by R. K. Star
While they were eating, a man approached with small handmade crafts for sale. “Hello,” the merchant bowed. “Can I interest you in a hand carved animal?” He smiled happily at Layana.
A maid got up to shoo him away but Layana ask her to stop and ask the merchant to come forward.
“Have a look at this, it’s a giraffe,” he pulled a giraffe with a beautiful long neck and a realistic looking carving of a giraffe’s head. Even the proportions scaled accurately, the wood was age beautifully.
“This is beautiful, you are wonderfully skilled at your craft. Thank you for letting me see this but I have no use for it.”
“Wait I have others, have a look at this hippopotamus.”
Before she could refuse to see it, he had already brought out another gorgeously carved animal. A very smooth and figured hippopotamus. He passed it to her so she could closely examine it.
Before she could compliment him on his work he pulled out a dagger in his basket and plunged it towards her heart. Quickly her body responded automatically from her training and leaned towards the side away from the dagger. The dagger missed her heart but sunk into her flesh on the side of her ribcage. She clenched her fist and punched him hard on his nose. The maids quickly apprehend him and dislocated his shoulder joints from it socket. Jhan pulled the dagger out of her flesh and began to close her wound. He could feel poison in the wound. If this had struck her heart there was a good chance it could have been fatal. The poison complicated the healing but he would be able to neutralize it from spreading.
“Why did you do this? I do not know you.” Layana asked, flabbergasted with what had happened.
“You royalty are all the same, self-righteous pieces of shit. What makes you so god damn special. You are no different than me, what makes you think you can control my life. Death to all daigon and death to all royalties.”
“Take this man to the local chancellor so he can be trialed for the crime he has committed.” Jhan directed one of the maids to take him away. “Let’s get you out of here my daigon.”
“Why did that man wish me death?”
“Some people are not happy with how the power structure is. They wish for more democracy and power given to the public.”
“How is the government run here? Is there an election?”
“Our governments are quite simple. It’s separated into three ranks. The emperor daigon reigns over all his or her territories with full autonomy. The emperor would impose taxes and create broad laws and rules. The emperor assigns daigons to govern each city or district. Daigons would create specific laws and assign local taxes. They would also appoint chancellors to enforce the all laws create by the emperor and the daigon. In a discrepancy between laws create by the daigon and the emperor, those create by the emperor would precede any and all daigons. The Chancellor is allowed to retain a standing might to maintain the peace but you must keep an eye on them in case they build up a might too large and plan to usurp your position. These are the main three ranks but there is much more finer detail that I will not bored you with now.”
“I’m a daigon, so what city do I govern? Did you ever tell me which area? I can’t remember.”
“Yes, my daigon, I told you the first day you awoken but you were still drowsy that day so you probably do not remember it well. You are the governor of the Watnar district which is a large area of land composed of several small towns and the main city of Honar. You may be referred to as the Daigon of Watnar or the Daigon of Honar, they are equivalent. Watnar resides on the planet Plitarth. The Watnar district during the strength of the Walyron empire contain over eight million square kilometres of land but the alliance has been making significant advances on our territories and we have been forced to concede land to them. Recently with the death of previous reigning Daigon, Kylan Scall, we have lost another portion of land. Right now our forces are barricading and reinforcing the city Honar. If we lose the city Honar we will not be able to defend the district, it will all be lost. We have suffered one humiliation after the next. I didn’t want to put pressure on you my daigon but we need you at Honar. The morale of our might stationed at Honar is fading. Luckily for us we do have a bit of time thanks to Daigon Scall who dealt a crippling blow to the Emperor Daigon Sallon Mar and her might. Honar is a fortified stronghold they will not take it easily, not without a fight. Most likely they will siege the city to weaken it but that will require some time.”
Layana could see the pride he had for his emperor and his home. Or perhaps it is fair to say you could see the hatred he had for the alliance. She had a feeling of conflict again. She remembered this feeling from before. This wasn’t her battle, why did she need to commit her life to it, she could just walk away, couldn’t she? She doubted why she should help in their war before, when she was first told of the situation. But if she thinks about it she did owe her life to Qunor, after all he saved her life from Lisa’s boyfriend. How far would she aid Qunor in his war, how long would it take. She knew she felt something for him but would she be willing to go far enough to die like this Kylan guy. She had to talk with him in person and clear things up first. There had to be a back door for her to exit. He saved her so she owes him but certainly she wouldn’t owe him for the rest of her life. No definitely not, the next time she sees him she decided to be up front and settle this matter. Until that time, she would continue to train and grow stronger. She didn’t mind training, she enjoyed becoming powerful. She would never be bullied again and would be able to do anything she pleased on Earth when she returns. Now she was feeling the effect of the poison. There was a throbbing pain in her chest.
Jhan finished healing the open wound and formed a dispersion array. The merchants and commoners stared in their direction amazed at the sight. Jhan energy wasn’t a uniform colour. His was white with a drop of light blue mixed in. His light enveloped them and they shifted back to the house they took residence in.
