Year 2009 — Light's Mansion
The mansion looked as it always had grand, immovable, untouched by dust, guards standing the roof their gazes sharp and alert.
Neues Tatsuo, Akarum's mother, stood atop the stage, listening to leaders opinions. The leaders sat before her in orderly rows.
A man rose, holding a paper in trembling hands. He glanced at the Ruler of Light, then down at the document.
"Companionship. Under this law, the Ruler's word will no longer be absolute."
A wave of shock rippled through the hall, they began to whisper to eachother in slight "awe."
Some leaders admired the General Government's boldness. Others thought them foolish for daring to present such a proposal in front of her.
"The Ruler must consult each domain's government before making decisions that affect them."
He paused, his heart pounded.
Did I make a mistake?
He swallowed.
Neues remained calm, there was no sign of offence on her face.
"It is surprisingly good," she said evenly. "However, I will make a few additions. I will visit the General Center personally to discuss them. For now, this gathering ends."
Silence, they all began to create their own conclusions.
They had expected rejection, not acceptance.
The man with the file bowed slightly, still stunned, and exited alongside the others then they all began to head outside whispering to eachother, it was something new to them because previous rulers had rejected this offer and had even punished the leaders who had offered this law though this time it was different.
Neues stepped down from the stage not even bothering to observe their reactions then she headed inside.
In the grand foyer stood three-year-old Akarum Tatsuo.
He wore a frock.
A girl's frock, standing there carefree deep in thoughts.
He watched the maids cleaning the floor, unaware that his mother had already entered.
"These are maids. Mama pays them twenty-five Eri every month."
He sucked on his index finger, thinking deeply.
"If Mama pays them… will they do everything I tell them to?"
Saliva slipped down his finger.
"Do I own them? If Mama pays them, do they belong to us?"
He frowned, struggling with the puzzle.
"But Mama only pays them to clean and cook. So… if I pay them for something else, will they do that too? Anything?"
He sucked his finger again, as if it fueled his intelligence or he thought it fueled.
Then he brightened.
"I'll pay them to play with me. If I pay, they have to listen. They should do whatever I want."
He giggled proudly. To him, the puzzle was solved.
Neues, standing behind him, placed a hand on his head.
He turned in confusion.
She knelt to his height.
"People don't do things just because you give them Eri."
Her fingers brushed through his hair gently.
Then she noticed his outfit.
"Oh, Karumi. You do like wearing frocks."
She lifted him easily, he gasped as she lifted him like a balloon filled with air, too light.
"I just couldn't find anything else to wear," he said quietly.
"There are plenty of clothes in your wardrobe."
She carried him to his room, opened the wardrobe, and immediately pulled out blue pants and a sky-blue T-shirt.
"See? You don't have eyes."
"But I couldn't find anything," he insisted, scratching his head.
She helped him change, slipping the frock from his figure before sliding the T-shirt in and adjusted it. The T-shirt read: Don't Die.
She smoothed his hair.
"There we go. The good girl is ready again."
"But I'm a boy." He tilted his head, taking her words literally.
She smiled faintly.
"I have somewhere to be."
He was about to lick his finger again, but she gently tapped his hand away.
"Stop that habit. And don't wander too much. Especially don't get hurt. Understood?"
"Okay."
Satisfied, she left the mansion.
After she was gone, Akarum stepped out of his room.
Sinu will probably be outside, talking to the villagers.
"Mama said people won't do things just because we pay them… but why?"
He walked downstairs aimlessly.
"What if I pay them a lot?"
He paused in the foyer and licked his finger again.
"Mama is the Ruler. Everyone listens to her. So I'll ask Mama to say what I want. Then they'll follow my words."
The thought pleased him, his lips curling into a smile.
He stepped toward the gates, the gates were open the guards saw him but didn't stop, he stepped outside without paying attention to them.
Villages surrounded the mansion, small lives unfolding in their quiet corners.
"Where is Sinu?"
He turned left. Then right.
"Your Highness, please return inside," one guard said gently.
"I want to go to Sinu."
"They will come later. Please go back inside for now."
"Fine."
He sighed and obeyed, his shoulders fell his movements slow as he stepped inside again.
"I feel alone," he muttered.
Fate's Domain — The Castle
Inside the pristine, dustless castle, a man knelt on the cold floor. His neck bowed forward in submission.
The people surrounding him wore white kurtas and pajamas. Some wore purple blindfolds.
No mercy lingered in their expressions.
Beside the kneeling man stood a Fate's Follower, gripping a sword tightly.
Anger radiated from the crowd.
The sword was lifted high.
The executioner prepared to strike.
The blade remained raised.
The kneeling man shut his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. His breathing slowed, but his hands still shook.
"Proceed," the earlier voice repeated.
The executioner adjusted his stance. His grip was firm. He stepped slightly forward.
The man on the floor lowered his head further.
"This won't bring Fate back.," he said.
No one responded.
A member of the gathering shifted slightly but said nothing. The rest stood still.
The executioner raised the sword a little higher, aligning it.
The kneeling man swallowed. His lips parted as if to speak again, but no words came.
A brief pause followed.