Upon the Flying Ship: Rewritten Records of the Illiterate Author

Chapter 7

Pteppic stood up, looking at the devastated council members. "I have called this impromptu meeting-" he choked on Liblie's usual words. "Okay, screw that. Now, after Liber- Liblie's unfortunate and untimely demise, we need a new DSS Ruler. And yes, I said 'demise', because judging by the intricate design of splattered blood all over the West 'Leans capital, she is very dead, and I'm pretty sure it's her skull sitting in the middle."

When Zydexo heard the news, he began wondering how she'd done that with all the iron on her. In truth, the fall was long enough to allow the blood Mage to take all those accessories off.

"Since Fyeuin isn't here, and since leaving means that she isn't eligible for being crowned 'ruler', Kota is the next candidate. What do you say, Kota?"

The West 'Lean Queen stood in the middle of the bloody design and wished that people would quit hating their country. Their rule was so much better than everybody else's! Yet you would never hear 'So-and-so escaped from South 'Leans!' 'So-and-so threw mud at the North 'Lean capital!' 'So-and-so was caught trying to destroy a church in East 'Leans!' It was all about West 'Leans. Ruling this stupid country was so hard.

Kota stood up. "I will take the post." He turned around to face the rest of the council. "I will be the next DSS Ruler."

Kota stood in front of a congregation of everybody available on the DSS. Around a hundred pairs of eyes stared at him as he finished his vows.

Was this what a wedding would be like? Kota promised himself that he'd never get married.

"And until I die, I will rule wisely, greatly, and will aim to surpass my predecessors." Finishing the speech, he bowed.

Everybody clapped, then he raised his hands to his head and created a shimmering crown of small shields, signifying his new status. The DeSSers clapped louder, and Kota stepped off the stage.

Who can help us? There was only one type of creature that could help them, and they were the Gods.

"We're heading to East 'Leans!"

The DSS turned around, leaning slightly to the side, and soon her sails were full with the wind pushing them towards the right side of the continent.

"Okay," says Kota. "The first stop is obviously the Church of the Illiterate Author. It's the most powerful god here and the Creator!"

Pteppic decided that converting people wasn't a problem. A small handful of them have even probably seen the Author, or at least Its sign: a broken, ink-covered quill. At least half of the rest had seen other gods, with the Ice Queen being the most popular.

"Okay, you can go now." Being on the ship all the time was not the point of being an elite policeman. Upon arrival anywhere, DeSSers would scatter across the country, finding the occasional family that had lost a dog, or catching a runaway criminal, or just generally enforcing rules.

Some DeSSers would stay in a country, working as policemen and never leaving their city.

Kota and the rest of the Council walked up the wide church steps. Broken pens and illegible script covered the tall columns, inky footprints all over the marble stairs.

"It's beautiful." Kota looked at the tall windows, glass etched with more illegible words. A gigantic stone carving of a broken quill was placed above the entrance. They stepped into the building, staring up at the domed ceiling and the long story, seemingly in a different language, written all over the floor.

"nOY wURrRDIeeees!" was scribbled in large, messy letters on a banner hanging behind the Great Reader's podium.

"Hello?" Kota strode up to a Reader. Kota always strode. He never walked, or ran. His steps always had purpose, even when they didn't.