Day 35

I caressed my forehead ever so lightly as I stared down at the group of armed men mobilising in front of me.

I watched as they donned their armour, equipped the golden tabard of their home, placed their weapons upon their holsters and began to move on towards their commanders.

I watched for minutes on end, as one by one, more and more men finished their preparations.

I turned my eyes away from those who were preparing to those who were already prepared.

I looked as far as my mortal eyes could see, and I could see was the endless stream of these young men going to war.

I saw no end.

It stretched on and on, continuing outside of the edge of my vision.

All of these young men were going to war, yet I could not see one who looked like they regretted joining the army.

Not one of them had a look of regret upon their face.

They were worried, they were sad, they were anxious… but they were glad.

It hurt me to look at them.

These young men of mine would fight to the last man to the gain the freedom that I and my ancestors had given up.

They would die so that their family and descendants would not have to live in fear and anger of the other kingdoms.

So that all humans could become equal and would no longer suffer, thousands of people would die.

On the slim chance that the goddess who abandoned us would face justice they would happily march.

I sighed and turned towards the orc who stood to my side, his expression eerie and unreadable.

Ghum’bil was his name, and his god was the being who was supposed to relieve us of our shackles.

He stared down at the young men of my land as a small grin crept onto his face.

Ghum’bil: “A people called trash” the orc said with no condescension in his voice “Has raised a mighty army numbering several tens of thousands” Ghum'bil said this as he turned towards me “How does that make you feel your highness?” he asked in a curious manner.

This orc bothered me immensely.

He had a dozen faces with a dozen personalities.

One day he was condescending, another he was nice and righteous.

One day you could converse with him in a good mood, and in another he would make talking to him the heaviest of burdens.

I could not he solve the puzzle that he was properly and for that reason alone, talking to him has become a chore, but even chores must be done.

Jerech Yulia: “We have been looked down upon for far too long that the might of Yulia has been forgotten” I stated plainly for it was the truth “The human nations do not belong to this land you know” I asked Ghum'bil to which the orc had a puzzled look.

Ghum’bil: “All of us belong Thecillia whether we like it or not, for there is not exit from Thecillia as the mountains cover the lands to the east and west, while the great lake shrouds us to the north” the orc replied with absolute certainty in his voice, which only served to make me grin lightly.

Not even this know it all orc, knew the truth of these lands.

Ghum'bil: “While to the south are beasts so dangerous that there is no passage out” he stated what he knew but I simply smiled “So tell me your highness, how are humans not from Thecillia”.

Smiling I stood silently for several moments to let my current advantage brew, only for a few moments though.

Seeing Ghum'bil getting bothered by his lack of knowledge, yet not asking because of his pride I decided I had kept the orc is his state of curiosity for long enough.

Jerech Yulia: “What I shall tell you is naught but a little fable lost to the passages of time” I smiled as I lied to him “In ages long past, to the south lay the passages of death, right behind the domain of humanity currently, but humanity had trough an exodus entered Thecillia from those passages, I know not of the reason we came here, nor how we did so, yet I know from the fragments of knowledge not burnt or lost that this was not our original home, and nor was Amiya our original god” I stated in a solemn manner.

The High Priest had a surprised look upon his face as he contemplated this knowledge and then he stared at me in a studious manner.

Ghum’bil: “So you were invaders” he paused “or refugees” smiling at me “But it matters little what you were, what matters is what was grave enough to force your ancestors to cross a passage known to lead to certain death” and with that we both stood in silence for several long moments. “You stated the might of Yulia was forgotten, what did you mean by it?” he asked me.

Jerech Yulia: “That according to this little fable, my great ancestor, was the lord of the group who led the humans into Thecillia and for rejecting that damned women Amiya as our patron, his subordinates were allowed to rise up while he himself was cast down” once those words left my lips Ghum’bil had a shocked expression on his face “but they could not make Yulia disappear as they’d have to kill more than half of the human population so they did this to us instead” as I said this I gestured to the city behind me “They placed shackles on us for refusing to follow a false goddess” my voice had grown solemn as I spoke.

