A Fight Worth Losing: Chapter 2 – Justified Violence

Chapter 2 – Justified Violence

After declaring war against Draco, the Asiatic states chose their sides, however, the people within them split the states in half with some choosing to go against the side their leaders picked, which caused rebellions to form in each one. There are even soldiers in the Draco army from different states especially from Phasianus that defected from their ranks once the war was declared. Both events gave us enough time to mobilize our army and obtain new recruits just in time for the first waves of attacks that we managed to win without taking too heavy a loss from each one. During these turbulent times, I am, of course, feeding and giving to the poor, like always while my generals and allied lords of the Asiatic states form their plans of defense and offense. While doing my usual work of charity in the town where we’re temporarily staying, my sons, Raijin and Fujin help me.

“Father, should we really be out here? The lords may be deciding something that you should have input in,” Fujin says.

“I have already made the important decisions that I care about. We are to focus on defense so that the United Kingdoms of the Americas can bring their troops to this side of the world and attack various military bases to stall for time and weaken the enemy. The specifics about the attack are something that I cannot meaningfully contribute to, so I leave it up to those with military experience,” I say.

“Yes, but aren’t those meetings more important and pressing than what we’re doing now?”

“You listen too much to mother,” Rajin says. “Look at the poor here. They’re starving and the shop owners and workers need our charity now rather than later.”

“You’re right, brother.”

“If it keeps bothering you, remember that our actions have inspired some to join the army or contribute to it in some way, especially since they aren’t under the tax of Draco.”

“That’s true. Thank you for reminding me.”

Izanami has refused to talk to me and engage in current events ever since the war started. She spends her days quietly thinking to herself in the palace while also hardly speaking to the servants and tending to her garden. I pray and hope that she understands why I made my decision and helps me in my endeavors. Thankfully, My children are on my side, though this only further upset Izanami. Both boys take after me more than their mother, but Fujin acts like and has a lot of his mother’s features while Raijin looks and acts like me.

A messenger comes to me and lets me know the decisions made during the meeting. The Asiatic lords and my generals will send most of our forces to protect the ports that the UKA’s soldiers will be coming in from. Smaller units will attack various military outposts and bases to keep Draco preoccupied and thinking that we’re going on the offense when we’re really stalling for time. I am also told that I am to help defend a city in an Asiatic state not too far from here that’s come under attack. It’s managed to defend itself but will not survive a second attack and there’s word from our shinobi that another is coming soon.

Not wanting to be late for this second battle, my boys and I stop what we’re doing and join the men in going to this town’s defense. Within hours, we manage to make it and see that the battle hasn’t happened yet, but the scars of the previous battle remain. The walls of the town are scorched and mostly broken down, dried blood soaks the ground around us, and broken limbs and heads that have yet to be cleaned up litter the ground outside the town and inside of it. Many of the civilians and guards are arguing and fighting among themselves about the opposing side with either side giving us honor or scorn. I send Raijin and Fujin to watch the side of the walls that are most defended so they don’t have to deal with these people and enter the meager and damaged building that acts as the meeting place for the lords and me.

Of course, I immediately do what I do best and help the poor of the city by feeding them and helping to clean up around the town even as some mock and throw insults at me. My boys, in the example of me, do the same as me and help out, which I want to reprimand them for but don’t. My pride in their charity prevents me from doing so. While we work, the insults thrown at us get to Raijin and Fujin has to keep him in check and control.

“Why shouldn’t we jail, exile, or even execute these people who are against us?” Raijin says.

“They’re just civilians who are upset with us. Just because they’re against us doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a threat we should deal with,” I say.

“But didn’t you execute those lords of Draco?”

“I did because they were a threat and the war had already been declared, so I was in my full right as emperor to execute them. Violence isn’t necessarily an evil act, but just like all actions, it can be with the wrong intention and degree to which it is used.”

“I understand, father. I’ll try to cool my temper unless the situation calls for me to use it.”

The day passes without much happening and we’re about to sleep until we are told by our shinobi that a unit sent by Draco is quickly approaching. My boys and I leap up from our beds, don our armor, and join the rest of the troops who are already lining up on the damaged walls and waiting outside the gates. Fujin changes part of his face and his arms into crossbows while Raijin changes both of his arms into large swords. Meanwhile, I do as I always do and change one arm into a shield, the other arm into a sword, and part of my face into a crossbow. Many of the men from Phasianus do the same with their bodies while those from Draco change into their particular animals the size of large humans such as oxen, horses, and dogs. As for the normal humans, they take up their arms and armor and the half-breeds partially turn into beastmen or living weapons.

The unit from Draco soon approaches from the forest on the horizon, and as soon as they’re within range, we unleash barrage after barrage of arrows and bolts at them to cut down their number. Even though it seems like we kill more than a hundred of them, they keep coming and eventually reach the gates where meet them and try to push them back until we hear news of another side of the town being overwhelmed. Once the forces here are whittled down, I send some men to help my allies. After finally finishing off the enemies here, I join my allies only to find absolute chaos in the streets of the town with most of the civilians joining the fight on their preferred side.

“Can we kill them now, father?” Raijin asks.

“Yes. Execute each and every one of our enemies,” I say.

Heading into the battle, my boys, allies, and I fight back against Draco’s forces and the civilians that are on their side until we emerge victorious. We’ve lost many soldiers and civilians during the battle and the town looks even more inhospitable than it did before. Because of this, I offer the civilians a home in another more well-defended town which they accept with some vowing to join the ranks of our military. While we are taking care of the dead and wounded, a commotion catches our attention. Thinking it’s another assault by Draco, my boys and I race to the scene ready to fight only to find that my soldiers and the civilians have tied up wounded enemy soldiers and civilians.

“Emperor Ryujin, we found these traitors trying to escape,” an allied knight says.

“You call us traitors?! All this bloodshed would’ve been avoided if you had just accepted the terms the lords of Draco gave you! Now look at this place! It looks like the ruined cities of the past that are beyond repair,” the tied-up civilian says.

“What should we do with them, my lord?”

“You should let us go!” an enemy soldier says. “Draco already thinks you’re all barbarians, but if you spare us, it’ll show them that you’re not even if you don’t convince all of them.”

“This coward is just trying to save his own life! He killed many of the brave men and neighbors trying to defend us. Why should we let him get away with such a crime?” a civilian says.

