Chapter XVI. Antirda

Passing through the empty corridors of the institute, the events of the battle with Norilex return to me, the wounded, the dead ... the fear of those involved. I stop my walk, my gaze fixed on the ground and the continuous thoughts cloud my projection in reality until I am returned by Joselin calling my attention with her soft voice, when looking at her my lips ask a question.

—The story has a continuation, right?— I don't stop looking at her and she nods without saying anything and turns to continue her walk out of the main room.

Once out of the chaos of the entrance we go to the back garden on the way to the library, there they have gathered all the visitors and Mom runs in the direction I came to find me with a big hug, then it looks like a scanner looking for Metals only that she was looking in detail for some injury or something that hurt me to which I take her hand to reassure her. She sighs and directs her gaze to Joselin, she is nervous without outlining a single word, my mother without saying anything still focuses her attention on my face, in her eyes I see the reflection of my being swimming in deep sadness and concern, I hug her back, letting my warmth comfort her, to which she sighs of relief, tranquility and peace that is soon dissipated by the appearance of the ruler of my territory.

—Do you expect me to hug you in the same way?— Her voice echoes an unpleasantly irritating tone.

—No thanks, your hug would only send me back to the infirmary— I replied.

—Brat ... you— before she finishes the sentence my mother interrupts her.

—Don't even think about saying something hurtful to my daughter, you'll be digging your own grave; Since, if the leader of Antirda does not kill you first, I will— the two show intense flames of irritation in their eyes but the exchange of glances is interrupted by the woman with the umbrella that I saw on that rainy day.

—That would be very interesting to see— says the woman. —I'm sorry to interrupt you, but your words caught my attention and the fact that I dig your grave is a very interesting attempt, you should accept it, after all without mourners to watch over you, you will be left at the mercy of the crows and without candles in your burial.

The tension was increasing more and more, the woman does not stop recriminating my ruler and this enraged one tries to respond to his criticism but I do not let him speak, so I approach the woman.

—Excuse me, who are you?— I ask without losing sight of him.

—This is the first time we've met. I am the ruler of Ocania, I hope my son has not made things difficult for you, he is a person with a slightly strong personality and a not very tolerable character— she says in a soft tone.

—Ah! Not at all ma'am— I point out immediately. —I'm actually very grateful to him for believing and trusting me. At first we had setbacks but I realize that he only cares in his own way to protect those close to him.

—I don't know if it's good for you to speak well of someone behind his back or I should be concerned that you speak well and carefree in front of my mother— Erick says with an unfriendly expression.

—Come on, come on Erick, aunt came here to see you and by the way see your friends. Isn't that good?— Kevin emphasizes.

—Since when is my mother your aunt? You wish that would happen— his face looks more than angry. And let me inform you that I don't have friends— Kevin laughs, holding one of his shoulders and then clinging to his back and starting to ruffle it, Erick tries to get away but Kevin avoids him. — Kevin! You are no longer a child behave yourself, get down right now or I will burn you!— Kevin gets off but not before giving him a big slap on the back causing Erick to lose the little tolerance he had left and take Kevin by the arm making him a key to immobilize him and begins to tell him his rights as an officer that he will put behind the bars a criminal.

—Wait, wait, wait augh… Erick! Oh that hurts Auntie!— Kevin says as he hits the ground giving up.

For some reason the scene causes us to start laughing, by the time the ruler of Ocania will say a word, Erick has already released Kevin, bringing the tension down and reigning a bit of calm. The ruler of Ocania goes to her son.

The woman approaches him, fixing her pupils on those syrupy gems, on every feature of his face, his freckles, his eyelashes, those little scrapes, the cuts, the bandages that peek through his open shirt, make his heart feel They feel small pangs, when seeing this reflected in the face of his mother speaks to him to calm her.

—It's nothing, you shouldn't worry I'm fine— says Erick showing a kind gesture.

—Yes, I can see it and I'm glad about it.

Marinep who had been lost in the madness and warmth of a moment ago was taken out of her self by Esteban, he did not leave Joselin unattended. The other leaders returned to their guard with her in an attempt to make her feel pressured, the space in an instant changes from noisy to sepulchral letting in the cries of the people who lost a loved one in the attack and the laughter of the luckiest ones like them who are still living. Sensing the pressure of the matter, Joselin begins to speak again.

