Foreign nobles, accustomed to the comforts of their prestigious but outdated academies, found themselves struggling to comprehend even the basic principles of modern mathematics and physics. Calculus, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics were alien concepts, spoken of as if they were arcane incantations. Professors demonstrated theories that bent the very fabric of their understanding of the world—machines that defied gravity, medicines that could heal wounds in ways they once believed were miracles, and engines that powered entire cities with efficiency beyond their dreams.Some scholars embraced this knowledge, their minds igniting with newfound purpose. Neutral nations, unburdened by the fears of the old world, sent their best and brightest to learn and return home as pioneers of progress. They saw Aeternum as a mentor, a guiding force that could lift them from the shackles of the past into a new golden age of discovery.But not all welcomed this knowledge with open arms. Schola
Meanwhile, in the heart of Aeternum’s most daring attraction, a group of foreign travelers sat nervously inside an armored tour vehicle. The guide, an energetic young woman named Talia, grinned as she held onto the controls.“Alright, folks! Welcome to the Forbidden Wasteland Safari! You’re about to witness creatures you’ve only heard of in legend—massive sand lizards, dire wolves, and, if we’re lucky, the elusive Thunderbeast!”A knight from the Kingdom of Gelmaria clutched the side of his seat. “You mean we will see these monsters? In person? Not behind castle walls?”“Of course! Don’t worry, our vehicles are completely safe,” Talia assured them as the tour car revved up.Just then, a massive lizard the size of a carriage stomped out of the dunes, its golden eyes narrowing at the vehicle. The knight nearly jumped out of his seat, gripping his sword.“Relax!” Talia laughed. “He’s just curious. See? He’s harmless unless provoked.”The knight was unconvinced. “This land is insane.”As
The grand stadium of New City was filled with 80,000 roaring fans. Banners of Aeternum’s Royal Titans waved alongside the sigil of the visiting team—The Ironclad Warriors from the Kingdom of Grendor, a medieval land known for its powerful knights and ruthless warlords.On the field, two teams stood face to face. The Aeternums wore sleek, modern uniforms, while the Grendorian players looked almost ridiculous in their heavy leather tunics and chainmail leggings.The referee blew the whistle.From the start, it was clear that the Grendorians had no idea how to play. Their strategy was simple—charge at the ball like it was a battlefield. One of them, a burly knight named Sir Darric, simply picked up the ball and ran with it.The referee blew the whistle again.“WHAT?!” Darric bellowed. “You said we must take the ball to the goal! I am taking it there now!”The Aeternums captain, Marcus Vale, smirked. “With your feet, genius. This isn’t a jousting tournament.”The crowd erupted in laughter
Meanwhile, across the sea in the Iron Dominion, King Harland watched in disgust as a report detailed how seafood was becoming the new staple food of the world.“This is unacceptable,” he growled. “They’ve already taken our steel markets, our trade routes… and now they seek to control food itself?”His advisor hesitated. “Your Majesty, if we don’t allow seafood imports, our people will begin smuggling it in anyway. It’s too affordable, too abundant. Even the black markets are flooded with Aeternum’s products.”Harland slammed his fist on the table. “Then we must find a way to stop them!”But how could he stop an empire that owned the sea itself?Back in Aeternum, Andrea stood on the deck of The Leviathan, the largest fishing vessel ever built. Around her, massive mechanical harpoons, crane systems, and automated processing lines buzzed with activity. Below, the dark ocean churned with movement.“Status report?” Andrea asked, adjusting her high-tech monocle.Captain Redd, a burly fisher
In a bustling workshop, blacksmiths and engineers worked side by side, assembling something never before seen in Fantasma—mechanical prosthetic limbs.A veteran knight, Sir Alden, watched as an Aeternums doctor secured a sleek metal arm to his shoulder. He had lost his limb years ago and resigned himself to a life of uselessness.“Try moving it,” the doctor instructed.Alden clenched his jaw, then thought about moving his fingers. To his shock, the prosthetic responded instantly. His metal fingers curled into a fist, and his eyes widened in disbelief.“This… this shouldn’t be possible!”Andrea entered the room, arms crossed smugly. “In Aeternum, nothing is impossible.”She gestured to a row of people—farmers, merchants, soldiers—all missing limbs.“We’re mass-producing prosthetics. No longer will lost limbs be a death sentence. With our new designs, even the commoners can afford one.”Alden’s eyes welled with tears. “You mean… I can fight again?”Andrea chuckled. “Not just fight. Win.
