Lilith- 9 years old

Azarios age- 15 years old

Glimmering dragon robes created an illusion as if the mythological creature had descended from the heavens and was waiting to devour the souls of the officials present in the court. The attack of barbarians which earlier appeared to be a mutiny that could have been initially crushed in several months turned out to be a full fledged war once the main character behind the scenes came out to be the dead Gaerin emperor- King Fleunix.

And just like that the relations between the two empires changed from neutral states to enemy nations and this was where the rise of a gladiator came to light.

"This General greets his majesty and wishes thousand joyful years of life." Cerulean thunderous irises of Emperor Heun shivered when a young man of fifteen seasons went on a knee and without a care in the world smiled at him looking directly into his eye.

High officials watching the gladiator gritted their teeth at his unrelenting attitude as it was considered that only the highest and noblest in the world could see the emperor in the eye and then too it should have humbleness of a servant not the arrogance that was reflected into those onyx eyes, despite the fact that he had defeated a hundred thousand warriors of Gaerin and captured border cities and a large area of the empire General Azarios was a commoner and sooner or later the emperor would deal with his power and stature.

"How dare you talk to his majesty like that! Bow down-"

"IMPUDENT!" When Heun roared those words in molten rage it was as if someone had pulled the rug under official's feet and he was forced to kowtow endlessly with his head to the ground.

"This Emperor can speak for oneself, don't forget your stature." Entire arena fell into silence yet the young general chuckled in somewhat harmony. Heun could not stop his fingers from trembling, 6 long years he and Helixis had waited, daring not to contact Azarios while he lived as a guard in Duke Selic's manor, they had spoken words and formed sentences yet it had been so long since he scolded and hugged his son just like when he was born.

Their entire family has only seen sufferings.

"His majesty is as noble as the ancient monk of the nine step mountains and has heart which is kind and just like the omnipotent sea yet as far as this one can look there are numerous people dissatisfied with this general so this one will wish to inform everyone- I, General Azarios will only bow down before his majesty- Emperor Heun and else none have the qualifications to command this general and in case if one feels dissatisfied one can always ask me to resolve issues."

Dispite how eloquent those impertinent words were, their implications were simple- if you dare go against this general's wishes and tried displaying your power I will send you to the road of never return and even the majesty will not kill me for murdering you into silence since this one is more important than your lowly lives.

Never in the history of founding father one has heard of such tyrannical person bluntly showing off their power and not even fearing the monarch's wrath. Heun, who had turned a blind eye to the officials with gaping mouth mellowed with laughter before settling his eyes onto the face which had now changed considerably, earlier his son who resembled a round bun with such an adorable face that even made angels sing now had matured and had the bearing of a royal monarch.

"Ideally this emperor must punish you for your impudence and lethal threats yet since its someone I had utmost trust in....this one will instead grant you gifts for you have achieved great feats.

A life saving amulet

Two hundered thousand troops under you that will be called Azaron army

and a title- Duke of second rank."

When Emperor Heun spoke as such even the Prime Minister could not stay silent and breathed heavily. Duke of Second rank- this title would render the young general only answerable to the Emperor and Empress and not even the imperial family members. Having said as such there were innumerable men who were vomiting blood in their heart and certain others that felt this was maybe a test to see if Azarios was loyal.....once accepting such gifts it will prove that he had no regards to the imperial family and would be punished heavily.

"Would these suffice the General?"

"This General also wishes for something else.

This one wants the royal Lotus mansion that once belonged to the late mother of his highness."

The officials "..."