"Vice Minister... answers must be given. Where did you find that boy? And how did you know about him?" A woman's voice echoed through the halls of the Ministry of Defense.
"Senator, what I have done is necessary. I will use the special bloodlines. What use is there to keep it hidden?" Amalia replied.
"You can't use a protected lineage however you wish! Are you out of your mind?! There are only four people left in the world with such a high resonance factor. We have a duty to keep it secret. We are keeping the peace for everyone." Senator Aria stated.
"None of that helps us. If we all die then what was the point of it all?" Amalia challenged. "Nevermind the nations we're at war with. The greater threat; Those extraterrestrial machine lifeforms that have been appearing have been leaving dangerously overlooked devastation. Resonance is our greatest resource to weaponize against those things."
"And if we have an incident like last time? Another person going insane?" Aria's voice was low and dangerous.
"That incident served as proof that you can't artificially raise the resonance factor, we learned that the hard way. Now we have a naturally born human with a higher factor, a proper subject capable of using resonance directly. Capable of using all of our technology to its fullest potential." The Vice Minister argued.
"I can't believe you're actually putting another human through this again. It's reckless, and you're a fool." Another senator joined the conversation.
"Senator Dia, the boy is performing even better than the 701st's first commander that you praised so much. Why shouldn't I put him through his paces? Why should I hold back when he's clearly our strongest asset?" Amalia demanded.
"You're being a fool. We can't allow the existence of this boy to be revealed." Senator Dia answered.
"I've already taken care of that." The Vice Minister waved her hand. "The real data is protected under the highest authorization, and his resonance factor and other details have been falsified."
"And how exactly did you get the boy to agree to this? Do you even have his permission?" Aria asked.
"I did nothing. He enlisted under his own volition, immediately after the siege." Amalia smirked. "I simply put him in the best possible position."
One of the senators slammed their hands on the table, "You're taking advantage of a naive young man who is completely unaware of the reality of the situation."
"So?" Amalia laughed, "Don't you politicians do the same to the public?"
"You're a despicable woman." Aria spat.
"And yet, I'm the only one getting anything done." The Vice Minister shrugged, "I've done more than anyone else has in the past ten years. All you have done is argue with each other about inefficient bills and policies."
"The Ministry's resources are not yours to use for your own selfishness. You're supposed to be serving the people, and protecting the nation. Not using the government as your own personal playground." An elderly senator glared.
"Protecting the nation and serving the people? I'm doing exactly that. What else is the military for?" Amalia asked, "I'm doing what is best for the people, and the nation."
"I can't believe this." Aria sighed. "We can't continue to let her have free reign over the Ministry of Defense."
"Senator," Amalia's expression became sinister, "Did you forget how the hierarchy works here?"
"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Aria growled.
"It means that your vote has no weight in the Ministry of Defense. I write the rules, I make the decisions." The Vice Minister answered. "If I want to put you on trial, I have every right to do so."
"This is ridiculous. You're abusing your power." Aria glared.
"If it's not broken, don't fix it." Amalia grinned. "It's your own fault. You wanted the laws to be this way for your own gain, you didn't think about the consequences it'd have later on."
"That's enough." The Prime Minister stopped them, "She's right, the law is in place for a reason. Even if you can't stand by her actions, we can't change it. The senate voted to only be accountable to the Ministry of Defense, you can't complain about that now."
"Prime Minister, you can't possibly agree with her?" Aria was shocked.
"I don't, but it's not my place to argue with the law. It's yours." The Prime Minister answered.
"Fine, then I'll bring it up in the Grand Council's meeting. They'll see the truth of the matter." Aria argued.
"Go ahead, you have every right to do so." Amalia chuckled, "But that doesn't mean everyone will agree with the way you think."
"You're impossible." Aria growled.
"Now if you're finished, I have work to do." The Vice Minister left the room.
"She's getting more arrogant by the day." Aria grumbled.
"I know, but we have no choice. We can't fight her directly, and we can't win." Dia sighed.
"I did warn you about that law when you voted for it thirty years ago; you can't expect everyone who becomes Vice Minister to be subservient to the political parties." The Prime Minister reminded them.
"Yes, yes, we're all aware of the situation." Aria growled.
"There's also the strong possibility that the Grand Council won't agree with your viewpoint. You've been arguing for the past few years about the direction the nation should take. But the people want to see action, they are tired of debates." The elderly senator added.
"One person cannot decide what's best for everyone, that is the point!" Aria exclaimed.
"Then perhaps we should have a national referendum?" The Prime Minister suggested.
"Our Empire is not having a democratic election." Aria refused, "You can't expect the general public to make informed decisions. They're ignorant and easily influenced. They will vote for the most popular option."
"You can't expect the people to stay loyal to a system that doesn't allow them to participate in it. The only way to avoid a rebellion is to have some form of representation. Otherwise the people will rise up against us." The elderly senator warned.
"No, I absolutely will not allow it. It's out of the question." Aria growled.
"Your opposition is the only thing standing between our nation and civil war." The Prime Minister argued.
"I am not backing down, not on this! Our nation is built on the principles of a strong and stable central authority. If we lose that, we'll have chaos. The people will not stand for a divided leadership. And the military is already on edge as is. We need to keep the peace, and we need to keep our unity." Aria insisted.
"That's easy for you to say. Your party is the majority, it's always been in power." The elderly senator pointed out.
"Because my party has done what is best for the Empire. That is why we're the majority. We've always done what is right." Aria retorted.
"You party, Senator Aria Volphenstien, relied upon police and military force to maintain order. It was not by your own will that the party remained in power, it was by the threat of force." A man stepped into the hall, "What can clearly be seen, is that you're much weaker if you cannot control the Vice Minister of defense."
