image [https://imgur.com/TfZzbxY]

Arkum, art by me(Ohtep)

***

[Eldoria]

[Archwood, The Great Archives. Armin]

It has been a while since Armin has written down multiple laws. He had completed two papers worth of them, but all still fell under the Law of Order; it was out of the Six Laws.

Once he was done and exhausted he went back to sleep, where he was brought back to Hadro who was waiting for him.

“Hello, Armin. Anything you need to be guided on?”

“Nothing much my Lord.” Armin closed his mouth and opened it again and hesitated, he considered the weight of his action but ultimately spoke out of curiosity. “My Lord, why do we need laws?”

Hadro raised a brow and Armin added more content to his words. “I mean, why do we need to be reigned in with such laws? Why would laws even start?”

“Philosophical aren't we?” Hadro chuckled. “Well, Armin. What's the difference between a man and a rat?”

The question flustered Armin. He could see plenty of answers, but only a few were ultimately right.

“A rat could feel, think, do routines and even grasp with its hands. So how come, despite the physical differences between us, it couldn't achieve the same thing?”

Armin deliberated the answer, formulating upon his mind and he soon spoke, unsure, “Is that we can think better?”

“Armin, thinking is subjective. One could think of food, of the weather, of love, of running. But what exactly makes us better on the matter of thinking?”

Armin contemplated, he knew animals are different from sapient beings such as himself, but how different? Of course not with the obvious answer of having four legs or with a snout or perking ears.

Armin then saw the answer, someone like him could make mistakes, apologize and even repent. Someone like him could build, fail, lament. Someone like him could look at a mirror and say, ‘That's me’

“We can reflect.”

“Precisely.”

“B-but where does that fall within laws?” Armin questioned, seemingly the answer was too near for him to grasp.

“Question this yourself Armin, would the law exist if man and animal cannot be distinguished?”

“What do you…” Armin let the words be digested slowly, why would the law even exist?

Why shouldn't the law exist? Is it because men are infallible in the face of desire? Are they such uncontrollable creatures that they place a leash upon themselves to contain this desire?

Armin felt disgusted by this scenario. He couldn't help but be reminded of the last two subjects of Odigosgraphy. He saw the idea's merit, he already saw the answer, and now he truly understands its meaning.

Without rules, men and animals are no different. No matter the circumstances, no matter the ease of life, a man would ultimately succumb to his instincts.

Inequality has always, and will always be a part of any society. This cannot be destroyed as long as there is a community.

Armin could see that the law is placed due to its consequences and procedures to make everyone in the same place as equal as possible.

Not all man are animals, but the few that thrases around like one will ultimately influence others since they are the loudest and meanest which will eventually place them on a pedestal where others can see what they could do without consequences.

And not counting people's curiosity, it is inherited within all to observe and see, agree or disagree. Information can be passed on whether it is wrong or not. If there's no law, then a man who claims to be a god cannot be told he is wrong.

Ultimately, law is the enactment of order over a man to one another, to place consequences, and to see eye to eye.

“I'm too old for this…” Armin sighed.

“Don't mind that you're only 873 years old.”

“...”

“Let's continue, if you have questions let's get them answered.”

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

“Yes, my lord.”

***

Arkum could tell that he was almost finished with his part. The northern part is mainly a large desert, and its vast emptiness is easy to survey.

The only hard part is the navigation and resources, water had to be packed in large quantities every time for scouting and the monsters did not make it any easier.

Thick carapace or chitin is hard to penetrate against the common initiate and they have to rely on an Officer nearby or flip the beast over to have a chance, flipping it over is already hard enough.

Arkum sighed as he checked reports from multiple parties, looking down at a map to mark it with a figure.

“Monsters here and there. Avoidable… possible resources here…”

As he marked the map, he made sure to take occasional updates over his communicator back at Foreline village. This is all recorded at Alpine HQ by an Officer, adding new information as soon as he sends it.

Arkum sat down at a chair and leaned back, he closed his eyes and crossed his arms. He took a deep breath trying to relax himself. His eyes felt a little bit heavy, it was getting harder and harder to get tired now that he was stronger.

Back then, in his thirties, he would have a hard time going out for long periods. Now it felt like it would take him running up and down a mountain several times without stopping before he felt tired.

He could fight a thousand monsters but that would just feel like an exercise, like a run in a park. Arkum relaxed his tense muscles, he could feel the heightened sensitivity he had.

Right now, he could feel vibrations on the ground, from his leather footwear, through the chair he was sitting down, and all the footsteps of the initiates and captains in the camp.

He opened his eyes slightly, looking at the ceiling of the tent.

“A few more minutes and I'll get up,” Arkum spoke particularly to no one.

“What? Really?”

Arkum jumped up from his chair, his body tense from the momentary scare. He looked at the voice of the perpetrator, he knew who it was.

“Why, in Hadro’s name, are you doing here?” Arkum accusingly growled.

“Hey, I heard you were doing your part faster than us,” Shavik smirked.

Arkum sighed as he sat back down, Shavik grabbed an extra chair for himself as he faced Arkum, finding his flustered face fun.

“So?” Arkum prodded.

“Right, in my area there are a lot of tough monsters and beasts, I might need your help sooner than later since Lazarus is busy back home and Garuk also needs our help.”

