14th Unremembered Hero
Chapter 11:
Kane's first sight of the capital of the Slane Theocracy came into view, and honestly, was impressed. It gave him the impression of a huge midevil fortress trying to portray itself as a great civilian city.
"Kami Miyako, capital of the Slane Theocracy, tis a grand sight isn't it?"-Captain Tom said from his saddle to Kane's right.
"It's impressive, yes."-Kane gave his short, clipped, answer.
Tom frowned but said no more.
Upon arriving at the gate in the outer wall of the city, Tom gave the guards their I.D. credentials. When it came to Kane however...
"Sir, this man needs to register or we'll have to turn him away"-the guardsman said.
Tom smiled inwardly, for if he could get Kane to register as a citizen of the Slane Theocracy...
"I'm sorry, sir Gaidon Kane, but could you please register your name so we can continue on to the meeting with the Cardinals?"-Tom asked.
The guardsman looked confused, or maybe shocked, but said nothing as he merely waited.
"Why do i need to...'Register'?"-Kane asked the guardsman.
"Well, for the most part, it's used in case of someone committing a crime so that we can find and apprehend them."-the guard stated, starting to look bored.
Kane looked at the paper but could read none of it.
Tom was getting nervous, but to Kane, he just looked like he was simply getting anxious to continue on.
Signing the document, Kane handed it over to the guard who glanced at it then nodded to Kane.
"Thankyou for your cooperation, you may now enter Gaidon Kane"-the guard announced.
Grumbling inside, Kane was lead into a bustling city. There were spires, towers, massive cathedrals, numerous well-off multi-storied homes, and well-maintained cobble-stone streets.
This was by far the best place Kane had seen in this world so far.
Tom was gauging his reaction, that much was obvious, but why? Kane shrugged his shoulders in resignation, it didn't matter in the end and Tom probably took his gesture to mean that he wasn't impressed with the city...Kane then broke out into a smile.
"This is the oldest settlement of man-kind, yet you shrug at it?"-Tom said, a bit affronted by Kane's attitude.
Kane could only sigh in response since he couldn't really tell him the truth.
As they made their way towards the center of the city, Kane noticed that some people down the street were having an auction of some kind...
*They're selling slaves!*-Kane exclaimed in his head, which prompted a slew of conversations, or rather arguments by the other souls inhabiting his body.
"You have slaves?"-Kane asked as he turned towards the Captain.
"Well, yes we do. Most are demi-humans we've been able to...tame. Others, some of which are human true, are known criminals. Instead of imprisonment or execution however, on occasion, we turn them into slaves so they may yet serve the Theocracy, if only to give the state financial aid in exchange for their lives."-Tom explained to Kane on the matter.
"So would this be part of why you were thinking that you could help me find some maids or servants?"-Kane asked in an almost-confused manner. In truth he was, after all it was hard to keep multiple conversations going simultaneously.
"While i won't deny that a possibility, no, it's not what i was thinking."-Tom replied as they began down a different street.
After about an hour of what seemed a zig-zag approach to their destination, they arrived in front of a truly impressive cathedral.
"We'll be meeting with the Cardinals inside."-Tom said, dismounting and motioning for others to do the same.
"Now, if you'll excuse me lord Kane, i will go inform them of our arrival, as i also have a report to give on what i've done the past few months in regards to the Holy Kingdom."-Tom said with a bow to Kane before entering the massive structure.
"Sir, if you'd follow me, i can lead you to the reception hall where you may find refreshments while we await the Captain's return and invitation to meet with the Cardinals."-a nearby scripture member said.
"Very well, but if you could permit to answer...what exactly is your relationship with these Cardinals anyways? I was under the impression that they were the religious leaders of the nation, not related to the military."-Kane said.
"Well, they are in fact the leaders of the nation. But they each have a scripture under their personal command. They don't expressly have anything to do with the regular soldiers of the country, that's another story, but those who become elite soldiers or can use magic, then they will be assigned to be under a Cardinal that is usually dependent on whichever patron god that person is affiliated with.
