38D TODAY is t)(e day!!! By t)(e time t)(e twin moons )(ang )(ig)( above t)(e imperial spires tonig)(t, t)(e t)(rone of Alternia will belong to M-E. T)(e old -Empress is dead. I killed )(er myself in t)(e silence of )(er resting c)(amber w)(ile t)(e mac)(ines still )(issed and clicked around )(er sleeping body. One clean ending to a reign t)(at )(ad already rotted from t)(e inside out. Some of you wanted spectacle. Some of you wanted a legendary duel. But power does not wait politely for a dying ruler to open )(er eyes. A crown abandoned is a crown claimed. In only a few )(ours, I will walk t)(e black coral steps of t)(e imperial palace draped in sea-silk and gold, wit)( t)(e bloodline of empresses be)(ind me and an entire empire beneat)( my fins. T)(e nobles are already circling like s)(arks. T)(e fleet clammmanders are swearing loyalty. T)(e )(ig)(bloods are pretending t)(ey never doubted me for a single second. Good. T)(ey s)(ould be afraid to. Today t)(e tides c)(ange forever. Today a new empress rises from t)(e brine. Bow your )(eads, Alternia. Your -Empress is coming. 38D