“Emperor Ryujin, show them you’re the better man and set us free. Mercy is what God values over justice after all.”

“Father, should we perhaps let them go? That man seems to be speaking the truth,” Fujin asks.

“Why should we let them get away with murder?” Raijin asks.

“It’s not murder if they kill in a battle, brother.”

“It is murder when you’re fighting on the wrong side!”

“Enough!” I yell to silence the constant questions and arguing.

Thankfully, everyone quiets down and gives me a few seconds to think. I use these seconds to pray and allow God to make me move past my hesitation and come to a decision.

“My decision is that they should be executed. They brought their death upon themselves when they chose to fight against us who are defending ourselves and our God-given rights,” I say much to the approval of most of the crowd.

“Is this truly the most Christian thing to do?” I hear a voice say.

“If you doubt the virtue in my decision, then bring a priest over so that they may confess their sins before death. I didn’t say that they shouldn’t be able to relieve themselves of their sins so that they have a chance to enter God’s embrace.”

“All the priests are dead!” another voice says.

Seeing as how most if not all the inhabitants of the town are here and none of them are garbed in a priest’s robes, I look at the tied-up soldiers and civilians and say, “Then I pray that your confession to God is acceptable to Him. Kill them now as painlessly as possible.”

The captives are lined up and their heads are cut off one by one with each either cursing us, begging God for help, or asking God for mercy with their dying breaths. Many in the crowd cheer after the execution happens while I clench my hands in prayer for the people of both sides of this conflict both living and dead.

A Fight Worth Losing: Chapter 1 – A Humble Man’s Rage

Chapter 1 – A Humble Man’s Rage

“Thank you, sir,” a peasant says while I hand them some bread.

“Thank you, citizen,” a guard says while I hand him food and a bottle of water.

“Bless you, sir,” a weak aging nun says.

“Thank you so much for your donation,” a poor store owner says.

I continue to hand out food, water, and give money to the poor and struggling establishments until someone pulls back my hood. Turning around, I see my wife, Izanami, giving me a look of disappointment, annoyance, and a hint of sadness in her bright blue eyes. Unlike me who is wearing dirty rags, she wears her royal garb colored green and red with the design of a gold phoenix, and her black hair is held up in a top knot by a white tie. I can only awkwardly smile and laugh and then offer her what I’ve been giving everyone I’ve come across.

“No! I want you to be back at the palace where you belong. Dinner is ready,” Izanami says.

“I’ve already eaten bread and drank some water. I don’t need anything else,” I say.

“You need to eat more than your fasting allows. You have a meeting to attend and decisions to make, emperor.”

More people are looking at us now that they recognize me, so I take my wife’s hand and quickly move away from them.

“How can I eat well when my subjects are suffering? My fasting and handing out food and water will do more for them than attending any meeting.”

“Being a modern-day St. Elizabeth is good and all, but there are things you can do as emperor to help your people that you can’t do being on the streets like this.”

“Given how those lords from Draco keep taxing us and overstepping the boundaries of their power while Emperor Jianyu focuses his attention westward, I don’t think that’s the case.”

“Trust me. It’ll be different this time. We have more lords from the Asiatic states on our side than we’ve ever had and men from the United Kingdoms of the Americas have pledged their support to us.”

“That does change things…but still…”

“If anything, you have my word. Don’t you believe me?”

I look at her and she gives me the same meek expression that she always uses to get what she wants, so I sigh and agree to trust her. Going back to the palace, I get changed into my royal robe that is colored red, blue, and black with a sea serpent design on it, and tie up my long black hair into a ponytail. Looking into my red and white eyes in the mirror, I have to keep telling myself to trust Izanami and that everything will be okay. I then go to the meeting room where I help the servants of my palace prepare the tables and help make the food for the guests until Izanami yells at me for almost getting my robes dirty and gets me to sit down and go over the documents that detail the reason behind this visit and current situation in Phasianus. Thankfully, I don’t have to study for long as the guests soon arrive and we eat.

On my side are the many lords of the different Asiatic states, some of whom are from the United Kingdoms of the Americas while on the other side are lords from Draco. They are meant to make sure we are acting according to our agreement and are supposed to bring our concerns to Emperor Jianyu. They’re eating in such a royal and deliberate way while looking at us as if they’re making a silent statement about how to properly eat. Izanami eats similarly and elbows me to do the same. What’s the fuss about eating in such a way? Once we finish eating and say a prayer, the meeting begins in earnest.

Standing up from my seat, I clap my hands, put on my best smile, and then say, “Gentlemen and ladies, lords from all states, I am glad that you have all joined me here today and hope you have enjoyed our homecooked meals.”

“It’s really the only reason I came here,” a lord from Draco says.

Everyone awkwardly laughs before I clear my throat and continue. “It was only the start of a hopefully productive meeting where I hope our concerns will be heard and acted upon.”

“Do you think that allying yourself with these low lives will bolster the right you think you have to make demands upon us? They can hardly take care of their own territories without our intervention,” a lord of Draco points out.

As expected, the lords of the Asiatic states suck in their lips and bite their tongues. I unintentionally slightly move my hand in a circle beckoning them to defend themselves. Seeing as they won’t, I speak in their stead.

“These honorable men have tried their best to keep their people and crime under control, which brings me to one of my first points. We’d like you to release some of your control over them as it is one of the reasons many of the rebels claim to be causing so much chaos.”

“Our control is what brings those rebels to justice and quells the chaos they bring. Our soldiers are the ones guarding their people and possessions and our lords and leaders are the ones enforcing just laws.”

“Do these ‘just laws’ include overriding our traditions?” a lord from an Asiatic state stands up and says.

“You keep your traditions on the days you wish.”

“But we also have to practice the same ones as you and our work hours and the taxes you place on us don’t allow us much time to celebrate our state’s history in the way we wish. We can hardly even speak our native language.”

“What’s the point of speaking another your native language when no one else besides your state speaks it? Why do you complain about sharing in the traditions of a superior culture and the one that keeps your people alive? So what if your hours are long and hard and taxes expensive? Would you rather revert to the lawless and chaotic state you were in before Draco assumed control? Have you forgotten who protected you from the ratmen while the Church from the West could do nothing for you?”

The lord from the Asiatic state grits his teeth and sits down while the lord from Draco smiles.

