Hyulik village - Rustalia Domain, Krechester Province
Ashta’s confidence and calm smile shook the head guard.
Never had he seen such an expression on his victim’s face. Before he could ask Ashta to drop his act, Ashta started.
“I detest to introduce myself verbally before I have done the work to back up my claims. Empty words used to introduce oneself in detail are nothing but an excuse to pump one’s ego in my opinion.”
“But right now, I don’t think I can say I am just a pawn in God’s plan and leave it at that for my Introduction.”
“As you guards prioritize asking questions over saving a life, I shall yield to your request. I will answer in detail to all your questions.”
“Your reasons to threaten me into this is justifiable as it is your duty to protect this village. Sadly, the same village that you swore to protect is in a danger that you cannot protect it from. Danger to the gut, that prevents the source of life, food, from entering into the body. Which has manifested here in the form of a disease.”
“How do you know it?” questioned the head guard.
Few more villagers started to flock behind the head guard.
“To be completely honest with you, I was sent here by God to answer the prayers of these villagers. They have been praying since morning to relive them. Some of them even think its a punishment from the angered spirits as the ceremony yesterday proceeded with hitches. Which is another thing I am here to clear.”
“I do expect you to doubt my words. Even I myself would, if I were to just hear these words without any proof. So, you can ask the villagers if they were praying at home for divine help since morning”
The head guard turned his head to ask the cluster of villagers assembled behind him.
“Can anyone verify the claims this man is making?”
One villager raised his voice “Yes! My sister and mother are praying to Goddess Serenia since morning to relive them from stomachache and hasty stools.”
Few other villagers agreed to the first villager’s statement and narrated their own versions of the story.
“Is this man an agent of Goddess Serenia, the Goddess of healing and prosperity?” asked another villager.
So their Gods have a very Greek like -ia at the end of their names.
“No. You could call me an agent of Sun God Apollia. For I follow his orders.”
“But fret not friend, from what I have been told by the Sun God, all our prayers make way to one Ultimate God, the creator of all Gods, as long as we are good to our fellow humans.”
“Since the Ultimate God is a genderless, formless and an endless being incomprehensible to us mere mortals, He has bestowed upon us the freedom to worship any God that we can comprehend.”
An old man among the crowd hailed “This man exudes wisdom.”
To negate the positivity Ashta was showered with, the head guard turned to him and said “Your honeyed words cannot sway me stranger. You still haven’t told me where you hail from.”
“I too hail from the same domain this village is in. For I am a native not a foreigner.”
“This domain? Never have I heard about the worship of the sun God in Rustalia. Also what about your skin, hair and attire? They are definitely not of this domain” questioned the head guard.
Perfect. Things are going just as I planned.
“You are right”
Agreeing to your opponent’s opposing point lowers their guard and hostility making it easier to get your point across.
“I too was leading a life just like any of you. Born in this domain, of white skin and yellow hair, I was performing my role in the society for my daily bread. Day by day as years passed, thirst for higher wisdom increased as I faced more of life’s problems. There was so much I did not know and no source to attain that knowledge.”
“I wanted to ask the Gods many questions like, If death doesn’t discriminate among men, then why must the men and Gods do?”
“I had heard that they worship the sun in some distant lands, which made more sense to me. Even if sun isn’t a God, He is worthy of my worship. He provides light in a world of darkness, slays the freezing winter with his arrival, keeps us comfortable with his warmth, dries our fish and meat so we could preserve it for harsher times, helps all the plants and trees grow which in turn gives life to all other living beings.”
“Hence, I dedicated the following months of my life in meditation. With gratitude for all the things Sun had graced us and requesting for the higher wisdom I craved for.”
“Finally after almost a year, my request was fulfilled. I was enlightened by the Sun God. Apollia was his name. But he didn’t mind being called any other name. He was too bright for my eyes to see, but not for my mind. He radiated with abundant positive energy when I saw him through my closed eyes.”
“He then bestowed me with the knowledge and wisdom of a thousand year old man while also informing me that true wisdom is a journey not a destination and I must make that journey like any other human born on this earth.”
“He also revealed that there was a lot of knowledge hidden for us humans to discover with effort and intelligence.”
