A New World

One second, Atenzi was bleeding out on a cold street. The next, he was falling through a rainbow of crazy colors. Khaliq's words echoed in his head:

"Remember, Atenzi. Lashon Kesef is your key. Trust in your potential, not just your power."

Before Atenzi could figure out what that meant, reality hit him like a truck. He slammed into hard dirt, gasping for air.

As he caught his breath, Atenzi noticed two things. First, he had heavy iron chains on his wrists and ankles. Second, he wasn't alone.

He was in a line of prisoners. Some looked human, others... not so much. Creatures with extra arms, tree-like skin, and glowing eyes. All of them chained up, looking beaten down.

"On your feet, scum!" someone yelled. A whip cracked.

Atenzi stumbled up, his head spinning as he looked around. This wasn't home. He stood on a huge plain under a weird sky. Two moons hung there - one red, one pale blue.

Far off, he saw three islands rising from a choppy sea. Massive bridges connected them, looking like they shouldn't even be possible.

As the prisoners started moving, Atenzi saw a banner flapping above them. He didn't get the symbol, but the words made his skin crawl:

"Glory to Henry VI, Last King of the Sovereign Lands"

Atenzi's mind raced. This had to be Naaim, the world Khaliq mentioned. But why was he in chains? Was this part of the plan, or had something gone wrong?

As they walked, Atenzi heard other prisoners talking. They spoke of lost homes and monster-like conquerors with god powers. Seven names kept coming up: Báthory, Nero, the Fallen Christ, Khan, Caesar, Alexander, and Bonaparte. The Harbingers. They ruled the seven continents that used to belong to humans.

Atenzi felt a weird power tingling under his skin. Lashon Kesef, Khaliq had called it. The Silver Tongue. But what did it do? How could he use it to get out of this mess?

Just then, chaos broke out at the front of the line. A woman prisoner broke free and ran for a cliff edge. She'd rather die than face whatever was waiting for them.

Without thinking, Atenzi called out to her. But his voice came out... different. It seemed to shake the air around him.

"Stop," he said. Just one word, but it felt heavy.

The woman froze mid-step, shaking as she tried to fight it. Slowly, she turned back to the prisoners.

Atenzi stood there, shocked at what his voice had done. The guards looked stunned too. But then they got suspicious and scared.

"You!" A guard pointed a nasty-looking spear at Atenzi's chest. "What kind of magic is this? Talk, prisoner!"

As Atenzi tried to think of what to say, he noticed something on one of the far-off islands. A figure stood on a high balcony of the main castle. Atenzi couldn't see them clearly, but he could feel their power even from here.

Right then, Atenzi knew two things for sure. First, his arrival in Naaim hadn't gone unnoticed by some very powerful beings. Second, his journey from being a pawn to a real player in this cosmic game had just started.

The real test of Lashon Kesef - and Atenzi's new determination - was about to begin.

The guard's spear was inches from Atenzi's chest. But Atenzi's mind was racing, thinking, adapting. The moral rules he used to follow felt as flimsy as fog now. There was only the game, and Atenzi planned to win.

"I'm sorry," Atenzi said, sounding both humble and strong. "I just wanted to stop someone from dying. Surely King Henry VI would want his... subjects alive?"

The guard's eyes narrowed, but he lowered his spear a bit. "You talk weird for a prisoner. What's your name?"

"Atenzi," he replied, then added mysteriously, "Though I'm not really sure why I'm here."

The other prisoners started whispering. The head guard pushed forward, looking at Atenzi with new interest. "You're not from around here, are you? Doesn't matter. King Henry will figure you out soon enough."

As they started walking again, Atenzi's mind whirled with ideas. Henry VI, the last human king, ruled a shrinking kingdom. A guy like that would be desperate for allies, for any edge against the Harbingers. And Atenzi knew desperation was a powerful tool if you knew how to use it.

They crossed the first big bridge. Atenzi couldn't help but gasp. Below them was a sea of liquid silver, reflecting the weird sky in mesmerizing patterns. Above, the castle of the Sovereign Lands loomed closer. It was huge, made of white stone and shiny metal.

