Chapter 80: [80] Coercion

There were many ways to go to war.

While many adored the use of staves, swords, and arrows, little did they know that the true war began in the form of visits…

Whispers, coaxings, and friendly banter.

True war begins from the mouth, every other thing is just a representation of what had already been brought to be.

It was late at night, the time where most were already half asleep, and the crickets were practicing for their final sonata.

There was a flash of red hair, as a hooded woman made her way across the village, her very movements graceful.

The woman remembered a little conversation that had happened some hours ago.

“I already have the support of the people and a few elders. Can I trust you to handle the rest?” That was Eliron’s request.

Right from the start of their meeting, through their perilous journey through the forest, this had been what brought them together in the first place.

A purpose.

She was meant to make his election a smoother experience. So Artie resolved to carry out her part of the deal.

Knock knock.

Once the door swung open, Artie gave the man behind it her most friendly smile.

“Good evening, chief.”

The man on the other side was a mature man, although he looked like he was in his thirties.

He wore round-rimmed spectacles, and his beard was short and well-kept.

“Ahh, Artie! To what do I owe this pleasure? Please come inside!”

Following his request, Artie stepped into the hut and took a seat in his living room.

After serving her a fresh cup of tea, he sat opposite her and smiled.

’Chief Sophron…’

Currently, out of the twelve elders, Eliron had managed to win Zenith and another elder by his actions alone.

Artie’s father’s influence ensured that they had two other elders on their side as well, making five in total.

’We need more elders.’ Artie thought as she watched the man, and that was the very reason she had come.

“I don’t want to bother you too much, considering it is already late.”

Sophron waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t bother about that, all I do is sleep these days. A friend of my daughter is welcome any time!”

Artie smiled. “As you know, the confluence will begin in a few days.”

Immediately Sophron heard the word confluence, his mood soured.

’It is just as expected…’

Out of all the elders in the village, the one who absolutely abhorred politics the most was none other than the man sitting in front of her.

She could understand him…

Politics was a dirty game, even in such a small village as Artaris.

But the truth was—

’He’s nothing but a fool.’

There were many who stayed out of politics, claiming that it was the better thing to do.

They had no one they supported, neither did they even listen to what the potential leaders had to offer.

But when the wrong leaders are elected, they sit in their lofty chairs and complain about how terrible the leadership is, when they did nothing to stop it.

Artie had a different philosophy.

If you think your leadership is bad, then seize power, take the crown with your own bare hands, and lead the people in the way you felt was right.

Not like she cared though.

The people could as well rot, why care for someone who would leave you to die in a pit if they had to risk a single finger to get you?

Artie had witnessed it first-hand.

But then again…

Eliron had taught her to not expect anything from others, even while being good to them.

She had also experienced his kindness first-hand, when he risked his life for her sake.

She frowned.

’I need to get Eliron out of my head… I’m going off topic.’

She had found herself thinking about him a little too much since his phenomenal blunder that warmed up her forehead.

Artie was not here to discuss philosophies with the old chief, her sole purpose was to win him to their side.

“Sorry to disappoint you, Artie, but I cannot bring myself to vote in such an election.”

“Hmm?”

The man shook his head.

“Have you seen how Drakili tries to coerce others to vote for him? Do you know the lengths he is willing to go to win?” He breathed out.

“I cannot involve myself in such a putrid exercise.”

The elder stood up, his face mirroring his disgust. “Is that all?”

Artie sighed.

’I hoped I wouldn’t have to go this far…’ she thought as her lips slowly parted.

The elder put up an iron wall within his heart, simple words would not get through to him.

Artie’s green eyes grew colder than the forest in winter, her posture defiant as she watched the elder.

Elder Sophron felt a chill run down his spine. In all his life, he had never seen Artie react this way.

Artie glanced at a painting hanging by the side of the room. It was of his daughter, and from the countless flowers used to decorate it, anyone with eyes could tell that he loved her dearly.

“How is your daughter doing these days, elder?” Artie moved her gaze to him.

Her eyes said more than words could ever express.

Sophron froze stiff like a log. “Y-you wouldn’t dare…”

The thing about secrets was that your secrets were never really safe with anybody, they were just in temporary storage, waiting for the day they would be of use.

Artie smiled and took a sip from her cup, the golden liquid swirling within it.

“I wonder, how would the people react when they find out… that it was your daughter that caused the incident that happened a week back?”

The first stage of verbal war.

Information.

Although goblin sightings were not an impossibility, in Artaris they were so rare that Artie could not remember the last time it happened.

So after everything was said and done, when she had gained the trust of every one of the girls involved, it wasn’t long until the truth came out.

One of the girls was a little too ambitious and strayed away from the group.

And worst of all, when she was discovered…

“I’m sure the others would understand. Fear makes us do strange things. I mean, that would explain why your daughter ran, leading the goblins right to the other girls.”

Sophron’s eyes went wide, his breath hitching in his throat.

What actually occurred was that she ran away at the sight of the goblins and happened to run into the other girls.

She never intended to bring danger to the others, her only fault was leaving the group.

But Artie had phrased it in a way that put all the fault on her. Now, it sounded like she was trying to save herself while putting the others at risk.

Sophron could not believe his eyes.

The peaceful girl he had known to be meek and kind had transformed right before him into a ruthless serpent.

His shoulders fell, and he clenched his jaw. But there was nothing he could do.

He had been defeated.

“I understand.”

Artie stood up and placed the empty cup on the table. “Thank you for your understanding.”

“There has to be a more efficient way to ensure our victory…”

Artie mumbled to herself as she left the elder’s hut. She had only walked for a few minutes when she stopped and stared at the empty street in front of her.

’Hmm, that can work.’

•••

“Anna! How could you forget?!” A mother screamed out in fury, fixing a glare on her careless daughter.

Anna had left some meat to dry close to the forest, where the winds were heavier, but instead of retrieving it before night, she forgot.

“I’m sorry, Mom—wait! Don’t hit me with your slipper, okay?” She begged as she planted her back on the wall, watching her furious mother advance with a slipper made of hardwood.

She had taken a beating with one of them before and was not too keen on reliving the experience.

“I’ll go get it! I’ll get it!”

The mother stopped. “It’s already late, it’s too dangerous.”

“I’ll get a guard to go with me…”

The mother thought it through for a few seconds, then sighed.

Wasting food was a sin in Artaris. If anyone found out their mistake, there was no telling what their reaction would be.

“Alright…” she said in a defeated manner. “Be quick about it!”

Anna burst out of her room, running through the dark path lit up by the dual moons above.

In the night, the path which you knew by heart almost seemed foreign. The familiar warmth was gone, everything cloaked by an eerie darkness.

As she advanced, Anna suddenly stopped, her feet grinding to a halt.

In front of her was a figure draped in a dark cloak that covered their features, the darkness hugging them like mist.

’W-what is that?!’ She screamed in her mind, taking a few steps back.

The figure slowly turned to stare at her.

Silence…

Anna could barely move, her breaths caught like hiccups, her knees freezing in place.

’I have to… I have to…’

Fear had confused her, her thoughts scrambling together.

’…Run!!!’

Anna turned around and sprinted, not bothering to look back.

She had barely taken a few steps before two cold hands wrapped themselves around her mouth, a scream dying in her throat as the darkness took her.

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