September 10, 535
Eldric awoke the next morning to the sound of birds. The windows to the small cabin had all been opened, allowing a stream of natural light to completely light up the room. Eldric rose and looked to the other bed, and then around the room. Michael was mysteriously gone. As he stood from his bed, his muscles began to ache and pull on one another. He stumbled to the table, where a new note had been written.
Gone out. On the bookshelf is your outfit for the Governor's mansion. Be there at midday. – Michael
On the back, there were directions to the Governor's mansion from the small wooden home, so Eldric was confident he could make it there. He stretched and walked to the bookshelf. Indeed, there was a nicely pressed set of clothes that could fool anyone in the empire into believing it was owned by a noble. Eldric wondered where Michael could have gotten the clothes, but he paid no mind to it and changed into them quickly. On top he wore a bright white shirt made of cloth underneath a blue jacket. The jacket featured black straps that could tighten the sleaves if need be, while the shirt was comfortable and easy to move in. Below that, dark brown pants with several pockets were held up by a black metallic belt. They slipped on with relative ease, and Eldric felt comfortable in these foreign clothes.
As Eldric stepped outside the small home, he felt the wind blowing through his hair. Judging by the sun, it would be a few hours before midday, so Eldric decided to walk around town some more to pass the time.
Walking through the streets of Greenwood, Eldric felt strangely nostalgic for the city he so vehemently hated. Daily life went on the same way it did in Heldenstadt. Merchants sold their goods while children ran through the streets. There were less wagons drawn by horses and more carts pushed by men, each offering something unique from the others. Eldric tried to avoid the merchants as he'd done the day before, sidetracking into a more residential district where husbands and wives decorated the fronts of their homes with vibrant banners and other decorations. Streamers crossed above the street, casting colorful shadows down on the cobblestone pathways beneath Eldric's feet.
Eventually, Eldric made his way to the end of the road. Rather than it creating a dead end, the road instead lead to a sight he'd not seen in days. The Land of Solitude stretched out in front of him, a desolate landscape that showed no signs of life. Eldric hesitated. He didn't want to return there, nor did he want to see it again, yet there it was. It called to him. He remembered Paulek's deal. How he'd sell Michael away for his ensured safety. Why was he remembering this now? Why did the deserted horizon call to him? He couldn't see Einrich on the other side, yet he knew it was there. That tall, gray wall. The place he once called home.
And more came to his mind. He remembered the cadets he trained with for all those months. He'd never thought of them on the journey across the empty battlefield, yet their faces came to his mind once more. Kastor, Leonard, and Erick, even Henry and Hagen. he'd barely known any of them, yet he did at one point call them his friends. They were his partners through the test, and then his comrades through training. It had all seemed so distant now. Although being a mere week ago, it had felt like a lifetime since he'd been in the empire. He wondered how they were doing, how any of them were affected by his actions. Were they to be punished? Were they to be exiled?
Eldric faced the republic. No wall, no Guardian Force, nobody he knew. In one week, he'd forced himself to start anew. In one week, he changed the course of his life forever. He thought of the words Kastor spoke to him in their room that night.
'That's fine and all, but what're you going to do afterwards?'
Eldric faced the Land of Solitude once more. Afterwards meant something different then, but now he was in the afterwards. The Land of Solitude called to him, and he did not reply. He walked back through the streets of the residential district, hoping to never face that place again.
* * *
Eldric walked through the streets some more before coming upon a large park. The park had trees that outlined the large square area and rolling hills that made it look much bigger than it was. In the center, a large gathering of people created a circle that covered almost the entire park. Eldric stepped inside, combing his way through people and eventually making it rather close to the front. In the center of the circle, a large stone sat peacefully. Flowers were placed at the stone's foot, and people smiled gleefully as they looked on at the clean rock.
Eldric tapped a man in front of him. "What's this?" he asked, doing his best to hide his accent.
"Are you from out of town?" The man said, chuckling. His voice was firm yet reassuring. "This is the tombstone of the great Meinir Rietveld."
Eldric attempted to read the stone. It was inscribed with words he could not read, yet big enough to see from hundreds of meters away.
Tombin Meinir Rietveldä
Revoluçonarä, Conkerorä Einrichi, Founderä Reinbosen Revoluçoni, Presidentä Prïmin
Hier restät Meinir Rietveld, vïrïkat Revoluçonarä kïrat Einrichi vën Founderä Reinbosen Revoluçoni. Presidentä prïmin në Republikin vën lïderatë valörätä folkatën vën libërtätën. Timë ëvan jïvatën 56 - 121 AC.
