There’s a lot of cheering after that, the crowd getting worked up into a frenzy. Artos doesn’t say anything else, apparently happy with the mess he’s made, but the guy who seems to be in charge, the one with the funny hat, begins speaking to them, telling them how this is a reward for their faithful service and a great honor, and other stuff.
I just sit there and try not to make eye contact with anyone. I can practically feel all their eyes burning a multitude of holes in me.
In the past I might’ve thought about trying to sneak away and maybe get the hell out of here, but now, while I am pretty uncomfortable, I hardly even entertain the thought. I don’t know where I am, I don’t even know how to get out of here or what I would do if I somehow, miraculously, found a way past all these people who were all just given a very good reason to keep me here.
If I don’t think a plan will work or even provide sufficient benefits to justify than I don’t believe in wasting the effort. Besides, as much as I don’t enjoy being brought to the immediate attention of so many people, this situation isn’t exactly hurting me. Other than mentally, I suppose. Or, at least, it's not hurting me yet. I can practically point out the seeds of obsession and madness growing in certain people's eyes as the meeting goes on, and they're just the fastest people to fall. Other kinds of crazy grows slowly, and here I am stuck sitting where everyone can see me, surrounded by people I'll never be able to trust.
I don't really get why Artos sent me here. He asked them to teach me about this place and keep me safe, but how is dumping me in the middle of a crowd of potential threats meant to keep me safe? I admit, I feel a bit discouraged. I suppose Artos might not know about the effect I have on people. I'm not sure of his motives for bringing me here so he might do nothing, but if I get the chance to tell him maybe he'll take me somewhere else.
Since no one is currently trying to get my attention, I take the time to more closely study the people in the hall. Some of them are human, I’m fairly certain, but the more closely I look the more I catch little oddities I might’ve missed if I wasn't looking closely. Perhaps it’s just a case of different genetics allowing for a wider array of skin colors, but there are people with grey skin, pure black skin, even somewhat blue skin. Some might even have scales, but it’s a bit hard to tell at this distance. I can’t make out eye color from up here, but some of these people definitely have the gleam of night shine to them. I even notice that some of the people have horns, while others have pointed ears and still others fangs. And it’s only because I’m looking so closely that I notice that some of the shadows in the room seem to have eyes of their own, or actively follow specific people like their shadows are alive.
Perhaps I should be unnerved, but instead all I feel is a hint of interest. Like I would like to know more about what all these people might be because, shocking as it might seem, prior fantasy knowledge is doing jack all to help me understand what I’m seeing. Who would’ve thought that reading the hobbit and playing video games would not, in fact, be adequate preparation for coming to an entirely new world?
With nothing better to do I find myself zoning out hard, only paying enough attention to know that things have started to calm down. When the crowd is dismissed and starts to trickle, somewhat reluctantly, out of the enormous room I even heave a sigh of relief. I haven’t been around crowds of people in a very long time, and I hadn’t particularly wanted a reminder of why.
My relief takes a rain check when the remaining people in the room, the hat man and a few people who also look pretty important, stay behind. The man with the crown thing does pretty impressive as far as authority figures go, with tan skin, steel grey hair and red eyes, he doesn't look a day over a fit forty. Next to him there’s a serious looking grey skinned man with a piece of inscribed blue cloth hanging loosely over his eyes, who makes me think of the military or police. On his other side is a woman I can’t make much out of because she’s wearing a black veil, a black dress, and even her hands are covered by black lace gloves, While next to her stands a short squish of a person who, honestly, I have no idea what they are. Man or woman they only stand at about waist height, but of everyone they're the only one smiling. They're smiling so much in fact that their eyes are slits and their chubby cheeks are practically shinning. They’re all standing on the platform where the lower throne rests and looking up at me. Returning the favor I stare back, quietly hoping one of them is going to tell me what happens next. Elaborate thrones do not comfortable seats make.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
It’s the hat man who speaks first upon realizing they have my attention. He goes to one knee and places a hand over his heart, his companions following suit, the whole lot of them staring up at me with the intensity of a pack of meerkats. “Honored Child, these humble ones greets you. We are honored to host you and shall endeavor to meet your needs as best as our abilities will allow.”
How can I understand what he’s saying? I didn't think about it earlier when he was pumping up the room, but it's not like I recognize the language he’s speaking. Hell, even if I can understand it, I’m not sure I could speak it if I tried and I’m not particularly interested in figuring that out with an audience. So, I stay quiet as he continues speaking.
“This humble one is Ja’karis, Priest King of your esteemed sire’s great nation Travangar.” A Priest King. It sounds like I’ve been dumped in a theocracy I can only assume is based on my new least favorite deity, Artos, god of especially dark closets. The idea of mixing the way people usually respond to me with religious fanaticism makes me feel vaguely ill.
“This,” He gestures to the grey man, “is Rancor, my Grand Commandant responsible for security, discipline and order. This,” He next indicates the woman, “is Esther, my Chancellor helping me with the duties of my position. While this,” He finally gets around to the tiny person. “is Kang Soo, my Royal Counselor. We are all humble servants dedicated solely to the will of your holy sire. Might I be so bold as to inquire of your name?”
Committed to not making a fool of myself, I don’t try to answer his question and just tilt my head at him instead. Let him take from that what he will. It does strikes me as very in character for Artos to publicly claim me as his child without even knowing my name.
When I don’t answer, Ja’karis’ expression becomes contemplative before a light of comprehension dawns in his eyes. “Forgive my foolishness honored child. Lord Artos warned us of your newness to life but I had not considered that he has yet to bestow you with a name.” Bestow? That would be kind of funny if he, of all people, tried. It’s not that I’m terribly attached to my name, getting a new one would feel kind of like getting a name for a game character. It’s just that I don’t exactly love the idea of him being the one to give me said name. I think I’ll just keep the one I have, thank you. “I understand now. It just so happens that your honored father wishes to commune with you in the inner sanctum. If you would allow us to show you the way, it would be our honor to guide you.”
I’m somewhat impressed by this man, being so polite to someone he was told was literally just born. How does he even know I can understand him? Feeling a delayed sense of guilt at not really responding to him (that is pretty rude) and not wanting to keep the man in anymore suspense, I stand up from the throne and make my way down to them. I stop just one step above them and wait for them to act first.
It’s hard to tell what they’re thinking, since two of them have coverings over their eyes while one of them hasn’t stopped smiling and Ja’karis has maintained the perfect expression of the professional this entire time. This part of meeting people is always the most unnerving. The beginning, when I can’t yet tell who’s going to become a problem. It makes everything feel dangerous and fills me with paranoia.
“Will you come with us?” Ja’karis asks, and I get the impression that he’s trying to reassure himself that I can truly understand them and didn’t just walk down here because he was making noises at me. I nod, deciding to throw the guy a bone. He did just get saddled with babysitting his boss’s kid, this can’t be an easy day for him.
Time to go talk with my new "dad".
