Chapter 43: Ojura the smartass

The sun shone brightly above the settlement, casting its warmth across the river while several griffons flew through the clear sky, carrying messages and performing their duties between the surrounding territories. Below them, a nine-year-old human boy happily played in the water, splashing around without a care in the world as the river carried him gently downstream.

His face was filled with innocent joy, completely unaware of the political tensions surrounding the land he lived in.

That peace suddenly ended when he heard marching coming from the opposite side of the river.

"KID! Stay away from there!"

The boy immediately looked around and spotted a lizardman standing on the other side of the bridge. He wore scaled armor and carried a spear in one hand, his expression stern as he watched the child.

Realizing that he had somehow wandered into an area where he did not belong, the boy quickly climbed out of the river, crossed the bridge, and approached the armed lizardman with nervous steps.

"I’m sorry. Did I cause any trouble?" He bowed deeply, hoping that an apology would be enough to settle whatever mistake he had made.

The lizardman clicked his tongue in disgust. "Tch. Don’t talk to me, you worthless human."

The boy immediately bowed again.

"I’m sorry."

The response only seemed to anger the lizardman further.

"I SAID DON’T TALK TO ME!"

His leg suddenly shot forward, striking the boy directly in the stomach and sending him tumbling backward into the river. The child disappeared beneath the water with a splash while the lizardman looked down at his own foot in disgust, wiping it against the ground as though he had stepped on something filthy.

"How unlucky. To think I would get touched by a human today, especially after being sent here to negotiate with the Riversians."

Without another glance at the child, he turned around and crossed the bridge, followed by twenty armed lizardmen and two enormous Pliums carrying their supplies. Behind them, the boy slowly emerged from the river, coughing as he watched the group disappear into the distance.

Several days later, the Forestian delegation finally arrived at the capital of Riversian.

Ojura, the son of Cull and a member of the Forestian ruling family, sat proudly upon one of the Pliums as he stared at the enormous stone walls surrounding the city. His eyes moved across the layered defenses and the countless buildings visible beyond them, though rather than admiration, his expression carried clear irritation.

"Tsk. Just because they have better walls doesn’t mean they’re better than us."

The caravan eventually reached the main gate, where Ojura straightened himself before loudly announcing his identity to the guards.

"I am Ojura of the Forestian, son of the current leader, Cull. I have come here to discuss political matters with Siar the Second of Riversian."

The guards exchanged a brief glance before allowing the delegation to enter. As Ojura rode through the city, he continued observing his surroundings, his expression becoming increasingly displeased as he noticed how much the capital had expanded.

"They have more houses than us too."

His eyes then landed upon several humans walking through the streets.

"And they have humans living alongside them?"

Ojura gave them a contemptuous side-eye. "What pathetic losers."

A few minutes later, Ojura was escorted into the main hall, where Siar the Second and several of the highest-ranking members of Riversian were waiting for him. Unlike Ojura’s proud demeanor, Siar’s expression remained completely cold as he approached the visiting delegation.

"Welcome, the son of Cull, Ojura."

Ojura’s eyes brightened almost immediately, apparently pleased to receive such a formal greeting. He stepped forward as Siar continued.

"I heard you encountered some inconveniences along your journey."

Ojura’s expression changed into one of amusement as though he had finally found someone willing to understand his grievances.

"Yes, yes! Leader of Riversian, just days ago a human somehow crossed into our territory. It’s ridiculous. I don’t even know how that filthy creature had the courage to approach me."

He laughed proudly as he recounted the incident, apparently expecting Siar to sympathize with him.

Instead, Siar stepped closer and placed a hand upon his shoulder.

"I’m so sorry for the..."

He paused briefly before raising his leg.

"...inconvenience."

His foot slammed directly into Ojura’s stomach, sending him stumbling backward in exactly the same manner as the human child he had kicked days earlier.

Several Forestian soldiers immediately raised their spears, the sharp points glinting beneath the light that poured through the hall. The Riversian soldiers reacted just as quickly, their own weapons rising in response as the tension between both sides reached its breaking point.

For a moment, neither side moved, yet everyone in the chamber understood that one wrong step could turn a political meeting into a bloodbath. Ojura wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stared at Siar with disbelief and growing fury.

"What are you doing, Siar the Second? Do you understand the consequences of what you’ve just done?"

"I definitely do." Siar’s expression remained completely calm as he stood before Ojura.

"A worthless brat attacked one of our people."

Ojura’s eyes widened before his anger finally erupted. "He was in our territory! And how does a human even qualify as one of your people?"

Siar began walking toward him again, causing the Forestian soldiers to tighten their grips around their spears. They clearly wanted to intervene, but none dared take the first step. The Riversian forces surrounding them vastly outnumbered their delegation, and any attempt to retaliate would likely result in the entire group being overwhelmed before they could even leave the capital.

Siar stopped directly in front of Ojura.

"He was a fucking child. How dare you attack him?"

The hall fell silent.

Siar stared directly into Ojura’s eyes before continuing, his voice carrying the authority of someone speaking not merely as a leader, but as the protector of everyone living under Riversian’s walls.

"You crossed into our territory, attacked someone under our protection, and now you expect me to simply accept your excuse because he was born human?"

He paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to settle throughout the chamber.

"If someone chooses to remain in this place, then that person becomes one of my people."

Siar’s gaze hardened. "And anyone who harms my people answers to me."