"What does it say," Eldric asked the man in front of him.
"The tombstone? It's written in Aldari, the old language of the Republic. Only the nomads or old folk like myself use it anymore. You're lucky I can read it." The man chuckled to Eldric's silence. "Anyways, it reads 'Tomb of Meinir Rietveld: Revolutionary, Conqueror of Einrich, Founder of the Reinbose Revolution, First President.' And then below it, 'Here rests Meinir Rietveld, the revolutionary who conquered Einrich and founded the Reinbose Revolution. The first president of the Republic and a valiant leader of the people and freedom. Lived in the years 56-121 AC.' He lived to be 65. Quite the life he must have led." The man's eyes faded as he looked to reminisce on old memories.
Eldric nodded. "Are there always this many people here?"
The man's eyes regained their life and he looked at Eldric with a stoic face. "Not always. Today is a larger crowd as it's the anniversary of his passing. I myself rarely come aside from this week."
"I don't understand, though, how is it that people are able to celebrate just one person when there were surely many who contributed to the revolution?"
The man smirked. "Sure, I see what you mean. There were a lot of people who contributed to the revolution. Oneseo wasn't built in a day, you know. Meinir is—what's the word—he's the representative of the entire revolution as a whole. Yes, there were hundreds and thousands of people who helped make Reinbose what it is today, but all of them wouldn't have a Reinbose to create if Meinir was not there. He was their leader. He led them to greatness."
"But to command an entire army himself?"
"He was just that great, wasn't he?"
"And nobody doubted him?"
"They couldn't afford it. If they doubted him, then there was no revolution to be had. I'm sure many of them, deep down, felt that there was a chance it wouldn't work. That Einrich would be too powerful and that they would die a shameful death. But Meinir was a beacon of light for them. He assured them they'd win, and people were able to rally behind that. We need a new leader like him."
"I see."
"And, sure, Meinir might not have been perfect himself. I'm sure you can ask anyone here and they'd say the same. But it was because his good outweighed his bad that we celebrate him. Nobody talks about his wrongdoings because at the end of the day those don't matter. What matters is that he did great for the people of Alcrest in stopping the tyrannical Einrich."
"Tyrannical?"
The man was taken aback. "Do you know nothing of the state of our world? Einrich is a tyrannical state that forces its people to do terrible things. Noble houses enslave the working class to do their bidding, and we've had several escapees from Einrich make their way here to escape that terrible place. I even hear they have a huge wall to hide their actions from the free people of the world."
"I see."
"If you're ever invited to go to Einrich, even as a joke, never accept it. You'll be put into slavery and lose a hand if you do wrong by the noble house."
Eldric nodded and thanked the man. He didn't want to hear his preaching any more than he had to, so he made his way out of the crowd after getting one last glimpse of Meinir's tombstone. As he made his way out of the park, he was stopped by the deep sound that came from behind him. The crowd had erupted into deep basal harmonies as they sung in a language he did not know. He halted his walk, and listened to the people's words.
Tëldiën vërhi, ëthlï sülkïren,
Meinir, sëralïm ëvarië.
Vërhani dëljïn, vakhën, fïren,
Rietveld, vërmilzë ëërï.
Vakhsa në vëdën, toranïn ëzïn,
Karthëk sën vëranië.
Örïn, sëriën, ëzarïn,
Luminë sëthër, vïlëarï.
Meinir, vakhsazën ërin,
Faranïë dëlhën.
Vënkathin, toranïn ëpiran,
Vërhalmïn, sëvarïn.
Nënmëthë söndë, rëthä zhëran,
Rietveld, ethriën faran.
Sarïm thrën vërik, vëlmï zharin,
Meinir, vakhsanë ëvïr.
Once the people had stopped singing, they descended to a deep hum. Eldric watched on with awe as the crowd unified into a single voice. He watched them for a little while longer before observing the sun and its position in the sky. He realized that he needed to head towards the governor's mansion, and so he did.
* * *
He brought himself back to the small cabin and then followed Michael's directions to take him to his destination. As Eldric came upon the governor's mansion, he was taken aback. The mansion was large and stretched for several blocks. It was an emerald color as white pillars held up the roof of the extravagant building. The walls held precise carvings that were outlined by the republic's old language. The front lawn was small as a front gate led for carriages and foot traffic to pass through. As pedestrians passed by the large building, a single figure stood in front of it. He wore a green suit over a black shirt, tied together by a pair of white gloves and a red tie.