“If you want to talk about control, then you should listen to us,” a lord from the United Kingdoms of the Americas says. “We have more than an entire continent under our control and haven’t had as much trouble keeping the peace as you have on this other side of the world. No offense, of course.”

“Ah, yes, the men from the bestial West. If I’m not mistaken, your lands are full of heathen and heretical beastmen who are either roving nations or own enough land to be considered a state.”

“They are being dealt with as we speak. No nation is free of criminals, as I’m sure you can relate to.”

“Yes, but our problems don’t spill out into other parts of the world like yours has. Rogue beastmen wander both the Western and Eastern parts of the European, Asiatic, and Southern lands creating large herds of bandits that cause havoc and inhabit the wrecked cities of old that we are trying to repair.”

“We have our soldiers and lords here who will gladly help you sort them out if you give us the chance. I’m sure we can work out a deal that will benefit us both.”

“We don’t need your help or whatever trade you can offer, so you might as well keep to yourselves on the other end of the world.”

The lord from the Americas sits back down and whispers with his allies what to say next leaving me standing by myself, as I expected. I try to keep my composure and not immediately bring an end to this façade of a meeting.

“Lords of Draco, we humbly implore you to give us another chance to prove our worth and that we can stand on our own two feet. I’m sure there is something we can offer you to do this,” I say.

“Emperor Ryujin. Your kingdom of Phasianus only stands independent because your people make good guards and soldiers because they can change their body parts into armor, shields, weapons, and bows and because you give us all your materials that would’ve been made for weapons,” a lord of Draco says.

“And you take your share of the food from our kingdom as well,” I add.

“Ryujin!” Izanami says as she grabs the sleeve of my robe.

“Yes, and I’ve heard that you spend most of your time handing out food and water to your citizens.”

“Yes, I do. Our Lord washed the feet of His disciples, so I must act similarly and am not ashamed to admit that I do the same for my people. They need help because of the food shortages and heavy tax burden that you place on them.”

“Then what help do you need from us if you’re able to feed them with the food that you have? Besides, those taxes placed on you are lesser than those placed on other Asiatic states and Phasianus seems to be getting along just fine with the way you’re running it. You’re definitely doing a better job than your predecessor.”

“Emperor Kenzo was a great leader! He did what you asked him for and then some or did you forget that he died fighting in a conflict with the orcs that you sent him to fight in?”

“Oh, yes, he was a great asset to Draco and died an honorable death.”

“Asset?” I say as my smile begins to fade.

“Yes, asset. All allies are assets to one another, so I didn’t mean any offense.”

“Of course not…”

The lords of Draco call for a short break so they can decide on their course of action after hearing our concerns. During the break, my allies aren’t optimistic about getting anything from this meeting. Some of them even storm out of the building quitting it entirely. Honestly, I want to do the same, but I’m pretty sure Izanami would drag me back in, so I stay and pray to God for the best to happen. Once the break is done, we reconvene and one of the lords from Draco is the first to stand up and speak.

“After hearing your concerns and discussing what we should do among ourselves, we have decided to give you the chance for greater independence, but to do so means proving yourselves. The Asiatic states under Draco’s control must increase what they are already giving to us by double for five years.”

Immediately, the lords of the Asiatic states are outraged at this and complain about it all at once but are quieted down once they are threatened with a further increase if they continue to complain and act “ungrateful”.

“You all should take after Phasianus’ example for their obedience to our laws has earned them a mere three years to suffer this increase. Now, as for the United Kingdoms of the Americas, their imported goods will face a ten percent tax increase because of how difficult it is to bring them here and they must bring students and soldiers here so that they may learn our history and traditions to increase the kingdom’s understanding of how things work on this side of the world.”

“You already influence the educational systems here and on our side of the world with your history that emphasizes your role in it. I think an exchange of history and tradition would be a better bonding exercise,” a lord of the UKA says.

“That can be arranged at a different time, but for now, what we have said is our decision and what will happen.”

Standing up, I say, “Are these further restrictions truly necessary? We are asking for relief, not further burdens.”

“As our Lord taught us, you must greatly suffer to earn the highest rewards. Five years, even three are a drop in the bucket in terms of time anyways.”

“But many will suffer because of it. My people are already dying in your conflicts and suffering as a result of food shortages and how goods such as mere clothes are getting too expensive to buy. Can we not discuss these matters further and work out a better deal?”

“You forget who gave you your office, Emperor Ryujin. We elected you and gave lords of your kingdom the privilege of keeping the title of Emperor. You are nothing more than a lord who answers to us and we make the decisions.”

“What was the point of calling this meeting then?” I say while my face probably loses any resemblance to a friendly face.

“To hear your concerns and decide whether or not to do anything about them. You should be glad that we did.”

“Well, I’m not. In fact, I won’t pay your tax, give you my men to fight in your conflicts, food, or anything else you’ve asked for.”

“Ryujin!” Izanami says as she stands up and I push her down.

“Shut up and let me say what needs to be said!”

Izanami looks at me in surprise and almost seems to be afraid of me.

“Are you refusing to pay the increase?” a lord of Draco asks.

“I’m not only refusing to pay the increase, but I’m also refusing to give you anything else. You’ll get nothing more from me or my people! You’ve bled us dry for too long!”

Everyone in the room starts speaking to one another as they start panicking over my decision.

“What you’re saying is treason!” a lord of the Asiatic states says.

“I think Emperor Ryujin is right,” a lord from the UKA says. “He has every right to stand up for himself and his people. Draco shouldn’t be taking advantage of him or any of us because of whatever protections and benefits they are giving us.”

“If you refuse to pay your dues, then you are declaring a defacto war on Draco.”

“If I need to declare war to save my people from further suffering, then so be it,” I say.

The weight of my decision brings surprise to all, silences it, and makes everyone not move a muscle.

“So be it. We will let our superiors know of your decision and be back with our army. Draco will further subjugate your kingdom and its people because of your insolence and rebellion. Know that you are the reason why future generations will suffer more than previous ones.”

“Why wait for the army to come to start a battle? The war starts now.”

I transform part of my face into the end of a crossbow with a bolt sticking out of it while my arms turn into a sword and a shield. I then leap at the lords of Draco and cut them all down in a single slash from my sword arm that extends to reach each of their necks. Their guards are slow to react to me because of their shock allowing me to take care of two of them before killing the rest. Looking back at my allied lords, most seem afraid and shocked while a few seem satisfied.

