8 Drowning in the Sea of our feelings
Pyrulia was a society founded by the first generation of the high council, twelve men and women who wanted to shape a new reality of order and political power among the people of the earth. This is why despite the fact they don't have much strength to enforce superiority they are still heavily respected by all five nations.
As the years have passed many descendants of the first high council twelve passed away thus ending the legacy of their great ancestors. To fill in the numbers and to keep the total at twelve some high council members are elected through a process of selection after deeming themselves worthy by the other bloodborne council members.
This method, which was created with the intention to preserve the preponderance of the high council, was one of the deep-rooted causes for political corruption that plagued all of the nations. Some of the elected members had ill intentions with goals to direct the council's opinion to benefit the support their nation of origin by funding them with the profits of others, or convincing them that some nations were better than others.
Consequently, this resulted in the major economic decline between the nations and, esoteric to many, the main reason why forced servitude had yet to be deemed as illegal.
The high council had tried its best to stabilize the harmony between the nations, but all remaining members had to agree the major difference in economic progress had changed drastically after such ordeals.
After the heavy debate in fear of unprovoked war between a powerful nation and a weaker nation, the remaining council members had reached a conclusion. They decided that those nations that failed to reach the lucrative expectations of society would make up for it by increasing their militia and directing more funds into the efficacy of warriors.
Two perfect examples of these cases would be the Neo Empire and the Ember Domain.
Both nations live in harsh climate conditions, where the medium temperature is either too hot or too cold to produce crops. They rely on heavy food funds given to them from trading with profitable nations like the Gaean Empire and struggle to keep up with expenses. Not only that but many of their ancestors were once swimming neck-deep in the corrupted society of underpaid labor each day of their lives.
Without being able to create a title for themselves using their profits they cling to the recognition that they have the deadliest, most well-trained military serving their nations. This helps maintains their stability and thus makes them untouchable to unwanted invaders.
Ironically those unwanted invaders ended up being themselves.
A nation of water and a nation of fire, one located in the upper north and the other in the lower south. Despite the travel distance between the two and the similarities with their shared struggles they still find themselves in a war with each other every single day of their lives, not with the intention of conquest but rather to either provoke the other side or assert dominance.
Still, despite all of these conflicts, the high council turns a blind eye, willing to allow the senseless battles to continue as long as it ensures there being somewhat of a balance. No other nations would be foolish enough to set themselves in the center of the ongoing clashing spears between the Embers and the Neos if they still wish to keep both their feet on their legs and a tongue in their mouth.
While peace has most definitely been disrupted, many have agreed it was a necessary sacrifice to ensure that both nations would have come so far.
-
Our story continues in The Neo Empire, home of the singular kingdom of Aqui, most known for their icy tundras, powerful soldiers, and heavily produced historical records on all underwater activities.
Often referred to as the Great Nation of the Sea.
The Neo Empire was that of an ancient civil society, ruled by one king and one queen alone. It was an empire that was divided into two districts, each one labeled for who accumulated the most and least amount of wealth. Though both had official names they were often referred to as 'the wealthy' district and 'the impoverished' district.
It was a dark rainy day, often the normal weather conditions of the Neo Empire.
On rainy days like these, the impoverished district would be out and about, soaking their clothes, collecting the water for later uses, or simply enjoying the slightly warmed rain on their chilled skin.
But in the eyes of the wealthy district, the rain always meant a sign of misfortune or unpleasant circumstances that usually circulates around his majesty, King Adrien, and the structure of the nation.
As such the King himself found today to be on a certain level of frustration, one that surpassed all other days. The side of his fist jammed into the glass window that peered into the downpour outside while swift curses escaped his mouth.
"Dammit," he spat, staring at his reflection in the glass with rage, "dammit all!"
The familiar soft footsteps of his wife echoed on the tile floors, the poor sweet thing was much too perfect for him and was always so patient with his attitudes, listening to all of his woes without any judgment whatsoever.
"Dear," her soft voice spoke, hands respectfully folded on top of each other and an expression of pure care on her face, "what seems to be troubling you?"
Normally just the sound of his spouse's voice would be enough to ease him and quell his crashing waves, but instead, it made him feel worthless as he pressed his head against the cool glass.
"It's the high council," he answered her. "After I requested an increase of our spending like I told you about they turned me down! They didn't even consider my offer, nor deny the fact that my people are starving."
He swiftly turned to face her and swayed his arms dramatically in the air.
"It's unfair!" He shouted. "They know damn well that the food we have now isn't even enough to fill the bellies of those in the wealthy district, much less the impoverished." He bit his lip and turned his head to the side, "It's a miracle we can even still manage to feed ourselves at this point."
He walked up to her and placed a hand on her cheek, "Had not been for our betrothal you would have starved away by now and asked yourself when your next meal would be."
The woman smiled and leaned into his touch, placing her hand on top of his. "However lucky am I to have such a man fall in love with someone like me."
The display of affection made his face drop in self-pity, "Deborah, I treat my nation like you would our son. Seeing them starve like this while I get to be well-rested with a bloated belly makes me feel as though I am failing my people."
