[??? PoV]
The Noors are a people situated in the southwestern region of the Empire. One hundred years ago, when the Noors reached the height of their power, our nation was deeply feared by the people of the southern world.
The Noors often plundered those who approached our territory, killing any who dared to interfere, and once a year, we carried out great raids against neighboring lands.
The Noors were divided into several tribes, each led by a Chief. These Chiefs would eventually choose one among them to be a Tagus, who would serve as the leader of all Noors tribes.
However, all that glory vanished after the Empire attacked fifty years ago.
The war between the Noors and the Empire lasted for one year. Equipped with technology far more advanced than ours, the Empire easily crushed the Noors warriors. In the end, they conquered us, annexed our lands, and the Noors were forced to submit to Imperial rule.
Today, only six tribes remain of the original nine.
I was born and raised in the Tyal Tribe.
This tribe has a population of about 5,000 people. This number has grown significantly from the 2,000 survivors left when the war ended. The tribe's condition is better now; we have been able to return to farming and securing bountiful harvests. There have been no monster attacks in recent years, and most importantly, no more people are dying for foolish reasons.
"Sister Tyra, Sister Tyra! How do you read this?"
Currently, I am teaching children the Imperial alphabet. Unlike our native script, theirs is much easier to memorize.
The nations that worship the Goddess Diana share the same language. However, the Noors worship a different Goddess, meaning our language shares no common ground with theirs.
"Come here, Gori. I will teach you."
This is an orphanage, but some tribe members also leave their children here. they don't have time to look after them because they must work in the Empire's major cities. Their work there is not easy; they perform grueling manual labor such as mining, construction, and sewer cleaning.
This is because the tribespeople lack skills or expertise beyond their physical strength. I was lucky enough to meet a kind person who taught me to read and write when the Imperials first came here.
"Alright, practice this yourselves after this, okay?" I called out to them.
"Okay, Sister Tyra!"
They are so adorable... I hope we can maintain this life and keep moving forward.
After teaching, I walked toward the edge of the village to meet someone. He is my closest friend.
"Hey, Tyra."
"You're getting even prettier, Tyra!"
Other tribespeople greeted me as I passed their homes. Most work as beet farmers or livestock herders. However, we must increase our local production so we don't always rely on a single product to survive.
"Good morning, Tyra."
I saw an old man approaching me. He is the Tribal Chief here.
"Are you going to the Yuris tree to meet Jaru?" the Chief asked.
"Yes, I think his work will be finished soon," I replied.
"Has your brother still not returned?" the Chief asked.
At those words, my heart grew heavy. My brother left the tribe to meet someone he believed could bring about the resurgence of our people. It has been two years, and he has yet to return.
"I've heard some bad news from outside our borders," the Chief said. "Some of our people are causing trouble in the big cities."
Hearing the Chief's words, I became worried that my brother had joined such a group.
"About thirty young men left this tribe with your brother back then, didn't they?" the Chief said in a heavy voice. "I hope they don't bring trouble back to this place."
I hoped so too. Currently, the tribe is stable and progressing toward a better future. In fact, I thought it might be better if my brother and the others never returned.
After speaking with the Chief, I continued my walk toward the village outskirts.
Not long after, I saw a massive tree with thick foliage. Beneath it, a man sat sleeping, leaning against the trunk. I smiled at the sight and approached him.
His innocent sleeping face was so cute that the urge to tease him took over my mind. I knelt down to stroke his cheek to wake him up.
We were only friends, but I felt we had feelings for each other. In the Empire, marriage is only legal once both partners reach eighteen. I expected him to propose to me then—and tomorrow is my eighteenth birthday.
I was impatient for that day to arrive.
"Hey Jaru, wake up... How long are you going to sleep?"
Hearing my call, the man's eyes opened. He looked startled to see my face so close to his.
"T-Tyra? You're here already..." he muttered, turning his face away. "Sorry I fell asleep; the work earlier was quite exhausting."
"Goodness... How do you plan to protect me if you're this weak?" I teased.
"B-Be quiet! At least I've been trying and training lately!" Jaru exclaimed, beginning to pout.
I smiled at his reaction.
"Hey, don't be mad. Let's go to the river to hunt for fish like usual, Jaru," I suggested to cheer him up.
He simply nodded. We then left the area to spend time together.
.
.
.
I returned home toward evening. My house was small, so tidying it didn't take much energy.
Previously, the four of us lived in this house as a family. However, Father died when I was only six. Mother then cared for us both relentlessly, neglecting her own health. Eventually, she passed away two years ago due to exhaustion. My brother left the tribe after Mother died, leaving me alone in this house.
