Chapter Text
Mike turned on the radio, static erupts before switching the pick up for the local news. Its Lampert II, 1645. The cool spring air had vanished just last week, and the pathetic fallacy could not be any more in-your-face. The sun was fair, positioned at 55 degrees, and the temperature seemed to reflect it. The islands of Certhia take a long time to warm, but once they do, it seems as if it had been turned into a hot tub. 25 degrees in Lampert, is normal, but not at the beginning. Especially after the Klimpert the islands had just experienced. However, today was a special day, for the Kingdom of Lethshire has elected their next president. The radio jumps, and the reporter has already begun the broadcast. "That's right, grand people of Lethshire. Your new president of the Kingdom is P. Alexander Hondule!" Cheering erupts from the crowd. Chalorium City always gets crowded in Lampert. The nice weather, alongside the rich sandy beaches along the lakeside, makes a fair argument for people to take the journey. As you may expect, every 5 years, during election season, the city explodes. As the crowd roars louder, a figure steps out onto the capital balcony. "People of Chalorium, People of Lethshire." Alexander Hondule, voted by the people, started his speech. "I am truly grateful that you have seen the best in me, for I will keep up to my standards I have set. I will provide the necessary for our great kingdom to thrive if nothing less. We as a society are moving away from success, and you the people have realised this. Mark today, as the day of our lowest. For we shall take back our throne, as the strongest, and greatest kingdom of all Certhia." The crowd roars. The Kingdom of Lethshire had always been more conservative. Leaning into more traditional roles in which the world was trying to leave. Although recently, it had seemed as if Lethshire was trying to change. The last president, L. Jake Syrm definitely had a big impact on why Lethshire had changed. His campaign started with a huge immigration policy that many of the kingdom, including those that voted for, did not agree with. The population had grown to 50% more than it was prior. Next, Syrm leaned on rules, or laws put in place. Here is why Syrm got voted in. Syrm relaxed the laws on abortion, making it accessible to those who want it. Syrm then leaned on the laws of marriage. As now people who did not fit into the predetermined selection could get married officially. For this is not close to all of the actions Syrm took to add into Lethshire. Within 5 years, the whole kingdom had been changed. Which could be the reason Hondule was voted in. Hondule promised to bring back the policies that Syrm added, and to put more effort into the military. Outside tensions from overseas had increased, and home defense is the most important external issue Certhia is facing now. Think what you like, but essentially Hondule will make the entire term of Syrm irrelevant.
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"Wow they really did it huh, voted in Hondule." I said thinking to myself while turning off the radio. "As long as I can still live my life, I guess it doesn't matter much."
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Over the following months gigantic changes were observed. Within 6 months, Hondule had fully overturned every change Syrm made. Except for the population, Hondule could never correct that through policy. The amount of new people to Lethshire had amounted to far more grand than anticipated. No actions could be done to remove all of them. Many that moved to Lethshire, moved to the eastern part of the kingdom, as it was easy to access. Some made the difficult trek west, but only a smattering of people. Since most of the immigration had come from the eastern colonies, these people would bring over all of their cultures. New events, new festivals, NEW. NEW. NEW! Lethshire, the place that never changed, had become so different. Even with the attempt to revert, it made the place feel like a blank spot. Trying to fit so many people through a bottleneck, and then nobody fitting through. Before Mike left for work each day, he would turn on the news. The radio broadcaster began to speak, "Hello the people of Lethshire, today is Lampert IV, 1645. Here is what is happening today. The Certhia Dolphin population has officially fully migrated to the shores of Hajlik, and we cannot wait to see them again in the following summer. In our other bulletin, the town of Geushig, once hosting Lethshire's highest immigrant population, had burned down late last night. People outside the city reported the fire started from the town square, but have stated that it must have been lit in many places for a whole town to burn. No survivors have been found yet."
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I shut off the radio. "Please, please, just let me be."
Looking at myself in the mirror
I grabbed my house keys and dashed out the door for work.
"I may be late today, but it should be fine. I don't believe we have much going on."
I had always walked to work, even in the middle of winter. The town of Prisast, a lovely and quaint town in the south, allowed my favourite part of the workday to be seeing the ocean.
I glanced at the Lomfgh, one of the new Pagan churches in town.
"They could burn that down"
As I continued to walk, I couldn't help but glance my attention around his town
"That too, no way they would let that stand. Gay bar, yeah fuck no! They would burn that down the second they could."