One by one, other rulers followed. And so, Aeternum’s medical empire began. Months later, across the allied nations, Aeternian-built hospitals were established, vaccine programs were launched, and cheap, high-quality medicine flooded the markets. Life expectancy skyrocketed.People no longer relied on expensive healing potions. Instead, they turned to Aeternian drugs, Aeternian doctors, Aeternian research.Slowly but surely, the world grew dependent.In a dark chamber in the Iron Dominion, King Harland sat with his advisors, fuming.“They control our food. Our technology. Our culture. And now our very health?!” he spat.His advisor nodded grimly. “Aeternum has done what no conqueror ever could. The people don’t just respect them. They need them.”Harland clenched his fists. “Then we must find a way to break free.”Back in Aeternum, Mies and Rafaela stood on the presidential balcony, overlooking the sprawling metropolis below.“We’ve done it,” Rafaela murmured. “Medicine, food, technol
The emperor sat at the head of the table, silent. Then, he spoke.“We have two choices,” he said coldly. “We either submit willingly, or we find a way to break their hold on us.”Silence fell over the room.“Then… how do we fight an empire that doesn’t use weapons to conquer?”The emperor’s expression darkened.“… We find their weakness.”Back in Aeternum, the night was peaceful. Mies and his wives sat together on the grand balcony, the warm evening breeze brushing against them. It was rare for all of them to gather like this, away from politics and responsibilities.Mina playfully ran her fingers through Mies’ hair. “We should do this more often.”Elijah stretched, smirking. “If we weren’t so damn good at running the world, maybe we’d have more free time.”Andrea chuckled. “Still… seeing how easily we’re shaping the world, it almost feels unfair, doesn’t it?”Bina snorted. “Unfair? Please. If the world wants to enjoy what we give them, they can also serve us in return.”Rafaela swirl
"Having trouble with the carts?"Cedric straightened immediately, his noble pride kicking in. "Ah, President Mies! No, no, of course not. I was merely… assessing its security. One cannot be too careful with, uh, automated devices."Mies smirked. "Right. Well, let me show you how it works."With effortless ease, he grabbed a bottle of Aeternum’s premium wine, scanned it at the self-checkout, tapped his bank token, and finished the purchase within seconds.The screen blinked: "Thank you for shopping with us!"The knight and noble stared in awe."It’s that simple," Mies said casually.Lord Cedric rubbed his chin, intrigued. "Hmm… fascinating. Perhaps this convenience is not so barbaric after all."Behind them, the knight was still holding the bread."What… now?" the knight asked hesitantly.The old woman sighed. "You bag it, dear."As Mies made his way back to Mina—who was now carrying an absurd amount of milk—the TV cameras zoomed in for the closing segment."Today, Aeternum has once ag
Aeternum would continue to offer education, security, and infrastructure assistance—but always in a way that ensured we maintained our lead.We would teach them how to build schools, but we would own the publishing rights to the most advanced textbooks. We would help them create local militias, but they would still call for Aeternum troops when true threats loomed.We would help them modernize, industrialize, prosper—but they would know, always know, that Aeternum had already blazed the trail further ahead. I didn’t want vassals. I wanted allies who could never quite catch up—because they didn’t need to. They needed us to lead.I rose from my chair and walked toward the window. New City stretched into the horizon, its shining towers and clean streets proof of what discipline and vision could achieve.If left alone, the world would fall back into darkness. If left to their own devices, these medieval kings and nobles would tear each other apart again. The future needed guardians. The U
I knew what was at stake. We had to uphold this example. We had to show, beyond doubt, that the age of “Human First” was over.That the only supremacy left was the supremacy of character. Wisdom. Unity. Vision. And if we could carve that truth into the very soul of the UNA—if we could bury the old hatreds under libraries, not graves—then maybe, just maybe, this world could finally, finally leave its chains behind.I stood up from my chair, moving to the window. Out there, the city pulsed—an endless, living testament to what was possible when walls were torn down, not built higher. I closed my eyes for a moment. I didn’t want to be remembered as the conqueror of nations. I wanted to be remembered as the architect of a new era.One where no child was born inferior. One where no citizen was condemned by the shape of their ears or the color of their skin or the tail on their back. One where power didn’t mean oppression—but opportunity.Aeternum would be the beacon. And the UNA? The vessel
I took another sip of tea, letting the warmth spread through me.Because here’s the delicious irony: by copying our education system, they didn’t just adopt our books and schedules.They were adopting our mindset.Every child who learned using our curriculum. Every teacher trained by our methods. Every official who quoted Aeternum textbooks. They were all little seeds planted deep within foreign soil.In ten years?Those nations would think like us.In twenty?They would be like us. All without a single sword being drawn. I leaned back in my chair, utterly content.Without armies, without bloodshed, we were gaining soft political power over thirty-one nations.Real power.The kind that shaped futures. Mina clinked her cup lightly against mine in a silent toast, her green eyes sparkling.“To the future?” she teased.I smiled, lifting my cup.“To the future we’re writing,” I said.And out there, beneath the quiet, darkening sky, the seeds of a new world had already begun to bloom.The n
