Lord Midas

My name is Midas, and I plan to change this world.

Born into the slums of Tal’Horde, I’ve struggled since before I could walk. Even to the commoners, I was regarded as trash. Constantly ridiculed by merchants and traders, spat on and kicked wherever I went. Surrounded by the dying and sick, it was easy for most to give up there and die.

I never accept any of that.

I ached for the chance to purge that city, no, the entire continent of such horrible conditions. I would never allow anyone else to be brought down to that same painful existence if I ever gained any real power. It was then that my goal to change the continent came into fruition.

Early in my life, I saved a local lord from bandits. I knew the streets and alleys like the back of my hand and managed to lead him out of harm, and he granted me the honour of being his apprentice.

I was taken out of the slums and given food and new clothes, a luxury I dreamed of. All it cost me was hiring those bandits in the first place. What were a few coins, for a future of coins piled up twice my size? I deserved a better life, after all.

Lord Habib showed me kindness in that regard, but I knew how he truly felt about me. He didn’t save me from that life out of kindness, but rather for value. He needed someone in tune with the lower markets and poorer settlements in order to finalise prices and move in on unsuspecting targets. I became his pawn… and he became mine.

In truth, he was a fool who believed in nothing more than women and money. That’s all rulers have ever cared about, really. So when I was granted my own land by him and gained the title of Lord, I cut ties with him completely and took off on my own under the care of Lords Malco and Sahlim. They didn’t like me much, but I managed to work them up to let me retain my title under their care.

Even though I had gained some power, I still remained a bottom feeder in their world. A commoner among lords. None of them saw me as a person, but rather a mere pawn in their own games.

I didn’t spend all that time under others' eyes doing their work for nothing; I plotted and sharpened my political talons. My dream for a better city, no, better continent had spread to much more. I vowed to myself to change the entire world.

In a world where beasts were born powerful, man was forced to develop their brains and tongue, to convince other men to kill their enemies in their place. If I couldn’t do that, there was no way I’d achieve my goal. I needed more power. No matter the cost.

For that reason, I started pushing my intentions to the North.

As things stood, Horinn held too much military power over Jeddan. If I were to achieve power, I needed independence from them; that way, we owed nobody any leverage over us.

Jeddan was surrounded by barren wastelands and boasted rare materials that could only be found within our continent's lands. Something, outside rulers were incapable of securing due to the harsh environments and terrifying monsters that guarded them. Yet more pawns in a greater game.

As things stood, Jeddan was a rulerless land and as such, didn’t have a seat at the table of World Rulers. The Council of Rulers was an inevitable step within my plan for a better world.

I’d already started severing ties with the people of bordering villages. Once they lacked the necessary resources from our influence, some would migrate permanently to Jeddan, while the majority would die off under Horinn’s watch. Some pushback was expected, but it was not impossible to fight.

With the strain from lack of resources and heightened taxes, we had the potential to renegotiate terms with Horinn. Not only would our influence increase, but we’d have a leg up on those bastards once and for all!

Of course, I only told the other lords a fraction of my plan. I painted it as a way to cut costs, save resources and funds for more important settlements, but the fools didn’t go for that either. At the rate things progressed, my plan would fall apart completely, unless I played a new hand in things.

I waited patiently in an open room, under the shade of a large tarp, where I summoned the lords and leaders of the continent. It was a custom every lord gained access to, known as the Call to Summons. As a lower-tier lord with little land, it was my one and only summons. My only shot.

Things need to go well today; I can’t give Sahib or Malco any reasons to strip me of my title as lord. I won’t fail, not when I’ve come this far…! I clenched a fist at my side.

“Aah, the great commoner!” Malco walked through the clearing of the tarp with his arms extended at his sides. His gut plopped forward under the white wrappings of his robes. “So you are still alive after all, how very surprising.”

I kept my head down out of respect, but my eyes couldn’t help but glare, “Is that a threat, lord Malco?” I returned, sceptically.

“Merely fascination on my part,” He boasted like it was nothing more than a joke. “I’ve heard many stories of how the common born have such poor health that they often drop on the spot. Yet, here you are standing healthily. But even if it were a joke, what would you do about it, boy?” I sensed malice in his voice.

