I like to think of myself as an old soul trapped in a young body, because technically, that's exactly what I am. I admit I dont always behave like a mature and reasonable adult, but in my defence, there are extenuating circumstances and age is not always accompanied by wisdom. My current ntal status could result from the rampant teenage hormones affecting my judgnt or an utter lack of past experiences to draw upon. Whats more, considering the nature of the scattered mories I have access to, the evidence all points towards one irrevocable fact.
In my previous life, I, Rayne, was a man-child.
Its not the worst thing in the world but sotis, I lie awake in bed and wonder what life would be like now if Id been a useful, contributing mber of society before transmigrating into my current circumstances. What if Id been a rocket scientist or an engineer and I brought useful information with instead of pop culture references or an endless array of satirical captioned images? I could probably build aweso things like mundane guns, non-flammable explosives, or stuff to improve the standard of living, like a flushing toilet.
Wouldnt that be nice?
Then again, I suspect even if I had all my mories intact, theyd be worthless to at this very mont. Im not ashad to admit I am out of my depth here. I an, ignoring any Demon-induced fantasies and useless, fractured impressions of my past life, one could rightly say I only have seven years of mories, which pretty much makes a baby. Sure Ive seen and experienced so real shit in those seven years, like prejudice, slavery, torture, and warfare, but nothing could prepare for what I am experiencing now.
The adults are arguing and I dont know how to stop them.
No matter how old you get, its always awkward when your parents squabble and doubly so when you yourself are the cause of said bickering. After a brief stop to buy five pairs of swimming pants, Akanai dragged everyone back to my camp to discuss our next move. The lines have been drawn and each person has taken one of two sides, which are coincidentally (or not) divided by gender. Akanai, Sarnai, and Alsantset all insist we declare open warfare against the Canston Trading Group in the bloodiest way possible, by killing any and all people associated with the group save for those inside Nan Ping. They believe the Legate, and therefore the Empire, will side with the Bekhai in this conflict, especially considering the Canston Trading Group is at fault for mistreating one of our own, naly . As contributing mbers of the Imperial Defence forces, the citizens of the Saint's Tribulation Mountains are afforded a number of benefits which include tax-exemption and protection from slavery, so legally, were well in our rights to exact vengeance in blood and fire, as Akanai is so fond of saying.
On the flip side, while Taduk, Baatar, and Charok arent exactly against bloody retribution, they all advocate caution and treading lightly in these volatile tis. I cant bla them, especially in light of recent revelations. In my concussed state, I was too focused on my rumbling belly to put much thought into Guan Suos warning, but it turns out Zhu Chanzui isnt just a Gluttonous Pig like his na suggests but actually the progenitor of all piggies, the bristleboar Ancestral Beast. The Canston Trading Group was established by him and their profits fund his hedonistic lifestyle and support the hundreds, if not thousands of children resulting from said lifestyle.
Itd be sweet and fatherly if all of Zhu Chanzuis half-piggy children didnt end up as slaves of the Canston Trading Group. I almost feel bad for the piggies.
Almost. I still rember how much delight Gortan and his cronies got out of tornting the downtrodden and defenceless. There was no slave-master forcing them to laugh at our screams or make our lives even more miserable than they already were.
Knowing everyone is willing to risk the wrath of an Ancestral Beast for little old is both heartwarming and spine-chilling, but thats besides the point. The won argue that as an Ancestral Beast, Zhu Chanzui is bound by the Treaty, an agreent which prevents him and other Ancestral Beasts from acting directly against re mortals. Or at least, thats what I think the Treaty entails, in all their bickering, I can barely get a word in edgewise. Long story short, the main dispute is over how we collectively go about getting revenge for , with standing ringside to watch the battle unfold.
Bide our ti? With a resounding snort, Akanai curls her lip in disdain and looks down at Baatar. You have been biding your ti for years now. At what point does prudence beco cowardice?
Rolling his eyes like a snide teenager, Baatar mutters, So unreasonable and bull-headed, yet you wonder why I kept the details from you...
