As the two unlikely pair approached the village at the end of the forest, sounds of commotion could be heard. Numa quickly tried to pull Manusya back in place so he would not proceed further.
"I apologize, Master Manusya!" Numa said nervously, "It's the Hydarians! I cannot let them see me, Master Manusya!"
Manusya raised an eyebrow. "Why can't they see you?" he asked.
"It's..." Numa grimaced. "They take away any child above five winters old to be an official citizen of Hydarians. From what they say, they will give them Hydarian education and training so they could serve the kingdom," he replied.
Manusya frowned. Some form of cultural genocide. Take the children away so these people lose their next generation and have them assimilate into the colonizers' culture so they would lose their sense of belonging to their true home. Despicable.
Manusya was witnessing history unfolding before his eyes. Indeed, he was familiar with such a thing from the historical records of the UPF dating back to humanity's ancient era. He was faced with a moral dilemma.
I have committed an atrocity. He pondered in his mind. By changing the directives of the plan, I have let these people make their own history instead of continuing our own. But that also meant they would rehash some of our darkest hours in history.
Since that was my decision, do I have the right to intervene and interfere with anything I see? He debated in his thoughts. But I also have my role as a steward. Even if I was awoken too early and the new humans are not ready, I have my own duty.
Manusya was feeling the weight of his decision. The turning point in these new humans' history was Manusya deciding not to pass on everything the previous humans had to offer, but instead drip-feeding them useful knowledge through the missing Sapien.
For now, let's observe first.
"DB, stealth mode and release a small surveillance drone," Manusya said to the machine carrying his luggage.
DB beeped in response and started to go down on its knees, before suddenly turning transparent and blending in with the environment. One could still see the outline of the machine if they looked closely, but anywhere else you would be fooled. From its side, a small drone which floated without any propeller was released. It started to fly upwards into the sky.
"W-what?" Numa noticed the delivery bot turning impossible and that small metal bird that was released from its body.
"Follow me." Manusya pulled the boy behind the delivery bot so they could hide. Behind the delivery bot, a screen depicting what the drone could see was shown. "Go closer to the commotion and observe from afar," he commanded the drone.
The camera feed slowly approached the commotion and arrived at a location filled with natives and foreign soldiers. There were two types of foreign soldiers that could be seen. The lower-ranking soldiers wore ornate brown armour with a pointy metal hat with red feathers on its back. The high-ranking soldiers that are fewer in number wore extraordinary masterpieces in crafting, their armours were intricate, a combination of black, red and golden with luxurious engravings and patterns. On their shoulders and arms, metal feathers jut out and their helmet also had red feathers behind them. Every one of these soldiers carries weapons, from swords to crossbows.
Compared to them, it was obvious why the native Ohm villagers were subjugated. They wore leather and fur outfits which offer little protection except against the environment, and the villagers were physically shorter and less imposing than their oppressors.
Those armours need serious smithing to accomplish. Their civilizations must be quite advanced already. Manusya thought.
A high-ranking Hydarian started shouting and barking something at the Ohm villagers who are presenting them with baskets of something.
"Numa, can you translate for me?" Manusya said to Numa.
"Yes, Master Manusya!" The boy had learned not to let his perpetual state of shock and surprise at what Manusya was capable of hinder and obstruct himself from serving this deity.
The universal chip inside of Manusya's head was also slowly translating the words of the Ohm people, but it would take a considerable amount of time to decipher the entire language. From what Manusya's AR interface could tell, the Hydarians seem to be speaking a butchered, accented form of the native Osmanian language.
"Where is tax this month?" One of the Hydarians barked, as translated by Numa.
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"Spices! We need spices!" Another Hydarian bellowed.
The Ohm villagers' backs were hunched over in fear. One could tell their spirits were already shattering from continued oppression like this. All of them were like that except for the Elders. The Elders wore similar clothing made out of fur and leather, except a throne of vines, leaves and flowers decorated their head.
Numa's caretaker, Elder Vanir, stepped forward.
"We gave you all the spices we have. Come back next month and we can harvest more." Elder Vanir said valiantly, his head held high with no fear.
The Hydarians took offence to that bravery, it was vile they thought. One of the low-ranking Hydarians stepped forward and smacked Elder Vanir. The old man fell to the ground painfully and passed out.
"Elder Van!" Numa screamed as he was watching the drone feed.
Should I step in? Manusya gritted his teeth. If I remove them now, more will come. And the villagers will be the ones to suffer. I must understand the situation better.
