Ashes and Kingdoms

I wonder how much humans can hate others.

Finn blurred and thought about that. The man who took him to the barracks was actually the captain if he just thought he was a gatekeeper, and his name was Masud. Finn seems to have been liked by him for his happiness or unhappiness, and was to receive his guidance directly. An early story deals with servants.

It wasn't about military training or anything, Finn was used anyway. Called in his jaw, he ran all day, from end to end of the barracks on trivial business, to the stables, to the harbor, anyway.

Most of all, I was thankful that I didn't have to witness the corruptions of the soldiers, the ramblings in town or, worse still, be ordered to join them.

Patience, darling.

If it was not constantly repeated on the inside, it often made me want to take a defiant attitude. They tell me to polish the shoes I just polished again, or they throw back what I was ordered to take and say "It's not this, it's me" without sorrow. And most of the time, it was ridiculous and abusive.

But if Finn looks back at all, Masud is immediately surprised and laughs like a beast and says:

"Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa. Apparently, I've got to get this far from the guy who did you."

When this happened, Finn had to shut up and drool his head and behave as he was told. I'm here to protect Nellis and his uncles - so tell yourself, bite your back teeth off.

While they were running around like that, Finn had no idea what was going on out there. Whether the former legion soldiers are really taking on the protection of the night, where they are getting the food from, whether the family is safe, any of them.

But on the fifth day, the opportunity finally came to pass. I was ordered to go to the Temple of Audia in the harbor. A soldier by the name of Igross spoke to me on the road to take Finn.

"The beasts are not attacking us from the sea because of Fianella's constant holy flames."

Even in the tone of a servant desolate, all this time was respectful. Finn glances faintly, silently at the shoreline. The temple, which rises to the edge of the Cape, was so majestic that it was unsuitable for the size of the town. Nanais is a bustling harbour town for fishing and trading, so Audia, Mother of the Sea God, is an important patron saint.

In the past, Oandus also took the whole family to the temple for worship. The god of the sea seems irrelevant to the powderhouse, but without a strong sea breeze, the windmill won't turn either. That's why Finn also knew the face of the priestess Fianella.

Legion soldiers turned into bandit groups can't even reach the temple just right. The path leading up to the temple has also included the appearance of citizens, avoided by the side when they noticed the soldiers coming, and turned to the frightened eyes of hostility. But even in such gaze Igross stretches his breasts rather, and arrogantly stares at them. Finn, yes. He was nagging and chewing his lips without hesitation.

Igros did not go straight to the temple, but stopped at the harbor. So for the first time, Finn learned that the food situation in this town relies on an extremely dangerous lifeline.

"Do you rely only on ships?"

To Finn, who asked unexpectedly, Igross answered shoulder-to-shoulder.

"We've taken everything we can with a horse. Well, there may still be something left... but if it's on the ocean, Master Audia will protect it."

There are bags of wheat, crates of some kind, pots, etc. coming down from a number of corner lights hanging on both sides. Not only that, but there were some things I didn't want to know where I found them and how I got them. chunks of cheese eaten about half the time, half the amount of dried meat or walnuts, obviously a home sake kettle, etc.

"Even at sundown, if you run off to the sea, the beast won't come after you. And our ships are protected by holy flames."

While he moves his mouth, he gestures to his companions, who come down from the ship, to let them take away the goods to be carried to the temple. After a while, Finn was carried away with heavy luggage, what a temple is in a high place, etc., whilst spilling his inner resentment, he was climbing the slopes and stairs a little bit.

If you're an Igross going ahead, you have luggage in your arms, but not as heavy as Finn's, or your daily workout, or just as bitter a flair.

When I let him breathe out and managed to reach the entrance to the temple, Finn finally knelt down. Igross looked back and snorted, "You're sloppy, kid," but the way he laughed was the best thing Finn has seen since he came to town.

"Wait there. I'll have my youngest son or someone pick it up."

Put it aside, he went into the temple alone. Without even being able to reply, Finn sits on the spot and breathes while his luggage turns. And that was then.

"Brother Finn!?

Called by a familiar voice, he turned instantly.

"Nellis!"

More relief presses against the appearance of his sister, who emerges from within the temple. We were safe! Forget tired. He stood up and hugged Nellis. Nellis also sticks tight and nods his face on Finn's shoulder. After doing so for a while, she loosened her arms and looked up at Finn, with a painful bitter smile.

