[Howlett Estate, New Port Town]
The morning sun was beginning to rise over the waters as M'batu stood by the docks, breathing in the salt and cold of the sea, memories of his arrival here resurfacing in his mind like it was yesterday. A year had passed since the raft he'd hastily built in order to escape his 'owners' drifted to this place, an unfamiliar territory like no other he'd ever seen.
He'd expected hardship and confinement, perhaps even cruelty from his captors when he decided to show himself after some observations but instead, he found something that felt far more like freedom than he had ever known.
M'batu could still recall that fateful day, stepping forward with his thin arms raised to the heavens he was expecting for the worst. But instead of chains, he was met with open arms, an invitation, and a laugh that startled him much to his bewilderment.
That laugh came from J'mal, the town manager who is also a man of color like him. M'batu's heart had pounded in disbelief; here was a man with skin like his, holding authority and respect, guiding the community with compassion and resolve.
The very idea of such equality filled him with awe and cautious hope. It felt so unreal that just a few borders from where he was taken and sold as a slave lies a place that would embrace him for who he is. Its people treating him not any less than their own.
He soon learned from J'mal what he needed to learn as a new-comer. The Howlett territory is located in the cold regions of the northwestern territories. It is an emerging power that focuses on scientific and technological development in order to improve the quality of life of its subjects.
The Howlett territory is governed by strict policies on human rights that he'd once thought impossible. Here, all people, regardless of color, appearance, gender, or origin, were treated as equals. They each had rights, privileges, and the potential for a future. At the same time, the estate is very meritocratic and would treat those with exceptional abilities with special treatment while the unproductive ones are only provided with basic welfare.
He can still recall as Jamal had explained to him, "Freedom is something every soul here carries. Respect for that freedom is just as essential. The basic right of one is only within one's self, encroaching on another's is a violation and will be subject for review." With this final lesson, M'batu had been granted temporary citizenship and given an identification card, which is a small token that contained necessary information about himself at the same time, it also symbolized his welcome.
After his briefing with J'mal, he learned about the welfare program for new citizens through the guidance of someone called a 'civil servant', the welfare program is a support system he couldn't have fathomed in his past life.
The program provided each new citizen with two daily meals, nutritious and hearty, served at lunchtime and dinner in specified food service areas across the town. For a man who had once counted each grain, fearing hunger, this bounty felt almost indulgent. Just using his ID to get food almost sounded surreal to him at first as he recalled how one of his friends died from stealing a piece of bread from their so called 'master'.
During his first few weeks, he saw the opportunities available to new residents. Each individual, regardless of their background, was encouraged to take part in internships across a variety of fields like craft, aquaculture, agriculture, arts, engineering, research, trade, civil service, and more.
If one is not capable but interested, they can learn how to read and write through the alternative learning system where learners who are noticeably advanced in age can be taught without feeling ashamed or discriminated.
M'batu hesitated at first, unsure where he belonged in this fields of specialties. He had spent so long surviving that he couldn't immediately imagine contributing to a community. All he knew aside from hunting is how to not be killed by your 'master', which usually meant strictly following what you have been told.
Yet, with a gentle nudge from J'mal and the community's patience, M'batu found himself entering a cycle of learning and growth. His days became a journey through experiences he never knew he desired. He became a sailor and weathered the biting cold of the sea with the traders, transporting goods along the coast, where the waves danced in rhythm to the songs of the sailors.
The calloused, tired hands of farmers became his as he helped in tilling the land, coaxing life from the soil. Despite using advanced farming techniques, and technology, farming can both be rewarding and tiring. He learned how to feed and take care of schools of fish in the calm waters of the aquaculture farms.
He found his mind expanding with the knowledge he gained from helping the researchers in their quest to upgrade the quality of life of the people in the territories of the Howlett estate. Observing, asking questions, hypothesizing, experimenting, gathering information, analyzing the information, making conclusions, and sharing discoveries to the community. If M'batu is a tad more learned or talented in this field, he would be without a doubt a researcher. Unfortunately, he is neither of these two.
