01-14-2024, 06:12 AM
Juraceda, Auria
January 10th, 2024, 5:42 PM
In the early evening light, Juraceda’s Home Plaza was bustling with commuters, hawkers, and locals running errands in the nearby businesses, almost giving the impression that the quieter city was a thriving metropolis. Groups of students gathered on the plentiful benches around the central fountain, taking in the cool mist on the warm day. Except for a couple of boarded-up windows and some scraggly trees, it looked like the Civil War had barely touched the town. Nature’s balance had finally been restored to the peaceful northern port city.
The idyllic scene of coastal life was interrupted by the screeching brakes of trucks stopping by the end of the plaza that overlooked the Nereus Sea. Large groups of people clad in black and red jackets assembled quickly in the square, earning many suspicious stares from the locals. Murmurs wove through the crowds as the band of people marched forward, and those murmurs turned into full blown shouts when a familiar man emerged at the head of the pack. After all, Alain Bonnet’s face had been plastered all over televisions and phones for weeks as the government cracked down on members of the United Aurian Commune.
Bonnet climbed onto the granite ledge at the edge of the fountain, his compatriots gathering behind him. He gazed into the crowds of townspeople. “My friends, do not be afraid. We are not here to force you to do anything you don’t want to do. We are merely here to take a stand.” His voice echoed off of the storefronts. “They call us terrorists, they call us traitors. But what have we done to deserve those labels? We are just the messengers of the people, a voice of reason cutting through the fear and lies.”
“And that’s why the powerful ones in Lumiere don’t like us so much. We are the embodiment of everything that they ignore, all of their neglect and waste. They are so focused on their own decadence that they forget about our needs. Their rich tastes have blinded them to our struggles, the struggles of the true faces of Auria. How long have you gone with little food? With rationed medicine? Have you seen the outfits that the new Queen and her siblings wearing? It is plain to see that our nation’s precious resources are going directly to finance the royal family’s life of luxury.”
“So, we must stand up for ourselves. Now, if you don’t want to be a part of our new and righteous commune, I understand. You may leave the city whenever you like. No one will stop you. But if you actually care about your community, your lifestyle, and your future, join our ranks. Help us set up a truly equal state here in Juraceda, and you will see the benefits pour in. No more capital elitists. No more nobles in fancy clothes coming here and claiming to speak for us. We are one voice that will not bow down to the instructions of others. We will not start fights, but we will not remain powerless. There is no Queen here! There is no monarchy here!”
For one tense moment, the crowds of townspeople were deathly quiet. And then, group upon group began to cheer and applaud, while others remained in stunned silence. Then, a group of Bonnet’s uniformed supporters began a chant that spread like wildfire throughout the crowd: “Nē Krōnis Ič!.”
No crown here.
January 10th, 2024, 5:42 PM
In the early evening light, Juraceda’s Home Plaza was bustling with commuters, hawkers, and locals running errands in the nearby businesses, almost giving the impression that the quieter city was a thriving metropolis. Groups of students gathered on the plentiful benches around the central fountain, taking in the cool mist on the warm day. Except for a couple of boarded-up windows and some scraggly trees, it looked like the Civil War had barely touched the town. Nature’s balance had finally been restored to the peaceful northern port city.
The idyllic scene of coastal life was interrupted by the screeching brakes of trucks stopping by the end of the plaza that overlooked the Nereus Sea. Large groups of people clad in black and red jackets assembled quickly in the square, earning many suspicious stares from the locals. Murmurs wove through the crowds as the band of people marched forward, and those murmurs turned into full blown shouts when a familiar man emerged at the head of the pack. After all, Alain Bonnet’s face had been plastered all over televisions and phones for weeks as the government cracked down on members of the United Aurian Commune.
Bonnet climbed onto the granite ledge at the edge of the fountain, his compatriots gathering behind him. He gazed into the crowds of townspeople. “My friends, do not be afraid. We are not here to force you to do anything you don’t want to do. We are merely here to take a stand.” His voice echoed off of the storefronts. “They call us terrorists, they call us traitors. But what have we done to deserve those labels? We are just the messengers of the people, a voice of reason cutting through the fear and lies.”
“And that’s why the powerful ones in Lumiere don’t like us so much. We are the embodiment of everything that they ignore, all of their neglect and waste. They are so focused on their own decadence that they forget about our needs. Their rich tastes have blinded them to our struggles, the struggles of the true faces of Auria. How long have you gone with little food? With rationed medicine? Have you seen the outfits that the new Queen and her siblings wearing? It is plain to see that our nation’s precious resources are going directly to finance the royal family’s life of luxury.”
“So, we must stand up for ourselves. Now, if you don’t want to be a part of our new and righteous commune, I understand. You may leave the city whenever you like. No one will stop you. But if you actually care about your community, your lifestyle, and your future, join our ranks. Help us set up a truly equal state here in Juraceda, and you will see the benefits pour in. No more capital elitists. No more nobles in fancy clothes coming here and claiming to speak for us. We are one voice that will not bow down to the instructions of others. We will not start fights, but we will not remain powerless. There is no Queen here! There is no monarchy here!”
For one tense moment, the crowds of townspeople were deathly quiet. And then, group upon group began to cheer and applaud, while others remained in stunned silence. Then, a group of Bonnet’s uniformed supporters began a chant that spread like wildfire throughout the crowd: “Nē Krōnis Ič!.”
No crown here.
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