Below the Heavens [Trad Epic High Fantasy]

What is better:

To be born with everything, or to have worked for all you have since birth?

The pragmatic chooses the former – they indulge in low effort.

The romantic chooses the latter – they find nobility in suffering.

The wise man chooses neither – they would have rather not been born at all.

This is because wise man knows:

The Gods are cruel to have made this even a question.

— Excerpt from Meditations by the Red Emperor

Oasis, Party in the Upper Tier, WellWardyn's Circle

Ryu stopped fanning herself, choosing instead to cover her lower face with the fan to hide a yawn. She didn't need the fan regardless, for the party was being held in a lavish room with an expansive pool, fully sequestered from the heat outside. A multitude of people swam freely in the clear water, their dark forms blurry under small waves. The light of the Sun shone through the glass ceiling to illuminate the small throngs of conversation being held on the poolside, with most of the chatter concentrated around Stewards Clayton and Jyori.

Yanar, respectful as always, was positioned to her rear, hands clasped solemnly behind him as he stood at attention. He'd chosen to wear simple white robes, sparsely adorned, chosen with the goal of helping his skin look darker against the light cloth. Ryu appreciated his steadfast adherence to decorum, having long given up on telling him to loosen up and sit down with her for a glass of fresh water. "What would the Upper Tiers think if your attendant sat down with you?" he kept saying, shaking his head. "You are a Steward."

Yes, thought Ryu, and they aren't paying attention to me at all. The three Stewards were equally ranked in station, but that didn't mean everything was truly equal. Perhaps in her jurisdiction of the Lower Tiers there would be more sycophants and politically inclined individuals harassing her, but even there both Clayton and Jyori would receive more attention overall.

Not that Ryu cared. In truth, she much preferred these moments of peace and quiet, where she availed herself to fresh water and the serenity of just her thoughts. It was why she accepted invitations to these parties in the first place; she certainly didn't come for the company, or to watch these wasteful Upper Tier members frolic about in water that would have much better use elsewhere.

And how wasteful it was. The pool of water was easily sixty thousand bucketsworth to Ryu's eye, enough for a large segment of the Lower Tiers to drink and live well for another month. The Upper Tiers were treating it as entertainment. She clenched her fan closer to her mouth, thinking about how dirtied the water would be after tonight's more lascivious activities. Her swimwear was only meant to help her blend in as an occasion-appropriate outfit, for she could neither swim nor thought it good to waste perfectly drinkable water. If anything, it only renewed her desire to ensure that the filtration system she had been overseeing the past year would be set in motion soon.

If only the alchemists ever lived up to their promised delivery timelines.

A few children ran straight into the pool, diving in without fully removing their clothes. Ryu almost wanted to stand up and shout at them, but took a deep breath and counted to ten. Well, if they don't care about the water at all… She poured a cup of water and thrust it towards Yanar. "Drink."

"Steward Ryu, I am —"

"No use to me if you're dehydrated. Drink," she barked back, shoving the cup into his chest. It would just be a cup or three, if she could force Yanar to drink it, but it would be better than acting frugal at this party. None of their consumption would need to be accounted for.

Yanar took the cup, much to her approval. But he whispered out of the corner of his mouth: "Jyori approaches."

Ryu waved a dismissive hand, signaling for him to drink as she prepared herself mentally by feigning interest in some of the swimmers. Petty, yes, but she didn't feel like watching Jyori as she approached with her crowd.

"Ryu!"

Ryu sighed upon hearing the playfully commanding voice that could only belong to Jyorii. She turned around, putting on an expression of surprise, then had to look up. She immediately regretted having stayed sitting; Jyori towered above, her puffy black hair giving her head a larger look above her strong figure. Flanking the Steward of the Middle Tiers were roughly ten or so people, and at least several must have been Upper Tier members themselves. Jyori's flock of sycophants.

"Jyori!" Ryu greeted with summoned enthusiasm. "I trust you've been enjoying the party?"

"Only as much as a woman can when surrounded by petitioners and supplicants." Jyori gestured around at her flock with casual abandon, then ordered, "I didn't hear any of you greet the Steward."

Several younger men and women stepped forward immediately, bowing as they held out their hands above their heads. "Steward Ryu," they intoned.

"Indulge them," Jyori smiled at Ryu. "You should give some attention to the other Tiers besides your own!"

You say that, but you only come down to the Lower Tiers when you want something, thought Ryu. She had no choice but to allow each of the kneeling people to kiss the jade ring on her hand while she took note of the Upper Tiers members who hadn't bowed.

"Ah," Jyori seemed to notice Ryu's look, then gestured. "Allow me to introduce them, as I don't know if you've met? This is Kayura, of House Thryssa. Oh! You were involved in the morning dew subsidy, were you not?"

The indicated middle-aged woman gazed down her nose at Ryu. House Thryssa effectively owned all things agriculture. Kayura herself had successfully won a subsidy last year in the form of the morning dew's runoff for her fields, arguing that it was unfiltered and shouldn't be collected for human consumption. Ryu's problem was Kayura's decision to use that extra supply for moonmelon, which took a ghastly amount of water to farm. Even after the farms were required to fully cover each plot with glass to retain moisture, it seemed to be a poor use of water. The fruit itself was more luxury than necessity, and so much of it was wasted on brewing moon wine. Ryu had calculated: five hundred bucketsworth of water to grow enough moonmelon for one casket of moon wine.

She forced herself to give Kayura a smile. The woman did not return it.

"And this one," Jyori seemed to pull a man out of the crowd, "Is Yvander. House Fontayneer."

Ryu couldn't help but raise her eyebrows upon recognizing the young man. He looked at her with a passive disinterest only available to those youth who believed themselves better than everyone. Despite the party's location, he was one of the few who hadn't come wearing something that was conducive to a relaxing dip in the pool; he was dressed in a formal purple toga, trimmed with gold and inlaid with jade. Ryu thought he seemed to be one of those that considered it filthy to get in water if another had already been in it. Mildly surprising, that Fontayneer's scion would be fraternizing with Jyori when the bank tended to not overly concern itself with anything below the Upper Tiers. If Yvander was cozying up with Jyori, then the Fontayneer family head must be with Steward Clayton. They were probably discussing the issue of jade.

Jyori made for another reach. "And this one is –"

"I can introduce myself." Behind Jyori appeared a striking woman who wore thick braids decorated with jade rings. Now that was curious enough to give Ryu pause. Ayn of House Reyvint — what was the Reyvint family's matriarch doing with Jyori? Consuming processed jade had done wonders for the woman. Dressed in sultry clothes of white with gold trim and inlaid jade, the style enhanced her voluptuous features and dark skin. Ayn could be easily mistaken for a young lady if one did not already know she was almost four centuries old.

"Steward Ryu," Ayn acknowledged. The matriarch's greeting almost made Ryu flinch, and the young man kissing her ring looked up from the way her hand twitched. "I would greet you more formally, but alas, the knees. If you understand, dear?"

Ryu stood up immediately, giving a quick look of polite appreciation to the man who had just kissed her ring. "Going by age, it should be me who stands for you, Miss Reyvint."

If her implied slight was noticed, the Matriarch of House Reyvint did not show it. "Please, call me Ayn. And going by station, you are a Steward – on equal standing with our Spear and Shield, just below our Lord." Ayn winked at Ryu as though they held a secret between the two of them. "The younger ones are just shy because they have only ever dealt with two of the Stewards. Give them a few years! I know you're a woman of patience. Aren't you going to make it up to the Steward, my dear Kayura and little Yvander?"

Ryu grimaced inwardly as Kayura and Yvander shuffled closer. Their eyes carried no warmth, enough for her to wonder if they seethed beneath the surface at being called upon. Yvander knelt down grudgingly, and bowed his head but did not take her hand.

Kayura knelt down closer, holding out her hands above her head. "Steward Ryu."

"Steward Ryu." Yvander added his greeting without enthusiasm.

Almost against her will, Ryu's hand lifted forward. Kayura took it in her own and kissed the jade ring, then retreated to allow Yvander space to do the same.

"There," Ayn said approvingly. "Manners. The only thing separating us from beasts, yet it seems each successive generation easily forgets. Well?" she threw a question at Ryu, who felt Jyori's keen eyes watching this exchange. "How is it being the youngest Steward in history? Do you feel you've been effective with that authority?"

Deep breath. Ryu reminded herself who she was dealing with. Ayn Reyvint, Matriarch of House Reyvint. One of the three Great Houses. "I have large expectations to meet, but I trust myself to perform in a way that would satisfy our Lord who gave me this opportunity," Ryu responded. She hoped the answer displayed humility without implying weakness. Ryu certainly disliked the question. It seemed innocuous considering this was their first time speaking, but Ayn could not have been unaware of Ryu's role as Steward for the past eight Summers. Perhaps she should be grateful the older woman hadn't bothered her until now.

"House Reyvint apologizes for not reaching out sooner," said Ayn after a moment, giving Ryu an appraising look. "Not that it makes for a good excuse, but I thought Steward Leyvar was still running things in the Lower Tiers. Clearly the younger ones did not heed my order about keeping me informed. Perhaps they wish for me to enjoy my retirement in peace, ah? But the mistake is easily rectified." The woman took Ryu's hand into her own, bringing the ring up to her full lips for a quick kiss without shifting her eyes away from Ryu's gaze. "Yours is an interesting story. A child of the Lower Tiers, climbing instantly to the highest station in our beloved Oasis." She turned her head slightly to the side so she could glance at Yvander and Kayura with her next words, "A reminder even to the Upper Tiers that there is always a larger dune."

The vague excuse did not impress Ryu one bit, but she had no desire to cause a scene with this particular Reyvint. Before she could say something polite instead of "please let go of my hand," a deep voice echoed from behind Ryu.

"And what a large dune Steward Ryu represents, given she oversees the matters of the Black Pyramid."

Ayn dropped her hand. Ryu resisted the urge to swing around, forcing her body into a slow turn. As she turned, Ayn's eyes flickered over Ryu's head. "Steward Clayton," the matriarch murmured, inclining her head.

"Steward Clayton," Jyori greeted demurely. The rest dropped down to their knees, chorusing in their greetings with lowered heads.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"Steward Clayton." Ryu did not bow her head as she finished turning. The man did not stand taller than Jyori's hair, but he could afford to look down upon Ryu. His skin, black as night, made even Ayn's look light in comparison. There was the vague sense that Clayton had his own retinue standing just behind or next to him, but his presence overshadowed them all.

"I was just talking to Fontayneer and WellWardyn about the matter of releasing jade from our Lord's storage," said Clayton, whose bright, dark eyes did not once flick away from Ryu to even acknowledge the others that had greeted him. Where one would expect a booming voice befitting of his stature, he was instead soft-spoken, his words unhurried. "But that decision cannot be finalized while our Lord is in seclusion. There are some with… keen interests, petitioning me endlessly. I find it tiresome, but the matter cannot be ignored given the implications for quality of life. I hope Steward Ryu can help shed some light on the current affair."

'Implications for quality of life', thought Ryu. For these old fogies of the Upper Tiers, certainly. What about the lives given to secure that jade? Out loud, she answered, "I don't wish to waste your time, so I will be honest. To my knowledge, there are currently no extra stores of jade in the Lower Tiers. As of two days ago, the last batch of jade was sorted and sent to Steward Jyori's side for further processing. I'm sure she can attest to that." Ryu gestured at Jyori. She contemplated including Ayn into the conversation since House Reyvint dealt with matters of jade, but decided now was not the time. Not until I know why Ayn has finally decided to converse with me.

But Clayton's eyes did not stray. "And the matter of the Black Pyramid?"

Ryu was torn between looking away and holding her gaze. "All mining of raw jade has been halted, as you may have heard about the… ah, issue, that the Head Priestess raised." No telling how much panic the people will be in if I openly announce the existence of a new dragon here. "We've sent an expedition of Sand Riders out with the ShieldMarshal to inspect the Pyramid's situation and collect any leftover jade. They requested reinforcements earlier today, and the SpearMarshal has gone out to meet her brother." She paused, then added, "I have no further information. As far as the dwindling supply of jade is concerned, my suggestion is to not expect mining to resume anytime soon."

"You see? We expect too much from our young Steward," said a new voice.

Ryu reflexively bit the inside of her cheek in recognition, yet dared not break Clayton's gaze.

Drakyr Wellwardyn came into Ryu's peripheral vision. Well, his broad shoulders encroached first, followed by his clean-shaven head. The man seemed out of place, given he had dressed as though for a formal party, in lavish purple robes accented with threads of gold. White jade accessories dangled from his ears, and he wore a prominent jade ring through his septum. Ryu was not overly familiar with the prices of jade trinkets, but white jade commanded an exorbitant price on account of it being so distinctive against an Oasian's dark skin. She imagined selling the pieces Drakyr wore, knowing it could easily buy a manse in the Central Valley. Maybe even one with a pond.

Drakyr continued speaking. House WellWardyn's family head enunciated his words in a manner so precise one wondered if he was loath to part with them, as though each word cost him a cup of water to speak. "She is inundated with multiple matters, so much she cannot even locate the remaining water thief who stole into our reservoir two weeks ago. Perhaps it would be kinder for us to only give Steward Ryu one task at a time?"

Steward Clayton blinked slowly at Ryu. The gaze compelled her to answer.

