Reunion Of Two Enemies

Aliyah was sitting quietly on a log of wood and smoking herbal cigarette. Elena came near her and sat beside her. Aliyah looked at her and said, "I was waiting for you. I just want to apologize for my rude behavior that night. Jamalus was a good friend and helped his people to raise against the tyranny of Tammy and Jammy. First the father and now the son, Shinigano people have lost two great leaders in a week. I, sometimes think what will be gained by such sacrifices. What has these sacrifices gave us? A small amount of motivation and rage. Maybe, that is the only thing we need right now. A motivation to go forward, a motivation to rise again, a motivation to work together for a better and safe future." Elena said, "My grandfather was a soldier of the Second War. He shared many war stories with us at bedtime. I still remember the shine and sparkle of pride on his face when he narrated his and his comrades's tales of valor. I was small and innocent, so one day I asked him how can he sleep in the night knowing many people have died before his eyes and he himself killed many men?

The answer he gave me inspired me for the whole life. He said that life and death are the matter of personal choices and situational demands. If he hadn't killed the other, the other would have surely killed him. Then, he would have killed another and then another. His one act of leniency would have led to the deaths of his comrades and he chosed to sacrifice his enemy's life instead of his. War is not chosen, but if unavoidable, one should not think about the cost of fighting, but the reward of winning. I never liked violence, but whenever I has to be violent, I won't think about dying or killing." Aliyah smiled, "I didn't know that you were so brave, Elena. But, remember one thing. Power doesn't come from willing, it comes from doing. If you don't ready your body and mind to become a weapon, then your enemies will take advantage of it." Elena said, "Everything takes time, Aliyah. You cannot fight with time." Aliyah finished her cigarette and said, "When time becomes your enemy, you cannot avoid fighting it." Aliyah jumped from the log and said, "Come on. We need to attend Jamalus's funeral." Elena followed her as they entered deep inside the forest, where hundreds of men young and old, women and children were gathered around King Jamalus's body.

Alice was roaming around through the crowd, spreading smoke from the incense sticks and spraying holy rose water with her left hand. Aliyah and Elena sat on the high platform and Aliyah went forward to give the eulogy. Aliyah cleared her throat and said, "We are gathered here today to celebrate and praise the life of young and zealous King Jamalus. He has done many great deeds for both the Shinigano and Shuken people. I still remember that when he was mere twelve years old, he killed a fire lion himself. A tale which can never be forgotten and will be sung for ages to come. He never insulted nor thought of any malice for anyone and had always put himself forward for any social work. After, his father, our beloved and respected King Honorus's death, he efficiently managed the people and proved to be a great leader just like his father. It is our bad fortune that such an aspiring and capable leader has been snatched away from us so soon.

I hope we can fulfill their dreams and bring the long lost glory that the Shinigano and Shuken people deserves. May we bring down the culprits and end their injustice from this world." All the people rejoiced in joy and started chanting "Maisaa" with full enthusiasm. Aliyah said, "Don't address me as your mother, but treat me as your friend, your companion, a person who will always stay beside you acting as a shield." Alice ascended the platform and said, "Centuries ago, our people joined together to fight and defeat the cruel and evil demons and ogres. And the history is repeating once again and we must unite once again to defeat those evil and heartless enemies. Mother Manaca sent me to these land for safeguarding your lives and bring back the lost honor back to you." One of the Shukens asked, "How can a mortal guard us? You are weak and feeble and will die sooner than us." Alice said smiling, "Longevity cannot be accomplished without a safe living environment. I may be a mortal, a feeble and short living creature, but today we are not here as mortals, elves, Shiniganos or Shukens.

We are here today as a family. A family, which might be diversed, but not divided. Our goal is not different nor is the path. Our enemies won't kill us differently nor we will fight them any different. We have our own strengths and weaknesses, but together we have no weaknesses. I cannot promise that we will win the war, but I can promise that we fight with all our strength, mind and soul. Our enemies think they have won the war, but they don't even know that the war has just begun. I don't know what Mother Manaca has seen in me, but I will die to keep her honor and fight till my last blood of my heart for you."