"You've finally shown up," Michael said confidently. He gripped his black belt as he showed off his attire proudly.
"I decided to look around town," Eldric replied. "I saw the tombstone of Meinir Rietveld. It was quite the sight."
"Was the crowd doing their song?"
Eldric chuckled. "I'm assuming you've heard it before?"
"Heard it? I know it!" Michael smirked and began saying the words of the song. He wasn't singing, yet his rhythm was in time with the crowd almost identically.
Eldric, cutting him off, shoved his hand into Michael's face. "That's great. You speak the old republic language?"
Michael looked at Eldric with large eyes. "Oh, sure. It wasn't just the old republic language, it was the language of the whole continent at one point, though the only ones who speak it now are those living in Reinbose, so I guess it's the old language of the republic."
"Do you know what the song means?"
"Oh, sure. It's some victory song praising Meinir for everything he did. Reinbose worships him like a god, if you couldn't tell."
"I sure could," Eldric said with a smile. "Do they also worship Ein here?"
"Sure they do, but not around these parts. Less religious folk than in the empire that's for sure. Einrich worships Ein because the land they're on was practically given to them by her. Reinbose, meanwhile, had to work for what they achieved. Their land wasn't 'gifted' by a goddess, instead they had to fight for it with the strength of man. They see less reason to worship her, but many still do."
Eldric looked away from the mansion and towards the Land of Solitude. He thought about his lack of worship, how Ein had barely affected his life. Was it because he had to fight for everything?
"Come on, let's get a move on." Michael stepped inside the gate, ushering Eldric to follow. "Now, I don't want you speaking unless spoken to. You're going to wait outside the room because this is supposed to be a one-to-one meeting. We'll both exit the room, though, so you can do your introduction there."
"What was the point of having my come if I'm just going to wait outside?"
"It helps with my negotiation." Michael looked onward towards the large mansion. The two had to climb several wide steps to reach the large dark door. Once they reached the door, it was opened by an elderly man with slicked back gray hair. The man wore a black suit and squinted with his small eyes as he tried to pinpoint who Michael and Eldric were.
"May I help you?" The elderly man asked.
"My name is Leofric Wilson, I've spoken with your household about arranging a trade meeting for today at midday. Would you please show me to Governor Rooijakkers please?"
The elderly man processed every word Michael said. Minutes after Michael finished, the man nodded and closed the door. Voices could be heard inside and moments later the door was reopened by a younger woman who adorned the same suit the elderly man wore. Her hair was tied up in a pony tail and her eyes were brown and wide. She extended her gloved hand and gave a professional smile. "Apologies for my compatriot, my name is Louise and I'll take you to the governor's office. It's a pleasure to have you Mr. Wilson and Mr.?"
Louise looked at Eldric and before he could say a word, Michael stepped in. "Newen. He's Mr. Newen."
Louise nodded and opened the door further for the two to enter. The inside of the mansion was just as extravagant as the outside, if not more so. Paintings lined the walls as the ceiling was canvased by a massive mural. Statues adorned the doorways and ahead was a grand staircase made of a light red wood. Servants dressed in the same black suit dusted the furniture around the grand hall as Louise led the two upstairs.
"You must apologize Governor Rooijakkers for the status of his home, we have a reputation to uphold for the great president of this nation. The banquet is one of the governor's biggest responsibilities, so we cannot slack off during this time of year."
"It's quite all right," Michael said formally. "I understand that the banquet invites almost three hundred guests?"
"You'd be correct in your assumption, sir. We do our best to invite many guests of political and social status to allow for greater unification of Reinbose's infrastructure. It's hardly a calm event when you're in the room with so many powerful people, I must admit."
"I can imagine," Michael gave a passive smile as the two were finally escorted to a large door. Louise knocked on the door before entering, leaving Michael and Eldric outside the room alone.
Next to the door was a small couch made of a soft blue fabric that Eldric sat upon. He watched as Louise opened the door and let Michael inside. She waved to Eldric as he recognized his duty. The door shut and Eldric was left to the quiet hallway.
* * *
The meeting went long and Eldric began getting bored. He watched as servants passed him as they continued to do their job and began to think about the servant for Antonov. It had been months, and he wondered if that servant had ever found peace. He shook his head as he tried to clear his mind, and when he opened his eyes he saw a man standing in front of him.
