Living between wars and peoples

I was born in a place that the people here call Lisear Byh, and my people call Pandaromi, a colossal place divided into several regions, with many distinct and autonomous peoples. We were the "Peoples of the forests". Although conflicts occurred, they were rare, and I was part of the most numerous and strongest people. Until the age of 10, I had a normal life, like any child.

When the Mora Empire finally arrived, its invasion was quick and oppressive but still faced strong resistance. After all, we were not simply a great homogeneous people, but one among many of the peoples in a very large region.

The dominance of Numen among the peoples there was common, but nothing close to Mora's military level or the strength and tactics they had at their disposal. Furthermore, "Karaí", which was how we named the Magus of our region, had already died many times ago. With the information that an ancient Magus of Mora had performed a curse preventing the awakening of any Magus anywhere in the world for 33 years, one of the Magus of Mora demonstrated his power, finishing off a strong army of ours. We saw no chance of survival other than surrender.

The peoples reached a consensus, and they surrendered jointly. As a Mora tradition, and to maintain control, we sent several children of leaders as hostages to Mora's capital.

I, Kesel, was one of them. From then on, I was raised as a citizen of Mora, even though I knew I could be killed at any moment if my people revolted. I learned the language, the customs, the religion. I was educated as best I could. And I excelled. Even at a young age, I awakened a dangerous combined Ability (Dualism) of Destruction + Air. Named "Wind Destroyer". A one-hit-kill Ability. For it, I was instructed in Mora's Art of War.

My combined technique was pretty dangerous, long-range in area, and very deadly. I have been responsible for many deaths and devastation of peoples who, like mine, were conquered. I needed to wear special clothing that protected my entire body, down to my eyes, to shield myself from the effects of my own technique, which was for individual use and required allies to stay as far away as possible. But since I participated in many military campaigns, this wasn't always possible. Even while receiving and following instructions, these side effects were many times frowned upon. For fear of retaliation, my identity and appearance were protected. Even though my protectors and generals treated me well, I felt lonely and homesick. At 15 to 16 years old, I was sent back to my land to help Mora by becoming a leader there in the future, because a tribe had already rebelled.

I lived practically isolated in Mora and felt emptiness and loneliness, but back with my people, I thought I could reconnect with the past and with people. But my return brought only chaos. The world grew increasingly peaceful and dominated by Mora, and the leaders of the peoples, like my father, welcomed their children again. But what they wanted was to vie for control of lands in a power struggle.

We returned to war with each other, violently. Mora was not involved, as long as we delivered their taxes and crops.

Although people like me who were raised in Mora tried to broker a truce or peace, the war soon became more violent, and many of the leaders, including my parents, were killed.

I was considered the trump card, the savior of my people because of the fame that I gained in Mora.

I was already tired. I tried to broker a truce by asking for Mora’s help, but they preferred that we fight the others and be weakened. I was already at my limit. Whenever possible, I avoided using my abilities, but it made people doubt my devotion to my people. I did not want to sacrifice several of ours, because I no longer wanted that killing, for fear of hatred and resentment from enemies and allies. But many considered it an act of cowardice. There existed a sense of superiority in our people as the greatest of that region, and this attitude of mine was considered crucial to continue the impasse of that war.

However, the day before that meeting, I received an order from Mora. The Empire received my requests.

One of the peoples requested a period of truce because of an approaching festival. I had orders to go to this meeting to order the execution of the leaders of our people who drove me away and any other leader of another people who did not accept a greater truce. If what I said was not obeyed, it would mean that I would have to kill everyone there if necessary. If I didn't, Mora would decimate everyone. I did as they ordered. The leaders of my people and some leaders of other peoples were executed, but this was seen as another act of betrayal on my part, as I caught everyone by surprise in a peaceful meeting. I was no longer considered one of my people. I was hated, even though I was the leader.

The council of my people removed me from the leadership that Mora had rightfully given me until the end of that war.

The festivities ended, and the truce that was supposed to be greater was broken by all of them. Then I received a mission from Mora to resolve this. Otherwise, Mora would retaliate on a large scale, and they were dissatisfied with no longer receiving their taxes and food crops because of the war's scale.

I was aided by a group of officers sent from Mora. I prepared and used the 'Wind Destroyer' on a large scale on the battlefield, killing thousands who were in combat from all sides. Then I did it more often in other places.

That ended the war. Everyone understood the message. The peace treaty was finally made. I am again the leader of my people, and general leader representing all others on Mora’s orders.

But even though the war ended and prevented millions more deaths, I was not seen as a hero. On the contrary, I was seen as a foreigner of Mora’s own. Even though I tried to explain my actions, they didn’t understand it the same way I did. Hatred and resentment only increased, and even while doing my job, I continued to feel alone, without reliable friends.

And that was heavy for me, to live again isolated, friendless, and with hatred and distrust of my own people.

To reflect and think, I used to leave, go to a remote beach, and avoid wearing my standard clothing so I wouldn't be recognized.

Until that happened to me.

I was walking along the beachfront in the late afternoon. It was almost sunset, and I was alone on the beach. I saw a coconut tree, so I hit it to knock down coconuts. Then, breaking one to drink the water, I sat on the sand and started looking at the sea.

I started taking the water straight from the coconut. Then I said, "Things would have been different... In the end, it feels like it's just me and me forever."

"Excuse me, may I sit down?" said a girl approaching, about my age, with long, dark, straight hair, tanned skin, and thin, slanted eyes. She wore a crop top and a knee-length skirt. And she looked shy. "It's just that I like seeing the sunset from here."