《A Guide to Kingdom Building 》Chapter 21: Contrasts Pt.2
Advertisement
From a distance, Servus 132-X could see the silhouette of a man sitting with his knees to his face. The pale glow of the moonlight lit the tree were the beastman sat since the afternoon. Servus 132-X is concerned for him, afterall, he's part of his ragtag team.
He approached the sobbing beastmean while trying to find words to say to the poor slave. As he walked closer, he noticed that the beast man had his own bowl and bread by his side untouched. He has no appetite, and understandably so.
"Hey," Servus 132-X called him out. "It's already near the time of Obscuros, comeback to the camp, let's talk there."
The beastman seemed to not hear him. He tried again, "It's going late now, maybe we should--"
"I heard you the first time," the beastman answered. "I want to get out of here. Can I run away?" He asked Servus 132-X.
"You know, you can't. You've seen what this collar can do, right?" Servus 132-X jiggled his collar.
The beastman stood up and started banging his head on the tree. "Why?Why?Why?!"
Servus 132-X tackled the beastman to the ground, trying to prevent him from harming himself further.
"L-let me go!" The beastman pushed Servus 132-X away. "Why is this my fate? I never wanted this! I was born free and I ought to die as one. But, this--aagghh!" He projected his frustration on the tree. He punched it so hard, it shook the ground.
"Enough!" Servus 132-X threw a punch at the beastman hitting him in the face. "What you're doing won't solve this!"
The beastman stood there silently, absorbing the hit he took.
"If you want change, you have to work for it!" Servus 132-X grabbed the beastman by his collar. "If you want to be free, you need to pay for it with your sweat and blood. Not with tears and brooding!"
Servus 132-X pushed the beastman away. "If you want to live free, then follow my lead. I will take you all to your desired freedom."
"H-how would you do that?"
"Watch me." Servus 132-X left the dumbfounded beastman and headed straight to the knights's camp.
There was audible laughing from the knight's camp. Servus 132-X bravely treaded towards them with his resolve in mind. He cannot wait for another day. He needed to act for their sake and for the other slaves as well.
Advertisement
It dawned on him while at the campfire how truly powerless they are towards these people. He doesn't want to live like that anymore. He's tired of his helplessness. He knew he could've done it sooner. But he was afraid, as afraid as the time he went to war with the armored invaders who landed at their shores during his life as Adlaw-on.
Now, he had to put some resolve to his actions. Not some half-hearted decision like what he did when he failed to save the world during his last incarnation. He's a hero of many legends from different worlds, a king from different lifetimes, and a legend sung by a thousand bards over 363 lifetimes. He must conquer this fear!
He took another step and suddenly his body froze. A looming sense of dread stopped him from his tracks.
"This feeling again!" He said to himself.
He took a deep breath and tried his best to overcome his greatest fear--failure.
He commanded his stubborn petrified feet to take a step. It took him a while to convince himself, but somehow he managed to make it move. Little by little he made his way to the knights' camp where everyone was taking their own supper.
He emerged right at the unlit side of their campfire. His presence startled the knights sitting in front of him.
"W-what do you want, slave?!" One of the startled knights asked while he tried to unsheathe his sword.
"I came here to talk with the Lord Commander."
"Y-you have no right to do that!" The knight pointed his blade on him. " Get lost before I struck you d--"
"There is no need for that," Tristam interrupted. " Stand down, good Ser. There has been too much bloodshed on this bloody mine, we cannot afford another one."
"Lieutenant!" The rest of the knights saluted him.
The other knight lowered his sword and sheathed it back to its scabbard. "He says, he wants to speak with the Lord Commander," he pointed at Servus 132-X while still glaring at the slave.
Servus 132-X could feel the knight's loathing towards him. But he didn't care about that, not anymore. This time, he has to assert his plan to Lord Prestonheim and make it work for the both of them.
Advertisement
"I am here to--"
"Talk to Lord Prestonheim, eh?" Lieutenant Tristam smiled. " Good timing! He's looking for you. Come, I'll escort you to his tent," the young knight offered.
Servus 132-X walked, pass the other knights that stared at him intently, as if disgusted by his presence.
Lord Prestonheim's tent is located at the other side of the mines. Situated near the entrance of the outside world, and away from the caves. It was a brief walk going to his tent, but during that time, Tristam took the opportunity to speak to him.
"I am sorry," the knight said.
"Sorry for what?" Servus 132-X asked.
"For everything that you people have to go through," the knight sighed. " For witnessing such brutality, for the--"
"I have to stop you right there, good Ser." Servus 132-X interrupted the grieving knight. " You don't have to apologize for those people!" He said bitterly.
" You don't have to apologize for our circumstances. You don't have to apologize, for our birth in this world. You don't have to apologize for the way this life is treating us. After all, your apologies are but words, words that will fade as time passes on. If you, really want to apologize, help us by giving us our freedom or abolish the slavery in your beloved Principalia."
"I-I can't do that. Even if I would, it takes a revolution to change it!"
"Then, spare me your apologies. They won't help us change the system."
Servus 132-X silenced himself after that. He glanced at Tristam, who looked disappointed after his comment.
A few moments later, they arrived at Lord Prestonheim's tent.
"Stay here for a while, I will let him know first." Tristam instructed as the knight entered the Lord Commander's tent.
Servus 132-X nodded. He knew this all too well--the protocol. At some point of his reincarnation he was at the receiving end of that greeting, or at times the one doing the knight's work. It was a fun memory to recall.
"He's ready for you." Tristam nodded at him, still looking downhearted after their last interaction.
Servus 132-X entered the Lord Commander's room. The dimly-lit tent made for a sombering atmosphere. Lord Prestonheim was leaning on his table, looking at the old hand drawn map of the mines, he got from the House Bieroff.