“Of course not…!” I clenched my jaw to hold back the rage. Don’t let it out, not here…not now. This swine's time will come! I managed to calm down. “I’ve called you here a friend.” The words felt dirty on my tongue.

The tarp curtains separated for a moment as another entered the room, “Calm down, you two, this isn’t the slums. Let’s keep it civil, shall we?”

“Lord Varish?” I met his gaze and offered a deep bow that bent my body to nearly ninety degrees.

Manners were good, but respect went a long way. Even if it was for those who didn’t deserve it. Occasionally, I had to bow my head or lower my eyes to someone.

He looked past me to Lord Malco. His empty smile spoke volumes as he passed by me, eyes still fixed ahead. “Malco! Where are those women you spoke about? We should head over sometime and have some fun!” His face lit up red as he drew a woman's curves in the air with open palms.

All they think about is their lust and greed… I only need their votes, then I’m done with them!

Once the rest arrived, the tent was fully packed with respected members of the Jeddan, and I had the floor. I stepped up and addressed them with a bow, following customs to every minute detail. I couldn’t afford to give those swines any excuse to expel me.

“Respected lords, thank you for coming at this time. I appreciate your efforts and taking the time to–”

“Yaawn~” Malco cupped his mouth and exhaled loudly. It stirred a laugh or two; others barely seemed interested in me at all, but I continued all the same.

I need their votes, I have to get them… Just hold out a little longer, Midas… hold out and show them your might.

“Ahem! Lord Malco, thank you for your guidance. I’ll speed things along.” I grinned at him and carried on as if nothing bothered me, “Truthfully, our lands are prized jewels that the rest of the world only dreams of having, isn't it?”

I managed to capture a few glances with that. Perfect, only a few more to go.

“Jeddan is protected from powerful, raging desert plains that nobody, besides a Jed, would dare traverse. So I ask you, why do we fear the outside nations?” I directed it to the crowd, but after a few averted gazes, Malco stepped forward.

“Isn’t that obvious? They hold more power than us–”

“Power such as wealth? If that were true, wouldn’t we need their rubies and fine spices?” I knew that remark would cost me normally, but it seemed necessary at the time. “Although you could mean their physical strengths, too. They retain many great warriors and talented smiths, but have you ever heard of the cities of Horinn having weapons like these?” I unsheathed a beautifully crafted blade from its curved scabbard. “One like this could be found in nearly any market around Tal’Horde. Ours is a land of workers, of true skills. Above all, it's not our land they're after, they need us!”

I managed to rouse the interest and captivated the gazes of every member of the meeting. As my tone shifted, so too did their expressions. Even Malco, who had been the most hostile, couldn’t speak out anymore.

I have them.

I couldn’t help grinning a bit as I watched them stare at me like the mindless oafs they were. Suddenly, the audible clanking of metal grieves burts through the entrance and all eyes, mine included, were drawn to the armoured mercenary currently under my watch.

“Lord Midas, the village… the one hidden behind the Vestigial forest, they resisted the purge!” he covered his mouth a moment too late. His eyes revealed that he had just pieced together what he had said, but there was no taking it back. “I…uh, Lord Midas…!”

“What is the meaning of this– that’s my domain, you filth!” Lord Varish burst forward and rushed towards me with a fist.

“Tch– Stop him!” I ordered the armoured man. Under my command, he rushed forward and raised his sword to Varish.

Even out of breath and wounded, the mercenary had the strength of an adventurer, and that made him stronger than a regular person like Varish. Without his guards present, he had no means of defending himself.

I’d rather get your vote first, Varish, but you’ve forced my hand here. I won’t say that this doesn’t bring me some glint of happiness, though.

“G–uuuaagh!” The mercenary dropped his sword with limp hands, and a second later, a spray of blood followed from his neck, “....!” The panic in his eyes remained etched on his face as his head dropped lifeless beside his feet.

Varish froze in front of the slain man, with nothing but a grin.

“You tried to kill me, a lord?! You filthy peasant, you better be prepared to suffer ten, no, a hundred deaths!!” Veins appeared on the corner of his forehead as he stepped towards me.

