The next day, Basilica, Central City.
The Basilica's meeting room was a space of solemnity and dim light, where carved wood and religious symbols painted on the stained-glass windows were reflected on the faces of those present.
However, the atmosphere was as formal as any other conversation involving religion, but at the same time, it felt close. We all had known each other for a long time, and in particular, they knew I didn't like being in such a tedious environment.
The air inside the room was buzzing with a palpable curiosity that replaced the usual rigidity of rituals. I sat at the head of a large wooden table, and at my sides, the bishops, the High Priest Simte, and several priests who had returned from distant expeditions.
"Son of Heaven," a priest began, his voice echoing in the hall. "The journey to North Quyca has filled us with new perspectives. The Penascolas, the Apalachee, and the Seminole… their beliefs are so distinct and yet so similar to some of our own cultures."
"Is that so? Tell me more about them," I commented, curious.
"We saw ceremonial mounds, Son of Heaven," another priest added, pointing to a parchment with drawings. "They are gigantic earthen structures, with an iconography that reminds us of our own ancestors. They seem to honor nature and the sun."
High Priest Simte, with a white beard that lent him immense wisdom, addressed the bishops.
"And what about their pantheon? Do they know of a supreme god, a figure of the Sun?"
"Some of them believe in a Great Sun, a creator deity that is very similar to what we call the Sun God," the first priest answered, his eyes shining with interest. "Their figure of power also has a religious-political link. Their chiefs seem to be the interpreters and emitters of the messages from the spirits and the Great Sun. At the same time, there are also some priests who have considerable power in some of the villages."
The bishops began to debate in whispers. The approach could not be aggressive; it had to be one of interest and understanding.
Finally, the main Bishop addressed me.
"Son of Heaven, we believe the usual approach is best. We will use the figure of the Great Sun as a bridge, a link between our pantheon and theirs. We will organize purely religious expeditions to learn more about their culture. We believe that truth will always enrich our faith, and at the same time we can bring our peoples closer together."
While they were discussing the details, High Priest Simte intervened with an unusual idea.
"Son of Heaven, we have a unique opportunity. Someone close to you could help us accelerate our approach," Simte commented.
"What do you mean, High Priest Simte?" I asked, confused. His proposal and expression puzzled me.
"Turey, your betrothed, has an almost magical affinity with animals. I have seen how beasts obey her, how nature seems to whisper secrets to her. Northern people deeply value that connection. Bringing Turey on these religious expeditions could be the best of diplomatic tools, a symbol of our connection with nature."
The room fell silent.
"So, this is what Simte meant. It seems I'll have to recommend a vacation for him. His mind isn't working well," I thought, resigned but at the same time, amused by his proposal.
It was a strange proposal, but I felt its viability. Turey's presence could open doors that not even the best diplomats could. Besides, it was the perfect excuse to orchestrate a trip across the kingdom with my family and betrothed.
"I deserve a break. My small body deserves it," I thought, accepting the proposal without giving it any more thought.
Then, a new group of priests stood up to give their report, this time from Guanza Quyca. Their tone was more cautious, almost perplexing.
"Son of Heaven, the culture and religion we saw in the Songhai Empire are… strange. We saw how the king, the nobles, the priests, and the merchants seemed not to care about the rest of the population. The wealth of a few contrasted brutally with the misery of the vast majority."
The information was already known to most of those present but hearing it directly from a priest who saw all this firsthand, and the tone with which he expressed his confusion and dissatisfaction, provoked annoyance and strangeness in those present.
"It seems that social differences happen in any time and any culture," I reflected, letting out a sigh.
"And their faith?" a bishop asked with evident bad humor. No one in the room seemed to like the indifference of those people toward their own.
"Their main religion is called Islam, a single god, and it seems that the upper class has clung to it. But the low-status people practice animism, the belief in spirits in nature, very similar to the animistic cultures in our territory," the priest replied, his voice full of an astonishment he could not hide, but with a hint of clear annoyance. "It would seem that, in their search for riches, the upper class misinterpreted the words of their god and forgot that their duty is to care for all citizens."
The report left everyone in a pensive silence. The revelation painted a picture of a powerful but morally divided kingdom, a place where power had corrupted faith.
No one in the room found the behavior of those people, as reported by the priest, to be ethical, and even some murmurs filled the hall.
"It is improper for people who know the greatness of the gods to treat their own compatriots that way."
"It must be because they only believe in one god."
"Evil spirits must be brainwashing them."
"Perhaps they were punished by the gods… They must have made some irreparable mistake."
10 minutes later.
The meeting room continued to be the scene of an intense debate. After the report on the Songhai Empire, the air felt heavier, imbued with a seriousness that did not come from formality, but from concern.