“Have our messengers take their bodies to Draco as a message and declaration of war,” I command my servants who do as I say immediately.

Izanami cautiously approaches me and says, “What have you done? We cannot hope to stand up to Draco’s armies and allies!”

“We may not be, but it’s better than the alternative. I refuse to let my people suffer and let Draco walk over us as if we were dirt,” I say before slamming my sword into the nearby table cutting it in half. “We will stand against them until our dying breath fighting each and every single day to drive them out of our lands and force them to respect us and show them that we are not to be disregarded and looked down upon. Even if I must die to create a better future for my people, then I’ll gladly do so a hundred times over if that’s what it takes. If you don’t agree with me, run like the cowardly dogs you are back to your masters. As for the rest of us, we will fight for the freedom we deserve and to fulfill our God-given roles as protectors of our people.”

The lords of the United Kingdoms of the Americas and some of the lords of the Asiatic states chose to side with me while the others leave with their heads down in shame. My allies and I yell out a battle cry and a promise to fight Draco with everything we have and then get to work formulating our plans to do so. Declaring this war may not have been the smartest decision, but it was the right one. Lord Jesus Christ, help us win our future battles and allow our sacrifices to create a better life for our people.

My 270th book is done and out today!

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Emperor Jianyu and his family led the Asiatic kingdom of Draco from glory to glory as their influence spread through politics and conflicts. Each member of the family has their own role to play in Jianyu's greater scheme to make Draco the biggest and most powerful kingdom and greatest enforcer of God's will.

Burdened by Legacy: Chapter 4 – Loyal to a Fault

Chapter 4 – Loyal to a Fault

I remember when I was little, I said to my father that it must be a great honor that God made him into an emperor. He looked at me with a gentle expression on his face and kneeled.

“Being an emperor is a great honor, but the greatest honor God gave me is being your father and husband to your mother,” he said.

My father is known to say such things that endear people to him. He’s a master of smooth-talking and saying the right things to them, which is why so many follow him with me being one of them. I promised myself and prayed to God to be a son that he is always proud of and to go above and beyond just like he did for my grandfather. That is why I am currently studying Draco’s history just as my father did. It’s better than mingling with my fellow knights while we wait to engage in our next battle.

I read that back when the world was secular, the Draco of the past led the charge for change on our side of the world to not fall behind the United Kingdoms. After hundreds of years, when the world fell back into secularism, Draco stood staunchly faithful to God in the face of it and kept many of the Church’s weapons safe for our eventual rebellion to take back the world that wouldn’t happen until humanity conquered the stars. Just like other cultures, Draco had their planets all to themselves while allowing others to intermingle with them to a degree. Another hundred or so years passed and a civil war broke apart the Church, which our enemies from the false faiths took advantage of. It was a hard-fought battle, but the Church won and humanity was saved even though the technology we relied upon was destroyed in the process and humanity trapped itself on its planet of origin.

We then tried to rekindle what we once had, however, tapering with the technology from the past only further changed the planet and gave rise to ratmen, orcs, elves, and beastmen. Now, the technology from the past is considered unsalvageable or destroyed and that’s true except for the technology that Draco has to make our specialized weapons and armor. Perhaps our ancestors foresaw humanity reverting to the dark ages, but the simple technology that our blacksmiths use has helped us make armor that changes along with us when we transform and weapons that are stronger than anything else made by other kingdoms. Because of our strength, wisdom, and weaponry, we’ve been able to hold off many threats in the Asiatic regions such as Vicar Sylvatic and his ratmen who we were able to hold back without much help from the West.

“Quon, are you ready?” my commander asks.

“Yes, I am,” I say while closing the history book.

“Let’s get a move on then. We’ve been given our target.”

“Yes, sir.”

Taking my history book, I probably wrap it up in weather-proof fabrics and put it in my bag that I lock with a key. Knowledge and truth like this must be protected with the utmost security, especially since most other kingdoms don’t have such extensive knowledge of history in their own books. Perhaps, we will later influence their schools to have similar books taught in their school, but for now, we can only teach them by talking to them and allowing them to study in our libraries. Leaving my tent, I remind my guards to keep my possessions safe while thanking them again for their service. They want to go with me to help me in battle, but I want them here, not only to protect what I have but also to protect the wounded and men who aren’t able to fight.

Heading out on my horse with the rest of the knights, we make our way to the location of our target. We are heading to the ruins of a city that is partially inhabited by traitors and bandits. Cities like these were destroyed in the war that trapped humanity here with not too many being able to be rebuilt. This particular city is being built by Draco and the other kingdoms to build it up to its former glory and create a proper settlement for those who still call these ruins home. Unfortunately, some of the people here are criminals who only want it for themselves and a base for their vainglorious goals.

This is another reason why Draco is aiding in rebuilding destroyed cities and towns, so we can clear out the scum that inhabits them and no greater threats can arise from them. There are already too many large bandit groups that terrorize these lands and the worst villain in recent history, Vicar Sylvatic, still has ratmen who build undercities and kidnap people to experiment on and create more of them. The bandits I am going after are comprised of men from Canis and Corvus who weren’t satisfied with their God-given roles in lives and decided to live out here, fight rival gangs, and pretend they’re their own kingdom when they’re really nothing more than a pathetic band of fools. To aid me in this task of clearing them out are not only knights from Draco, but also knights from Leo, Noctua, and Equus. This is a sort of bonding exercise for the kingdoms as we fight together for a common cause and deepen our relationship with one another.

I transform into my ox form and take the large siege shield that was brought from Draco. While charging into battle from the front, I use the large shield to give the men behind me cover from the incoming fire spells and arrows. Once I reach the gates, I use the shield as a battering ram and break through the tepidly constructed gates that the bandits have made, switch to my regular shield and sword, and start cutting and charging through the enemy. With my bestial strength, I crush the enemy under my feet and launch them into the air while impaling some on my horns. Along with my fellow countrymen from Draco, we are able to cut through the enemy and even stop the undead men from Corvus from casting their poisonous spells and conjuring their flesh-eating insects.

Breaking through the inner castle, we slaughter the remaining bandits and their leadership. While fighting them, they speak some drivel that I don’t care to listen to. Something about being inspired by Draco, how we manipulate people, take what we want, and had previous deals with them. I don’t know how much of it is true nor do I know if it’s why my father wanted me to get rid of these bandits. I only care about accomplishing this mission, my father’s will, and punishing these criminals for their actions to enact God’s justice.

