Finding Contentus

Chapter 67: Poignant Pride

"Guilty? So quickly Bāba. I didn't even get to play with him," Ramela sighed dramatically with the weight of a strong fan that blew the scorching winds in the courtroom.

Loud whispers took over amongst the five hundred in attendance. They spoke rapidly in their languages, too fast for Genesia to understand, except for a select abundance of words he could make out in context.

All in all, they roughly translated to: "Good riddance. The quicker the better."

Why did they hate him so much? Their eyes were like burning optimer blades. It was like Genesia was responsible for all their hardships. They looked at him like a savage monster, a curse, a demon, like a primal. They were afraid of him, afraid of his powers as a Racaan.

"Hadi."

The loud jabbering was scorched into dust in precisely one second when Pharaoh Ra told them to be quiet. The amount of quaking power that carried Pharaoh Ra's deep voice was like all the elements of the earth in one. He caused people's mouths to tremble, like they were frightened of speaking again, like their tongues were cut off.

Genesia's eyes scanned around him to see similar expressions amongst the people watching him.

When he looked at Ramiya, he saw that her eyes weren't on his, they were instead on Ramela's, waiting for her to say something. Ramiya opened her mouth several times to try and speak, only to close them at each turn, frightened like a small cat. Ramela was the only one that looked up at her father in sarcastic surprise.

Pharaoh Ra's spiritless elemental eyes burned an undefined hole right through Genesia's spirit, discarding him like nothing, barely even worth his attention or time. It was only when his gaze landed on his forehead that some semblance of humanity returned to his featureless face.

He glared at Ramela's contractual scar and looked down at his daughter who smiled at him. A single drop of sweat descended from her brow. No one noticed this, except for Genesia, and if they did, he was sure that Ramela, like her father, would have them executed on the spot.

She's scared too. He's a monster. Just like Kakara was scared of Maxis. Ha,eh, he's worse. So much worse. At least Kakara and Mina were able to kill him and save themselves. But this man... his power stretches over everything, not just one place. His own children can't even touch him. I can't touch him! Why can't I touch him? I know I'm stronger than him! But why does my will feel so — my will!

"Do not underestimate the power of his will. That is his Godly crafting ability from Ra. He can will anything and everything as he pleases. Including your strength as a warrior. If he wills you to be weak, you will be weak. If he wills you to break, you will break. Focus on me, and only me to retain your sanity."

Genesia caught onto Ramela's strategy like glue in settling his eyes on her, just as Ramiya did, unable to look anywhere else.

Everyone waited for Pharaoh Ra to speak as he examined Genesia with slow building interest. Beads of sweat continued to drip down the marble floor like drizzling rain. The optimer chains kept sizzling him with hot burns but he barely noticed, being engulfed by Pharaoh Ra's presence. The power pole in front of him was like a saving grace that offered free hugs in Ramiya's place.

The size of the courtroom started to shrink, closing in on Genesia at a rapid pace, trapping him inside this new hell.

The hell Ramela will free me from. He reminded himself. She planned for this. She stayed up for a full day and night to prepare. She was on his side, as he was on her side. Only together could they usurp this fiend. Ramiya would help too. How she would help...

That still had to be determined. Nonetheless, a small spark of fire burned in his chest, one that would not be blown away, even by Pharaoh Ra.

"Daughter. Why have you not disciplined him?"