Chapter 6

  Dogma.

  The birthright of all Devakians.

  The physical manifestation of their beings that can express themselves in as many extraordinary ways as there are grains of sand on the beach. Possessing dogma, one could burn their enemies to ashes. Another could deliver lightning from the hands like lightning during a thunderstorm. One could alter the very ground that they sit on, shaping it in accordance with their desires.

  For this reason, the immortal race called Devakians stood on a pedestal above all other life.

  from that which bleeds and dies.

  However, for a few unlucky, be it by a stroke of bad luck that they were not born gifted or by its loss through other means, some Devakians do not possess dogma.

  Should one be born or found out not possessing Dogma.

  Should they be a blemished.

  They would be killed on the spot.

  For while the rulers have long since banned the act of procreation amongst themselves, when the day comes that all is right and they are allowed the freedom, they will want to ensure that the next generation of Devakians is strong.

  Having the blemished among them would taint their race, and they have made sure that none exist in the world.

  The one exception, in the Thousands of years since the Devakians first arose from the primordial soup, the one who has been spared such a fate is none other than—

  “Aiko, you know that I don’t look down on you for being a blemished. I know that you’re not weak or anything,” Saikougott said.

  “Of course, I know that you don't. that much is obvious,” she sniffled. “That rotting corpse the mosquitoes are feasting on back in Mueryu is proof enough. That is not the problem, Saikougott.”

  “Then what is the problem?”

  “The problem is that once you turn back to normal, you're going to distance yourself from me almost immediately.”

  “That's absurd! I would never do that to you. I've known you my whole life.”

  “You've known Raisikio for thousands of years, and you know how much we hate each other. How do you think that's going to work out?”

  Saikougott thought back to the countless fights they had in the past. The countless times that Lyaikomi would talk back to Raisikio over the smallest things just to annoy her. The pranks that she would pull on her —sometimes with him laughing by her side— made Raisikio reconsider her decision not to kill her at times. All the times that she ignored her orders for the sake of making him smile or ruin parts of the castle she built up over the millennium.

  The feud between the two—along with his current state being too much for her to bear daily—forced her to leave the castle every night and sleep somewhere else. Somewhere far from the castle that no one has ever been able to find.

  “What about it?” Saikougott asked.

  “The moment you’re back to your old self, Raisikio is going to want you all to herself; possibly demanding you stop spending so much time with me.”

  “And I won’t listen to her. I am the king of this land and of the devakians, and I will do as I want.”

  “She wouldn’t be the only person forcing your hand. I’m sure your older brother, who's off the island right now, bellonokor would have something to say to you about me, too.”

  Saikougott had forgotten that he even had a brother. Then again, the two had seen each other less than a handful of times. Each time, Saikougott could tell from the downcast eyes that shot away when his eyes cross his that he didn’t want anything to do with him as he currently was.

  “The moment you come back, he’ll want to take the first ship he can get his hands on and want to explore the world together just like in the old days,” Lyaikomi said.

  “You could come along with us if you like. You don’t have to—”

  “--Neither Raisikio nor Bellonokor wants me to leave this island! “she shouted. “They'd never allow it! Not until they think the time is right. And even if they did, Bellonokor hates me way more than Raisikio does. If we don’t try to kill each other on the boat ride on the sea, then we’ll probably avoid talking to each other altogether. It wouldn’t be a very fun trip.”

  “Then I won’t leave the island. I won’t leave you alone then. I'm fully content with hanging out here with you forever if that's what you want.”

  “That wouldn't work either. You know Ametoros is going to want a piece of you, too, right?”

  Saikougott hesitated to speak immediately, knowing how affectionate Ametoros could be.

  Ametoros was the older sister of Raisikio, whom Saikougott also didn’t get to see very often. Raisikio, for reasons that he didn’t know about, was hesitant to let her near him. But on the rare occasion that she did allow her to visit with him—after Ametoros wore down her patience with her constant begging and only if she was present—She would shower him with attention and want to play strategy games with him as they enjoyed cake and tea. She cared little that Saikougott was no longer a grown man but a child. If anything, it only made her more drawn towards him as she found him to be cute, joking that she liked him better this way, much to the ire of Raisikio.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  What made her even more of an oddity amongst all other devakians is that she never talked down to Lyaikomi when she was in the room. Not only did she hold no ill-will towards her for being a blemished but even harbored the desire to be friends with her. She would always try to include her in their games and wanted to spend time together just the two of them. Lyaikomi, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with her despite the kindness Ametoros tried showing her.

  “You know she wouldn’t mind you tagging along if you liked,” Saikougott said. “She's the only other person on this island besides me that is nice to you.”

  “Too nice, in my opinion.” She paused. “Besides, do you think she’ll want to spend time only inside the palace? Absolutely not, she’ll want to take you out into public and explore the city.”

  Saikougott froze, immediately understanding where Lyaikomi was going with this. Although Saikougott and her left the palace from time to time to explore and eat out at restaurants, it was not without difficulty. The two would be met with resistance to their plans in the way of people taking their time at restaurants, trying to annoy them and encourage them not to come back, or by having them refuse to allow them in altogether.

  And although they could always complain and make it a point to talk with the queen about it, the two of them saw it as a waste of energy and wouldn’t bother to put up a fuss. After having dealt with these enough times, they decided to simply move on and do something else instead.

  But what really would slow them down was that Lyaikomi would consistently be ambushed by people trying to take a swing at her—which would end badly for them in the end—and ruin their day.

  “I’d keep them away, Aiko. No one would bother us once I’m all-powerful again.”