With the mission done and all our enemies slaughtered, we cheer for victory. Some of the knights head to the part of the city that is properly built up to go to the restaurants and bars to celebrate while others such as I, go back to camp. Once back at camp, I am told by the guards that my father is here and waiting at the top of the hill. I immediately rush to meet him and find that he is sitting on some boxes eating rations and drinking water.

Getting down on my knees, I say, “I’m here, father. What is the special occasion of your visit?”

“Sit with me, Quon,” my father says. I do as he says and sit on the box he is sitting on. He offers me a ration that I take and eat. “I didn’t want my guards to bring the higher quality food we have at our castle. Eating rations and drinking plain water like this can better ready a man for battle.”

“You’re going to fight with us?”

“I thought I would since your mother and sister are busy with tasks of their own and it’s been a while since we spent any amount of time together. Also, I’d like to inform you that you’re going to get another sibling soon.”

“Really? That’s great news.”

“Your mother is overjoyed, but Min is even happier now that she can call herself a big sister.”

“I’m sure she’ll teach my new sibling how to pull pranks on get on my nerves.”

“Ha! I’m sure of that as well. Quon, what do you think of the progress we’ve made for Draco? Have I been a good leader?”

My father’s words give me pause since they’re so strange to me.

“Of course you have been! You’ve brought Draco to heights of power and influence that it hasn’t seen in hundreds of years. The only way we could go any higher is if we could have the moon and sun under our control.”

“You’re right. It’s just that I feel like there’s something more that needs to be done.”

“There is always more.” My father’s words from the past find their way into my memory, which makes me say my next words without thinking. “I am proud to be your son and I hope and pray that I will never do anything to dishonor you or make you ashamed of me.”

My father gives me the same gentle expression he did when I was a kid.

“I’ll never be ashamed to call you my son. I’ll love you no matter what you do.” My father hugs me and I hug him back while holding back my tears of joy. “Thank you, Quon. That’s what I needed to hear. Now, let us enjoy the sunset. Tomorrow, we have a battle to fight together.”

“Who are we facing this time?”

“Just the usual trash, but winning the battle means taking the ruins for ourselves.”

“Did the royals of Leo allow it?”

“They did so tepidly, thanks to your mother. They’re allowed to make sure we are following their laws and not doing anything suspicious.”

“Heh, I’m sure mother could get them to give us their entire island.”

“Don’t tempt me to ask her.”

My father and I both laugh as we sit together and talk about the bright future ahead of us where we lead the world to do as God wills and bring peace and happiness to it. A future that my family and fellow countrymen will soon make a reality.

 

The End

Burdened by Legacy: Chapter 3 – The Snake That Charmed the Dragon

Chapter 3 – The Snake That Charmed the Dragon

When you are born with the ability to turn into a snake, you are viewed as the flip of a coin. You are either a deceiver, a devil incarnate, or as just as saintly and royal as the dragon, like the serpent that was raised in the desert by Moses and to what Christ likened Himself. If this wasn’t bad enough, I was also born with a green right arm, which gives people the impression that I’m not only a half-breed, but a half-orc. In Draco, orcs are viewed unfavorably and as savages, especially after they ransacked our kingdom in search of traitors to the Church. As a result, my family was never able to ascend to any prominence in politics and we were always looked down upon.

I am the only one in the family with a green arm and as far as we know, none of our descendants mingled with orcs and this green arm is merely a birth defect. It is something that I wrapped up so that no one would notice it even though everyone would know about it sooner or later. My parents told me to always be on my best behavior, but I never listened to them since I wanted to change many of our kingdom’s laws and grow the ranks of our military and guards to enact justice upon the wicked men of the world. Still, they kept trying to make me look and act like a true royal and get me into the upper ranks of the kingdom’s royalty so the family could ascend above our current place in society. Hardly any of the events I went to did anything for us except for the one where Jianyu was.

It was a special gathering for the royal and business families of all parts of society to make deals, friends, and marry off children with Jianyu being the biggest prize. Everyone at the gathering focused on him and getting their daughters to try to marry him, especially since he had just become Emperor. My parents were no different and put me in line with the rest of the girls to meet him. I happened to catch his eye and we looked at each other for a bit before I decided that I had no chance with him and decided to walk out of line and step outside for some fresh air. While outside alone with my thoughts, I was surprised to see Jianyu joining me by himself.

“What do you want, your majesty?” I asked.

“Your name is Daiyu, correct? I’ve heard a lot about you,” Jianyu said.

“Yeah? I’m sure you’ve heard how cursed I am and how I have the savage personality of an orc.”

“More important than that, I’ve heard of the policies that you want our kingdom to follow. Of how you want us to be more aggressive in making our mark on the world and the enforcement of justice across not only these lands but the whole world.”

“What’s your point and don’t you have other women to attend to? Just leave me alone.”

I tried slapping Jianyu with my right hand, but he caught it and started taking off the wrappings on it.

“What are you…” I said in bewilderment.

“I found that you were the only one in the kingdom who shared my thoughts on how the kingdom should be run and how it should act,” Jianyu said. “You’re right in that the laws of the land should bend to what’s right and wrong and not to some façade of compromising with other kingdoms to keep some semblance of peace between us. We need to be bolder to bring real change to the world even if it brings about conflict and war. Our God is a God of battles and laws are meant to reflect the commandments of God, after all.”

Jianyu threw away the wrappings from my arm, got down on one knee, kissed my hand, looked up at me, and said, “If you will give me the honor, I’d be more than proud to call you, my wife.”

At that moment, my heart was stolen by Jianyu and there was nothing on my mind besides saying yes to him. The rest is history, as it is said, as I married him, gave birth to two wonderful children, and ruled the kingdom with him. To this day, Jianyu would tell me and others that my actions and eyes enraptured him, but as far as I’m concerned, he has my heart while I have his. He changed something in me to the point where I no longer hide my green arm and leave it unwrapped for everyone to see. Jianyu truly is a blessing sent by God who is meant to lead our country into glory and I would die for him if he asked me.

This is why I am currently headed to the high elf kingdom of Oron in the Holy Land to represent Draco dressed in my normal black and green royal robes and negotiate a deal with them. The Emperor of Phasianus, Kenzo, will be there as well and should be meeting me there and sure enough, I see him waiting outside of our hotel with three of his guards. He’s dressed in gold and purple royal garb that’s decorated with designs of flowers from his kingdom and the bird it’s named after. He smiles, bows, and says something to me that I don’t hear because I need to speak over him to say what needs to be said.

