All Things Take Root

a warning of war

Welcome to another chapter of "All Things Take Root"!

Unfortunately, I've been incredibly busy as of late and not in the best of moods, so apologies for the long-awaited update to this little side-series. There were things that I had to take care of, such as college, moving, the usual.

I hope you like this update everyone! :D

That once beautiful day, the sky was bathed in flames and smoke. Curses and cries echoed in the vast expanse of the land that once held life, only to be greeted by death by the kiss of a blade. Wondrous yet terrible creatures trampled on the livelihoods of those who lived there, roaring under the commands of the invaders. Amidst this horror, there was a person, a mere traveler of a distant land, who saw this sight and ran back to the capital where no one had yet discovered the dangers that were about to strike them on their doorstep.

"My people! My beloved people, take up not your arms nor your blades, but your courage and march into the capital! The journey is far and long, but should we instead fall to the hands of invaders, our land will be driven into chaos and ruin! I ask of you, a humble person who wants nothing more than a home to live and thrive on, to guide me on this perilous journey that stands before us!"

To the scene behind him, the one who said everything shouted, "Invaders, this I say to you, that you have invoked the righteous hand of our deity that roams these lands. With their work, we lived. You see this land that you burn to ashes? It is by their grace that we continue to go on in the world that we take for granted with lives so short and fleeting!

"When this land was nothing but a barren wasteland, the deity took it upon themselves to let it flourish. With their flesh, there came our lands, green and thriving, and with it, came us to live on these very lands for generations. With their blood, there came our culture, pouring outward from the greatest minds known to man. With their bones, there came the strongest of us who would shield the lesser folk and keep the peace of the land.

"However, you, the invaders, come onto these lands and steal what does not belong to you while disguising your acts as righteous and dare I say, an act of kindness to our deity! The audacity! From the flesh of the land, you pillage for your gluttonous stomach to feel satisfied with yourself and take our people for your own malicious deeds! From the blood of culture, you leech it dry and mangle it to be yours alone when it is not! From the very bones of our people, you carve us down until we are nothing because to you, we are nothing but toys for your amusement! For these actions, I scold you!"

Lung full of flames that would never die, this person thus declared, "My people that have suffered today, do not engage with them, for they bathe in the attention we give. Your lives are precious ones. Do not let them end with these invaders. Though the nobles care not of us common folk, our deity will not let this offense slip by. Should they continue to loiter here on our lands, they will be met with divine justice posthaste!

"We, the common folk, may not have much power in our lives, but we are capable of speech as those in power! Thus, I say, run to the capital! Bang on their doors and tell them of the horrors faced by us today! They will no doubt take up arms and fight! If not for us, they do so for the laws that we all live by! This is the declaration of unity, forever immortalized in the ashes that carry our words to the heavens themselves!"

And thus the flames of war spread with the words of the herald, signaling the beginnings of what would later be named the Age of Destruction in Kalos history.

"...And that's basically it." Soni finished her speech to the two first years who asked about her world. It wasn't anything substantial in her eyes, but it would satisfy their curiosity for the time being.

"How the heck did people remember what was said that day?" Ace pointed out, Milcery hanging out on his shoulder. "Seems like a huge loophole to me."

"The survivors from the attack all came together and marched right into the capital to tell the people who lived there about the invaders." Leaning back on the dusty old couch, Soni continued on, "There's more historical texts that support this, but obviously, I don't have them here with me. It's one of the most famous parts of Kalosian history and the one that hasn't changed, despite the three thousand year gap."

Not to mention, the biggest primary source I got this information from had lived and ruled as a king during that time period. Remembering the man who was once king, Soni let out a sigh as she looked out the window. An all-consuming flame-colored sky that threatened to take over everything... isn't that an irony...

"The Herald in that tale was a dear friend of mine who wanted to protect his people. In fact, he showed up at the palace with ash-covered clothes and eyes that burned bright with justice. Aha... I miss him." On the aged face of a man who was once a king, he told her so with a bittersweet smile. "I haven't seen him since that day so long ago... I wonder if he would forgive me for what I had done, but ah, such things are irrelevant now. I can only hope that he lived the life he wanted. If he were still alive and well, I can see the two of you getting along."

Soni munched on the food on the private table, not entirely sure of what to say, "I don't really know him to tell you otherwise, so I'll take your work for it. We don't even have their name written down. You're the only one on this planet that remembers the Herald as a person instead of some historical figure."

He gave her a soft, tired smile as he drank his tea. "Indeed. Truly, it is a blessing to have met both him and you in my lifetime."

Is it really such a thing, AZ? She pondered while the three other first years she had entertained fought with one another again. "Honestly, you guys..."

The arguments faded into silence.

The world went on as it always did.

I still haven't figured out a way to link things here on Wattpad. Regardless, check out stuff on my Tumblr, draftingteacups! I don't post as much as I used to, but you can still see things on there!

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