Three days had passed since Mata's shocking revelations to Manusya. The Aksha had spent most of those days completely resting and not doing much else, he needed those three days of break to process everything and rest. But now, he was ready to set in motion his plans. Manusya sat on his desk with floating screens in front of him. He was currently in his house built from materials taken from the spaceship, a two-story house that looked like it would belong in space. He rubbed his chin and looked focused at all the screens in front of him. He had compiled every clue and information that he could from Mata's recollection of the knowledge passed on through generations of druid leaders.
I need to focus. My feelings of guilt will not help anyone. If I should repent, then it is through doing my job. Manusya said to himself in his mind.
Manusya looked at the screen and tried to summarize all the information.
"From what I gathered, some key information that Mata gave me were:
1. The Three Ages that came to pass before I awoke from my slumber.
2. The First Age ended with a plague, the Second Age ended with some sort of magical catastrophe, and the Third Age ended with aetherial weapons of mass distraction, perhaps similar to a nuclear war and nuclear winter that occurred.
3. Sapien created a synthetic body and transferred her consciousness into it. She then chose to help humanity, albeit with multiple failures. She was last seen leaving the Osma reaches with her six aides, which coincided with the worship of Sapien in this continent.
4. The organ next to the heart that humans use to control the aether is called an aether heart, and somehow the humans of the First Age already had it, although they could use only use it properly since the Second Age. I also somehow have an aether heart, although it is currently incomplete, it stands to reason that while everyone could utilize aether in small ways, only select individuals could become an aether weaver."
Manusya sighed. It was a lot to take in, but everything fits the missing puzzle blocks that he was searching for.
"The story suggests Sapien developed...feelings? I wonder if that story of her falling in love with the first druid leader was true." Manusya remarked. He had his doubts. The Sapien that he knew and spent an astronomically long time with was a cold, unfeeling artificial intelligence. She was the most advanced AI available to humanity, and it was possible that she eventually developed emotions over a long period, but it was still hard to believe.
"Whatever the case, there is one thing to do if I want to find answers. I need to find traces of Sapien and to do that, I need more information from the outside world, starting with Hydaria." Manusya said. He was determined to contact Gavrin again very soon. They were scheduled to talk shortly about the secret trading network between his border town and Osma as well, thus Manusya would be bringing more things to the agenda.
Manusya stood up from his desk and approached the window. He saw several buildings under construction. He built his house near Prana in a site that was going to be designated as the government district, where the Convocation of Osma would hold their meetings. Near his house, large nano printers were creating building blocks and other materials and the Osma workers took them and followed the three-dimensional blueprint conjured by the Real Nano Imagery. Slowly, the main government building was being built. The citizens of Osma were walking by his house performing their daily tasks and activities. They all had a sense of purpose in their demeanour, they smiled and talked to each other when meeting someone familiar. Unexpectedly, some young children were also watching the construction of the buildings, they were in awe of the technology and a sense of wonder swept over their faces. Manusya had not seen many children since they were rehabilitated, but with enough time in virtual reality and their time in school there, many of them were starting to recover.
Manusya smiled. I can't fall into despair. For the humans who had perished, for the humans, we have yet protected. He said in his mind as he touched the glass.
The sound of knocking could be heard from his door. His door slid open automatically and the Seat of Affair, Evui waited at the front door.
"Aksha, it is time for the presentation." She said.
Manusya turned around and nodded. "Yes. Let us depart."
----------------------------------------
Manusya arrived in an open area where several seats were prepared. Most of the Convocation members were present and sat on each seat, with Aksha's seat being the grandest and centre as usual. The seats were all facing the people of Osma, who stood in a line. Each of those people of Osma was carrying gadgets, papers, tools and miscellaneous objects. Near his seat, Numa, the prodigious son of the Osma nation waited for Manusya.
"Aksha!" Numa greeted Manusya. "I just finished school for today, well I already spent weeks there in virtual reality, as you put it. Why have you summoned me here?"
Manusya sat down and tapped on his thighs with his hand. "Come, sit." Manusya said to Numa.
Numa blushed in embarrassment, he was not a kid anymore, he thought. But with all the important people in attendance and his affection towards Manusya, he did not object and sat on Manusya's lap.
"These people are presenting their findings and innovations." Manusya said to Numa.
"Innovations?" Numa asked.
"Yes. You see, all the adults, as you know, are also receiving their mandatory education curriculum. After the initial aptitude test, Erectus assigned them individual curriculums based on their vocational skills and interests. Some turned to chefs and opened their restaurants, some turned into architects and so on. Today, they are going to be presenting their latest innovations based on the things they have learned in virtual reality so we can see if we can start producing them for the good of the masses." Manusya explained.
