Akida, the Mafanikio guard lieutenant perspective:
It hadn’t even been a day and already spirits from the abyss were playing games.
From what reports I could receive:
A failed arson attack occurred at the warehouse district,
A Steel Beam was stolen,
And, somehow, several roofs have received structural damage during the chase for the suspect of these crimes.
No one. NOT. ONE. GUARD. Can identify who there even chasing because they have some kind of fucking colour-changing Uchawi that makes it hard for anyone to even focus on them.
We don’t even know their gender!
“GODS DAMN IT!” I shouted while slamming my fist down on a map of the city
???: “Lieutenant?”
Akida:” WHAT?”
I turned around to see a scared young 15 year old messenger boy, wearing the Iron oval shield badge of a guard in training. He was trembling, clearly spooked by my outburst.
I held the bridge of my nose to calm myself down “*Sigh* Sorry, you may speak”
“Y-yes sir,” he quickly cleared his throat as he began to inform me of the situation “The guards that were stationed at the walls have all abandoned their ambush positions and have begun their encirclement of the sky dock”
The messenger boy was blessed with the gift of a Uchawi with no curse and had joined the army under “””special conditions”””. He came with the Nabagereka favourites and volunteered to stay when 90% of the garrison was ordered to leave for “””night training”””. Despite his unassuming appearance his Uchawi was proving to be invaluable in the current situation. A SITUATION WE WOULDN’T EVEN BE IN IF WE DIDN’T-.
Muy fist Slams down on the map of the city, sending various mapping and coordination equipment briefly flying
“Calm down, Akida. You still have a job to do.” I think as I pull the stress off my face
Akida:” Good job trainee”
messenger boy:” I’m not a-”
Akida:” Do you know if the local militia has reacted to this situation?”
messenger boy:*sigh* ”No, I do not. I can’t establish a link with those unwilling or unknowing”
Akida:” Yes, yes. That dreadful limitation of yours. I forgot about it. What about the probes I left in the city to track the culprit?”
messenger boy:” Ah, yes! They should work. Who exactly did you deploy as probes?”
I held my chin as I tried remembering the names of the 3 exceptional recruits I assigned to the task” Kuende, Zakia, and Angalia. Do any of them fit your criteria?”
I turned to the boy to find him, eyes glowing white, staring at the sky. His mouth was left open, drool leaking the whole time. It was…well, he looked like an idiot.
”WE HAVE A PROBLEM SIR!” The boy shouted. But his body remained still and unmoving.
messenger boy: “SIR? ARE YOU THERE SIR!”
“I’m right next to you boy! Calm down!” I sternly rebuked. Something was off with his voice. It sounded like him but the cadence was off.
messenger boy: “Ah, good. The boy said all I had to do was talk- Anyway, we have a problem”
Kuende! It sounds like an impression of Kuende's rural accent and far too good to be an ill-timed gag. This must be the boy’s Uchawi. Or rather; It better be his Uchawi.
Akida: “Kuende. What's the situation”
Kuende:” The infiltrator made it to the sky port and launched all the construction ships docked there. W-we don’t know which to chase sir! Six are in the air heading in…all directions of the compass, including those tiny inner arrows”
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Yeah, thats Kuende
Kuende:”Orders sir?”
Ok, this is bad. With the commotion the militia has likely already formed in defence of the city and if they are escaping by air….
My eyes widened with horror as I realised the infiltrator’s likely plot.
Akida: “They trapped the port!”
Kuende:”Sorry sir?”
Akida: “They're planning to take out the port and cripple the currently rallying militia, The militia that is likely heading to the sky port!”
Kuende:” You think they planted explosives at the construction site, sir?”
Akida: “Yes. or to be specific we can afford to take the risk. Kuende! Disperse the militia, I don’t care how just prevent them from being anywhere near the port till we can properly check for bombs”
Kuende:” Yes sir!”
The boy’s eyes suddenly stopped glowing and he seemed to regain proper control of himself as he whipped the spit from his mouth and looked back at me.
“Do you really think there's a threat of the magnitude lieutenant?” the boy calmly asked.
So he can hear the conversation while in that state, useful but what's with the question?
“If you must know, child. I’m assuming the worst with what I have. Regardless of if the saboteurs were smart enough to plant bombs, I can’t effectively prevent all six of those ships from escaping but I can’t prevent a possible massacre” I tried making it seem like my choice was far more thought out than it really was but I got the sense the kid didn’t believe me.
messenger boy:” Why not also call the garrison back and tell them to cut off the sabator’s escape? If they start surrounding the city and then return while keeping an eye out for suspicious individuals or the lost airships, they might catch the culprits while you simultaneously prevent a possible massacre.”
My eyes raised at the boy’s idea. How did I not think of that- scratch that, how did he think of that?
messenger boy:” Might I also recommend contacting one or more of the nobles on the floating islands? If you were to entice them with the chance of gaining fame for their respective clans I’m sure at least one of them might be willing to help”
I stared at what I originally thought was a simple messenger boy with a convenient Uchawi.
Akida: “Who are you?”
messenger boy:” Sir. All you need to know is that I am under your command and need your orders to save lives.”
As much as I would like to pull rank and order him to tell me. He has a point, now is simply not the time.
Akida: “Y-your right. Contact the army and tell them your plan then order the probes to contact the nobles.”
The Man saluted and entered his dazed state, eyes and all. Just how did this child grow up so fast?
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Miles up in the sky 3 noble families observed the chaos in the city within their floating islands, each one a powerful member of either the most influential clans in the city. The Jindaji, who supplied most of the cities’ food, the beloved Isaam popular through the free medical aid they've been providing the city, and the newest arrivals, the mercantile Opambwa.
On top of the most opulent island sat the founder and sole noble of the Opambwa, Dirar Opambwa.
Dirar Opambwa’s perspective:
I was sipping a cup of the finest palm wine, imported all the way from the western shores, simply watching the show with a few lovely women and my guard detail. The women laugh and giggle while my guards look like they are debating whether joining the commotion would be worth falling from this height
“Boss, shouldn’t we go down and help the garrison?” the gravelly voice of Tejumola, the mercenary captain, Asked.
Without sparring a gaze, I wave him off. “If they wanted our help they would have sent someone.”
A bug-like chittering starts to emit from the captain, his irritation very clear
Dirar:” Captain, Your band’s services are quite valuable and rare and I know you're a smart man. Surely you can understand why I’m making you wait”
The chittering stopped, and a sigh from the captain let me know he did.
“That's a good man!” I cheered as I finally turned to face the man, his body hidden in shadows. “Now enjoy the show and be ready to play your part instead of whinging and moaning”
The man simply turned and walked away. Honestly, some people just can’t enjoy a slow workday.
I glanced at my fat ass brother who was drowning himself in my wine and my woman in the centre of the garden
I absentmindedly asked “They know they don’t have to service them right?” and one of the women at my side caressed my chest and answered in a sensual voice“ They do my lord. but they value tips more than…experience.”
I kissed her forehead and smiled “Does that mean you don’t want tips?” I jested.
She pouted and lightly slapped my chest as the other women laughed at her failed attempt to woo me.
This! This here is why I don’t want to react. Why join the play when I can simply watch and enjoy it?