Chapter 63: Revelations, Realities, and Relativity

Chapter 63: Revelations, Realities, and Relativity

Later That Same Day.

The Day Of The Imperial Duel

Landar, Sakura

Landar

I pulled the circlet off. All of my memories of my past life on Earth, and my time since coming here had been sifted through. Sigvold had focused on some of the most seemingly innocuous details, while barely blinking at things I found terrifying.

A nuclear bomb? Not worth his time. Magicians, and Cultivators of sufficient power could accomplish similar things in this world. But a toaster, able to make perfectly cooked toast in the morning was somehow worthy of what felt like hours of contemplation. Cars were little more than a curiosity to him, but the fact I had attended school as a poor child from the middle of hick town in nowhere West Virginia? That I had sensed had a profound impact on him.

I suppose it's all relative, I thought as I stared at him waiting for him to speak.

You . . . you saw much more than mere glimpses of other worlds. You lived an entirely different life. Sigvold finally said, breaking the awkward silence that had settled between us in his cramped office. It's perhaps more apt to say you are the product of two souls merged together. Which I have never seen before. Though I have heard of it happening. When a god needed to influence something in a profound way.

So . . . what? What now? I asked. You going to throw me to the wolves?

What? He gave me a look that indicated I was being a moron. Why would I do that? If I forced you to go anywhere, all I'd be doing is giving that group of people more of a headache then I'd wish on my worst enemy. Of course . . . maybe the blue deserves it. I saw a glint of wickedness in his eyes for a moment, but it vanished just as quickly. No. Actually, my recommendation is that you are going to be a pretty major asset to the Duchy, and the Kingdom. Your understanding of warfare is decent enough and comes with some unique perspectives. And your world's philosophies surrounding statecraft are bizarre though you did seem to be a moderately successful diplomat. But your life experience alone will prove useful.

What makes you think I'd work for the bastards who allowed my sister to be enslaved and used as breeding stock? I laced every word with venum, but Sigvold only smiled.

I take it you visited the temple grounds, and saw your sister then?

I did.

Tell me. Did you bother to speak to Tabitha? To inquire about her health, station, education, or those of her children?

Children? So it wasnt her first pregnancy.

No. I saw those slave collars, and realized all I'd be doing was tipping my hand before I was ready.

Sigvolds grin grew even wider. So youre telling me your little stunt in the Coin Lords keep was . . . what? A meticulously carried out and planned scheme of yours?

My face burned red for a moment. No. I . . . lost my cool. That wolf spirit in my core went berserk and nearly took over. Was all I could do to steer her in his direction.

And is she dormant now? I nodded. Good. Means her expression of her will was meant to complement your own. Not to supplant it. She might prove a rather useful companion for you in the future. Once we separate her from your core, and start training you both properly. But thats for the days and months to come. For now, if you feel her awakening let one of us know and well shield you. Understood?

This was the same thing he had told me just after we had both been left alone in that bedroom I had woken up in. Shortly after he had untied me.

Yeah. I get it. We dont want the she wolf to eat my soul.

Exactly. Now, about your family. Tell me, what do you know of what happened after that night when the blues revolted?

Not much. Just the Duke had kept his seat of power, my father lost his post on the south gate, my family doesnt live in that same tenement, and my sister is a slave of the blue.

Ah. Then you know nothing. Good. I shall educate you. He pulled out a small booklet with notes that he read from.

Your father lost an arm fighting Tavis the same day you were lost. Which is why he could no longer manage the affairs of the southern gate. My understanding is that he was given a year of pension to convalesce around his injury, and then granted a post as a sergeant in the central district. While there, he has impressed his superiors, and even gained level 1. Earning the right for a restoration spell on his arm. As of last year, he has both been made whole, and was granted a captainship over the entire central district.

Shock ran through me. Hes alright? I thought as I considered things. Wait, that means hes the one responsible for the curfew I had to deal with.

