>>5332431"You may not have realized it in spite the Defiant's earnest pleas and may object to this statement, but in practice not only do you all see the Defiant as your paragon, but also the would-be ruler in the world to come should she be successful in her ascension, be it in idolatry, zealotry, or simple admiration as her name and philosophy is spoken fervently and practiced at the forefront of the minds of everyone. Through your connections with others and her deeds spread through word of mouth, through deals made by settlements and merchants in-between, the Defiant has, be it wittingly or unwittingly, forged an empire of interconnected city-states and settlements, and you and the many major leading figures of those places who support her cause are her provincial governors."
"And like any civilization, you will also inherit the flaws that come with such an influential empire. There will be those who seek its wealth to siphon off it like parasites, there are those see these places as ticking time bombs ripe for a hunger cascade of cathartic chaos or a banquet of sheep to feast upon with impunity. Then there are those who will worm their way into the upper echelons of the Defiant's empire to corrupt or carve fiefdoms of wealth for themselves. And last of all, those who will declare war and seek to tear it down for what it stands."
War. A war between settlements, between factions. The terrible horseman that humanity has fought so hard to suppress. Jeraha couldn't help but extrapolate on the possibilities the sage was implying towards so much so that she nearly missed the next set of words Peng had to say.
"These next set of tribulations will test the Defiant in ways that I fear will break her before she becomes strong enough to even attempt the climb. Terrorism. Politics. Corruption. Famine. War. If the heavens cannot break the Defiant directly in the body, then they will aim to break her spirit by striking the wellspring of her philosophy, the proof of her righteous deeds. Through others if not the environment. You. Laoc. Arcadia, the places and people the Defiant has fought to protect. That assassination attempt is all but the tip of the iceberg."
"And what is it you want me to do? Huh? Abandon my post or fear the wrath of God?" demanded Jeraha, leaning forwards on her desk half-angry half-panicking.
"Quite the opposite." replied Peng to Jeraha's surprise as the Sage slowly but purposefully infused her words with an emotional current of calm and thoughtfulness. "I am not advocating for your resignation nor threatening your removal. In fact, I am very much in deep admiration for your skills in governorship. Already you have done much to address the problems of the future, and I would like nothing more than for you to keep true to your own purpose and to help. "
cont.