"Oh! This should be interesting then." Numa answered.
Indeed, I did not want to take all the initiative myself in building things. With the education they have received in VR with Erectus, these people are slowly learning all the discoveries that humans have made in science, technology, and so on. With this, even without my involvement, they will slowly start to invent things and develop themselves. Everyone with a licence could also borrow a nano printer to be used in their prototypes. Manusya nodded to himself and patted himself on the back of his mind. He wanted these people to apply what they learned themselves and not depend on him to tell them what to do.
Most of the Convocation members were present except for the Seat of Defence, General Ahmi who was busy training the troops. They all sat eager to see the new inventions that were going to be brought to Osma.
Evui stood up from her seat and started explaining to the people in attendance. "We will now begin the presentation. Each of you has five minutes to explain to the Convocation today, in the interest of our limited time. Please come forward with your invention as your name is called."
"First, clothing designer Lahmi, from the village of Ohm," Evui announced.
A woman that Manusya instantly recognised came forward, she wore a ponytail and was carrying a binder full of papers.
"Oh? It's you!" Manusya exclaimed.
Lahmi bowed down and kneeled on the ground. "I greet the Aksha," she said respectfully.
It's the woman that had her hand severed by a Hydarian knight when I arrived in Ohm for the first time. I was the one who re-attached her hand with a Medvac. Manusya thought, recalling three months ago.
"It is good to see you here. I am proud that you represent the Ohm people here. What do you have to show us?" Manusya said.
Lahmi raised her head to see Aksha from her kneeling position. "It is all thanks to you healing my hand, freeing our people and making us undergo education in that realm you control that I found my passion in making clothing." She stood up again and presented the binder of papers to Manusya.
Manusya started to scroll through the designs. They were photographs of clothing that seemed similar to what was in fashion during Earth's 20th century, but with an Osmanian twist. The two more striking designs were a male and female design that resembled a business suit, but were much more colourful and included Osmanian accessories and trinkets. The photographs were photorealistic and were seemingly made with nano printers.
"These are amazing. You propose we start producing these?" Manusya asked.
Lahmi nodded. "Yes, Aksha. I admire the clothing you wear and was inspired by them. In that other realm, I learn the art of fashion design and started learning how to design and make them. The materials will include leather and this material called cotton, which I have learned will need to be grown." she explained.
Manusya nodded. "I fully approve." He turned to the convocation. "What do you think?"
"I want to wear that!" Numa said, pointing to the male suit.
Mata, who sat next to Manusya also nodded and smiled. "I certainly want to see what I would like in those. I believe you should make them, Manusya." She said.
Everyone turned to her when she called the Aksha 'Manusya' rather than his proper title. None dared to comment anything to the druid leader, but everyone was surprised.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Manusya looked at everyone in embarrassment. He was the one who requested Mata to call him by his name instead. He coughed to brush the matter aside.
"Anyway, yes, I approve of this. Tell the Seat of Affairs what you need and they will start helping you with production. If I must request something, make other versions for children as well. And make several variations to suit people's different tastes." Manusya said to Lahmi.
Lahmi nodded. "As you wish, Aksha." She walked away as she finished her turn.
"Next is Rehnir from the village of Bastu," Evui announced.
The next person stepped forward with what appeared to be a bicycle, two wheels attached to a frame with a seat and a steer. Manusya smiled as he saw this, these types of innovations would gradually develop the Osma people at a steady pace through their agency. And innovation in transportation like this would be a big boon to Osma.
Rehnir was an eccentric-looking person, a man with hair that Manusya recognised to be a mohawk, but he had never seen one in the people of this world. The man smiled somewhat off-puttingly as well.
The man bowed and smiled. Our Aksha!!!" He said enthusiastically. Everyone was taken aback by his bombastic personality. "I present to you....the bicycle! Let me tell you, I was greatly in awe with all those golems that you command, Aksha! In my heart, I know I want to make something like that someday. I told Erectus, the spirit that works under you in that other realm but he said before I learn about...robotics as he put it, I should learn about a subject called engineering first. And thus, I started learning everything I could about engineering and design. At some point, in one of the problem exercises, Erectus showed me this thing, a bicycle! I knew I want to fully understand how it works and all its principles. It's brilliant! The chains are connected to each wheel which is then connected to the pedals. The steering would also allow someone to turn right and left. I also believe that if we can harness some sort of energy on it, it can move automa—" Rehnir began talking in a rapid-fire manner.