“My daughter should not be uncovering the plots of traitors from your kingdom, so if you want your kingdom’s continued independence, I suggest you keep your own under control,” I say to Kenzo, which seems to scare him.

“Ye-yes, Queen Daiyu. I’ll redouble my efforts to do so,” Kenzo says with another bow.

“Hmph. I hope so, for your sake.”

Following right behind me as I walk away, Kenzo says, “Do you think the elves will listen to us? I mean, spying on the Church’s thieves guild and taking justice into your own hands like this is…”

“They already know of Odollam and should know that spies should have people to keep them in line. No one is above right and wrong even those who are above the law. They’ll have to respect our request, at the very least.”

“You’re right.”

My bags are brought up to my room while Kenzo’s is brought to the room next to mine. Our rooms have been provided to us by the high elves along with our dinner for today and tomorrow’s breakfast to make me comfortable for our important meeting. They’re kind, but I know they’re trying to butter me up so I’ll be more willing to compromise with them. Evander, the king of the elves and the oldest living man alive, has a kind exterior personality, but underneath, he hides his true motives. As far as I know, he’s a greater obstacle to us than Bernhard, even as the orcs continue to multiply worldwide. A hidden enemy is more dangerous than an obvious one after all.

Still, this city of Nazareth is beautiful. It has retained its futuristic buildings from the past that managed to survive the war that turned humanity from a spacefaring race to one stuck in its original homeworld. Not every kingdom has retained its buildings and monuments from the past, especially since the machinery used to build them can no longer be repaired. Draco is one of the few kingdoms with a majority of its buildings survive though the electricity used to power them isn’t functional like the rest. After enjoying the sights of the Holy City for the day, resting for the night, and eating breakfast the next day, Kenzo and I head over to the Church of the Annunciation with our guards where the meeting is taking place.

In the church, the chairs have been arranged around large tables with leaders from the dark elf region of Abaddon, wood elves of Matias, and high elves of Oron sitting around with Evander at the center of them all. Kenzo and I take our seats and say the opening prayer before the meeting so that God’s will may be done through the results of it. During the prayer, I see Kenzo’s eyes darting around the room looking at the many elven leaders and their guards while we have very few guards behind us. Once the prayer is done, Evander claps his hands together and gently smiles as always.

“Queen Daiyu. It’s an honor to have you here,” Evander says.

“Spare me the pleasantries and let’s get to business,” I say.

“Ha, as you wish. What would you like us to give you? Draco seems to be on the rise as the most prosperous and largest kingdom on this side of the world and you even have the St. Dismas guild on their toes, something that even took me quite a while to accomplish.”

“I merely wish to have your promised continued cooperation and assurance of it in some form.”

The room is quiet and all the elven leaders except for Evander seem confused.

“Hmmm. A reasonable request,” Evander says with a slightly extended smile.

“Is that all you want? You came all the way here for something as simple as something that can be asked for over a letter or message carried by a conjured bird?” a high elf leader says.

“You’re missing the importance of what she said, my friend. Our continued support means that Draco will continue ascending in power and influence in the world. Queen Daiyu is also requesting assurance of our support in some form, probably something that she can use against us if we don’t hold to our promise.”

“Well? What’s it going to be then? It’s a simple request.”

“We promise that you will have our support as long as we can work together and not step on each other's shoes as it were. We elves don’t have plans to spread our influence and reach like you do, and only want to do God’s will for us.”

Hmm. I expected that we’d be on this point longer. Evander already does have influence in the Church, so I guess whatever Draco does won’t have any effect on his ingrained hold on it. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that there are greater plans in his mind than he lets on. A man of his age and experience can’t be so simple. I’ll have to have Odollam look into him and his works more.

“Thank you. Now, for our assurance of your promise?”

“Of course. One moment, please.”

Evander speaks to one of his associates who then conjures a bird that goes out from the church. Soon after, a normal-looking human woman with black and red hair, beige skin, and golden eyes walks into the church. She wears the black and brown leather armor of a soldier and has a sword, shield, bow, and arrows on her. This woman walks up to Evander who whispers to him and him to her for a little while to one another before she turns to me and he raises his hand as if presenting her.

“This is Priscilla, one of my most trusted. She’s served me for over two hundred years and will willingly answer any questions you have for her. When she receives an assignment from me, you can send your Odollam spies along with her to make sure that we’re on the same side,” Evander explains.

“Two hundred years? She’s a normal human,” I say.

She looks so young as if she’s in her early twenties.

“Priscilla has been willingly participating in our medical experiments to extend the long lives of elves to those of other races, and as you can see, our work has borne us good fruit. She can even enter the land of Unser Sieg, a place that is still unhabitable by ‘normal’ humans, and not get sick.”

I get up from my seat and walk up to Priscilla to closely examine her. There doesn’t seem to be anything off about her, and yet, my eyes feel like there’s something wrong with what I’m seeing, but I don’t know what it is.

“She’ll have to go through extensive questioning when we return to Draco.”

Priscilla bows her head and says, “I’ll gladly clear up any concerns and questions you have, Queen Daiyu.”

Her voice sounds young too and trustworthy. I can’t sense any deception in her, so I guess I’ll have to trust her for now. After accepting Evander’s offer, I and Jian shake hands with him. Jian then speaks with the rest of the elves to negotiate minor trade deals between the Asiatic regions that I don’t care to listen to or be a part of. Once that is done, Jian and I go our separate ways back to our homes. I send Priscilla to be questioned by Min and Odollam while I go to the castle and think about what greater plans Evander might have.

“I heard that you succeeded in your task, my dear wife,” Jianyu says as he enters my room.

“I have, but I don’t feel like I won anything. I still have a feeling that Evander is planning something greater than what we see,” I say.

“We’ll soon discover it if there is a plan. For now, you should rest. I have something special for you.”

Jianyu waves in the servants to play our wedding song for us. He offers his hand for us to dance and we slowly dance with each other with my head on his chest. This is my paradise on earth, my family, kingdom, and moments like this and I’ll do anything to protect it. If anyone, even Evander, threatens to ruin it, then I’ll crush their necks with my own hands.

