Chapter 70: 73. Authority is Cruel Part 15

"Let me end by saying this. Those marchers over there? They're not even as kind as Hideza was, they're far more parasitic. She saw that our ancestors did not wish to return to their lives of bondage. So she was kind enough to kill us right down to our human sympathizers and be done with it!"

The old man sneers and the crowd laughs at his dark joke.

"Those fools who cling to the history of their dead giants. How must they enjoy the history of Hideza's birth, her battle against valorous warriors of our kind, even her peaceful death… even though they have no connection to it. Ha! But, guess what? That history has another side to it. Our side. Many believe that it was lost to history. That is absolutely false!”

The crowd starts murmuring at these words. Ajax watches Prisca, Cel and Sito’s reaction. He wonders if they could make use of that to understand this world a little better. While they’re still trapped here they could always use more information.

By their faces, they look not afraid, not worried or wincing at the words of their preacher. They look awed, utterly reverent. 

“Who here knows of the commander of the demihuman army who Hideza fought in battle? His name was Avci Lehr. He was the courageous draconid man who gave his life to kill the Executioner on the battlefield. The one who laid down his life to protect his people, who laid down his life… for a nation of our own."

The crowd listens intently. 

"What about his lieutenant commander? Aria Haan, the master tactician, a woman, who was able to stall Hideza's attempt to proceed towards a territory where the commander was hiding, even meeting her on the field of battle?"

Silence.

"The many men and women in his army? The many human men and women who accompanied them throughout the war and taught them enough spells to fight against the holy knight armies? It is because of their help that Hideza lost family members, strong heroic nobles in their own right."

Angelidis, Dzan and Sigvor seem to be completely ignorant to those historical tidbits. Ajax and Shaula look around and notice that many people share their ignorance. They look up at the draconid man in awe, their minds soaking in the knowledge he imparts to them.

History is written by the victors after all. But, this man has more historical knowledge than his audience. He could be making up a lot, exaggerating this or that, but it is doubtful he is doing nothing more than what the church has already done while writing their own historical texts.

“The nation they built as well. The Federation likes to pretend it never existed, but it did. For a very short period, a free state was established on uninhabited territory. It was beautiful. A place where men and women had fully equal rights, where interracial relationships were legal, where food, water and shelter were rights afforded to even the poorest and the disabled.”

The old man speaks continuously about the virtues of that fallen nation as well as the people who were integral to its founding. They died for it, for their fellow man. It is amazing how socially advanced they were compared to even a hundred years ago. This was only the 33rd generation after the founding of their nation.

You are reading story The Children of the Divine Limit at novel35.com

Ajax thinks about a king of a middle eastern country who abolished chattel slavery all the way back in 539 BCE.

The Federation would be far better off if that nation still existed…

The old man finally slowed his pace down and spoke with solemnity.

"They try to pretend as if only the victorious side exists, and as the victors, as the strong, they ensure that no other side can be regarded as true. But, we are the weak and we do have our own history of weakness, of fighting through the mud for our chance, for our entire world's chance at freedom!"

The crowd bursts into cheers upon his oratory. Ajax agrees that Prisca was right about what she had said earlier, he is a good speaker. Not just his words but his delivery as well. He speaks from his heart.

"One day the weak shall have their freedom, I can promise this to all of you. We have had it before and we will have it again. But, you must not allow yourself to despair today! We must fight for the future of ourselves, our children, our children's children… "

The entire crowd waits in awe at his strong words. 

"We must never lay down and die because they tell us to. They cannot tell us to die. We choose life. We are not machines, but they are. Machine men with machine minds and machine hearts driven by a gnawing greed. A greed that tells them that any action is warranted so long as they maintain their luxuries… Though our kin might be enslaved, impoverished, our children beaten by the city guards, they think nothing of it. In that manner, it is true that they are not our equals."

He bangs his chest twice with his right fist at the spot where the heart is.

"Though they may try to force you to become machines, you are not machines. You are men and women. Blood flows through your veins and dignity is your birthright. Your soul cries out for freedom, not for war. It cries for the wellbeing of your families and your communities, not the luxuries of those who still try to bind you. Never ever let them take that from you."

He repeats the same chest bump once again.

"You are the wondrous… the strong and the weak reside within each of you. There are heroes within you all. You are all capable of valorous acts. All I say is… do not die for humanity. Live for yourselves."

With those words, he ends his speech. The crowd cheers once more. His speech was effective to at least take their minds of the utter control that humanity continually tries to exert over them. Though this march was made to alienate them, this draconid man’s speech brought the crowd from the brink of despair.

But, unlike what Shaula had assumed, he doesn't leave. He is prepared to wait here and talk to people individually. He is prepared to share with them what he believes in. He didn't even mention his name. All that Ajax and Shaula can tell is that he must be members of the same church that Prisca, Cel and Sito are.

Angelidis, Dzan and Sigvor continue watching him with awe. Even they are shaken out of their stupor for a while. But, this march is not yet concluded.

You can find story with these keywords: The Children of the Divine Limit, Read The Children of the Divine Limit, The Children of the Divine Limit novel, The Children of the Divine Limit book, The Children of the Divine Limit story, The Children of the Divine Limit full, The Children of the Divine Limit Latest Chapter