Wind Of Revolution

Licha and her crew finally reached Ganzi City. It was not like any other city of the Elf Kingdom but was filled with lots of trees, plants, flowers, small huts, ponds, and rivers. The inhabitants were poor yet happy and were standing in a queue to welcome their Queen Licha who had just arrived between them. Licha raised her hand and said, "Congratulations, my dear fellows. I am so happy to announce that from today onward, Ganzi City will be added under the protection of Namaria. It will prosper and will soon be a big and successful place like Namaria." Leo smiled, "Don't give all of your speech here. They have organized a special program for you after lunch. Licha smiled and walked inside a little hut built especially for her and her servants. Licha looked at Halidesus and asked, "Where are those old people? The elders?" Halidesus said, "They will be there in the program. Don't worry, they are still thinking of you more as a representative of the Elf Kingdom rather than a Queen of Namaria. So, please don't criticize Aliyah or Elgin. They might become suspicious." Licha said angrily, "I spent more than three days traveling through some bad roads and terrible weather, just to be called Aliyah's representative." Halidesus said, "Relax, Licha. Once, the factories start working and we start to get revenue from it, all these people and their elders will start praising you and will forget that weak Aliyah. You just have to win their trust in the upcoming program." Licha smiled, "Winning trust is my forte." Leo entered the hut and said, "We will go to see my factories after the program. It will be better if we don't haste things up. The elders are gathering slowly and too many eyes are already monitoring us." Licha smiled, "Whatever you want, Leo." Leo smiled and walked outside. Licha said, "Halidesus, go and see what the situation is. I will change my clothes and come to the program soon." Halidesus bowed and walked outside the hut.

Licha walked upstairs on the stage walked towards the microphone and smiled, "Good evening, my dear Ganzi City people. I'm so glad to be present amongst you lovely people. While many may know me and might know my good name, let me introduce myself again to the people who are having a hard time recognizing me. My name is Licha von Versalis, I am the sister of Elsinore Versalis, better known by his nickname "Elgin". I am three years older than him and I am currently the presiding queen of Namaria. My husband and my mother were assassinated twelve weeks ago by some unknown assailants. I managed to survive but lost two of the most important people of my life. I hardly recovered from the loss, when Aliyah declared war on Namaria on the pretext of uniting all of the Elf Kingdom under her reign. She has become blind with greed and arrogance and threatened to kill me and my other sister, Vera who went into hiding due to the fear of Aliyah. I am not here to gain sympathy or ask for help from you guys, but please honestly answer my one small question. What would you have done if you were in my place?" The whole crowd was dead silent. They were standing there with their heads down. Licha said grimly, "We all are made from the same skin and blood and will die the same. So, answer me why should one single person have the right to rule all over us with an iron fist? Are we inferior to the royal pieces of shit that were born without any struggle and were given a golden spoon from birth? Should we do nothing and silently suffer the brutality of those high and poised bastards? ARE WE WEAK??!" The crowd said in unison, "NO!!" One of the elders stood up and asked, "Why should we believe you? Who are you to accuse someone else of when you have done nothing for us till today?" Licha smiled, "I have nothing? Who said I have done nothing? I have come here to put forward a revolution to move forward and be a part of a new future rather than being buried in the pages of history." The elder said, "You are a liar. You have come here only for your benefit. You are afraid because Aliyah has declared war on you, but why is your brother supporting her then?" Licha said grimly, "Elgin is a traitor. He has forgotten his real identity and believes him to be a part of Aliyah's family. But, Aliyah is no one's messiah. She will throw him away like she threw away many people before. Aliyah is a poison that will slowly kill all of us. Earlier, she killed so many of our brothers and sisters deliberately by pushing them towards an unnecessary war. She did no help to us nor did anything to uplift us. Instead, she only returned to destroy us again." The elder said, "So, what? Aliyah is the Blood Queen. She is the incarnation of Mother Manaca herself. Her every decision is for the good of the people. Who are you to oppose her decisions?" Licha smiled, "Bigots like you are the reason, monsters like Aliyah suck our blood. But, I have decided to change all of it forever. Whoever is with me, come to the right side. And whoever is against me, stay wherever you are." Almost half of the crowd went towards the right side. Licha smiled, "Looks like your bigotry has come to an end, old man. It's time to feel the wind of revolution." Licha pressed a button near the microphone and thousands of arrows fell on them and killed all of the opposers. The crowd was in shock but was somehow a lot happier than before. No one, especially the young population was happy with the old elders. They didn't like the old and outdated rituals and rules of the past. The progress of Ganzi City was halted for several years because some bigot people wanted to live in the past. When they heard that someone from the Kingdom was coming to their village, they expected someone boring and orthodox like Aliyah, but when Licha started saying words of revolution and a better future, most of them already decided to support her. But, now when she blatantly killed all of her opposers in an instant, their respect for her has increased tenfold. Licha smiled and walked downstairs from the stage and the crowd cheered her name loudly. 