—I know they are judging me and I do not blame them, they are within their rights— Marinep's mother intercedes between them.

—Marinep my daughter I have to imagine that from the way they all show great aversion to Joselin it must be because she has been telling them the story behind all this disaster.

—Mom ... don't tell me, did you know?— I ask.

—Sister-in-law, what follows from the story can best be told by your uncle, your mother, and the ruler of Ocania— She pauses. —The events over the years were lost over time, but the following stories were lived by these people, becoming the process and billing the events that occurred as consequences.

—What story are they talking about?— roars the ruler of Amira Sur. —What is spoken in that story are pure incongruities. They are nothing but lies.

—Lies?— highlights the ruler of Ocania. —Of course, you don't want the truth to come to light about what the government entails during these years.

—They're bullshit! They are inventions generated to have the leaders against us— shouts the ruler.

—You shut up!— replies my mother. —By the time they know the truth, you will want to be in your well-guarded office here surrounded by enemies, as you have always been doing.

The ruler full of rage tries to attack them but Esteban stops him with his chains holding him in such a way that he remains seated on the ground, he immediately focuses his sky-colored irises towards the leader of Irop and understanding he places his wrists forward to be held. equally by the same chains. Marinep's mother, without worrying about what was happening, proceeded to tell the continuation of the story from where Joselin had left it, but not without first limiting to relate the events that affected the current events, she had to go back a little more in time, exactly thirteen (13) years ago.

***

Twenty-five (25) years ago, the territory most attached to the peace treaty was Antirda, for a long time it maintained a neutral attitude, staying away from the small conflicts that arose in the other territories; In a meeting that was held involving all the leaders in the neutral land, that piece of land that was in the middle of all the territories and that served as a connection between them, a debate began on the issues regarding on how to approach and maintain the peace that was barely maintained, since some rulers wanted to break the cycle of tranquility because they fervently believed that obtaining by any means possible what they required when they wanted it was above any ceasefire.

The leader of the neutral territory had summoned them to warn them that they should protect themselves from their rulers, since they were seeking with great desire the power to surpass them and not have to depend on them.

Marinep's father, former leader of Amira Sur, was about to speak when the rulers except the rulers of the aforementioned neutral land who did not possess any and Antirda, because he had died of natural causes, broke into the meeting, the leaders were outraged at this but being forcibly suppressed by them they had no choice but to abstain.

The leader of Antirda is placed in front of the neutral representative, with this act some rulers are irritated and one of them prepares to speak.

—Are you not one of those who boasts in saying that he is not on anyone's side? And you, miss, his words always accuse us of committing acts improper to what is established in the laws of these lands, but look at yourself; At this moment he does not see himself very impartial in terms of these two camps, meeting in secret with the leaders behind our backs— criticizes the ruler of Esia, Norilex's grandfather.

—You have been the first to violate the law and natural order of our world, I am only taking action on the matter— the neutral leader replied.

—He's wrong about something, someone whose duty is to be neutral must remain neutral, whatever happens— warns the ruler of South Amira. —Stick to what your ancestors did.

The words of the rulers draw the attention of those present, the neutral leader was being cornered, she had to somehow warn that lately the change in the catalysts has been felt because they have been meddling in the lands to find the origin of the mystical powers in each territory. The catalysts are a minority representation of the true power in the foundations, they provide the representatives with help in case of any imbalance between their powers, reasoning and protection.

In relation to balance, this has been overflowing because one of the rulers was made with the premise of finding the mystical birth of his territory. The ruler who made the discovery is neither more nor less than that of the territory of Esia, after his years of government that he perpetuated by buying the people, he completed a series of investigations that brought him closer than anyone to the origin of the world in which he lives, in His eagerness for discovery found the location of the stone and after finding it he used it as a compass to go to the main source of its power, by spending time in contact with it he was able to obtain the wisdom of its external use and the first thing he decided to do With this new discovery, he chose to choose his granddaughter Norilex as the next representative, displacing his other grandson who had already been chosen by natural law.

Marveling at the event discovered and pretending to know what other things he could do, he decided to stay investigating and it is at that moment that the neutral leader comes to Esia to put a stop to it, asking him to abandon what he was doing. The ruler, without opposing anything, obeys but meets with his counterparts, sowing chaos in them by telling them about what is hidden under his feet.

