The Festival

The people Matsuko commissioned the gigantic banner had no idea what the symbols meant other than their own.
In elegant lettering filled with accompanying embroidery were the words 'Solvune & Ukin Culture and Science Exposition'. Underneath, symbols corresponding to the date.
Established 1360, Ridwan, 35
"Milord… when did you---"
He was quickly interrupted by Matsuko whom had a very obvious grin on his face as he explained. "During the time of your fore-forefather's fore-father, Susabi."
“That… Mi--Matsu… why do you insist on making things so difficult for me? No mortal being lives that long. That's multiple hundreds of years.” He let out a sigh before shaking his head as well.
"Simple. The reason is because you are as much of an Explorer as I am. You thirst for knowledge and a desire to learn more. But I can assure you I am mortal. I will die from a blade or a bullet as any of you. Doesn't mean I'm going to make it easy for the would-be assassin though."
...
"With these fireworks, I hereby declare the first, and hopefully not the last, Expo, officially open!” Fireworks were a completely new experience to the Ukin Kingdom, being that they never experienced gunpowder warfare directly. At most they would have attributed such to thunder.
The first set of tubes were ignited, sending light outwards and upwards. The sparks were a soft white, flowing like waterfalls. At the end of their lifespan of thirty seconds, the first aerial fireworks Orlon had ever seen burst into the air. The explosions lit up the dusk sky with expanding spheres of light. Thirty were launched in total, ten at a time, to match the duration of the waterfalls.
"This, Lin, is just the start. Orlon has two Kingdoms as one now, with our lands accommodating twenty million now. These People were peacefully and willingly integrated. Your legacy still stands hundreds of years after you're gone, and longer if I have any say. Now how's about we get your family in on this yes?"
"You didn't tell them I'd be here ...did you?" He shook his head and looked over to Sinakai who shook his head in a manner that removed the need for words.
"Now you're getting it. I try to be intriguing. Besides...this is a celebration. You have much to celebrate. I'll be right back." Matsuko blipped out their view before he returned with a slightly confused looking young man. He appeared to be in his early thirties, with a clean shaven face, and the familiar dark orange hair that his ancestor passed down to him as a dominant trait. His face barely had a hint of wrinkling.
"Nathye, meet Linwenido."
"Are my eyes deceiving me? That looks like a perfect recreation of the family armour! That name though...it's the same as my ancestor! He sort of looks like him too! You really went all out!"
"I thought as much… Nathye was it? This is not a recreation of the family armour...it is the family armour, and I am he."
It appeared as if he’d had a bit of early indulgence in the festival early. It was his privilege after all. People who helped set up the festival, were allowed to partake early. In addition to being elevated nationally, Linwenido’s family had become essentially, their known world’s first celebrity family. Despite this, however, they helped set up the festival just like any other citizen, which only further increased their popularity.
“Come on now, I haven’t had that much to drink! The family armour is displayed in the castle right now! So how can you be wearing the original?"
"My turn again. So Nath, look closely at his version of the armour. You'll see that it shows no signs of further aging beyond what it already had. He's going to be living out his last years here, in the present instead of back then where he experienced a lifetime of war. I know you'll treat him well. Show him this peaceful kingdom he was the primary usher of."
His lighthearted mood instantly cycled through multiple spectrums. Upon the realisation that he was dealing with something unusual. Unusual was Matsuko's domain. "All right then. In that case, how?"
"Two ways, one of which I won’t condescend you by trying to break it down. The first of which, is that I took the long way here the first time around. At this point, I have to keep a journal to keep things straight. I told you once before, didn’t I? It was all leading up to this. A slow transition...these things take time. As for the second part, I have a means of traversing time and space. I am a visitor to Orlon.” Matsuko folded his arms together to wait for a response. It was certainly much to process, and he figured that it would taking some getting used to, just like with everyone else. “He really has no reason to lie, but there are plenty of reasons to deceive. For instance, he confided in me a secret that I took to the ‘grave’. This city was build upon the ruins of my old homeland, Sironde. Some of the accounts are true...but I’m sure they’ve been woven into tall tales by now. Matsuko is the Golden warrior.” Lenwenido spoke up again, but before he could say anything further, it was Sinakai’s turn to interrupt.
