THE CONFERENCE OF THE DWARVES

Sobs poured out as the body of King Arganor was paraded by special soldiers to his final rest. Everyone mourns, even the animals. They seemed to know that the symbol of Ouros' prosperity was also buried with the King.

The lineage of Garranor, the first King of Ouros is fading. Only one remains, who ironically insists on fighting the destiny of his leadership, Yugo.

That dwarf did not come to the funeral. It was too much for him to accept all of this in one night. The full moon also colored this weeping night. The night is sad and people are desperate.

Macrick army remained loyal to Yugo's side, trying to be solace to their leader. Theryl rubbed his shoulder, saying this and that, but Yugo just looked down silently. His nose was red from crying.

Not long after, an adult dwarf came. He was the one in the King's room, apart from Zulk. This dwarf had long black hair to his back, but the front of his head was bald, so his forehead seemed very wide. Yugo was called closer. There seems to be something to talk about. Unsteadily, the young dwarf approached him.

"Master Yugo, I'm so sorry. King Arganor is like my own brother. Being by his side all the time makes this loss so painful," he said sadly as he stroked Yugo's curls.

"Prime minister Gavius, if you wish—"

"No, no. Of course not. I do not wish to influence you to ascend the throne to become the new king. I know exactly who you are and your nature, young master. I do not wish to force anyone here. However, what about the society that demands a new leader? We are in an urgent situation."

Yugo snorted languidly. "I don't know."

"Tonight an extraordinary conference will also be held. All the higher-ups of the kingdom are confirmed to attend. There are only two choices, Young master. You are sworn in tomorrow, or someone else will take your place." Gavius ​​explained.

"Can I be replaced?" Yugo was interested.

"According to royal regulations, you can. If the Garranor lineage is exhausted, or refuses to rule, or is deemed incompetent, or commits treason. Then the court council may appoint someone outside the noble lineage as King of Ouros. That is if you are willing, Young master." Gavius ​​looked at Yugo. His white eyebrows stretched to his eyes.

"But who will replace me?" Yugo said, confused.

"I am willing, if you will consider it. More than half a century as Prime Minister, I have very good experience and knowledge. The King of Arganor blessed me as a confidant because my advice is always right on target.

Compared to everyone else in this palace, maybe it's just me who has the criteria to rule the kingdom of Ouros, Young master. But! Of course you're better than me, that's clear. You deserve more to be king. Your abilities—"

"Enough," Yugo interrupted. "What I have to do to get them to inaugurate you tomorrow, Prime Minister Gavius?"

Gavius ​​was suddenly wide-eyed, but his smile came later. "At tonight's extraordinary conference, you must speak up and propose me to be the next king. Only then can the voting take place."

"Okay, I'll do it." Yugo agreed. "Prime minister Gavius, you deserve to be king more than me. It shows in your eyes," he said before leaving to meet his friends again.

"Thank you. See you at nine, Young master." Gavius ​​waved his hand, complete with a wide grin.

~~o0o~~

"Welcome to the extraordinary conference of the kingdom of Ouros. Tonight sad news is covering us all. King Arganor, son of Girvanor, has met our ancestors, leaving behind a kingdom that must be led. Because of that, we are here to negotiate who the successor will be." The white-bearded dwarf started the meeting with a wise voice. His name is Balrim.

The hall full of gold and emeralds glittered. A large circular table was visible in the center, perfectly carved, patterned with treasures and precious stones. There were thirteen high-ranking dwarves of the palace who occupied the majestic seat.

One of them is Yugo, and he is only familiar with Zulk, Ereli, Balrim, and Gavius. Most of them are rarely seen, unless there is an important agenda. They preferred to spend time in the luxurious corners of the palace, enjoying the wealth that seemed endless. However, today it all came.

"First, I would like to show my respects to Master Yugo, the future King of Ouros, Your Majesty. Then to the Prime Minister Gavius. The royal deliberations, Master Igorim, Master Erigrim, Lady Ereli, and Lady Irenka. Ouros' ceremonial functionary, Master Antanor. Important palace meeting's council, Master Erkiel, Master Dorion, Master Garminor, and Lady Thalia. Then, Ouros military chief, Captain Zulk. I, Balrim, the Supreme Judge, say thank you for attending tonight's conference."

