Slaves

Three figured made their way across the land as a town could be seen up ahead. This trio was naturally Key and his group that been traveling for a few hours.

The island was completely different from the grass field his people lived. Everything around them was like walking on salt and sand. Homes were built from clay that showed it was handmade, with a structure that was one room and fencing to act as attachments for a working area like cooking and such.

Some would have leaf decorations around the roof now and then but overall, the majority was all the same.

Despite the basic buildings, the town was indeed a town with the basic things needed and found. There were even water towers to prove that the advancement wasn't primitive.

"Is this really the location of the great Tiger Fang tribe?" Ethia smiled beautifully, showing her white teeth and proving how well-off she happened to be.

Was there a need to be that happy because he spoke to her first, instead of the other way around?

"Yes. You might not know, but the Tiger Fang tribe had lost this name a long time ago. With the might of a Divine Door, they have regarded this city as their kingdom. But their power can't be measured to a true kingdom like your Queen Widow's territory."

He could understand that the cluster of people was easily over five thousand, but he wouldn't claim the place to be a city. It simply was too small. "You said something similar earlier. Does this mean all kingdoms have Divine Doors?" If this was true, wouldn't the Queen be invincible?

Ethia kept calm pace as her steps always left Key trailing a single step behind. Odd! "Yes and no. All kingdoms possess a fake or true Divine Door, but your Garden country ruled by Queen Widow as failed to gain possession of one."

Ignoring the strange habit and behavior, Key focused more on the last sentence he heard. "She lacks a Divine Door? If it's as valuable as you have said, why not seize one? She has enough strength to rule a kingdom."

"You!" Creaz flared. To accuse his young Highness of lying, even if he had yet to become official, he should be made to take the traditional punishment. Of course, the Divine Door was precious!

Ethia paused in her step to turn toward Key and the foaming old man. "Creaz, isn't there something you should be doing?" Stopping his violent urges, Creaz gave an unsure look before agreeing that he had business in the town that he forgot.

Key watched this all. It was also his first time seeing the old man give in without first complaining or trying to persuade Ethia. "Begone third wheel! I am finally free of your nagging! Ahem... sorry, what was it you asked?"

Key stared stun. Was she serious? He kind of regretted the old man leaving now. Hopefully, she didn't take them being alone as a date. "Queen Widow built her kingdom in that terrible land to do just that. The problem is, nobody knows how to control a true Divine Door without being accepted."

Here, Ethia pointed far in the distance that showed a tall building of some kind. "That there is one of the two Divine Doors in this country that has been replicated after a true Divine Door. It is also the place you want to enter the most."

Having a view of the place, he saw a blue energy dome shielding the rest of the city inside. The coloring even reminded him of the Evolver World. "So a replicated Divine Door will be accepted by anyone I guess. How is Divine Doors made?"

Before answering, he watched Ethia resume her walk in a different direction. Where was she taking him now? "Yes, and the procedure isn't known. In history, it's said that the true Divine Doors came from heaven to help the only race left behind. But out of jealousy and envy, the advanced minds of the people in the past decided to build Divine Doors around the world for everyone. Now, I don't think anyone knows how to make them."

Here, Ethia took a turn while keeping her odd behavior of being a step in front of him. Key also noticed the change in the people around them. Wait, was that a human? A mutation?

"Your Queen Widow is greedy. I heard there was a rumor 20 years ago that she will be the first ruler to control a true Divine Door in a 100 years. If she were smart, she would do like the others."

It made sense now. The reason for the specks refusing to live near the Divine Door despite its safety. The tributes. Plausibly a cover to use specks as test subjects to better understand why only them.

Even the extreme hate of killing specks without regard. The only reason he could think of was that she had given up. After twenty years of failure, while being a sore loser and bitter person, she probably decided that since she couldn't have it, nobody could.

But there was still one thing he didn't understand, why continue to ask for tributes? Did her people not know about the Divine Door's worth?

"Earlier you were asking about the Tiger Fang tribe, what I didn't tell you was that there is no more great tribe." Ethia stopped walking as she had arrived at her destination.

"You see, in the past, their name came from being able to tame wild tigers inside the Evolver World near the Divine Door. At some point during their rise in power, a few tamed tiger gain understanding from the evolutions they had. And one, in particular, was very smart and ambitious. Refusing to be 'tamed', the wild tiger known as Fang decided all specks should be 'tamed' instead."

Key eyes widen as he realized the scene from the weird humans and the sight in front of him with cages. "You mean..."

Ethia nodded her head in agreement as she also spoke to give confirmation. "Yes, whether it's here in Seasalt Town or Smelting City where the Fang family resides, all specks are 'tamed' or killed on the spot."