Earth: The Second

Plea for Help

Soon after Adma finished his water-fetching duty, he comes together with Jerry to the place he mentioned before. The forest is located northeast of the village, through the plaza. Along the way, Adma realized that villagers who have come back to the plaza are giving him a curious look. Some of them are actually seeing those Black Claws adventurers, leaving with gloom looks on their faces, and wondering what happened when the plaza was empty. Adma even heard their whispering while they see Adma with judging eyes,

“Something probably will happen soon in the village,” said one of the whisperers.

Still, he followed Jerry to lead his way, just as he promised an hour before.

The forest in front of them is dominated by pine trees, that towering high around six meters or more. They keep walking until they found a spot in the forest, where broken branches, dead trees, and leaves are piled on each other. The unique thing is that there are holes between those dead trees, where one of them is big enough for humans to get in. Adma and Jerry can see light inside of it.

“I see, it is already started,” said Jerry. “Come one, we should not keep them waiting.” then, he proceeds toward one of the biggest holes, where Adma following after. Because his body is bigger than a kid’s, he has to bow down his body.

The inside of those places is looked exactly like a cave. Those holes are giving way where the air would come in, even there is a bonfire inside of it, those children did not look like they are suffocating.

And yes, what waiting for Adma inside, are a group of children. Probably around their teenage years, where he even see Pina, that quiet girl from the orphanage.

“Thomas, I already bring him,” Jerry reported to one boy that is sitting behind the bonfire. He has brown curly hair, and probably the oldest ones in the group, judging by his height. The guy called Thomas is looking at Adma, with eyes in fear, mixed anxiety, and doubt. He opened his mouth and trying to speak with intimidation toward Adma, but what is come out are stammered voices.

“Um… S-so, you are the one that Jerry called… He said you are a strong person, huh?”

Adma looked at him in pity. His stature as the only adult between them probably giving these children chill down their spine.

“May we take a seat first?” Adma suggesting a way where they can talk more relaxed. Jerry and Thomas exchanging look first before they agree. Adma then sitting on the ground, to make those children not being intimidated by his height. He then asked if they could introduce themselves to Adma.

One by one of them is started to introduce themselves, including Thomas. As expected, Thomas is the eldest, and managing this ‘resistance’ movement. Previously, there are adults who started it first, they are fighting against Udeka’s unfair way of governing. At first, this movement is just a way to showed the Duke what the small people are feeling, but months after months, nothing has changed if not getting worse. 

Eventually, this act of protests grew even more fierce with people who wanted to turn Udeka down. The Duke himself, showed his true color when he stated that all of the villages soon will be part of the city, and Udeka will burn everything to the ground.

“One of the worst things that happened, is when our people block the way of the official soldiers who used to intimidate us,” Thomas tells his experience of what happened at that time.

“The soldiers are moving with their shield raised, their weapon is ready, but they are not the ones who attacked us,” Thomas sees Adma in his eyes.

“The adventurers right?” Adma’s guessed is right. Thomas looking down at the fire and continuing his stories.

“My father is there at that time. He with other people from the resistance are bringing their tools as weapons against them. But the soldiers are never attacking. Instead, it was a group, known as ‘Black Claw.’” explained Thomas.

Those faces that fighting against Adma this morning suddenly appear on Adma’s mind. Indeed, they are skilled fighters, especially the last three that sensed threats right after Adma killed their comrade. 

“My father and people from the first movement are then either killed or captured. After that riot, Udeka pulls back his troops and said that this the power that we will face if we are wanted fight him back,”

“So that is mean, no other adults wanted to rebuild the movement, because they are too afraid?” Adma asked, and Thomas nod.

“These adults are wimpy! They are planning to run away, that is why it left to us, the children!” shouted one of those children, Thomas quickly makes a silent gesture, afraid that his voice will be echoed through the forest.

Thomes looked at Adma in the eyes again, and speak.

“Some of us have our parents caught, tortured, or even killed. My father too was killed by Black Claw’s leader when the riot happened. We have planned to hire another adventurer from the guild again. But our requests always got denied,”

“You think the Duke is pulling the string here?” asked Adma. Thomas nodding heavily.

