In the end, Sally had recorded seventy-two kids and twenty-three corpses.
All under the age of eight (in New Roman years, in Earth years they would all have been under twelve years old).
Apparently, her attendants weren’t knowledgeable in commoner illnesses and only knew a little bit about the illnesses nobility could have.
So she recorded what each children had, by herself.
Twenty-three were dead.
The dead were probably the lucky ones, they didn’t have to continue their suffering, Sally had to hold back vomiting and hold back her tears as she wrote down what each child had, in the end, she made a table of her results.
Illness
Mild
Medium
Severe
Malnutrition
-
32
40
Dehydration
-
54
8
Respiratory Infections
25
-
-
Gastrointestinal Infections
-
30
15
Skin Conditions
30
-
-
PTSD
30
20
10
Muscle Anthropy
45
-
15
Sensory Deprivation
20
5
-
Developmental Delays
15
20
-
Parasitic infections
8
-
-
The results were just… heartbreaking… Sure she might have messed up diagnosing a few of the children (she was only in her second year of medical school after all.) but there was a trend and the trend was just so emotionally taxing.
There were fifteen children however… she couldn’t quite diagnose what problem they all had… Each and everyone of them had a fever, her thermometer clocked it around a hundred and two to a hundred and three degrees fahrenheit. Their skin was swollen, had sweat that smelt fairly sweet and had chicken pox-like spots.
Diabetes? Chicken pox? Diabetes and chicken pox? She doubted it… But what else could it be?
“Ah…” Fiona said, “They have the Devouring…”
“The Devouring?” Sally questioned, “What’s that?”
“Commoners born with mana. They develop a disease called the Devouring, where they become sick and show such symptoms. It’s quite rare so it is very surprising to see so many here…”
Sally’s eyes came into contact with one of the devouring children, she couldn’t help but stare at him in horror as she watched his face twist into a silent scream.
“...Help…. Please… Hel….p…”
“How do we treat whatever is happening to them?” She asked her attendant as she walked up to the boy.
“Well… We could always make them sign an obedience contract…”
“An obedience contract?”
“Like what the Head Priest tried to do with the commoner servants and in addition to that, the Devourlings will revive a manastone to safely dispose of their excess mana, My Lady.”
“Ahh…” Sally said, understanding the situation, “Slavery you mean.”
She felt the boy twist and turn in her arms, in pain, “Uh… UH! PLEASE! IT HURTS!”
Sally never felt so helpless before. “What else could we do?” She asked Fiona.
“Well, we couldn’t possibly give him a mana ring, those are expensive and we don’t even know if he will remain loyal to us without the contract.”
The last part of the sentence gave Sally flashbacks to what she had told Riya a few weeks ago. But that was different! She was simply making sure she wouldn’t die! This was different. How could a five-year-old boy (in earth years, in New Rome years he would be much younger) possibly do her any harm?
The boy started to scratch his arms raw. Several other children with the same affliction started to cry out in pain as well.
“Poor children…” One of her retainers said, she was too busy trying to calm the boy down to recall who’s voice that was, “If they don’t sign an obedience contract, at least their manastones may please the Gods…”
Sally was about to snap and fire whoever spoke when she remembered something.
…Her Aub ring… It could absorb mana…
She quickly placed the little boy’s hand over her ring and watched the ring glow as it absorbed the extra mana the boy had. The boy’s face seemed to relax more and more as more mana continued to be sucked in by the ring.
“My Lady what are you-”
“Quite…” She said as she moved onto the next child to absorb their excess mana…
And the next…
And the next…
And the next one…
Till all the children with the devouring stopped crying and scratching themselves, some even fell asleep from sheer exhaustion of having to suffer for who knows how long…
Now… Onto the next part…
The children’s clothes were dirty and were barely being held together, they needed new clothes.
“But My Lady, a single dress costs one large silver! We’ll be spending nine small golds and five large silvers for-”
“-Do not question me, Fiona.” Sally said, annoyed, “We spend more on tea parties, this is nothing.”
“...Of course, My Lady, I apologise…”
In the end, the children had been fed and clothed properly and were given their own room that used to belong to Priests and Shrine Maidens used to sleep in before they were called to the Sovereignty or allowed to join Schola Regalis Sapientiae. All of the rooms were still furnished and one of the recently freed White Sister’s became their guardian and started to look after them all. The rest of the White Brothers and White Sisters and pregnant White Sisters took up residence in other rooms of previous Priests and Shrine Maidens with rooms and rooms to spare. In fact, she was sure they barely used up an eighth of all the rooms present.
It made Sally want to throw something, all these empty rooms, and yet, she found the children huddled together in an abandoned shed.
Starving. Dying. Dead.
Sally took a deep breath, hopefully Jayden had better luck than her, hopefully he didn’t have to order his retainers to drag out any corpses and have to hold funerals.