In New City, the public watched it all unfold on massive news screens and digital displays.A young woman in a coffee shop blinked back tears.“My mother couldn’t even sign her name,” she said. “Now, she’s going to school at sixty. Can you imagine?”A factory worker on break raised his can of iced tea. “They used to mock us for thinking machines would replace us. Now? My kid’s learning to design them.”Later that evening, President Mies stood at his office window in the Black House, overlooking a city glowing with lights and ambition.Minister Myers entered, holding the finalized signed charter.“It’s done,” he said quietly. “They all agreed. The future begins today.”Mies nodded. “We’ve unified their borders, their defense, and their markets,” he said. “Now, we unify their minds.”A long silence followed. Then, just a single line: “History will remember this moment.” And across the continent, it already had.The evening air was soft, almost languid, as I sat back in my chair, savorin
As the documents were sealed, cameras flashed and live broadcasts streamed the images of rulers shaking hands with President Mies—smiles genuine, eyes alight with purpose.The message to the world was unmistakable:Aeternum does not just lead with power—it leads with knowledge.Later, in a private conversation, Jonathan Myers turned to Mies.“This is more than we hoped.”Mies looked out the window of his office, where the UNA flags fluttered in a perfect row.“No,” he said. “This is exactly what I planned.”Jonathan raised a brow. “And what next?”Mies smiled faintly. “We teach the world… to think like us.”The central assembly hall of New Concordia UNA Headquarters—a gleaming white dome adorned with banners of thirty-one nations—had never been so full.Delegates filled every seat. National flags stood in perfect rows. The giant LED display behind the stage glowed with the symbol of the United Nation Alliance, now framed by a new banner in golden letters:"Education for All – A Future
Outside the palace gates, the citizens of Hallerus City buzzed with excitement. News traveled fast: another king had come, and he, too, had seen the truth.And far beyond the city walls, whispers began in other UNA courts:“Perhaps we should ask Queen Helen for assistance.”“Maybe Aeternum’s model isn’t just for them.”“Could we build this future too?”In the Black House of New City, when President Mies received the report of King Leopold’s visit, he simply closed the folder and smiled slightly."One seed sows a thousand trees," he murmured.And in the fields of Fantasma, the seeds of knowledge had already begun to sprout.The towering skyline of New City shimmered beneath a clear morning sky. It was a perfect day for diplomacy—and a historic one.Within the great glass-paneled east wing of the Black House, Aeternum’s political nerve center, a long oval table had been prepared. Security was tight, the air dignified, yet the atmosphere was distinctly welcoming. For today, President Mie
That evening, Queen Helen hosted a quiet reception for the UNA visitors. Modest food, strong Hallerian tea, and conversation flowed freely.“We’re not pretending it’s perfect,” Helen told them. “But we’re not pretending it’s impossible, either.”One observer raised a hand, smiling. “Would you be open to helping other nations start similar programs?”Helen looked to Merrica, then back to them.“Of course,” she said. “We’ve taken help. It would be wrong not to offer it.”It was the kind of answer that made diplomats take notes. And so, Hallerus—once a fractured kingdom cast in shadow—began to shine in a new light. Not as a symbol of power. But as a model of transformation. And as the scholars walked the streets of Hallerus City, alongside teachers and curious children, they quietly realized: The future wasn’t just being forged in Aeternum anymore. It was spreading.The scent of blooming gardenias filled the royal courtyard of Hallerus Royal Palace. The sun hung high above the battlement
“It’s… beautiful,” she said.Jonathan smiled. “It’s sure is,.”The first major step was the immediate conversion of six major city libraries into public education centers. Then came the pilot schools—one for each major region of the kingdom. Each staffed with a blend of local teachers (newly trained) and educational experts from Aeternum who came to oversee implementation.Within a month, Hallerus Elementary Schools opened their doors for the first time. Children from farming villages and mining towns, who had never once held a book of their own, were now reading stories about space, science, and society. They learned arithmetic on digital chalkboards and watched recorded lectures from Aeternum instructors. Classrooms were modest, but organized. Desks were salvaged, but steady.The change was jarring. But it was real. Queen Helen visited one of these pilot schools in the outskirts of Archenport. There, she saw barefoot children reciting alphabet lines. She watched a young girl raise h
Outside in the streets of New City, a mural was already being painted on the wall of a youth center—depicting two children, one Aeternian and one Hallerian, sitting together at a shared desk beneath the words:"Wisdom Unites What War Divides."The mural was uncommission—but no one was taking it down. From within the homes, classrooms, and council chambers of Aeternum, the message was clear: the world was learning, and they were learning from Aeternum.And that made the people walk taller.Because every road rebuilt in Hallerus, every classroom opened, every young mind taught in their system—was a quiet victory for Aeternum’s vision. The age of empires was ending. The age of influence had begun.The great hall of Hallerus Royal Palace hadn’t hosted a summit like this in over a generation. Not for war. Not for taxation. But for education.Long tables stretched beneath arched stone windows, newly adorned with fresh flags representing each province of the Hallerus Kingdom. The air smelled