706 The Ceremony II


    "We are not perfect," Aron began, his tone shifting to seriousness after the customary greetings, causing many in the audience to raise their brows in curiosity.


    "As humans, we’ve fought one another. We’ve killed, stolen, betrayed, and committed countless atrocities against each other." He paused, the weight of his words hanging in the air. People began to wonder if he regretted saying that or if he had been handed the wrong script.


    But Aron pressed on, undeterred. "I’m not saying this to boast of our flaws or diminish humanity. I say this to make it clear—we are flawed individuals."


    He continued, "Yes, we fought each other, but we also helped each other. Yes, we committed atrocities, but we also did better—so much so that those better actions overshadowed the worst. And, importantly, we learned. We learned from our mistakes and took steps to prevent them from happening again, or, if they did happen, to minimize the damage."


    "This," he said with conviction, "is our only real advantage over you—experience. Experience gained through trial and error, from the time our species has had to learn and grow."


    He paused again, giving the audience a moment to reflect on his words. "Experience earned because we had to survive and thrive on a planet that often seemed bent on killing us, with bodies not built for the challenges we faced." T/his chapter is updat/ed by


    "Experience earned through interactions with different groups, with differing points of view, forcing us to compromise, to adapt, to grow."


    "And all of this," he said, gesturing broadly, "led us here, to this star system."


    He paused again, allowing his words to sink in. The humans in the crowd felt a mix of pride and reflection, while the Proximians were trying to imagine themselves in humanity’s shoes, considering the long journey humanity had taken to reach this point.


    “Why are you cheering?” Crabapple asked, turning to Birch, who was enthusiastically joining the crowd in their celebration.


    Their new bodies had been returned to them just a few hours before the ceremony. After assimilating the knowledge Aron had prepared for them, they decided to attend the event as spectators, eager to experience life from the perspective of their children. Since the public was unaware of their new physical forms, and with no plans to reveal their existence anytime soon, they blended seamlessly into the crowd.


    “My personality makes it easy for me to enjoy things,” Birch replied with a grin. “Unlike you, who would probably become an introvert if left alone.” He chuckled and returned to cheering, blending into the energetic atmosphere.


    Crabapple sighed, glancing around. “I wish I could leave,” he muttered. The no-fly zone around the area meant he couldn’t escape by air, and trying to navigate through the massive crowd on foot would take hours. Resigned, he settled in for the remainder of the event.


    The ceremony proceeded smoothly, with a series of pre-arranged acts unfolding as planned. First came the ceremonial signing of the authority handover, a formal moment that symbolized the union between the Proximians and the Empire.


    This was followed by a solemn yet powerful event, as all high-ranking government officials stepped forward to swear their allegiance to the Empire and the Emperor, solidifying the new era of governance.


    But the highlight came next—the first official singing of the imperial anthem. As the voices of twenty million people rose in unison, the sound filled the massive square and echoed beyond.


    The sheer force and unity of the collective singing sent chills down the spines of everyone present, creating an atmosphere of overwhelming emotion. Whether watching from afar, through the live stream or standing among the crowd, the moment felt historic, as if it symbolized the birth of something far greater than anyone could have imagined.


    After all the official proceedings concluded, the ceremony transitioned seamlessly into a massive concert, shifting the tone from formality to celebration. The stage came alive with the energy of nearly all the Proximian''s most famous singers, each invited to perform for this historic occasion.


    The Proximians, along with the humans in attendance, joined in the festivities, dancing, singing along, and celebrating their new union.