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~~~(POV: Cera Adamo)~~~
~~~(Location: Desert, The Continent Of Alforza)~~~
~~~(Time: 11:21 AM)~~~
There has been an awkward silence for the past 45 minutes. Xilo revealing she was once a slave, took the wind out of Sally's sails. It goes to show that you never really know someone. That's not what my mind is currently on.
Sally is becoming increasingly affected by the heat. Eventually, she'll either pass out from heat exhaustion or she'll need to unequip her armor. The third option is continuing to make ice from her class. It's what she's doing right now.
It's actually working too. This way, she does not have to get naked like Xilo, and I'm currently enjoying the ice she's creating too.
Xilo herself is only watching us as we enjoy the cold from Sally's class skills. Winters Wrath is Legacy in Grade, but it's chock-full of exceptional Skills.
"Would you mind sharing some of the histories between the Des'merta and this Kingdom you're at war with? It's not something I knew about until you brought it up just a little bit ago. I'm curious as to what it is."
While I said, I wouldn't be learning anything new about the Des'merta. I don't see any way to pass the time faster. A history lesson is an excellent way to keep the boredom at bay. It never hurts to learn more about where you're at anyway.
The dark-skinned priestess smiles at me with what I can only describe as a mixture of calm happiness. This doesn't go unnoticed by Sally.
"There is much history between the Des'merta and the Kingdom known as Regeliance. Should I start from the beginning?"
Regeliance... I've never heard of this Kingdom before. That's to be expected since I'm in a part of Gaia I've never been to before. Legalized slavery, huh... Sounds archaic and vile. Sally doesn't like slavery since she was one at one point. A sex slave at that.
That part of her life was 80 years ago, and she's done a great job getting past the pain and suffering. But all this shit we're casually strolling into might dig up wounds that are still healing.
My stomach churns at the sound of that. Legalized slavery. Ugh.
"Start where you think would best suit my education."
Leaving the lesson up to her seems the wisest decision. You don't need to know everything from start to finish. While that's fun, it's not needed here.
"I supposed I should start 417 years ago. My 10th birthday."
'ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ N ovelBi(n)',
Umm... What?
Sally and I both look at Xilo, confused. Genuinely shocked, to say the least. She's 427 years old. That's unbelievable. She's human, so how is she able to live so long and still look like she's in the process of going into her late twenties?
I scratch the back of my head as I try to find the right words. It's not the first time I've met an old immortal. It won't be the last, either. I just didn't expect Xilo to be one.
She doesn't act like someone who is nearly 430 years old. People that old usually behave differently, and it's easy to see when it's happening.
"You're confused as to how a human can become as old as me and still look this young."
I can make deductions. She's a priestess, and that could mean the God she's serving has granted her immortality. Perhaps she's been cursed by a power that only exists in Alforza. The possibilities are numerous.
"Yeah, that's one way of putting it."
It's Sally that answers her. A little condescendingly in the process. Sally is being unlike her usual self; given the longer she's exposed to Xilo. The frustration, anger, and likely hate run deep in her. More than I thought it did.
At first, I thought she was getting over what happened. I know I'm over it, but it got to Sally a lot more than it did me. If the roles were reversed, I'd never get over it.
So in that sense, I understand.
"You're aware that I was once a slave now. It was when I was ten when I was freed."
God, that means she was...
I can't even finish thinking about that. She's had the same life as Sally...
"When I was brought to the Des'merta city. The Spice Mother chose me. She's the head priestess of our culture. The Spice Mother gave me a drink, and the gift I received was visions and immortality."
That's a very simplified explanation.
"Every priestess that drinks from the Spice Cup is given unique boons all to themselves. Some are given great magical power, and others are given strength. I was given two boons."
So there are multiple priestesses. I had assumed so, but this confirms it. I couldn't be 100 percent sure.
"That means you're one of the longest-living priestesses for your culture. Are there any other priestesses that share your unique boons?"