One who knew him could always tell when Sinakai was distressed, shocked, or upset, due to his reversion to his more tribal behaviours. “Milord! With all respect, I cannot believe that you are so crass at times! You’ve been with us this whole time, haven’t you?” His tail was thwacking the ground slightly, but there was also yet again, the same reverence that he’d felt upon their first encounter.
“If I might...say something to possibly help with our situation?”
They both nodded in the positive to let him speak.
“Our flag...it’s the shape of the continent seen from beyond the sky. By the time this nation realises the significance of that flag...several hundred more years will have passed. I don't completely understand it I'll admit but...he said it's what you could call anchor points. He has been on this planet for over 700 years. Yet he still insists on not being called a deity!"
"You too? Matsu...I think I'm beginning to see a pattern here. I just have one question. Will I live to see those flying machines?” He figured he’d get an answer, albeit likely not the one he wanted. It was something he was growing to accept.
“I don’t know. Nor would I tell you if you did. However...consider this. Your race’s lifespan is almost double if not more than double theirs. People of Linwenido’s time barely made it past forty most of the time, and that was without the constant war,” the implications of what he was leading into were written on their faces, as continued, “his life wasn’t extended by any supernatural means. Imagine, how long you all might live without constant war? I can tell you this much. If you can manage one hundred-fifty years, you will very likely be the first among your kind to be above the trees.”
The three of them let out a combined sigh of frustration, and also unspoken relief. However, there were still grave implications that needed to be addressed. Fortunately all three of them understood. "What about aerial warfare? Won't castle walls will become obsolete?" Linwenido of course being the Commander that he was immediately came to realise how overlooked it was.
"You'd be correct. I'm giving you all a shortcut to the stars, without having to experience the terror that comes from the possibility of an attack at any time. My people first developed hurlers, that's your time, Lin. Then they developed cannons, of which you caught just the start of before your death. Stronger walls. Then came the combination of the two, cannon and hurler, to make castle walls obsolete. The same process is lpt metal projective firearms developers. That is our current time period minus the hurler cannons."
"Matsu...how long gave long have you seen war?"
".....Over six million hours. By my calendar. By ours, just over four million eight hundred thousand. I've seen death on a scale that I don't want to ever see here. We stopped but at one point we had weapons of war capable of leveling cities ten times the size of Ralten's total area, with tens of millions gone in an instant. ...and to go even further, even the after effects could result in the death of billions."
The group could barely wrap their head around those numbers, being as how the population of the world had only recently reached four hundred million, and twenty of that was their territory alone.
"Matsuko...by any chance, are you the black figure that was reported to be the cause of many unexplained mutual surrenders?" Lin was now certain that there was a pattern emerging from his perspective as well.
"Yes."
"That was fast," Sinakai said, before he decided to be one too shift topics, "but in that case there is no disputing your...presence. But I'm also ready to learn more."
"Then I suggest you really participate in the expo. I've set up a start for everyone to learn and innovate from. I cannot begin to describe to you how much electricity will improve the world. But there are dangerous associated with it. Lightning is electricity. I’m sure no matter your time period, I don’t have to explain why that would be a problem if not handled properly.”
“If all of the potential energy that was stored in our batteries was released at once, the city could be wiped off the map. Electricity has the potential to be weaponised. How will you prevent that?” Natye, of course, was the first one to speak up on the manner, but Sinakai and Lin weren’t without portions of understanding as well.
"I can't. And I've already weaponised it. So I'm going to rely on the citizens themselves. We need an armed populace. Weapons and armour during wartime were provided by the King, yes? Look at the Lizard tribes. They have their own weapons and armour. I'm going to make a proclamation that everyone is granted by law the right to craft firearms and armour. If in the outlandish event of invasion, every citizen will be able to defend themselves."
"All right, first...how have you already weaponised it? Our main usage is lighting." Natye queried.
"How did you come up with the idea of using our batteries to cause an explosion?"
"...I see your point. You don't have to, it already is a weapon. Then in that case, what can you do to prevent such thoughts from spreading?"
"I won't. The spread of ideas leads to technological innovation. Imagine a world in which instantaneous communication is possible all across the continent, and at the same time, the sum of all Orlonian knowledge was instantly available to everyone? At my place of origin, we have this. Everyone then has the potential to be able to understand the concepts that I'm introducing here. Lin was the first example of this."
"I now know how to build a flying machine. If everyone knew how to do so, those with exceptional intellectual capability would be able to improve and expand the design he showed me. Sinakai, I believe your family might do well if they enter the competition. Your younger brother...I noticed it right away when I asked him about the things Matsu told me."