—I understand your discontent— replies the neutral leader. —But you have no right to demand neutrality when your actions harm the people around you. The energy that emanates from the foundations has nothing to do with you and yet it still motivates you to want to return to an unnecessary war between territories that can be avoided.

—We kindly ask you to leave— says the Antirda leader.

—Or else what?— says the ruler of Amira Norte.

—Why should it be like this ?!— Exclaims the already displaced leader of Esia. —Grandpa, stop, that's enough. Aren't you tired of all this?

—Shut up for once, you're nothing anymore. Just a useless person without any power.

The leaders present draw their scythes and try to threaten the rulers, but they use their words of protection to avoid being attacked, however, the scythe of the leader of Antirda remains in the throat of the ruler of Esia and he begins to sweat cold followed by an intense chill run rapidly down her spine.

—Anything else to say?— threatens the leader. —I'm losing my patience listening to you babbling stupid things every second you open your mouth.

—Yes, just one thing and I'll go quietly— He takes a deep breath and looks at the neutral leader. — Is it a boy or a girl who will have?— The leader places her hand on her bulging belly. —Much congratulations, another way to reject us, having a son of a leader, let me guess I don't think it is from Irop, much less from my grandson, who will he be? Maybe North Amira ... not South Amira either, the others are women so— he looks at the man in front of him. —Is Antirda yours?

Everyone looks at each other, the leaders do not respond and the ruler begins to laugh ironically.

—It's fun, very fun. I hope you enjoy your charity time together and we will see each other again.

With the threat in the air everyone disperses, the leaders with no choice but to withdraw leave the matter blank. Thirteen (13) years passed and everything remained calm but they did not stop feeling that something could happen at any moment and it was like that, the neutral territory was attacked by the leaders of Amira Norte and Sur. At first the leader defended herself with all her strength while she waited for the leader of Antirda as he was being attacked by the leaders of Esia, Irop and Ocania. What could not be expected is that not only were the leaders attacking under the orders of their rulers, but that they themselves were also in the place, so when she protected her son from one of the attacks by Amira Norte the ruler of Esia repeatedly stabs him in the abdomen; The leaders watching the gruesome scene stop the attack while the boy witnesses his mother fall to the ground and then see the ruler lift the body by the woman's hair.

—We haven't seen each other for a long time— says the ruler. —I hope you rest well and don't worry, I'll take good care of your son and her territory.

The woman faints and the man approaches the child but is stopped by the scythe of Marinep's father, who is the leader of the Amira Sur territory at the time, the ruler of this repeats on several occasions to withdraw but despite feeling dizzy from contradicting orders, he does not obey them. The ruler seeing that he was ignoring him uses his words of suppression making him weaker and shoots him in the shoulder, the leader takes the boy with his remaining forces and begins to run being shot from behind that did not reach him, being protected by the leader of Amira Norte.

Three (3) days after the leaders who attacked Antirda withdrew at the orders of their rulers, the leader of that frozen territory arrives at the neutral area to find that there is no longer anything, no bodies, no home, no child, nothing. Only people who came and went bringing cement, beams and any type of construction materials.

—Where ... where are they?— Weakly approaches one of the workers. —What do they do? Where are the people who lived here?

—Sir, no one lives here anymore. The woman who lived here committed suicide and apparently gave her son up for adoption to the South Amira territory, so they gave us the order to erect an institute in this place — responds the chief of workers.

—An institution you say? For what purpose and under what orders?— Says the leader with the voice in his throat broken and containing the tears that threatened to spill down his cheeks.

—For that of the rulers, to find the new leaders since they were influenced by their predecessors to want to harm the territories. In this way we will avoid wars in the future.

The hardworking man retires but not before telling him that he had to retire to continue with his construction work. The leader enters the forest and falls to his knees on the snow-white grass, while he felt his chest contract in indescribable pain, he cried ... he cried with all his might for a long time, when he could finally calm down, he spoke to himself.

—Did they commit suicide? What the fuck they made up. Fuck me, they murdered them all and the leader of Amira Sur saved my son from the clutches of the rulers, he has to be the only survivor so far—