“Understandable. But does that require your presence here?” Arkum questioned, scratching his head.

“No, I'm here because of this.” Shavik laid down a letter that Arkum took.

Arkum soon opened the letter and started reading it. The more lines he skimmed the more his expressions changed. “Another race?” he asked dumbfounded.

“Yeah, that's another population to consider,” Shavik yawned.

Arkum placed down the letter and he looked at Shavik, he noticed his scar over his shoulder and he couldn't help but ask.

“What happened?”

Shavik followed his gaze and tapped on his shoulder letting out a laugh. “Why of course, a win against a tough beast!”

Arkum couldn't help but feel pride and competitiveness against Shavik after hearing those words. “What kind?”

“An Emperor Tiger, the king of its land. It took me wits to take it down, I tell ya.” Shavik bragged about his fight against the beast, and Arkum listened till the end of his tale.

“Ha! You have nothing against mine! I fought a serpent!”

“I've heard of that! I heard you took it down along with the blue monster! Along with the Valovasoar!” Shavik pointed at Arkum with an accusatory look.

“Hey! That doesn't mean I didn't contribute to taking it down!”

The two chattered for a while before an Office entered Arkum’s tent with a flustered face after seeing Shavik.

“Alvon.” The Office saluted.

Arkum nodded and had the paper given to him, once his eyes laid on the letters he couldn't help but feel delighted, smiling too.

“What is it?” Shavik asked, curious.

“A new organization, new delivery systems and the possibility of Kavo being deployed in the front lines!”

“What?!” Shavik had to snatch the paper away from Arkum and read it before believing it. “Whose station though.”

The two friends looked at each other. Arkum started smiling as soon as Shavik did.

“Garuk.”

“Min— yes, It's Garuk”

“... Shavik?”

“No-No it's nothing.”

***

[The Abyss, The efuti Settlement]

Mikhael watched as the Nefuti moved with purpose, Gaby, who was given the knowledge, taught the Nefuti people to make tents and how to start farming on their own. It's been a few days and everyone seems to have their residence.

Wooden houses were erected everywhere, Mikhael looked to his right, a canal was being dug. He knew these people weren't stupid because they were picking up what Gaby taught them as fast as anyone with intelligence would.

Mikhael soon walked away, his steps leading him to the converging cocoon of energy, he felt warmth and comfort. He felt Hadro touch his mind and he walked away towards the part of the forest.

“Hey, Mikhael.” One of the Aidens greeted Mikhael.

Mikhael looked towards Paul. “Hello, Paul. Going here because you felt the same thing?”

“Yeah, since you're here I’ll go back. Take care alright?”

Mikhael nodded, he watched as Paul walked away. Once he was out of sight, Mikhael felt the presence he was here for. A giant feline growled at Mikhael, he turned his head at the giant feline.

Mikhael gazed at the feline with underwhelmed emotions, his face was impassive even as soon the feline lunged at him with killing intent. All Mikhael did was swipe his spear vertically and the Feline, carried by its momentum, fell to the ground in two pieces.

Mikhael looked at the corpse indifferently, his thoughts were that it would serve some purpose to the Nefuti at least. Mikhael let go of his spear, his power let it float beside him. Now that his hands were free he took each part of the corpse on his hands, gripping them firmly and walked back to the settlement with a trail of blood behind him.

His footsteps neared a man, who seemingly was sighing as he carried pieces of wood for fire. Mikhael approached the Nefuti which looked at him with awe and reverence.

“Go and take this for storage. I'll take the piece of wood for you.”

The man tried to speak back, but looking at Mikhael’s indifferent face seemed to have made him do as he said. The man with a gulp placed down the firewood he was carrying, he took Mikhael’s hunted beasts with him, smearing blood on his hands.

Mikhael soon reached for the firewood when his gaze landed on his arms which were filled with blood, he stared at his palms for a second before willing the blood off his hands and taking the firewood.

He trailed behind the man who was anxiously waiting for Mikhael. Once they reached the storage room, Mikhael saw Paul talking with the Nefuti with a smiling face. Paul soon noticed Mikhael and he waved at him.

Mikhael nodded, the man in front of him passed the corpse to a butcher which was now being processed into big chunks of meat.

“Thank you.” The man said before bowing and taking the firewood Mikhael carried.

Mikhael watched with an impassive face as the man walked away, without him noticing Paul was already beside him.

“What was that?” Paul asked with a raised brow.

“I killed the beast that approached the settlement earlier, I brought its corpse because I thought it’s of use─”

Paul raised a hand before sighing heavily. “Brother, you talk so blandly, you know that?”

“What do you mean?”

“Mikhael.” Paul sighed as he placed a hand on his shoulder. “The way you talk is so monotone! The mortals will get scared of you!” Paul chuckled.

Mikhael gazed downwards, he contemplated how to change that but came to the conclusion he was born that way. He sighed and looked at Mikhael impassively. “Can't help it.” before turning around and walking away.

Paul looked at Mikhael and pursed his lips, worried about his brother. “Oh, Father, what do I do with Mikhael.”

Paul moved away, back to the Nefuti People, he went back to the stump he was sitting on in front of the children and some adults. He wrote some alphabets which the kids were eagerly looking at.