Chapter 3: Jeweled branch of horai
#3 of Chronicle of Lunrba family: Wonderful nights
This will be a clean chapter because I want more world building.
"That will take a while to dry but we did use the best soap."
"I will try to hold it back."
"Don't worry about dear, you are my virile husband, don't expect me to back down, I am your elder after all, these are nothing that I can't handle."
"Now I am wondering who is the dominant in this relationship."
"Your role is dominant but I sometime, you need to be careful with what you are playing with, I am a devoted lover so whenever you wanted to do something, I will go until everything over."
"I came so much last night that it hurts."
"Well, the same can say for my stomach but that was wonderful."
"I must say, I have no complain."
Laundry day is always on Sunday and that is a must for Lunrba family, a day to rest but the auction is a series and what come after love is prestige. Lunbiv prepared the collection before even the first show, every auction is a special show, and it is his duty to make sure every show is a perfect impression. And now, in this garden, Lunbiv needs to make everything is in order, the next show will not be the theater but in this garden itself.
"Wrong place to bloom. What a shame."
"Not to mention it is one of the best. But I guess we really have to cut it."
"Not really, I can accept a few mistakes, reminding them everything has its flaw."
From the moment every plant in their glass cage enjoys the true sunlight and the true rain, the garden itself becomes something else, it is much more beautiful in Lunbiv's eyes. The stage is prepared, everything is in its place, the theme of the night will be 'Jeweled branch of horai', every accessory is prepared for the guests, the effect can be different from the previous auction but this is not a wholesale like the last one.
"I really love that endearing gesture, but we still have half of the garden dear, also, we need to check up on the orc prince."
"Well, then I guess I should carry you after what happened last night."
"I just hope that council doesn't bother us today, they have been relentless."
The attack from the council, they want something the Lunrba family having, the only thing that stop them is the cost of their power and that is the moment Lunbiv knows what they want. The orc king's sacred stone and the insignia on the orc prince, it is currently the only way to bypass the rule of magic. Every time when Lunbiv wants to make something his dream, the magic will drive him to the brink of his consciousness, everything comes with a price and the price of making something a part of his dream is turned his mind into a world and risk the possibility of getting trapped in an eternal dreamland.
But Lunbiv expected that possibility, he knows that is the risk and he is prepared, the Hermit will never get their hand on that newfound kingdom. Even when he needs to use that power and ignore the fact that this is the final trace of humanity's freedom. He witnessed countless rise and fall, what with one more, he is willing to do anything as long as what he loves is protected.
"Lord Lunbiv."
"Do you want to continue this dream? I can simply recreate that dream."
"Not really sir, I am one of the pillars. I should return to my place, there are matters to attend to and not to mention a new crusade."
Lunbiv looks at the sky, the sun is bright and merciless, the wind doesn't help that much with its heat, it is nothing different from a blanket of fire wrap around the mansion as the sun above him gives him nothing but the heat. The heat is nothing different from a giant blade that cut through the sky, the rift open above his head as fire rain down from the sky. And not to mention the humidity, it is a normal annoying day in the southern hemisphere, finishing up the work in the garden quickly is his only choice. As long as the Order doesn't have the guts to annoy him, look on the other side, he sees the sweat the eyebrows of the dwarf. Both of them enjoy working but not in this hour, not when the sun is trying to turn the ground into a frying pan.
The work end and the moment Lunbiv enters the house, the heat and the humidity vanish, the house brings him relief as he cooled down. He knows the fact that they need a shower first before doing anything in the house, a bath with lukewarm water is always relaxing, the steam in shower is far better than the current weather outside. Lunbiv enjoys the bath as Sotho gently scrubbing his back.
"Let's see the promise of the Lunrba family and what our ancestor created."
King Da'rak along with his people gather in the forest. In Da'rak's hand is the jade seal and in the other hand is the blade belong to the first orc to walk on this planet. In his mind right now is doubt, he knows he needs trust his allies, they were and even now, they are still his allies. The dwarves even when everything was over them, still do whatever they can to share the burden with their friends, even when the humans called mountain dweller or depict them as drunken craftsman. The dwarves still helped their allies when they were the one to take the bullet for everyone as they are the first to extinct.
