The capital no longer felt like the heart of an empire.
It felt like something waiting to collapse.
General Kael Varion walked through the fractured palace halls, boots echoing against cracked marble.
Behind him—
Heavy, uneven footsteps followed.
"…Kael."
He didn't stop.
"…What."
"…Hungry."
Kael exhaled slowly.
"You just ate."
"…Not enough."
He turned.
Lira stood there, holding what looked like the remains of an entire roasted beast—half gone.
Grease on her hands.
Completely serious.
"…That was meant for twenty soldiers," Kael said.
"…Oh."
Pause.
"…Still hungry."
Kael stared at her.
Then looked away.
Because somehow, this was the least concerning thing about her.
"…Lira," he said, voice steady, "do you understand what you did?"
She tilted her head.
"…Eat?"
"…No."
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You destroyed the Emperor."
"…Rock throw."
"…Yes. Rock throw."
Silence stretched.
"The Empire is unstable now," Kael continued. "When power disappears, others try to take it. Armies will move. People will die."
Lira listened.
Really listened this time.
Her eyes focused.
"…Bad?"
Kael paused.
Then nodded.
"…Yes. Bad."
She thought about it.
Longer than usual.
"…Okay."
Kael frowned slightly.
"…Okay?"
"…Okay."
She nodded again.
He didn't know what that meant.
Agreement?
Understanding?
Or just… a sound she liked?
It didn't matter.
He made his decision.
"…You're coming with me," Kael said.
"…Where?"
"…With me," he repeated. "From now on, you stay under my command."
Lira blinked.
"…Command?"
"I tell you what to do," Kael said. "You don't act unless I say so."
She stared at him.
Then asked—
"…No throw?"
"…No throw."
"…No slap?"
"…No slap."
"…No punch?"
Kael hesitated.
"…Preferably no punch."
Lira frowned.
Clearly unhappy.
"…Boring."
Kael didn't react.
"…You can eat," he added.
Instantly—
Her mood flipped.
"…Okay!"
Kael blinked.
"…That's all it took?"
She nodded happily.
"…Food good."
Of course.
Kael turned and began walking again.
"Follow me."
She did.
Without question.
Behind them, soldiers whispered nervously.
"…General, are we really bringing that… thing… into the capital?"
Kael stopped.
Just slightly.
"…That 'thing'," he said quietly, "is the only reason this empire still exists."
The soldiers fell silent.
Kael glanced back at Lira.
She was distracted.
Poking a broken pillar.
"…Don't touch that," Kael said immediately.
"…Why?"
"…Because you might destroy the rest of the palace."
She paused.
Looked at the pillar.
Then at him.
"…Oh."
She let go.
The pillar… cracked anyway.
Kael closed his eyes.
Just for a moment.
"…We're not hunting a weapon," he muttered.
"…We're managing a disaster."
They stepped outside.
The ruined capital stretched before them.
Smoke rising.
People rebuilding.
Fear lingering in every corner.
Lira looked around.
Curious.
"…Big place."
"…Was," Kael corrected.
She pointed at the broken palace.
"…I did that?"
Kael looked at her.
"…Yes."
She smiled.
A little proud.
"…Strong."
Kael didn't deny it.
Instead, he faced forward.
Toward the uncertain future.
"…From now on," he said, voice firm, "you are part of the Empire."
Lira nodded.
"…Okay."
A pause.
"…What's empire?"
Silence.
A soldier in the back whispered—
"…We're doomed…"
Kael didn't respond.
For the first time in his life—
General Kael Varion had no strategy.
No plan.
No certainty.
Only one thought echoed in his mind—
"If I lose control of her…"
He didn't finish it.
He didn't need to.
Because somewhere deep inside—
Even he knew the truth.
The Empire hadn't survived.
It had simply…
been spared.