"Ah-" It was the same man he bumped into the day before while reading his letter, still dressed in a suit with a well kept face and kind smile. "You're the letter boy!"
Eldric nodded.
The man confidently sat next to Eldric, who reacted and slid down closer to the edge of the couch. "I had hoped to see you again, did the letter have everything you wanted from it and more?"
"I can't say," Eldric replied, once again attempting his best to hide his Einrichian accent.
"You know," the man sat upright in the couch, not allowing the comfortableness of it to calm him down. "This is my favorite time of year."
"Is that so?"
"Indeed. It's the only time I get to take it easy. There's a lot I have to do back at home, a lot of responsibilities I'm slated with, so being able to take it easy in a small rural town makes things a lot easier on the mind."
"You call this rural?"
"Of course I do! I'm from Oneseo, and the capital city is certainly no place you want to be if you want things to be easy I'll tell you that much."
"I see."
The man sighed. "You said your name was Eldric Freeman?"
Eldric nodded.
"I see. I'm curious. My dear Eldric, have you enjoyed your time in Reinbose?"
Eldric looked at the man. "What?"
The man scratched the back of his head. "I can tell you that you act like a fish out of water, my dear Eldric. I can hardly believe you're from Reinbose, let alone Greenwood."
Eldric didn't reply.
"You're allowed to have your secrets; I won't persecute you wherever you come from. There's only so much I could do anyways. I am curious, though, my dear Eldric. Reinbose is built on a pillar of freedom. We strive for it, and in turn we expect it. Do tell me, my dear Eldric, what is it you think of freedom?"
No words came to Eldric's mouth. He looked at the short man who continued to look ahead, his face serious.
Laughing, the man lost his serious expression. "I'm sorry, my dear Eldric, that was a bit hasty of me. We hardly know of one another and I ask to bring us into a conversation like that."
"No, it's quite alright." Eldric thought for several moments as the two fell into a deep silence. "I guess I have an answer as well. Freedom, for me, has always been a bit of a double-edged sword. I've had to fight for everything I have. I believe freedom isn't a given; it's something you wrestle from the grip of hardship and adversity. It means the ability to make choices and have control over your own destiny, but it's also about survival. It's the chance to rise above the circumstances you're born into, to carve out a place for yourself despite the odds. It's about having the room to breathe, to dream, and to take risks, even when the deck is stacked against you." The man sat in silence as he waited for Eldric to continue. He was an astute listener, showing he was listening with every passing word Eldric spoke. He allowed him to finish his thoughts, and in doing so, Eldric continued. "I've also seen how the pursuit of freedom can come at a cost. In a place where everyone is fighting for their piece of the pie, the lines between right and wrong can blur. People do what they must to survive, and sometimes, that means stepping on others' freedoms. So, I guess I see freedom as something messy, but also incredibly valuable. It's the fire that keeps us going, even in the darkest of times."
The man nodded. "I see the words you speak, my dear Eldric. I am in a position to offer freedom to those who need it, and in doing so I offer them an advantage. Is it that you believe no advantage should be given?"
Eldric paused. "Not necessarily. Offering an advantage to those who need it can indeed open doors that might otherwise remain closed forever. I don't think that no advantage should be given; quite the opposite, actually. Where I come from, a little help can go a long way. But it's also about how those advantages are given and what they represent. People need to feel they've earned their way, that they have a stake in their own success. Handouts without empowerment can sometimes create dependency rather than true freedom. Real freedom, in my eyes, comes from having the tools and opportunities to forge your own path. It's about providing support, sure, but also about fostering resilience and self-reliance." Eldric's words began painting an image inside of his head. It was a vivid image, yet one with no clear convection. It was of swirling colors. They mixed and they exploded with expression. He wanted to get through to the man, and so he continued. "I believe in advantages that uplift, that build skills, and that encourage people to reach higher. It's about creating a foundation where people can stand tall on their own, knowing they've been given not just a chance, but the means to seize that chance fully. Freedom should come with dignity, with the knowledge that while you've had help, you've also played a crucial role in your own journey."
