-Break-
-Age 30-
With her, I walked a path forward, and within it I hoped my words would reach and pierce the shadows I had cast over the world, and with her, little by little, my efforts made a change.
Continent: Terrafide
"Did you all hear Captivant has returned?"
"I heard he was killed!"
"My mind thought he was going to be destroyed for all the trouble he caused."
"It seems that the fires might only burn brighter."
"The rebellion of the people might still exist."
"Oh no, is everyone going to become even more scared again?"
"I wonder what stories he has to tell us this time."
"Did you know the people of one of the kings of Weltenzahnrad were Nephilim?"
"Wait, is that the reason they have all those giant musical instruments stuck in the land?"
"It seems they were all forged due to his love of music, but more than that, it has been used as a tool of guidance throughout the land."
"I've heard rumours of that."
"Apparently, since they share a border with Fimbulwinter and often sell cold-resistant clothing, many try to flee into the icy mountains after escaping from their own countries for protection, and get lost in the mountains to be preyed upon by the vicious wonderbeasts that live there."
"This has been increasing as people have been pouring into states with strong protections like those that house many adventurers or even Zaad Ziener."
"They've been making sure our fleeing people are still alive."
"But wouldn't they just be doing this so they can force them to conscript?"
"According to Captivant, they've been hiding all the fleers from the government for that express purpose. It seems they've taken a very large anti-war stance, or at least some are."
"The Welts are known for being loud and obnoxious, but I guess those bastards are the same when it really counts as well. I guess I might need to thank them one day."
"If you think the Welts are crazy, did you hear what Captivant wrote about Földvére?"
"What are the Földs getting up to?"
"There are these people in Földvére: a man named Mihály, a poet, who was getting chased around by his wife Ilona; apparently she caught him writing poetry about a large series of women behind her back."
"What an idiot. I know a couple of morons like him that need to get kicked around."
"Then she was talking to him for days, which turned into weeks, which turned into months, and he had to write her at least three poems a day to get her attention back."
"Sounds like someone I know, I guess wives are the same everywhere."
"So as a show of his love, he hung himself by his leg from a tree for a couple of days till she forgave him. Isn't it romantic?"
"Hey, honey, why are you looking at me like that? I am not going to hang myself from any trees, you know."
"I guess you don't love me that much."
"Let's not spread this story around; otherwise we might have a lot of work ahead of us."
"I guess even the drunks in Földvére are as passionate lovers as ever; it seems like they would rather the world be split into two than be apart. I've read so much about them that it feels like I know how sad it would be for either to be apart from the other."
"It must be fun to be that way in long, it isn't something I would ever want to destroy or break no matter what."
"But it's what happens during war; even lovers like that get split in two."
"Are those people really scary enough for such a faith?"
"But even if she had a heart attack, they could just head over to the doctors in Światozdrówca?"
"Is something going on with those money-grubbing Drówcas?"
"Yes, but you would expect it, apparently. They've been setting up camps around the border crossing, and have been helping get people medical supplies."
"We're talking about the same Drówcas, right? The bastards who've all but sold their souls to Elpída for money?"
"Yeah, the same ones. Apparently, the hearts of many were moved started by this, including a man named Janusz who saw all the children that were broken down by their travels and did his best to fund supplies for them, and soon many of those who he had helped over the years came with him offering aid, and now they are handing out medical supplies and teaching people ways to take care of themselves during periods of war and drought."
"Isn't that dangerous for them? If war starts, they thought a bunch of strangers there medical technique. I doubt the military is allowing them to do so freely."
"But their numbers keep growing, so can't that only mean."
"To think a bunch of strangers care about our lives far more than our own leaders."
"On that note, haven't imports been increasing again?"
"I thought they were getting raided."
"Maybe the government stepped up."
"Weren't military officers skimming things off the top?"
"No, apparently, it's thanks to Cleddyfbuddug."
"The Wyvern riders?"
"Yes, according to Captivant, they've been going around offering protection for a minority of the cost to any merchants who ask. They've allowed trade to remain unabated."
"Even scumbags know that picking a fight with Cleddyfbuddug could accidentally start a war in this climate, and no country is ready for that."
"But why are they doing such things?"
"Most Wyern riders actually belong to families, not the military overall, and they've decided to work together for this project, making sure a defensible minimum is in the country while they keep imports and exports going from country to country during these trying times."
"Thanks to them, we've finally been able to get some food. From our neighbours."
"It's been so long, I thought there was a good chance we might never get to eat anything other than wheat again."
"Maybe we should learn to grow some more exotic things on our lands."