All the people started chanting Alice's name with full zeal and enthusiasm. Aliyah smiled and mumbled, "Today, I realized why Mother Manaca chosed her." The people gathered around King Jamalus's body and burned it with the branches and twigs that have fallen from the trees last night during the duel. Everyone, then slowly walked away towards their village, Shinoken Village, a secret village made around the Old City of Gold. Aliyah looked at Alice and patted her shoulder, "Today, you have done the most beautiful thing I ever wanted from you. You motivated and won the people's trust and love and made them a part of your army." Alice smiled, "I didn't do anything, Aliyah. Those people were already quite tormented and angry towards the ogres and their anger just fueled my inspirational words.

They are not fighting for me, but for the rights and justice they deserve." Aliyah said grimly, "Don't say that, Alice. If they are not fighting for you, then they will not follow you to the mortal world to fight alongside you against Xao Chang. Tammy and Krymon are very small enemies and will get perished easily, but Xao Chang is death and destruction himself. The last time he destroyed our whole kingdom and it took five centuries to rebuild it and for the reincarnation of the Blood Spear. I cannot afford to wait for another infinite amount of time for the next reincarnation." Alice said, "We cannot force someone to fight our battles. If they feel it's their duty to fight Xao Chang and his demonic army, then they will themselves come without any inspirational speech or threat. Unity comes from satisfaction, Aliyah. If they are not satisfied to fight alongside us, then we have to produce the satisfaction."

Aliyah asked, "What do you mean by producing satisfaction?" Alice smiled, "Don't act innocent, Aliyah. I know that you let Jamalus die last night. You had enough time to save all of our lives, but you chosed to let Jamalus die because you wanted his death become a ladder for you to connect with the fragile emotions of Shinigano and Shuken people. You perfectly knew that you would be seen as a mother figure, a guardian and they will readily agree to follow you anywhere you want and will happily fight alongside you in any battle you want. You are a total ruthless person when it comes to your interests." Aliyah said grimly, "That is a lesson you should learn too. People will never fight your war, unless you make it their war. Many years ago, I convinced Elgin's father to select his son as my father's successor by installing dreams of glory and fame. But, unfortunately Krymon killed Elys in the battle and I died in the battle. But, now the whole situation will change and my long lost dream will get fulfilled. Elgin will become the king and I will use him as a puppet to finance my war costs." Alice asked, "War costs? Won't we fight with magic?" Aliyah laughed, "Foolish girl. You think three women and one ghost can defeat the mighty Xao Chang. We will need arms and people who can fight for us and these all takes a large amount of money. Tammy and Jammy has filled the royal treasury with gold earned by nefarious deeds and it is time to make some good use of it."

Alice asked, "How can you be so much evil?" Aliyah smiled, "It is not evil, if it turns out to be good in the end. My father's leniency cost us the war. If he had listened to my mother and executed Tammy and Jammy after their failed attempt to murder my father, then we would have won the war quite easily. Their betrayal cost us the kingdom. My mother was misogynistic but not fool. She was a merchant's daughter and had learned the art of mind reading at a very raw age."

Alice asked, "If Tammy and Jammy tried to kill your father? Why didn't your father executed them?" Aliyah replied, "Because of politics. The incident was not very open but very subtle. Tammy and Jammy's involvement was never wholly proved nor did the assassin gave any name of his client before dying with my sword. Our whole accusation was based on assumptions and I put forward their names because their deaths would have been quite useful then. But, again all decisions were made by the elders and Tammy and Jammy's father was a member of them. My father was a simple man and he thought that things will change after we win the war, but things never turned out in his favor and in the end, Tammy became the king."

