[The Arrival]
Morning mist still clung to the grasslands as the first figures appeared on the horizon.
Falcon stood atop the triumphal arch, arms behind his back, sharp blue eyes scanning the landscape like a hawk.
Aurora hovered at his side, her holographic wings dim to avoid startling newcomers.
From the winding road leading into Haven Capitol, a small caravan approached:
Two rough-looking farmers pulling a cart stacked with battered belongings.
A woman holding a child wrapped in furs.
A young man carrying a battered sword.
An old merchant, shoulders stooped from years on the road.
All had clicked "Join the Jostar Empire" on the golden holographic decree.
Now they came, drawn by hope, curiosity, or desperation.
Falcon watched quietly, then said to Aurora:
"They look like survivors, not soldiers."
Aurora's voice was serene.
"In building an empire, Your Majesty,it is the survivors who first answer the call."
[First Impressions — The Settlers' Thoughts]
Joren, the young swordsman, squinted up at the marble archway.
What in all hells...? Marble? Here? In the middle of nowhere?
He felt the hairs rise on his arms.
This... this isn't a king's road. This is something else.
Beside him, Mira, the mother, pulled her child closer.
The voice said safety.Please, gods, let it be true. I can't bury another child.
The old merchant, Grayson, limped along, peering suspiciously at the hovering holograms.
Magic? No...Some kind of god-touched thing.Maybe it's real. Maybe it's a trick.
And the farmers — Kregg and Lysa — exchanged a look of weary hope.
If they have food, we stay. If not... we move again.
Their minds swirled with questions, fears, and battered hopes as they passed beneath the golden eagle standard.
[First Meeting]
Falcon descended the marble stairs from the arch, approaching them with purposeful steps.
He wore a simple black tunic embroidered with a small golden eagle — nothing too overwhelming, but clearly marked with authority.
The settlers stopped instinctively, eyes wide.
Falcon raised one hand in greeting.
"Welcome to Haven Capitol," he said, voice carrying power without cruelty."You stand at the beginning of a new world."
The settlers shuffled, glancing at each other.
Joren took an awkward half-step forward.
"Uh... you... you're the... Emperor?"
Falcon smiled slightly.
"Yes. Falcon Jostar, Emperor of Haven Capitol.Soon to be the Jostar Empire — if you stay, work hard, and help build it."
Grayson, ever suspicious, asked:
"What's the catch, Your Majesty?Ain't no one ever offered shelter for free."
Falcon's smile widened, but there was iron behind it.
"The catch is simple," he said."Follow the Code of Conduct.Respect your neighbors.Work. Earn. Build."
He pointed toward the Plaza behind him, where marble Domus houses lined the streets, fresh wells glittered, and farmland stretched beyond.
"This city is not for slaves.It is for citizens."
The settlers stared — awe battling with disbelief.
No king's village had ever looked like this.
No lord had ever offered anything without taking more.
[Assigning Work and Homes]
Falcon tapped his tablet discreetly at his side, pulling up the Jobs & Tasks menu.
A holographic screen floated briefly before him — only visible to his eyes — assigning:
Joren to Guardsman Task.
Kregg and Lysa to Farmers Task.
Mira to Weaver Task (new task he just created — clothing production).
Grayson to Storehouse Keeper.
Aurora's voice whispered in his ear.
"Excellent distribution, Your Majesty.You match their strengths well."
Falcon then gestured toward the side streets.
"Each of you will have a house — temporarily assigned.You'll find a basket of food and fresh water inside."
Eyes widened. Lysa clutched Kregg's arm.
"A... house? Not a tent?"
"Stone walls. Clay roof," Falcon confirmed."You'll be safe here."
[Private Thoughts — Settlers at Night]
That night, as the first settlers moved into their houses, their private thoughts buzzed with emotion:
Joren sat polishing his sword by a real hearth.
This Emperor... he's not like the kings.Maybe I'll finally fight for something worth a damn.
Mira wept quietly over her child's sleeping face.
A home. I thought I'd never see one again.
Kregg and Lysa laughed softly in their shared kitchen, tearing into fresh bread.
We might just have found a place to live and die in peace.
Grayson sipped clean water from a stone cup, scowling.
Too good to be true... but if it is true...I'd better stay close to this Jostar.
[Falcon's Thoughts]
Falcon walked the streets of Haven Capitol that night, the lamplight soft on the marble.
Aurora hovered silently at his side.
"They're only a handful," Falcon muttered."But it's a start."
Aurora smiled gently.
"Every empire begins with a single loyal heart."
Falcon looked up at the golden eagle floating above the Plaza.
"Soon," he whispered."Soon, this world will know what it means... to live free."
And the stars turned above the newborn city.