IGSAGCSAWAYSH) Chatting While Traveling Part 1 (Patreon)

“And that is why we need to pack up and leave tomorrow.” Shizuku had made a decision. After being attacked not once but twice by other vampires, she felt it was best to continue moving on. It was not that she was scared of said vampire but more that she did not wish to have anyone close to her end up hurt because of it. This was why she did not let her shadow guards attack. Vampires were a weird race, and any one of them could be very powerful due to their traits.

She could not be one hundred percent sure that she was the only one with the ability to manipulate blood. Even if there was a .001% chance that she was not the only one, she did not want to risk it. Blood manipulation could easily kill anyone of her wives and friends.

No one argued about leaving so suddenly. They knew Shizuku was worried about more vampires attacking her. But the one question that lingered in everyone’s minds was why they were all aiming for Shizuku? It was not like she announced her arrival or anything.

No one had any ‘Fun’ that night. Even Rose slept in the room with Shizuku and the rest. When morning came, Shizuku turned in her key and left the inn with her group, making her way out of the town, following the long dirt road that led to the capital.

“While not paved, this road is quite smooth,” Rose commented.

“This is a major trade hub, so someone who uses earth magic must come once and a while to repair it. I read that the lords of each territory that this road runs through were ordered to keep it maintained by the queen herself. This is also why this road is normally safe from bandits since there is a patrol that will come at random times in each territory.” Shizuku explained. She had learned a lot in Freesdale, and this knowledge was already showing its worth.

“As Shizuku said, this road is well maintained, as are the roads that lead to other major cities in the kingdom. But what I find strange is that the queen only gives orders, but no one has ever met her. She has been in rule for so long that she stopped showing her face way before I was born. But she has kept the people of this land very happy, unlike many human territories.” Lishia added.

“Are many human territories bad?” Mei asked. She became very curious since she had heard much as her time as a slave but never knew if it was true or not.

“Depends where you go. Many territory lords only care about money, so they tax their citizens so much that they can barely make ends meet. The kings, queens, or emperors of these lands normally do not care what the lords do in their own territories as long as they receive part of the tax. So, say the crown wants five percent of the territory tax at a certain tax rate. The lords can then turn around and over-tax to get that five percent back. It’s a system many lords impose on their citizens in order to continue living in the lap of luxury even if their citizens are suffering because of it.

“Normally, these lords also have a standing army, so they will use them to keep the citizens in line so they will not cause an uprising. Its cruel to those who were just trying to live their lives. Many die from hunger every year because of it.

“Now, I am not saying that this happens with all the lords. There are many good human lords as well who do their best to help their citizens get by. These lords live more modestly and do not have lavish homes. Normally just a small mansion and nothing more. They will also till the field to help supply their own families with food. These lords are normally looked down upon in noble society since they are the ones living on border lands most of time time.

“As for roads connecting these places, well, let’s just say it’s give or take depending on the territory.” Lishia could only sigh. Her own race was so greedy half the time that they did not seem to notice that the races they looked down upon were much better at caring for their own people.

“I think you are looking to objectively.” Shizuku cut in. “What you see here is just the roads around here but that does not mean there are not lords like you just described in this kingdom as well. Greed is not just a human thing. It runs in all races.”

“I guess that is true. There will always be those who are greedy for power, status, and wealth and will do anything to get there, even if it means making others suffer.” Lishia sighed. “I do wonder some times would I have turned out to be like them If I was born into said noble families.”

“You never know. Life always throws a turning point at us. It is up to us whether to make the right decision or not.”