  “No need, I’ll end up pushing them away all on my own. They’ll still find some way of getting back at me, regardless of whether you're with me or not. All my presence would do is serve to push the people you want in your life away out of sheer association with a blemished like me. I know you know this.”

  Saikougott raced to find an answer, a rebuttal to her comment, but was left with nothing but air between the two. He knows that she’s right. He imagines what would have gone down in the village from earlier had he been in his prime state and she had been present with him. Even if she was the one who single-handedly slew the Asurak, he can’t imagine that the crowd would have been any different knowing that Lyaikomi stood by his side as a friend.

  “I’m guessing since you have no words that I’m right?” Lyaikomi asked.

  “wh--hold on! That's not—wait a minute! Let's just—”

  “Forget it,” Lyaikomi said, striding from her spot and walking towards the end of the bridge. “It doesn’t matter. Go be the great king you want to be. I’ll be around if you need me.”

  “Aiko, stop,” he rushed to keep up. “Don’t talk like this, I’m not going to leave you behind for my sake. You know me better than that.”

  Lyaikomi covers her face in her hands, and a few seconds later, quiet sobs turn into breaking down as they don’t look back. “Not at first!” She muttered.

  “No, never!”

  “A few drunken parties with your family and you’ll ignore me as everyone else does!”

  “Aiko, let’s talk this out, okay?”

  Lyaikomi keeps sniffling and weeping. She continued striding with her back turned to him, the cracked sounds of her voice shredding Saikougott’s heart into pieces as he was caught between having to assure his friend and the growing desire to run.

  “Listen, if you want, I could order the chefs back home to make you desserts to help calm you—”

  “I don’t want desserts!” Lyaikomi shouted, her gentle weeping turning into ugly crying.

  Saikougott was running out of things to say to console her. His continued offers of luxury goods and treats fell on deaf ears.

  The two were nearing the end of the bridge, and Lyaikomi's continued crying began to cause Saikougott’s eyes to water, his heart beginning to break. Left with no other alternative, he knew what he had to say.

  “Okay! I promise I’ll stop trying to reawaken! Just please look at me and—” Lyaikomi turned around and kissed him on his cheek, her eyes and nose dry as when they first started talking.

  “You promise?” She smirked.

  Saikougott was caught offguard at the kiss on the cheek, before his eyes glared up at Lyaikomi.

  She did it again. She was playing me!

  “Y-you were messing with me this whole time!” He shouted, before marching away, only for her to grab him in her arms.

  “Oh no, you don’t!” She laughed.

  “Hey, let me go! I don’t want to look at you! You tricked me!”

  “Oh, come on, I was only playing. Not my fault, you’re so gullible,” She laughed.

  “I thought you were actually crying!”

  “Oh, please! I’ve only cried that one time in front of you besides earlier in Mueryu. As if I’d cry at the idea, you’d leave me. You love me too much.”

  “That was dirty!”

  “It was, and that wasn’t cool, but neither is the idea of you getting eaten by a monster, on a misguided task, is it?”

  “Let me go!”

  “Alright, calm down. I’ll stop messing with you.” Lyaikomi said, her smirk turning serious, pulling Saikougott into a hug and running her hand down his hair. “For real, I’m sorry for messing with you like that.”

  His temper growing weak as Lyaikomi smoothed out his hair, he begrudgingly spoke up. “Why would you do all that?”

  “I had to make sure that you actually cared.”

  “...Do you think that I don’t?”

  “I know you love me. There’s no doubt about that. I wanted to check if you loved me more than you did your title.”

  Lyaikomi tightened her embrace.

  “Look, I know how much you spiral at times from being ignored so often. It’s a challenge at times to get you out of bed some days. How hard it can be to do anything knowing what lies ahead of you. Knowing that there isn’t anyone who’s got your back to help you out. I’ve had those moments many times in the past.”

  Lyaikomi lifted his chin to gaze down at him.

  “But for what little it may be worth, I need you to remember that you’ll always have me by your side; through any highs and lows,” she kisses the top of his head. “Take solace in that.”

  Feeling a smile creeping back onto his lips, Saikougott pressed his head against her chest.

  “You’re the only person I love on this island. I’ll defend you no matter what,” she said, running her hand down his back.

  Saikougott hummed contentedly before speaking up, “Even if I do end up changing back someday?”

  Lyaikomi's hand ceased its ministrations as her hug tightened at the question. After a brief pause between the two, she spoke up, continuing to stroke his hair again.

  “...I’ll make sure you’re okay.” She whispered.

  “... thank you,” he smiled softly.

  Lyaikomi played with his hair for a bit longer before pulling away from him to look down. “So, you're not going to try to reawaken anymore?”

  Saikougott nodded. “No. I won't try it anymore.”

  “Good! Lyaikomi smiled and stood up. “Then let's get going!” She said, running towards the forest, obscuring the city walls.

  “Hey! Wait for me,” Saikougott called out, rushing to keep pace with his friend. “Why are you running so fast, Aiko?”

  “Don't you remember? Today is the Devakian Independence Day festival, and we need to get ready.”

  Saikougott’s face lit up as he recalled that fact. “Oh yeah! That's right!”

  “I can't wait! There’ll be so many games, performances, and especially the food!”

  Saikougott catches up with Lyaikomi and runs alongside her.

  “I especially want to get some of that large tuna I saw back in that village back to work there,” Lyaikomi said.

  “I didn't see it. Does it look good?” Saikougott asked.

  “It's massive! I think it could fit a whole person, it’s so big.”

  “Oh! That sounds incredible!”

  The two laughed together as their minds ran wild with a myriad of adventures that would await them tonight.

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