Inside a shack at the slime village
Rohan and V sat facing the leader of the slimes in a modest shack. Rohan leaned forward and asked, “What’s your name?”
The slime looked at him confusedly and said, “What’s a name?”
“A word I can call you by,” Rohan explained.
The slime thought momentarily and said, “The last servant who came before you used to call me Limuru.”
Rohan’s face lit up, and he said, “You’ve met a servant before! Which one were they?”
“You know the servants?” Limuru asked in surprise.
Rohan spread his arms joyfully and chirped, “I know all of them! We’re brothers in the servitude of the moon goddess.”
Limuru clasped his hands and said, “He was an elven servant named Leth.” Limuru looked at Rohan and saw him becoming sad. He leaned closer and asked, “Do you know his story, Servant Rohan?”
Rohan sniffed, nodded, and said sadly, “Yes, I know it well. The servants of Manat inherit memories and experiences.”
Limuru approached Rohan, placed his hand on his chest, and said, “Please forgive me, Rohan. I never wanted to sadden you.”
Rohan rubbed his eyes and said, “You’ve done nothing wrong, Limuru.” He stood up and asked, “Are the slimes ready to depart?”
Limuru stood and said, “We’re prepared to travel at your command, Servant Rohan.”
Rohan and V left the village, carrying the slimes on their backs since there were only a few. Their destination was a village of orcs near the mountain chain, deep in the woods. They had to keep in mind their journey wasn’t a short one. On foot, it would take them two weeks; using horses was impossible since the trees were densely gathered.
After hours of walking, V walked closer to Rohan and said, “I wish you hadn’t used the moon’s power to subdue the sun.”
Rohan looked at him and said, “It won’t last long. The sun will return after a few days.”
“No sun means prey animals wouldn’t come out to eat. I can survive on the moon’s energy, but you need food,” V pointed out.
“I am sure there are prey animals that come out at night, V. You shouldn’t worry about me,” Rohan reassured him.
A while later, at the orc’s village, in the afternoon.
The moon’s oppression had faded away, and the sun returned. The orc’s village was a massive one, built near a river. Their walls were wooden with steel joints, and their homes were stone-made.
Rohan and V had finally arrived at the orc’s village and were confronted by its guardsmen. They pointed their spears at them, and their officer approached. He looked at Rohan smugly and said, “You must be the dumbest human I’ve ever seen.” He looked at V and said, “The blue one… I’m not sure about him.”
Rohan smiled at him and said, “You must be Lars. The goddess told me about you.”
Lars furrowed his eyebrows and asked confusedly, “What? What goddess?”
Rohan approached him and chirped, “The moon goddess!”
Lars became furious and shouted, “Blasphemer!!!” He punched Rohan with all his might, leading to his hand breaking. He retreated and screamed in pain.
Rohan became worried and sad. He ran to Lars and held his broken hand. Lars looked at him and snarled, “What are you doing!?”
Rohan stroked his hand slowly and healed it.
Lars stared in awe. He stepped back and muttered, “A servant of the moon goddess…” He knelt and said, “Forgive me, awaited one! I’ll do whatever it takes to gain your forgiveness.”
Rohan held his hand and said, “You’ve gained it, Lars.”
Lars only took a glance before his eyes poured out tears. Rohan let the devoutly faithful Lars take his time to weep, but soon enough, he gained back his composure and stood.
Rohan looked at him and asked, “Are you feeling better, Lars?”
Lars smiled at him and said, “Yes, servant of the moon.”
Rohan held his hand and said, “Let’s meet your leader together.”
Lars felt embarrassed to be holding hands with anyone, let alone a servant of the moon. But he never objected as this was a once-in-a-lifetime honor and privilege.
Rohan smiled as he strode into the village, waving his free hand whenever he looked at the confused orcs.
On the other hand, V followed them inside while watching the surroundings and surveying the orcs for potential threats.