Balrim started to open the palace notebook, then put on his round glasses. A trial hammer lay neatly on the side of the dwarf's desk. Just one hit, and it would determine Ouros' fate for decades to come.

That is why he was so vigilant, mobilizing all his wisdom to produce the best decision in this conference. According to the conference procedure, the supreme judge allowed the future king to present his arguments. The rest of the audience will listen, and judge.

"I invite Master Yugo to respond your proposed appointment as the next king of Ouros."

Yugo who had been nervous all this time finally realized that he was being stared at by so many pairs of eyes. Unlike Zulk or Ereli who looked at him casually, other higher-ups seemed to be throwing threatening glares. It was as if he was being held up to become the king of Ouros, happy or not.

However, Yugo tried to stay calm. The scenario with Gavius ​​has been designed so well. He only needs to thicken his face if criticism and insults come from the mouths of other attendees.

"Master Yugo?" call Balrim again.

"Oh, sorry!" Yugo woke up. "Look, I'm not very good at politics or formal gatherings. So I'll just get straight to the point. I'm not willing to become king of Ouros. My decision is unanimous. Totally unanimous! Sorry... if I let you down," he insisted.

Zulk could only pat his forehead, while the other higher-ups countered all-out. They are fighting for their turn to talk. Balrim actually wanted to lecture the dwarf, if only his position as a judge was not hindered. If this is the case, the Ouros traditional holder feels more appropriate to speak up.

"I vehemently reject that statement. Master Yugo, consider your words carefully! The founder of Ouros, King Garranor has sworn that this kingdom will only prosper if it is ruled by his bloodline. His oath holds true to this day. Adopting another lineage is highly against our customs."

"Interruption, Supreme Judge!" Gavius ​​spoke. "I think it's very bad if we sacrifice the freedom of others for the sake of an outdated story."

"What are you talking about, Gavius?!" Antanor is angry. His gray beard shook with rage.

"Calm down!" Balrim intervened. "Please continue speaking, Master Gavius."

"Thank you. We, the dwarves of Ouros, are a learned nation. We have great tolerance and mutual respect for one another. Long ago, when King Garranor was still reigning, his oath was valid because the majority of our people were his bloodline. Over time, the lineage thinned out. Many of them died on the battlefield, infected by plague, killed. Now, there is only one descendant of King Garranor that we keep forcing and pressuring to become king. Even though he himself doesn't want to. It's unethical."

"Then what is your suggestion, Prime minister?" Igorim, the dwarf whose nose was like a pear asked.

"Modernization, that's my suggestion. In order to continue to prosper Ouros, we need to be open-minded. Stop sticking to the old doctrines, and give the dwarves of other descendants an equal chance. I'm sure there are still many great dwarves in this kingdom who are more interested in becoming kings than Master Yugo. That's true, right?" He glanced at Yugo, the dwarf nodded in response.

"Interruption, Supreme Judge!" Zulk's turn to talk. "I don't completely blame the Prime minister's argument. By law, appointing a dwarf of other bloodlines as king is indeed legal under certain conditions. However, the oath that King Garranor took was not just a doctrine. The words of the first king were sacred and binding vows. , I think it's better to choose a dwarf from his descendants alone." Zulk also looked at Yugo who seemed irritated by his opinion.

Now the conference seemed to be split into two camps. Proponents of the idea of ​​modernization against the adherents of traditional heredity. Even though he was the nominee, Yugo actually joined the group of supporters of Gavius' argument. He knew that Zulk and Ereli had repeatedly warned him with piercing eyes, but that dwarf's head was as hard as a rock. Empty threats won't do anything.

"If that's your suggestion, Captain Zulk, then let me and the audience here know how you can convince Master Yugo to become king." Gavius ​​asked a tricky question. Even though he himself had agreed with Yugo.