Sally gathered half her retainers present so they could go check out the other temples. The other half will be staying here to keep the situation under control.
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
Riya was panicking.
It was two weeks after the incident with Viola, she already had a talk with her attendants about workplace abuse and how she wouldn’t tolerate it and how it ‘wasn’t Godly’ and has been keeping an eye on the situation. So far she only fired Sebastto (Archnoble) after she found out he almost kicked Shivan (Mednoble) to death for ‘performing higher than his station’ (read: Shivan has been doing his job properly and it looks bad for Sebastto because Archnobles are supposed to be better than Mednobles at literally everything so since Shivan was doing his work to the best of his abilities, it was really Pissing of Sebastto because Sebastto wanted to slack off) to show she was serious and she hasn’t heard or seen any of her retainers harassing each other (or others) ever since.
But that wasn’t why she was panicking.
Nope, she was panicking because she was going to hold a meeting with her friends/colleagues/fellow Aubs and try to convince them that workplace abuse and ragging was bad and that it should be made illegal since that should be common sense in the first place and human decency not to do that in the first place!
But she was pretty sure at least one person would say what she wants to do is ‘unethical’ and how she’s ‘commiting genocide’ by ‘destroying a significant portion of New Rome’s culture simply because she doesn’t like it’ which is all… Very much fair…
She was sorta (maybe, probably?) destroying parts of New Rome’s culture and values by introducing new ideas and stuff but, isn’t that like, the natural way of things? Different cultures interact, ideas are exchanged, people's thoughts and perspectives of things are broadened, people start to shed some of their old customs, embrace newer customs…
So what she was doing was natural wasn’t it? Just speeding things up… Overtime, people would have started to question more and more about their society and bring about change themselves… But at a very slow pace… Either that or until it all blows up in their faces and the rigid social structures with their endless abuses become too much New Rome has their own version of the French revolution.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
And she didn’t want her head on a pike.
Riya sighed as she sipped some of her tea and watched her fellow Aubs trickle into her meeting room. She honestly felt like an Anglisist during the British Raj… Doing away with certain norms and values because she thought it was ‘barbaric’ or something like that.
But then again, how was it not barbaric? Abusing your colleagues because they work better than you and since you want to slack off you punch your colleague into submission to do less work so you don’t look too lazy when comparing you to a ‘mediocre’ worker than to a 'high-achiever' worker. It's a twisted logic, one that prioritises personal comfort over teamwork and mutual growth. This toxic cycle perpetuates a culture of fear and resentment, breeding an environment where progress and innovation are stifled, and where individuals are pitted against each other rather than working together towards a common goal. It's high time we break free from this cycle and cultivate a workplace where respect, collaboration, and shared success are the cornerstones of our professional lives.
Damn that was good~!
Riya quickly scribbled down as much of the internal argument she could remember so she could refute any arguments related to that.
“-It’s twisted logic…” She muttered to herself as she wrote down her argument, “And then… and then?” Fuck, she forgot what came next…
Oh well! Hopefully they don’t ask her any questions and readily agree with her…
Once everyone was settle in, she signalled for Sebastian to bring some lemonade as a refreshment incase anyone got thirsty or started choking for no apparent reason other than to get attention and stop everyone from focusing on her speech and by the time water is brought and they’ve calmed down, everyone stopped caring about her speech and what she’s saying and then no one would vote for her motion, ya. That shit happens a lot in serials and mangas…
“Ok.” She said, getting straight into it, “Ya’ll’d’ve been wondering why I called this meeting today right?” She got a few ‘yes’s’ and ‘ya’s’ to her question.
Starting off strong! Good!
“Well.” She said, “I want to make a few laws, specifically, laws for human rights.” Riya looked around to see if anyone would say anything, no one said anything so far, not even Jayden or Sally! She was so sure one of them were gonna say something about how 'she was going to be the reason they all got caught' or something like that.
So far so good… "I'd like to make workplace abuse illegal and to get rid of the caste system while we’re at it."
“I-” Sally was about to say something but Riya quickly cut her off.
There was no chance in hell she would let anyone tell her that hurting people for shits and giggles was ok! Regardless of whether or not ‘it’s traditional’ or ‘it’s part of their culture’ or ‘it’s a way of life’. Like, slavery was very much legal throughout the world in the 18th century but that didn’t make it ok?! People later on banned it?!
Same shit here, except on a much faster time scale, “I know we just got here, and that there is a very small chance we could be assassinated or something for this, but we all should pass this law because it’s the right thing to do! We can’t just watch people suffer just because of the circumstances of their birth! That’s immoral!”
“I-” Jayden was about to say, but she shut that down too.