And the Lunrba family, even when they walked through countless eras, acting as nothing but villains in the eyes of humans. They are there for every creature they are protectors and not to mention they are those who weeps for the fall and the forgotten of the world. How could someone like that willing to trick the orcs.
"I am ready, so, the seal just needs my essence, right?"
"It is what written on the blade my king, but it can be any kind of essence."
The one standing next Da'rak is On'rak - A researcher from the Sacred Crown, he is an orc and even with his muscular appearance, On'rak is a talented researcher and to answer the call from his kind, he left the Sacred Crown to return to his king. On'rak spend his life to learn and to keep the secret of the orcs and their first language so the future generation can make use of his wisdom, he is the closest thing that human described in their work about the orcs as shaman.
"Any essence but it can't be that simple right?"
"You are over complicated everything, the text is very simple, any essence of any orcs can unlock the seal but the seal is kept by one of the most dangerous people in this world. I doubt it can't be simple, you can even lick the seal just to unlock it."
"And that won't be a nice thing to show to my people... well, let's make something dramatic and mark this as the foundation of our kingdom."
The blood dripped on the green seal, even when the seal has nothing but a simple design, it shows what it can really do, it releases the light and the next second when every orc open their eyes, in front of them is a white city. The horizon is nowhere to be seen, and in front of them is a city built on the surface of a lake, there are countless bridge connected to the city, even the nature around the city is different from Earth.
"I waited and waited in the lonely city as this lonely world itself, and would you look at that, even the world eventually answers my prayer and send me the true heir."
"You are..."
"I am not important because I am temporary and transient, exist only to vanish when my mission is over. Do not cry and do not grief, because this is simply my way to atone, do not remember me or try to remember, because I was never here."
The mystery person in white robe disappears and the white robe turned into the sword sheath, and in front of the is their new home, the present from their ancestor built and guarded only for the future generation to find a new home. The city is built from white marble, this city is not something simply that their ancestors can make alone, this is almost like one of those dreams that he was told when the orc king was nothing more than a young child, hearing what his father told him about those beautiful dreams. People are rewarded when their deeds is inspiring enough for the master of Lunrba family.
In this new age, they must learn the simple fact, that their old way of life can't be applied, the orcs were nothing more than countless tribe but after witnessing the extinction and the destruction, the orcs learned they need to change their way. Walking on the marbled route toward a large structure at the center of the city, Da'rak can't help but the feeling of pride and appreciation in his heart.
"But where are we?"
"I think this world is what you think it is... a dream or in the way human call it - a domain, a world of your own making."
"But whose domain?"
"I think it is your now, you unleashed the seal and register it under your blood... and not to mention, this is also your brother's domain. I guess this will be my cue for the next step?"
"Spread the words, every orc and every mythical race from the previous era is welcomed in my kingdom."
"I can sense it, the seal is activated, the ownership of the domain has changed. And I guess that is the reason you're here, at least say hello to your favourite child and his mate would you?"
"We both know my purpose here. And I believe I borrowed enough time from you, so I have to say, thank you for helping this old man and guiding his children toward the future they deserve."
"Just like that, you just fade away? Is this different from abandoning your own family?"
"You are different, Lunbiv, this world needs you, everything will collapse because your family is a pillar, you know they will come right?"
"I don't care about them that much, remember, I am what you call a pillar, let them come and I have everything to take their lives."
They always come for the world but the result remains the same, they know human and how they act but the one they're fighting against isn't a human. They believe their path was righteous, they believe this world is ruined because the human will end up destroy themselves with the arcane pollution but their calculation was ruined when the observer decided to reset that sand. They were furious when ask for the fairness of the judgement but with their record, they are not allowed to have any rights even the right to speak, they merely exist because like Lunbiv, the Grand Observer found them entertaining.
"A little more on the left... Now this is life."
"Your fur is getting silky now, I really need to stop but... How can I? Now, let me put the jewelry up."
This is just every activity for Lunbiv, after the bath is the daily brushing and a long session for accessories and clothing of the day. Everything is designed carefully by Sotho but even when Lunbiv want everything simple, beyond the wall of his house are countless complicated matters, the relentless attack from the Hermit, the threat from Harr and Jbys. Even there are problems with his allies, the new school in Gvtre teaching astrologik, the current state of Orne, the Sacred Crown and even the new orc kingdom.