Oh, how rich coming from a dog-brained fool. Though still chair-bound from her coma, Sarnais acerbic tongue still cuts deep. Not to ntion a honey-tongued liar. You told they were a small trading company not worth ntioning, but instead it is a faction backed by a Divinity!
Blanching in fear, Baatar kneels beside her and takes her hand. I would never lie to you my rose, I believed those words true when I spoke them. I only learned the details months later, after I brought the Banner back out to patrol.
Eyes narrowed in suspicion, Alsantset turns on Charok and asks, Did you know too?
No beloved, but if I did, I would not tell you. A brave man, my brother-in-law. Stupid, but brave. If you could see past your anger, you would understand why. What good will co of making a public spectacle? Those responsible for his tornt are dead and gone, so we will only sar little Rains reputation by telling the world what happened. We should act with discretion and find a different approach, one which will allow our brother to keep his dignity.
Distracting Alsantset from retorting, Taduk offers himself as a target for everyones wrath. Bah. Chickens will soar like eagles before you pack of blood-thirsty brutes learn to do anything without swords drawn and bows bent. Like always, my teacher uses the Common language despite understanding both languages perfectly. I told you all to live and let live, to bring the boy ho so he could begin his recovery, but instead you added oil to the fire and brought him to take part in a slaughter. As if he hadnt seen horrors enough, your actions led him down a misguided path, indoctrinating him to idolize strength above all else and telling him it would solve all his lifes problems. Little wonder he fell to temptation and-
Silence ensues as everyone glances at , their eyes reflecting a mixture of guilt, concern, and fear. Id feel worse if it was my fault we almost went full Defiled, but I lay that bla solely on Baledaghs shoulders. Okay, yea, maybe I deserve a tiny, minuscule portion of the bla, what with my righteous wrath and desire to kill all things Defiled after being exposed to their handiwork, but to be fair, that was so fucked up shit. Still, it doesnt help that theyre all tiptoeing around the subject, I use this opportunity to state my case.
Despite knowing theres a Chi barrier in place to keep our conversation private and the nearby Guan Suo cant hear a word were saying, I decided to stick to the Bekhai language just in case. I an, the dude said hed think twice before crossing blades with Zhu Chanzui, not run screaming in terror like I assu most sane people would, so who knows how strong he really is? Are all red-pandas ridiculously powerful and confident or am I basing my results on a skewed sample?
Clearing my throat to get everyones attention, I look them all in the eyes and say, Its no ones fault I almost beca Defiled. No one but mine and Baledaghs, but I digress. I appreciate everyones willingness to help, but I dont want you starting a war with an Ancestral Beast, not for my sake.
Fierce as ever, Alsantset claps my shoulders with a disgruntled frown. You are one of the People and the People defend their own, no matter who stands against them.
Thanks but we all know most of the People want gone. My words strike a chord as everyone looks away, once again trying to pretend the problem doesnt exist. They wont be happy if you drag them into a personal feud because of , but its okay. I sell the lie with a genuine smile. I dont need all of the People to like . I have you guys, my loving family, which is more than enough.
I might be laying it on a little thick but my words have the desired effect and defuse the tension in our familial dispute. The two couples smile, bat eyes at each other, and silently apologize and forgive words spoken in anger while Taduk and Akanai stand about and fidget, the forr with his robes and the latter with my hair. Smoothing out the hair she just mussed, Akanai asks, So what will you do? Swallow your grievances because your foe is too strong?
Well... yea... but it doesnt take a genius to figure out thats not the answer she wants. It has nothing to do with their strength. Another lie, but I think Im getting better at them. Practice makes perfect, right? Logically, I understand that Charok and Teacher are right. The individuals who enslaved are long dead and with that, the debt is settled and I should move on, but I cant. Finding strength in their supportive gazes, I give voice to the doubts buried deep inside, so deep even Im a little hazy regarding the truth at tis. No matter how strong I beco, Ill never forget what its like to be a powerless slave, beholden to the murderous whims of another. Im not ashad of my past. Wow, so many lies, when will they end? The Canston Trading Group and the Empire should be the ones who feel sha, for allowing such despicable practices to take place. If I thought itd make a difference, Id tell the world everything about my past, about my suffering. No one should have to suffer like I did in those mines, and while so might sympathize and others will denigrate , telling my story would change nothing. Ive done enough harm to the Peoples reputation. No need to tell the world their young hero used to be a slave.
