The God-King of Lareen (1/2)
Over the next several weeks, Haalfrin spends about an hour every day training, but he spends the rest of his time reading books and updating himself on Lareen history.
During this time, Haalfrin learns a few things…
…
Come to find out, after Lareen's war golems became cheap enough, the manufacturers of the things began a lot of political campaigns to phase out human soldiers entirely.
They pitched it to the kings and the people alike, talking about how having humans kill each other is inhumane. Plus, they would talk on and on about how war brings out the worst in people.
'Well, gotta admit it,' Haalfrin thinks, 'War DOES bring out the worst AND the best in people.'
Questioning the morality of war was quite controversial topic in Lareen back in those days, since the generals were semi-autonomous in many countries – what with high ranking mages being rare and practically worshipped.
After several pissed off generals rebelled, the generals won the war against the merchants… but that made next to no difference.
First off, the merchants had already won the cultural war, and the commoners were on their side. Plus, the generals took the merchants' war golems and used them for themselves – phasing out human soldiers regardless.
Those golems were just too useful.
---------------------
Of course, Haalfrin learned a lot more than this, but these bits of history is what truly affects him the most.
Now… he understands clearly why the Lareen are so different than what he thought humans should be.
Before, Haalfrin was so upset at how the Lareen saw himself and his Threshold soldiers. After all, he'd sacrificed 10,000 years of his life for that war, and his soldiers were all ripped apart and eaten countless times – all in order to protect the humans of their world.
Then, the coming generations of humans spat on their open palms and didn't understand what was done for them.
Before, Haalfrin genuinely thought that these people were just selfish. That was very upsetting. But now? Now he's willing to believe that these people are just normal people living with different trials in life to deal with.
'Sure, it sucks to realize that the future generations won't remember me… but I think I've come to peace with that. I'll continue to do my job. I don't need everyone to praise me for it.'
Haalfrin looks down and remembers Freyya's pleasant smell, and he smiles. 'Only being acknowledged by one person is enough.'
For the first time in a long time, Haalfrin is at peace with his life.
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Coincidentally (or, perhaps it's not a coincidence), it's only a few weeks after Haalfrin's heart settles down that he receives a notification by one of his Arkin assistants.
"General? There's some more visitors from Lareen. They're here for you," an Arkin woman says.
"Ah…," Haalfrin sighs tiredly as he thinks, 'Another stupid interview? I don't want it.'
Haalfrin sighs again, "Huh… It would be impolite to ignore them." He stands up, straightens himself out, and makes the long trip to the inner palace's front gate…
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Once Haalfrin arrives at the gate, he waves the massive doors open with a Telekinesis spell, and he walks through with his hands behind his back.
Haalfrin immediately sees a dozen young bodyguards in enchanted suits and with short-cropped hair – all surrounding an old man who is dressed in a black and gold tunic, and a middle-aged woman, who is wearing a plain, purple tunic. On her face is a pair of large, round glasses.
Before the humans get to say anything, Haalfrin immediately opens his mouth and asks, "Is it another interview? If it is, then you'll be trespassing if you take that last step across the gate."
Haalfrin can't be blamed for talking this way. Ever since information has been getting more public in Lareen about he and his people, there's been flocks of strange people coming to the Valor Hall – all wanting to meet him. Most of them came for stupid reasons – like wanting him interview him in front of large crowds – not to spread information, but for entertainment.
If there a more agonizing way to pass your time?
The old man in front was about to step past the gate, but when he hears Haalfrin's words, he freezes, retracts his foot, then hastily stands on the other side with his comrades.
The black dressed man coughs, "I'm afraid you're mistaken. My name is Lern Grelt. I'm with the central Lareen government. Ministry of Divinity." He takes out a badge and shows it to Haalfrin.
He then turns and gestures to the purple-clad woman behind him. "This is Madame Genna Reel, from the Ministry of Education. We both have business to discuss with you."
Haalfrin takes a quick look at Lern's badge, and he sees the logo for the Ministry of Divinity in the corner. That's the department that interacts with Lareen's god-king directly. They also exist to make sure that the government's actions coincide with the god-king's mandates.
Seeing that Haalfrin has gone silent after seeing his badge, Mr. Grelt feels that the old Brancotte General may go along with their request. So, he gestures for the representative for the Ministry of Education to step up.
"We all know you like to keep to yourself up here, and that you might not be up to date on the happenings down here, so I'll explain to you real quick," Genna Reel says. "We're in dire need of your help."
"First, our world is very short on mages," she begins to say. "Our society is becoming more and more reliant on magic every generation, yet the number of mages awakening is dropping steadily every year. It's estimated that within 50 years, our current economic model will no longer be able to sustain our country."
