POV: Chris – The God of Blackwood
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The morning air felt different.
Not because of the weather—because of what today meant.
Day one, I gave wealth.
Day two, I gave land.
Day three... I would give power.
Not to the elites. Not to the politicians nor the educated born into prestige.
Today, I would rewrite legacy. I would lift the shadows into the light.
The people didn't know yet. No announcement was made. But word was already spreading through the cities like wildfire:
> "The God is walking again."
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I wore white. A symbol of purity—not mine, but of the souls I was about to crown.
The empire had enough nobles who inherited their seat.
Today, I would create nobility by merit, by resilience, by unseen sacrifice.
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First Stop – The Metal District
I stood before a young man missing an eye. He had stopped a rogue fire from spreading by dragging fuel drums out of a burning facility—barehanded.
"You are now Lord Kairo of Ironwatch," I declared. "Sworn noble of the Blackwood Empire."
His family wept. His workers chanted.
A golden mark was seared onto his left wrist by my order. The Mark of Lifted Flame—signifying that he rose not from wealth, but from courage.
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Second Stop – The Lower Schools
I sat in a classroom with a teacher of 19 years. No recognition. No promotion. But students loved her—and they became architects, engineers, soldiers... legends.
"I name you Lady Verona, Keeper of Minds," I said. "This school is now under noble protection. You will shape generations from your seat of honor."
The students screamed with joy. A child hugged me.
"Thank you for making my hero important," she whispered.
I smiled. "She was always important. I'm just catching up."
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Third Stop – The Street of Healers
A man with no formal medical training had created a makeshift clinic, healing wounded rebels and Blackwood soldiers alike during the civil unrest. He was arrested once. Forgotten twice.
Now he knelt before me, in shock.
"You saved lives in the shadows," I told him. "Today, the shadows lift."
I pulled out a scroll bearing the imperial seal.
"Lord Saif of Ashlight. Keeper of Health. Your clinic is now state-funded. Your lineage is now noble. And your actions immortal."
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Throughout the Day...
I gave fishermen lordship over ports.
I granted a blind poet nobility for spreading courage through words.
A mother of seven, who raised orphans alongside her own, was named Matron of the Crescent.
An ex-rebel turned peacekeeper was made Baron of Reconciliation.
These weren't symbolic titles. They came with land, resources, guards, authority, and place in council.
I changed not just their lives—but their family's destiny forever.
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As the Sun Set...
I stood atop the Tower of Echoes, watching fires being lit across cities in celebration.
The new nobles paraded through towns. They weren't dressed in gold or velvet.
They wore scars. They walked barefoot. They carried the people's trust—because they were the people.
And that made them more powerful than any bloodline could ever bestow.
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Later that night, I spoke in a private chamber to my Dictator and my newly appointed Generals:
> "The empire must never stagnate at the top. The ground must always be allowed to rise. If we ever forget this… bury me in the soil I came from."
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