Checking up on the young prince, the storage for the auction, prepare the dinner and a lot of work for the day and not even mention the time they used for choosing clothes. Lunbiv and Sotho usually wears white but there are days they decided to switch things around a little bit, the clothes Lunbiv and Sotho are wearing right now have the origin from at least one thousand years ago. The type of clothes worn by people during mid-Joseon dynasty but with some changes come from Sotho himself.
"Every data shows positive results. The orc gestation period will be different because of the differences between races, the orc used to be savage and fearsome. Children only need one week to be fully mature but the gestation period is usually very hard well take it from your father."
"My father was just like me?"
"Yeah but his husband back then was your grandfather, you see... There is no need to be shameful, it is family tradition after all. Your grandfather checking up on your father like once every month I guess. But like I said, the embryo will start to form in four days, that is about six days shorter than human. You will need nutrition and a strict diet."
"You said my father and my grandfather were here. Then you witnessed our birth, but why don't we remember anything?"
"It is simple, I am an entity dear, I can make you remember all those memories or I can make you forget them, you just need to remember, I will not harm you or your brother. Now, I suggest you to do some light exercise and then take a bath... but I can help you peek at your brother."
"You can do that?"
"Of course dear, it is an extension of my power to let me see anything in my dream."
Lunbiv uses the pipe and a gentle violet smoke covered the room, the scene changes and the lake appear once again with a lot of bubble appears on the surface of the lake. They are presents for the heroes of every era, there are not many humans but a lot of mythical creatures, the heroes in the past that saved from the fate of fading away in the sea. There are those who enjoys the dream of the past but most of them prefer the world of Lunbiv's making, this is not a zoo or a garden, this dream is what most beautiful to Lunbiv and it is what he will protect until the end of everything.
The setting for the orc is the pale kingdom, the domain the orcs using are shared between the ownership of two people and as the co-owner, Lunbiv can see the kingdom from above. He can sees orcs and a lot of creature walking around the kingdom, he can see Da'rak along with his people in hunt, they use the realm with moderation and that is what make him happy. Most of realms in his dream can sustain on their own without the need of any help but those failed will be erased.
Da'rak looks up on the sky, as a king and as a powerful warrior who can use half of the power of a shaman, it is not a strange thing for him not to notice the presence of those watching him. He raised his hand to wave and return to his hunt, Lunbiv and De'ruk change the place again and now they see an empty field and some orcs are planting wheats on it. Other weaving new cloths and there are a lot of different species setting up stalls in the market. With the current development, Lunbiv highly doubt hunting is not for food or it is a game until De'ruk explained hunting is a tradition and it is almost the same as a ritual. Hunting old animal to enrich the land is a ritual that all generation of chieftain used when they arrived to a new land. The chieftain must offer something from his tribe and then to prove their talent, they take part in the test of hunting and then to prove their generosity, they offer back to the land anything they hunted.
"Even when we are different from normal human, we are not savages or a race only know how to take. You can't just go to someone's house, take anything belong to them and leave, it's mortally wrong."
And that is what make Lunbiv surprises, even for a race that considered to be savages, the orcs have their own moral, maybe he also knows this but through countless reincarnation maybe he just forgot those simple fact. The power of the crowd controls the way of how people think, slowly they write new ideas and stripping away individuality but it is nice to find to the truth among the lies.
"He can and he will visit you, I can't see the future like you but that is the fact that I want you to believe and you, you need to take care of yourself. Inside you, that is the future heir of your races."
The starry sky and the lake slowly fade away and the wall of the mansion appears around them again, it is just afternoon and they have plenty of time before the auction begin so Lunbiv and De'ruk take a walk around the garden. The tall orc walks behind the master of the house as they reached the pomelo tree, the summer is not the ideal season because the flower and the fruit season passed but some lingering scent still remain.
"You showed your love to the world but why you decided the human must fall?"
"I love the world but I am a fair judge, and not to mention, I didn't do anything, the human is just a bunch of dry straw under the sun and I am not even the ember, I am just a breeze."
"A lesson for every civilization, not to fall into pleasure and envy... can I ask you something, will you teach our son when he first sees the light of the world?"