When Layana was about to retire for the night, she found herself smiling while she was brushing her teeth. She hadn’t had the feeling of being wanted for a long time. She remembered in high school, always being picked last during physical education when teams were being formed. Whenever there were group project assignments, everyone would rush together and form their groups and she would be sitting there all alone. No one would ever ask her to join and when she went up to a group and ask if she could join they would say they were already full. She knew the group wasn’t full but they didn’t want her. It was only by the mercy of the teacher after considerable begging and forcing before a group very reluctantly let her into their group. Even when she was accepted into the group she wasn’t really part of the group. They would talk about what they would do and how they would do it. They never once ask for her opinion and if she tried to voice her opinion they would shoot her down and that idea wouldn’t work. It was funny that later on the next day someone would re-mention the same idea and everyone would approve. They always planned group meetings to discuss and work on the project but of course she was never told of the meeting. Her presence was never wanted. The absolute worst was if it was a group project with a presentation aspect. That would be the most dreadful and embarrassing. Everyone would get up there and know the parts they were presenting and know what the topic was because they done the research and homework together. She would just stand there, a little to the side and away from the group and stare back at the class. Her group would give the entire presentation. The teacher would look at everyone as they gave their little speech and when everyone had their chance to speak, the teacher stare at her waiting for her little presentation. Her lips remained shut because they didn’t leave a snippet of the presentation for her. She had nothing to share and the class knew it and giggle at her expense. The sad part was it wasn’t because she didn’t want to participate or that she didn’t make an effort. She tried to participate but wasn’t wanted, they wouldn’t let her in. These flash-backs of her past haunted her continuously. Whenever one of these memories came back for her
to relive she felt disgusted with herself and she hated herself for it. It always ruined her mood no matter how happy she was at that moment. It made her feel worthless and dirty like trash. She always felt suicidal afterwards. More than anything she wish these memories would leave her be. She wished she had a form of dementia and forgot everything up to her freshman year at Stanford. Maybe another car accident and she wake with no memory of her past.
Once in while you would hear about a mass shooting at a school, a movie theatre or another public place by some student or young adult. Layana always felt a connection to the shooter or the criminal as they would call them. When it was a student shooter she knew right away that the shooter was bullied and more or less suffered similar to her. She sympathized with them as the victim instead of the criminal. A person’s mind is only so strong and once you push it pass its breaking point it loses its sense with reality. Manic ideas come into the person head telling them what they need to do to get away from this nightmare.
She couldn’t deny to herself that on several occasions she thought about getting her hands on a semi-automatic rifle and coming to school with it one day. She would come to the school with significant ammunition, with chains and locks. After everyone got to class and the hallways quiet down she would lock all the main entrances and bar anyone from leaving. Her attack plan would be very well carried out. She would have the layout of the school organized and plan where to hit first and continue on to the next classroom in sequence order. She would move quickly but efficiently. She would enter the classroom and use the rifle in a wide spray hitting anything she could. She wouldn’t bother with individual shots or individual targets, possibly with the exception of a few. She would just spray the bullets and fire at will on everyone. Once she emptied the magazine she would proceed to the next classroom and switch out the magazine for the next one on route. If she saw people running away in the hallways she would shoot them down. When she was done emptying all her magazine she would have a backup pistol that she would use on herself. Of course she wouldn’t spend the rest of her life in a prison or a psychiatric ward. She would point the pistol at her side just above her temple and squeeze the trigger softy to end it all.
She thought about doing a mass shooting many times. She even dreamt about it and it seemed so real in her dreams that it gave her joy. Her school was lucky that her mind was stronger compared to the other shooter from the other schools. Actually when she did her research on the shooter she found out they had only suffered a fraction of what she went through but she wasn’t judging them. Even a fraction of the bullying she endured would be enough to make anyone mad.
Layana laid on her bed now wondering why she was having these thoughts now. She could feel her heart beating irregularly. She could see a circular dark purple stain in her chest with spider leg projections from where the stab wound was. Jhan said the poison may have side effects. Were these vivid hallucinations she experienced a side effect? The poison was neutralized but would take time for it to dissipate. She couldn’t relax her facial muscles, there was a wide grin on her face. She felt very ecstatic on the thought of being wanted and needed. Perhaps it was the same high people got when they took ecstasy. She could get use to this feeling and could understand why people had to have their fix. It felt great that she had a groupie now. She loved the feeling of being in the centre and the power she had; when people gave her a courtesy bow. My daigon she whispered to herself as she realized her mind was drifting all over the place. She let her eyelids close and slowly entered a state of trance.
25
Old Town of Highnar, Yhonar
Jhan and Layana’s maids were afraid to let her wonder around the city, but she wasn’t scared. They were thankful she agreed to leave for the outskirts after a final visit to some historic scenes. It had been a few days in the city of Highnar already, besides for the first day everything else had gone fine. But that may have been thanks to her maids’ extra vigilance.
