Chapter 16: Strong or Masochist?

"Nicol, you seemed to have something in mind." Luis asks the head priest as he can see that the man seemed to have something in mind.

"My lord, if I may ask, what would be the punishment if someone broke the law." Nicol remember the moon elf lord saying earlier that breaking the law will result to punishment.

The temple is not foreign to such concepts as they have their own rules to follow when doing religious practices.

"That depends on the law and the severity of the deed." Luis hasn't thought of that. He has an impulse to scratch his head but he chose not to.

'I just preached about dignity yet I will do such a shameful act?' thought the lord who is still lazily laying on his side with his fist supporting his chin.

Nicol is a smart moon elf that is a fact that he observed. Him asking this could be something and he likes this attitude. It's just that, he will be forced to think with this fellow.

Luis chose to use joke as a smoke screen.

"Don't tell me you are fishing for information? Your punishment for this blunder will be given by me after the Name Proclamation Ceremony. Since this happened before the law is made, the punishment that you will receive could become different from what is stated in the law. Besides, I advocate fairness so no advance punishment and no clue at all."

Thinking about it. It should be best if he could come up with a proper punishment as early as now. This way, it will serve as a warning to those who are planning to break the law.

Luis clicked his tongue and start to think deeply.

He must admit that the first law is somewhat ridiculous and it could be trashed in the future as he thinks that it was only a minor offense.

He once heard that the law was made based on the existing values of the society.

However his aim was reverse of this idea, he wants to introduce values such as dignity, security, unity and prosperity to these strong and independent moon elves in the earliest time.

Luis had seen how many bases crumbled to dust with the absence of these values as core. He doesn't want that to happen in his people. He needs to unite the moon elf race before the apocalypse happen in this world.

But now is just a baby step. There is no need to make punishment severe.

"Self reflection?" he thoughtfully whispered.

No, too lenient.

Luis does not want the moon elves think that laws are that simple. He wants the punishment to be effective to the point that his people will think twice before committing it. Luis thought of corporal punishment. This is possible. Moon elves have a strong body so it is not too much if they experience physical pain.

"Execution?" Luis is hesitant. The moon elves will not disapprove of this even if he allow it. Those guys tend to be harsh on themselves and just a little nudge, Luis will think that the moon elves views him as a god.

Luis rubbed his chin as he is thinking about bigger things in the future.

The unification of the entire race could possibly give birth to a new nation and this in turn raises the need for a legal system that will protect everyone's safety and interest.

Luis opinion is to make the punishment as a deterrence for the future violators so he wants to make it as threatening as possible.

They are living in a wild place so execution could be considered as the most severe punishment for example; treason. And on the side, banishment could be the lightest for serious crimes like that.

Luis could only close his eyes and pray that there will be no such tragedy in the future.

The moon elf lord looked at his subordinates.

'Let's get along well even in the future!' his wishful thinking.

"A moon elf should have a deep connection to his own race so it should be natural that they will keep any harm away from their own kind. An act of betrayal is a dishonour to ones roots and an assault to the entire moon elf race so death or banishment is an appropriate punishment.'

"On the other hand, since kneeling is not a serious offense." Luis paused thoughtfully. He looked at the the muscled body of the moon elves. Then he saw Rion's eye catching back side.

A thought flashed on his face.

"A hundred squats while lifting a boulder that is a fitting penalty for kneeling."

If Luis will resort to corporal punishment, then might as well make the moon elves body more fit.

Luis knew various corporal punishment from earth such as kneeling on buckwheat or salt. But these will either result to burning the skin or nerve problems in the long run. He doesn't like that.

So Luis thought, why not use some modified work out techniques to train the moon elves at the same time?

Planking, pumping, and squats could be used as punishment for petty offenses.

Luis glanced at the lot of moon elves and his self-satisfied self became confused.

"What is wrong with you, guys?"

Hylolas who has a lonely drop of rears on other corner of his eyes answered.

"My lord, you are just so benevolent. I will always be your faithful follower."

"Wait, is there anyone who are doing this normally?" Luis asked after a thought crossed on his mind.

All nodded. Luis is shocked to see that Olyn and the other bearers are nodding too.

"Olyn too?!"

Are you ants or moon elves?

Luis felt helpless.

Here he thought that his common sense is well-adjusted turns out he is still missing out.

"Alright, I will need your help on deciding the appropriate punishment for every offenses in the future."

The moon elves showed a delighted smile. This feeling of being trusted gives them euphoria that they never felt before.

"A whole day of squatting while lifting a boulder could be harsh for most moon elves, my lord." Nicol said as a fact.

'Are you guys strong or just downright masochists?' he didn't dare to ask that.

"Thanks, Nicol. Then the punishment will be just like the head priest says and it will be raised by half a day depending on the personal strength of the offender." The moon elf lord lazily laid on his side.

"My Lord, are you going to rest now?'" Legland asked.

Luis gave a poker face.

He wanted to say: 'You expect me to rest after stimulating me like this?' but he stopped himself since aside from it will make him think of something else. He wanted to have a serious talk.

"No, my mind is awake now and I don't think I can sleep knowing that we have other pressing matters that we need to take care of. By the way, how was the injured warriors?" Luis is concerned with the state of these moon elves. He doesn't want to have deaths when their numbers are not even rising.

