Paulie had returned to Garavia under the commands of Emperor Velinzhag. Cecilia temporarily parted with him to continue her journey with Kanitha to Luana, where they've received reports on the remaining branches of the Scars that are currently nested themselves on the isles.
Ralph traveled back to Ling on his own. As he again set foot on his homeland, again breathing in its air, listening to the distant rumble in the clouds that circled the Great Wave, he felt familiar yet strange.
He knows the place. He knows every broken-down piece of cargo box on Port Nevereturn that no one bothers to clean up. As he proceeds to walk inland, he knows every boulder that is scattered through the piece of wasteland between Port Nevereturn and Ling city. He knew every street light, every turn and alleys, every crossroad and building in Ling.
But yet, everything felt so different. Jerron is gone. He had never, never seen a Ling City without him. The City of Technology that used to glow up the night sky with its lights is now dimmed. He's seen seven shops that are smashed and robbed in the past five minutes. Wordlessly, he made his way towards the Great Wave.
Pulling his coat tighter around his body. And as he entered the central plaza of the city, he suddenly understood why the rest of the city was so deserted.
Everyone's here.
From where he was standing, he could see several flags of different colors being waved around in the crowd. They're all pushing in towards the Great Wave, throwing rocks on its windows, kicking and slamming its doors, trying to get inside. Squinting through the chaos, Ralph sees his former team members, desperately blocking the door with their bodies.
A strong surge of anger was already building up in Ralph's chest before he heard someone screaming in the crowd.
"Let us in!" He cried and was soon joined in agreement by many others. "Tear down the old era! Burn down this building!"
"We won't let you!" Yelled Jane, Jerron's former secretary from the window with a large speaker. "This building is a gift from the Founder of the Great Four! It represents Ling!"
Even the mention of her title managed to bring stabs of pain.
"Jerron is dead!" Another person holding a flag yelled. "Ling is different now! Give us Jerron's body! Bring us the Founder! Burn them! Burn down the old era!" Roars of agreement washed over the protestors.
This was when Ralph simply can't watch. Apologizing to Kanitha briefly in his heart, he swiftly shifted through the crowd. As soon as he spotted that person, he unsheathed Rain, running it over his neck.
A gush of dark, warm blood splattered across his face. The flag that the person held at hand made a clatter as it fell, which made someone look.
"Hey! Who's holding the flag? Do it properly! It's important, y'know-"
He froze at the sight of the dead man.
"Murder!" He screamed at top volume, his voice cracking. "Murder!"
This made the chaotic crowd around Ralph look. People surrounding the dead body immediately backed away, soon, the anger was replaced by panic, everyone was staring at Ralph and the body.
Surely they still recognize who he is.
That was exactly what Ralph was going for, because soon the crowd's voice level simmered down into something he can speak in.
"Anyone who speaks another word of Jerron or the Founder," he says, tipping his sword. "Would be answered by death."
"Ralph!" He heard the people inside the Great Wave yelling at one another. "Ralph's out there!"
Ralph scanned the crowd. The different patterned and colored flags representing different parties flashed through the streets, all competing for the power to take control over Ling.
"From now on," he says slowly but clearly. "Ling will have no rulers."
"Why should we listen to you?" A voice suddenly cried. "You dog of the Government!"
Murmurs of agreements that soon turned into an uproar plagued through the voice of the people around him. Ralph was prepared for this, but yet not used to it. When he still lived as the Second of Command of Ling, no one questioned his words.
"Weren't we all?" Ralph demanded, which again silenced everyone. "Weren't we all caged and forced to work for them? Have none of you ever wondered where all the ammunitions, metal works, and weapons we made ended up?"
He dug his nails into his palm, biting his lips to hold back his tears.
"The Government! The Scars! I knew because I am assigned to represent Ling when our goods are transferred to them. Ling is the largest producer of these weapons in the whole world; and none of you have ever questioned your actions, because the same bomb you've crafted is being used to destroy other innocent lives!"
The air was so quiet that even a single gulp could be clearly heard.
"You wanted freedom. You wanted a person to pay your debt. You wanted to burn down anything that still chains you to your past," he paused for a beat, observing the people around him. "But it was Jerron and the Founder who freed you from the Government, and they paid their lives for that!"
Ralph held up Rain, its blood-stained blade glimmering in the greyish sunlight. He used to hide. But Eve's death made him realize that there are things that he can't run away from. There are things that, if he doesn't pick himself up to defend, would be forever gone.
"I swear to protect this city as Ling," He announced, tightening his grip on his sword. "I am the descendant of the Ling family, the rightful rulers of this city. But I would not take the throne; it would be no one's. This city..."
He took a deep inhale, sending a rush of excitement shivering down his spine. His hand gripping his sword shaking slightly along with his voice.
"Will be free."
YOU ARE READING
Alasla: The New Age
Fantasy"What killed him isn't me. It's the world." Ralph had never asked for much. Not even his own identity. But when his best and only friend got murdered by the man he calls father, he was forced to set off on an expedition to unravel the truth of this...
