will train security forces in recognizing supernatural threats. Aldric and I will work on diplomatic arrangements with neighboring kingdoms."
"And if they refuse to cooperate?" Lady Minerva asked.
"Then they'll face the next dimensional breach alone," I said coldly. "Their choice."
As the nobility filed out of the throne room, their faces mixing resignation with calculation, I felt a moment of doubt. Was I pushing too hard, too fast? The changes I was implementing would transform society in ways that couldn't be undone.
Through the soul-bond, Aldric's thoughts merged with mine. Doubt is natural, his mental voice whispered. But necessary change often feels like destruction to those who benefited from the old system.
And if we're wrong? I asked. If the barriers hold longer than we think, if the people aren't ready for this kind of responsibility?
Then we'll have created a stronger, more resilient society for no reason, he replied with gentle humor. There are worse mistakes to make.
I touched the skull relics at my throat, feeling the constant whisper of the dead. Their voices carried urgency now, warnings of gathering storms and approaching darkness. Whatever doubts I might have about the speed of change, I had no doubts about its necessity.
The old world had been built on secrets and restrictions, on the assumption that power was too dangerous for ordinary people to wield. But ordinary people were about to face extraordinary dangers, and they deserved better than ignorance and helplessness.
As the sun set over the kingdom, painting the sky in shades of crimson and gold, I made a silent promise to the spirits who guided me: whatever came next, our people would face it with their eyes open and their hands steady.
The Princess of Skulls was dead. But the Queen of the New Dawn was just beginning to rise.
"Protection," I said simply. "When the barriers fail again—and they will—you'll have the knowledge and power to defend your lands and your people. The alternative is watching your kingdoms consumed by things that exist beyond mortal understanding."
The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken fears and calculations. These nobles had built their lives around predictable power structures, careful alliances, and the assumption that magic was something that happened to other people. Now they were being asked to embrace a world where every farmer might need to know how to seal a dimensional rift.
"How long do we have to decide?" Lady Minerva asked finally.
"You've already decided," I said, reading the resignation in her voice. "The question is whether you'll help implement the changes or simply try to survive them."
Through the soul-bond, I felt Aldric's approval of my direct approach. We'd discussed this strategy during the long nights since the cathedral's destruction, weighing the risks of moving too fast against the dangers of moving too slowly. The nobility's cooperation would make the transition smoother, but it wasn't strictly necessary.
"What about the succession?" Lord Garrett asked, shifting to more familiar ground. "If traditional marriage alliances are no longer viable—"
"The succession will be determined by competence and magical ability," Aldric interrupted. "Children who show aptitude for dimensional magic will be trained regardless of their birth circumstances. Those who don't will find other ways to serve."
"You're eliminating the hereditary nobility," Lady Minerva said, her voice flat.
"We're evolving it," I corrected. "Power based solely on bloodline was always an illusion. Real power comes from ability, knowledge, and the willingness to make difficult choices. Those who can adapt will thrive. Those who can't ."
I let the sentence hang, but the implication was clear. The old world was dying, and clinging to its corpse would only ensure destruction.
"When do we begin?" Lord Garrett asked, his tone suggesting he'd made his peace with the inevitable.
"Immediately," I said. "Master Dorian will oversee the establishment of new schools. Kael will train security forces in recognizing supernatural threats. Aldric and I will work on diplomatic arrangements with neighboring kingdoms."
"And if they refuse to cooperate?" Lady Minerva asked.
"Then they'll face the next dimensional breach alone," I said coldly. "Their choice."
As the nobility filed out of the throne room, their faces mixing resignation with calculation, I felt a moment of doubt. Was I pushing too hard, too fast? The changes I was implementing would transform society in ways that couldn't be undone.
Through the soul-bond, Aldric's thoughts merged with mine. Doubt is natural, his mental voice whispered. But necessary change often feels like destruction to those who benefited from the old system.
And if we're wrong? I asked. If the barriers hold longer than we think, if the people aren't ready for this kind of responsibility?
Then we'll have created a stronger, more resilient society for no reason, he replied with gentle humor. There are worse mistakes to make.
I touched the skull relics at my throat, feeling the constant whisper of the dead. Their voices carried urgency now, warnings of gathering storms and approaching darkness. Whatever doubts I might have about the speed of change, I had no doubts about its necessity.
The old world had been built on secrets and restrictions, on the assumption that power was too dangerous for ordinary people to wield. But ordinary people were about to face extraordinary dangers, and they deserved better than ignorance and helplessness.
As the sun set over the kingdom, painting the sky in shades of crimson and gold, I made a silent promise to the spirits who guided me: whatever came next, our people would face it with their eyes open and their hands steady.
The Princess of Skulls was dead. But the Queen of the New Dawn was just beginning to rise.
End of Princess Of The Skulls Chapter 55. Continue reading Chapter 56 or return to Princess Of The Skulls book page.