They reached the orc chief's castle shortly and entered the chief’s hall. The chief, his officers, and clan leaders were all in awe to see the fearsome Lars holding hands with a human with a child-like smile on his face.
The chief stood angrily and shouted, “What is the meaning of this, Lars!!?”
The slime Limuru slipped out of Rohan’s bag, formed into a human shape, and said, “Chief Anders, be respectful in the presence of Servant Rohan!”
The orcs gasped, and Chief Anders became furious and snarled. “The last thing I need is blasphemers in my castle!”
Limuru pointed at Anders and shouted, “You call me a blasphemer, you damned green eyesore!!?”
Anders shouted at Limuru, “You don’t even have eyes. You talking blue semen!!”
The old foes didn’t need much to start fighting again. Anders rushed at Limuru with his axe, and Limuru rushed at him with all his slimy prowess. Rohan swiftly stepped in and blocked both of their attacks.
The two froze in shock at how fast he was. Rohan glanced at them and said, “The faithful shouldn’t fight one another.”
Limuru stepped back, knelt, and said, “Forgive me, Servant Rohan.”
Anders stepped back, feeling bad about what happened. He looked at Rohan and said, “A true servant would know how to prove himself to the orcs. You’ll only get one chance, Rohan.”
“No,” Rohan said sternly.
Anders looked at him in confusion and said, “What? You can’t refuse!”
“The orcs aren’t ready for it; the faithful are still disunified,” Rohan explained.
Anders leaned closer, grabbed Rohan’s collar, and snarled, “How does that relate to our proof!? It’s simple!”
Rohan stared at him in displeasure.
Anders shook him hard and shouted, “Why won’t you do it!!?”
“The faithful aren’t ready for it!” Rohan reiterated.
“We will be once you do it, Rohan!!” Anders insisted.
“The answer is no, Anders!!” Rohan said adamantly.
Anders let go of him in frustration and asked, “Is this how a servant treats the faithful?”
Rohan smiled at him and said, “So, you believe me? You have no doubts about my claim?”
Anders grunted and returned to his chair.
Rohan approached him and said, “Chief Anders, I’m on a divine mission to reunite the faithful. I cannot do it alone.”
Anders looked at him while resting his head on his fist and said, “Then why visit the orcs first? I thought you servants like the most powerful of the moon’s creation.”
“Those servants wanted to start with the most difficult path first; one cannot argue their methods were wrong. After all, the most powerful of the creations also have the highest numbers,” Rohan explained.
“What makes you steer away from your brethren, Servant Rohan?” Anders inquired.
“I started with those closest to me,” Rohan said. He looked at Limuru and added, “First, it was Limuru and his clan.” He looked at Anders and continued, “Then you were the second closest to us.”
Anders smiled at him and said, “Starting with your neighbors, I see.” He giggled, then said, “You have my respect, Rohan.”
Rohan smiled at him and asked, “Will you help me?”
Anders leaned forward, sighed, and said, “I want to, but the discord among the faithful is more severe than you think. The orcs aren’t a single body as they used to be. Me and the men around me are the few clans who remained loyal to the faith. The rest detached themselves from us and formed their nation.”
Rohan furrowed his eyebrows and asked, “Why have they strayed?”
“Simply… they thought of our ways as ancient, mundane, and crippling. Those people only cared for treasures and desires,” Anders explained.
“Greed corrupted them,” Rohan commented.
Anders leaned back and said, “Yes, Servant Rohan.”
“If I manage to unite the orcs again, will your people join the banner of the moon?” Rohan inquired.
Anders smiled at him and said, “Servant Rohan, consider this village and its people under the moon’s banner, but please. Unite us with our brethren to serve the goddess once more.”
Rohan looked at Limuru and said, “Your people must stay here. V and I will go alone.”
Limuru glared at Anders, and Anders frowned back.
Rohan glanced at them and said, “No fighting! Do you all understand?”
“Yes,” Anders said.
“Yes,” Limuru said.
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The End
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