Chapter 16 – A Certain Circumstance

In the first month, 13th, of 1810, the news of the new Lord Enforcer spread around the City of Avilla. The name Shig of the Red Garb spread among the people. The people already knew the name. Most of the people know him as the Blood Crazed bull of the North. Now that he was Lord Enforcer of the City. They went with the formal title of ‘the Red Garb’ which symbolizes the red cape that hangs over Shig’s shoulder.

Two days the printing presses worked nonstop in spreading this news. There were also new rules which were then announced by Heralds to the plebian masses who could not read the pamphlets spread by the soldiers of the City.

These pamphlets made commotions in the Blue District. The demi-human community was quite surprise yet glad that the Lord Enforcer of the City was a Cornus and his assistant was a Cattus. The humans in the city frowned. But they had no choice with the Lady herself announcing her decision. They already knew of her relations to the blood-crazed bull. In fact, Mia of Avilla won’t have had this City if it wasn’t for his father and Uncle Shig’s previous work.

The City was located on two important routes. These routes made this city quite the route to take. Located east the city is a well-known route that people from the Salevela Island located up far northeast of the continent. The island is far away and it usually docks at the City of Chalampom located just north of the City of Storms. South East of Avilla is Duesa City, a rather small seaside City known for their white sands and round house's situated on top of the water where Gondola’s are mainly used to ferry travelers and residents of the city. It is strangely prosperous because of the nobles around the place.

But these cities have one thing in common. They rely on the roads of Avilla to travel to the Helena Citadel, the Capital of the Freelands territory. There are five Kingdoms in the Livia Continent. Avilla City, Duesa City, The City of Storms, and the City of Chalampom are part of the Freelands demesne.

The other Kingdoms are The Holy Midland, where the Knight Templar’s gather along with its citizens. Then, North of Midland is the Bali Kingdom, home of the Shonis Natives. South of Midland was where the Cagan Kingdom was, the Kingdom where most demi-humans gather and are currently at war with Holy Midland. Then, northwest of the Midland is where the borders of Maltius La Fende is, a tightly locked kingdom that prefers to keep out of touch with the people. They rarely interact with the other Kingdoms and prefer to stay neutral, they are also highly advanced and their well-fortified borders make those who tried to invade them shriek in horror.

Anyways, since Shig was now the Lord Enforcer of the City of Avilla. The various nobles and the bounty hunters who knew of what happened in the city of storms and its desert decided to halt the prize on Shig’s head. Leiko, Kioko, and even Joshua had their bounties halted.

Their status as slaves was also personally revoked by the Warlord of Avilla, Mia. With this, the bounty hunters sent by a certain Alva backed off. Though certainly the one that put the bounty wasn’t displeased by such result, in fact, the lady who heard what happened just laughed thinking that time will come that she’ll be able to move the bounty again.

Still, Shig, who was quite relieved about all of this started to work his job seriously. With Leiko, he made rounds in the Blue District and perfectly laid his iron fist at the district. The lazy good for nothing soldiers of the district experienced the Cornus Regime that Shig was trained at. The men carried logs and practiced their arms until they lay on the ground sweating heavily exhausted. Some men grew angry at such training. But Shig merely smiled at them. Show them his pearl teeth and asked them to make him revoke the training by beating him in a sparring. Some men tried to do so, bravely. But mostly all of them ended being choked and slam on the ground.

The women who grew lazy faced Leiko. Some of them faced the Cattus with a bit of sneer. However, like Shig, she challenged those who complained head on and proved her authority. She was a Cattus and that was her own and most effective way of dealing with anyone. The fringes of the Blue District and even the brothels and tavern grew wary of the Lord Enforcer and his assistant. Of course, Shig and Leiko warn them to be humble about their time. The brothel wanted to bribe Shig but Shig’s wither heart made him frown badly instead. Shig imposed a schedule and the tavern was only allowed to serve mead and alcohol in the afternoon.

There was a complaint obviously. But what can they do in the face of the Lord Enforcer? In any case, the tavern became a hubbub in the afternoon. Things even got lively when tired men came to the tavern. Oddly, they found it their haven when training is done or when they are done patrolling. Though there is complains in the brothel of the Blue District being filled with men wanting massage more than playing in the bed.

The Warlord of the City, Mia, was rather impressed by Shig’s work. She knew the efficiency of her uncle but seeing how little time he made the Blue Strict straightened up made Mia rather relieved.

Shig has had an imposing figure. Leiko was also a great help to him. And every night the two would return to their home quarters in the stronghold. Where they would be greeted by Little Kioko and the unable to speak or understand Joshua.

The four looked like some odd family. But they are family. Born of odd circumstances, these four were slaves met in the desert where they had one thing in common: being chained. That made them family. It was not because they particularly like each other. It was because of that certain circumstance that they are here.