Atenzi turned to the prisoner next to him, an old guy with haunted eyes. "Tell me about King Henry," he said softly, putting a hint of Lashon Kesef in his words.

The man's resistance melted away. "He's a fool," he whispered. "He parties and drinks while his people suffer. The other realms keep taking our land, and all he does is throw parties and build statues of himself."

Atenzi nodded, storing that info away. A weak king, then. Ready to be manipulated.

As they entered the castle grounds, Atenzi looked up at a high balcony. There stood a man in fancy robes, his crown sitting crooked on his head. Even from far away, Atenzi could see the guy was fat and holding a wine cup.

King Henry VI, the Lazy King.

Atenzi smiled a little. Here was his first step to power.

The prisoners were herded into a big courtyard. Atenzi noticed how the castle staff looked scared and angry as they scurried around. The seeds of unhappiness were already there. He just had to help them grow.

A herald appeared on a platform, unrolling a scroll. "His Majesty, King Henry VI, Ruler of the Sovereign Lands and Last Hope of Humanity, will now speak to the prisoners!"

The king stumbled forward. Atenzi had to admire how the guy managed to look both kingly and totally drunk at the same time.

"Welcome, welcome!" Henry slurred, arms wide. "You're in the last true human kingdom. Some of you will work in the castle. Others will work in the fields or guard the walls. But make no mistake -" His eyes got hard for a second. "Cross me, and you'll wish the Harbingers had taken you instead."

As the king rambled on, Atenzi focused, gathering his strength. When Henry's eyes passed over him, Atenzi spoke, his words carried by the power of Lashon Kesef.

"Great King," he said, his voice sounding otherworldly. "I bring knowledge that could save your kingdom."

The effect was instant. Henry's eyes locked onto Atenzi, suddenly looking sober. "You," he said, pointing a jeweled finger. "Bring him to my room. The rest, take them to be sorted."

As Atenzi was led away, he saw the other prisoners' faces. Some looked amazed, others angry. But they'd all remember this moment. The seeds of Atenzi's legend in this world had been planted.

In the king's fancy room, Atenzi stood before Henry. His chains were off, but guards watched his every move. The king sprawled on a golden throne, eyeing Atenzi with curiosity and suspicion.

"Speak," Henry commanded. "What knowledge do you bring?"

Atenzi took a deep breath, gathering the power of Lashon Kesef. Every word now was crucial, a careful mix of truth, lies, and manipulation.

"Your Majesty," he began, his voice resonating with subtle power. "I'm not from this world. I was sent here by powers beyond human understanding to help fight the Harbingers."

He paused, watching Henry's reaction. The king leaned forward, interested despite himself.

"I've seen the future, my king," Atenzi continued. "A future where the Sovereign Lands win, where humans take back what's theirs. But this future can only happen with you as its architect, guided by my advice."

Henry's eyes gleamed with greed and hope. "And why should I believe you? What proof can you offer?"

Atenzi smiled. This was the moment he'd been waiting for. "Let me show you, Your Majesty. Bring in one of your advisors, preferably one who's... doubted your rule."

Intrigued, Henry agreed. Soon, a nervous-looking man in expensive clothes was brought in. Atenzi turned to him, unleashing the full power of Lashon Kesef.

"Kneel before your king," Atenzi commanded, his words humming with otherworldly energy. "Confess your doubts and swear your loyalty."

The advisor's eyes glazed over. Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees, spilling out confessions and promises of undying loyalty.

Henry watched, his face a mix of awe and cruel delight. When Atenzi released the man from his control, Henry waved the shaken advisor away.

He turned to Atenzi, eyes shining with new respect and greed. "It seems," the king said slowly, "that we have much to talk about, my new... friend."

Atenzi bowed low, hiding the triumphant smile on his lips. The game was on, and he'd just made his first big move. The Lazy King would be his unknowing pawn, and through him, Atenzi would start his rise to power in this strange new world.

Little did King Henry know that his reign - and maybe his life - now hung by a silver thread, ready to be cut at Atenzi's whim.