ID: 233

Outcome: Narrow Victory

Open After Story: Yes

Manual Prompt: Yes

Text:

You led your people into the Lapis Lazuli Palace. That was your victory, but more so theirs.



After coronation, you immediately began drafting reforms with Nawfal. The most crucial: abolishing the empire's slavery. In your vision, the future empire wouldn't even have "nobles". Every soul should rise by merit alone. As the ancient sage said, "Are rulers and nobles ordained by birth?"



Naturally, your reforms met resistance. But that your gathered strength couldn't overcome it, which was out of your expectation. Nawfal and you had believed that so many hands, so many fervent eyes, so many souls craving freedom and justice would suffice. Yet a vast empire has its inertia... You pushed hard in the right direction, but not enough to derail ancient wheels.



Nobles slandered you. They ignored your decrees, or obeyed with hollow gestures. Slaves never heard your voice where their masters confined them, exploiting them more brutally lest they realize the law now called them men. You clashed endlessly with bureaucrats and nobles. Friction became conflict. Conflict became civil war. War eventually sputtered out through compromises, leaving only scars upon mutual trust.



It seemed endless. The realm you longed for seemed forever out of reach... You'd toppled a Sultan, yet couldn't savor victory's fruit, the jewel-bright prize still hanging above the realm...



How many more challenges must you face? How much of your spine must wear away to taste its sweetness? A hundred? A thousand? Ten thousand? Would your lifetime suffice?



Ha... No matter! You'd try again and again, a hundred-and-first time, a thousand-and-first, ten-thousand-and-first!

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