"They are healed now, my Lord. Though Jiro, the one who has the most fatal wound is still recuperating, his wounds did not fester and is expected that he will be fine after a two days." Nicol answered since he is the one who manage them.

Luis blinked a few times.

"Hold on a second, how long did I stay unconscious?" he asked with a dreading feeling in his chest.

"For a day, my Lord."

"Meaning that accident happen yesterday?" Luis stupidly tried to clarify.

"Yes, my lord."

"Wow," Luis is speechless. He did not know if he will be amazed by the fact that the moon elves has unbelievable recovery or overusing his mental strength and power can knock him out cold for a whole day.

"Wait, please don't tell me that you are in that position since I became unconscious?" he heatedly asked, obviously referring to them crouching.

The silence proved his assumption. Luis doesn't know how to explain his feeling. Distressed? Helpless?

"Good luck to your knees once you grow older." He can only hope that the law will have an effect.

"Their speedy recovery is also thanks to your power, my lord. The other injured warrior may be influenced by your power to heal when you used it yesterday." Nicol wisely explained. This made the lord distracted and focus on this matter.

"Oh?"

"Yes, my lord. In fact in normal times, moon elves can heal those multiple wounds for a week if treated at best. However this time, it was greatly shortened despite they are not directly treated by your power."

The rate of healing that happen is indeed abnormal for the moon elves. He himself, a knowledgeable priest is astounded by the result. Nicol pressed the anticipation in his heart. He wants to know more about the power of the lord. It seems to be different from what was written in scriptures.

Luis is comforted by that words. It means that his theory worked and his wood powers has that healing effect. He was glad that combining the technique that he learned from the inheritance can complement with his wood power. This could mean that he can synergize the two powers and make a different effect just like what happen yesterday.

However, the fact that his powers penetrated the defense of Legland and Nicol, both high-level warriors, means that he sucks at controlling it.

"That's a relief then. I will train harder in the future." He answered.

Train when you are already that strong?!

The moon elves exclaimed in their hearts. They gained another understanding about their lord.

The warriors felt their soul burning with desire to be stronger.

A bearer suddenly stepped forward and greeted Luis. It was the mother of the injured young moon elf.

"The great lord, I am Gea, the mother of Jiro, the young moon elf that you saved yesterday. I am here to express my gratitude and offer my self as your servant like what I have promised earlier," he said in a very respectful manner. Gea didn't dare to kneel so he bowed his head after he said that.

"Eh?" Luis was dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events. Right, he remembered that this bearer declared that however the situation was chaotic back then so he didn't take it seriously.

Looking at the unwavering gaze of Gea, he is serious.

"I am already a widow and only my son as a family. This humble one is willing to stay by your side every moments of the day. I will serve you your food, clothes, water and all your necessities in a timely manner. I can do anything even without the food as payment. Please accept my gratitude."

Gea proposed. Luis is about to give an answer when suddenly an angry voice sounded.

"Hey, Mother uncle Gea! I am the personal servant of the lord. You cannot do this!" Olyn raised his voice, as if the bearer is not his senior.

Mother Uncle is a term that they use to call an older married bearer in the clan. Everyone in the clan has a more or less blood ties within the clan since intermarriage rarely happen.

"That's right! How dare you steal my son's job, you dirty old thing!" this time, Aryn joined the beef. The clans men from Hyon Clan are stupid as they watch this unfold.

Olyn is a very gentle bearer that is quite popular to the males in the clan. They have no idea who was the first one who shouted!

That is definitely not Olyn!

"What?! How dare you call me that! Didn't the lord just told us that we need to maintain our dignity as a moon elf? How dare you disgrace me in front of our lord."

"You dare to steal my sons job in the first place! What dignity do you have!"

"Mother uncle, please just do your job. We don't need you to serve the Lord. I already pledge myself to the Lord. We don't need you here."

Olyn?? The elders of the Hyon Clan looked at the bearer. Where is the gentle and soft spoken ideal bearer of their sons?

"My lord, I apologize for their action. Contrary to how they treat each other, in fact they are good friends." Hylolas said all the while the argument is happening.

Luis nodded in acknowledgement.

"Stop your bantering now." Luis said "Gea, I accept your servitude."

Olyn looked disappointed. He didn't expect that he will be replaced and that thought hurts. His tears are ready to fall when suddenly he heard the continuation of the lord.

"However, you will not wait for me but instead I want to know what your skills and experiences are. I need skilled moon elves who will help me do something. So are you okay with that?" Luis asked. He has other things that he needed to work out among the moon elves. He only have a single body and can only do much.

Of course, he would need people that will serves as his hands and feet to make his plans happen. This is also a step to introduce them the idea of employment.

"Yes my lord," Gea answered. It may not be the same as what he hoped for but if it is for the sake of helping the lord. He would of course obey.

"We will have a separate talk for this later. It's nice to work with you, Gea." Luis said as conclusion. This matter needs to be slowly arranged. He is not in a hurry.

On the other hand, he needs to focus on something urgent. So he sat up and asked the warriors who went outside to hunt.

"Anyway, we have a lot to talk about yesterday's incident . So why don't we start by explaining what happened while you are out hunting that caused such injuries."