The art classes, though, was perhaps one of his favorites. It was there that he felt a stirring deep within, something nameless yet vibrant, a longing to create and express. Under the careful instruction of patient artist-teachers, he learned to mold clay, paint landscapes, and even try his hand at music. The rhythm and melodies of the land, brought to life by the locals, resonated within him in a way that made him feel rooted, connected. He began to see the Howlett territory as the canvas of hope upon which all of its people could paint their own lives.
As the weeks turned into months, M'batu found himself drawn more and more toward the role of a civil servant, inspired by J'mal and the other's own quiet dedication to the community. It wasn't a decision he took lightly. In this territory, civil service was an esteemed path, often involving self-sacrifice and responsibility, with no monetary reward. But something about the ideal of helping others in need spoke to him. The more he interacted with the townsfolk, the more he felt that deep, unexplainable satisfaction from solving problems, assisting the elderly, and supporting those who, like him, were just beginning to adjust to the new life this land offered.
Its here where he learned that genuinely helping others can be a very addictive feeling. Eventually, his choice was clear: he would dedicate himself to civil service, the role that now felt like his calling.
The life of a civil servant was one of movement and adaptability, of traveling between the Howlett territories to where they were most needed. Transportation was always available to them for free, and the finest provisions of food and shelter ensured that the civil servant and his/her family was well taken care of. Yet for M'batu, the respect he garnered was worth far more to him than luxuries or wealth that others seek.
People of the territory usually called civil servants like him "saints," not because they are extraordinary, but because they chose, each day, to serve those around him with all they had.
In fact, "Saint" was a word that embarrassed M'batu at first, but eventually, he came to understand it as a testament to the role itself is an expression of the community's appreciation for the unselfish dedication that civil service demanded.
His work took him to the remote farms where families struggled with crop blight. With the help of researchers, M'batu introduced new soil treatments, watching as relief spread across the faces of farmers who feared another failed harvest.
He visited aquaculture farms, organizing shipments when a surplus arose, ensuring no fish went to waste by coordinating with processing factories across the territory. Sometimes, he found himself on the docks, tending to the fishermen who battled dangerous waters, offering guidance and support.
On his day off, M'batu would walk the streets of New Port Town, quietly observing the lives he now felt a part of. Sometimes, he would join the children playing by the docks, their laughter echoing against the waves. Other days, he would visit the art hall, lingering over a canvas to brush strokes of color onto the empty whiteness, losing himself in the quiet thrill of creation.
Yet, it was in those moments of connection with strangers, the gentle exchanges of goodwill, that M'batu truly felt at peace. Each day reaffirmed what J'mal had told him from the start: freedom was not just about release from chains, but a place where one's worth and dignity were honored, where one could forge a future.
Looking back on his journey, M'batu could scarcely believe the life he had carved out for himself. He had not only survived; he had found a purpose. Through his service, he grew stronger, braver, and more hopeful for the lives of those he met. As he passed through the marketplace, he saw countless new citizens joining the internships he had once taken part in, their faces filled with wonder and the promise of new beginnings.
Now, standing on the shore as the dawn light painted the waters and the busy ships, he looked toward the horizon with a heart full of gratitude. He knew that, as a civil servant in the Howlett territory, he was not just living, he was helping others find a life worth living, a life touched by freedom, equality, and compassion.
In this territory, the "saints" like him were not saviors, nor did they seek fame. They were simply people bound by the shared desire to uplift their neighbors, heal wounds, and help build a society where every individual could thrive. And that, M'batu thought, was a far greater reward than gold or wealth. Here, he was truly free.
To David who introduced such policies which others have thought to be utterly ridiculous, this is only a matter of course. Unknowingly, his leadership and his policies became the beacon of hope for people who longed to live peaceful and fulfilling lives.
The Howlett territories which was once a cold barren land, became the dream home of many who have only heard of such place in songs of traveling bards and merchants.
People of all kinds migrated to the Howlett territories in droves that the surrounding territories had to introduce new policies in order to keep their citizens from migrating. Some succeeded while most can only watch as their total population began to dwindle over time.
Most of these people experienced the harshness and bitterness of the outside world and when they experienced life in the Howlett, they will die before they can be forced to leave. Nowhere else in the known world would there be such a place as wonderful and vibrant as the Howlett territory. The citizens are proud and thankful to be under the Howlett who made all of this possible.