An invisible force flicks my forehead, hard enough to startle into wide-eyed alarm. Pei, Sarnai says, her lips pursed in disapproval. How did she do that? Can she teach ? Out of all the fine qualities to model yourself after, why choose your ntors dog-brained foolishness?So what if the world learns you were once a slave? It might have been an issue years ago when jealous skeptics would cry Defiled, but that is no longer an issue for you, my talented son. Your strength will still be admired and envied if your past is revealed. Gesturing for to co closer, she tweaks my ear lightly and pokes my chest for emphasis. What matters is unravelling the knot in your heart. Fear and hatred are powerful emotions. If left to linger and gnaw away at your mind, it might hamper your future growth, even with the drop of Heavenly Water keeping you free from the Father's touch. Destroying a re Canston Trading Group is nothing if it will relieve you from those restraints. The Ancestral Beast is a complication, but that burden is for others to bear. Know this: I will not tell you the specifics, but say the word and I promise you Zhu Chanzui will be a re mory by years end.
Taking her hand in my own, I marvel at the strength of her grip. Sarnai is a fighter at heart and shes itching to make the first strike. Whats more impressive is how she believes every word she says, which ans the Bekhai have soone capable of taking out an Ancestral Beast. Is it Akanai? Or maybe Sarnais ntor, Guard Leader? Or one of Taduks friends, like whoever helped him travel to Yo Lings island and back to the Bridge in three days? While a small part of screams to say the word and see the Canston Trading Group wiped from existence, I know it wont be so simple. It wouldnt change anything, like letting beat a crippled Gortan didnt change anything. If I want to put the past behind , then I need to do so with my own two hands, and my stupid morals won't let endorse a wholesale slaughter.
Besides, now that I know how strong we really are, I can always run ho to mommy if things get too rough.
I love my family.
After sharing the bare bones of my hastily conceived plan with my family, they all agree to step back let handle things for now. Unfortunately, with Ping Ping intent on keeping close, covert action is off the table. Instead, following my gut, I ask Rustram to discreetly find out everything he can about the Canston Trading Group, with a focus on any nearby, slave-driven enterprises. If Gortan and his bunch were left to their own devices, chances are my experience was not a unique one. In fact, bristleboars are fad for their gluttony and deviant behaviour, which ans things are so much worse than Id thought. Not only is their sadistic and debauched treatnt of slaves not frowned upon, its commonly known and whispered of. Why the Shrike or her mysterious Master never checked them for Defiled, Ill never know. Politics probably. Cant go Purging an Ancestral Beasts people, they might fight back unlike the poor and impoverished citizens. If any of the piggies overstep and go full Defiled, Im guessing the Canston Trading Group handles that problem in house, but if I get lucky and find a piggy who has already turned, then I can offer him as evidence and let the Emperor decide what to do next.
Am I being unfair by targeting the Canston Trading Group and Zhu Chanzui? Maybe.
Do I care? Not really. I cant end slavery, but if I can shine a light on these abhorrent practices and generate enough public outcry against it, then maybe things will change for the better. If not, then at least I can feel a little better about myself. Either way, if I find proof of Defiled, great. If not... well, I wont lose sleep over killing bristleboar guards who tornt slaves for fun.
And this ti, I wont need Alsantset to cripple them first.