Alice asked, "Why didn't you disclose their betrayal before?" Aliyah smiled, "Because I needed their support and again things were good. I cannot become the villain by telling everyone that their king is a hoax and traitor. But, now things are in our favor and the elves are starting to see the real character of Tammy and Jammy. The only person I feel bad for is Sophia. That poor girl is going to suffer from so much pain. I hope Mother Manaca gives her strength to endure the pain." Alice said grimly, "I feel bad for Elgin. Poor guy don't even know how much have happened without his knowledge. He has been ever jolly and friendly to me. I don't know what to say." Aliyah said, "You don't have to say anything. When the right time comes, he will himself get to know all the facts." Elena came towards them and said, "The Shinigano general said that the ogres are slowly moving inside the Elves Kingdom in large numbers. Some of them had large wall smashing catapults with them. He said that there must be something big happening inside the palace."

Aliyah said grimly, "I am sure that Tammy has given seize rights to Krymon and now Krymon is trying to seize properties inside the kingdom to turned it into barracks for his army. Oh, dear Mother Manaca! He must have discovered the ring that my grandfather Jalacapa hid years ago after killing Gigantus. The ring was made by the powerful wizards of Necra City, an ancient and extinct city of wizards. Gigantus's whole power was a part of the ring and he selfishly snatched away almost half of all ogres's power and entered it inside his ring. The absence of the ring is the only reason, Krymon is so silent or else his range of havoc is quite merciless. Why does everything happens so fast? I barely get enough time for preparation and a new problem appears."

Alice asked, "If Krymon and his orc gang is raiding the kingdom, shouldn't we interfere and stop them?" Aliyah replied grimly, "It's not that easy, little brain. Krymon has the power of Tammy behind him and also we are less in number to fight with them. Shinigano and Shuken people are crafty and have accomplished success in guerrilla warfare, but they are not that good in battlefield. In fact, in the last war that happened centuries ago, Shinigano and Shuken had only managed to keep their places safe by guerrilla warfare, but the ones who engaged in open battle, died effortlessly. You haven't met any Shuken people till now, so you are hoping some help from them. The Shukens I last saw were merely forty to fifty inches and the most heaviest of them was thirty pounds. I won't deny their dwarf advantages, but also I won't rely on it too much."

Alice asked, "Then, what should we do now?" Aliyah was about to say something, when a herd of horses came racing in with Krymon's sister, Hilda in the front. Though, orcs are known for their hideous facial structure and gigantic body, Hilda was a great beauty. Long crimson hair, orange eyes and a small scar near her left eye and a seductive figure, she was a nymph. Aliyah quickly withdraw the spear and confronted Hilda, "Why the hell are you here?" Hilda looked at Aliyah and smiled, "A puny ghost. That's your identity now, Aliyah? I can't deny, but I expected more of you." Aliyah said angrily, "Say a word more and I will show what more this puny ghost can do." Hilda smiled, "Relax, Aliyah. I'm not here to challenge you or fight you. I'm here with a proposal or better, an idea." Aliyah said, "You are in no position to offer proposals to us. You and your arrogant brother has already done enough torture on my poor people. It's time to punish you both for your sins." Hilda smiled, "Everyone knows how desperate you are for some help, Aliyah. I have my ears all over the Shinoken Village. But, let's not humiliate you anymore. I came here today to offer you my aid and men in return of the head of Krymon."

Aliyah smiled, "You don't have enough power or support of the orcs to attack Krymon even if you want and that's why you have come begging for my help, didn't you?" Hilda said angrily, "Look, Aliyah. We had our fight years ago and I can assure you that I am still that much powerful and dangerous and it will not take one hour for me to wipe off your village. So, listen carefully. I want Krymon's head and I can help you in getting near Krymon." Aliyah said, "I don't know what animosity you have with your brother, but if you are so dead serious, then welcome aboard." Aliyah turned around and was about to leave, when she turned her head and said, "I have defeated you twice, Hilda. So, you better show some respect next time you stand before me." Hilda showed her tongue and jumped on her horse and went away....