Enlightened Empire

For several exhausting weeks, Corco tried to catch up with all the work in Saniya. All day, he would teach his students and all night, he would try to keep up with his actual responsibilities as a king.

Only long after midnight did he have a little bit of time to himself. Exhausted, he would fall into his bed and sleep for a few precious hours, before he would get ready for the next day again. All throughout these weeks, he wouldn’t even find time for his music in between all the hectic work. Although Corco couldn’t let others see his inner state, the truth was that he felt beyond worn out.

Now, after weeks of this inhuman workload, Corco had finally managed to teach his judges the barest of basics on how to run a court, while his doctors had a bit of an inkling on how to treat wounds and patients alike. For now, the two groups would continue their previous work and gain some more experience on their own. Of course, all of their newest efforts would be monitored by the king’s people inside Saniya, to determine who among his new specialists had internalized his teachings and was thus worthy of his support in the future.

In the meantime, the king had left his city behind and escaped his duties to the distant city of Rufalasta, all the way across the southern kingdom. Though of course, he hadn’t done so for no reason at all. Rufalasta was a special spot, and for more reasons than one. For one, the city was close to one of the southern kingdom’s great sites of pilgrimage.

Two hour’s march south-west of the city began the great hot springs, an area of volcanic activity spanning several estates, where sulfuric geysers shot up through the earth’s thin mantle and heated up the water to near boiling temperatures, all surrounded by perpetual snow and ice. However, the miracle of nature wasn’t the reason he had come either... though he would consider spending a relaxing day once he was done with his duties here.

No, he had come here because Rufalasta was also the southernmost permanent seaport in all of Medala, and therefore the world.

Ever since the Arcavians had taken over Port Ulta in the north, Lord Llasto – ruler of Rufalasta – had become one of Corco’s staunchest supporters. While the lord needed Corco’s protection from the foreign invaders, the king needed the port to do his trading along the east coast, so it was a good idea for both parties to cooperate. Thus, this city had become the home harbor of the southern kingdom’s eastern fleet, and it would also be the place where Atau would set off from, on his journey around the known world.

"You know, I’ve said it before, but I don’t think I need that many ships, to be honest," Atau said as he stared at the half-dozen vessels before them. Five of the ships had already left the pier and were waiting in the harbor. Only the Homeward – Atau’s old flagship – was still moored and only waited for its captain to come aboard.

"Weren’t you the one who insisted that most of our ships were just sitting around in the harbor anyways?" Corco asked. Behind him stood most of his inner circle to say their goodbyes to the captain.

"Yeah, sure, fine. But six is still way too many," Atau argued. "What will I do with that big a fleet?"

"You’re an admiral now, so you’ll need at least that many. Isn’t more better anyways?" Dedrick quipped. "Why wouldn’t you take the free things that others give you?`You’re not stupid, right?"

"Don’t forget that you represent the southern kingdom, Admiral Atau. You need to travel with sufficient grandeur if you wish to do honor to your King," Tamaya added in a more serious tone.

"Right, thanks for worrying so much." Atau rolled his eyes.

"Have a good trip," Fadelio simply said.

"One thing’s for sure: If nothing else, I’ll have a better time than you guys, with all the work piling up here." Atau laughed as he looked into the distance.

Finally, Ronnie came forward and shoved a vial with a strange mixture in the admiral’s hands.

"It is a secret concoction this master has not used in years, so you best treat it with care. If you find yourself in trouble, sprinkle a few drops into the wind and your luck may turn around."

"Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind."

It was a shame that Brym hadn’t been able to come, but he was still busy with business in the northern kingdoms and the way south was a long one.

"I still think you should have waited longer," Corco argued with a frown on his face. He’d rather have his cousin be safe and not rush off like this. Though of course, the king always hated imperfect preparations. "Yes, we managed to find the penicillin sooner than we thought, but we’re still not sure if it’s even what we were looking for, or if it’s working the way it’s supposed to. We’ve only done a handful of tests, and most of them on animals and cultures. While things are looking promising so far, there really is no reason to test your luck like this."

"Yeah, yeah. Heard that one before." The admiral waved off his cousin’s concerns. "If I don’t go now, I just know that we’ll run into problems again sooner rather than later. At that point, we’ll be in another war, or we’ll have to get around some new trade embargo or what have you. Just how long do I have to wait until everything’s good and ready for me to depart? By the time we get there, I’ll be old and gray. There’s gonna be another crises soon, I can already feel the next one coming already. Can smell it in the air. I better get out of here while I still can, huh?"

In response to Atau’s cocky grin, Corco could only sigh. Yet he still understood his cousin’s wishes, and he also understood that he was right to go now, when the south didn’t have any high-priority work for an admiral.

"I guess you said it best yourself," the king said at last, his mood somewhat infected by Atau’s casual exuberance. "The ships would just sit in the harbor and do nothing if you didn’t go. Just please don’t frame this as if you’re running away from responsibilities... otherwise you’ll come back and some lords with bad intentions will have smeared your good name. I mean, you’re not just doing anything here. You’re about to travel around the continents, something no-one has achieved all throughout known history. Whether you want it or not, all kinds of accidents will happen. You’ll see unknown worlds and fight unimaginable battles, so you best make good use of those extra ships... and be sure to come back and tell us all about your journey."