Haalfrin frowns when he hears this. "How do you train your mages to awaken in your society?"
Genna replies, "In your time, mages were taught in direct, master / disciple lineages, correct?"
"Correct."
"Well," Mrs. Reel continues, "Lareen employs public education programs to spread magic knowledge to the public and teaches them how to safely awaken as a mage."
Mrs. Reel conjures a rectangular paper into his hand and presents it to Haalfrin.
The old general looks at the sheet and sees two graphs, side by side. The notes on there is so neatly organized that Haalfrin doesn't even need to ask Mrs. Reel to explain further about it.
In essence, the more archaic civilizations, like Brancotte, had fewer mages but more high-ranked mages – all due to the system of a master sharing knowledge to their disciples. After all, magic knowledge was more restricted, but the teaching of it was more personal and in depth.
Genna pushes up her glasses and says, "Indeed. I'm one of the chairmen on the public education board. We've managed to pump out low level mages quite regularly - 50% of students who graduate become mages, in fact. The people were thrilled to see our results of creating mages. Every child's dream was to become a powerful mage!
"However, as time went on, we found that our programs could only make 1st circle mages - with maybe 1% of mages becoming 2nd Circle mages. Sadly, our numbers of awakening mages are dropping, and the gap between 1st and 2nd Gate mages is widening every year."
Mrs. Reel nods respectfully to Haalfrin, "We've known for a long time now that you're a 6th Gate mage. Rumors say that you're on the verge of getting your 7th Gate.
"We came to petition you to take in apprentices and help us fix our curriculum. We're sure that you couldn't have gotten such an advanced soul without knowing some things that we don't."
Haalfrin looks away and mulls her words over. Once he thinks it through, he puts putting down his cup of water and says, "So you want me to become a prissy school teacher? That sounds depressing and lame. I'll pass."
"But I-"
"I said no. Please leave."
The old woman stands there frozen for a moment, then closes her agape mouth. She steps back and bows, "Very well. Until next time."
"Hold," Lern Grelt says. "I also have something to say on behalf of the Ministry of Divinity." He pulls out a golden plated letter and hands it to Haalfrin. "The God of Lareen knew you would refuse, so he told me to give you this message."
"What is it?" Haalfrin asks as he takes the letter. "Is your god trying to give me orders?"
"No," Mr. Grelt shakes his head, "It's an invitation."
Haalfrin peels open the seal on the letter, and he reads it:
…
General Haalfrin,
I'll keep the message brief, since I know that you're surely a 'busy' man. I'm hereby inviting you to visit me in my home. I've known about you for a very long time, and I've only chosen now to invite you because I feel that you're ready to step out of your palace walls.
Please meet me in 7 day's time. If you intend to turn down the invitation, don't bother replying. Just feel free to not show up.
Sincerely,
King Dasraman Lareen
…
'… Sure enough, I'm being invited to Lareen's seat of divinity… But why?' Haalfrin wonders.
Seeing that Lern Grelt is still waiting for an answer from him, Haalfrin stuffs the golden letter in his pocket and says softly, "I'll be there."
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Later that day, Haalfrin is sitting at his desk. On the desk is an open book full of blank pages, and in his hand is a pen.
Ever since Haalfrin had gotten over his suicidal thoughts, he's learned that keeping a journal helps to keep the depression away.
On the journal, he writes the date on a blank page:
…
Year 3332, Lareen Era. 3rd Month of Autumn. Day 21
I just got invited to the god-king of Lareen's palace today. If this guy is a god, then he probably already knows about my relationship with the Death gods. Well, the Arkin all knew about my marriage to Freyya, so that part is public knowledge. What I meant is that this Lareen god probably knows that I, too, will be a Death God after I open my last gate.
Why would a foreign god want to see me? I've heard from Freyya that the gods of the living realm don't get along with the death gods, as a basic rule. The Death King's Realm is so powerful that the other divine empires are quite wary of him and his subordinate gods.
So anyway, why invite me, knowing this? Is it a trap?
… Who knows? Who cares? I don't really care if it's a trap or not. Either way, it must be something important. Going there and visiting a strange god is better than wasting more time here.
Maybe he'll tell me to do something dangerous? I'd like that. If he's a good enough boss, I won't mind doing a few things for him. Frankly, all this time in the Valor Hall with no war to fight has left me feeling like my skills are entirely unnecessary...
Well, no use in rambling off about THAT again. If you've read this journal, then you'll see me mention it on half the pages of this book.
What's important to know is that… this visit might cure my boredom.