I'd guess none do, but at least if one didn't. I don't see how Xilo couldn't have become the head of the culture. The Spice Mother is still in charge from the signs of it.
"Perceptive, Raduerial. The only other priestess that shares immortality is The Spice Mother herself. She's almost as old as the desert itself."
I'm becoming more interested in the history of the Des'merta than I originally was. There is so much to learn. I don't know if Sally will mind me asking more questions, but she'll have to deal with it.
"What about the Kingdom, Regeliance? How long has that been around?"
I don't see how two opposing people and civilizations could exist in the same place unless one was unaware of the other for the longest time. The desert is a big place, and it was a terrible environment to live in before the Des'merta were Players.
"Our people were aware of them for a long time. They hadn't known we existed for several centuries. But after they started to practice slavery. The Spice Mother gave every Des'merta to save the slaves of their own volition and have them join the Des'merta."
The Des'merta is an adoptive people by nature. They take in anyone that proves themselves worthy enough to be Des'merta. Once you do, you're one of them, and they'll take care of you.
"How long has this war been happening between the Des'merta and The Regeliance Kingdom?"
Sally surprises me as it's her asking the question this time. I figured she'd stay out of this, but that's not the case.
'Follow current novels on n0velbin.com.',
Wars can last a long time. Earth has its own history of war, some lasting vast amounts of time in our history. It's part of the evolution of a people, whether anyone wants it or not.
"Since slavery was legalized in Regeliance. They abduct and raid other lands and kingdoms. If you're foreigners, you're worth more on the slave market. They have enemies, but they're the strongest Kingdom on the continent. No one challenges them openly."
Wow, while it's not a specific number, it's definitely something to give an idea. That means it's been a war that's lasted since before Xilo was born.
"How come the surrounding Kingdoms and lands haven't banded together to face the comment threat? A united front can overcome any one power."
That's not an opinion I share with Sally. Some things are too big to beat. Even when you have help. I couldn't say it's impossible, but since it hasn't happened yet. It won't be happening any time soon.
"The armies, weapons, and technology of Regeliance are far beyond any Kingdoms or lands that surround it. Having free laborers allows for science, prosperity, and the economy to grow. They've been in a golden age since they legalized slavery."
It's a vile perspective, and one I don't like looking at or entertaining. However, all the greatest empires and civilizations built on Earth and Gaia were built on the backs of slaves.
I'm getting sucked into the lore now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Below this line, I'll be keeping Cera's player information. That way, I won't have to place it into the story above anymore. It takes about 180 words up.
[Slayer (Zern) Lvl.237][Tier-4]
[Exp: 72/100%]
[Title: The Son of Arch-Angel Michael (Hidden)]
[Stats] [Strength - 7095][Endurance - 7045][Dexterity - 7215][Speed - 8240][Focus - 19,660]
[Mana aura control: 6/100%]
[Health: 76,560,000,000/76,560,000,000] [Mana: 216,600,000,000/216,600,000,000]
[Stat Points: 440] [Armor rating: 500]
[Inventory] [Dice of Wayland (Divine)] [The Witness (Legendary Sword)] [Fenrir's Whistle (Divine)] [Camping gear] [Fishing poles 2x] [Festival Garbs 2x] [4x EXP Boosts] [Princess Saliandra's Panties (Black Lace)] [Desert Warrior Nomad Set (Rare)]
[Passive Perks]
[Inheritor of the Sword] [Son of Heaven] [Slayer of Evil] [Holy Willow Trees Savior] [Finder of Legends] [The Divine who has Legend] [Destined for Greatness] [Dungeon Diver] [An Overachiever]
[Active Skills]
[Heaven's light Lvl.74 325/7400] [Protected by Heaven Lvl.74 225/7400] [Slash Lvl.92 4600/21000] [Parry Lvl.68 85/6800] [Double Strike N/A] [Kingslayer N/A] [Raging Machine N/A] [Winged Glory] [Angelic Flight] [Divine Pressure Exertion] [Divinity Pulse] [Controlled Fun] [Aspect of Transportation (Legendary)]