Countries and Symbols

Under the cool shade of the thick forest canopy, their footsteps crunched on a pile of leaves and stones. Shen turned to Zara and spoke with some hesitation. He began, "Zara, I see a lot of names on the map, like Regalia, Unitas, and Maveron. To be honest, I don't know much about the other countries, but I do know a little about our own. Could you explain those to me in more detail?

Zara stopped walking and stared at Shen in shock. She asked, "You don't know?" in a tone that showed she didn't believe it. Shen's training had made her think that he would have a good grasp of the political situation. But his honest and straightforward face made her less surprised.
Instead of scolding him, she nodded and sighed. "Let me explain."

Zara kept talking about the buildings and history of the countries around her. You know that Maveron is our area. In the monarchy we live in, the king's power comes from the strength of his army and the loyalty of his people. But it's not the biggest kingdom. That title belongs to Unitas.

Shen's eyebrows went up in interest. He said "Unitas?" again. "Isn't that the republic?"

Zara nodded. Yes. People elect leaders to run Unitas. It's strong, big, and full of money. But it's not easy to keep an eye on such a large area. They look the same on the outside, but there are power struggles going on behind the scenes. People don't all think they are "equal" in the same way.

Shen raised an eyebrow in doubt. "It must be a nightmare to run something that big."

"Yes," Zara said. Unitas isn't the only one, either. Emporia is a whole other thing. It is an empire, at least in name. The wealthy elite actually hold the real power. The emperor is on the throne, but the rich families and trade lords pull the strings. Emporia's control is more about money than politics. People who have power over money run the empire.

Shen nodded thoughtfully, taking in what she had said. "Money is power in Emporia, then."
Zara laughed angrily. "That's right. If you are rich, you can rule as easily as any noble in Emporia.

Shen spoke again after walking quietly for a while, but he was still thinking about another name. What about her, Regalia? I remember seeing that on the map too. You said it used to be part of Emporia, right?

Zara took a deep breath before talking again. Yes, Emporia used to be in charge of Regalia. But they became a monarchy after they declared their independence years ago. Most of the people are loyal to their military commander leader because he gave them their freedom.
Regalia's disciplined army is its best asset, but having military authority has its own problems. Order can sometimes become oppression.

Shen frowned as she thought about what would happen. Does that mean that their leader has a lot of power over the people?

Zara shrugged. Yes, in some ways. But a lot of people do accept it. They think that the freedom and safety they have gained from Emporia are worth the sacrifices.

Shen was amazed by how complicated the countries Zara talked about were. Each one had its own set of rules and problems that were based on its own history and values. But one name kept coming back to him. "What about Exilia? I also saw that on the map.

Zara's face got a little more serious. "Exilia. They declared their independence a long time ago, but it used to be part of our kingdom. They wanted to leave Maveron and make their own path. But their freedom hasn't come without a cost. Right now, Emporia is in charge of their area. Even though they said they were free, their freedom has become weak because they live in Emporia's shadow.

Shen tilted his head, showing a hint of sadness in his interest. "What has our kingdom done to help them?"
Zara sighed and turned away. Because Emporia is both strong and dangerous. If war were to break out between them, there would be a lot of killing on both sides. Our kingdom stays out of fights unless they are absolutely necessary. Besides, Unitas wouldn't let us try. They like the way power is divided up right now.

As they drove on, Shen kept thinking about the map. He had seen one thing in particular: the weapon symbol next to each country's name. He didn't say anything for a while before asking his question. "Zara, I saw signs for weapons next to each country on the map. A weapon for our kingdom and a fighting axe for Emporia... What do those signs mean?

Zara looked at him quickly, and her eyes lit up with understanding. Yes, they do. These weapons are not just tools of war; they are also symbols of each country's identity and values. Think of them as symbols, like a flag. Each one shows what the country is like and what its people are like.

She said with a hint of pride in her voice, "The sword is in our kingdom, Maveron." The sword stands for honor and bravery. It stands for the kingdom's sense of fairness and honor. Our soldiers hold this ideal as much as they use their weapons.

Emporia uses the combat axe. It stands for power and strength. Emporia needs both political and physical strength. The sharp edge of the axe shows how cruel their policies are and how badly they want to control everything. Zara's voice was sad as she went on.

The shield is the symbol of Exilia. It means protection and safety. After leaving Maveron, Exilia had to fight to stay independent. The shield is now more than just a symbol; it reminds them of their fight to stay alive while Emporia's shadow looms over them.

Regalia uses the spear. The spear stands for being precise and in control of yourself. The military's strength and discipline are what make Regalia a military-led country. They are unmatched in their dedication and determination to protect their hard-won freedom.

Zara finally talked to Unitas.

"The hammer stands for unity," she said. The hammer stands for strength and determination. What makes them a republic is the strength of their people as a whole. The hammer is a reminder to everyone that their country was built on working together and getting things done.

Shen nodded slowly, understanding that each weapon was a sign of war and a reflection of the spirit of the country. He said, "They are more than just weapons."

"Just right," Zara said. "Every country has a reason for choosing its emblem; it's a big part of who they are."

Shen fell into a deep, thoughtful silence as the history, politics, and symbolism of the countries Zara had named raced through his mind.

At that moment, a small clearing appeared as the narrow path got a lot wider. Three Maveron soldiers stood at attention with their rifles at their sides. They looked like a group of scouts ahead of time. Zara turned to face Shen seriously after giving him the signal to stop.

She said softly, "This is a great chance for you to start learning how to give directions."
Even if you don't have an official job right now, you need to be respected because we're here on the king's orders. These troops are waiting for orders. Go ahead and talk to them.

Shen's heart was pounding against his ribs. He stopped for a moment, letting the truth of the situation sink in. Power. It felt strange and heavy. He took a deep breath to calm down and then moved forward.
He got up and tried his best to speak clearly and calmly. He said, "Soldiers, we're going to the northern pass," and you could tell he meant it. Write down your names and goals here.

The soldiers quickly got to attention after giving each other suspicious looks. One of them said with a salute, "We are Corporal Danel's unit." We were here to make sure that travelers who were loyal to Maveron were safe.

Shen nodded, trying to remember the steps he had learned in training. "Okay. Have you seen anything suspicious happening along this path?

"No, sir," the soldier said again. There has been no sound. There are, however, reports of a small group of criminals near the border. We have increased the number of patrols.

Shen looked at Zara to see if she agreed. She nodded at him a little, telling him to keep going. He finally found the words after remembering Raiden's strong presence and what he had learned in training.
"Okay," he said in a calmer voice, "stay alert." If you see something strange, send a runner to let the local garrison commander know. Do you get it?

The soldiers saluted. "Yes, sir!"

Zara nodded in agreement, but she kept a close eye on what was being said. After that, she spoke more quietly and took Shen to the side. "You did well for your first try," she said. "Make sure your instructions are easy to understand. Your voice should never break. Confidence is half the battle when it comes to being a leader. Don't show it, even if you're not sure.

Shen smiled a little, but he was still nervous. He thought about how well he, his brother Geno, and Sergeant Raiden would handle a situation like this.