Yes, I picked up the hobby as a stress reliever after the rebellion. I dont know how, but they keep taking my chalk, and twice now those twin brats have taken every ink brush in this room. Your nephew and niece roam the halls of the temple as if it were a playground. And theyre hardly the only ones. After the war five years ago, everyone seemed to be so relieved they had survived the rebellion, then war, and the subsequent famine, not to mention the plague that came through from the east marches, that after that well . . . families and children became a rather common fever of the mind.

He smiled, and pointed toward a small image someone had drawn in realistic charcoal on his desk. One I have also been afflicted with, I am afraid. The image showed a young woman standing next to Sigvold, holding a baby in her arms. My Amilia is with the Yellow order. She is a wonderful woman, and has helped me understand the mind of the Mother and Father in ways I have never known before.

Been able to figure out holy magic yet?

His smile grew. Only a little. He reached over to where I had a small cut on my shoulder from the fall, and a bright glow coated his hand. The cut disappeared a moment later as he removed his hand. A basic healing spell. And even now, I feel I only barely grasp its most fundamental tenets.

We continued talking and as we did, I relaxed for the first time in almost five years. I found myself wiping away quiet tears more than once, as I drank the tea, heard stories of my family, and Sigvolds, and told stories of the Farmer and his children.

***

Sakura

Well, that was . . . The old woman's voice trailed off, and it was clear from the expression on her kind and wrinkled face that she was looking for a polite way to describe my life on Earth, and my subsequent death, without insulting me.

An ignoble death, and a pathetic life.

Yes to the first, not so much to the second. Survival in the face of crushing adversity is itself a victory worthy of songs and praise. The old woman poured me some tea, and I gladly took it and sipped.

Thank you for your kind words. But my life as Genji was . . . a waste of a life. So much potential, wasted because . . . because I wasnt strong enough.

Oh, thats not true. You were a child. And those who had the duty to offer you an education, safety, and opportunity, did not fulfill their duties. It is their shame, not yours, that lead to you not rising in station. But you made a good life regardless of that.

Scraping together enough food to survive by cooking rats over a propane stove in a hovel packed with six other people. Stealing vegetables from the gardens I tended for far wealthier people just to taste something other then overcooked rat, and being forced to beg just to keep the backbreaking work I was forced to do, I would hardly call a good life.

Perhaps.

We sat for a moment in silence as we sipped our tea and watched the sun outside the small office stream through the trees in the courtyard below. But there are far worse fates than being a poor, uneducated gardener in the palaces of kings. Mother Margarets voice was firm, but not unkind.

Perhaps.

It was clear to me she did not fully understand what I had only begun to fathom when I came to this world, and my perspectives as Sakura colored my history as Genji.

I will not pretend I understand all of what I saw. In either of your lives so far. This, she touched the small silver tiara that sat on the table between us. Only shows me what you have experienced. It does not convey understanding or meaning to everything. Particularly when the mind of the person I am melding with, does not themselves fully grasp what it is I am viewing. So I can not say I understand your life, or am in a position to judge you.

But I will say this girl. I understand desperation, depravity, and what perseverance in the face of such things looks like. The Genji aspect of your soul is one that is a survivor. She has many traits that are to be admired, and learned from. Do not discard her, simply because she was poor, uneducated, and desperate. Else you treat yourself as those kings in those palaces whose gardens you tended treated you. Do you understand?

I nodded. Her words were sincere, and I could see a type of wisdom in them. There had been many times, particularly at the sect school, when lessons about dealing with dangerous situations I had learned as Genji had helped me. And she was also right that in most situations I relied on Sakura almost entirely.

Perhaps Genji has more to say . . . I let the thought go for now. It was something I would need to consider later. In meditation. Genji had led to panic attacks. Genji had led me to be socially avoidant of other students. Genji had largely been a hindrance.

But Genji is me. I . . . I should treat myself better.

Yes. King said. Been saying since I could first speak. Genji, Sakura, doesnt matter. You are you.

I, Sky, agree with the turtle. Stop biting your own tail.

Youre no threat to the kingdom, child. Conflicted, yes. But regardless of what you might think of yourself, all of you is loyal to your family. Come.

Yes, mistress. Before we go, I do have a question. She sat back down, and motioned for me to ask. What is going on with that boy who attacked the Duke? Landar, I think was his name.