The Hydarians started to converse among themselves in their native language before one of the high-ranking officers stepped forward again.
"We give you one week to bring more spices! This is proof of sincerity." The Hydarian barked and suddenly grabbed a woman from the crowd by her hand. She screamed and struggle to no avail. The Hydarian took a dagger from his side and mutilated the woman's arm. The villagers gasped in shock and anger, but they could only cry from a distance. The woman in question screamed like a banshee before passing out. The officer threw the woman aside and said something in Hydarian. All the soldiers shouted something before they collectively retreated away from the village.
Numa was also crying at the sight of such an atrocity. The boy punched the ground and cursed in Osmanian.
Did I make the right decision? Manusya thought. He grimaced in sadness but decided to go forward with his plans.
Suddenly, the young boy grabbed Manusya's legs and cried.
"Master Manusya! Please help us! You see what the Hydarians are doing to us! Please! Please! Use your powers and wisdom to aid us, my Lord!" Numa shouted.
Manusya did not know how to react at the sight of this. He touched the boy's head in an attempt to calm him down.
"Please let me meet the villagers. Can you introduce me to them?" he said.
Numa's face was drenched in tears, his eyes red. This deity did not answer his plea, but there were reasons to believe that he was going to.
"Y-yes! Right away. Please follow me inside the village."
"DB, stay here until further instructions. Oh, and bring me the med kit." Manusya said to the bot in hiding. It beeped in response.
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As Manusya and Numa got closer to the village, without any warning, an arrow was shot into the ground near Manusya, which startled him.
Several Ohm hunters appeared and shouted something in Osmanian.
Manusya raised both of his arms. "Numa, what are they saying?"
"Please wait, Master Manusya!" The boy had the look of someone caught doing something bad. Numa frantically started to converse with the villagers. The villagers shouted in disbelief at something but Numa kept trying to explain.
Language acquisition seems to be at 5%. I need to hear them speak more often. Manusya thought as he saw the AR interface in his eye.
After some back and forth, the villagers lowered their bows and approached them.
"Master Manusya, it seems the villagers can trust you...for now," Numa said.
"What did you say to them?" Manusya replied.
"Uh...some stuff! it would be too long to explain!" Numa said frantically.
Something tells me he said something weird. But I don't have any time. Manusya thought.
"Numa, tell them to take me to the injured woman, the one with her arm severed," he said.
Numa raised an eyebrow in surprise but nodded. He started to say something to his villagers. One of the villagers motioned for them to follow him.
The two of them followed this villager. Many of the natives who were performing their daily tasks around the village stared at Manusya, some with fear and some with curiosity at this man they had never seen before wearing clothing more intricate than even the Hydarians. But his foreignness already made them apprehensive, as any foreign encounters that they'd had were with people trying to subjugate the Osmanians.
Manusya also studied the villagers' huts that serve as their homes. It's well-made for what they are. A mix of wood and leather, with beautiful decorations in each one. He thought. Fascinating. I cannot believe I am here seeing such a civilization first-hand.
Manusya and Numa finally reached one of the huts. The guide motioned for them to enter respectfully. As they entered, they saw both the woman who had her arm severed and Elder Vanir, both unconscious in Rattan bed. The steward opened his med kit, a white box with a red cross.
It's clean cut. The dagger must have been sharp, thankfully. Manusya thought.
Manusya took the severed arm that was located near the bed and attach it to the stump. He started to wrap them in some sort of transparent material with green gelatinous liquid inside of it. Manusya created a seal with the material.
Medvac should do its job now. Manusya thought. He turned his attention to the unconscious Elder. Manusya saw his AR interface which was also performing diagnostics. Suddenly, he felt a tug from his side.
"Master Manusya...the things I'm seeing with my eyes," Numa said. It seems he was also seeing the same thing.
Manusya rubbed the boy's head. "It's alright. Don't worry about them. I will explain it to you later." Manusya closed his med kit.
"Your Elder Vanir seems to be fine, he was just unconscious from the strike. He should be fine with some rest." Manusya said.
"Now," Manusya said. "Can I meet the other Elders? I have something to ask."
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ART
Elder Vanir:
[https://i.imgur.com/l7wPUWW.png]
High-Rank Hydarian Soldier:
[https://i.imgur.com/uQpNGQn.png]
Lower-Rank Hydarian Soldier:
[https://i.imgur.com/nCaWRSX.png]