She squeezed his hand, "You are not failing your people Adrien, the people of the Neo Empire adore you, and as long as they know you are far away from ill they'll find the strength within themselves to continue to support you despite the struggle."
He held his head down and pressed his lips together tightly, taking her hand and wrapping his fingers around hers, their rings touching softly and made a little cling sound due to the collision.
"It's true that increasing our connection with the Gaean Empire would not make drastic changes to our economic state," he admitted with sorrowful eyes, "but at least it would provide us more than half a plate of food every morning. It's not always about war and power, it's about keeping our loved ones safe."
With that he brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it gently before sighing, the common smell of her perfume relaxing him immensely.
"You work every day to provide the best for this kingdom," Deborah humbled. "You've been putting yourself in even worse conditions than your people just to share their pain. You are truly a better and more compassionate king than your father ever was when he was throned."
On instinct, he looked up at the portrait of his father which hanged right next to said throne. Every time he gazed at it he saw the deep brutal cold ridden eyes gazing back, unsure if it was a look of disappointment or a look of pride.
"My father was indeed a cruel leader at that, but he had the high council's respect. They've always been babying me ever since I started taking my kingship classes." He made sure each lip touched each knuckle gently before continuing, "Surely if he were still alive they would have listened to him instantly, but they only deny me because they think I can't handle the differences it would produce for our empire."
"If your father were still king would he even consider ordering the high council the way you did?"
He stopped for a moment, mouth still lingering on the back of her hand. In a way, she was right. The man fulfilled his duties as king according to what the high council expected him to do. To lead a powerful and strong military that would strike fear into all those that dared to come close. Adrian isn't as obsessed with their veterans as his father was, but that doesn't mean they've declined in strength in any way since he's taken the crown.
What they lack in numbers they make up for in skill, and in all honesty, they wouldn't even need a military if those parsimonious Emberians would just leave them alone.
But still, there was no way he could deny it, "...I suppose not."
"Exactly darling, your father was focused on the structure of this nation, not the well-being of his people. While he gained the respect of the high council for his actions he lost the faith of many of his subordinates who all felt as though they were abandoned."
She turned around and walked towards the window, casting her arms out into the direction of the kingdom where even through the downpour of the rain he could still barely make out the shapes of all the houses.
"While you mourned your father's death your people awaited it patiently, in hopes that the next crowned king would be someone more compassionate and understand," she turned back to him and gave him a smile. "The people were waiting for you my darling, as was I. And we will keep waiting for as long as you need us to until your plans succeed. Your nation will be patient for you and all we ask of you is to be patient towards us."
Staring out in the same direction the rain slowly halted and became nothing more than a familiar pattern against the glass window. Adrian sighed and extended his hand pressing it against the cool material, watching as his brown fingers flexed and stretched normally.
"You are not responsible for your people's suffrage," Deborah reminded.
Adrien exhaled shakily, "Then why do I still feel the need to take responsibility?"
She pressed a hand to the small of his back reassuringly, "Because you struggle to end it. Your inability to terminate this vicious cycle is what weighs you down and keeps you up and night. But that does not mean you are responsible."
He leaned forward and pressed his head against the window once more, sighing as he watched his breath fog up the glass in front of him. His eyes narrowed and his lips quaked with anger when processing her words carefully.
"You are right, my beloved," He removed himself from the glass forcefully and pushed his gown out of the way, "it is not my fault that my people suffer, but rather it is those dreaded Embers that are to blame."
He started pacing to the center of the throneroom, hands shaking in his rage, "Those wretched bloodhounds are self-centered and narrow-minded. They pick fights with us just to prove a point that doesn't even exist and is the reason why thousands of our men are slaughter for no real reason at all. The high council forces us to fund our military and uses us as human shields to prevent the Embers from conquering Pyrulia."
He fumed in his realization, suddenly all questions became clear, "If those barbarians could only stop thinking about themselves for even just a second and realize that not every minor inconvenience needs to be resolved with bloodshed then honing our militia would not be an utmost requirement. The council would conclude it's a waste of our money paying our soldiers and actually allow us to subsidize food."
Another gentle hand to his back and he turned to meet the tender kiss of his wife. He felt all ounces of his rage melt away and softly pressed back, wrapping himself in her embrace. It was like magic how this one woman had so much of an effect on him, and he was almost too embarrassed to admit it.
He exhaled softly before pulling away, connecting his forehead to hers and staring at her eyes, "At last that is just wishful thinking, is it not? Until we actually manage to beat them this world will ache."
Deborah stroked his face, "Infinite misfortunate and throbbing pain is something this world is already accustomed to my dear, all you can do is keep trying your best. I promise you when the council sees your merit and perseverance then they will listen to your voice."
For the first time that morning, the King smiled, enjoying the embrace with his beloved and feeling his worries melt away.
"I believe I have failed to express enough times just how forever grateful I am to have someone like you in my life," he whispers and holds her closer, "truly what have I done to deserve someone like you?"