How could this… he shouldn’t be able to…? Still in shock, I stared at the bloodied, severed head in disarray. I tried retreating, but stopped at the eerie sensation of steel along my throat.

A chilling presence wrapped itself over my shoulder as a tanned hand squeezed gently and tightened the blade over my throat enough for it to draw a small droplet of blood.

I didn’t hear them at all. Since when did he have someone like this under his care?!

“Oh, you thought I only had guards? These are the Vipers, trained assassins that serve me and a select few other lords here today. You didn’t know?” Varish’s eyes bled out malicious intent. “Of course not, you were never a true lord to begin with, now were you?” He asked, smug as ever.

“You…you bastards…!”

“That’s no way for you to speak to your lord. Now then, why don’t we get started with the execution?” Varish snapped his fingers and in an instant, another figure appeared in front of me.

A woman of unmatched beauty, with slender yet curvy hips, appeared in a brilliant display of speed. A short blade at her hip, she took a fighter pose with another blade raised up at me. She moved true to her title as a viper and slung out her hand, the blade stopped right at my nose.

“Ugh–!” I dared not move, or the blade at my throat would have taken my head clean off.

“So why don’t you tell us exactly what your miserable life amounted to, pretending to be a lord among us? Midas, the failure! Bwahahahaha!!”

One by one, they erupted into laughter. Rage boiled up from deep within my stomach. It seeped to the surface, and my body burned hot. The women around me flinched, startled by something, I’m not sure what.

I felt the blade along my neck move in a clean, precise slice across the length of my neck.

…

“...what?” Varish stumbled back in panic.

I stood there, gripping my neck, still alive.

The viper behind me stumbled back, surprised and in awe at her golden-coated blade as the gold colour dulled its edge completely. The golden coating spread across her blade and to her hands, where she had grabbed me. In a fit of panic, she tried to throw the blade away, but could not separate from it, as they had become one by the golden coating that spread up her forearm.

“What is this?!” Varish panicked. “You idiot women, kill him!!”

The vipers turned to me, even the ones who had been in hiding until now had revealed themselves and closed in on me. They closed in, gingerly, with their weapons at the ready.

The confident air about them had somewhat disappeared, and from it, animosity remained.

“You asked me what my life amounted to…? What right do you have to ask me anything of the sort?” My throat burned with every word. “You stains on humanity!”

I waved my hand and grabbed the spear of the Viper closest to me. The blade nicked my side and left a large gash. She spun around, and a moment later, I felt her heel drive into my cheek, right before turning to solid gold. It stung, but she remained frozen in place, like a statue.

I felt powerful. My fingertips radiated a warmth that flared as I moved my hand around. I had never felt anything like it.

“You all call me peasants, when really… you’re the ones who live poorly. Who wastes their gifts–their potential!” I screamed out, and gold coated the floor around me in a burst.

“He’s a monster… run!!!”

They poured out of the tent like ants under a boot. The poles and structure that kept it standing folded and broke as men and women ran into the sides and fumbled over each other. I feared them before, but suddenly they looked so small to me. So insignificant.

The woman who had struggled under the coating of gold lost her breath. She gripped her throat as her entire body morphed to solid gold, frozen in place.

I felt it boil to the surface, everything I kept hidden over the last few years–no, my entire life. Every kick, punch or beating I received for simply existing. Every time my life was threatened or questioned, just because I was a peasant, I felt it all at that moment. I hated them. All of them. I wanted them dead, more than anything, I wanted to drain the breath from their throats.

“DON’T YOU DARE RUN FROM ME!!!!”

Golden light burst out from me in a bubble; the ground and everything surrounding me were consumed with gold. The radius stretched far and at a pace that outran them all. In a matter of seconds, the entire area was coated in gold.

The intense buildup of pressure had finally subsided to some degree, and it became manageable. I let out a heavy sigh of relief as I inspected my hands. They were golden, coated lightly from fingertips up to my forearms.

The corner of my mouth rose in excitement. No longer needing to hide it, I let the smile shine through as pure happiness.

“Finally. The power to change this broken world.”