The Thousand Year Dynasty
25.5. Antology Story: The True Story
One quiet afternoon, Lucia is suddenly startled by the unexpected arrival of a guest.
Nikolai appeared to come in throngs to Lucia's tent. And without saying any greetings earlier, the man immediately sat prostrate before Lucia.
"I beg Miss Lucia. Maybe I shouldn't say this, because I haven't returned your favor before. But please help me once again, to save my people" said Nikolai, who did not rise from his prostration position.
"Calm down, Mr. Nikolai. Tell me what the hell is going on?" Lucia looked surprised and immediately raised Nikolai's body. And lead him to the middle table.
"Tell me why? What's going on?" Lucia repeated her question.
"We had our old people come this afternoon... Excuse me. I owe you an explanation. So if you don't mind I'll tell you about where we came from, and how we ended up on the west coast" Nikolai seemed to have prepared his mentality.
"Please Mr. Nikolai. We will be very happy to hear it" said Lucia who meant the words 'we' were her, Orland, and Aksa, who were being fined.
"Maybe after knowing the truth, you will think twice about staying in touch with us. I will appreciate. But please don't include my people"
"We will judge it after you finish telling it, Mr. Nikolai" Lucia said later.
Nikolai began to tell stories. "So, we're actually from a port city in the south. Xin City. I work for Anna. Anna used to have a boat crossing. We have a few ships. Then we met a Narva noble from one of the southern regions named Tyrion.
"We entered into a trade agreement with him to deliver the merchandise. According to him, the goods he sent were mining materials from the region at the western end of the southern mainland.
"However, one day, we found out that he was smuggling slaves to the northern lands. After we confirmed it directly to the person, he instead did a sneaky thing by trapping us and making us look like criminals.
"We were indicted by many trade groups at once. And our business is closed. Our assets ran out, and we fell into poverty.
"But because of Anna's harsh and unacceptable nature. He then began to form a group of pirates who attacked the ships that allegedly smuggled the slaves and released them on the coast in the western region, far from Tyrion.
"Graged by our actions, he ordered to hunt down our relatives. And the first thing Tyrion did was kill Anna's entire family and burn their houses" Nikolai told the ransack.
Lucia looked to frown her forehead. He felt sorry to hear that story.
"And then Anna brought as many of her followers as she thought would be her next target" Nikolai continued.
"What are those people?" Ask Lucia later.
"really. In part. The rest were some slaves that Anna had saved" answered Nikolai, "and our plan was to sail west. Out of the Elder lands. Damn, the waves hit our ship. Until we were stranded on the west coast, a year and a half ago" he added.
"Then?" Lucia seemed curious about the story after that.
"We are safe in that place. People believe we've drowned or made it out of the west sea to the high seas" Nikolai continued.
"Until three months ago, some of our people who were sailing for fish never came back. We didn't know what happened to them, until yesterday some people found our place.
"They tried to bring Anna in to exchange for it in return. In Xin town, Anna is branded a fugitive rewarded with twenty gold pieces for who can hand her over alive.
"Because those who came were only five. Then we can still handle it ourselves. But with those who know our hiding place, it is likely that more people will come to capture Anna.
"I'm not asking to save and hide Anna in your place. I'm just asking you to let our people hide behind a cliff, in your land. To keep them all out of danger.
"Where are you and your people going?" Lucia looked curious.
"Maybe we will start a new thing at the eastern end of the northern mainland" Nikolai replied later.
"As long as we don't interfere, I don't think it'll be anything. After all, their goal is only Miss Anna, right?" Orland said as Lucia looked at him, needing an opinion.
"That's right sir, only Anna they're looking for. So if they don't see these people, they won't bother looking for them" Nikolai said quickly.
"All right, Mr. Nikolai. Bring your people in. We will prepare a place around the breeding area of Mr. Selene" Lucia replied later.
"Thank you so much Miss Lucia, thank you so much"
And then Nikolai rushed back, to begin preparing the people for the land of Pharos.
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"What do you think, Aks? You didn't say anything" asked Lucia after Nikolai was not in the tent.
"Do I have to speak? He is asking you for help" Aksa replied as he was busy drawing something on the table.
"Right, but not usually. You don't interrupt in the middle of the conversation" Lucia said again from the other side of the table.
"Because there's nothing to comment on. It's obvious the guy just meant to leave his people to you"
"You mean?"
"From the way the man spoke, also if what was told about the woman named Anna was true, then I guess, they both wanted to solve everything by themselves. And leave their people to you" explained Aksa still not looking at Lucia.
"really? I don't think Mr. Nikolai and Miss Anna would do such a thing"
"They feel helpless. The man was desperate. What he said earlier, similar to what you said when you were desperate because it could not help Lugwin" said Aksa who made Lucia frown. He felt a little offended.
"I'm not like that now" Lucia defended herself.
"Good then. Oh, and remember the princess. They are fugitives from the southern kingdom. Whether they were caught or not. They were still fugitives" this time Aksa looked towards Lucia.
"Why did you tell me that. I heard it too" said Lucia who felt slighted by Aksa.
"Nata and Madame Amithy are trying to establish a relationship with the southern kingdom" Aksa said again as if confirming something to a small child.
"Yes, I know that" said Lucia sewot.
"Well when you know" and Aksa again bows his eyes to the paper on his desk.
Lucia looked upset to see Aksa treating her like a child.
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