"You've been a caring person," she holds him back and gives him one last reassuring kiss, "so no matter what don't ever stop, and I promise that I will be yours forever."
-
Early mornings were the worst for Maya, it always meant cold food that could never be swallowed fast enough because she woke up before the water could boil thoroughly.
Conditions like these were common in the impoverished district, kids these days practically had to raise themselves. Once you reached double digits you were basically a mini adult, with mini chores to do, a mini plate of food, and jumbo-sized emotions that you were forced to swallow deep, ones so heavy you could almost barely walk.
Meanwhile, all the younger kids got treated like royalty. They were pampered, offered the best food, and were always given the most despite their brains being too small to really appreciate what they were offered.
It was why she always envied her younger brother who could still get a few more hours in before his daycare started. Not only that but he always got to go on a full stomach with hot, fresh, piping food.
Maya can barely remember anything of her life before she turned twelve and even she was sure that her parents didn't treat her with such care when she was her brother's age.
Her mornings were always the same: Wake up, make your bed, take a cold shower, eat cold food, dress up, go to school. Then come back home, chores till dinner, and it all ended with a big fat faceplant straight into her bedsheets. When she woke up the cycle continued.
Don't take it wrong, it's not like she doesn't love her family. She is grateful for the obvious efforts both of her parents put towards taking care of her and understands every single sacrifice they've made just to put food on the table. She's seen the empty wallets, the hour's worth of cooking, the tears shed because at some point in time they all had to go on a 'diet' to preserve what little cash they had.
Even so, when the days are long and their stomach empty, she can't help but ask herself:
'Why do we keep having more kids when there's less food to give?'
The first time she brought it up was during the birth of her younger brother. She figured she was ignored because a literally human being was being conceived when she had first asked. The second time her parents were busy changing Ian's diaper and had acted as though she didn't exist. It was around the fourth time she realized that they were intentionally dodging the question.
That led her to believe that there must have been something about what she said that they kept trying to avoid for her sake. Either a misinterpretation on their end or she was just being offensive, and neither made any sense.
Three mouths were easier to feed than four, and it would take at least eight years until her younger brother would be old enough to do housework. So why would her parents force themselves to suffer until then? What was so difficult for them to realize that if they had kept the family small then issues like these wouldn't exist, and what's so offensive about pointing that out?
Maya made a pack with her best friend to never have kids, so that way she can do all the housework herself, and keep all the food to herself. No waking every morning to cold showers and a cold meal. She could choose to wake up whenever she wanted to and eat whatever she had available, and there would be no one taking her food.
Right now she was on her way walking to school, boots up to her knees to help tread through the high levels of snow. She kept a sturdy pace to prevent herself from stumbling, when all of a sudden, someone pushed her from behind and made her tumble face-first into the ground.
The ice made her cheeks cold and her jaw freeze. She quickly pushed herself up and swallowed the melting mouthful of snow she had consumed, before wiping her damp face with her sleeve when she heard a familiar laugh from behind her. She turned around and looked up at her best friend, Maria, who was currently grinning so wide you could see her gums.
"Clumsy as always Maya," Maria giggled as she extended her hand.
"You're the one who pushed me!" Maya exclaimed as she wrapped her bare fingers around Maria's gloves ones. The material looked fuzzy, soft, and expensive. Even though it was incredibly damp Maya didn't doubt for a second it did not fail at its job of keeping Maria's hands warm.
When she stood she dusted the snow off her body before staring Maria in the face. Then in a moment of revenge, she pushed the other into the snow just like she did herself this time with her own little evil laugh afterward.
Maria fell with an oof, her face red and angry as she kicked the snow, "Maya what's wrong with you? My mama just bought me this sweater!"
"Then you shouldn't have pushed me," Maya giggled.
Instead of accepting defeat, Maria took a handful of snow and chucked it right into Maya's face. Maya was about to do the same but looked at her hands which were starting to ache due to the cold, and just settled for toppling over her body, trying to turn her around to get her own mouthful of frost.
The two girls began fighting in the snow, twisting limbs and laughing at each other while rolling around and getting themselves dirty. It was moments like this when the sad feelings all the grownups shared weren't theirs, when not even the cold could bring them to stop smiling. This was their haven, where kids could be kids and live happy lives as long as they wanted to.
This joy however was abruptly brought to an end when the bell of reality rung loudly in the air, causing them both to stop and stare in the same direction.
"Oh no the school bell!" Maya shouted, standing up and offering Maria her hand.
"We're going to be late Maya and it's all because of you," Maria accused, pointing her finger in Maya's face, though there were no ill intentions behind it.
Still, Maya could care less and simply grabbed the finger along with the hand it came with, "We don't have time to blame each other, we have to hurry and get there before the teacher gets mad at us again."
"She better not tell my parents this time, otherwise I'll say it was your fault."
With that, hand in hand, the two girls began running in the direction of the school, leaving small footprints behind them and puffs of air in front as they did their best to tread through the thick snow. The evidence of their rough play was abandoned, slowly being consumed by the falling droplets of ice in the sky.