"So all the scriptures, their members, follow only one of the six?"-Kane asked, he thought that they believed in six gods at once.
"Humanity only survived till now because the six descended to save us, thus this city rose from that time when we were on the verge of extinction. No one can truly, fully, follow all the six gods' paths. One must devote their entire being to one of the six but that doesn't mean we only pray to a single god either, however. We all chose to follow one of the six, while we will pay homage to all six."-the Scripture member explained as they made their way through the numerous hallways that had turned into an open chamber with numerous people praying, drinking or eating, or just conversing with each other in small groups.
Most of these people turned their attention to regard them as they entered, others were too engrossed in conversation to notice, while some others still just didn't seem to care or notice.
"Sounds complicated."-Kane said simply to the man as he began towards a table with food.
"Only to those who don't grow up within the Slane Theocracy i'd say"-the man said in responce while taking some bread.
Kane was of a like mind as he joined him.
"Finally, we haven't ate hardly a thing in two days!"-Kane said in mock dissappointment, well maybe not mock but it sounded like it was.
"I know, trust me i do, it happens all too often when we're beyond our borders on missions out into the savage world we live in."-the man said before eating with a gusto'.
"Mm"-Kane mumbled, as he too began eating everything he could find among the tables.
...
"Such blasphemy!"-the Cardinal of Fire exclaimed. The others were of an agreement.
"So you've not seen nor heard from those that were sent to inspect this, Gaidon Kane's residence either?"-the Cardinal of Darkness asked again, for the third time, eliciting some ire towards him for constantly asking about it.
"No sir"-Captain Tom said from his respectful, kneeling position before them.
"The majority of where Kane resides is likely to be underground and has made it clear that he's set traps and created guards to protect the place..."-Captain Tom explained.
"Created guards?!"-the Cardinal of Water said in a huff.
Tom just sighed. He'd known they'd be rather adamant on not believing what this person could do. Which was why he'd brought with him one of those magic swords Kane had created weeks ago, before the final attack to reclaim the Holy Kingdoms border wall.
"My lords, please inspect a magic sword that lord Kane made for some unworthy soldiers to assault and retake the wall"-Tom said, raising the sword at his waist up with both hands, palms up, while bowing his head.
"I won't touch such a-"-Cardinal of Wind began.
"Tairu, bring me that weapon so i may inspect it"-Cardinal of Earth said, motioning the new Black Scripture member to come out of hiding and retrieve the weapon in question for him.
Upon receiving the sword, the Cardinal of Earth used (Appraise Magic Item).
A shocked look passed by his features as he stared disbelieving at the weapon in his hands.
"Well?"-Cardinals of Fire and Light asked simultaneously.
"This Kane fellow created this, Captain Tom?"-Cardinal of Earth asked, ignoring the other Cardinals.
"Yes...he had made a couple dozen of them actually."-Tom stated.
A look of shock appeared on the Cardinal of Earth.
"I wouldn't dwell on those weapons causing any real issue however, as the weapons were created to be used only for a limited amount of time during battle before the magic will fade and the swords return to normal."-Captain Tom explained, remembering how he felt about them till the weapons' magic began fading.
"Still, to create, if only temporary, magic weapons comparable to 5th-tier magic equipment is..."
"What?!"-the chamber erupted.
"Also, those that can't use magic can use these weapons."-Tom said at the same time.
"Sir, to use it, all one needs to do is simply swing the weapon with force towards an enemy. It will lash out with some form of the (Lightning) spell."-Tom explained, hoping that the Cardinals would quiet down.
"And where is this man now?"-Cardinal of Fire asked.
"He should be in the Reception Hall, like everyone else awaiting an audience. Also, i told him we may be able to help him out by way of money and servants; so those things in particular would be good bargaining points."-Tom said.
"Go get him, bring him to us."-Cardinal of Darkness said.
"I shall do so at once!"-Tom said standing and leaving the chamber.
"Bring the rest of the Scripture in and hide yourselves in case our safety is put into danger."-Cardinal of Earth orders Tairu, the current leader of the Black Scripture.
The person called Tairu, bows and leaves without a word.
...