Burdened by Legacy: Chapter 2 – The Good Kind of Troublemaking

Chapter 2 – The Good Kind of Troublemaking

Some of my fondest memories are those from my youngest years when I would play pranks on my family and the servants by hiding myself and things. Even though Quon would always complain about it, especially when I hid things from him, my father didn’t mind as much. He saw my sneakiness and ability to turn into a small or human-sized rat as a blessing despite the fact that people who turn into rats aren’t typically viewed as royal and my behavior isn’t helping that opinion, but I don’t need to behave for anyone other than God and my family. I am my father’s troublemaking princess and God’s shadow enacting His will in the dark. I am the leader of the Odollam, Draco’s own thieves guild, and today, I have another special assignment from father.

I am meeting my friend, Lian, today to check up on our ratmen and beastmen allies in the kingdom of Serpentis for some reconnaissance. The meeting place is one of the undertowns that they’ve built for us as part of our agreement with one another. Unlike the ratmen of old who built undercities underneath and near major cities and towns, the new ratmen build undertowns primarily near other settlements because the townspeople resent them for what happened not too long ago under the tyrant Vicar Sylvatic or because they want their own place to live. Regardless of their reasoning, we give these outcasts food and supplies from Draco while they let us know of the rumors that are circulating around the area. Lian and I meet these ratmen and beastmen in our bestial forms since they are most comfortable when we look like them. When I see Lian, I see him in his black and brown leather armor that is similar to mine and in his monkey form while I’m in my human-sized rat form.

“Min! It’s good to see you again. Congratulations on your victory in Constantinople,” Lian says.

“It’s all thanks to God and my father. I didn’t even participate in the battle for it,” I say.

“But you did give your father the information he needed to know what the enemy leaders were planning and which orcs to keep an eye on who claimed to be on our side.”

“True.”

“So, it’s your victory as well.”

“Hehehe! Stop buttering me up. Did your parents tell you to hit on me again?”

“No, but my siblings did, not that I’m taking their advice. Are you ready to see our informants?”

“Yeah. Father must know they have valuable information of the highest importance to send us to collect it.”

“Let’s go hear what it is then.”

Lian and I make our way through the tunnels that have many torches in them and signs that point to different things such as exits, inns, and the undertown we are looking for. The door to the town is a large circular door with a slit in the middle of it for the guards to see through. I knock on the door, tell the guards who we are, and they open the door for us. Inside the town are many ratmen and beastmen going about their daily business walking from one place to another. Since everything inside this tunnel is closed in, all the shops, homes, and storage areas are located within dug-out holes that are big enough to fit them. They even have chapels here where daily masses take place.

Going into one of the chapels, we find our contact, a ratman named Bejel who is dressed like your average civilian from Draco with moderately fine robes. Lian and I sit behind him and wait for him to notice us.

“Today’s another wonderful day, isn’t it?” Bejel asks.

“It is. God has let me live and I’m about to make it everyone’s problem,” I say.

Turning to us, Bejel smiles and says in a whispered voice, “It’s good to see you two again and you’re just in time for something to happen between thieves.”

“Such as?”

“Even though Odollam and St. Dismas are business partners, neither side expected the other to divulge all each other’s secrets, and with the taking of Constantinople leading to Draco becoming the biggest kingdom this side of the world, it’s made St. Dismas uneasy. They may be planning to do something unwise because of it. You may want to pay them a visit to convince them against their current course of action.”

“Do you know where we might find them?”

“The Sagrada Familia cathedral, in the city not too far from here. I hear it’s one of the best places to make new friends.”

“We will make many friends. I’m sure of it.  Hehehe! Thank you for your help as always, Bejel.”

“Anything for you two. You’re both God-sent angels who have made the lives of us outcasts and refugees easier.”

“And it’s going to get a bit easier for you,” Lian says.

A commotion outside of the chapel gets Bejel’s attention as many flock around the carts of supplies, weapons, and armor that come from Draco’s suppliers. Again, he thanks us and blesses us before we head out to the cathedral he mentioned. We don’t immediately turn into our human forms so we can slip through the cracks in the city’s walls and that no one knows we’re here. Once in the city, we stick to the shadows and make our way to another one of our contacts who runs a shop here. Contacts like these are how we have our footholds in each major town and city. We supply them with our goods and they sell them to the public and influence others to look upon our kingdom with favor and make them want to trade with us as well. In return, they’ll let us know of the goings on around here, give us exclusive trade deals, and allow us to use their carriages to get around the city undetected, the last of which we are taking advantage of now.

Our contact parks his carriage near an alleyway near the cathedral allowing us the easiest way to get in it. After thanking our contact, Lian and I make our way to the rooftops and scout out the cathedral. It doesn’t appear to be guarded and not too crowded, but those from St. Dismas are nothing if not subtle, so quickly grab our contact again and wear clothes that are normal to this kingdom over our regular outfit. I wear a bonnet hat and a plain black and brown dress while Lian wears a black leather hat, white suit, red tie, and black shoes. Entering the cathedral, we see priests, a few worshippers attending daily adoration, and a few of Serpentis’ capirote knights guarding it. Lian and I kneel down with our heads bowed and hands in prayer over our mouths in the back pews of the cathedral.

“I recognize some of these people from St. Dismas,” I whisper.

“Yeah. I don’t think they’ll divulge their worries and plans if we walk up to them,” Lian says.

“More of their friends and records of their letters could be in the upper floors or the basement. Let’s split up and see what we can find. I’ll take the basement.”

“The upper floors are mine then. I’ll see you in this same spot once I find everything I can.”

Without another word, we split up and go our separate ways. I find a hidden place to take off these normal clothes and transform into a small rat. Sticking to the shadows and going through the vents of the cathedral, I make my way to the basement. Peeking through the grate, I see storage rooms for decorations for events and one for weapons and armor, neither of which stand out to me. None of the grates seem to lead to an exit, any rooms with people in them, or records as I crawl through the maze of vents. I think about giving up until I begin to hear talking behind the metal of the vent. Ah! So, the secret room doesn’t have a vent grate, probably to keep out nosy people like me, but my rat hearing allows me to hear them despite it.

“Hear anything from your friends in Odollam?” a man asks.

“Nothing other than them still being proud of themselves and their thriving kingdom,” a woman says.

“Their influence has been rapidly spreading throughout the land at a worrying rate ever since Vicar Sylvatic’s death.”

