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-- Why "our", I'm the only Calcite here, it seems...
Ushumgallu settles in to read.
In the records regarding Akkad Babbar sin Zababe Mer Lahare, the following information was found, along with an accompanying photograph:
- From a young age, he was stronger than all his peers and most other men. Throughout his life, he was endowed with titanic endurance; his broad shoulders inspired fear in men and attraction in women. He was magnificent with a spear, and although he was surrounded by bodyguards, he could personally defeat any enemy who attacked him directly rather than from behind.
- Brothers and other relatives feared Akkad, and those who did not ended up badly.
- He held the opinion that people possessed no natural rights and that everything in this world was acquired and maintained only through strength.
- He introduced changes to the traditions, culture, and laws of Calcite based on his worldview: slaves, who previously served honorable lords and were essentially like family members, became chattel under his reforms—their treatment allowed for anything, they could be bought by anyone with money, and the children of slaves also became slaves. Many actively fought these reforms, but no one managed to stop the ambitious, charismatic, and powerful king.
- He treated the three goddesses of antiquity—Nammu Ai, Nanaye, and Sheiris—with respect, although he sometimes lamented that he could not make them part of his harem.
- He was the father of more than forty daughters and fifty sons.
- In addition to three wives, he had fifty concubines, limiting their total number specifically to this figure. Every month, he sold one of the concubines—the most boring and least loved—at auction, which motivated the others to compete for his favor.
- He lived in the "Haven of the Sun".
Author's note: The rulers of Calcite constructed pyramids for themselves, used as dwellings and places for state affairs. After the ruler's death, they were meant to serve as their tomb, but Akkad did not receive such an honor from Kingaludda and Felicia.
- He was very interested in Naria es Diesra Arual, first a princess of Welfern and later the empress, but he received a refusal when he proposed she become his first wife, after which they practically ceased to contact each other.
- After his passing, a civil war broke out in the country between the king's numerous sons and the rulers of the cities; in Barsine, power was seized by Kingaludda, a man who had helped him in the past consolidate his power and achieve desired changes.
- Over the years, the reasons for the Calcite king's fate became known: his favorite concubine, Enio (who had fled from Margel after committing a series of crimes), and a warrior in his service, Hugon Sunbach, killed him hoping that power would pass to Enio herself through regency, as Akkad had appointed their common son as heir. According to unconfirmed reports, it is also believed that the son was actually Hugon's, not Akkad's, and that Hugon himself directed all of Enio's actions. After Kingaludda came to power in Barsine, Enio was sold into slavery, while the fate of Hugon Sunbach remains unknown.
The book also contained descriptions of events from the king's life written by servants, the most interesting of which was the arrival at the Haven of the Sun of three servants of Princess Naria es Diesra Arual, one of whom was Klin Chegver, the future ruler of Kridear.
— Be glorious and healthy, O Great King of all Calcite lands!
— That humble messengers might occupy but a fraction of His Magnificence's reign. My name is Klin, and my comrades are Kenshiro and Alaria. We travel a long path from Margel itself, on an important commission of Her Highness Princess Naria Es Diesra Arual. We humbly ask only to accept the message from Her Radiance, wherein all truth shall be laid out, and to present a gift to the Great King as a sign of our good intentions. We dare only to seek kind counsel and help today.
One of the servants takes Naria's letter from Klin and approaches the throne-divan with humble steps, looks at the floor, and presents the message to Akkad on outstretched hands. He, in turn, twirls it in his hands for a few moments, then burns it with the flame of a candle without even unsealing it.
— I recall that in times past I proposed Naria become my first wife, but received a refusal. Now, after all these years, should I spend my precious time on some requests of hers? Ridiculous. — The king rose from his seat to get a better look at the guests. At that moment, a court mage whispered something in his ear. — But let my relationship with her not hinder my relationship with you. Come now, tell me about yourselves and the goals of your stay in my kingdom.
— It is grievous for Her Highness's humble servant to hear of the ill relations that remain between the Great King and Her Radiance. However, it was her will to convey our request for help to Your Magnificence, and in this she remains united with our goal. — Klin bowed once more.
— As His Majesty pleases. I have nothing to tell about myself, other than that I hail from the old Krider mountains, where the flow of time turns back, and therefore nothing happens worthy of the Great King's attention. We arrived in Barsia for the purpose of seeking out and neutralizing three of the mysterious creatures known in religious culture as "apostles of Akonia". Unfortunately, the imperial archive contains very little information about their nature. It is only known that they all draw strength from one of the physical or spiritual elements associated with their title—in this case, "arrogance", "captivity", and "abomination". We were ordered to find these creatures and crush their bodies to put an end to their influence.
— O Great King, I have nothing to add to the words of our leader regarding the purpose of our journey. As for myself, I hail from the distant overseas land of Taosia, whose culture bears a significant resemblance to the Misurugi islands. After leaving my country, I lived as a wanderer for some time; now, by the will of fate, I have become a servant of Her Majesty. I have nothing more substantial to say; I only humbly ask you to accept this modest gift from us.
Kenshiro goes down on his knees, holding a battle-axe in outstretched hands. He does not approach the king—surely only chosen servants are worthy of that.
— This weapon once belonged to ruler Minos. I dare hope that Sartek's axe will find a place among the many treasures of Your Royal Magnificence.
When the axe was in the king's hands, he made several skillful test swings.
— Oh, a glorious weapon! I think it would be convenient to lop heads from shoulders with this!
Handing the axe to one of the servants, Akkad sat back on the divan with a satisfied look, and then directed his gaze toward Alaria.
— Now let's hear from you.
— Hailing from distant Tanarsis, O Great King, — observing all necessary acts of propriety, Alaria introduced herself when it was finally her turn, — I did not take root in my homeland and spent a significant portion of my conscious life as a wandering warrior, mercenary, and monster hunter. I developed other talents within myself, but it was the path of the sword and the command of fate that led me into the service of Her Majesty. Being a humble servant of Her Highness, like my companions, her will directed me here for the purpose already known to Your Magnificence.
The king rises from his seat again and approaches the guests.
— Alaria, Kenshiro, Klin. How about entering my service? Instead of hunting for fables that Akonia knows where, you will engage in worthy work in Calcite. You shall have both glory and wealth.
— This is a very flattering and advantageous offer, but alas, impossible. If I were to agree, I would have to commit suicide; such are the laws of honor of my homeland.
— An extremely generous and flattering offer, O Great King, but as long as I am bound by ties of duty to Her Highness, I cannot accept it. Otherwise, my word and my loyalty would be worth a penny.
Deciding that Klin had too slave-like a look, the king did not wait for his answer. After this, he gave permission for the group to spend the night and dine in luxurious guest quarters, and with that, the meeting with the master of the Haven of the Sun came to an end; he knew nothing of the apostles or pretended not to know.
Ushumgallu's OS still burns out, but in return, he gets +1 to strength.