CHAPTER ASHBORN 436: GODKING

The reaction to Saunak’s Automaton was somewhat more than Vir had expected.

“Do you think we overdid it?” he asked, scratching his cheek.

Cirayus guffawed. “I’d say that ship sailed when you outed yourself as a living god, lad.”

“Just smile and wave,” Maiya said tersely. “Smile and wave.”

Vir laughed.

“What?” Maiya said, trying to keep up her smile despite his comment.

“Nothing. You just look so silly,” Vir said, clapping her shoulder.

“Gee, thanks,” Maiya replied, rolling her eyes.

They continued to wave at the audience all the way until they arrived at the castle, where Vir had the Automaton turn around.

Chitran and Gargan alike had flooded into the streets to watch the spectacle, and the numbers had grown and grown as Vir proceeded. There were thousands now, all eyes glued to Vir.

Grabbing a voice amplification tablet similar to the ones used by the commentators at the Bairan Tournament, Vir spread his arms wide.

“People of Samar Patag! My people! I have but one thing to say to you today. We have won! Over overwhelming odds, we have prevailed!”

Even from this height, the deafening din of cheers was no less impressive. It felt like every voice in Samar Patag roared in unison, the sheer power of ten thousand souls distilled into a single cry. A unified voice that contained their hope, their anguish, and most of all, their trust in Vir. In their Akh Nara.

Now, more than ever before, the impact of what Vir had just accomplished sunk in.

This was more than winning a rebellion. More than restoring his parents’ honor.

He was a Raja now, responsible for the lives of not just a few thousand warriors, but tens of thousands of souls spread far and wide across his land.

Not five years ago, he wouldn’t even have understood what such a thing meant, distant and foreign that kingly concerns were. Two years ago, he’d have been utterly terrified. He’d have crumbled under the weight of the unknown. One year ago, he thought he was ready, but he wasn’t. That would have been a disaster.

Now? Now, Vir at least had the wisdom to know he wasn’t ready. Knowing that, he had built a corps of the most talented and capable individuals in the realm. Souls without peer who would steer him should he stray from the path.

And so, because of them, Vir welcomed the burden with open arms.

“Many of you have wondered where I went,” Vir announced, unbuckling the temporary black leather armor that Aida had thrown together for him after he’d cracked his old set. “For this, accept my humblest apologies. No gods have abandoned you, my people. No, quite the opposite. For you see…”

Vir’s breastplate fell away, revealing his eight-pronged tattoo. Prongs that now connected both to a deep blue tattoo and a brilliant gold one that dominated Vir’s stomach.

“You may have noticed my appearance. Rest your questions now, for it is true! I have gained the hallowed art of our clan. I have mastered Aspect of the Demon God!” 𝖗𝘢NǒʙƐs̈

Vir flared his prana for effect, allowing the black flames to billow off his body and up through his horns. While his words were an exaggeration—he had by no means mastered the ability—they didn’t need to know he’d only barely scratched its surface even with the help of his predecessors and his natural Gargan blood making him more predisposed to the art than some others.

The effect was more than what Cirayus had once told him long ago in the Ash. Cirayus had said the art made him invincible.

Provided with enough prana, that could certainly be achieved, though even with Vir’s vast reserves, surging that much into the inscription would drain him in minutes. Assuming he had the finesse to, which he didn’t. Not yet.

Rather, the ability simply made him more. Like Haste, but for everything. He was stronger, bigger, faster, and more attuned to his surroundings. Even his prana manipulation improved, allowing him to not just circulate the energy faster, but with more precision.

Vir could almost feel the crowd holding their breath. He could feel their hearts beating wildly within their chests. And he certainly heard the mad fervor when their minds caught up.

If their prior cry was loud, this was absolutely deafening.

“Wow,” Maiya whispered.

“Quite the sight, isn’t it, lass?” Cirayus said, unable to hide a proud smile. “This is what your lover has toiled for, all these years. This is why he had to leave your side. The wait could not have been easy, I’m sure. Yet do you see now what he has accomplished?”

Maiya said nothing, though the stream of tears down her cheeks told Vir all he needed to know. A medley of emotions—longing, pride, and guilt—rushed into him, and he wanted nothing more than to embrace Maiya and swear he’d never let her go again.

Yet this was neither the time nor the place. The world needed him to be a god. Her announcement would occur in short order.

Raising his arms, Vir quelled the crowd. “I have but one thing to say today. We have won, yes, but victories do not feed the belly. In spite, Raja Matiman saw fit to burn our granaries and our cool rooms. The city hungers, and each of you has felt the pain of our rations. I wish you all to know that solutions are being worked on as we speak. This will be resolved in short order! And so, I ask of you only to endure. To abide by the rations just a while longer. Be generous to your fellow demons. Help one another, and soon, we will all feast like Maharajas!”