His name being mentioned snapped him back to reality, and his burning curiosity was only further piqued. "Nabi? Well he was the most forward thinking of us. I will be sure to support him in all of his ventures. Ha, imagine that! A Sharpclaw in the innovation hall of fame!" His tail was betraying his excitement yet again which got a chuckle out of everyone and caused him to be slightly embarrassed.
"You're allowed to be proud of your brother. You have that potential too. Are you ignoring the fact that you understood the concepts I introduced to you? Anyway, I'm deeply fascinated to see how this world advances with both electricity and steam power hundreds of years before my own. Oh I can imagine the possibilities...transportation hundreds of times faster than even the perfect Mauka, for a start. Bottom line, thoughts like the one that lead Natye to the conclusion of battery bombs, can also lead to this. You specifically though please close your eyes. You'll know when to open them and why I asked you." He took a small electric torch out of his pocket and activated it on the ground. Upon the area being illuminated far beyond even the strongest street lamp that existed at the time. It was almost blinding, especially in the darkening dusk.
"I... honestly was not expecting that. Did you create that?" Sinakai's eyes being built for night vision, would have been far more susceptible to light that, from their perspective was currently brighter than the star.
"I did not. This is an electric torch powered by renewable batteries that are the size of a mallen. I'm hoping that this head start will lead to the birth of a working class between the nobility, and the peasantry. I'm a rebel at heart. Additionally...is it really abuse of power to give the people more influence and choice in their lives?" The grin he had on his face completely gave away his true nature. He tended to be a bit of a jokester, and in some cases it was a severe combat advantage when his calm and serene nature caused his opponents to second guess themselves.
"That sounds like the exact opposite of an ideal situation for you. What about your power? You don't mean to abolish everything do you?" Natye, being the 'native' born into Solvune rather than Sironde.
"Oh I don't think so, I do want people to govern themselves more though. But, there will be a clause in this new declaration that will allow the simple and quick removal of any problematic council members. There will be seven hundred and thirty members on this council, each one of them elected by the populace. Nobles do not get priority choice in these elections either. Everyone has an equal opportunity.”
“That sounds...very disorganised. How can you manage that many individuals that have as much power as you?”
“Well, technically they don’t Theoretically I would be able to remove any holder for a number of factors, the main one being corruption, or policy decisions deemed to be detrimental to the people. This is also part of the reason why I choose to arm the citizens. Those people will be able to elect a King. I see it like this, if all it took to dethrone Laysm was fifteen thousand soldiers, with our population, such things are trivial. Any future kings will never have enough soldiers to oppress the armed populace, and can be removed."
Sinakai was the first to comment, being as how of all of them, he was the most traditional. "Matsu, you're not going to give up being King are you?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes. I actually welcome revolts, and I will step in on behalf of the people if they are trying to depose a tyrant. If I am to be full King again, the people will have to elect me for a ten year term, if I am running. As it stands most of the current population is uneducated. Before this change I want people to be able to manage their own malles,so they will best know how to manage an entire country's. Nobility is going to become a merit based title."
"This sounds a lot like how the tribal council is run back at the village...I remember that transitional period, and the stigma of us being savages still remains in many people's minds. Wouldn't that be an issue?"
Matsu gave a hearty chuckle before smiling. "Firstly, if that's a concern you have then, again, it shows the exact reason why I want it. You think of how decisions can affect the populace against your own needs. It's really the nobles you have to worry about. They'll be the first to complain about their power being technically stripped away. They don't treat you like that, everyone else does. There are two thousand noble houses, yet only seven hundred thirty council seats. This is intentional. I'd love to see them try to rig the system to see the look on their faces when I unrig it."
"You are a very strange ruler. You welcome rebellion, and also disparage it. I am only further encouraged to want to know more about your home if there are people like you." As contrary as it was, Matsu enjoyed being labeled a strange ruler by Sinakai. The more norms he shattered the better.
"Now that you've an understanding of this I think it's time I reveal an even greater truth to you all, my closest friends. I am a hybrid being. What you see wrapped around my waist isn't a belt. It's my tail." He unwrapped his tail and waved it to further cement the fact.
"I can't say I'm completely surprised anymore but I feel like there's still more you've yet to reveal that will surprise us." Natye replied with a smile and a chuckle of his own.