“Along with the knowledge and wisdom that he bestowed, he tanned my skin to brown and my hair to black permanently as a sign that I was touched by his wisdom.”
“Like a lost sheep, I then asked him for my purpose in life. For which he answered that my purpose here onwards would be the same as every human. To make this realm a better place than it was. To my best capabilities at least.”
“Since I had a lot of knowledge and wisdom than any man I knew, I feared I would discriminate in sharing and utilizing this with my family or friends. Hence I pleaded him to wipe out almost everything from my memory that would have the emotionally tied me to be biased.”
“Being the kind God that he is, He granted me with my wish and gave me these clothes with his picture on it saying ‘Son of a beach’, meaning I am from the shores from where He rises everyday.”
“Since my memories were wiped clean of my previous life, He sent me to this village stating there are many good people here praying for God’s help and this would also serve as a good starting point for my new life.”
All the people around Ashta paused for a minute in astonishment after he ended his speech.
The head guard then gained his composure and asked “So that’s what those strange characters under the picture of the sun mean?”
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Shit! Shit! Shit!
So they cant read English? Now I feel so embarrassed for making up a divine meaning for a lame pun on my T-shirt.
“Yes brother” Replied Ashta.
“So you don’t remember anything from your past?”
“Not only did I forget everyone from my previous life, Apollia also wiped my memories from everyone’s head” replied Ashta.
“How convenient right? Enough of your bullshit” replied the head guard and flung his dagger hand in the air to strike down.
Almost all the villagers yelled in disagreement to the head guards response.
He didn’t fall for it? Crap!
Even if I lose my finger, I must stick to the story and keep my composure.
Don’t stop smiling with a calm face.
Unswayed by the villagers’ opinion, the head guard swung his dagger towards the base of Ashta’s little finger.
Just before the dagger could strike the joint fixating the little finger to Ashta’s hand, one of the guard holding Ashta in place, Sigmun, extended his arm and caught the wrist of the head guard’s dagger hand in an attempt to prevent the amputation.
It was in vain. The head guard’s force overpowered Sigmun’s opposition and struck the little finger joint.
Ashta let out a painful scream, following which he tried his best to put on a peaceful face with a smile, fighting through the pain and mental trauma. If he had to pull this sage act off, he had to stick to the character even through this shock.
“This is unjustifiable. This man clearly means no harm” defended Sigmun.
The villagers behind the head guard cheered for Sigmun.
“Why did you try to stop me Sigmun? If you hadn’t interfered, I would not have struck his finger. It was a test of his honesty. My intention was to strike the table in between his fingers” countered the head guard.
“Lies, Lies, Lies” yelled a villager from the crowd.
The head guard turned his head around to respond to the yelling villager.
“Who was that? What if this man was the person who poisoned your festival food last night so he could claim to be your sage today?”
“Tillard, I thought you were an honorable man. That is why I decided to follow you. But right now you are making me doubt my decision” said Sigmun.
“Is this what our friendship has come down to Sigmun?” asked Tillard.
My hand is literally getting fried in Satan’s personal kitchen here and these two guards are having their bromance quarrels.
“I truly feel what the head guard did was justified. Yes It was extreme, but while looking at this from the perspective of intention, it wasn’t filled with malice. It was filled with sense of duty as a guard and protectiveness”
“In case you suspect me to have poisoned the food at the festival yesterday ask any person in this entire village or the surrounding lands if they saw my presence here yesterday or anytime before today. If yes, then I shall accept any punishment” argued Ashta.
“How can you suspect such a man? A sage has come to save us and this is how we welcome him?” shouted a villager.
Tillard gave up his grip on Ashta’s hand and Ashta applied pressure immediately over the wound of his partially attached little finger while letting out muffled groans every minute or so.
“My apologies. Take this cloth to clean the wound, sage” offered Sigmun.
Now if I go overboard telling this isn’t a big deal, I forgive everyone and shit, I might land in a deep grave later down the line.
“Thank you for your kindness. Keep this cloth in boiling water. Meanwhile we need to treat the old lady and others affected by this disease” replied Ashta.
“It shall be done sage” and Sigmun was on his way.