"I will try my best but I can't promise the future. Children will grow, children will learn, you and I, we can simply watch them, we can't force them to do what we want, believe the children."
After the talk and the dinner, it's time for the next auction, the Lunrba doesn't need to pay anything because they can simply take everything according to the contract. Jewelries are one of the most common things for rich people to choose but these are not common jewelries, this is the moment the test truly begin. Every jewelry is enchanted, each of them have something special about them, a mirror let you see a glimpse of the future but it can be deceiving, a necklace showering people in brilliant aura, even a diamond that brought misfortune but those overcome shall receive the reward.
"Welcome gentlemen, today marks the third auction in our weeks, as you can see, today, the Lunrba family welcome everyone to visit our garden, and this time, you can see everything we have to offer at a close distance. And the rule remains the same but this time, the tablet for each bidder is provided by us."
And the bidding begins, even when Lunbiv expect low bid the result is beyond his expectation, the value of a diamond diadem is increased by almost ten times of its original value. A lot of collectors interested in jewelries but most of them seek the most unique piece for their enchantment, there is a chance for the jewelries will be sold in black market.
The price going up and up until it reached the buy out price and this is the first time in many auctions of Lunrba family, this is the first time a buy out price is reached and the one who paid for it is the Harr's warchief. His eyes look at Lunbiv is almost possessive but filled with passion and lust, it is nothing strange when Harr is the race with the most human slave, Lunbiv shows a little smirk under his black fan, his horns glow a little. The Harr's warchief wants to take him and make him submit is something that he can only laugh, a man with an absurd idea, maybe he has the guts or he is someone who try to reach for something he will never be able to touch.
"I'm interested with this world, you really re-created something that is truly miracle Grand Observer. But our game isn't over, you forgot the last trace of human, I have the heroes and you have the villains."
"No doubt he will send out more challenge into this realm."
Lunbiv doesn't need to look behind his back to know the Harr's warchief is standing behind him, he felt every movement around him and even for a strong person like Ohzog - the Harr's warchief can feel the pressure. This is not just two people, there is someone else and that someone else is even more dangerous than the two standing in front of him. Lurking below him and behind him, waiting for a moment to strike and kill, never in his life he is terrify of something, even when he received the order to assassinate in the past.
But for Lunbiv, he knows the presence of the nightmare, ever since that day, the nightmare always looks into the reality to see any threat and to finish off anyone who tried to hurt his host but also to satiate his hunger. But the Harr's warchief, the Gvtre's emperor, the Orne's president and the Jbys's alpha along with him, they have something they need to do. They refused to talk by killed him in the past and as an instinct, Lunbiv knows most of them can't reason but he needs to try and reasoning with them.
"Harr's warchief, I see you are having a good time. But you see, I have nothing to offer for you on me."
"I will be direct, give me your pillar status, you can't handle it."
"Should you be respectful, I am your elder afterall. And you, you are nothing more than a brat to me, I will tell you something, you want this pillar so much? I will let you have a free trial, let see if your power can handle the pillar of myth."
Pillar
A new way for the Grand Observer to govern the world without the need of the old god system, the pillars are existed for the balance of world. Each pillar represents for their people, the power of a pillar is based on the power of trust from the people to the pillar. The pillars are created when an impact happens, an event that changed the people that the pillars represent.
"Only through hardship and realization, one can truly become something far greater than themselves."
The pillars can be transfer when two pillars are consent and that is the moment the pillar can be transferred.
"Just lie over there, as I am the one who loyal to my love Sotho Lunrba, you will not receive the same treatment. You can experience being the pillar of myth and to accept such fate, you need to encounter countless heroes even those lived and walked on this world and departed from this world."
It's rude to disturb his customers and his friends but that is what need to done, he needs to let the Harr's warchief know the power and the responsibility of the pillar that guard the history of the world.
"And you cannot wear anything..."
"You want to look?"
"Like I said, I am a married man and fidelity is one of the values of our family. No, the heroes will give you clothing or armor you need to wear, using your own armor is disrespectful."
"I am a great warchief, I will do anything I want and those who stand before me will need to obey."
"Very well. Then I warned you, the heroes will not kill you and they only stop when you are on your last stand."