Arc Chronicles

Chapter III Part One

Chapter III Part One

Motion pictures were gaining popularity and becoming widespread when I was seven. The radio was the dominant form of media and it had a long life span remaining, but TV and movies were on the rise. The advent of the cinema in this world was down to, ironically enough, my father. He wanted to distract the people and movies were a great distraction. It was only a matter of time before he discovered the propaganda value of film.

It was in one of these films that I first saw it. The flag of the old Prussian Reich was lowered and a new one was raised above the Reichstag building. A single Iron Cross dominated most of the flag. It was in black and white so I couldn't see the colors, but I imagine the cross was black and the background was red. It invoked imagery of a certain German state.

Above the building, letters slowly focused into view: Greater Prussian Reich.

The words below it read GLORY TO THE STATE SOCIALIST PARTY.

When the reel ended, the lights switched back on. My father glowered at the projector. "What was that?"

One of the assembled generals stepped forward. "A new political party. This State Socialist Party won 82 percent of the seats in the Reichstag last week. This film was taken on the eve of that vote."

"Prussian Reich?" my father demanded. "The Prussian Federation is no empire. What is the meaning of this?"

The general didn't break eye contact. "The State Socialist Party has taken full control over the Prussian Federation. They have abolished free elections. Only State Socialists may stand for office. The Reichstag has become a puppet body to the State Socialist leadership. According to our intelligence, last night Chancellor Bernhardt Weismann tabled a motion to abolish the Prussian Federation. The Greater Prussian Reich was founded in its place."

"The Treaty of Marsailles?"

"They are still abiding by it, your majesty."

Emperor Francis drummed his fingers on the side of his throne. "If I recall correctly, the Kaiser had a nephew. A boy that should be old enough to ascend to a Prussian throne."

"Adolf Fritz, your majesty. The boy is currently in exile with the Sang Dynasty of Taiyang. Bernhardt Weismann has not reached out to him. Bernhardt was a soldier in the Great War. Our intelligence believes he holds a grudge against the Kaiser."

"They abide by the treaty and they do not seek to restore the Kaiser. Very well. Aquitaine will take no actions at this time."

I was stunned. Gaea's version of the Nazi Party had just taken control of Aquitaine's most dangerous enemy, and my father wanted to do nothing? The emperor railed against Prussia. He had wanted to annex all their lands and force them to speak Aquitese. He had wanted to eliminate their culture and make them Aquitese. 

I wasn't a fan of his imperial, expansionist policies, but nipping the nazis in the bud as soon as possible was the best thing he could do.

I wanted to challenge him. I wanted to demand that he sent troops in and execute the 'State Socialists' right away, but I bit my tongue. I was too young to have a voice in the Imperial Court when it was in session. I could only sit on my throne and watch from the sidelines as my father made a mistake.

"The Prussian military?"

"It falls within the framework of the treaty. The SSP is reorganizing the military, but it is being kept to small."

"Good."

"And should these State Socialists fail to meet the obligations of the treaty?" the general asked.

"Then we will march into Weimar and remove them from power. They plunged our empire into war. Prussia can never be allowed to threaten us again."

If these State Socialists were like the nazis of my world, then that was exactly what they were going to do. They might already be rebuilding their military in secret. The small army might just be for show.

Or was I the one in the wrong? Just because these State Socialists invoked nazi imagery didn't make them nazis. No one in this world knew what nazis were. Was I holding the Prussians to my world's standards?

"Imperial Central Command will report to me on any developments," my father said, standing up. "Court is adjourned."

Military officers and aristocrats filed out side by side. I stood up and stretched. Being a prince might sound exciting, but I had to attend all the Imperial Court meetings and they could be tedious.

"Calixte!"

"Yes, Euphy?"

She latched onto my arm and smiled her sweetest smile. "I only get to leave the Imperial Academy for Girls on the weekend and you avoided me all day yesterday."

"That's not true. Strictly speaking," I said. "I had duties to attend to. I'm not a child anymore."

Euphy giggled. "I'm older than you and my mother claims I'm still a child."

"Empress Louise has banished you to that school," I pointed out.

"Weren't you supposed to attend the Imperial Academy for Boys?"

"I talked my mother out of that." She was the one who gave me most of my responsibilities in return.

"Empress Katherine isn't such a pushover," Euphy pointed out.

"She has a weakness for her children."

"Princess Euphemia!" a woman dressed in black called. A team of identically dressed people followed behind her. "A car is waiting for you."

Euphy sighed dramatically. I made sure to keep my composure. "Must I?"

"You know the gates will close tonight. They will not open again until Friday."

"An exception can be made for a princess, can it not?"

"Emperor Francois attended the boys' wing of your academy. He will not bend the rules for you. I fear Empress Louise will not take kindly to you missing a week of school."

"I don't suppose she will. Next week, Calixte, we will spend time together. I feel like we haven't sat down for coffee in months."

I grinned and bowed. "Of course, your highness."

She stuck her tongue out at me. I watched as Empress Louise's imperial guard escorted Euphy away. When she disappeared, Godfrey materialized in her place. I didn't know he was there until he spoke: "Your highness."

I stopped myself from flinching. "You're like Batman. How do you just appear like that?"

"Bat... Man?"

"Never mind," I waved it away. "How did you just appear like that?"

"It is my duty as your Knight of Valor to watch over you at all times, sire."

Knights of Valor were knights that served members of the Imperial House. It was our privilege to select one and I had chosen Godfrey personally. He had served in my mother's Imperial Guard as one of her closest protectors. When the time came, he would serve as the core of my Imperial Guard and he would help me select more Knights of Valor.

The only problem was hhe hardly gave me a moment of privacy.

"I've been meaning to ask, Godfrey. Why do you wear that emerald everywhere? Is it a family heirloom?"

"Emerald, your highness."

I pointed to his chest.

"Ah. You mean the ShieldGem."

"ShieldGem?"

"Some call it the world's first manatech. It was created by Arthur Pendragon shortly after the Cataclysm. It was made for his Knights of the Round Table. From them, it was spread across the continent. Jeanne Arc herself used a stone when she forged Aquitaine."

I didn't ask for a history lesson. "What does it do?"

"You power the gem by pushing mana into it. It creates a shield around you."

That explained why it wasn't mass-produced. If it could only be powered by mana, most people wouldn't be able to use it.

"That sounds perfect for the trenches. A shield of mana to protect you from gunfire and artillery."

"It is not as efficient as the ShieldGem's on war planes or battle ships. These gems consume mana like a drunk consumes drink. Performing the form and powering the gem at the same time puts considerable strain on our mana. Though it does offer more protection in the trenches, it comes with a cost."

That would explain why knights were desperate to escape the trenches.

"How are the gems on planes more efficient?"

"I cannot say, your highness."

I guess I was asking the wrong person... "Arrange a meeting with someone who could better explain it to me."

"Of course, your highness."

"What next?"

"Your mother wants to have dinner with you. After that, you have a meeting with the Historical Society president. I am happy to announce that you have nothing after that meeting."

"What's the word on finding me a suitable steward? It wouldn't do to keep my chevalier performing such menial tasks."

"I have trimmed down a list of suitable candidates to five. If your highness wants to meet them, I can arrange it for tomorrow."

"See that you do. Has my mother informed you what we are going to be having for dinner?"

"Taiyangese food, your highness."

"Let's hope it's more palatable than the last meal." Why did my mother have to spend a year stationed in Taiyang? It gave her a taste for their more strange foods.