“Of course, he is the richest person in the city, and his power always comes from that. Moreover, he used huge sums of the fund from the kingdom to strengthen his army, and hire adventurers! What is left after that, he uses it for his entertainment.” Thomas speaks angrily.

Adma scratched his chin with his right hand. This Duke… seems like a troublemaker that needs to be put down. With how this conversation is going, he already knew where the next direction going to be.

“Mr. Adma right? We wanted you to kill Udeka for us,” said Thomas. This time, his voice is heard, and unmoved. As he finally showing his leader persona.

***

Children that are losing their parents from tyranny, and afraid that their home will soon be gone because of evil landlord. Adma can completely understand why they have to be so angry, especially where Adma himself, feels disgusted at how Udeka had been told lately. How come people like this are the ones to sit at the government position?

But nonetheless, Adma also feels pity for these children. Their loss is not just people who care for them, but also, because of how their situation shaped them like this. They are not supposed to show the thirst for revenge at a young age like this.

“What if I offer you an alternative way instead?” Thomas and everyone else looked at Adma with puzzled looks. “Because Udeka is working under the command of the kingdom, can’t we just prove to them how unfair his government is so that he can be replaced?” asked Adma.

Now Thomas’s eyes grew fiercer.

“And then what? Having those people from the kingdom sent a new governor who would the same thing all over again? Can’t you already seen how much people in the bottom line suffering from this?” Thomas half-screamed to Adma’s suggestion.

“You guys did not believe in your own kingdom?” asked Adma. Thomas then spitted to the bonfire.

“All nobles do are the same. They squeeze out a fortune from the lesser people and breed only to have kids who would continue to squeezing out wealth!” said Thomas again.

“I think your hate for them is blinding you down, Thomas,” comment Adma. once again, the teenager grew fiercer, he is stood up because of his anger toward Adma’s words.

“Thomas, wait, let’s try to listen to what Adma has in mind.” Jerry pleads with his comrade to stay before he burst into anger. Thomas decides to agree, and he returns to his seat.

“Killing is something that very easy to said, but it will leave a huge impact. Even for the killer, the victim’s family, and even the community around them.” 

After days of chatting with the Father, Adma realized that this Kingdom system of nobility is based on lineage. Every noble is considered the family of royalty and has the right to govern some city or region across the kingdom.

Udeka is no exception. He is considered the family of the royalty, therefore, the blunt act of killing him is the same as waving a war flag to the whole kingdom itself.

“Are you prepared to create your own country?” asked Adma.

This time, Thomas’s face grew weaker. Seems like he understands that the kids he is today are no match that the whole politic that envelops the island.

“What we actually need, is a method to change Udeka’s mind, so that he will stop his way of governing today,” Adma continuing his speech, again, he placed his finger to his chin and started thinking.

“I still think that it’s no use to let Udeka lived. He will ask for reinforcement from the capital, and they will treat this as an act of rebellion. Not just we will lose our home, but we also will be killed.” replied Thomas. Look like, he started to doubt their chances of working together.

“No, from what I heard, nobles tend to see commoners as sub-human. That is why people like Udeka exist, and he acts whatever he wants.” Adma changed his stare to Thomas. “If we can prove that you guys are equal, there will be chances that he wanted to talk with you,”

Thomas letting out a sigh.

“Why are you so against killing when you have the power to do so?” Thomas got up angrily, he then proceeds to leave their secret hideout. 

Following him after that, are the children from the village. Some of them are muttering angrily, and some of them showing a disappointed look.

In the end, there are only Adma, Pina, and Jerry left in this place. Again, Jerry giving disappointed look at Adma.

“Why don’t you wanted to help us?” he asked.

“I don’t want to turn you guys into a monster, and neither myself,” replied Adma. In the end, Jerry then got up and leave. Leaving Adma together with Pina.

That girl who has been quiet for some time now sees Adma’s eyes deeply. 

“Something you wanted to say?” asked Adma.

“Do you really not want to help Thomas and Jerry, or you already planning something in mind?” Pina replied. Once again, she looks like knows many things, despite being silent the whole time.

Simply, Adma just answers: “The later option.”