chapter 4 Anti-requiem

Chapter 4: Anti-requiem

My name is Sulfur Sholl. I am ten years old. My family and I were taken—not into slavery, but taken all the same. Mother is walking again; Father is still treating her like she'll die any day. But she is strong enough to have started my swordsmanship training. Every day, before I met with the old man—my teacher—she tore through any defense I could make. Her blows tossed me aside. The worst part is that she forbade me from wearing the stone with her.

"Girl! Every warrior fights to one day find their death on the battlefield. But you must be different. Your defense will be immovable. Your mind will be unshakeable. Be in control. Be stronger than the strength given to you. Defend yourself…"

I saw her attack coming, but I couldn't do anything. I was brought to my knees. I never wanted to feel that way. I think that monster made me feel weak. And now my mother does the same. I will never forget this. With one kick, I collapsed under the pressure. She screamed, "Only when you master defense will I teach you to attack!"

"Thank you, Mother, for the lesson."

My words were dull, but my eyes were sharp.

For a moment, she looked like my mother again. She dropped her hand and I took it.

"What did you do wrong?"

"I committed too much to blocking your swings when parrying and dodging are options."

"Correct. You can't always be a brute. Despite what that man and his stone teach you. Be efficient in your motion. Find the best option ahead."

I didn't say anything. I just nodded. I just wanted this to be over. She saw this.

"Hmm, go clean yourself up before your next lesson. And I—I love you."

Maybe I'll take after her after all. My heart won't let me hate her. Not even now.

"I love you too, Ma. See you at dinner."

The training has been getting harder, but I feel better after getting my stone. My limp was gone, and the warmth was back. It's better. After my preparations, I went to my teacher. He was sitting in his tent, as always. And, as always, the lesson started with meditation. I always tried to drown out my own thoughts, thinking of anything else. But it kept coming: the shredding. The sound of suffering and pain. The things from my dreams are leaking into my day. I see war unending. But I also see hope: in a man, in a place, in a child. I don't know these people, but I hope I meet them soon.

"My child, this journey across the land has been long. Have you noticed anything during our travels?"

The land changes; the sand of the desert drifts into the grasslands. It was novel at first, to see so much green. But the grass got so tall. My fear gripped me, so I gripped my father even harder. Things only calmed down once we cut the grass to camp.

"Yes, and there are not only these two biomes; there are four: the Desert, the Plains, the Mountain Ranges, and the Bog. These places, along with the ocean, are what make up our world." He pulled out a map with various names. The only way I could tell was because he was also teaching me to read. This world of ours was big.

"Where is the capital on this map?" He pointed at the mountains. "The highest place in the world for her highness. We will be there soon. When we arrive, things will move quickly—quicker than you can imagine. You are going to miss the small details, so today I will teach you to see the big picture in the capital. The first step is etiquette."

The fact that you need to learn how to hold a fork feels more barbaric than anything the slavers did. The most minute of things have rules made by a man 3,000 years ago, and now I am forced to learn this shit because fucking rich motherfuckers think it's important. But I am just the apprentice, and HEs the master. I came to regret giving him that title sooner than I thought. But although magic feels so much more important, I learned the rules. These lessons went on for the last days of our travels to the capital. Everything from basic political theory to which words to use during a dinner party. Madam and Mister, Ladies and Gentlemen, Sirs, Dukes, Counts, and Coupes. Meaningless words, for meaningless people. Master says most of the noble class have never even left the capital. But they rule us. Even my master showed his distaste for this. But he says the thing that made the whole system work was the empress. Immortal, powerful, wise. Her magic is like nothing else, he says. I guess I will just have to see.

"Our Lady seems to be excited to meet you."

Me? This must be why we were taken. To be of use. I can live with that.

"Teacher, what is your name?"

His glance was sideways.

"Why does it matter?" He said.

"This is going to be difficult if I just call you teacher."

"Then call me Librarian or General."

"Those are just your titles."

"Yes, they are, and every one of them I have suffered for. These titles are everything. That's why they cost everything, including my name. So even if I had a name, I would have no use for it."

This thing wasn't human anymore. But that's why everyone valued him. The failures of the common man seem so far away from him. Maybe I could be like him. Someone without comparison.

"Can I give you a title?"

"Only if I want it."

"My Master."

Yet again, it seemed I surprised him. It was only a moment, but I saw it in his eyes. A faulty dream of his, shining in the dark.

"Then, my apprentice, let's continue on with the lesson."

