The Two Day King
Political event
1450BI
3/14 20:00
3/14 20:00
1450BI
5/14 20:00
5/14 20:00
"Really Case, you want to try and overthrow me? You've got an interesting bunch of co conspirators there. I'm told that Thilan supposedly has found a way to become immortal. I also know that he is dying."
"It's just a rumour, you don't really believe it do you?"
Case argued, trying to do away with that line of inquiry.
"Really Case, you want to try and overthrow me? You've got an interesting bunch of co conspirators there. I'm told that Thilan supposedly has found a way to become immortal. I also know that he is dying."
"It's just a rumour, you don't really believe it do you?"
Case argued, trying to do away with that line of inquiry.
"I don't, but I figure why not ask him myself? Am I not correct in assuming you already suspect me of being such? Well I'm going to quell you of that notion right now. I can die. I'm just ageing slowly. Now onto matters."
Matsuko took on a cold, focused tone as his attention shifted to the only natural born Solvuneian in the room.
"If you've truly discovered the path to immortality I would like to know what you think you've discovered. If it is what I think it is I have a major problems on my hand. I need you to be honest with me. I have no reason to lie to you and more importantly it'll determine if I can actually help you. Not will, can, I'm more than willing to help you if I can."
"My liege… I beg your forgiveness and---"
Matsuko interrupted him before he could go on and on with procedural apologies.
"Stop your grovelling, it's not going to change your situation. Which isn't bad by the way but please, do respond to my query."
He paused, feeling a great sense of relief at the no harm was going to come to him. A great exhale started his sentence.
"I have been having these strange visions, brought on by my alchemy that I cannot explain. Vague shadows and voices."
"What did the voices tell you?"
"They told me to seek out seek out seven spheres and..."
His recollection was interrupted by a wheezing, laboured cough followed by panting to catch his breath.
"...as you can see and hear… I'm a bit desperate, and the evidence is overwhelming that you have been here for over two hundred years."
"Right you are. On multiple counts. I'll also save you some trouble. The spheres exist. They are real and they do exactly what you seek. They can grant immortality. Why would I tell you this?"
"I...don't know. But you're saying that I'm not insane?"
"Correct. But I have some good news for you. I can cure your illness without them. However as I said… this is a problem. You must keep this a secret between you four. And before you say anything else, no I'm not saying that you have to swear to be cured."
"You were able to know what I am going to say, before I say it, you apparently have been around since the founding of this Kingdom."
Another hack punctuated his sentence.
"That is also true. But I've been here long before that. I witnessed the Sironde's rise to power. The Kingdom into a Dominion. Which brings me back to Case. I'll be questioning you next, and make you regret your decision without a single violent act against you."
Ignoring almost everything else, his ears caught mention of a cure and he immediately reacted.
"Forgive me but did you say you can cure me? With what I observed earlier… are you a deity?"
"I can, yes. Where I come from you have but a simple illness. Here it is life threatening. I am also not a deity. It is against my beliefs to impersonate such beings. But you four are now in a difficult position of your own doing. So…. Case. You want the crown? Fine. You can have it. Tomorrow I will make the announcement."
He paused before giving him more information with a smirk.
"There is an election upcoming tomorrow, and you have five meetings with forty delegates from five species, and have less than fifteen hours to study and read up on all of their needs, desires and wants that you have to grant or deny based on the drain of resources that will directly affect millions of lives. Good luck!"
He let him take it all in before he overcame his speechlessness to finally responding.
"I… I… I didn't plan on you just...just…"
"Just giving it to you? Believe me, I would love to not. have 50,000,000 citizens on my mind all the time but have to. As for you, Nanna, you now need to memorise the layout of this entire castle, all of the escape routes inside of it, and ambush points for assassination attempts. Rige, you are now Case's advisor."
All five of them were stunned beyond belief. It took at least ten minutes before any of them responded.
"Why…?"
The question was clearly a consensus, so it didn't really make any difference who queried it.
"You all are suspicious of me. You are right to be so. I'll going to tell you something that defies the known status quo of this Kingdom. I served under every single Sironde. Right down to Laysm Sironde, the Tyrant King. Four hundred eighty years of Orlonian time. In that time I witnessed what the mind of a Tyrant is like. So from there I decided, if anyone ever tried to overthrow me, it meant that I did something grievously wrong with the will of the people. I know were how a Tyrant rules. Do you? Well now you'll get to find out. Do you have any further questions?"
"...Can you cure me as well?"
Rige spoke up, surprising everyone else on the floor with her….and Matsuko himself. He did not expect her to be so candid in the face of being punished by having what she wanted right in front of her, along with the rest of her co conspirators.
"It is a possibility. There are many options. If this does not immediately cure what ails you, then I'll need to do a more thorough examination."
"Who...are you... really? You don't act like any ruler I've seen. You claim cures for what we don't have knowledge of."
For the first time, Hane spoke, with a renewed conviction, as there was no immediate threat of retaliation.
"In time you will have that knowledge. Ten, twenty, I know not. But I am not from Orlon. I am from a place called Earth, of which the distance is so far, it's hard to put it in terms of here. Seventy-one trillion knals. As for who I am, I am an explorer. I decided to see what would happen if I...interfered slightly in the development of this place. Once Orlon advances enough to study and understand the stars, I will reveal my true nature. For now… both of you two, eat these."
Matsuko produced two small, pastries that were green in colour, that were no larger than two centimetres. They had a simple round shape that betrayed their easy of construct, but said nothing pig their quality.
"All that coughing is damaging your lungs, as well as your heart. I don't even know if you know body parts yet but that matters not. This should repair some of the damage done. It also has a very advantageous effect in addition to healing you. For eight days you shall not need to consume any external sustenance. Simply put these are magical. They come from my home."
They were clearly hesitant but again there was no malicious intent that they could determine. They were without armour and the guards were. He could have had them executed right then and there but he didn't. The two of them accepted the offerings and graciously consumed them. The effects were instantaneous but not observably so immediately so.
Hane was the first to speak.
"I'm not imagining this am I? The pain is gone, and I can breathe again!"