Octavian raised his hand to his throat, casting a wandless amplification charm upon himself.
"My people," his voice rolled over the crowd like gentle thunder, instantly commanding absolute silence. "I thank you for your profound love and respect. I vow to do everything within my capacity to maintain and elevate the prosperity and power of our Imperium."
He paused, letting the magnitude of his promise settle over the vast room. "It is in this regard that I now call forth your attention, for today is not only a joyous occasion for me, but also a monumental day for someone deeply close to my heart. By the will of Aeternus, my sister, Domina Liliana, has been proclaimed to have attained her Majority."
A hushed murmur violently rippled through the throne room, swiftly evolving into urgent whispers. To be formally declared an adult by the Emperor was no mere milestone of age; it was a divine anointment.
"Today is not only my day of ascension, but also hers," Octavian declared, his green eyes flashing with pride. "Rise, Figulus Liliana Hadrianus. Daughter of Aeternus. Sword of Rome."
All eyes instantly pivoted to the base of the dais. Liliana stepped forward, her bare feet soundless against the polished stone. She ascended the ceremonial platform, her pristine white garment catching the flickering light of the chandeliers. Moving with the fluid grace of a seasoned warrior, she assumed a seated lotus position precisely where her brother had sat moments before.
The elderly Pontifex stepped forward, raising his hands to begin the sacred rites anew. The Cardinal and the Saintess flanked the Princess, lifting their ornate vessels.
"With the pouring of this milk, she is purified into the very life-sustaining force of the world," the Pontifex intoned.
The Cardinal tipped his jug, and a cascade of pure white milk washed over Lily's bare shoulders. She remained entirely still, a statue of absolute resolve.
The Saintess then stepped forward, tilting her polished bronze vessel. "With this holy oil, she is anointed as the most high, the most revered, and the most loved below THE ONE and his Son."
Finally, the Pontifex lifted his massive silver jug, pouring a heavy stream of crystal-clear water over her bowed head. "With this holy water, she is entirely cleansed of sin and misfortune."
The Cardinal swiftly presented a folded garment. It was a magnificent, sweeping cloak of blood-red velvet.
"With this cloak, she is embraced by Deus as his chosen."
The Pontifex draped the heavy fabric over Lily's shoulders. The very instant the material settled upon her collar, a fierce pulse of magic swept outward. The milk, oil, and water evaporated into fine mist. The simple white fabric of her garment violently transfigured.
A gasp of sheer awe echoed through the hall. Liliana was no longer dressed in humble cloth; she was clad in a breathtaking suit of pitch-black Valyrian plate armour, meticulously chased with intricate silver filigree. The heavy red cloak flowed majestically from her spiked pauldrons, clasped firmly at her throat by the ancient symbol of the Deathly Hallows.
"Rise, Sword of Rome," the Pontifex proclaimed.
Lily stood, looking every inch a goddess of war. The crowd erupted into rapturous cheers as she descended the rear of the platform and began her steady climb up the seven marble steps toward her brother.
When she reached the summit, Octavian smiled down at her. "Summon your blade, sister."
Lily raised a gauntleted hand. With a sharp, resonant hum that vibrated through the air, her massive Valyrian steel claymore materialised from the ether, suspending itself perfectly horizontal in the space between them. The dark, smoke-grey ripples of the Valyrian steel gleamed menacingly in the throne's emerald light.
Octavian reached out his hand. From the jagged, glowing crown of the Emerald Throne itself, a single, flawless green crystal detached, floating smoothly into his open palm.
He held the humming gem directly over the crossguard of the floating claymore and slowly pressed it into the metal.
The crystal sank into the Valyrian steel as if passing through water. Instantly, the dark ripples of the blade ignited with a pulsing, vibrant luminescence. Crackling energy radiated from the weapon, sending a wave of heat washing over the front rows of the assembly. The crowd gasped in breathtaking wonder as the very air around the blade distorted with magic.
Octavian stood, his magically amplified voice echoing with divine authority.
"The Sword of Rome deserves a weapon just as worthy. This Valyrian blade is now empowered by the divine will of Aeternus. It shall be known as Invictus... for it shall never know defeat."
…
Shamzai
"...for it shall never know defeat."
The Princeps' voice echoed through the cavernous throne hall. I raised my head to gaze at the luminous sword, which radiated so much blistering heat and blinding light that an ordinary man would be forced to avert his eyes. Yet, to me, it screamed of exactly how much there was to be gained in this world. It represented absolute power, boundless opportunity—perhaps even immortality itself.
It was everything I desired. Everything I had fought for throughout my entire life, only to struggle and make do with bitter scraps. Even so, my brother and I had continued our relentless climb, never once surrendering to that all-consuming despair of poverty and hopelessness. Now, I stand as a Senator of Rome. I am wealthier than the most opulent Essosi merchants, vastly more powerful than the Triarchs of Volantis, and yet... I remain utterly unfulfilled.
There had been profound joy the first time I dined on roasted duck, the first time I felt the smooth caress of Myrish silk against my skin. The first time I bedded a woman so breathtaking she deserved to be immortalised in a fresco. All those earthly joys I had so desperately craved since my days as the starving son of a fisherman, I had finally achieved. Only for each successive joy to fade faster than the last. I watched the patricians around me endlessly revelling in their wealth and station, and I truly believed something within my own soul was fundamentally broken. I wondered constantly how I might fix it, but no worldly answer ever provided lasting satisfaction.