"Brother, you smell like sweat."

"Is that what you're gonna say to my first reunion in five days?

Finn looked stunned, but immediately he grinned and stroked Nellis' head off. In just five days, Nellis looked pretty naughty and dirty.

"What about your uncle and aunt? Did you find a place to live?

"Yeah, I'm at Mr. Kunad's house. I manage... I'm doing it"

Nellis clouds his words and lays his eyes down. Finn grabbed the shoulder lightly.

"Is that true? Do you have proper food? Are you hurt or sick or something?

"I hope it's okay. Don't worry about Brother Finn. Because the flour rations are decent for once, and Mr. Kunad is a good man. The stuff we brought is almost gone..."

"Did they steal it?"

"Yeah."

Nellis chewed her lips and shook her head, surely raising her face, she forced herself to make a grin.

"Because other people needed it more than we did. Really, nothing is enough. All in all, Mr. Kunad... how many are there, maybe twenty? Almost everyone was stripped of their bodies by soldiers or the rest of town. So, we're not the only ones who have it, so... we're all using pots and blankets. The food was gone in no time, and my doll... I gave it away."

The last word was going to disappear. Finn frowns in pain. Nellis isn't old enough to play with dolls anymore, but he cared a lot about the dolls his mother made him at a very young age, and he believed it had a soul in it. I can't believe I let that go at this hard time.

"... That was great, Nellis"

Finn whispered, gently putting his lips on his sister's forehead. Nellis finally spread her real grin, blinking again and again to deceive the tears in her eyes, proudly chested.

"It's okay, because I don't have to have that kid anymore. It's already fifteen, I'm an adult."

Finn laughed unexpectedly at this, and as soon as he did, he was stared at with a "grown-up” face. "Bad, bad," Finn apologizes, having managed to make me want to laugh extra. Nellis turned that way on the swell.

"Really, Brother Finn, I can't wait to whitewash it anymore! Well, knowing that reality, I didn't have to be fooled by your brother's looks, like the sara idiot in town."

"What? That's your first ear. Were you?

Nellis replied with clarity to Finn, who inquired with an unexpected missing face.

"Don't worry. Because I told him I was inclined to wake him up."

"Nellis, what did you say, what?"

Finn seldom stuffed himself. Nothing, I didn't want to get along well with my town daughter, and either way if I were a friend to Nellis, I'd still be a kid, so I wouldn't even be considered a sex partner. But apart from that and the question of honour.

Nellis had a slight glimpse of Finn's reaction.

"Nothing. No? I'm just telling you the truth, my brother is fucking serious like a headstone, bored more than a dead fish, he said. What, can I thank you for saving me before I was sued for fraud?

………………

My head hurts. Finn pressed his eyebrows against each other and nagged. Passengers around with the two conversations in their ears are leaking a creaking sneaky laugh.

Exactly when my brother felt sorry for me, Nellis turned to face and changed the subject.

"If I tell you to whitewash it, it's what your brother said before."

"What?

Finn urged ahead with caution. but Nellis didn't even laugh and continued with a small shoulder clasp.

"Maybe the heavens are having a harder time than the earth, and I mean, you know, maybe it's true. I was talking to my dads."

"Is something wrong?"

"It's not like that. But, actually, isn't that weird? The Dark Beasts are all out there, but if they're dwarves with spirits, I don't see them at all. You used to be more full, didn't you? Even the dragon... Well, that was originally a very noble creature, and it's a small number, but the spirits and dwarves usually came out in public. Yet it's gone... only the beast of darkness is still nasty"

It doesn't feel right, does it? So closing, Nellis looked at the sacred fire platform sticking out on the edge of the Cape. There was a bright golden flame shining, still clearly visible at noon.

"... I'm sure that won't last long either"

Nellis snaps. Finn was unconsciously responding "oh". Later he questioned himself, but the certainty that arose in his chest for no reason did not shake at all. That may be due to the harshness of Nellis' gaze at the flames.

"I don't know why, but I feel that way. It's not good."

"Oh. But you better not say that"

What would happen if such rumors spread? Finn trembled and prayed for that flame to keep burning for as long as possible.