Turning towards the crowd Ashta announced “All the families affected with haste stools disease, prepare this. A spoon of sugar or honey and a pinch of salt in a glass of boiled water. Give two cups of this every hour and every time they pass stools”
“None of that is going to happen”
“First I shall confirm if this medicine is true with the old lady in this house and only then you shall consider taking his advice” ordered Tillard.
This would actually work in my favor as it would instill greater trust in me.
Calming his rabbit heart, he felt a slight relief that most people bought into his backstory. He was out of immediate danger, but with the head guard on high vigilance, he knew it wasn’t over yet.
Even though the of thought of losing my little finger terrifies me, but that is the most likely scenario right now so I need to accept it.
This open wound with a dirty weapon in this pre-antibiotic era is a free ticket to VIP section for all clubbing bacteria and fungi.
I might even lose my life if I don’t find some antiseptics. Whats available here?
Yes, honey. That can work. Then, garlic? That might also work as an antiseptic as long as it isn’t contaminated.
Despite this pain, there is something ecstatic brewing inside me watching almost everyone change their hearts and take my side while also stampeding this barbarian.
I will survive this. With all my future knowledge, nothing can stop me.
“I’ve got my eyes on you stranger. I’m not a sheep like the rest” warned Tillard, the head guard.
Ashta smiled and headed into the house to save the old lady.
Greymouth fort, Hiddleton domain, Krechester Province
“Things are still proceeding according to my plan. Even then the General’s passing is a great loss for our domain” replied Maddox.
Count and Chief were astounded by this reply.
“Let’s head inside, we’ve got a lot of things to discuss” commanded the princess.
While they were about head into the main tower, the soldier guarding the fort doors announced.
“Chief Thaline, we’ve got a strange guest. I’m not sure what to do”
“Speak properly or else I shall split your tongue” threatened Thaline.
“There is a strange green coloured horse wearing royal horse armour. There’s no human around. It keeps neighing and kicking the door” justified the soldier.
“That’s Springfast. My father’s war horse. Open the doors ordered Princess Elyra.
As soon as the guards opened the fort gates, the horse trotted towards the Princess.
Princess caressed its face and chest with her hands.
Chief Thaline exclaimed “What a strange coloured horse. Where do these come from?”
“This is a gift from a royal friend of my late father.These habitat a country to the far East. This is the rarest colour even among its species. So much so that only generals and royalty get to use this sturdy beast” flaunted the princess.
Chief Thaline ordered her subordinates to arrange lunch for the guests.
As the Princess and Count were admiring the beauty of the horse, Maddox noticed a small leather satchel hanging by the hooks of the armour on the horse’s left side.
“I really wonder how did this horse find me all this way here” spoke the Princess.
“This is why!” claimed Maddox with a letter sized package in this hand.
He had just pulled it out of the satchel hooked on the horse’s armour.
“This seal. This package is sealed with the secret seal of house Hiddleton. Only my father had access to this seal as it is produced by the ring he wears everyday” exclaimed Princess Elyra.
“From the looks of it, it seems to be pressed no longer than half a day. But we got the news of King’s demise almost two days ago” opined Maddox.
“This must be a trickery or a trap from Prince Reith. Kindly refrain from opening this Princess Elyra. Let one of my soldiers open it. ” claimed Chief Thaline.
“I understand your concern, but anything sealed with this seal are only meant for the eyes of the Hiddleton royalty. Anyone else even gazing on its contents would have committed treason punishable by death” replied Princess Elyra.
“I beg your pardon if I stepped any lines by suggesting that. But that is still my honest opinion regarding this matter”
“You need not apologize. Houses like mine with four hundred years of heritage tend to have orthodox rules like this. But worry not Chief, for I’m not evil enough to punish someone for having a different opinion than mine” verbalized Princess Elyra with kind eyes.
“All such rules go out of the window in times like this. Your brother backstabs the King, commits treason, leads an army of brutes coming for your head and you, Princess Elyra, being our only hope want to risk your life to cling on to your house rules?”
“I apologise for being so direct, but your life has never been so precious to us, your subjects Princess Elyra” expressed Maddox.
With a change of heart after listening to Maddox, Princess Elyra agrees for a substitute to open the package at a safe distance.
Chief Thaline turns around and points at a soldier.
“You there, step forward” she commands.
The soldier walks closer to the Chief and salutes her after bowing to the Princess.