The crowd exploded yet again. Words would not fill their bellies, but Vir hoped that with this speech, he at least imparted within them the will to press on. To not give up.

“Just hope Thaman’s got enough to feed a city long enough for us to recover,” Cirayus muttered.

“We’ll manage,” Vir said, thinking of the Panav. “Baira isn’t the only clan who owes us now.”

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Vir gazed at the hundreds of demons crowded together in the audience hall. When it was announced that Vir would make his first decrees as Raja and that the event was open to all Gargans to attend, there had been nothing short of a mad rampage to secure a spot.

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He'd had to rely on his Asura’s maintain order and create lines.

In the end, a hall designed to hold at most three hundred was now packed with close to a thousand. Scarcely a single free spot existed. Most were ordinary Gargans, with a smattering of Vir’s Asuras mixed in.

Cirayus, Ashani, and Maiya stood beside Vir’s throne, while the rest of his inner circle was assembled in front of the crowd at the base of the steps leading to the throne. Vir’s chest swelled with pride as he looked upon them. These were his most trusted advisors, all of whom had toiled night and day to enable the success of this rebellion.

And so, they would all be rewarded.

“Thank you, all, for gathering here today. As my first act as Raja, I hereby abolish the Outcast Calling. In parallel, a new Healer Calling is to be established. All prior Outcasts will become Laborer or Healer Callings, depending on their talents and desires.”

Claps and cheers echoed through the large hall, as Vir knew it might.

“Furthermore, I appoint Greesha to the position of governor, with Janani as her direct subordinate. They will be the ultimate authority for all matters of domestic affairs, should they accept,” Vir said, gazing down at the two women.

“I accept,” Greesha said tersely.

“It would be my honor,” Janani replied.

Once again, cheers erupted from the audience. Both Greesha and Janani were well loved among the city, and their actions in the liberation of Samar Patag had only cemented that sentiment. They were the city’s heroes, and their exploits would go unsung no longer.

“Then, effective immediately, Janani’s Calling is to be changed to that of the Ruler,” Vir declared. “Moving on, I appoint Cirayus to the position of Sardar—Commander in Chief of military affairs, with Balagra as his second in command. Do you accept?”

“With humility,” Cirayus said, taking a knee.

“I accept,” Balagra replied, mirroring Cirayus.

The cheering was far louder this time, though the Asuras in the crowd carried most of the volume. Even the Gargan Laborers cheered, however, and Vir guessed their fervor was due to Cirayus’ legendary reputation as the Ravager.

“Then Balagra is to carry a dual Healer and Warrior Calling,” Vir said. “I am also establishing a Healer Corp, to be led by Tara…” Vir searched his audience but his eyes found no trace of the naga. “Speaking of which, does anyone know where she is?”

Balagra stepped forward. “Tara requested an airship and several Asura to crew it as soon as she was finished healing Lady Maiya and the Human.”

Vir frowned. “Under whose authority?”

“Yours, Akh Nara,” Balagra said, sounding less sure. “She claimed the orders came from you.”

Vir groaned. “I never did such a thing. Ekat’Ma, see if you can find her.”

“It shall be done,” the Iksana reported, emerging from his shadow.

“Well, putting Tara aside, Ekat’Ma is to remain in charge of her Iksana but will now be responsible for our newly established Prajna Corps, responsible for the gathering of information throughout the realm. The Prajna Corps will work with the Asuras. Ekat’Ma will report directly to Cirayus.”

“Understood,” Ekat’Ma said. Vir had been unsure whether the Iksana would support him once he’d restored the Garga, but it seemed Sagun’Ra had personally given her permission to remain with Vir as long as he saw fit. No doubt to glean information from her. Given the loyalty she’d demonstrated to Vir thus far, he doubted the Raja would learn much of significance. Even if he did, Vir had nothing to hide.

“Now,” Vir said, his tone lower and more serious than before. “I appoint Asuman as the representative of the Chitran faction within Garga, though I strip him of his Ruler Calling. He is to become a Laborer Calling and will be forever barred from changing it.”

Though none voiced an objection, the Asuras in the room whispered among themselves, shifting uncomfortably. Vir’s inner circle had no reaction, having previously been appraised of his decision.

“I understand this may feel unexpected to many of you,” Vir said, raising his arms, motioning for quiet. “The Chitran are our oppressors. They subjugated us for nearly two decades. Know that I have suffered as much under them as anyone. They robbed me of my parents. They robbed me of my clan. They robbed me of the very realm in which I was raised. I bear just as much resentment against them as all of you.”

Nods and voices of agreement rippled through the crowd. Vir waited for the commotion to subside before speaking.

“Yet it is not the average Chitran who is to blame. Yes, they allowed this atrocity to happen, but be it Iksana, Bairan, Gargan, or Panav, all demons simply wish to live a good life. To put food on the table and ensure their progeny grows strong and proud. The ones responsible for the Chitran invasion have paid for their crimes in blood. Matiman, murderer of my parents, destroyer of clans, died by my katar.”

