I thought as I stood next to Ling Gu on the raised wooden platform, the cold air blowing against my stony face: Finally, they can see the world and fulfill their dreams.
But at that moment, this romantic idea was coldly crushed:
Then Wu Ji, the Sword Elder, stepped forward, his face as grim as a mountain carved by storms. He shot Ling Gu a fleeting look of contempt before beginning to speak in a booming voice: people of capital of the Gu! Today is a special day.
For today, for the first time in centuries, Chang'an will open its borders to the outside world. Those who wish to leave may leave, and those who wish to enter may enter!
The citizens of Chang'an began to shout hysterically, cheering for the rebel prince, cheering for Enma, cheering for Wu Ji. They had not expected an announcement of this magnitude. They had not expected... that their freedom would come baptized in blood.
When I thought the announcement was over, I saw (Wu Ji) point to one of the soldiers. A prisoner was dragged to the platform. A young woman, her features blurred by the effects of brutal beatings, her body trembling under the weight of chains that made a mournful ringing sound with every step. But there was something else in her expression besides pain... it was shock.
Wu Ji spoke in a voice of execution: This woman, Da Yun, is accused of inciting an attack against the palace and high treason. Her sentence is death.
At that moment, Da yun raised her head. She looked at the citizens who had been cheering a second ago, then at Wu ji, and shouted in a hoarse but angry voice that pierced the silence of the square: Do you think your new god is merciful because he gave you your freedom?! No! We were born free! Freedom is not given as charity! We have always been free,
we are the chosen ones! Do not forget... we are beings who are not slaves to anyone!
Wu Ji did not give her a chance to finish her sentence. The sword flashed. The head fell. The body hit the wood, followed by the sound of heavy chains falling on top of it, as if closing the cell door forever.
He killed her... They killed another rebel... I felt anger boiling inside me, the anger of a man who felt he had once been in this woman's place. But at the same time, I analyzed the situation with icy coldness once again.
The show was over, and the people dispersed in silence, as if they suddenly realized that nothing had changed. They were free in name only, but the guillotine still stood.
I was training in the palace courtyard, Shakugo sword whistling through the air, drawing black arcs that tore through the void. I cut, and cut, and cut. The act itself was the only thing that gave me clarity amid the fog of my memory. And as I cut, I thought: What is true power?
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Is power absolute control? Is it making the world bow to your will? But then I remembered the end of Dio, alone, bleeding on the ground, embracing his father. Absolute power is an illusion. It only leads to absolute isolation.
Is power protecting those you love? Is it being a shield for your sun? But my sun had gone out, and my shield was too weak to protect it.
Training hard, huh, Dream? Ling Gu voice came from behind me. I turned around to find him standing there, smiling that smile that didn't reach his eyes. Come on. It's time to take the first step in our plan to ascend to the heavens. Our destination... the Heavenly demon Sect.
It was a long journey. A few weeks of traveling through different lands; lands destroyed by ancient wars that reeked of ashes, lands that still retained their wild beauty, and fearful gray cities that closed their doors at the sight of the Gu banner. I thought I would see many monsters, but it seemed that the reconnaissance teams were cleaning the road before the monsters even approached our royal carriages.
(Clara) was my shadow. Always behind me, always silent. No matter how much I talked to her, she would only nod. I was really surprised by this. Why didn't she talk much anymore?
Once, a soldier called out to her loudly, Kage! Kage? Wasn't Kage the deadly maid who used to help me at the Gu clan's mansion? Anger flared in my head like a forest fire. I went over and corrected his mistake harshly, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him off the ground until his feet were dangling. He apologized to me, trembling with fear, and I ordered him not to dare call my wife that way again.
I threw him to the ground and looked around. I saw the soldiers exchanging quick, fearful glances. I looked at Clara, thinking she would thank me or smile. But... her face was strange. It was expressionless, like a cold porcelain mask. I felt a strange and disturbing feeling emanating from her, but I ignored it.
One night, I was sitting alone by the fire, looking at the cold stars. Suddenly, I felt it. The smell of rain and beautiful green flowers invaded my nose, driving away the smell of smoke and horse sweat. I turned around. She was behind me as usual in her black cloak.
My princess... my own star in the sky. I motioned for her to sit beside me. She sat down quietly. I began to talk to her at length. I told her that my dream of “cutting” had finally disappeared . Perhaps it was because I had dreamed for so long that I had cut until I was satisfied. I told her that I missed her terribly.
I touched her beautiful face with my golden hands. My hands felt like they were turning into stars because her skin felt so soft. I hugged her tightly and buried my face in her black hair. I really missed you... Even if this is a dream, don't leave me again.
Okay? At that moment, I felt her body suddenly stiffen under my arms. Her muscles tensed for a moment as if she were preparing for an attack, or as if she were touching a burning ember rather than a lover. I felt a strange coldness emanating from her, a professional, deadly coldness that controlled her nerves.
Then, very slowly and deliberately, she relaxed her body. It was relaxation of a lover. She said in a very calm voice, devoid of any warmth: Okay.
I ignored her stiffness. I attributed it to cold, or shyness. I carried her in my arms and took her to my tent. That night, the warmth was real only in my mind, and her love was the only thing that made sense in this broken world.
When I woke up in the morning, she was gone. The scent of flowers had disappeared, and the smell of leather and iron had returned. My heart sank in panic. Clara! I shouted. Where are you?
The tent flap opened. She entered, carrying a bowl of water, the harsh morning light revealing her emotionless face. I am here, sir, she said in her flat, tone-less voice, the voice of a machine performing a function.
I stared at her, confused. Why do you call me sir? Call me by my name as usual... my love... my husband... my star... dio.
She looked at me for a moment, and a mysterious gleam appeared in her eyes, as if she could see the stone beast in front of her and the mad shadow screaming inside it. She hesitated, then lowered her head in complete obedience, like an executioner obeying his master, and said: Okay... Dio.