But things were different now. The dark days were over, and the village's condition had improved. While it was true the Noors had been devastated by the war, we were slowly rising again.
After cleaning myself and wiping the sweat from my body, I went straight to my room to sleep. Today had been wonderful. Teaching in the morning and hunting with Jaru in the afternoon—I already had a happy life.
I hoped everything would remain fine in the days to come.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
As I was about to fall asleep, I heard a knock at the door. I rose from my straw mattress and walked slowly toward the exit. Peeking through the window, I saw a mysterious male figure.
Before opening the door, I prepared a knife in my hand.
Click!
The door opened, and the man entered without waiting for my permission. I swiftly pinned him against the wall, pressing the knife to his throat.
"Who are you! What do you want, coming to my house this late!?" I asked in a threatening tone.
"R-Relax, Tyra! It's me, your brother, Hama!" the man explained hurriedly.
"Brother Hama? Why have you come home?" I asked, releasing him.
"What do you mean 'Why have you come home'? This is my house! Why should I need your permission to return!" he said loudly, appearing angry.
"You're the one who left me here alone without any shame! You're the eldest son! You should have been responsible for your family's life!" I shot back with mounting anger.
He ignored my words and sat at the dining table.
"All the young men who left back then are returning to their respective homes," he said, lighting something and inhaling. "We've successfully returned with abundant wealth for the tribe, Tyra."
Huh? Abundant wealth? Did they get good jobs in the big cities? But didn't the Imperial citizens discriminate against our people for being backward? How did my brother obtain such wealth?
"However, we left the treasure near the Kulfu bridge," Hama revealed. "I want you to go get it and bring it here."
"Answer me honestly: where did you get this treasure?" I asked seriously.
"Tch, it doesn't matter where it came from as long as it's used for the tribe's welfare, right?" he answered, evading my question.
"Don't tell me you committed crimes to get this?"
At my question, he merely looked away. It seemed my suspicion was correct.
"You and those men are so foolish, Brother! This kind of wealth won't help the tribe; it will only bring danger!" I hissed loudly.
"What did you say!? We've been fighting all this time for this tribe! Some of us even died! I won't let your mouth defile their sacrifice!" Hama barked, shoving me roughly.
"Your efforts aren't needed! This tribe is already growing; it won't be long before this place prospers like the big cities if it's built correctly."
I believed that. By teaching the next generation about the world, the Empire would eventually pay more attention to us. Our current problem was the language; many Noors had yet to master the Imperial tongue.
"You're a fool for hoping so, Tyra," Hama said, standing up. "The Imperials will never accept our people! Look at what they've done to this place. They destroyed our Goddess's statue and replaced it with theirs; they banned our culture and look down on us like animals!"
It was true; the Empire forbade us from worshipping the Noors Goddess and banned practices they deemed "barbaric." If left for too long, the Noors would lose their true identity as a people.
However, all of that was still more acceptable than everyone here dying or being enslaved. I was certain we would produce great people who would bring about change and rise to importance in the Empire. All we needed was time.
"Fine, I will go get it for you. But you and your group must leave here as soon as possible, understand?" I told him. Them staying here too long would only put the tribe in jeopardy.
"Fine. After staying for a few days, we will leave immediately."
After that, I went out carrying a torch. There was no lighting here at all, unlike the Imperial cities. I had only been to a city once. It was so different from the tribe—the buildings were tall and sturdy, the roads were paved with materials foreign to me, and the people were dressed beautifully.
After walking for a long time, I quickly extinguished my torch. I had spotted a group of patrol soldiers passing through the area.
"It's unusual for them to be in a place like this," I muttered. "Is it because of Brother and his group?"
I didn't want to think about the worst-case scenario.
Once they were gone, I relit the torch by striking two stones together. Not long after, I reached the Kulfu bridge where my brother had hidden the treasure. I climbed down beneath the bridge and found a tied sack. I peeked inside; it was filled with a mound of gold coins.
Judging by the size of the sack, there must have been 1,000 gold coins! This amount was more than enough to buy equipment and build a proper school for the Tyal Tribe!
However, if the Empire found out the Tyal Tribe had stolen this money, it would be the end of us.
I hurried to hoist the sack onto my back to bring it to Hama. But the return trip was not as smooth. I had to stop frequently to avoid detection by the patrol soldiers. Still, I remained patient and finally reached the outskirts of the village. I would be home soon, and it would all be over.
— Clang!
I dropped the sack.
That was because I saw a massive fire devouring the homes of the tribespeople.
"What is happening...?"
Walking closer, I saw many Imperial soldiers in the village. They were binding the tribespeople and torturing them. Why were the soldiers attacking innocent villagers? Even the children did not escape their cruelty!
