Central City, Chuta's Residence.
The afternoon sun bathed the courtyard in a warm, golden light. It was the kind of light that made everything feel peaceful and hallowed.
I stood before the multitude, the echoes of Central City's carnival resonating in the background. The air hummed with the sweet aroma of incense and the perfume of flowers that adorned every corner. All around me, the faces of everyone who had made this kingdom possible looked on with expectation.
From the eleven governors to the ministers, the priests, my family, and my friends, they were all there to celebrate. Even Nezahualpilli, the noble Aztec, looked at me with an expression of respect and curiosity.
I took a deep breath and began to speak.
"Friends, governors, ministers, priests... and to our friends from other kingdoms. It is an honor to have you here. I thank you all for your presence and for being a part of this special moment. A special thanks to Nezahualpilli, who came from a land far away to be with us."
A thunderous roar of applause and cries of congratulations filled the air. I waited for them to quiet down, and then I continued.
"Ten years ago, this kingdom did not exist. We were only separate peoples who lived in the mountains, in the jungles, and on the coasts. Now, we are a single nation... a single kingdom."
"We have achieved much," I went on. "The number of people who go hungry is almost nonexistent, and we have endured droughts with the food stored in our granaries. We have learned to live in harmony with nature and with one another."
I paused, my gaze settling on each of their faces. I saw the governors, their faces filled with pride; the priests, their eyes reflecting an unshakeable faith; my family, their sincere smiles.
"Even though we have only been a formal kingdom for five years, our peoples already have friendly relations. There are no more conflicts, no more wars, only peace and prosperity. And that is thanks to each one of you, to your hard work and your loyalty."
The silence that followed was one of pure admiration. They knew my words were true. Then, I continued, my voice growing more serious, more solemn.
"But I have a feeling... a shadow loom over us. The prophecy of my birth foretold a great danger. A threat that could destroy everything we have built. And I feel, deep in my soul, that this danger is approaching... I will need all of your support. From each and every one of you."
A murmur of uncertainty spread through the crowd. I saw the younger ones shrug, with the confidence of those who do not know danger. But I saw the older ones, those who had lived in times of war, their faces pale. Their eyes looked at me, filled with an alarm they could not hide.
I did not want the celebration to turn somber. After all, it was a time of festivity. With a smile, I made a joke to lighten the mood.
"It seems you will not be able to rest this year," I said, and a nervous laugh was heard among the crowd.
I motioned to one of the celebration's assistants, who blew a loud horn. With my glass held high, I toasted to the coming year.
"To a future of peace, to prosperity, and to a new year!"
Just then, a spectacle of fireworks lit up the night sky. The people of Central City let out a cry of joy, and the sound of the carnival grew even louder. The celebration continued, and I became lost in the crowd, feeling the people's joy and love.
The murmur of the crowd faded, replaced by the carnival music. I moved away from the governors and joined the others. My fiancées, my parents, and my siblings greeted me with smiles. We talked about the celebration, about the speech, and about our plans for the coming year. I felt grateful to have them by my side.
The Next Day.
The lingering aftermath of the feast was still in the air. For me, life continued. I had a private meeting with Sogeking, one of the kingdom's most skilled naval captains and a close confidant. We met in the meeting office of my home, away from the hustle of the guests who were still celebrating. The aroma of aged parchment and carved wood filled the air, a scent that anchored me to reality and reminded me of the weight of my responsibilities.
"Sogeking," I greeted him with a smile. "How did you fare after last night's great feast?"
Sogeking smiled and replied, "I am well, Chuta. The celebration was incredible... I am glad to see you."
"And I you, Sogeking," I responded, my voice filled with sincerity. "It's not easy to find a moment to talk with you with all the traveling you do."
At first, we spoke of mundane things. Of food, of journeys, of the thing's life had given us. I felt as though time had stopped, and I was filled with a sense of peace.
"I had an interesting journey to North Quyca," I told him, recalling the expedition. "We encountered a storm. It was terrible; the winds were furious, and the waves were mountains of water. But our sailors... their spirit was something I had never seen. We managed to endure the storm without major problems."
Sogeking nodded, his gaze fixed on the window. He seemed to be imagining the moment from my story.
"I am glad to hear that... Speaking of journeys, Young Chuta, I was wondering when we will be able to cross the West Ocean. The explorers return with stories of a great sea that never ends."
My eyes met his. The moment of peace was over. Seriousness returned to my face. The weight of the prophecy settled on my shoulders.
"Sogeking, it is unlikely we can this year," I replied, my voice filled with purpose. "We need all of our ships to prepare. After the middle of the year, all of the kingdom's ships must patrol the coasts of the islands and the coastal towns of North and South Quyca. The only route that will be maintained is that of the Guanza Quyca."
Sogeking looked at me, and I saw that he had understood my words perfectly. The trust in his eyes gave me strength.
"Young Chuta... this movement seems to be a preparation against invaders from the east. Do you believe they will come? Do you fear that enemy ships will arrive?"