Our impromptu family eting cos to an end and I bid my parents and grandmother/future mother-in-law/boyhood crush farewell. In desperate need of cuddles, I head back to my yurt with Ping Ping in tow to find Lin and Li Song sitting inside a makeshift rabbit enclosure. Made with wire fencing purchased from the city, the enclosure protects my adorable bun buns from dangerous predators like Sarankho and Mafu and give the cotton-tailed floofs plenty of room to scurry about and exercise. Resisting the urge to squeal in delight and roll around with my bunnies, I first greet Lin with a kiss on the cheek. Hey sweet wifey. Crazy discovery today. Did you know they make swimming shorts? Theyre made from cotton cloth treated with tree sap and other stuff which makes the material completely waterproof. Not the most comfortable pants in the world, but they serve their purpose.
Giggling so hard she cant even breathe, it takes Lin a long ti to respond. I know, she gasped, still tittering away. The fisher-folk had them in Sanshu and I found a store that sells them inside the city. I bought outfits for everyone and we were gonna take Tate and Tali swimming later.
No wonder Guan Suo thinks Im a pervert. Why didnt you tell ? Ive been swimming around with a scarf wrapped around my crotch for two days now!
Cackling in delight, Lin answers, Because its funny, ya?
Why you...
Shrieking in delight as I pinch her cheeks lightly, Lin slips away and runs to Li Song. Kyaaaa Li-Li, Rainys bullying ! Taking cover behind the cat-girl, my mischievous wifey sticks out her tongue. Its your fault for being so naughty, hubby. I thought you bought the scarf for , but you kept it, which made think it was a gift for another woman. By the ti Daddy told what you were using the scarf for, it was already too late. With a heart-wrenching pout, Lin wraps her arms around Li Song and rests her chin on the cat-girls shoulder, seeking comfort for her pains. I was still mad so I told everyone not to set you straight. You reap what you sow hubby.
Its impossible to stay mad at Lin, but I make a real effort to try. I am shocked and appalled you think so poorly of your hubby. Ever since our betrothal, Ive had no eyes for anyone besides Mila and you.
Hmph. Shooting a petulant glare, Lin asks, Oh really? Then I suppose I imagined seeing you ogle Yan-Yan on the balcony earlier today?
Damn it. She saw that. That doesnt count, I had a concussion.
And showed your true colours! Leaving Li Song to rescue Blackjack from Tawny Ones aggressive attentions, Lin holds the quivering hare to her cheek and pouts. Lin-Lin is so pitiful, her hubby is a deplorable, philandering beast, but what can she do? She loves her hubby so, so much, ya?
Heartbroken and contrite, I walk over and wrap my arms around her quivering body. Im sorry, sweet wifey. It was my mistake.
Turning away from so I cant see her tears, Lins shoulders tremble as she asks, Are you still mad about the swimming shorts?
Of course not, I reply, wishing shed go back to her usual, happy-go-lucky self. This is all my fault, I have the sweetest, happiest woman in the world as my betrothed and I still made her cry. Its my fault, Im an immoral, debauched pervert and the whole world should know it. Forget the swimming pants, Ill keep swimming with the scarf. Ill stop wearing pants all together and walk around wearing nothing but a scarf to warn won of my deviant behaviour. Dont cry sweet wifey, Ill...
Lins shoulders continue to shake, increasing in intensity with every word that cos out of my mouth. Finally catching on, I forcibly turn her towards and find her choking back her laughter, which erupts at the sight of my bewildered expression. Im sorry hubby, she says between gasps. I couldnt help it, ya? I didnt want you to be mad, but then the joke got away from ...
A little miffed but more relieved she isnt actually crying, I lift her off the ground and growl, You... You...
Dont worry hubby. Beaming with pride at having pulled the wool over my eyes, Lin nuzzles in against my neck with a quiet sigh of contentnt, happily leaving her feet to dangle. If you wanna marry Yan-Yan, then do it, ya? She looked real pretty, but I'm a little sad because she didn't see waving. Leaning away, Lin looks in the eyes with a grave expression. You still hafta show restraint though. Pursing her lips, I watch her do so ntal calculations before speaking again. No more than five wives okay? That way, I get you for two days a week. I wont stand for any less.
You know... Slavery, torture, PTSD, near-death experiences, and impending doom aside, my life is pretty aweso.
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