THE LAST KEEPER

Chapter 342: 342. NOT ENOUGH

Sagiri’s expression did not change. His gaze remained fixed upon the council platform as though Azir’s plea had never interrupted him.

”Fifty-eight.” His voice echoed across the silent city. Nobody moved.

”Fifty-seven.” The suspended blades hung motionless above Thazir.

”Fifty-six.” The pressure in the square continued to build. With each number, more council members began to sweat. Warriors shifted uneasily. Even the crowd seemed afraid to breathe too loudly. Sagiri continued his count with the same calm tone.

”Fifty. Forty-nine. Forty-eight...” The numbers fell steadily, each one sounding more final than the last. By the time he reached forty, several council members had lost all color in their faces.

”Thirty-three. Thirty-two. Thirty-one...” Then someone broke.

Elder Maresha suddenly stumbled from his seat. The head of the Wandering Members of the Council crashed to his knees upon the stone platform. Gasps erupted from those around him. The elderly man lowered his head so quickly that it nearly struck the floor. His shoulders shook visibly. Everyone in the square turned toward him. Above them, Sagiri’s count stopped.

”Thirty.” The number hung in the air. The city fell silent once more. Every eye settled upon the kneeling elder.

”I, elder Maresha, took a neutral stance as did most of the wondering members. We dared not assume, yet we have sinned nevertheless. A neutral vote can not win, but as wondering members we dare not bet on a side we do not understand...”

”So you are a coward?” Sagiri snickered.

”Indeed. I had heard the rumours of his return of our lost son of the south. They were too good to be true, but when it mattered, I chose to remain neutral. As traders and businessmen, we dare not take a hard stance. Our cowardice has indeed cost us this time.

So then, the wondering members of the council remained neutral? So the Iron matron, prince of tides, veiled speaker, Archivist, Beast warden, and Hawkeyed judge took a neutral stance?

It was a wise decision, but they irritated Sagiri even more.

”If I dare ask the veiled speaker, you had your masters of whispers bring me south. Why could you remain neutral in this matter?” Sagiri asked, looking at the man shrouded in dark clothes from head to toe, leaving not a nail or a single air exposed.

It is said that the veiled speaker never speaks easily, and Sagiri was quite interested in seeing if the man could answer him. A moment of silence went by before a voice filled it. It was low yet a little gruff. It seemed like a set of bells that could put anyone to sleep.

”You are already indebted to me. Couldn’t saving you twice become too far for you to pay.” The veiled speaker spoke.

”Oh...”

”Besides, if you are so easily killed, then won’t I have already wasted money and resources. I would have also stood in the way of southerners from seeing what a true N’folu keeper is capable of...” The veiled speaker continued.

He then fell to his knees.

”I hereby acknowledge you as the last N’folu. chief and keeper. I will serve you earnestly from today on.

The archivist was next to fall to his knees.

”I have been bored for years without interesting knowledge to write about. Even the hidden texts do not have what I have witnessed today. I am a coward, but I am happy I got to see you dance the ancient dance of the south. I will die a happy man if you wish for it. I acknowledge you as the last N’folu, chief, and keeper.”

”I, the Iron matron, don’t kneel to a man but...” A woman said before she fell to her knees. ”You have interested me. I am no coward. I merely don’t bet on losing sides. I now recognize you as the last N’folu, chief and Keeper.” She said with pride.

She reminded Sagiri so much of Seya. Sagiri wondered how their exchange went.

”I accept you as the last N’folu, chief and keeper.” The beast warded said, falling to his knee.

”As the hawkeye judge. I must say my eye missed seeing the truth that was right in front of me this time.” The hawk-eyed judge took his pledge, followed by the Prince of Tides.

The proud men and women who had spent the day judging others now knelt before the execution square. Elder Maresha lowered his head completely.

The rest of the council followed. The chiefs and even the supreme chief. Sagiri could sense hostility from the woman, hatred, and something else, yet she lowered herself finally.