The crowd fell silent now, reminded of the blight that had been Matiman. And yet, though Vir dared not mention it here, Matiman had not acted from greed alone. It was a fact that all the clans had marginalized the Chitran for centuries, providing the meagerest of aid to silence their pleas for help as they were unfairly forced to fight the Ash.

“We cannot continue this cycle of hatred,” Vir said, his tone softer than before. “Too many have died on all sides. So much blood spilled. And for what? What does this realm have to show for it? Barren fields. Endless wars and an ocean of bloody tears. No. We will coexist. Nagas, Ghaels, and Bairans comprise my highest council. Kothis shall be no exception. We will coexist, and we will thrive. Violence against the Chitran who remain in Samar Patag will not be tolerated.”

The crowd began whispering again, but Vir silenced them with a single question. “Or would you rather descend to the depths of cruelty as the Chitran did?”

The crowd went suddenly silent.

Vir allowed the silence to persist, giving ample time for all present to digest the meaning of his words before gesturing to the white figure standing before him. At Vir’s request, she was one of the few who neither bowed nor kneeled. Maiya being the other. “Ashani shall continue to serve as my confidante and personal advisor as she always has, guiding our new nation with the wisdom of her vast experience. Though she bears no official position, you may consider her my equal in rank, and I expect you to treat her as such.”

It was an unnecessary warning, what with the droves of people just begging to fling themselves at her feet, but announcing her position assuaged the people, even if Vir was loath to rely on her to bolster his legitimacy. His hope was that by now, his own exploits stood on their own. Gaining a small boost from Ashani wouldn’t weaken that.

The approval from the crowd was unanimous, exceeding the fervor shown even for Cirayus and Balagra, the concern over Asuman all but forgotten.

“Lastly,” Vir said, “I have one more announcement. A rather special announcement. Maiya, would you please join me?”

Maiya, looking very flustered, approached the throne with hesitant steps, joining Vir by his side at his request.

“You may all be wondering who this is and why she does not kneel or bow,” Vir said.

Murmurs of agreement went around the hall, and Maiya’s cheeks flushed redder with each passing moment.

“To put it simply, Maiya is my consort and your new Rajni. She is a Human—people not unlike us, whom you will undoubtedly meet more of in the near future.”

The crowd was strangely silent, unsure of what to make of Maiya, while Maiya herself spun wide-eyed.

“Vir?” she whispered. “We never talked about this!”

Vir just smiled. “Don’t worry, Mai. Isn’t this what you wanted?”

“Yes, but—oh, gods!” Vir heard her mutter under her breath, her cheeks now fully red. “I’m so not ready for this!”

In response, he squeezed her hand, feeling her squeeze back.

The display of affection sparked more whispers, yet even still, the atmosphere was one of curiosity and confusion, rather than anything negative.

While humans had ample stories of demons, most of which painted them in a negative light, the same could not be said for demonkind. For them, humankind was a rumored, but never confirmed, myth. Out of sight and thought. To them, Maiya was a curious specimen. Someone to be studied and perhaps understood.

Which was, of course, Vir’s goal.

“It is my hope that you will see all the virtues in Maiya that you find in me. For in most ways, she is undoubtedly my better.”

That got the crowd riled up, as more eyes turned to Maiya, who did her best to appear regal under the scrutiny. She only partially succeeded.

Vir didn’t doubt he’d receive an earful later.

“That is all,” Vir announced. “Other seats, such as those for Foreign Affairs and other civil positions, will be filled at a later date,” Vir announced. “Then, if there are no further questions, I hereby declare this first council of the Akh Nara adjourned.”

One by one, everyone filtered out of the hall until only Vir’s core council remained.

“Now,” Vir said. “Let us discuss the food situation and our plans for dealing with the—er, Maiya?”

Maiya came to stand directly in front of Vir, glaring at him like a predator eyeing their prey. When she spoke, her voice was even and utterly devoid of emotion.

“Your planning is important. After all, you’ve got a whole realm to run. Crises to solve.” Maiya grabbed Vir’s ear, twisting it.

“Ow! Mai? What are you doing?” Vir asked, feeling incredibly embarrassed in front of his most trusted advisors. “This isn’t the time or the place—!?”

“You’re right, Vir. Which is why you’re coming with me,” she said, dragging Vir off his throne, still holding his ear. “You can do allll the planning in the world. After we talk. In private.”

Vir thought to put his foot down but realized such an action would only haunt him later tenfold. Besides, Maiya deserved an explanation after the stunt he’d just pulled.

And so, whimpering and in full view of a foreign princess and his most trusted advisors, who didn’t try nearly hard enough to keep their laughter in check, Vir was mercilessly dragged out of the hall by his queen-to-be.