The man sat back in the couch for the first time since sitting. He scratched his chin as he thought about Eldric's words. Looking Eldric in the eyes, he finally had a reply. "I see where you come from, my dear Eldric. Freedom is a precious gift that should be extended to all." The man spoke with conviction and confidence, choosing every word with precision and accuracy as to not fumble over himself. "It's not about withholding advantages but rather about ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive on their own terms. Within my position, I see it as my duty to use the influence that I have to uplift those who need it most." The man thought some more, clearly choosing his words carefully. "Advantages, when wielded wisely, can be powerful tools for fostering growth and empowerment. However, they must be offered with humility and an understanding of the complexities of individual circumstances. True freedom isn't just about granting opportunities; it's about creating an environment where everyone has the chance to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances."
Eldric nodded.
"So," the man continued, his voice softening. "While I believe in extending advantages to those who need them, I also recognize the importance of doing so in a way that respects the dignity and autonomy of each individual. It's about leveling the playing field, not tipping the scales in favor of one group over another. In this way, we can build a society where freedom isn't just a lofty ideal but a tangible reality for all. Don't you agree?"
Eldric didn't respond.
"It unites the people, my dear Eldric. It unites them to believe in a cause as noble as freedom."
"And what of the forgotten?"
The man looked at Eldric. "What?"
"Surely there are the forgotten. How is it they achieve freedom?"
The man shook his head. "I don't have an answer for you, my dear Eldric."
"But shouldn't you?"
Eldric looked in the man's eyes. They'd become faded and distant, as if the man sought to find an answer for him. "Truthfully, I should. It pains me not to have an answer for you, as much as I'd like to. The forgotten are what they shouldn't be, and though they are, I believe we must do what we can to make it so there are no forgotten amongst us."
"Who is us?" Eldric became a little frustrated with the man's words. He didn't like how the man was evading his questions, and disliked it even more that he didn't have an answer.
"Us, in this case, is you and me. In the broader sense, it is everyone. There shouldn't be anyone in the republic, even more so the entire continent, who should be a part of your so-called forgotten."
Nodding, Eldric acknowledged that answer. He realized that the question he posed was one too complicated for light talk between strangers.
The man let out a deep breath and stood. He dusted off his pants and nodded towards Eldric. "It's been an enjoyable conversation, my dear Eldric, but I must be off. More responsibilities I must take care of."
Eldric stood and stook out his hand. "I don't believe I ever got your name."
The man stared blankly at Eldric before bursting out into a hearty laugh. "My dear Eldric, you're showing your foreign blood now more than ever. My name is Eilerts. Arndt Eilerts. The pleasure is all mine." The two shook hands and the man waved goodbye as he exited the hallway through the stairs leading out of the building.
Not moments later, the door behind Eldric opened as Michael thanked the people inside vehemently with bows and pleasantries. Once the door had shut. Michael drew a deep sigh of relief.
"How'd it go?" Eldric asked.
"Quite well," Michael said boastfully. "We got invited."
"That easily?"
Michael laughed. "You think it was easy? Come on, let's go." He led Eldric over to the stairs and the two made their way out of the mansion. Once out of the gate, Michael stopped Eldric. I'm going to go shopping; I want you to head to our place. I'll meet you back there."
"I still don't understand the purpose of having me come here. All I did was sit outside a room."
Michael sighed. "Need I repeat myself? You 'sitting outside a room' helped me a lot in my negotiations. I can tell you now that had you not been there, we would not have been invited."
"How'd you get us invited?"
"We're going as relatives of a man in the eastern republic political sphere. Some old name I can barely pronounce, Giehl or something like that. Barely any history of coming this far west, so it's a good chance we won't ever be questioned about it."
Eldric nodded. "And now you want me to just sit around and do nothing at our place?"
Michael nodded. "Exactly. We don't want you to do anything that would screw us up. If word got out an imperial was around in Greenwood, I don't know what would happen."
Eldric sighed. "Very well, I'll do as you say."
"Remember, you're still making up your half of the bargain. I took you all the way here, so you better do what I wish for you to do."
Eldric turned and made way for the small cabin. "Right, right. I'm more than aware."
Eldric had gone a significant distance from Michael before being stopped once more.
"Eldric!" Michael called out, running up to him. "I forgot to mention. I probably won't be home until late at night. Like, really late. Past midnight late. Don't be alarmed if I don't return before you go to sleep."
Eldric nodded with a confused look.
Michael thanked him and walked off in the opposite direction, leaving Eldric as confused as ever. Shaking away his confusion, he followed his instructions and returned to the small cabin.
Michael did not return that night, as he'd said earlier that afternoon. Eldric stayed up late to see if he'd return, but knowing it was unlikely, he fell into a deep slumber wondering what it was Michael had to do at this time of day.