”We acknowledge Lord Sagiri.” Her voice carried across the silence. ”The last N’folu.” Another elder spoke. ”Chief and Keeper.” Then another joined. And another. Soon, the words spread across the entire council. ”The last N’folu.” ”Chief and Keeper.” ”The Keeper of the South.”

The acknowledgements rolled through the platform until every member was speaking them. Thousands in the square watched in stunned silence as the rulers of the South bowed their heads before the man suspended in the air. Above them, Sagiri remained motionless. Endless blades hanging in the sky behind him.

The sight of the council kneeling broke something within the city. One by one, warriors lowered themselves to a knee. Then the soldiers along the barricades followed. The movement spread through the square like a ripple through water. Thousands of people began sinking to their knees. Some did so out of fear. Others out of desperation. Others because they could think of nothing else to do beneath the sea of blades hanging over their heads.

Within moments, the execution square had become a field of bowed heads. The motion continued beyond the inner city, spreading through the outer districts as word and sight carried across rooftops and streets. An old woman knelt. A merchant followed. Entire families dropped where they stood. Then the chanting began. Quietly at first.

”We accept you as the Last N’folu...” A second voice joined. Then a hundred. Then a thousand. Soon, the entire city seemed to be speaking as one.

”We accept you as the Last N’folu, Chief and Keeper. Please spare our lives.” The words rolled through Thazir like thunder. Again and again they chanted them, heads lowered toward the man suspended in the darkening sky. Zaira watched with burning crimson eyes. And at the center of it all, Sagiri stood in silence while an entire city knelt beneath him and begged for mercy.

”Not enough.” Sagiri’s voice suddenly cut through the chanting like a blade.

Instantly, the city fell silent. Thousands of people froze where they knelt. Even the council looked up in alarm. Then, as if terrified that silence itself would anger him, the chants resumed with even greater desperation.

”We accept you as the Last N’folu, Chief and Keeper! Please spare our lives!” The words echoed from every corner of Thazir.

Elder Maresha finally raised his head from where he knelt.

”Lord Sagiri...” His voice trembled. ”The South has wronged you indeed. What compensation do you seek?” The city quieted once more. Sagiri’s crimson eyes slowly moved toward the distant fortress of the Supreme Chief.

”I require compensation.” His voice was calm. Matter-of-fact. ”The South failed me. Its leaders failed me.”

The killing intent hanging over the city deepened slightly at those words.

”The Supreme Chief failed me and failed to keep his council in order.” A chill swept through the council platform. Sagiri looked toward the highest tower in the city. ”She has proven herself weak.” His gaze returned to the kneeling rulers below.

”Therefore, I will take her position.” The words landed like thunder. Gasps erupted across the square. Several council members visibly paled. Others simply stared in disbelief. Above them all, Sagiri remained suspended in the sky while a storm of blades hung over the city, making it painfully clear that this was not a request.

”If anyone believes I am wrong...” Sagiri said, his voice carrying effortlessly across the kneeling city, ”...then stand.”

No one dared move.

”Aren’t you getting greedy?” Kiuga sighed under his breath. He was also on his knees. He couldn’t remember the last time he had knelt so much.

”This boy has gone mad,” Kaka said, but there was pride in his voice. The silence lingered. Sagiri tilted his head slightly to the side.

”I possess the relics of all five tribes of the South.” His crimson eyes swept across the council platform. ”I am certain the Supreme Chief neglected to tell you that.”

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

”Five tribes...?”

Several elders exchanged startled looks. Sagiri continued before anyone could speak.

”The Archivist should know the ancient and founding law.” His gaze settled upon the elderly keeper of records. ”Only the rightful ruler can wield all five relics.” The words struck the council harder than the threat of the blades. The Archivist remained frozen for several moments, his face pale beneath the weight of thousands of eyes. Then, slowly, he rose from his knees. The older man adjusted his robes and looked across the council before lowering his head toward Sagiri.

”That...” he said quietly. ”It’s true.