Everything in town had seemed to become a possible target.
I arrived at PG Brokers, the real estate firm I work for
"Hey Bob, how are you doing with your clients, are they alright?"
"I'm fucked bro, all my listings."
"Yeah I heard on the radio this morning"
"Were Fucked! How can we live our lives if every week, a new town just gets blown up because there are too many immigrants, or something out of the ordinary."
"Nothing we can do, just put your head down, and try to forget it."
I noticed the atmosphere was rather gloomy, "Bob, I'll take the guys out for drinks on Friday, on me"
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Days go by, and the setting in the town seems on edge. Like a bomb ready to explode. Maybe it was paranoia. Everyone in east Lethshire was acting like this. The bars weren't filled on a Thursday night. Which was weird because prior, they were filled every night. Mike felt weak, and a sense like something was tugging at his neck. The work day finally finished. The week wasn't really productive, but a night out at the bar would make him feel better. Mike had a group of friends, and knew that everyone was feeling off. So Mike got ready, put on his best suit, who knows maybe he would finally find the girl tonight. Mike had been alone all of his life, yet not because he wanted to. Mike just never found someone who was for him. One of these times though, Mike has to strike oil.
~~~~~~~~~
"Alright, tonight is the night!"
I walked to the bar and met Bob outside
"You ready man?"
"Yeah, thanks so much Mike!"
"No problem, I know it's been a difficult week."
"Everyone else is inside."
"Oh Ok, thanks for waiting for me."
"Yeah no problem, Mike.."
I met the others inside, and we started drinking. It was fun to forget about the world for the night. Nothing but the music and the time spent with good friends. I was singing at the top of my lungs.
"Hey Mike, can I speak with you outside?"
"Yeah sure Bob"
I followed him outside. The air was humid at 11pm. Nevertheless, it felt so nice that we were out of the dense winter. We were able to stand outside in shorts and a t-shirt. I was wearing my classic Henley and Cargo shorts, and Bob was wearing a shirt of that band he really liked.
"Mike, the world. It... It scares me."
"Same, I don't know what to do"
"Mike, I. I'm, I." Bob let out a sigh "Mike, I love you"
BANG! An explosion resonated followed by smoke rising from the Lomfgh.
"FUCK! RUN!" I yelled.
Once my brain caught up with my legs, all my eyes could see was the town on fire.
People were screaming, bodies were flying out of the windows. All I could hear was the ringing, resonating in my ears.
I looked around, and Bob was gone. I had darted and was not thinking of looking back for him. Still, there was nowhere left to run. I felt weak, betrayed, lost. Anything to do with isolation, I felt. Like a black hole without an accretion disk. I kneeled there in the town square and cried out.
"WHYYYYYYYYYYYY! Kill your own FUCKING PEOPLE!"
After I balled my eyes out, I wiped the tears out of my eyes and looked around. Living with the vision of the town I had lived in since I was 10, till now me being 20, gone. Then, in the distance, the terrorists responsible appeared. In the glare from the flames, their armour revealed the colours of the royal military.
I scoffed "Heh, fucking expected."
As they approached in their clanking iron armour, I knew they would bisect me, even if I played dead. So I kneeled there, waiting. As they approached I glared the captain of the group in the eyes. I could tell they were middle aged, and by the look in his eyes, they were fighting for someone. No, they were fighting for their children. They did not fucking care.
I made one last remark "Fuck you! I hope you make your kids proud."
As I close my eyes, I see them furrowing their brows.
"Long live the king!" he exclaimed.
A private charged at me, as I braced for the end.
Shhhkkk,
I hear the private head drop to the floor, then followed by their body toppling over from gravity. I open my eyes, astonished by my sight. I was alive, and in front of me was a river of blood. I saw a shadow. A person, long haired. They seemed to be feminine, yet not feminine. Wearing thigh-highs and a skirt. A crop-top and fish-nets. In the lowlight, I could register the colour pink and black. Standing before me, defending me. Wielding a claymore. Ready to kill them all? Alone?
They looked back at me
"Hey, you doing good down there :? Can't win a war on your knees pretty boy :3" They winked, and turned around for combat.
"Don't you worry, we're getting out of here :3"
My heart fluttered. As I gained my feet, I started to feel something inside. I found who I want to be, I found the spark.