“Also, not only is it immoral but it’s like, super open to corruption! Think about it! If we give a mednoble a job to do, an enemy archnoble could come and order the mednoble to stop! And they’ll be powerless to do anything but stop their work because some high-birthed brat told them to do so and if they don’t then they could get beat up by the archnoble brat which would, unfortunately, very much be legal! So we should pass laws to get rid of the caste system and make workplace abuse illegal! Because there’s no way we’ll be able to make any progress if these two social evils exist within the Prefecture!”
Riya took a quirk drink of water before going back to her speech. Hopefully she was making sense and it didn’t sound like word vomit, before she could say the next part of her speech, Jayden quickly spoke up.
Fuck he was going to give such a brilliant speech-
“- I agree -”
-that everyone will be enraptured-
“- This caste system is no good and workplace abuse has no room in a civilised society-”
-With his speech on-
“-However-”
-That they shouldn’t make these laws-
“-I also believe that we should-”
-Or else they all might get found out and executed-
“-Make slavery illegal while we are writing these laws into existence.” Jayden finished.
… Huh?!
Riya looked at Jayden, confused, wasn’t he going to say her new laws sucked?!
“I too agree with Jayden and Riya.” Sally spoke up. Riya shook her head, was it just her or did Sally’s voice sound more… Subdued? More tired? “New Rome is very different from Earth, human rights are almost non-existent and people’s lives are worth next to nothing. But, these people are still human aren’t they? All humans deserve basic human rights, all humans are deserving of basic rights such as clean water, good food, adequate shelter, education, justice. All humans are deserving of basic decency and to just… Play under the Sun…”
Riya started to think Sally was thinking of something or someone else while she was speaking.
“That’s… Good and all…” Melissa said, “But how are we supposed to make sure the rules are being followed?”
“Oh Hell no…” Max started, “Don’t tell me we’re going to-”
“-Build a Law and Justice system.” Jayden finished for him, “And make people sign a few more contracts.”
Riya's stomach felt queasy when she heard that contracts were going to be involved again.
"Doesn't all this feel a little… Haphazard to all of you?" Deb asked, "Like, Ok, we have our justice system now, but the main administrative system is a mess, do we even have an administrative system? We can't have a justice system and no administrative and defence system to back it up."
That did sound like a problem, a problem Riya had no idea how to solve, she just wanted to pass a few laws that could help people! Who knew all this bureaucracy (or the lack of because they really didn't have much of a proper administrative system) would slow down the implementation of the laws!
"What about the administrative system the Prefecture was previously Aubs and their family had implemented?" Valerie asked, "We've been doing that for a month and a half so far haven't we? Isn't that our justice system?"
Deb shared a look with Sally, Jayden and Harry, "Wait," Deb said, "You don't know?"
Riya felt she was missing some sort of context here, kinda expected seeing as how she's been oscillating between planning for a trip to the western font to find gum arabic, trying to write a proto-version of the non-discriminatory laws and finalise the wording of it to be airtight as possible and write her speech so she could convince a few of the members to vote for her law to be passed as well as punishing Sebastto and finding the money in her almost non-existent personal funds to pay for Shivan's medical bills (Shivan was injured during his work hours in her own home on the job, it was only natural she paid his bills) and had also used her remaining time awake to read RomFans.
In short, she had been very busy for the past few weeks and missed out on some very important plot points which goes to show she's probably not the MC of the story.
"Know what exactly?" Valerie asked.
"How about we talk about this lat-" Jayden was cut off by Harry.
"We haven't been using the previous system the previous Aubs had implemented for a while now because of the one thousand three hundred workers that worked in the administrative part of the Prefecture, only twenty-three remain, rest are dead because of collective punishment."
… What. "If that's the case then, whose… you know… Administering the land?!"
"Jayden, Harry, Deb and I have been going around the Prefecture to make sure everything was in order…" Sally said.
"The four of you have been going around doing the entire Prefecture and have been doing the work of two thousand people all by yourself?" Maria asked concerned.
Deb shook his head, "Not alone, our retainers also helped."
Riya did the math, if everyone had at least twenty retainers… That meant… Around a hundred people were doing the work of two thousand people… "Why didn't you tell us?" Riya asked, "We could have helped!
"You were all too busy with your own work." Deb said, "It didn't feel right to disturb any of you."
Riya was about to refute but then she took a few seconds to think… She was busy the last few weeks, couldn't have helped that much (if at all, really) and she did need her (remaining) retainers so they could do a census when she finally has the time to do so. "Why didn't you hire more people to help you then?" It made sense to her, having worker shortage? Hire more people!
"...You know how we've just inherited a war-torn Prefecture… Right?" Jayden asked her.
Riya nodded and had no idea what that had to do with her question, "Ya… So?"
"Well, You know how because of the war, people… Die?”
“I’m not four, Jayden.”Riya said.
“Right… So, you know how after the war, the losers get punished? Which typically involves ‘collective punishment’? Just by being related to one traitor, you could also get punished despite being innocent?”