We eventually entered this mountain pass. It rains a lot in the mountains. I haven't felt wet like this since I was in the womb. We walked until we came across a mountain that was so steep it went completely straight up from base to peak. It looked like a dead end. My master came to the front of the caravan; I was with him. For the first time, I heard velvet in his words: "I hope you make this your home. Open the gates!"

The ground began to shake, and a light began to beam down from the mountain. Soon I would see this was not just any light, but the sun. The whole mountain began to split apart.

"The walls of our great city took centuries to make, let alone the whole city. That's why it's called the City of 10,000 Eternities, or City 10,000 for short. Even now, men still build it higher while others dig to build deeper."

As the mighty gates opened, I saw the city. Pillars of light were the towers as they extended into the sky. The alleyways are full of people buying and selling grains, meat, and fruit. Just the sight of it was a burden on the mind. Things only got worse as we entered the city. The people started giving food to the soldiers. They were being heralded as heroes. Even the people higher up the many towers were shouting their praise. Something about this felt good. Soon we arrived at the city center, where the greatest tower lies. Even if it is not the tallest or the biggest, it is the oldest. This is the royal palace. From there, the men of my Master's army were dismissed. There were no great walls around this palace—just enough soldiers to claim a world. We were ushered through until we arrived at the front door. It was quite simple compared to the rest of what I just witnessed. As we got close, the doors opened, and we were greeted by a guard. Crow's feet had stepped on the edge of his eyes, and gray had crested over the horizon of his eyebrows. Safe to say, he was old, and short, as he was only a foot or two taller than me.

"Good to see you return, Librarian."

"I see you too, Guard."

My Master tried his best to walk past the man.

"I am guessing your expedition was successful?"

The old guard watched me as a writer sees a blank page. But at least he used a smile to hide it.

"What is your name, Miss?"

"I am Sulfur Sholl, ten years old. I am the apprentice to the Librarian."

The guard looked at my Master with a trickster's grin.

"Well, Miss Sholl, then Sir Jason welcomes you to the Great Obelisk."

He waved us in. My parents, during this whole exchange, were silent. I think the expanse of the city placed a greater burden on them than on me. Soon, we were taken to a parlor on the first floor.

"Miss and Mr. Sholl, I hope I have won your trust at this point."

"If so, then there should be no reason not to move forward with our plan."

Mother never blinks when staring into the eyes of a greater force. But this is the first time I have seen her forced to give an answer that will break her heart. 

"Me and your father must go"

"Go where"

"They will serve for your citizenship." My master said

"You cheat you monster, why are you doing this to them?"

Before I could continue curse my master, my father took me in his arms. He was warm. His voice was quiet.

"This is what we chose my dear. This way we can give you everything you need. Now all we need from you now is to take care of yourself. This world you are entering is so big but you are bigger and stronger. Never let anyone tell you differently you can do this. And my daughter, I love you, we will come back to you no matter what it takes."

I looked at my mother. She was not strong enough to speak, and so was I. All I could do was hold them. And before I knew it they were gone. My whole world was gone. Replaced by this thing, this half reality deformed by the whims of greater will. And I couldn't even wish for revenge since I knew that this was the best chance for all of us. As my parents fight I will wage my own war. These people who stare down from their towers will serve me. But first I must stand in front of that woman. The empress. With the hollowness of a tool I looked at my master.

"If it is appropriate, give me an audience with the empress. my master" 

My master was bored. 

"I guess that is the next thing on our agenda. But before you must take a bath."

I had no more tears left. Only silence, and then—splash. This city wastes no time devouring you whole.

My Master led me away to the stables where there was a small wooden tub full of water. Before I knew it, I was surrounded by women—maids of this tower. Each of them was kind in their own way, but each never had an ounce of mercy for me. They were kind in their words but ruthless in their scrubbing. I was their project—some desert filth to polish. I tried to run, I tried to fight, but I was brought to my knees, this time by the mothers of the tower. It was only during my submission that I heard something I had not heard before.

Sulfer you do have the most beautiful hair.

The maid who said this had no lie to her. But how could something like that be true? The best of hair was long, where mine only went to my shoulders. The best of hair was blonde or brown or even black. Mine was stark white. This compliment didn't make sense. Why are the maids laughing at me.

Sorry miss sulfer i did not mean to make you blush. 

I brought my hands up to my face. I was burning up. At that moment I took it back. I will have my revenge on these people. I will NEVER forgive them.