"Son of Heaven, the situation is complex," a bishop began, his voice grave. "A religion that becomes so dominant, that divides its people and seems to justify inequality… We must be cautious. Perhaps it is best to keep our distance."
Another bishop, however, had a different view.
"Keeping our distance is to act out of fear. We must approach cautiously, learn from their faith, and seek common ground. All religions seek truth."
A middle-aged priest who had traveled to Guanza Quyca cleared his throat, his tone was that of someone who had seen the world beyond the scriptures.
"Son of Heaven, with all due respect, I believe a religious approach is dangerous," he commented, then proposed his own idea. "Islam there is more a tool of control than a spiritual quest for the upper class. I suggest a commercial approach. The leaders do not care about the soul of their people, but they do care about gold and goods."
His words resonated in the room. The priest was right.
The conversations that followed were a series of questions and answers that allowed everyone present to understand Islam. The priests detailed the customs, the fasts, and the prayers, but I focused on the details that went unnoticed by most.
"And what about the general population?" I asked, my voice breaking the discussion about the rites. "What did you see?"
The priest who had suggested the commercial approach grew pensive.
"Son of Heaven, as I mentioned, the main religion is dominant, but most of the population who learns the scriptures or religious customs are the nobles or high-class people. The general population suffers under difficult governments. It is a harsh reality and very different from ours."
"Also," another priest added, as if it were a minor detail. "They trade a lot in slaves. It is not a taboo subject for them, and it seems that these 'white' people buy these slaves."
That simple phrase stuck in my mind. Slaves.
"I thought the sale of slaves would be much more in the future," I reflected while listening to the discussion continue.
I tried to recall some historical details of Africa, but unfortunately, I was never interested in its history when I was a student, and it seemed the teachers were not very concerned that their students didn't know the history of this specific continent.
While the debate continued, my mind raced, connecting the revelation with the need for labor for the new settlements.
"Priests, what kind of products do they exchange for slaves?" I asked, my voice firm.
They responded with common products, though also some objects of precious metals.
"Then, our approach will be commercial," I announced, my decision was clear. "We will take our most special products: food, exotic animals, and jewels, to trade for local things, but fundamentally… slaves."
Everyone immediately nodded.
"These slaves, just as we have done before, will be freed and relocated to form the settlements we are creating both in this Quyca and in theirs. They will not be goods for exchange, but citizens who will obtain freedom. However, you must remember that slaves who were put in that situation for serious crimes must be put to work in heavy labor."
The next day, I met in private with the leader of the Explorers division.
"I have planned a peaceful approach with these Islamic cultures on the next trips to Guanza Quyca," I notified him. "And I need you to handle the logistics for my trip to the north."
I notified him about my trip to North Quyca. We discussed the number of men who would accompany me as escorts and the necessary fleet for such a long and special journey. Everything was planned with the utmost discretion and efficiency.
Two weeks later, North Sea City.
The city port was bustling with life and excitement.
The morning sunbathed the waters, making the sails of the three ships waiting for us shine. The air smelled of salt and the freshly polished wood of the docks. With my mother and father by my side, in addition to my betrothed Umza, Nyia, and Turey, we headed for the main ship.
At the foot of the ramp, I observed Turey. Her face radiated an emotion I had not seen before. Her eyes went to the waves, to the horizon line, to the immensity of the sea that would take her back to her home of origin in the islands. Her usual lost expression had changed to an expectant joy.
As we boarded the ship, the sound of drums in the city mixed with the sailors' singing. The journey through the Northern and Northeastern Regions, then through the Region of the Rising Sun Islands and finally to North Quyca, had begun.
The threat of the future was real, but now it was necessary to know the entire Kingdom in detail and connect with these peoples of North Quyca.
"But above all, I want to rest a little," I thought, letting out a chuckle.
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[A/N: CHAPTER COMPLETED
Hello everyone.
First, I'd like to apologize for the delay of over an hour. My PC was practically a slug, it didn't work, and I even got a blue screen.
Chuta has an important meeting with the Kingdom's top religious leaders. They're talking about religion in North America, which is clearly not a single religion, and they're also talking about Islam in Africa.
By the way, I realized I haven't given the religion a name, and calling it the Suaza Religion sounds terrible. Do you have any idea what to call it, or what should I look up to find a native term?
Unnecessary Fact of the Day: In 1502, King Manuel I of Portugal proclaimed himself "Lord of the Conquest, Navigation, and Commerce of Ethiopia, Arabia, Persia, and India," reflecting his ambitions for the Indian Ocean trade.
This route will pass through the territories the Kingdom is exploring, especially on its return route from the expeditions to the Indies.
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Read my other novels.
#The Walking Dead: Vision of the Future (Chapter 71)
#The Walking Dead: Emily's Metamorphosis (Chapter 19)
#The Walking Dead: Patient 0 - Lyra File (Chapter 4)
You can find them on my profile.]