"You have no right to speak here." Aria glared at him, "Get out."
"I'm an official representative of Szenveir's Royal House of Ardentiale. I have every right to speak here as a diplomat of an allied nation." The man countered.
"You have no right to interfere in the affairs of the Empire." Aria growled.
"Interfering? I merely stated an observable fact." The man replied, "It is quite clear to see that you have no control over the Vice Minister, and that the Ministry of Defense is now an independent institution of your government."
"I will not be lectured by a foreign diplomat." Aria snarled.
"Very well. But you will discuss recent events, as your biggest supporter you're obligated to grant us some answers." The man stated.
"This is an internal matter, not an international one." Aria argued.
"Your previous discussion is not what I'm here for. I care not for your internal politics." The man clarified.
"Then what is it that you're here for, Mr. Diplomat?" Aria demanded.
"The exalted blood. You knew I was coming today to talk about it." The diplomat answered.
"P-please wait! Sir Direnvale..." Senator Dia cut in, "Perhaps we should discuss this at a later time?"
"No." He refused, "you will not delay this any further."
"Please, I beg of you. It's not a matter to be discussed lightly." Senator Dia pleaded.
"I'm not discussing it lightly. The Royal Houses are not pleased. We have learned that East Toador befell a siege, putting the exalted living there in direct danger. We've come to learn that the Imperial Senate, did nothing. Not a single word of concern. No mention was even made. This is a gross oversight. How do you plan to address this?" The diplomat questioned.
"East Toador... it was a minor incursion. A simple terrorist attack." Aria dismissed him.
"Minor? Minor?! Do you know how many people died because of that attack? It was a slaughter. Thousands died, and hundreds more were wounded. That part of the Larafell City is in ruins! You're saying that was minor?" The diplomat was furious.
"The death toll was exaggerated. It was a few dozen." Aria rolled her eyes, "There was no danger to the exalted, the military took care of the situation quickly."
"No, it was thousands. And the military withdrew numbers from the allied defense line to make up for the failure of police power." The diplomat snapped.
"You cannot expect every single terrorist scenario to be accounted for." Aria countered, "The police are not omnipotent. It can't be everywhere at once. Sometimes we need the help of the military to contain such incidents. We can't put all of our resources in the alliance!"
"Your excuse is weak. You spare no expense when using the police to suppress the citizens when you deem necessary. You have done it before, and you can do so again. But in the face of a real threat, you failed. You cannot afford to be negligent. Especially not with the safety of the exalted." The diplomat lectured.
"You know what? Things would be a whole lot easier if we just put an end to these individuals with absurd resonance factors." Aria stated, "There's no need to have them. Their existence is a waste of resources, and a liability. The truly proper thing to do is execute all four of them."
"Senator!" Dia was horrified.
"I will not entertain that thought." The diplomat replied in a growl.
"You won't entertain it? Are you kidding me? It's the only reasonable solution. If they die, then the issue of liability is resolved." Aria scoffed. "What purpose is there to revere them as exalted? Because they can control resonance? That's not a skill, that's a curse. It's not something to be celebrated, it's a danger to all of us."
"Their ability is a blessing." The diplomat retorted, "countless miracles have been attributed to them. Healing the ill, resurrecting the fallen, restoring the land, curing plagues and turning back the damages of disasters. Without the exalted, we wouldn't be where we are today. Their ability to harness resonance is the foundation of everything we have achieved. To suggest they die, is to wish for our destruction."
"That's ridiculous. Those are old legends and stories. Even making up scientific proof that their ability had anything to do with those things? It's just a myth. There's no actual evidence that they did any of that." Aria dismissed.
"The evidence is right in front of you." The diplomat stated.
"Those worthless records are not evidence. I refuse to accept it." Aria growled.
"Worthless records?" The diplomat's eyes narrowed, "I'm starting to understand what your goal and idea of power is..."
"Sir Direnvale, please." Dia stepped between the two, "We're not here to debate our history."
"Sir Direnvale, please understand, we very much do care for the Exalted individual in our Empire. They are now under the military's protection." The Prime Minister spoke up.
"So once again the Vice Minister has taken up responsibility for your nation. And you've allowed her." The diplomat remarked.
"She took up that responsibility on her own, without permission." Aria stated.
"So you're admitting you are incapable of acting?" The diplomat questioned.
Aria clenched her fists as she was unable to refute.
"Senator, I believe it would be best for the Empire to turn over the Exalted in its possession. The sovereign will guarantee the security of the individual." Direnvale proposed.
"Absolutely not." Aria rejected the idea. "You must think you're sly, but the Empire is not foolish. You clearly thirst for power as much as the Vice Minister, if not more. If we let you have that kind of leverage, you will surely abuse it."
"You're making a dangerous assumption. Royalty in the Kingdom is their blood right. They are a member of the Royal house, and they will return to the Kingdom. One way or another." Direnvale growled.
"An empty threat, as you have yet to convince any nation to return them to the Kingdom." Aria mocked, "You lost as soon their lineage left the Kingdom. You will not get any of the exalted, especially not ours."
"Senator, that is enough." Dia tried to stop the argument, but the two were not listening.
"So be it. I do hope you are not a senator when a Royal Emissary is sent. The Empire will learn the hard way if you still hold an influential seat." Direnvale warned before turning to leave, "Remember, the exalted are not your possessions."
Aria glared at the man's back, her expression full of hatred.
"Senator, that was too far." The Prime Minister reprimanded her.
"Shut up, you spineless coward." Aria spat.
"You should take a step back and look at the facts. You have no idea who you're provoking." The Prime Minister advised.
"I know exactly what I'm doing." Aria retorted before storming out.