***{A little drunk here and felt like doing this}***
...
Kane didn't like these people at all. It was as if they would instantly assume everything he said was a lie and act accordingly to that assumption...in a highly religious-zealot type fashion.
Then there were the numerous people that were playing at hiding, spread throughout the room...somewhere around a dozen, not that he cared really. He had figured out that he was likely the strongest being in the world now.
"...and for these services, we're prepared to pay you an annual stipend, a rather generous one at that and assistants to aid you as well."-a Cardinal finished saying to him.
(He hadn't bothered to memorize their names or titles)
"Does that offer mean i'd have to stay here instead of my current location of residence?"-Kane asked, knowing full-well the answer.
"Indeed, how else could we call on you for aid, and the services requested, in a timely manner?"-some Cardinal said.
Kane smirked on the inside, they just wanted him where they could have him under their 'thumbs' at all times.
The sense of being 'talked down to' was nearly overwhelming.
"Personally, i like my current place, and while i have doubts that you could ever hope to replicate it, i really can't see the need to move.."-Kane began saying as the Cardinals seemed to get angered by this.
Holding his hand up, so he could continue; "There are ways i could be contacted within seconds, as well as being able to teleport here a few seconds later..."-Kane was saying as he was interrupted, yet again.
"Unacceptable"
"You must be a citizen of the Slane Theocracy"
"You would know about national secrets! Impossible!"
"No"
"Ill advised"
"Too risky"
"...create too many issues..."
Kane sighed.
It would seem that they simply wouldn't listen to his reasoning...fine with him, he'd start listing reasons he didn't want to be here.
"I don't trust or want others in the place i now occupy, it's too dangerous"
"I really don't want to reside in a nation that hasn't outlawed slavery"
"And lastly, i really don't plan on worshiping anyone..."
With that last one he'd essentially denied the possibility of 'converting' to their faith...to their faces while maintaining his own 'matter-of-fact' face.
He got the reaction he thought he would. Red-faced anger there, outright hatred here, disgust over there...yup, pretty much.
"You'd dare!"
"Heretical heathen!"
"Preposterous!"
"Fool!"
"You ungrateful bastard!"
"Kill the ingrate!"
At that shout, the 'hidden', new Black Scripture sprang from their places with the intent to kill.
"Ya right"-Kane said, a little bit offended that they thought they could take him down with such low-level fighters.
"Goujian"
The Cardinals and those moving in to attack him briefly sough an immaculate sword with an unheard of number of runes adorning it before...
"Time-stop"
Kane froze everything in a temporary stop in the flow of time. He was rather glad of the differences this affect had in this world. Where as in Yggdrasil, this would have been countered to the point of merely being an agility debuff. Here however, he could literally freeze time completely, relative to himself, for around a minute or two.
He laughed in spite of himself, thinking of how incredibly OP his abilities now were in comparison to the past.
Perhaps out of spite, or maybe amusement, Kane used the next spell on the would-be attackers...
"Age Enhance"
He let all the members of the attackers age to somewhere around, what he figured, were their 70's or 80's.
"Skip"
Kane used the last spell to move quickly to the hall just outside of the chamber before...
"Phasic-Shift"
Just so he could see, or rather hear, what their reactions to him suddenly being gone and the attackers instant aging would cause as he let Time-stop end...
A/N:
So...shortish chapter here, but that's not the worst part...probably.
I'm currently of a mind to simply end this Book/Volume here and...divulge the rest in the next Book/Volume of this story. Like a history/flash-back type of thing to help explain the next part since there's only about 1 longish (5-ish K planed)chapter left anyways...
I think anyone reading this can more or less guess to the reactions to what happens next.
The next chapter-
*synopsis incoming*
-would've been Rigrit returning with a certain dragon-lord friend and it not ending well.
To be honest, i lost interest with this and want to continue next 'Volume' of this, so far 130+ page story, from a different dynamic.
*IF* There's enough feedback from this decision i might continue this story-part sometime next month or the month after that.
In the meantime, Look for part 2: Lord Emperor Kane
*Sorry for long A/N...and this update?*