The empire of Mora

The soldiers of Mora’s empire wore a green robe, and above it, golden armor, with a metallic helmet of the same color.
Mr. Bricius saw me apprehensive, took my arm, and said, "Calm down, don't do anything."
"Where are you going?" asked one of the soldiers.
"Naghdruma," said Mr. Bricius.
"Great, we need some of us to go to the outpost further south."
"But that’s twice the distance from the city..." replied Mr. Bricius.
"Any objection?" said the one who seemed to be the leader, with his hand holding the scabbard.
"N-No, none," Mr. Bricius replied.
"Well, two of us are going. Claudius, come with me." Then he said, shoving me to the side as he and another soldier got on the wagon.
"Goodbye, you’re not going to die until you pay me for that drink, okay?!"
"See you later, Captain."
"You can go, coachman," he said to me.

I went ahead as he ordered. They began to talk in another language while Mr. Bricius, sitting next to me, broke out in a cold sweat and looked nervous. Although he tried to reassure me earlier, he was not calm. Well, I don't blame him after all, although the invasion of the Mora Empire didn't have as much resistance from the people of Nniatabri. And the western region where we live, Uire, was never militarily controlled or invaded. There were some revolts over the treaties carrying out strategic military bases and posts of Mora here in that region, which generated a series of revolts that the king of Uire himself and the Mora Empire prevented, which was enough to leave people traumatized forever, with him, who lost his eldest son and his wife.

I observed the insignia and a tattoo on his arms with the symbol of the empire. I looked at my arm. I even had a symbol that was invisible under my clothing. I looked at Mr. Bricius. I wondered what he would do if he knew that I was also from the army of Mora. Well, it’s true that I’m a deserter now, but still I intend to try to reintegrate somehow... after all, I didn’t desert because I wanted...

At that moment, I heard something that annoyed me.
"I heard that boy Momburu has been promoted again."
"Really? I heard he was talented, but apparently he’s even more capable than they say."
Mr. Bricius looked at me for a moment, then looked at the soldiers. Better I think about something else. If I listen more to what they say, my current disguise would be blown.

//////

It took a long time, but we got to where they wanted. They went down and searched one of the bags we had taken, and picked up one with apples.
"Let’s stay with this one," they said, laughing. Mr. Bricius started to protest, but I held his arm to stop him.
They thanked me ironically and left, while I started to turn the wagon and go to our destination.
"Thank you for stopping me," said Mr. Bricius.
"...No problem, thanks for before too."
"If I said what I wanted, they could steal more or do worse," he said.
"It must be hard for Mr. Bricius, right? You must hate them."
"Yes, but I try not to do that. There’s nothing I gain by carrying this kind of feeling..."
I looked at him in silence.
"Kesil," he said my name, "when did I find you hurt in the forest?"
"It's been about a year and two months."
"Where are you from? Does Mora's Empire also dominate it?"
"Well, practically yes, they have control throughout the great continent."
"And they train the native people there to be their soldiers?"
"...Well, yes."
Where does he want to go with this conversation?
"I understand. I hope my descendants never go so far as to do the same, cause the pain they caused us to other peoples in the name of this Empire."
I became silent.

///////

We arrived in the small town and went down the main street until we reached the place where he was going to sell the wool, leather, and fruit he produced.
Mr. Bricius wasn't someone I liked very much. I couldn't quite understand him, nor how he could be so good, as he seemed to be. Despite everything he went through, he was a pacifist...

But he wasn't someone I hated either. He wasn't the only person like that I've ever met with this philosophy of life, but he was someone I couldn't be the same as. I couldn't forget the pain and not want revenge. I only served him to gain time, money, and thus be able to prepare myself for my next step: take revenge on my subordinates who betrayed me and attempted to take my life.

Even though I was young, only 17 years old, my whole life existed in combat. I was raised in an adverse environment, trained by the empire to live for war, power, and conquest. That was my world. I used to hate weakness, so I think I hated this place when I arrived: the fragility of a conquered, defeated people.

I looked up at a soldier of the empire high on a wall, observing the city, but down the street another soldier sat next to a large protective seal that glowed and was drawn on the ground.
The sun was beginning to set.
I haven't forgotten my past, nor my desire for revenge, but to be honest, even though I didn't like that job, I kind of got used to the tranquility...

So I wonder… Do I hate these people for continuing to want to live a peaceful life, or do I hate myself because I wanted to do the same as them and can't because I carry a hatred that so urgently needs revenge? Well, who knows, maybe after getting revenge, I can come back here and live normally...

Since when did I get like this?

"Ha ha ha, but I'm the one who's your cheapest supplier," Mr. Bricius told the merchant, laughing.
I looked up and saw several birds flying across the sky, heading in the direction we would turn back.
"Okay, let's make the contract," said Mr. Bricius.

Mr. Bricius pulled a scroll from his pocket, wrote his signature, which then shone on the paper. Then he pressed his thumb onto it and handed it to the merchant, who did the same. So he put the parchment away, said goodbye, and then signaled for me to put all the bags in the corner of the store. Finally, after that, he called me to leave.

Ability "The Sales Contract", that's what he had just done, a technique combining the Connection + Restriction abilities, was a type of agreement that would oblige that seller to pay in the future after the sale of those products exactly as agreed, subject to serious and fatal damages if they were not fulfilled. It was a power very inefficient in physical combat, but for that type of work it was very useful. After all, he was making a sale on credit.

We started back, left the city, and got on the road. After a few minutes, as the sunset reached its peak, we saw two people walking in the opposite direction along the road. They wore brown cloaks that covered their bodies.

I used an emanating wave of air to confirm my suspicions before we got any closer. There's something wrong! I felt the aura of these two in the city before. Why are they here?

"Mr. Bricius, stay alert. If something happens, hide."
We passed them on the road. But as I feared, it was an ambush. It didn't take many seconds for them to act after we crossed paths. One of them touched the ground and opened the road, rising from a ridge toward us that divided the path in two.

I turned the cart and jumped with Mr. Bricius towards the ground. The earth-type technique destroyed the cart, throwing the animals to the sides. Well, at least I managed to save the animals. Then the other appeared, climbing the ridge of earth created before, jumped over it, and, high above us, shot arrows made of his energy at us as he glided over the earth.

I retreated and hid behind half the wrecked wagon, somersaulting over it and pulling Mr. Bricius with me.
"You're fast, you bastard!" he said this while firing arrows at the cart.
"Stay here and don't leave until the fight is over, okay, Mr. Bricius?"
"Yes," he said, "be careful."
"Okay!" I said.
I jumped and ran sideways to face them.

Okay, let’s go!