"We can't; our climate isn't good for them. Even at its best it would taste worse than it would in other countries, and this ignores the fact that they've developed their farming techniques around making it as good as it is; it's not just something we can copy."
"All the other countries seem to have impacted me more than I thought."
"A land of music, a land of dugenons, a land of medicine, and a land of and a land of love. It sounds like so much fun to enter; I wish I could travel to go see it all."
"Not like we could go there when war breaks out."
"Then how about we take a trip there now and see how it is."
"That sounds like fun."
"We will finally be able to experience the way all of those people live their lives."
-Break-
Location: Original Country, Cordum; Grand Library of Cordum
Φ Beaming around the area with a smile on his face as a series of scholars move past him, Jabari moves towards a large room before opening it and walking forward, where he sees a small tree-shaped throne covered by branches holding books, and with ink attached to their edges; they write on page after page.
Walking forward and bowing down to the seat in front of him, Jabari says, "You called me Cordum?"
"I want you to go gather some adventurers for me; you're going to give a message for me to the Avalon. A declaration of a stance against war; while you move, tell all adventurers you run into to return to Cordum."
"Huh? Are you serious? Right now people have been strung up for years at this point, even if Avalon and Cordum started spewing threats, Gevurah would still act, and everyone knows when it comes down to it Cordum won't go and defend Avalon."
"Correct, but it is merely an excuse. Credible threats as a way to push hardliners backwards. You humans have only started to feel it, but I have already felt their motions in this land. The people's hearts have started to turn against the fears of war, at least in the north, and now we need to give the uneducated masses a belief that they would be met with Avalon and Cordum, as well as losing all of their precious little adventuring soldiers; it will knock the tides back for me time."
Jabari tightens his fist and says, "But still, haven't Captivant's words continued to spread like a plague amongst them. Pushing them all towards their deaths."
"Right, you are; it's not something that can be pushed back by even me, but happily someone strong enough to do so has appeared."
One of the branches tosses a book towards, Jabari grabs it, and as he reads the name across it, a tear starts to fall from his eye, making Cordum giggle and say, "Are you crying?"
"Shut up, a tree like you couldn't understand the bonds between men's souls!"
Standing up, Jabari turns and runs out as Cordum says, "Humans are so annoying; why can't I get something interesting to come here like a Dragon?"
-Break-
-Age 31-
Location: Enotita
"The Bastion Kingdom continues to wage war wherever they go; it's like my mind and heart can barely keep up with it all. Like I am mere moments away from collapsing; at this rate they are going to come for us all."
"How many have died for their conquest?"
"How many more are going to be taken from us?"
"I don't want to leave these lands."
"I want my children to grow up strong and tall."
"Then we should join them; if no one can end their slaughter, the quickest way to save ourselves would be to become one of them."
"Do you know what you're saying?"
"If we don't join them, when they come marching through our lands they we won't be spared."
"You're all childish. It's not like any of us know the real situation and can do anything about it."
"SO WHAT SHOULD WE DO!"
"How about we talk about Captivant's new story!"
"You can't be serious."
"You've all heard of the Spirit Weaver girls in Di Mhoop, right?"
"The ones who can make threads that Spirit Energy flows through well."
"Yeah, there is one named Roeul. She is a kind young girl who comes from a long but struggling lineage of Spirit Weavers, unlike many of the modern ones. She has yet to raise her prices often not making enough to sustain herself and getting taken advantage of."
"Why?"
"Apparently, Di Mhoop have a legend against Spirit Weavers being overly greedy."
"They have legends against greed? Call me surprised."
"Well, things have changed as time has as well. But Roeul, despite everything, keeps following the principles of her people as she weaves clothes to help people be protected through even the harshest of times."
"What a brave girl?"
"She makes my heart feel all tight and tingly."
"Can I give her money?"
"STOP BEING IDIOTS! We, the people of Dá, are at war with them; we have a duty to restore order to this country. If you really care about helping bring the continent under control, enlist."
"But how will you know that your blade doesn't reach her neck?"
"Didn't it say her parents were killed in war?"
"Was it by accident? I am sure no soldier of our country would do such a thing."
"Those Dá bastards have no mercy on the people they fight. We can't allow ourselves to fall here."
"But if we do, won't we end up like her parents?"
"She fights for the principles embedded in her country long after the great Kingdom of Dá fell, and we do the same."
"If a child chooses to leave the nest, must the parent claim power over them until they die? Or have we the people of Dá so long since forgotten that? Is that what you're trying to tell us, Captivant?"