“Introduce yourself Soldier”
“Yes, Chief. My name is Humfrey Dother. I hail from Ethar village in Hiddleton Domain. I serve in the House Hiddleton’s army fort Greymouth division. Currently I work at the stables of fort Greymouth Your Grace” introduced Humfrey.
“Now then, I grant you the divine privilege of saving the Princess. Not everyone gets this rare opportunity” commanded Chief Thaline.
Humfrey nodded unenthusiastically.
“Take the package from the Princess and open it at a distance” she continued.
As HUmfrey approached Princess Elyra to receive his fate, the Princess put her hand on his shoulder and spoke,
“Whatever happens to you after this, I will personally make sure your family or friends get compensated appropriately. Even if nothing happens to you, I will still offer you a handsome reward for stepping up to this, my loyal subject.”
Listening to the Princesses’s words, he thought,
I can finally dream of spending time with my family as free man. Free from the evil landlord’s oppression. Princess Elyra truly deserves the Hiddleton throne.
Humfrey’s face lit up with a small smile and he produced an enthusiastic nod this time.
“You are too kind for your own good Princess Elyra” expressed Count Yarris.
“I concur that” agreed Maddox.
Chief Thaline refused to comment on the matter like the other two out of respect for the Princess.
“None of my subjects’ lives are disposable. Their utter loyalty to the crown is what built our kingdom. Hence it is my duty to value it” defended the Princess.
Other soldiers in the background chanted “Long Live Princess Elyra, our future Queen” multiple times in response to this.
The Princess smiled at them and then signaled them to stop.
“Is that place far enough Sir Maddox?” asked Chief Thaline pointing towards a distant corner in the courtyard within the fort.
“Firstly Chief, I dislike honorary titles so drop it while addressing me”
“Secondly, if it is a toxic gas, then this distance still would not be enough. Hence, the best place for it would be outside the fort doors” replied Maddox.
“As you wish” she replied and got it arranged.
The Princess, Maddox, Yarris and Thaline climbed the fort wall to get a good view.
At a distance of about a mile, HUmfrey stood with a package in his arms like a lamb waiting for slaughter.
As soon as he interpreted the Chief’s signal from the fort wall, he took his dagger out to cut open the seal. Everyone watching it embraced for the scariest outcome they could think of.
Anxiety was was in the air among these distant observers.
Finally the scapegoat cut open the package to reveal its contents.
There were a few among the observers who bragged they knew from the beginning that nothing unusual would happen.
Humfrey then proceeded to reveal its constituents. He waved a letter and two palm sized flat metal pieces with jagged edge.
While being asked what those pieces were by Maddox, the soldier shrugged his soldiers signaling his null comprehension on those objects.
As the nobility discussed what those contents could mean, the soldiers and their Chief sighed in relief for their fellow mate who made it out unscathed. Chief Thaline then signaled the brave soldier to return to the fort.
As Humfrey took his first step towards the castle, he was struck by an arrow through the neck and collapsed on the floor in the following seconds. There was no human visible surrounding the fallen soldier. The arrow seemingly appeared out of thin air.
With a stern face Princess Elyra turned to the Chief and ordered “Summon the Green Viper right now”
“You mean the member of the Royal Elite Squad, the legendary warrior Green Viper?” questioned Chief Thaline.
“Yes. You heard me the first time right? Green Viper of the RES, the fastest man alive, the only person whom I can trust my life with right now. I need him right now”
“My apologies Princess. But we don’t even have men with even one tenth of any RES members’ abilities in this fort” answered Chief Thaline.
“Two years ago I had sent him here after he drowned himself in alcohol following the death of his late wife. His real name is Lothis Kogan of Kogan clan. Knowing him, he would not have revealed his true identity here” elaborated Princess Elyra.
“That lazy drunkard Lothis ? I thought he was only.... I still can’t believe he is a prime member of the RES, the legendary Green Viper. I shall summon him this Instant your highness” vocalized Chief Thaline as she tried her best to conceal her astonishment.
The princess gazed on to the field where her soldier laid in cold blood with an arrow through his neck. She then turned towards the nobility and asserted with a commanding tone “From here onwards, the Princess will dictate and her subjects will obey.”