My heart tightened. I knew the expeditions would encounter European ships when they sailed near North Africa. Sogeking was one of those who had come across them, but had not interacted. It was the moment of truth.
"Yes," I answered, my voice filled with an unshakeable conviction. "I believe they will come. And if they do, they will be a problem. We cannot underestimate the enemies the prophecy foretold."
Sogeking nodded, his face filled with a solemnity that only he could possess.
"Young Chuta, you should know that on some of my expeditions, I have come across ships similar to our own," he said, his voice lower, almost a whisper. "They were large, and they seemed to come from distant lands. Their men were different from ours; their eyes were light, and their hair was a color I had never seen."
His words were the confirmation of my suspicions. The Europeans. They were there, and they were sailing, and soon they would set their sights on our continent. The fear was palpable, but Sogeking's determination made me feel a renewed hope.
A Week Later, Government House.
The birthday celebration had passed, and the atmosphere was very different.
The festive bustle of Central City had been replaced by the sober solemnity of the Government House. I was in the main hall, seated on a carved wooden chair, surrounded by the kingdom's ministers. The room was large, with maps of the regions hung on the walls and parchments of laws and treaties stacked on the tables. The air smelled of the seriousness of duty.
Today's meeting was of vital importance: the final election of the Governors of the ten regions for the next five years. The kingdom's elections were not like those of the future, where people voted for their leaders. They were a system based on merit, skill, and the ability to govern. The kingdom gathered information about the candidates, their achievements, and their history, and then we, the ministers and I, made the final decision.
The Minister of Security, a man with a face etched by years of solemn duty, stood up. He held a parchment in his hands, the paper crackling softly in the stillness of the room.
"Young Chuta, my reports on the candidates are complete," he began, his voice clear and concise resonating in the hall. "I have verified their civil records and their conduct records. Most of them have an unblemished history."
Then, the Minister of Commerce, a younger, more energetic man, stood up and began to speak of the candidates' achievements.
"And in terms of tangible benefits," he began to detail. "We have seen significant growth in the regions led by the candidates who are running for reelection. The Eastern Region has increased its food production by ten percent, while the FRIRS has improved the lives of its inhabitants by implementing new technologies."
Reflections took hold of me. In the future, the people would choose their leaders. But in a nascent society, with people still grappling with basic concepts like writing and large-scale commerce, democracy was a system that could lead to chaos. A person could choose a leader based on their charisma or an empty promise.
My system, on the other hand, was a meritocracy. We chose leaders based on their actions, their ability to govern, and their history.
"It is the closest thing to a fair system I could implement at this time," I thought proudly.
The hall filled with a murmur of low voices, the sound of unrolling parchments and a scribe's quill scratching the surface of the paper. One minister spoke of the candidates' ability to resolve conflicts, another, about their skills in communicating with the different cultures they governed.
I listened carefully, my mind absorbing every detail. This was not a power game; it was a decision that would affect millions of lives.
The process continued for hours, and in the end, the candidates were selected. There was no applause. There were no shouts of celebration. Only the silence of a job well done. An invisible weight was lifted from our shoulders, leaving in its place the feeling of a silent achievement. We had done the best we could. We had chosen the leaders who truly cared about the well-being of the people.
After an hour of discussion, the results became clear.
Six governors, those who had demonstrated exceptional leadership and tangible results in their regions, ran for reelection and were granted it. Their experience was invaluable, and the continuity of their government would ensure that their regions would continue to prosper.
However, the other four governors, by their own decision, had decided not to run for reelection. They wanted to retire or take on more suitable and less demanding positions, but not without first ensuring that their regions were left in good hands. So, the four new candidates, those who had proven to have the necessary skills and history to govern, were chosen to take their places.
That decision, made in the stillness of that room, was not just an election of leaders. It was the planting of a future. It was the promise that the kingdom would continue in the right direction.
The old governors would not be banished from political life, but would serve as vice-governors for the new leaders. This would ensure a smooth transition, and the new governors could learn from the old ones, receiving the experience they needed to succeed.
In the future, the people would have the power to choose their leaders, and that, in theory, was the pinnacle of democracy. But here, in the present, meritocracy was the best path. The people were not yet ready to make these kinds of decisions.
"Choosing a leader based on their experience and achievements, instead of their charisma, was the best way to ensure the kingdom continues in the right direction," I reflected, observing the conversation that continued in the hall.
.
----
.
[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone.
Chuta has a special meeting with Sogeking, who hadn't been at the previous birthday party due to his expedition to the south. This time he attends and reveals important information: the Suaza Kingdom has already seen the European ships.
He also holds the first "election" of governors, although in this case it should be called a selection.
Unnecessary Fact of the Day: In 1513, the Portuguese, under Jorge Álvares, reach Lintin Island in China, marking the first direct maritime contact between Europeans and China.
However, this time Chuta will beat them to it.
----
Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future (Chapter 74)
#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis (Chapter 21)
#The Walking Dead: Patient 0 - Lyra File (Chapter 7)
You can find them on my profile.]