"If only you guys weren’t the only ones who could see this for the big moment it is," Atau said with a bitter smile as he looked at the lack of a crowd that had assembled to see him off. Beyond Corco’s inner circle, there were only a handful of unknown faces, and a scant few known ones. Although the king had invited all the southern lords to be part of the rare occasion, in the end almost none of them had shown up. Apart from the local lord who didn’t have to make a long journey and had become well-acquainted with Atau over the months his fleet had been docked in the lord’s harbor, most southern houses had only sent some low-ranking representatives to give their king some face.

"At least your family came," Corco said, and pointed to the side where Atau’s brother Mayu and his mother Guanca were waiting to see him off. With a nod, Atau acknowledged Corco’s hint and marched over to accept the greetings of his family.

"Please do not do press your luck, and turn back if things become too perilous," his mother said, before she added in a warmer tone, "Your family will miss you."

"Thank you. I’ll come be back soon." Much unlike his usual image, Atau embraced his mother, before he turned to his brother, the one family member he had always been at odds with. After a prolonged stare-down between the two, Mayu managed to squeeze out a "farewell, and good luck."

Atau only replied with a "yeah," before he hinted at a light bow to the waiting crowd and marched up the Homeward’s gangway. After he had watched the admiral disappear behind the railing, Corco observed the few who had made it to the fleet’s departure. Really, it appeared as if no one except him and Atau were fully aware of the historical moment they all had just witnessed. Not even Fadelio and the others seemed to quite realize just how much Atau’s successful return may change the world.

Since no one felt that the journey itself held value, it was all the more significant that Mayu had come to say goodbye to his brother. Ever since their first, unpleasant encounter in Puscanacra, Corco and Atau had made some progress in their relationship with their estranged family member. While they would never be the best of friends, at least for now they were close enough that the southern kingdom’s two most important estates could work together in peace.

"I’m glad you could come," Corco told Mayu. Even though his cousin still had a habit of wearing those fancy red coats, at least they were ever so slightly less ostentatious than the ones the king remembered.

"Yes, there was a need to come and wish him the best," Mayu answered and continued to look towards the ships. "Though I do not wish to summon any demons, this may just be the last time we meet. Even if the voyage was not so filled with uncertainty, it is only proper for the elder brother to see his younger brother off."

"Mayu!" old Lady Saqartu shouted, her stare silencing Mayu and his loud mouth, before she turned to the king. "Please excuse my son’s lack of propriety, but his heart is in the right place. He put off a lot of work to come here, which shows his care for his brother."

"It’s fine." Corco waved his hands about. He never really expected Mayu to be all tears in the first place. "The fact that cousin Mayu could come today and gave his wishes to Atau shows his intentions better than anything. Though I wonder why grandfather couldn’t make it."

"Ah, Elder Saqartu wanted to come more than anyone," Guanca said. "Unfortunately, he has been feeling a bit sickly in recent days, so it was inadvisable for him to leave for the deep south this early in the year."

Corco nodded in response. Although he thought about another sneaky assassination for a moment, he didn’t expect that anyone would be dumb enough to try and poison his close family like this again, not after he had solved his father’s murder the way he had. Instead, Corco became worried about the one decent grandfather he had left.

"I’ve recently hired several good Chutwa doctors. If you don’t mind, I’d like to send one or two over to see if they can’t do anything for him. Please don’t decline, the Chutwa are famous for their medicine. And I want to help grandfather in whatever way I can."

"Thank you, nephew. House Saqartu will be deeply grateful for your support."

At this time, the Homeward had already lifted its gangway and its anchor, and had made its way into the harbor to join the rest of the fleet.

"It appears as if this is the end for today," Mayu said as he turned towards Corco. "We will soon return to the west. Spring sowing has already begun, so work will be picking up again soon. I will also need to plan the route for the newly planned roads between Saniya and Puscanacra."

"Get back home safely," Corco replied. "I’ll stay behind and watch, just for a little while longer."

As the fleet grouped up into formation, more and more people came towards Corco to excuse themselves. First was the local lord, as well as the representatives of the various estates.

"King Corcopaca, there is still much work to be done back at the castle," Lord Llasto said with a light bow. "If King wishes, he may enjoy the feast House Llasto has prepared for its many guests."

"Maybe later," Corco said with a smile. "Please don’t feel obligated to wait on me. You’re free to go and do whatever you please."

One by one, his inner circle also left. First Tama, who still had to guarantee the safety of the king’s return trip. Then, Dedrick started to curse the cold weather and rushed off to get drunk at the banquet, before Ronnie complained about the waste of his valuable time to join the mercenary. In the end, only three men were left standing at the pier, empty and alone, as if such a life-changing event had never happened.

Their backs engulfed in the orange glow of the disappearing evening sun, the only ones left were Corco, his silent shadow Fadelio, as well as a tall and skinny figure who hadn’t spoken at all during the goodbyes and looked completely out of place.

"I’m surprised you didn’t go with them," Corco said towards Egidius the clock maker, while he watched the ships travel towards the horizon. "Unknown worlds, new discoveries... I thought that stuff would have been right up your alley."

"Yes, it does sound like it would fit my interests," Egidius answered, a forced smile on his lips. "Yet no matter how much I may dream of distant lands, there is still so much left to do, so much left to achieve, so much that holds me here. No matter how much we wish otherwise, not all of us can set sail. Not all of us are free."

Surprised at the foreigner’s somber mood, Corco stared at his profile for a while, to discover just what it was that bound him in the southern kingdom. Although he couldn’t find the answer, he still smiled and returned his sights to the ships, longing in his heart.

"That much I can understand."

Long after the fleet had crossed the horizon, the two men still stood there, their hearts inspired by freedom and burdened by reality. They only left long after the day had grown dark.