Riya nodded, “Oh, so they used collective punishment?”
Jayden nodded, “Anyone related to the Aubs of the five rebelling Prefectures, blood, adoption, marriage within five generations and their retainers. Were dealt with.”
Riya felt a shiver go up her spine when she heard that. So many people… Dead… And now they are facing a shortage of workers…
They lacked the administrative strength to make the Prefecture function on a day to day basis… Any and all civil work would take weeks and months to be completed what could have been done in just a few days… Not only that but because of the shortage of workers, the rest of the workers will be run ragged and would likely suffer burnout.
Also, would the others even be able to finish their trends that they were supposed to create and spread next year? Or would that be delayed? Would that cause any problems for them?
Probably! Riya was sure some (if not all) of the Prefectures were pissy and angry that Riya and the others 'descended from the Heavens’ to ‘save’ four of the five losing Prefectures (because you know… Winning Aubs lost the chance to mock post-losing-the-war Aubs, because whatcha gonna do? Mock a literal messenger from the Gods?!), the winning Prefectures were pissed they didn’t get the land they were promised and she was sure some of the Nobles didn’t believe they were ‘Gods chosen ones’ because none of them had a drop of mana in them.
No mana, no trends, no nothing…
----------------------------------------
After a long and arduous struggle to receive proper representation, the Prefectures of Aurelia, Silva Aeterna, Porta Maris and Ferrum had lost the war and their entire Prefectorial family lines had been wiped away and was headed towards an uncertain future, where the Prefectures would either have puppet Aubs installed on their thrones, or would have had their territories ripped apart, to be shared amongst the winning Prefectures, exploited, beyond exploitation.
However, that all changed when the Gods above decided to grant such pitiful States a second chance and had hence, sent down eleven Angels to be their messengers, to guide, to heal, to unify the people of Aurelia, Silva Aeterna, Porta Maris and Ferrum. To become one.
To become. Harmonia.
WE, THE PEOPLE OF HARMONIA having solemnly resolved to constitute Harmonia into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this 25th day of April, 10432, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.
----------------------------------------
Dear Jayden,
I just got a copy of the Preamble to the constitution and I’d just like to say… What the fuck? Explain it to me?
From,
Riya
----------------------------------------
Dear Jayden,
I just got a copy of the Preamble to the constitution and I’d just like to say… What the fuck? Explain it to me?! How are we Democratic?! How are we a Republic?!
From,
Riya
* First off, stop wasting parchment, secondly, what do you want me to explain? - Jayden
----------------------------------------
Dear Jayden,
I just got a copy of the Preamble to the constitution and I’d just like to say… What the fuck? Explain it to me?! How are we Democratic?! How are we a Republic?!
From,
Riya
* First off, stop wasting parchment, secondly, what do you want me to explain? - Jayden
* Why does it look like someone just made a rip-off of the Indian constitution?! And what’s all that at the beginning?! - Riya
----------------------------------------
Dear Jayden,
I just got a copy of the Preamble to the constitution and I’d just like to say… What the fuck? Explain it to me?! How are we Democratic?! How are we a Republic?!
From,
Riya
* First off, stop wasting parchment, secondly, what do you want me to explain? - Jayden
* Why does it look like someone just made a rip-off of the Indian constitution?! And what’s all that at the beginning?! - Riya
* That’s because it is a rip-off, Deb wrote that part, I wrote the beginning because it added more flavour to the Preamble, to make it more awe-inspiring you know? - Jayden
----------------------------------------
Dear Jayden,
I just got a copy of the Preamble to the constitution and I’d just like to say… What the fuck? Explain it to me?! How are we Democratic?! How are we a Republic?!
From,
Riya
* First off, stop wasting parchment, secondly, what do you want me to explain? - Jayden
* Why does it look like someone just made a rip-off of the Indian constitution?! And what’s all that at the beginning?! - Riya
* That’s because it is a rip-off, Deb wrote that part, I wrote the beginning because it added more flavour to the Preamble, to make it more awe-inspiring you know? - Jayden
* … I have no words… What do the others think about this?
----------------------------------------
Dear Jayden,
I just got a copy of the Preamble to the constitution and I’d just like to say… What the fuck? Explain it to me?! How are we Democratic?! How are we a Republic?!
From,
Riya
* First off, stop wasting parchment, secondly, what do you want me to explain? - Jayden
* Why does it look like someone just made a rip-off of the Indian constitution?! And what’s all that at the beginning?! - Riya
* That’s because it is a rip-off, Deb wrote that part, I wrote the beginning because it added more flavour to the Preamble, to make it more awe-inspiring you know? - Jayden
* … I have no words… What do the others think about this?
* Bold of you to assume they know. JK they’re fine with it, no one cares about it, as long as basic human rights are mentioned, they’re fine with it.