"Good, you came," Lord Prestonheim said, while still looking at the map. "What you saw earlier today was--"
"Pardon my interjection, Lord Prestonheim," Servus 132-X cleared his throat. "There is nothing more to explain. Those slaves that you executed earlier were all on me."
Lord Prestonheim was surprised with the slave's answer. He took a glance at him and sighed. "I need to do that to save this secret deal we have. If only there's another way."
" Let me offer you one then." Servus 132-X approached the table. "Let me explore it tomorrow."
"I cannot let you do that."
"Why? Aren't slaves dispensable to the Principalia?"
Lord Prestonheim punched the table in a fit of annoyance. "You…" he pointed at Servus 132-X while laughing hard, "You're funny and annoying too, now that I think about it. I am just awaiting orders from the Principalia I want to be well-equipped when we do the exploration."
"And what if the Principalia won't agree?"
Lord Prestonheim did not answer the question. Instead, he stared at him intently.
"My Lord, I know what you're thinking," Servus 132-X leaned his arms to the table. "You would still want to do it either way," he whispered.
Lord Prestonheim smirked. "I must admit you are smart for a slave. Maybe, too smart for your own good!" The Commander sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. He knew that this could become a very long night of planning.
Servus 132-X looked at him in the eyes, "I am determined, my Lord. I can survey that abyss for you, while waiting for the Principalia's reply."
"And if you die in the process?"
"Transfer the deal to the remaining slaves. They'll gladly take it."
"Hmmm…" the Commander paced by the table. " You will disappoint me if you die."
"Then keep your hopes, my Lord. Because, I won't die! Not when I'm still a slave."
Lord Prestonheim laughed again. "You are always full of surprises! I hope the gods guide you."
"In fact, they will as they see fit," the Commander smiled at him.
Advertisement
- In Serial37 Chapters
The Legend of Fanaura: Cursed
'Hey, need some help there?' An unfamiliar voice echoed through her mind, and she startled, losing her grip on the red phial. It rolled through the grass, away from her. "Oh shoot!" she yelped, and her focus diverted from her opponent for a split second, but it was enough to prove fatal. The beast took advantage of her distraction and lunged towards her. She tried to back away, but in her haste, she stumbled and fell. She looked at the beast, inches away from her, and shut her eyes in fear. She raised her arms to cover her head, even if she knew it was futile. Yet seconds passed, and no pain came. Then she heard the beast let out a pained yelp. She opened her eyes to the familiar sounds of battle before her. A tall man stood before her, locked in battle with the beast. He wielded a sword as long as his height, yet it didn't seem to hinder him in the slightest. She watched in awe as he swung the obviously heavy sword around as if it were light as a feather. His movements were swift and precise, and it didn't take long before the beast fell to the ground, motionless. “You alright there, miss?” The man sheathed his sword across his back, before turning to her. Her eyes widened when she heard his voice. It was the same voice who had that had spoken into her mind and the cause of her almost-fatal distraction. "You...!" she hissed.***She was the chosen one to end the war between the Goddesses when they were supposed to take care of the world balance. Refused to be the pawn of the Goddess she chooses to kill herself, thinking that it will end her obligation and suffering. But when she woke up in another body, she realized that she can't outrun her fate. Being reborn in the same world after the end of the Goddesses war in a pre-apocalyptic situation, she knew she needs to face her fate as the cursed heroine. But her path won't be easy as darkness lurks and hidden between her friends and comrades waiting to punch her in the back and ruined her journey of redemption and world saving. Would she succeed or succumbed once more?
8 113 - In Serial32 Chapters
It's All in Your Head
Y/N was only a child when she came face to face with the beast who's able to make the bravest of people wet their pants with a single glance. As she grew older, her fears consumed her very being due to the nightmares plaguing her sleep. Is there any hope of escaping this dreadful creature? Can she ever get away from the Boogeyman, or is there more to the tale than fear and anger?Boogeyman x Female Reader
8 130 - In Serial49 Chapters
LONGING || Kimetsu No Yaiba Oneshots
LONGING (n.): A strong desire for something or someone: A strong desire especially for something unattainable~~~~~"Why are you still smiling like that knowing you left me behind?""She'll return with no trace of scratches!""I'll be in your care.""You're... You're very pretty!"~~~~~| Disclaimer |I do not own Kimetsu no Yaiba. All rights belongs to Koyoharu Gotoge.
8 219 - In Serial26 Chapters
"Love At First Flight" Technoblade X Reader
"Love At First Flight"Technoblade x ReaderA sweet short story of Phil's daughter return, only to capture the heart of a halfbreed Piglin.•°•°•This story is mainly a happy-happy story, it may come off as "flat" without the extreme rollercoaster and heart wrench, but honestly... I think Wattpad (Especially Technoblade x Reader) already has a lot of those, I just wanna write something I can smile at for the majority, life's enough to make me depressed, no need to add more by making a depressing story.°•°•°Dear Readers, I just wanted to make something clear. I am not the actual writer of this book. The orginal author is @ArcticGraysonFor more info, ask me or Arctic personally, I'm too lazy to write it :')
8 107 - In Serial18 Chapters
Learning To Love You (Noah X Cody)
Total Drama, named justly, has proven to Noah that making friends isn't all that easy. Come the slight chance that he actually does make a friend in Cody Anderson, the dorky, wannabe lady's man, Noah finds that it's hard not to fall in love.Cover photo does not belong to me. All characters and ideas belong to Total Drama.Completed! Under editing!Sequel posted!
8 99 - In Serial18 Chapters
Tiny soul ( Antisepticeye X reader )
Y/n was having a perfectly normal when......
8 246