"S-stop!" Manusya shouted before he continued any further and confused everyone. "I know what it is. Good job. So you managed to build one with the nano printer?"
Rehnir nodded rapidly. "Yes, yes, thank you! And yes, that nano printer device, I want to understand how it works as well! Anyway, this is only the start. Soon, I can make more majestic machinery and transportation tools! Believe in me, Aksha! Believe in me who believes in you! Bet that I will not disappoint you!" He said as he opened his arms wide.
Suddenly, Rehnir rode on his bicycle and began pedalling. He began driving the bicycle around the field.
"See this? You should finish all the road construction, Aksha!" Rehnir shouted as he rode on the bicycle.
What an eccentric individual. Manusya thought as his lips curved upwards. But incredible greed for knowledge. He will be an important figure in the development of our transportation. I will tell him about trains later, he will lose his mind. I already have plans on building an intra-city public tram.
From Manusya's side, Elder Stroma said to him. "Aksha, forgive me, that young man is from my village. I hope you excuse his behaviour." The Seat of Education of the convocation said.
Manusya turned to Elder Stroma. "It is completely fine. It seems your village is producing quite intelligent individuals."
Elder Stroma smiled. "Yes, our village is filled with curious people. Thank you, Aksha." She smiled.
"It's all thanks to your help in building the education curriculum as well." Manusya nodded to Elder Stroma.
After Rehnir's presentation, several other inventions were brought forth to the Convocation. Some were slightly too lacking in design and knowledge of the things they were trying to make. One person even presented a model aeroplane similar to what the Wright Brothers built on Earth, but it failed to take off, which told the inventor that they had plenty more things to learn before they reached that point. But with the time dilation in virtual reality and the education that artificial intelligence gave them, the people of Osma would develop their reservoir of knowledge at their disposal faster than all civilizations in existence. They were already taken from a simple hunter-and-gatherer tribal society to building tools and contraptions that were far ahead of their age if one did not have the things at Manusya's disposal.
Finally, it was time for the final presentation. A shy man was carrying a stack of paper in his hand.
"The final presentation is by Karasuwo from Prana, the capital. Please, come forward." Evui announced.
A timid man with a long face—both figuratively and literally. He was tall and lanky and wore traditional headgear. With short black hair and eyes that were sharp yet reserved. He bowed down to Aksha while presenting the papers in his hand upwards towards the Seat of Aksha.
Manusya's right eyebrow raised from this action.
"Aksha, p-please r-read this." The man said stuttering.
Manusya stood up from his seat and walked to the kneeling young man. He took the papers and started to read them. As Manusya turned to each page, his eyes went wider and wider and he smiled.
Numa leapt forward and looked at Manusya. "What is it, Aksha? Is there some incredible knowledge in there?"
"Perhaps more designs of a type of machine?" Evui said behind him.
Manusya waved all of those comments away. "Even better!" He grabbed Karasuwo's shoulder and forced him to stand up. "Young man! Tell me why you decided to present me with this."
"I..." Karasuwo felt his anxiety rising. He was already terrified that what he brought today was utterly useless compared to the rest of the inventions that he saw. When he was waiting in line, he was dreading being told off and kicked out. And yet, something in him pushed him to be here.
"T-that day, when you defeated the Hydarians and we declared independence," Karasuwo said, he seemed as if he was mustering a lifetime's worth of courage to say this. "You showed us how you and the Ohm hunters defeated the Hydarians by this projection which showed moving pictures. They were so vivid, so visceral, so beautiful. I was inspired not only by your actions but by what those motion pictures could achieve. I told Erectus this in the other realm, and he told me that there is such a thing as the Art of Filmmaking! Films areare what those moving pictures are called. I don't have any other talents, but I chose to learn about this." The man explained.
Manusya was elated. He looked at the papers again. This man brought me a screenplay! Not only that, it's a fictional script of my arrival in Ohm up the point when we defeated the Hydarians.
Manusya was utterly happy. A lot of things had been on his mind recently. He was starting to feel pressured and enormous guilt overcame him. Outside of his stress, everything was work and more work. He did not have a lot of time for himself. Even all those presentations he saw were for the good of humanity and the Osma people. But this young man suddenly came to him with a film script of all things, one of Manusya's greatest passions in life back when he was in the Ark.
"Young man, you will be making this film! That's final! I will help you make it! You can be its director, I have faith in you after seeing the passion that filmmaking ignited in you." Manusya shook Karasuwo's shoulder. The latter began to swell up in tears.
"T-thank you, Aksha! I will not disappoint you!" He said.