Ghum’bil: “But a majority of your people follow her now” he stated “was that out of fear, or time?” he asked.

I thought about it for a moment and then answered him.

Jerech Yulia: “Both I think” I stated my opinion “since both fear and time can change even the greatest of things, together they may have broken my people” my opinion was a dark and heavy one. “But perhaps it was hope as well” I paused “Hope that if they believed they would rise from this ‘life’ of ours”.

We stood there solemnly for a while contemplating what we were discussing.

Ghum’bil: “Were you fleeing kingdom, or were you an army from a kingdom?” he asked what I thought was his final question.

Jerech Yulia: “I do not know, for the remnants of the fable I possess do not exist in much detail in our libraries, but maybe they do within the Kalmiran or Lithium libraries and royal palace” I paused as I considered whether I should tell the orc or not, but after steeling myself, I decided to do so “Our ancestors believed in a goddess called ‘Orithia’, yet now all are forbidden from her worship, but not for much longer” I stated to which Ghum’bil stared inquisitively.

I smiled at his expression before continuing.

Jerech Yulia: “Our kingdom may bow down to your god, we may obey his commands and I am sure many of my people will follow your god, but I will still try to reintroduce our fabled old goddess in the hopes that we may once again embrace her” I looked at him and smiled “We will not betray your god should our goddess return, I can promise you this” with a solemn look I whispered to the orc “But a story is merely a story” and with that he nodded, whether he believed me or not, I do not know, but it was not like it matter.ed.

He turned back to the army of Yulia that was mobilising in front of us.

Ghum’bil: “We have had enough idle discussion, no matter how pleasant” he smiled “it is time to return to the task at hand” and with that he gestured at my army “We must deceive the agents of the other kingdoms who are watching, and once I have ascertained that they have sent their reports home, I will silence them” and with that he looked towards me, waiting for me to talk.

Jerech Yulia: “We will send 5000 soldiers forwards, towards the Border Fortress, the great bastion of Humanity, and then have the remaining 25,000 move behind at a ridiculously slow pace” I looked towards the table to our left and stared at the map “we will move the 25,000 towards Lithium on the Lith Highway once you have silenced the spys” I said as I walked towards the table containing the map and slowly moved my fingers across the highway connecting us to Lithium.

Ghum’bil: “Very well, order the 5000 troops to move out now while the remaining 25,000 prepares, I’d like to have the scouts dead by the end of the day” I nodded to that and called one of my royal guard and told him to deliver the message to our minister of war.

Turning back to Ghum’bil once my guard had left I nodded to towards him.

Jerech Yulia: “Between the capital of Lithium and us, are 3 fortresses, two of which are out of our way and only have 2000 troops each, the one we have to worry about the most is the second largest fortress city belonging to Lithium, Lith, with at least a few thousand troops” and to that Ghum’bil grinned.

Ghum’bil: “Do not worry your highness” he cooed “A simple fortress cannot stop us, what you should fear is the goddess sending forces at us once we reach the capital of Lithium, but do not worry about that either, as I am here” he said in a cocky manner “And being here, I represent the Dark God, my master” with that he flashed his iconic eerie grin.

Sighing I moved on.

Jerech Yulia: “I pray your master will make it on time” I stated as we slowly walked with Ghum’bil lagging closely behind.

Ghum’bil: “Do not worry your highness, for today you make history by siding with my master, today will mark the day that humanity was once again united” he paused as his smile grew eerier with each passing moment “Today marks the start of both the rise of Darkness and the fall of the false Light”.

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Hey Guys, AK here,

So I just wanted to say something, that being, the chapter quality for the last few chapters may have been a bit low, and the reason for that is, that these were pre-written chapters, so even after I proofread them, they didn't come out exactly as I wanted them.

Now it is a shitty excuse, and not really pardonable, but the quality will pick up after Chapter 39.

That is all, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Love and Peace,

-AK