Kojo and Dona strolled through the bustling streets, scanning for the perfect spot to start their joint venture. The sun shone bright, casting a warm glow over the city. Things were really going well for the past few months.
The other races and the remaining humans in Ekron were working hand in hand in order to make life better for everyone. The city itself looked much brighter than it was when Kojo had first gotten here.
Hed spoken with Ebern,the Orc chief and had drawn up a city plan with Gideon and they had both worked to make the city mir decongested and more spacious to move in.
The Orcs and the Gnomes were working together in order to take full advantage of the mineral deposits in the province to make fine pieces of metal work . Due to this they were able to export quality tools and equipment. They were also able to harvest food crops as well as the rare herbs and plants that had been locked away in the tower. Which they sent to neighboring markets to trade.
The market was a bit slow as they were now infamous for being a province with only monsters but that didn't bother them. They were self reliant to the point where they wouldn't be overly affected by that.
Some traders did however recognize the quality goods and Kojo believed that it was a process.
However ge had some concerns.
firts he thought that he'd just lay the ground work and get the opportunity to slack off but it turned out that the leaders of the tower races wouldn't take orders from anyone except him. He'd already talked to them about it and they agreed but Sysia pointed out that that was just making things worse since they were only doing it cause he said so.
Duke Philip however was really chill about it. He'd already seen the reforms and how much things were imoroving. So he let Kojo carry on. If he wanted anything done all he had to do was to tell Kojo to tell them. Glenn was already busy and didn't have time while Jack would occasionally point out errors in his way if doing things Mord and Mal took a band to the border with Gwaltch because there was some unease at that side.
Then there was the new merchant in town. Malcolm Marconni. He'd tried to insert himself in Kojo's affairs since the first time he got here. Kojo found him very annoying but then he had the senithat there was more to that short bastard than met the eye.
Then there was the case of kidnapping that were recently on the rise. Kojo now had to draw up a plan to curb this as the representative of the people to the Duke.
As representative he also had to oversee and supervise them among other things.
Kojo sighed.
This was a far cry from the rest he wanted.
" All for the greater good." He thought, telling himself that it was all part of the foundation he was laying.
He took a deep breath
"Nice day, isn't it?" Kojo said trying to start up a conversation and glancing at Dona.
"Too sunny for my taste," Dona replied, squinting under the pink hat she was wearing .
"But it's nice to see the mortals enjoying themselves."
Kojo chuckled. "You're not exactly the 'blend in with the mortals' type, are you?"
Dona smiled mischievously. "Why bother when I can stand out?"Kojo's eyes narrowed.
"You know, I've been wondering... what's the deal with the other demon lords?"
Dona's expression turned thoughtful.
"Ah, I've been meaning to correct you. There are no demon lords....or deities. That's just something lesser beings made up."
Kojo's eyes widened. "What? But I thought—"
"Exactly," Dona interrupted. "They twisted things into good and bad, light and dark, change and stagnation— any two sides of the same coin."
Kojo's thought for a moment. "
But what about all the stories of creation?" He asked.
Dona chuckled. "Oh, those stories? The supposed battle between a Sovereign being and a Demongod that led to the birth of good and evil deities. My dear,'good' gods have done heinous acts, while the 'bad' ones have shown great kindness... like myself."
Kojo raised an eyebrow. "You ended the world because you were bored."
Dona waved her hand dismissively. "That doesn't count.
"It's is the strong and the mighty who determine the concepts of good and evil. That is the truth of the world." She said looking at him from the corner of her vision with eyes that seemed to glow.
Kojo thought about Dona's words and got the point she was trying to drive home
If he wanted to really matter,he needed to become strong enough to make his will known. He nodded and
" So what about the other... gods ,like you?"
Dona's expression turned enigmatic. "I can't reveal anything, Kojo."
"Is it because of some strict code?" Kojo asked.
Dona shook her head. "No, it's because if I reveal even a fraction of information, you'd go mad."
(Your brain would implode from the complexity.)
" Pretty sure you just called me dumb" Kojo thought.
( But you are though.)
Kojo's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?" He asked Dona.
"The only way you'd stay sane is if you've attained transcendence. And the chances of that happening are the same as flipping a coin and having it land on both heads and tails."
( See, even she knows you're not intelligent.)
Kojo's eyes narrowed further.
"That's... impossible."
Dona nodded.
"Exactly. But I can share the basic stuff. We're divided into two groups: the Lords of Order and the Lords of Chaos."
(This means that everything is based on the theory of entropy. The Libra system is based on the premise that Order and Chaos balance each other for continued existence and progression.)
Dona continued, "Chaos lords, or demon lords as the mortals call us, have Dark Souls, granting us dominion over chaos. Lords of Order, or deities, have Divine Seeds, granting authority over orderWe're essentially pillars that hold everything together. Being Abstract principles of order and Chaos also make us what you would call Psionic beings. Were not made up of flesh or blood and were not energy or spiritual beings like the celestial races. We're beings made up of psions, the code or DNA of all things that exist. This also grants us full access to the forbidden art Soul Magic."
"It's too soon for these details. I haven't even solved any problems pertaining to the kingdom yet."
(You still think your life is some kinda story? Well to some extent it is but thinking that everything is a novel being written done by someone in his room is just delusional.)
Kojo sighed. "Never mind."
"So,where are these Lords?" Kojo asked.
Dona's gaze swept the surroundings. "They're around. Some are here on the planet. I know one guy who's by this time drinking tea on the moon."
Kojo's eyes nearly popped out. "The moon?"
( Is that so unbelievable?)
"No but there are three moons. Which one?"
( That's what you're thinking about? What are you going to go there and ask for a cup of sugar?)
Dona continued. "Others inhabit other spaces and dimensions, doing their assigned roles. The Fallen One for instance is in the Underworld, keeping the Asuras in check."
Kojo's curiosity piqued. "Asura? What's that?"
"It's a hassle to explain. They're bundles of energy with no direction or meaning."
Dona said as her eyes were turning towards some food stalls in the distance
( Asuras are chaotic beings of origin who evolved during the dawn of time. Due to their destructive nature, they were sealed in the Underworld)
"Just think of them as bundles of energy with no direction. They're a pain to deal with" Dona said losing interest in the conversation.
Kojo wanted to ask more but the stalkers presence still lingered suddenly growing stronger to the point that Kojo could tell that the person was within 7 meters of them.
A man had been following them for a while now but kept his distance. He decided to take his chance and reached for a knife in his pocket. Suddenly fear gripped him and he froze.
Dona's voice echoed in his mind.
" If you value your life..... run"
Kojo sensed the stalkers presence disappear.
" Where'd he go."
Just then Dona's stomach growled
" I'm hungry." she said.
" How can you be hungry if you don't have a physical body?" Kojo asked. She pouted.
Kojo pulled out a bag of snacks from his pocket dimension that he'd prepared before hand in case Dona showed signs of throwing a tantrum.
He sighed.
" My life." He said under his breath.