Aliyah was sitting on her bed, when Vexana entered the room and looked at her. Aliyah smiled, "So, are you getting nervous?" Vexana smiled, "Maybe. War is a brutal affair and getting nervous is normal." Aliyah smiled, "You were a coward from the beginning. Maybe, not a coward but always were soft. I think wars are very important for any civilization to grow. There will always be enemies and people who will try to cling to the old and useless traditions and will forbid change or development." Vexana asked, "So, are you an old orthodox person too? You advocate old traditions like the the people who were disliked all over the course of history. Like your mother." Aliyah smiled, "Stop being so childish, Vexana. Why do you always compare me with my mother? I'm nothing like her." Vexana said, "You are. You are slowly turning into your mother. She was also an arrogant woman and so are you. She also liked belittling people and you are also belittling me." Aliyah said, "Belittling? Belittling with what? I just told you the truth. You are the one saying war is bad. We are warriors, we have to like war and be ready to win it under any conditions and without thinking of any consequences." Vexana said grimly, "That's not what a warrior would say. You are saying the words of your mother. She also said exactly the same when we were marching towards the enemy and you decided to halt. She tried to motivate you with these words, but only made you more mad at her. You said that her blood lust is menacing and you are not going to contribute to it. You only agreed to fight when Elgin told you that you are not fighting to fulfill your mother's blood lust but to help the elves fight against Xao Chang's evil." Aliyah said grimly, "So, what? Exact words can have different meanings and show different emotions. Don't try to just throw out random words to prove your baseless arguments." Vexana sighed, "I don't have any more to say. The war is coming and I have to prepare for it. Good bye for now." Vexana exited the room. 

Kayuba entered the room and said, "There has been a change of plans, Aliyah. I heard that Xao Chang is sending three of his new warriors to fight against us." Aliyah sighed, "That is not something new. He would send people if he thinks it is going to do him any benefit." Kayuba said, "So, what is your response?" Aliyah said, "We don't have a "response" especially for him. We will do what is already planned. Do you know who the guys are?" Kayuba said, "I don't know. I haven't been around the Monastery that much lately. But, whoever Xao Chang is sending will definitely be very powerful and dangerous." Aliyah smiled, "Fine. We are not weak too. We can easily deal with anyone at any time." Kayuba smiled, "It was my duty to inform you." Aliyah said grimly, "If it is not full information, then it is not informing." Kayuba smiled, "I will keep that in mind for the future." He disappeared in red mist.

Licha and Halidesus were sitting and feasting when Leo and Elena entered the room. Leo smiled, "Your bold move helped us secure the trust of the people of Ganzi City. Here, let me introduce you to the new chief of Ganzi City, Elinazo." A tall, dark man in his early forties stepped in front of Licha and saluted her. Licha nodded her head and smiled, "It's nice to meet you. I hope you will fulfill your responsibilities with utmost dedication and honesty." Elinazo smiled, "Sure, my queen. But, we still have to give an answer to the families of the people who died today." Licha smiled, "Tell them that they have two options. First, they can forget all this nonsense and move forward with me towards a better future or second they can join the deceased." Elinazo asked nervously, "But, that can provoke rebellion?" Licha smiled, "You are still naive about this political game called "power". Once, they see that they only have these two options then they will never try to be rebellious against us. A bowed head is always better than a beheaded one." Elinazo asked, "So, should I announce the autocracy?" Licha laughed, "Autocracy? What are you, Elinazo? A buffoon?" Elinazo lowered his head in shame. Halidesus said, "Don't worry about announcing anything. We still have a lot of time to do anything so daring. We have to first win a war and believe me if we manage to win the war, not only Ganzi City but the whole Elf Kingdom will be ours. You can become the new king of Ganzi City under Queen Licha." Elinazo smiled, "Well, my heartfelt thanks for such a big opportunity." Licha smiled, "Fine. Now, go and deliver my message to the mourners." Elinazo bowed and walked outside the tent. Leo looked at Licha and asked, "Why did you have to offer him the kingdom of Ganzi City? I wanted Ganzi City. The city is full of magnificent resources which can be sold in the market for thousands and thousands of gold coins." Licha smiled, "That's the difference in our thinking, Leo. You are looking at the business side, but I am looking at the political side. Ganzi City is rich in resources but it is also rich with unemployed and uneducated fools like Elinazo. These fools will do anything for us, whenever we command them without even thinking twice. How can you beat that, Mr. Leo?" Leo smiled, "Well, then you will see the political side and I will see the business side from now on." Licha smiled, "It's a deal." Leo smiled and walked outside the tent. Licha said grimly, "Keep an eye on both Leo and Elinazo. They both are not the most privileged in the brain sector." Halidesus bowed and said, "Sure do." Licha said, "Now, go and do whatever you want to do. I need some rest after that horrible incident this evening." Halidesus bowed and left the room. Licha sighed and closed her eyes to sleep....