I had to get back to the orphanage; I had to save them.
I sprinted toward the orphanage where I taught. But upon arrival, I saw my female colleagues lying in pools of blood, stripped of their clothes. My emotions peaked at the sight.
"Why...?"
I walked into the children's room and saw their small bodies lying on the floor, covered in blood.
"Why... would they do something this cruel...?"
I... I didn't understand. I was lost.
"Ughh..."
I heard a boy's voice; one was still moving. I hurried over and lifted him.
"Gori, hang on! I'll get you out of here and heal your wounds!"
"Sister Tyra..." he said weakly. "Gori is happy you are okay..."
After saying those words, the boy drew his last breath and left this world. My tears fell onto his innocent face.
"They were just children... How could they be so heartless... Sob... sob..."
Jaru... Right! I had to find him and escape!
Leaving the orphanage, I ran as fast as I could to reach his house. Please... please... don't let me be too late...
When I arrived, I saw a house in flames. My heart shattered into pieces at the horrific sight. Jaru and his mother were tied to a post. Their bodies were covered in stab wounds from being tortured by the soldiers.
"Why did this happen..."
My beautiful days, my great hopes, and my comfortable home were destroyed in a single night.
"Hey, there's one more over here!"
I heard a soldier's voice. They approached and struck me hard. All I could do was stare at Jaru's corpse still hanging there.
What was our mistake that led us to this fate...? Why was our tribe slaughtered like this...?
Sob... sob... sob...
.
.
.
A few days later, I finally learned the reason why the soldiers slaughtered our tribe. They were men under Prince Felix, tasked with hunting rebels who had fled here. The rebels they meant were my brother and his thirty friends who were hiding in our village.
However, when the soldiers arrived, my brother and his friends fled immediately. Only four of them were caught in the village. The soldiers then began interrogating the other tribe members for information about their rebel kin. When they didn't get the information they expected, they began killing the other tribespeople.
My brother was one of the leaders of the Noors Rebel group led by Tuor—a Noors from the Omor tribe.
Because so many of our tribe members were rebels and were proven to have hidden them, the Empire sentenced our tribe to ten years of forced labor as an example to other tribes.
But I could not accept this. Children were cruelly murdered, tribe members were tortured like animals—this was not upholding justice; it was a massacre. I heard all of this was done under the orders of Prince Felix.
Just wait; I will avenge what you did to the home I loved so dearly!
After managing to escape the concentration camp, I changed my name and began learning the Imperial language without a Noors accent so as not to be suspected. My current goal was only one—to kill Prince Felix for the crimes he committed against my homeland.
.
.
.
Five years have passed...
I am now 23 years old and have a job within the Imperial military institution. I trained my body as a knight to catch Prince Felix's attention so I could get close to him.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Judas, are you ready?"
I heard my colleague calling.
"Yes, just a moment!" I replied.
"Hurry up; Prince Felix will be attending to choose his new bodyguard."
This is the moment I've been waiting for. All my efforts over the past five years are finally coming to fruition after successfully entering Prince Felix's circle.
Everyone... I will avenge you...
Leaving the room, I saw my male colleague waiting outside.
"Let's hurry, Judas."
We then walked toward Prince Felix's room. I am currently in the Aragon Grand Palace, where the Emperor resides. There will be a meeting held here tomorrow. The Imperial family will be present with their guards.
Not long after, we crossed paths with a beautiful blonde girl in an academy uniform. She was with a black-haired man.
"Good morning, Princess Elena."
We stopped to greet her, bowing as a sign of respect to the Imperial family. The Princess merely smiled and walked past us.
"Hey, who was that black-haired man with her?" I asked my colleague.
"Hmm... if I'm not mistaken, he is the son of Duke Alvaro—Raul de Garcia."
Is that so? Why is he with Princess Elena? Wasn't Duke Alvaro rumored to be one of the nobles supporting Prince Felix?
We continued toward the Prince's room. Shortly after, we arrived at the door. Two knights were standing guard. My colleague handed a letter to one of them. After reading it, the knight knocked on Prince Felix's door.
"Come in."
The door opened, revealing a blonde man sitting at his desk.
This is him... The man responsible for the massacre of the Tyal Tribe and their enslavement through forced labor.
"So, you're the one who will be my new guard?" Prince Felix asked, looking directly at me. "What is your name?"
"Sir, my name is Judas Victariot!"
Just you wait, you bastard. I will stab you in the back at the most crucial moment of your life. I will destroy your dream of becoming Emperor and make sure you live to witness it.
Only then will I kill you, after I have broken you physically and mentally.