Layana had been getting use to her position and she started giving commands. When Jhan first met her, he could easily persuade her and direct her on what to do but now it became increasingly difficult for him. A daigon had to be firm and strict and more importantly knew what they wanted. A daigon had to lead and Jhan knew he couldn’t always be directing her on what to do. His role was to serve as an advisor and nothing more. He was happy his role was now more advising than anything else.
They strolled down a crumble road put together by large bricks and slabs. They were visiting the Old Town of Highnar. Although they were only spending the day to observe the superficial layer of the location. Old Town had lots of historic information and secrets waiting to be found if you had the time. It was the land that was first settled when the new settlers move into these territories some millennium years ago. The old buildings require constant maintenance and upkeep to manage them running and standing for tourists to visit. It attracted a high yield of visitors year-round and generated more than enough revenue to make it worthwhile. The chancellor in charge of Old Town in Highnar became incredibly wealthy managing this area. Despite the small area he was tasked with, he maintained a might some five thousand strong. His might was more than double that of most other chancellors. These other chancellors would at a minimum be responsible for twice the area of which he was governing. The Daigon of Highnar was probably paying extra attention to the Chancellor of Old Town.
“Jhan, should I have gone to meet the Daigon of Highnar?”
“It’s not necessary at this time, since you have not officially been bound in.”
“What do you mean?”
“You need to sit in the daigon’s chair of Honar and swear allegiance and fealty to the First Daigon, Emperor Daigon, of the Imperial Walyron Empire. After which you will be consider bound by your word. In the days of old, you weren’t consider bound until you spilled blood from your hand with a blade that was gifted to you from the emperor. It was called binding by blood. Customs have changed and we no longer follow such an old tradition. Once when you are bound into your position you will need to appoint chancellors of your own and have them swear fealty to you. But that is too much to go into right now.”
Layana noted when Jhan started getting in depth into a topic he would say it was too much information to continue on right now. It was getting very interesting and she wanted to know more but she could tell he wanted her to focus on training.
They walked around to the last building, it was the largest of the old buildings. It was the manor for the king of the new settlers, back in the days of old. The current chancellor was residing in the manor now. He had a fondness to old structural buildings the same way Layana saw the beauty and uniqueness of these majestic architectural marvels.
A well-built man came out of the entrance of the manor with a smile. He seemed bigger as he passed through the narrow entrance. “Rumour had it that the Daigon of Honar was in the city of Highnar and now I see it’s true,” the man approached with ten servants following behind him.
“Who is this,” Layana whispered to Jhan.
“He is the Chancellor of Old Town, Chancellor Peter Doto. He is known to be quite crafty, it is best to keep your guard up, my daigon.”
“Be praised, Daigon Nito.” Peter spoke with a soft voice and bowed part way, a forty-degree bend as a courtesy. An honourable complete courtesy bow would require a ninety-degree bend at the waist. Forty degrees was quite respectful nonetheless.
Jhan whispered softly in her ear, he asked her to return his formal greeting.
“Be praised, Chancellor Doto,” Layana spoke firmly. She was about to return the courtesy with a bow of her own. Jhan place a firm hand on her arm and held her up stiffly, gently he shook his head indicating to her, not to bow.
Jhan and the maids gave a courtesy bow to the chancellor.
“It would be my honour to host the Daigon of Honar, if the graces would favour me.”
Layana looked at Jhan and he nodded softly. Peter was quick to spot the interaction
between the two and a soft smile came across his lips.
Peter sent a few of his servants to make preparations before he led them to the restricted area of the manor that wasn’t accessible to tourists. They walk through a few hallways, Layana took note of all the servants and guards posted at the entrances and hallways. Finally they arrived at the grand hall of the manor that was large enough to accommodate over a hundred bodies. They walked to the end of the grand hall where there was an elevated platform about a metre high. The platform had a large beautiful wooden table built from a dark red cherry tree that had eagles carved on the corners. It was meant to seat the host and the most esteem guests. The building had some minor electrical and plumbing upgrades but for the most part it was kept in its brick and mortar state. The servants that went before them had time to lit up candles and scented oils. She could smell the scent of summer flowers in the hall, it was a light smell but easily detected and quite soothing. A magnificent crystal chandelier hung from the top of the pointed ceiling. It had twenty-four candles spots and the light refracted on the crystals creating a warm orange shimmering effect. There was a rustic chain at the top that was used to lower and pull it back up for easy access. It was only noon but the set up was prepared as if an evening ball was planned later that day.
To keep a more intimate proximity, Peter gesture Layana to take a seat on the long edge of the table which he sat opposite to her instead of sitting far away at the short end of the table. Four maids stood behind Peter, his reaeslave stood next to him. Layana gestured Jhan and her maids to sit down together as they had before during lunch but they remained standing.