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, weve fought one another. Weve 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. "Im not saying this to boast of our flaws or diminish humanity. I say this to make it clearwe are flawed individuals."

He continued, "Yes, we fought each other, but we also helped each other. Yes, we committed atrocities, but we also did betterso 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 youexperience. 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."

"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 humanitys shoes, considering the long journey humanity had taken to reach this point.

"But just because you havent gone through what we did doesnt mean you lack advantages over us," Aron continued, transitioning to acknowledge the Proximians' strengths.

"Your advantage lies in your purity, in the untainted life experience that most humans lose during our development. The twists of fate that have entangled human society since its dawn have taken that away from us."

He paused, then added, "Another advantage is how youve started your lives as a unified group. You didnt have to endure the brutality and division that we experienced to achieve unity. Its something I envysomething that I believe we desperately need to keep ourselves from going astray."

Arons tone softened as he reached his point. "Thats why, from the moment I learned of your existence and your unique characteristics, I knew it was vital that you join us. Whether as imperial citizens or as allies, you would act as a counterbalance to us, just as we could to you, ensuring neither of us strays from our path."

He smiled as he concluded, "With that reasoning, and for many other reasons, I officially welcome you to our empire as its newest members. May this union be as prosperous as we all hope it will be."

Arons speech was notably brief for such a significant event, especially compared to the often long-winded addresses of world leaders from previous regimes. But he didnt need to elaborate on unrelated topics; he had the focus and leverage to address the heart of the matter, which he appreciated.

The crowd erupted into a sea of cheers, waving the empires flags with joy and pride. Some were so moved they shed tears. It was a momentous occasionone that had far-reaching implications not just for the Proximians, but for humanity as well.

I hope humanity can adopt some of their traits, Aron mused to himself as he observed the scene. The Proximians' deep gratitude was evident. They were fully aware that their very existence hinged on an accident, one that had even cost a few human lives.

But even if they had come into existence through some other means, they knew it would have taken them thousands of years to reach this level of development. Thanks to the empire, they had bypassed that long, arduous process, arriving directly into the modern age.

Their purity and innocence meant they took to heart everything they were taught. It shaped their behavior and values. For them, concepts like breaching contracts, scams, broken agreements, and dishonesty were deeply despised.

They were raised under the empires guidance, and these virtues became the foundation of their actions. As a result, they held themselves to the highest standards, embodying the integrity that Aron hoped would influence the rest of the empire.

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 couldnt 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 nextthe 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.