The generation

Looking down from a great height of the monument, the city lying down beneath me was seemingly unmoving as in eternal present. Encircled by stone walls stretching through miles and miles, guarding my privacy toward over the end of horizon. The noises of civilians, aristocrats, slaves and workers, all could be heard but so faint from far above. 

So many kinds of classes and people yet I only saw them through my vision like ants. The sun was setting and the city was slowly going to sleep. And when the sun rised once again, the city would wake up once more. But could this go for eternity for a kingdom live as long as the sun?

The cycle had repeated for over and over again. Years after years had passed. Though the sun looked the same, the city became more different than when I was made. Though I did say I saw all people like ants, there were some ants I mostly focused on. This obviously included my own creator, Tuffa. I met him the last time when the monument was finished building. The construction had lasted over decades. 

His hairs got more greyer as his family members increased along the way. He entered and exit his house, in and out everyday until one day I didn't see him came out of his home. His son did the same. His grandchild did the same. His wife, his nephew, his descendents all did the same. None of them live as long as the city or the sun or me.

The monument I was nested in was thin narrow tower with pointy top and the arch gateway at the very top where I was presented. At the bottom of the tower was much wider hall where the imprtant people met. The echoes in the hall were louder than that of outside. So I could hear vividly of anyone speaking. I usually ignored the voices but that one day, some thing caught my attention.

"I, Prothana, as an ambassador from far away country who has been travelled to various kingdom, I must say I am finally surprised seeing a single kingdom with 6 monarchs ruling."

"Indeed it is. This country is so big that management is not an easy task."

"May I ask you one thing. Since when did this system started."

"we believed it had started from the journeyman period."

"Interesting, what does the term journeyman would refers to..."

"The journeyman was said to be the most important person in history as he had made one artifact that outshine all thing in existence."

"If so, am I allowed to see such precious thing..?"

"Hmmm... we don't really know since this kingdom has not much diplomatic relationships with others as they might be afraid of our might. No one had made a rule on whether if we should show you or not. Even we don't know what that look like."

"It is said to be at the top of this building..."

"There is also some kind of generational law that we must not touch nor approach the sacred artifact."

"But then we are the only one that make laws and rules here... no one can stop us anyway..."

"He is right... we will show you just right away."

I heard the sounds of footsteps coming from me from down there for the first time in hundreds of years. Though it had been centuries, I had not dusty a little bit. Even the craftman himself promised that no amount of dirt can reach me and he delivered. The quality of materials that made me were peerless.

A group of men had entered into my room carefully as if to not disturb my dormancy. Each of them had clean white gloves on their hands and with those hands they cautiously move me along with the cushion I rested on slowly to the downstairs. The hall had changed a lot from initially built with sandstones to smooth white marbles with golden trims. Not sure it was rebuilt or something since beginning because I was put at the top even before the construction was fully finished.

At the meeting table I saw so many unfamiliar faces. The six man sitting on the unique chairs might be next generation of kings and the man at the opposite end of the table might have been a foreigner. They were all speechless while looking at me for several minutes straight. They were watching me like something they had never encountered. Even the foreigner couldn't say or ask anything. 

"Uh...ahem... anyway... wow... Wow!.. this your majesties... this thing... no... this beautiful necklace... such marvel, what does it called... what is its name?..."

The foreigner struggled to form coherent words. So did the kings remained ignorant of what to say. They looked at each other, questioning each other using their eyes. Later, an older looking monarch began to speak.

"Sorry for the silence dear envoy... it's just that this marvelous artifact, for all its grace and beauty doesn't seem to have a name."

"A nameless necklace... that is what our fathers called. There had never been a historical record of it's name being written."

The king with bald head continued.

"A nameless necklace?.. If so, how much would this worth if we were to sell it? How much would it be if you were to sell it to me? Would that be much more than the price of our country."

"Let us not jump into conclusion... There is a reason why we were not allowed to touch it."

The king with the rougher looking face replied.

"Indeed... even more reason we weren't allowed to must be this necklace is just too special."

Said the king with an ugly face.

"It must be even higher than us. That is why our ancestors didn't take it lightly."

The king with a small body speculated. The envoy then calmed himself down for a bit.

"If so, I must ask who should receive the ownership for it."

"No one... absolutely noone has the right to own this."

The king who had not speaking much for the whole time replied.

"Then allow me to take my leave... I now have enough knowledge for this nation. We will come back in the future for peaceful collaboration between kingdoms. Thank you for your welcome."

"Have a lovely trip to home great ambassador... if you need something on your way, you can ask us anything."

"I have one last thing to say... in my opinion, the artifact must have an owner or else it would be quite unwise keeping it, especially as a necklace that should be worn. Anywho, that's all I need to say. Goodbye!"

SLAM!

With the sound of the big doors slamming shut, I could feel the air had thicken in the room although I was an object. This was no ordinary air... it was filled with something abstract and powerful. I tried to search for the source then I saw all six king without movement sitting still. 

They were not speaking but I could feel them doing something. None of them were pleasant looking. A while after, one got up from his seat and left... then another... then another... then another... then another... then another had left. No amount of words were spoken but each of them had made decisions on their owns. They didn't even bother putting me back at my place. Something was about to unfold...