Chapter 18: Five Kingdoms

(Several hours later)

Alphonse looked over to his shoulder and saw Sarah sleeping. 'How much longer before they should die?' Alphonse asked Prism.

{Roughly thirty minutes. I would recommend waking Sarah now to prevent drowsiness from preventing travel.} Prism stated. Alphonse nodded softly as he put his hand on Sarah's should and lightly shook her.

"Sarah, it's time to wake up." Alphonse said. Sarah's eyes opened slightly.

"Hm?" Sarah asked.

"It's time to wake up. We have around thirty minutes before they die." Alphonse said.

"Can't you wake me up then?" Sarah asked groggily.

"It'd be best to wake up now so we can travel easily." Alphonse said. "Also, it's dark. We need to be aware of our surroundings, we don't know what's around us." Alphonse added.

"Just three minutes?" Sarah asked.

"I don't think that's a good idea." Alphonse responded. The only response that Alphonse got to that was the sound of light breathing and crickets. Sarah's eyes were closed as well. Alphonse lightly shook Sarah again.

"If you don't get up, I'll stand you up myself." Alphonse said.

"No, don't do that. I don't want to get up yet." Sarah responded with a slightly less groggy voice.

"Why not?" Alphonse asked.

"Because you're warm." Sarah said with a slight smile as her eyes opened slightly once more.

"I guess you should wake up then." Alphonse said.

"So mean~, But that's okay. Only because I like you though." Sarah said as she stretched her legs a bit. Though she is still leaning on Alphonse's shoulder. Sarah opened her eyes a bit more, then yawned.

"I take it you're waking up now?" Alphonse asked with a light smile. Sarah nodded slightly.

"I take it you didn't sleep." Sarah stated.

"That's correct. I needed to keep watch and ensure that there was no danger." Alphonse said.

"You didn't have to do that by yourself. You could've woken me up." Sarah said lightly. Alphonse was quiet for a moment.

"I didn't want to." He said. "Anyway, we should stand up now so we can prepare for the spirit flame harvest." Alphonse said.

"Nooooooo~. Just a few more minutes." Sarah said as she grabbed Alphonse's arm. Alphonse sighed.

"Only a few more minutes." He said. After a few seconds, Alphonse drifted into thought. 'Now that I think about it, why haven't I heard anything about a formal government?' Alphonse asked himself.

{To notify host, your father was the leader of the formal government of your clan.} Prism said.

'We don't talk about that.' Alphonse responded as he pushed dark thoughts away. 'Anyway, what I mean is, there is no head of state that I have heard of, just organizations. Isn't there supposed to be an emperor or something?' Alphonse asked.

{I believe it would be best to ask someone from the sect about this information as my limited sources do not seem to tell me whether that is true or false.} Prism stated.

"Hey, Sarah. What country do we live in?" Alphonse asked. Sarah looked at Alphonse.

"Have you not looked at the maps yet?" She asked.

"Not any that tell me what country I'm in." Alphonse responded.

"We live in the Chen kingdom. We're the southernmost kingdom of the five." Sarah explained, though only the information she was asked about.

"What about the other four?" Alphonse asked. Sarah stood for a moment then stretched. After she finished stretching she sat and began to draw in the dirt. after a few moments, she waved Alphonse over.

Alphonse looked and saw a rough drawing of China separated into five parts. "It's not a great representation, but it works." Sarah said with a light smile. The map is separated into five parts with the southern and northern portions being the biggest. In between them are three other territories. In each territory, there is a character that is assumed to be their name.

"The bottom right area and this little piece that goes west is the Chen kingdom. In the west right above the Chen kingdom is the Liu Kingdom. If you go east from there, you will find the Meng kingdom." Sarah began her explanation.

The map is separated into five parts with the southern and northern portions being the biggest. In between them are three other territories going from west to east. In each territory, there is a character that is assumed to be what they are called.

"In the farthest eastern portion is the smallest territory, which actually has a fitting name, Xiao. Up north is the Han kingdom and those are the five kingdoms. Each kingdom actually has its own specialty in both cultivation and production so the five kingdoms often enter into trade with each other. other than that the Xiao kingdom and Meng kingdom are at war with each other." Sarah finished her explanation.

"And what is our specialty in both?" Alphonse asked.

"When it comes to cultivation we are pretty well rounded with no particular focus. though that comes with its own difficulties such as managing finances for every branch and ensuring that there are enough people in each branch to keep up maintenance and ensure money isn't wasted." Sarah said.

"As for production, we are primarily food-focused. We have many farms in the eastern area as well as fishing boats. As for the eastern part of the kingdom, they mainly mine for minerals and other such things." Sarah finished her third explanation.

"So, if need be, we could be quite nearly self-sufficient if necessary?" Alphonse asked. Sarah nodded.

"I suppose that would be accurate. Though we do trade with the other kingdoms for certain luxury materials." Sarah stated. Alphonse nodded.

"What's preventing the sects from overtaking the government?" Alphonse asked.

"I would assume that it's the sects fighting amongst themselves and the fact that the government has various deals with mercenary sects including the Shaolin sect." Sarah stated. Alphonse chuckled slightly. "What's funny?" She asked.

"Just didn't expect the Shaolin sect to be a thing. You see, in modern times, it's called the Shaolin temple, and it's where most kinds of Kung Fu are taught pretty much entirely traditionally." Alphonse said.

"I see..." Sarah said as she thought about something. "Wait, you aren't thinking about taking over something, are you?" Sarah asked with blatant concern.

"Sort of? I mean, I'd be lying if I said I haven't thought about it, but I don't think I'm well suited for that kind of thing, instead, it would be smarter to find someone who is trustworthy and wants to work in that field, then place them in power." Alphonse said.

"I see. So you were thinking about it... Just not anytime soon." Sarah said with a slightly defeated tone.

"Obviously, I haven't found someone who wants that kind of position in the government that I trust, so it would be smarter to wait. Who knows, maybe it'll be another three decades before I even start thinking about a plan." Alphonse said.

"The fact that you said you were definitely going to do it worries me even more... Just, don't get hurt, okay?" Sarah asked with a worried tone as she sighed.

"Of course." Alphonse said. 'Prism, did I say something wrong?' Alphonse asked.

{I did not hear anything wrong with your statements, no. Why do you ask?} Prism responded.

'She doesn't seem like a fan of the idea.' Alphonse said.

{I am unsure as to why.} Prism said.

'Likewise...' Alphonse responded as he stood up and stretched.