Supreme Magus novel Chapter 3988

Chapter 3988: Traitors and Cowards (Part 1)

"Today’s events will remind my subjects that those who choose to live without me and don’t follow my rules also choose to forfeit my protection. Believe it or not, Featherlings, the hundreds that died today will save thousands tomorrow. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"To you, my refusal to take action looks cruel, but to those who follow me will look fair. The people of the Desert will feel vindicated for their daily sacrifices and remember that my rules are not there to oppress them, but to keep them safe." Salaark said.

"That’s what I thought." Lith sighed. "To be honest, I can’t blame you."

"Wait, what?" Solus was flabbergasted.

"Have you already forgotten what happened to the Kingdom because of the prolonged peace, Solus?" Lith asked. "The past Royals oppressed the grassroots mages until Balkor forced them to abdicate.

"In the same way, the nobles undermined the Crown’s authority and had no qualms about joining Syrook’s side first and then Thrud’s just because they thought they had more to gain from the usurpers.

"Can you blame Grandma for not allowing things to spiral that badly by simply letting people do what they want? She didn’t order the bandits to attack the refugees, just like she didn’t banish the refugees from the Desert.

"They all made their own choice, and she respected it. If the refugees ask her to join her tribes, I’m sure she’ll let them. Isn’t that right, Grandma?"

"First, I’d remove the bad apples, but yes." Salaark nodded.

"No, I can’t blame her." Solus replied after a long pause. "Not after everything I saw during the War of the Griffons and in Jiera. "Yet it still feels cruel of you, Grandma."

"It’s also the only thing that works, Solus." The Overlord sighed. "I tried all sorts of approaches in the past. I assumed many identities, like Elysia and Krahan, yet it always ended in war and bloodshed.

"It took me a long while to understand that people don’t appreciate what they don’t earn, Solus, and one day, you’ll understand it too."

***

Meanwhile, inside the tent, the rest of the Healers took care of the unconscious refugees and reassured those who woke up screaming in fear, thinking they were still under attack.

"It’s all over. You’re safe now." Tista said with a soothing voice, pushing a man to lie down on his bed. "This is the Starry Lagoon village. Where are you from?"

The man was stunned by her beauty first and then confused by her words.

"You are not from the Desert, are you?" His voice was raspy from thirst, so she helped him drink a glass of water.

"What gave me out?" Tista smiled. "My pale skin or my hair color?"

"Neither." The man gulped the water slowly, appreciating its chillness in his throat. "Your words did. No one in the Desert belongs to a place. Only to a tribe. My name is Saron, and I am... was a member of the Black Stork village."

"Why the past tense? You’re still alive." Tista asked in confusion.

"Because my village is gone." Saron looked around the tent, noticing the pitiful number of survivors. "The Blood Desert is a harsh place, young lady. You can’t live alone. You need a village. Without the Black Stork, I’m dead."

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify