Chapitre 32: Markito Lora
Markito Lora's unquestionable loyalty deserved Rafa Libera's trust. His bond with the village chief placed him in a favorable position in Greston Village. But his limitations could put him in jeopardy if his master was denounced or trapped in a quagmire. The worst of it all would be death.
If Markito Lora's master would perish, his spiritual bond would bring him into a survival trap. Days after the likely demise of his master, he would most possibly follow.
That disadvantage, however, was not of great concern. He knew his fate when he linked his spirit with Rafa Libera. His decision was set in stone as survival and gratitude were the foremost reasons for putting him in an invisible chain.
His Master allowed him to be in a matrimonial bond with a companion, who bore him sons and future generations. Even though the Lora Clan, a family of wolf shapeshifters loyal to the village chief of Greston, gained power because of their immediate connection to the village chief, that privilege could be stripped off if future generations chose not to follow the clan's will. Or, if other clans pressured the Lora clan to a certain corner when the recent family head met his demise.
His inheritance as a loyal vassal could be passed only to the first-born son. His firstborn, an adventurer, was out in the forest for experiences. He was already entrusted to lead the clan as the next military advisor. Being an adventurer was a second position.
Markito Lora awaited for his firstborn to return. He was also tasked by the village chief to do some errands in a neighboring city and only the firstborn could accomplish it.
When Markito Lora heard about his master receiving benefits from a powerful being, he would most likely also get similar benefits as a loyal vassal. But as he also recalled his second son, Simo Lora, receiving a special benefit from the Chuas, he also thought of the family's survival beyond the clan's connection with the village chief.
The greed for power was something he could not simply discard. He was making backup plans in the event his master would perish because of unforeseen circumstances.
Recently, the issue with Lord Rainier was a grave cause of concern as the higher-ranked mage could not be shaken off easily. If his master would survive that, then he would also remain in certain forms of power.
However, the likely successor, Sildora Zenia, was a factor of constant headache when he thought of the possibility of his family serving or allying with the deputy chief when she would ascend in power.
In most likely cases, serving the deputy chief was not a question of when or how. But rather, it would be a question of possibility as Markito Lora was not fond of Sildora Zenia. His family was recently at odds with the Tabile Clan, a family of lizard shapeshifters with military prowess assigned at the North Gate. And this clan of lizard shapeshifters favored Sildora Zenia, despite their family head's fealty to the village chief.
Markito Lora's displeasure with Sildora Zenia was known to the higher-ups of Greston Village. Since his loyalty would only lie to the village chief, he did not mind if he released harsh remarks toward the deputy chief.
What puzzled him though was that his master did not make an effort to pacify mild altercations between him and the deputy chief. Their conflict was manifested in a harsh exchange of words but it never went to a point where they had to fight in actual combat.
But then, Markito Lora could not underestimate the deputy chief's prowess. He used to indulge in sparring matches with Sildora Zenia, at that time, when they could still be called friends.
For a woman, Sildora Zenia would often emerge as a victor in sparring matches with male opponents. The Lora family head also ended up in defeat in a few friendly matches with the lady deputy chief. Thus, the village chief bestowed Sildora Zenia the recognition of a deputy chief being the most powerful woman mage in Greston Village.
Rafa Libera even went to the extent of making her a concubine, a fact that only Markito Lora including the wife of the chief, Eldora, knew of.
Eldora was adamant before about making her little sister a part of the Village Chief's harem. But when she realized the power play involved, she conceded and accepted that fact. However, her sister would always appear as a solitary power with no husband or companion. It was with the purpose of projecting a personality that strength and her ascension in mage ranks were her utmost priorities.
Sigmund knew everything about the power play in Greston Village. He believed that politics would always exist in civilizations when they developed and prospered.
"Rafa Libera, Sildora Zenia, and Simo Lora, these personalities could retain or overtake the power structure of Greston. If Rafa will take the right steps, then he will remain as the village chief. But a wrong step can spell demise for him."
Sigmund was playing modern chess with Darwin inside the modern-style house of his sovereign planet.
"Langford Berry is a dark horse. But I doubt his capability to lead a village, a town, or a city. He is more profit-driven than sending empathy towards other people, especially if those people are not his concerns." Sigmund picked his black knight to make a move, sending a white pawn to his side as he accumulated a total of three chess pieces from Darwin.
Darwin only made two moves before sending Sigmund's black king to a checkmate.
They were already playing for ten rounds within his space, and only in those two that he managed to emerge victorious. They stopped playing after they put the chess pieces into their rightful position, with Sigmund owning the white chess pieces.
"Playing chess several times has made me realize the power of being the player, able to manipulate the moves of the kings and his court including the knights and pawns. Well, I relegated myself to playing the role of a kingmaker. I once had this ambition to be a great adventurer, starting as a weak mage and gradually ascending to higher ranks as I learn more things from my experiences and my journeys. It would have been exhilarating, thinking about it. With you at my side, I could guarantee my survival." Sigmund ended up chuckling as he shared his notes of the sentiment of the probability when he started his adventure in the immortal realm.
"And you will end up being played. Knowing your personality, I don't think you would like that." Darwin's response hit something home in Sigmund's psyche. "Even though you would end up as a lowly mage, having me with you would also compel you to become overpowered as you deal with potential enemies."
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone