NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8: Naming the Nation
Night Silver did her signature stretch and let out a stressless sigh. "That was a heck of an event… Alright, I guess it's time for me to get the cliff notes on that meeting they had."
Off to the side of the newly formed lake was a gathering of former Yggdrasil players and the New World's Dragon Lords. Nekonyan was writing on a scroll of some kind. He was clearly having a difficult time with this. That… or he was purposefully stalling. His look brightened once Night Silver approached.
"Excellent! You're done with the…" He dropped the quill. "This place, it's real right? Not just a dream?"
"Yeah, I'm 100% certain that this is not another video game. I'd have been in trouble otherwise."
"Huh? In trouble?"
"Oh, I fondled myself just a little. I had to check it out regardless. Can you blame me?"
"Wait? What do you mean?"
"Well, just look around you! This world isn't some dream. It's real. We can live in this world free of that polluted hellscape. This is a chance to do it right. Look at the lake. Isn't it beautiful?"
The dragons and humanoids took a good look at it for the first time. They had only just been stealing glances during the discussions of what comes next. But now, the sun's rays sparkled off the surface of a shimmering lake. A fish or two would jump and splash back into the lake.
Though they were all looking at the same scene… And felt the same feeling, Joy & Relief. They all felt it for different reasons. The dragons' eyes were drawn to the statues.
"I can say this. With the way they are positioned… It's like they are witnessing what they sacrificed for… I didn't realize human traditions could be this… Heartwarming, thank you."
"Oh, don't mention it. I was quite saddened to see that one sister of yours go down… I have a feeling we could have got on famously. But I respect her choice to fight."
Some of Nekonyan's guild members dropped to their knees crying at the relief. Though Surshana was a bit less emotional, it wasn't that he wanted to be heartless, it's just that he couldn't bring himself to cry. The emotions seemed to be reset.
"Well this is annoying, a truly emotional moment like this and I can't even express it. I guess that's what I get for being an undead character, huh?"
"Don't worry about it. Even if you don't show it, we know exactly just how you truly feel."
"I guess you'd be right about that huh. Well, let's make a country that can live free and happy."
"Oh, and without polluting the environment if you wouldn't mind. I can clean it pretty easily but that's still a bit more than a little annoying to do."
"Yeah, it'll be a great nation. Especially with the titles we have to live with now…"
"Heh, that's right. Talk about putting a weight on our shoulders."
"Hmm? Sorry I was busy creating a lake that I am currently resisting the urge to swim in… Achem, what are these titles?"
"Oh, that. You see, here in this world of ours we dragon lords are worshiped as deities. Most of the creatures we eat are actually believers that offer themselves up willingly."
"I see… So their titles are that of gods… That is quite the title to bear… haha"
"The God of Fire"
"The God of Water"
"The God of Wind"
"The God of Earth"
"The God of Life"
"The God of Death"
… "Yeah, that's rough. But at least it makes it easier to name that country right?"
"What are you talking about? Your title is the most ridiculous to live up to. You're the Lady herself, Mother Nature in the flesh."
"Wait? WHAT!!!! Since when! Huh?"
The 6 gods started laughing along with the dragons. Seeing the polar opposite reaction from their expectations was just too much.
"Since I mentioned it a moment ago. It was just before you finished filling the lake."
"Huh… Then that's why… Interesting… I knew I felt something around that time. Maybe that's what the job class was? Mother Nature? I'll have to play around with it to see the limits of that new class."
"Huh? You're not embarrassed about it now? You really are an interesting person."
"Well, to be honest, it's not like getting a title is going to be that big of a difference… And it fits with my druid aesthetic. I don't mind it. Let's focus on that name. Something that sounds religious would probably be for the best. Even though such things are a bit annoying."
"Then how about the Religious State? You know, keeping it short and simple?"
Everyone gave the God of Light a blank stare like that was beyond dumb.
"We should keep that as our last resort… I was thinking more along the lines of the Deistic Dynasty, how about that?"
"That's definitely better than our other option. But, how about something that combines the battle and our hope to step towards the future…"
The 6 gods' heads began racking their brains. It wasn't actually this hard to name a nation. They were just dunderheads making it harder for themselves. "I can't blame them for that, of the 6 of them, I doubt they had a proper education in that hellish world. If they can't even afford divine class gear I'm sure they were struggling. I must have been really quite lucky then."
"Hey, I have an idea, but I'd like to show you some things first."
The 6 gods looked at Night Silver with various expressions. Surshana doing their best to act in a similar way. But it was hard without emoticons.
Night Silver pointed at the corpses and then at the lake. She remained silent the whole time. Nekonyan, the God of Wind, seemed to understand what she was putting down.
"Something Slain… Something remade… A play on words… Slane Theocracy!"
"Oh! That sounds better than what I had in mind."
"Hmm, So I assume you've chosen a name for this nation you desire to build?"
"That's right Mr. Dragon. We are going to found the Slane Theocracy. You only need to show us where people are. And we will accept them with open arms, a nation where they will build a life to be proud of. A nation where everyone can learn and grow. Free from oppression and in safety. A safety they provide for themselves as a united entity. We will be known as the 6 Great Gods of the Theocracy."
"Oh? Is it not going to be founded by the seven of you? What about Nature's Mother? Are you just going to leave her out of this endeavor? Seems a little… rude, does it not?"
"Hmm, we didn't think she would want to join us for it? She has been quite the isolated person after all. This was the first time we even interacted with her."
Night Silver giggled a little, that was one of the times someone had truly understood her personality. She liked being helpful, but she'd much prefer to be helpful whilst being far, far away from others.
"I'll help you build things up. But, I don't want to be a part of the club or whatever. Besides the 6 of you were given the title of GOD. It would be awkward for me to be there with you all the time. And, I much prefer to be alone, oh, I know. How about I make an elven nation nearby your country? They can be neighborly friends for centuries."