End of Empires [World Address]

Alerts and notifications had been sent out across the globe, to every Vandenreich operative but also to every major city too. The Grandmaster would be making a public address at midday in the City of Lights. Major news networks had been informed, time allocated, and attention garnered. He had been awarded the right to use his platform to address the world's people in a time of crisis, and, whether they knew it or not, this was one.

As midday eventually rolled around, a crowd had gathered in the park in front of the Vandenreich Headquarters. Citizens and personnel both watching on, waiting to see what all this commotion was about. A stage had been constructed before the building, upon which the rest of the Higher Circle and several senior members of their divisions had already gathered, and at the front of that was a podium. The media had been invited to set up in the near vicinity, though chiefly under the guidance of Director Schwarzmann and her team, and a selection of Sternritter officers had gathered to form a wall between the stage and the public.

An ominous silence descended as the clocks began to chime, which also marked Alastair's arrival as the Grandmaster marched out from the headquarters and crossed the short distance from the building to the stage. Garbed in his full dress uniform, decorated with his marks of office and awards he had earned from his service, he paused at the foot of the podium to remove his hat and tucked it neatly under one arm. Taking a single, purposeful breath. He climbed the last few steps and steadied himself. This was the time.

“Let me start by wishing a warm welcome to all members of the Vandenreich, citizens of the City of Lights, our friends, allies, and everyone else joining us from across the seas and beyond. To those who do not know me, I am Alastair Albrecht Eisfluch - The Grandmaster of the Vandenreich. I am speaking to you today to address a recent turn of events that affects each and every one of us, a development will have repercussions around the globe, so I ask that you pay attention to this message.”

There was a pause as Alastair momentarily turned his attention to the crowd and those around him. This was the time for them to compose themselves, to prepare for what he was about to say. Many of them likely knew what his next few words would be, and yet many more did not. He had chosen to take the initiative and speak on this matter before the news became so widespread that it was plagued with misinformation, so that was what he would do.

“Earlier this morning, I received a call from Elyss Kishimoto - The Captain of the Earth Division of the Gotei United. It was with great regret and apprehension that she informed me, as of that very moment, that the Gotei United was to be disbanded and the management of the Soul Cycle left unchecked. Though I pressed her for details, Ms Kishimoto was unable to offer any, but the report has been verified by trusted Vandenreich operatives. So let me make this clear, to eliminate any shred of doubt that may linger in your minds, the Gotei United is no more and we have no indication that a similar organisation will arise in Soul Society to take its place.”

"The Gotei United and the Vandenreich have not always worked in parity, but in recent years I think that our two organisations grew close enough to consider each other allies. I believe that we shared a vision of what the security of both our realms should look like, and I had expected that we might strengthen this bond as we dealt with the aftermath of the Vastimian Crisis. Perhaps, in time, our relationship might have become more symbiotic, but I will not speak further on a future that will never come to pass."

He paused, knowing that his next few words would be far harder than any he had ever spoken before. His focus turned directly to the main camera, peering into the soul of every person watching as he commanded their attention with every fibre of his being.

"So, upon considering the future and our position in it, this day will also mark the end of the Vandenreich.”

There was an abrupt pause as the gathered crowd fell to sudden silence at that blank statement, a silence that stretched across the city as an unavoidable air of confusion set in. There was no display of doubt on Alastair’s face, though. His conviction was clear even if his words were not. This was the path he wanted to walk, regardless of the thorns that might line it or the divisions it might bring to the fore.

“But unlike the Gotei, this once-hidden empire will not be leaving you all in the dark. Instead, we will be blazing a path forward to pick up the slack that has been left by this tumultuous decision. The Vandenreich was once a representation of the natural end goal for the Quincy, a bastion against the prejudice that was levelled against them by the Shinigami of old, but it has been the goal of the Grandmasters that came before me to change this mentality. I would not be the man I am today without their guidance and wisdom, but it is their knowledge that has shown me that such a change is impossible to manifest whilst trapped within an outdated shell. So, to become something greater than before, it is time for a metamorphosis. I have made this difficult decision for the betterment of the world so that we can all stand taller together. I hope that you do not confuse my words for those of doubt or insecurity, I am here today to bring you all a message that hope remains. Let this be the day that we mark as one where the tide turned and the wars ended, where the future of Earth shone its brightest, and we took that first step towards the true end. Our Wahrender. We will protect you, shield you from harm, and put an end to this vicious cycle of self-destructive conflict."

As he spoke those final few words, there was a flurry of activity behind him. The heraldry that lined the Vandenreich Headquarters, the podium upon which he currently stood, and all around the park; everything changed as one. The logo of the Vandenreich was replaced with that of Wahrender, the colours remained the same though the detailing was clearly different. This empire of once unknown intentions now presented themselves bare to the word, a field of white for a banner with a great W printed in the centre. It was a minimalist design, though that was clearly the intention, as Alastair raised a fist into the air in an emphatic show of strength. The crowd did not settle, now divided between confusion and inspiration as they continued to watch this all unfold, but he could not have heard them regardless of how they responded. In this moment, it was Alastair alone atop his platform, his eyes ablaze with righteous flame as they gazed into the future, and nothing could draw him from this enchantment until he finally spoke again.

"So, in my first address as the Grandmaster of Wahrender, I am making an open offer to all former members of the Gotei United still on Earth. Join us. Gone is the time of disunity, when we could afford to let our differences divide us, so I invite each and every one of you to join me on this mission to bring some order back into this world. We have the resources to support you, and there are already a number of Shinigami and Vizards in our ranks that can assist with this drastic transition."

“To our allies, whether here in the city or across the globe, I promise wholeheartedly that Wahrender will remain your stalwart defenders. You will be hearing from myself and the Higher Circle again in the coming weeks as we look to solidify our ties and affirm our place as the world’s premier spiritual security and protection agency.”

“To those that might see these changes as an opportunity to exploit the good people of this world, those who would attempt to use this transitional period to cause further strife, I will offer you a chance to reconsider. Our gaze now stretches across every continent. It is only a matter of time before our agents find you and bring you to justice, no matter how well you think you can hide.”

From his back, on cue with his final threats, a pair of vibrant orange wings roared into existence. Atop his head, Alastair wore the halo, as his burning eyes were consumed entirely by that inner fire until only the purest of white remained. He had grasped his dream with both hands now, and none would take it from him for as long as he still drew breath.

“Thank you one and all for your time, and for caring about the future of this realm. If we stand together then we can save tomorrow today. This is our Wahrender.”

With that the broadcast ended, the Grandmaster offering one last purposeful white-eyed stare right down the barrel of the camera before it was replaced with a still of the Wahrender logo. Upon his podium, Alastair surveyed the gathered crowd again for a moment more before turning to depart. His orange wings scattered into the light of the midday sun, basking them all in a moment of pleasant warmth, as the gathered energy began to dissipate and those who remained were left to ponder what would come next.