“Shouldn’t we worry about Bernhard more than them? They did just have a civil war with themselves and went on a slaughter across the continent after they discovered a plot against them.”

“I’m more worried about Draco since they’re more subtle in their ways. Bernhard will be upfront about their intentions and how they carry it out.”

“Hmm. You’re right. Should we go through with the plan then?”

“We will and we’re doing it now.”

“We’re not going to ask our doyens if we can?”

“They’ll probably think us crazy and kick us out of the guild. No, we move today.”

“Then I call dibs on the earrings and necklaces. I don’t have any jewelry from Draco yet and they’re too expensive for me to buy.”

“You’ll have to get them before anyone else does.”

“Ugh, fine.”

They’re going to attack and raid people from Draco? I knew St. Dismas has many ex-criminals in their ranks and it looks like not all of them have moved on from their old ways. After hearing the two people exit the room, I quickly go back, get dressed in normal clothes, and to the spot where Lian is already waiting for me.

Immediately, as I kneel, I ask, “What did you discover?”

“Maps of Draco trade routes and the wares that are typically carried. What did you find?” Lian says.

“I overheard thieves talking about attacking us, and since you mentioned seeing trade routes, that’s probably what they’re going after and they’re moving now!”

“Let’s get moving then!”

After leaving the cathedral and getting one of our contacts to give us horses, Lian and I catch up with the thieves of St. Dismas and follow them as they head to their location. We follow them until they stop to make camp in a location far away from any settlement. While hiding, Lian and I whisper to one another how we should go about dealing with these traitors.

“Perhaps we should just kill them here,” Lian suggests. “This is an optimal spot to do so.”

“Yeah, but they’re too close to one another and there’s eight of them, so we’ll have to fight, and you know how these men from Serpentis are. If you cut off their arms and legs, they’ll still fight you as if you scratched them.”

“Then we’ll just cut off their heads.”

“That’s harder to do when surrounded. No, I think we should ambush them when they ambush the merchants who are bound to have guards with them who can help us take these people alive for questioning.”

“Ah! That’s a great idea. You’re starting to sound like your father.”

“Hehehe!”

While watching our prey through the night, we hear them talking over dinner.

One of them mentions, “Do you think our friends in Phasianus will actually meet us?”

“Of course they will. They want us to complete this ambush more than we do,” another says.

“But do you know if they know we’re coming? I don’t want to go to the meeting point only to find that we went all the way out there for nothing.”

“They’ll be there. Even if they don’t know we’re coming now, they have spies and scouts in the area that will tell their friends of our arrival.”

“I sure hope so. I don’t want to end up traveling across the world for them.”

“Even so, it’ll be worth it.”

Allies in Phasianus, huh? This situation keeps getting more interesting. Despite Draco maintaining order in the Asiatic region and protecting it during the tyranny of Vicar Sylvatic, a few states including Phasianus have tried rebelling, so they wouldn’t be under the rule of some of our less reputable lords, but their rebellions have done nothing but hurt themselves and us. If they hadn’t been fighting against us, then we might’ve had a bigger hand in the Vicar’s death. Alas, there’s nothing we can do about it now, and exposing this plot may allow us to weed out more traitors.

Lian and I track our prey for the next several days while pulling a few pranks along the way. We steal their food and drink their water, dirty their weapons and armor, and sabotage the saddles on their horses so they fall off as soon as they try to ride away. What we’ve done manages to get the group to fight each other especially since we leave the eaten food and empty water canisters next to their allies to make it look like they’ve done it. Nevertheless, they chalk up what we’ve done as forest animals preying on them, but it’s obvious that they only half believe their explanation and are becoming mistrustful of one another. After days of traveling, they finally meet their allies who I can only assume are from Phasianus since their hooded robes and armor aren’t indicative of that region.

“You all look like you’ve been through a lot. Did you come across any trouble along the way?” one of their allies asks.

“No, not really besides some forest animals. They’ve been eating our food, drinking our water, and dirtying our clothes.”

“Huh. That’s pretty peculiar behavior for mere forest animals. Did you happen to catch them in the act?”

“No, but we did find the small footprints of rats and monkeys around the camp.”

“Hmm. Those footprints could belong to Odollam spies from Draco.”

“What do you mean?”

“They can transform into rats and monkeys depending on the year they were born and the family they were born into.”

“Are you serious?”

A couple of the traitors talk among themselves now worried about our possible presence with some even choosing to immediately leave to not risk getting caught. They are the smart ones while the dumb ones settle down and decide to move forward with their plan with caution. Their plans are to kidnap and rob a prolific merchant and his friends to influence the rest of his allies to spy on the goings-on of Draco and shift the focus of the markets onto the other kingdoms. I’m honestly surprised they came up with a similar plan to what we’re doing now, but at least we’re less amoral about it. Lian and I continue to follow them until they get in a position to wait for their target.

As soon as they attack the merchant, we attack them with a surprise ambush of our own. We cut off the limbs of the Serpentis traitors to take them alive and try to take the Phasianus traitors alive too who have revealed their kingdom of origin without a doubt by transforming their body parts into shields, weapons, armor, and crossbows. It also doesn’t help that the traitors from Phasianus try killing themselves after it becomes obvious that they’re beaten. Despite this, we’re able to bring a few of them alive along with the others from Serpentis. The merchants and their guards thank us for our help and help us by tying up the traitors and transporting them to the nearest settlement to be put in jail.

Once the interrogators have their way with the traitors after threatening them with torturous public execution, the traitors confess their crimes and reveal who their associates are who are also in this scheme of theirs, all of which will be hunted down and face swift justice from Odollam and justice department of Draco. With a job well done, I head back home to Constantinople and tell father what happened and what is being done about the traitors.

He smiles at me and then says, “Good job, Min. I knew I could trust you with this task and you went above and beyond with it.”

I smile and then leap at my father like I used to when I was a kid and give him a big hug.

“Hehe, as if there was any doubt that I’d disappoint you,” I say while not letting go.

The servants around us tell me not to act so childish.

“It’s okay. My daughter will always be my little girl, my troublemaking princess,” my father says as he carries me and lets me hang on to him a bit longer.

I’m glad to make my father proud. He’s my inspiration and what I would call a perfect father. There’s no one else like him in the world and I hope and pray to be the perfect daughter to him and my mother and to be a good sister to my brother even though I get on his nerves a lot. Hehehe!