Guardian of Heaven and Earth
-
Rota
Excerpt of a Letter
from Chagum to Shuga
...Maybe you wish I hadn’t chosen this path. You’ll probably think that it’s childish and hopeless--I can understand that. But Shuga, I’m an adult now, and I’m making the best choices I can. I’ve seen the vastness of the southern continent with my own eyes. Talsh is such a large and wealthy empire that I lack the words to adequately describe it. New Yogo might as well be a worm wriggling at the Talsh empire’s feet. Even if we all worked together in full cooperation, out nation would never be considered more than a pest to the Talsh.
Shuga, I know that what I’m trying to do is foolish. I’m only doing it because I believe it will prevent the pointless deaths of innumerable innocent people. Second Prince Raul is arrogant and proud. He wished me to return home and capitulate to the Talsh empire in exchange for sparing my life and the lives of our people. I might have agreed to his terms if he would allow our people to live in peace and happiness, but that’s not the case, Shuga. If it were, I would never have thrown my dignity and possibly even my life away to save them.
I know what kind of darkness we would fall into if Talsh took over. If New Yogo submits to Talsh rule, our people would be conscripted and sent to fight wars in Rota and Kanbal. They would order us to kill the people in other nations who have long been our friends. And they would do the same thing to Rota and Kanbal after they are conquered. Talsh thinks nothing of sending friends to kill friends or causing long alliances to break down. I don’t want our people to have to follow such terrible orders.
I may have been born the son of the Mikado, but I’ve never wanted to rule. However, my place is such that I can’t simply stand by and watch our people be slaughtered, or forced to slaughter others. I’m going to do all I can to ensure that everyone is remains alive, safe, and free.
It may be too much to ask, but I want you to have hope, Shuga. Even Talsh has its weak points. Prince Raul and his older brother Prince Hazar are often at odds and don’t agree on how to conquer the northern continent. Prince Hazar even tried to assassinate me. I think that their internal dissension could be exploited if we learned more about it. Talsh certainly isn’t impossible to defeat.
The King of Rota is an honorable man. I am going to meet him and propose an alliance for the sake of the future peace and happiness for both our nations. I believe that I will be successful. My path is clear. I may not be able to see every step, but I know exactly where I’m going--and why.
So have hope. I’ll be home someday.
--Chagum
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