Aquatic Nightmare

Yesterday there was an attack at Sanctuary. A group of mermaids and pirates went into the Balya river, and crossed into Sanctuary from the river. It seems all the fishery workers were taken in the attack. While our economy as a whole won't be affected by this, it is very much a political, and tactical disaster. The workers have no doubt been pressed into service to become pirates, and that's not even mentioning what happened to the fishery owners. All management personnel was found nailed to crosses, while the meager security team was disemboweled. I warned you already duke Rivka, and I urge you now. You NEED to invest more in the army.
-A letter to duke Rivka, from general Maltza

POV Crown prince Eden Civillis of the Empire

It has been two long weeks at the academy, and I believed it was time to get some answers from my father. He really likes keeping me in the dark, but this has gone too far as is. Making my way through the palace all the staff here bow their heads in subservience, throughout the Empire the people bow their heads. My class being the exception to that, not because of some idea that they are equal to me. I believe it has more to do that there is no reason not to be hostile. Most of my insane or nigh-insane classmates have still proven to be somewhat palatable despite all their shortcomings.

That is still no excuse to fill half my classroom with the monsters. I knew my father opposed me learning magic at the academy, but this is just ridiculous. The minotaur and the paladin constantly get in fights, the dwarf is working with the vampire to blatantly attempt to uncover state secrets, the pirate mermaid is often overheard discussing death magic theory with the lich, and then there is that *thing* that came along with the honest to goddess demon lord. Just looking at either of those two is enough to send shivers down my spine.

I am awoken from my horrors as my escort opens the door to the imperial throne room. The emperor sits on the throne enjoying some women, while nobles are discussing matters while scattered about. No doubt that those two women at his side are both members of <REDACTED> here to spy on the nobles. The emperor notices my presence, and no doubt knows why I'm here, as he gestures me to follow him to his office. My hunch is proven correct as the women quickly fall off, and vanish into the shadows.

"Eden." The emperor's tone has lost the jovial tone he had when he was sitting on his throne a moment ago.

"Wilnius." He frowns at the casual usage of his name, he never liked the slightest breach of formality, yet I do so enjoy pushing him.

"I get the feeling you aren't here to come speak to me about your progress in the academy." His majesty says it with disappointment in his voice.

"I am here because someone clearly has a grudge against me studying magic at a learned institute, and seems to have arranged for the most dangerous individuals to walk the planet to infiltrate my class. All in an effort to make life stressful." I say it with as much fake offense as I can infuse in it.

The emperor narrows his eyes at me for a bit, before finally coming to the part where he usually explains things. "I really do want you to succeed, but I more importantly want to teach you a bigger lesson than magic."

"The thing from the north has been researching, and practicing forbidden magic. The Dalkan siblings are setting up a spy network. The southern twins are making trade deals with nobles to get more slaves. The greenskins are in contact with nearby raiding greenskins, coordinating them. The pirate has been going around the capital nailing slavers to wooden crosses." As my father continues speaking I grow a little pale. Why is he putting his subjects through this? Yet he doesn't continue, and waits for me to respond, typical.

"Why are you allowing them to do these things?" It was clear he was hoping for that answer. Annoying old prick.

"Because they would anyway. Whether I sanction it or not. Naturally I don't just let them go ahead with their shenanigans unsupervised." The emperor continues speaking of them as if they are children in a playground.

"The northling has been getting spoon-fed information by an 'insane' researcher that just so happens to direct any rituals towards matters that would aid us. The Dalkans succeeded in setting up their spy network, with some key figures being double-agents who are now effectively operating a spy network within our nation that sees things like those outside our nation would. The greenskin raiders that are being controlled, are all being directed to our borders with clever patrol usage." As the cunning bastard keeps speaking it becomes clear we truly were kids playing in the sand to him.

"The nobles in contact with the southern twins have been getting some mixed requests from the both of them, revealing that the twins are working against each other. The people killed by that pirate? All part of a major pro-war slavery ring that haven't been paying taxes." That last one threw me off. Killing people who don't pay taxes? The emperor is faster than me asking the question.

"Which brings me to my real point, my garbage vassals. I guarantee you that half of the imperials in your class are treasonous, the other half simply not having committed yet. Those rats in noble clothing will kiss our asses, excuses my Dalkan, whenever the opportunity arises. Still, I am sure they do it to taste whether we have been properly keeping our behinds guarded. Those monsters outside our borders, the very same ones that currently inhabit your magic classes. Those are the only ones you can really trust in a way." The emperor rants about our vassals again, that isn't exactly new. The part where he includes our neighbors as a positive part is new.

"How could I possibly trust a vampire? Or a lich? Or the actual demon lord?" I see parts of the point he's making, but trusting the undead goes a bit too far.

"Foreign policy is so simple. Those monsters do what they want, because they can. If you know what you want you can trust them to try and get it. Our vassals could do anything right down to self-destructing if they become stupid enough to believe it grants power. Those across the border have simpler wants. The north thing wants knowledge on spatial magic? We can trust it to go after books on spatial magic. The pirate hates slavers? Give her a fucking list of enemies who happen to be slavers, and you get front row tickets to watching a pirate intimidate her opponents to the fullest."

So he really planned all that in advance? I don't know if he's crazy or a genius. "What about the demon lord? What does she want?" She is after all the most dangerous out of all them.

"I don't know. It scares me not knowing what she wants, but other than peace she hasn't really overtly wanted something." Nevermind he's definitely more on the crazy side.

"More importantly than all that politics stuff, has any girl caught your eye?" He suddenly spins the topic around, and sends the conversation into a cliff.

"Huh?"

"Come on boy! You got to have a girl you fancy by now!"

"Please don't speak of my private life like that." He sees too much with the <REDACTED> than is good for him.

"If you don't pick, you know I will. The Empire won't survive without stronger ties to either one of her vassals, or even one of the foreign girls. Reports say that Alicia girl is quite the political backstabber, you know. I wouldn't mind her planting a knife in the back of anyone who moves on you."

"Father, I would rather not every girl that approaches me ending up as a slashing victim."

"I wasn't talking about girls moving on you, Eden."