Hey everyone, I'm finally back! This past year was really demanding in terms of schoolwork, so I had no time to write. However, tomorrow's my last day of school, so I'll definitely start updating this more! Also, I have an Angel Beats fanfiction that I hope to update soon, and I might start a Fire Emblem one if anyone is interested in that (shameless self-advertisement lol).

Bash had been a very proud man of both his people and of himself. He always carried himself tall and upright, always towering above everyone else. He had the loudest voice in the room and was the first to vocalize his opinions, very similar to his daughter.

Now, he seemed…different. Defeated and beaten, just not physically.

"It's good to see you, Sinbad," he said as he shook my hand. His solemn expression stayed plastered on his face. "I heard you gave my children some difficultly at first, but I'm glad you came through at the end."

"I apologize for not coming sooner," I said. It had been awhile since I last met with Bash, not since I was twenty.

"Well," Bash said, sitting down on a barrel, "now that you're here, let me fill you on our current situation. As you may know, Bahadur visited us a little while ago, demanding that our people fight but agreed to let everyone do as they will if I die by his hand. I suppose he just wants to make an example out of us, I'm not sure, but he really does rule by fear."

I had no words of sympathy to offer him, but I don't believe he would have wanted any.

"They're going to take me away tomorrow, to execute me in the capital. I'm meeting them just outside the village. I don't want my people to know until it's too late for them to do anything about it. We're pretty protective of each other. I don't want them to do anything stupid." He faintly smiled to himself, looking in my direction but never focusing on one particular thing. "My wife was always doing these courageous and reckless things. She once took on ten men at a bar, just because they made rude comments at her. She won, of course. If she were in my place, she'd probably storm into the palace and beat Bahadur into submission."

"If there's anything, anything at all, that I can do…" I started before he put his hand up.

"In the sense of saving me, no, there's not. It's not the case that I couldn't get out of doing this, but it's more that Bahadur would force my people to die in my stead in some pointless war if I don't. People may think of us as warriors, but it's against our beliefs to kill those who have not directly and drastically harmed us. Most people would not go against this belief and would just be target practice for the opposing army."

These people seem to have a lot of rules about death and revenge.

"You can, however, help build up the clan after my death. Ismet is my oldest child and will therefore take over after me, but I don't have time to train him before my death. I wasn't expecting my death for a long time, truth be told. Perhaps that was a bit arrogant on my part." He stood up and put his hand on my shoulder. "You have built up a great country in such a short period of time. You have a lot to be proud of, and I want you to teach my son." He stepped away and looked out to the sea. "He's a smart boy, diplomatic as well, but he doesn't have the decisiveness needed to become a great leader. I think you can teach him that."

I wasn't sure how to respond. I was not family to this man, why would he trust me with the faith of his people?

"Of course, you needn't decide immediately," Bash laughed softly. I guess I looked as shocked as a I felt. "It's a big decision, and you have your own country to worry about. I'd hate to unfairly inconvenience you."

I normally don't make split second decisions on political matters. People always tend to have ulterior motives, but maybe because I felt bad for being rude to his people when they first approached me, maybe it's because I want to know what Yunan is up to, or maybe it's because this man is about to die but is worried about inconveniencing me, I found myself saying, "Yes," and shaking his hand.

"Well, I suppose you start tomorrow."

I couldn't bring myself to respond to his own morbid joke.