(Note: "'This'"refers to Zverius's madness)
Everyone's expression grew solemn as Henry mentioned the infamous graveyard.
Well except Harold and Klubius, Harold barely knew any history of the modern era's or rather any era and due to Klubius being his dweller he also lacked knowledge and awareness of modern era's history.
"Wait! What's so important about Emeraldhart graveyard besides it being an awakening location? Also my father is always telling me to join military and he mentioned Emeraldhart once so is military really important and if yes then why?"
Harold asked with a conspicuous perplexed expression. David sighed in exasperation as he answered Harold's question.
"You are a high schooler and you don't even know the exact role and importance of our nation's military? It seems money sure solves most of your problems, Harold.
Anyway, in the last two centuries, our country: The Republic of Jerenberg has been governed and ruled by the military. The only difference is that, in the last three decades their rule has come to an end due to the large scale movements and rallies by democratic idealists. At least that's what the average joe would think.
But in reality, the democratic government which is elected by the citizens of Jerenberg every four years can only remain in power if the military approves and even after their approval the government has almost zero authority in making any relevant decisions.
Basically the government is just a puppet. Even if the times have changed and people don't like to be ruled by a bunch of strict and radical top military men they still don't mind military "influencing" the government.
Although there is quite a lot of evidence of top military officers ordering government ministers on what to add to the bills which would be passed in parliament.
But the common people still don't mind it because after all, the eastern and western nations have always been envious of our splendid firepower, stable economy and influence over pretty much the whole world.
All of this is possible because of our strict and radical, but progressive military.
So all of these prosperous lives people are living is due to the military's ironclad laws. Nobody complains about military's indirect but absolute authority if they get to live in a stable and prosperous society. Any agenda which is supported by military quickly becomes famous and loved by common folk in our nation.
One of this agenda is "if you serve in military till your retirement then you'll have a well-maintained grave for you."
Jerenberg has the largest population on this planet, even though we have plenty of land but half of it is necessary for wildlife, agriculture and to maintain a healthy ecosystem. So to accommodate the large area for industries, towns and cities we need land and so the military forbids to build graveyard for commonfolk.
This may seem discriminating to many but the military can't afford to "waste" land on building graveyards for the thousands of people who die daily. The military's reason for building graveyards for a military personnel; be it serving or retired is that they fight for this land so they deserve to be buried under it after their death.
Also as you know in Jerenberg it is mandatory for every healthy high school graduate to serve in the military for minimum three years. It is precisely due to this mandatory three years service in military, that people realize the hardships of military soldiers and their duty because of which they don't seem to harbour any animosity against the law of dead military veterans having a grave for themselves.
And as for those who refuse serve in the military for three years, they aren't able to get a government job or buy any property in Jerenberg. Most of their civil rights are stolen and the society labels that individual as someone who has committed treason.
But if you do the opposite and serve military for your entire youth then you are eligible for a handsome pension, many premium rights and also as I stated earlier that you are burried in a well maintained graveyard.
Emeraldhart is just one of those graveyards located in central Klington, near military
headquarters. It's a very well guarded place where only military officials; former or serving and their family members can enter and that with a prior written permission.
It has a deep patriotic and sentimental value in many people's heart."
Harold seemed more confused now but still somehow David noticed a glimmer of clarity in Harold's eyes, however he asked a last question to clarify his one doubt.
"So, those who only serve military for three years and those who don't serve military at all are not burried and those who die during their military service and military veterans are burried?"
David shrugged as replied:
"Yes, it might seem to you that those who are following the law of mandatory three years service are being treated same as those who aren't following the law but you are wrong.
Sure, both of these types of people aren't burried but those who don't serve at all just get their corpses disposed off in ocean and those who serve for three years receive a decent funeral after their death and their dead bodies are cremated with full respect."
Harold scratched his head as he asked one more question.
"But doesn't that cause pollution too?"
David facepalmed himself as he answered in an irked voice.
"It does, but any idiot can understand it's better to conserve forests and agricultural land from being used rather than to avoid burning organic matter."
After hearing this Harold felt as if he had understood most of it what David had yapped about. Harold nodded slightly as he laughed awkwardly.
Zverius leaned back on the back of the wooden chair as he glanced lazily at Harold and said:
"And as for your question regarding why spell chose high schoolers as vessels...
...well the reason is that human souls are most suitable for the merge with a foreign soul if they are around sixteen or so, the more the age of host's body diverges this number, the lesser chances of a successful merger will be there."
As Zverius completed his sentence, he felt a strong sense of fatigue and exhaustion washing over his body. As expected, this divine spell which allowed him to create and maintain an artificial world demanded a large expense of dark crimson energy.
Zverius turned around and noted that everyone needed some rest especially David and his friends. Zverius stretched his hands up and yawned lazily as his opened mouth revealed sharp and long canines, which startled Harold a little.
Soon the meeting ended with a lot of vital information to digest. David, Henry and Harold left the artificial world as their physical bodies woke up at morning in their respective homes.
After the human trio left, Zverius quickly instructed Cerebius and Klubius. He told them to share some of the information with their vessels and the rest to be kept hidden from them as Zverius believed that knowledge was one of the heaviest burdens in this world.
As Cerebius and Klubius left the artificial world, Zverius was left alone in the damp room of the barracks.
He stood up from the chair and left the room as his eyes fell upon the desolate kitchen which was just besides to their meeting room. Zverius smiled wistfully as he saw the kitchen looked like a ruined mess.
The walls had many breaches and cracks, rays of sunlight shining on the cooking platform of the kitchen. The iron stove had terribly rusted and the barbecue grill was barely recognizable.
There was also an off white drawer set in which Zverius found some rusty bowls, plates and wooden spoons on which algae and moss has grown. The drawer itself had many oil and blood stains on it.
Zverius also found an antique wooden chest, it's lead had a skull carved on it. Zverius expression grew somber as he opened and glanced at the gruesome contents inside the chest.
Those gruesome contents were none other than some chewed and gnawed pieces of human bones. Suddenly Zverius felt the desire to puke as an ugly expression appeared on his handsome face.
As he tightly shut close the chest while he covered his mouth with his left hand, Zverius muttered to himself:
"I could never atone for my own sins which are so grave but I dare to stop other sinners while acting righteous and just. I wonder if I'm worse than Zarius..."
'You are the worst!'
'Die! I always considered you my friend but you are just another filthy Zarden.'
'I wish you were never born, you are such a burden for your mother.'
'You'll never find peace.'
'Kill me Zverius before it's too late. Oh...ha ha ha, how could I forget that killing is all you know!'
As Zverius started to hear these voices more loudly he realized he was slowly growing unstable. This barracks had evoked some real bad memories for him.
As if hearing always a million of voices in his head was never enough for him, fate sprinkled salts on his wounds by making those people's voices louder whom he had killed.
The more regret he had while killing a certain individual, the louder their voice would be. Now due to the fatigue and exhaustion Zverius was able to hear the loudest voices in his head, they were piercing his sanity with their sharp cold and bitter words.
Zverius couldn't take it anymore, so he had to abruptly leave the artificial world to replenish his dark crimson energy reserves and rejuvenate his tired soul in the embrace of his crimson core.
However, he was not a least bit happy, he had miserably failed again to find someone he sought in that artificial world of his.