Zulk was silent for a while, but his mouth immediately explained. "Master Yugo must understand who he really is." He looked at Yugo. "Being a king doesn't mean just sitting in a chair, not going anywhere, or being pensive. A king is a privileged position. A king can be an adventurer who explores the hearts of his people. A king can be a speaker who speaks in the form of orders and wisdom. A king also able to laugh through the joy and prosperity that overflowed his kingdom. That is the real king. And, I see that in Master Yugo. I hope he sees it too."

Yugo's egotism wall almost fell when he heard Zulk's lecture about what it means to be a king. A point of view that had never stopped in his mind for a long time. However, as soon as he glanced at Gavius, the intention to run away from his ancestral responsibilities resurfaced. Yugo still refuses to be king.

"Is that enough to convince you, Master Yugo?" Balrim asked.

"No, it's too bad. I agree more with the Prime minister's proposal," his response surprised some.

"Yugo!" scolds Zulk emotionally.

"Please calm down!" Balrim interrupted. "There should be no offensive actions in this forum."

"I have permission to speak, Supreme Judge." Ereli volunteered.

"Sure," said Balrim.

"I know we are all tired of forcing Master Yugo to give up his freedom as a free man and serve the people as king. I don't think any other opinion about modernization is right either. In my opinion, we should give Yugo a trial period to become king as a middle way. If he doesn't like it for a month, we can hold another conference to discuss the next steps. That's it."

"Good advice, Miss Ereli," continued Gavius. "But, Supreme Judge, the job of the royal deliberations should be to examine an argument, not support or disprove another. Lady Ereli seems to have a lot more to learn."

"T-that's right." Balrim looks awkward because he himself missed the rules. "Excuse me, Lady Ereli. You are only allowed to question the existing arguments. No additional arguments from the royal deliberations are allowed."

"Besides, I also reject the proposal. I don't want to be king. How hard is it to understand and accept that?" Yugo protested.

"Your choice, Supreme Judge." Gavius ​​added, because it was time for Balrim to make a decision.

It was clear that an extreme dilemma surrounded the old dwarf's heart. The wrinkles on his face have testified to many important decisions in this hall. However, this one decision, they seemed not to want to hear it.

Balrim is a dwarf who fully supports the idea of ​​Yugo's appointment as king. In fact, he often advises the child. Unfortunately, words alone cannot straighten a crooked heart. Balrim must come to terms with his disappointment for the sake of the people.

"As the judge-elect, I approve of the proposal to elevate a dwarf from another bloodline as king!" The hammer was hit and suddenly the commotion echoed throughout the room.

The contra are not only dwarves who are fanatical with the Garranor lineage, such as Zulk, Ereli and Antanor, but there are also those who are confused in deciding which dwarves of the lineage should be chosen to replace the prestige of the previous kings. This is a completely new phenomenon in Ouros. That issue was finally thrown by Balrim to the conference participants.

"Now, who is a worthy dwarf to replace the Garranor lineage?" he asked for opinions.

"Supreme Judge, interruption." Gavius ​​spoke. His gaze was busy colliding with Yugo. "I think, before releasing the prestige of the Garranor bloodline at tomorrow's inauguration, it would be ethical if we give Master Yugo a chance to propose someone. Let him judge which dwarf should take his place."

"I agree," said Erkiel, the black dwarf.

"Interesting option." Garminor—whose body is strong—associates.

"Agree." Dorion and Thalia said the same word.

"Then, we agree on the proposal from the Prime minister." Balrim taps the hammer. "Master Yugo, who do you think is capable of leading Ouros wisely and fairly? Please give us a name."

Yugo was silent for a long time. He saw Zulk who had looked down in despair, as well as Ereli and Antanor. But when he saw Gavius, he felt calm and wisdom. That dwarf deserved this, he thought. What's wrong with giving other bloodlines a turn to rule? Nothing bad will happen. Yugo insisted on that thought.

"I..." he said, provoking the other dwarves to listen curiously. "Propose Prime Minister Gavius ​​as the new king of Ouros."

(To be continued)