Art and culture must develop alongside everything else. This kid will be history's first filmmaker. He does not know the wave that he is going to create in the field of entertainment. Manusya thought.
With that proposal accepted, the other Convocation members began returning to their posts one by one. They were preparing to execute the plans laid out in some of the accepted proposals and make them public. Mata, Evui and Numa remained with Aksha in that open field, alongside some soldiers who were assigned as protection.
"Manusya, you seemed so...happy," Mata said as he touched Manusya's shoulder. "I'm glad."
Manusya nodded and smiled. "Yes, that was a surprise for me."
"So, what will you be up to now, Aksha?" Numa said to him.
"Next is your agenda should be..." Evui began looking at her notepad where she noted down every activity that needed Aksha's attention.
Manusya nodded. "It is time for our full preparation for the incoming Hydarian attack. We are three months out approximately from their arrival. First on the agenda is to establish contact with Gavrin. Come, follow me." Manusya said to all of them and they all began walking away from the open field.
----------------------------------------
On the other side of Osma, the soldiers were practising their body and endurance in the face of the elements. They were not wearing their combat suit but were all bare-chested. They went prone and trudged through dirt, climbed trees and sparred with one another to hone their skills out of virtual reality.
A crowd of soldiers built a spectacle of a battle that was occurring in the middle of the circle. Two men were fighting each other hand-to-hand. General Ahmi, the muscular bald man with an average stature yet fierce presence and a much larger, taller opponent, Groma, a man with long hair and equally muscular build who previously opposed Ahmi's appointment as Captain before the fortress battle.
The two of them weaved aether to enhance their bodies. Each time they exchanged blows, the soldiers cheered. It was clear who they were cheering for, or rather, they thought it was insubordination if they did not cheer on their general. But some of them wanted Groma to win because it was clear that he was the underdog.
Groma was thrown to the ground, it was not the first time today this had happened. "AAAAH! CURSES!" Groma screamed.
"Give up," Ahmi said, his face was cold. "I am your General, you are now my Captain. Even with our differences, I appointed you to such a position because of your skills."
"I don't need your acknowledgement!" Groma charged with a blue aura surrounding him. The two exchanged various blows again, both were using CQC techniques to try throwing the oopponentoff balance. But Ahmi proved superior once more as he twisted Groma's arm and broke it.
"AAAH!" Groma screamed in pain.
"The Medvac will heal that. Quit your whining." Ahmi said.
"Are you satisfied now? Being a person with a high status in this new nation while your wife and child are in the hands of the Hydarians!?" Groma shouted.
Ahmi charged forward and kicked Groma's face.
"Don't you dare mention them!" Ahmi said with a fierce face. The soldiers stopped cheering and looked at the two of them intently. "I have indulged your request to duel many times now. Each time you have lost."
Ahmi crouched down to Groma who was staring at the sky. "Cease this act. We both need to work together."
"W-why should I trust you?" Groma replied.
"Because you trust the Aksha. You have seen what he could do." Ahmi stretched out a hand to help Groma. Unexpectedly, Groma accepted and the two of them were now facing each other, albeit Ahmi was looking up at the tall Groma.
"We are close. I have received word we will begin our preparation for the Hydarian defence. But I have also received word that the Aksha will establish contact with the spy we have in our control there." Ahmi stared at Groma's eyes intently. "Trust me, I will bring this up to the Aksha. We will find them. For now, we are needed here, in Osma and her defence. But do you think we will stop here? The Hydarians will soon taste their own medicine. I believe the Aksha will one day bring our full wrath to Hydaria. When that time comes, I will bring them back. Now, you can either stand by my side in the army when we march there, or waste your time here while you wait for me to rescue them."
Ahmi stretched out a hand. "Your decision?"
Groma smacked his lips and turned around, he began walking in the opposite direction. Midway he stopped and turned his face slightly. "You better be telling the truth."
Ahmi smiled. He could taste the day of reckoning getting closer. The day of the reunion was drawing near. For them, he will lay his life down for this army.
----------------------------------------
ART
Manusya's House:
[https://i.imgur.com/eyEGgGH.png]
Modern Osma Suit Design (Male):
[https://i.imgur.com/1MM3Ez0.png]
Modern Osma Suit Design (Female, Also the physical appearance of Lahmi the clothing designer):
[https://i.imgur.com/2kskG6B.png]
Rehnir (Osma Engineer):
[https://i.imgur.com/tSD8gu8.png]
Karasuwo (Osma Filmmaker):
[https://i.imgur.com/2fyOaMB.png]