"I oversee many things, Drakyr," she began unhurriedly. "And my highest priority is to serve the Lower Tiers. I invite you to visit sometime, lest you forget the Lower Tiers number over seventy percent of our Lord's citizens. To them, water is most important, then food. Mining jade is just one of many jobs they can pick from; they'll find others while we decide how to approach the Black Pyramid's issue. With that in mind, it should be unsurprising that my priorities –"

"Should be aligned with ours," Jyori chimed in sweetly. Ryu rounded on the Steward, who gave her a grin. "You, Steward Clayton, and me. We're supposed to be aligned to serve our Lord, no? Not to mention, someone tried to steal water. Isn't breaking taboo something you would consider a priority?"

"WellWardyn's water is WellWardyn's," replied Ryu, keeping her tone gentle but feeling each word grate against her teeth. "And I believe you already have that spear wielder, the one the Spear captured. I should remind you I've asked for custody twice because he might have answers that could help us. Aren't you the one holding up that issue?"

"You're allowed to visit as a Steward." Jyori's grin widened. "I'm certain you can get any questions done in a session. Or I can pass on your questions?"

She knows I can't do that. Ryu clenched her fist. It gives her a reason to deny me custody if she can claim I already had my chance to ask questions. Aloud, she prodded cheekily, "Have you been making him talk?"

"You know I don't have much tolerance for pain," answered Jyori. She made a face halfway between a wince and something else, but the only word Ryu could find for it was satisfaction. "No, he's been very silent and I don't want to try things that would hurt. I can't believe you think I'd try. "

I can believe that, thought Ryu, unimpressed by Jyori's acting. But only because I know what you really like. "Well if you're wasting your time with him, you may as well transfer him to the Lower Tiers. Perhaps I can question him to learn about—"

"Steward Ryu."

Clayton's soft voice commanded both Ryu and Jyori's attention. Ryu turned swiftly, not caring that she broke eye contact with Jyori first. The eldest Steward's dark eyes stared down at her, and Ryu braced her knees, trying not to cower. You are in the same station as him, she repeated furiously, centering her focus on his eyes. You are also one of three Stewards of Oasis. Stand tall, Ryu. As tall as she could, anyway, given her short height. If only her trembling legs believed it too.

"I am waiting, Steward Clayton," she replied, if only to break the silence.

Everyone in the vicinity waited to hear his quiet words. It felt like an eternity before he spoke. "I believe Steward Ryu is not wrong in her priorities. We can explore other avenues to solve the matter at hand, such as petitioning our Lord about his stockpile of jade when he exits seclusion. He has never been absent from the Sun's Festival."

"That seems proper for the situation," Ryu agreed. She prevented the relief from showing on her face as she inclined her head just barely, enough to show acknowledgment. Hopefully no one here would see it as more than a simple gesture of respect to the oldest Steward. Then again, should she even care about what rumors the Houses spread? No. I am a Steward, and even the Great Houses must answer to me.

"I must say," came Ayn's voice. "It might be wise to have other plans while we wait for the Lord to make a decision. If, in his wisdom, he chooses to not release his personal stores of jade, we should have other plans in place. House Reyvint–"

The aura surrounding them trembled, then vibrated. A deep, reverberating hum pulsed through the air, pressing against their very bones. Ryu barely had a moment to react before it hit—an invisible force, tightening like a noose around her neck.

Ryu's breath caught, her lungs refusing to expand. Her heart hammered violently, a panicked rhythm that sent a jolt of fear racing through her veins. Then the weight increased. Her knees buckled, and she fell.

All around her, people collapsed as if struck by an unseen wave. Glass shattered, tables toppled, and chairs upended as food and drink crashed to the ground, but none could spare any attention to the waste. Some clutched their chests, gasping. Others crumpled entirely, faces twisted in silent panic. A few unlucky souls flailed desperately in the shimmering pool, their limbs splashing weakly as the crushing force pinned them in place. Somewhere in the chaos, a strangled cry rose—someone calling for help.

But Ryu couldn't spare the thought of shouting at Yanar to save them, not when her own limbs trembled under the pressure. Not when her mind was consumed with a single, terrifying realization.

Only one aura covered all of Oasis at once, a Domain so large it could fully envelop the City. And that Domain had just shifted.

What is the Lord reacting to?

The question flared in her mind, urgent and unanswered, before the weight doubled. An unseen force bore down, crushing her lungs, suffocating her completely.

The air thickened—gritty, abrasive—like a storm of sand lashing her skin. It scoured her throat raw, choking every breath before it could form. Her vision darkened as the pressure mounted, threatening to bury her beneath an invisible tide.

And then—it vanished.

The crushing force dissolved, the suffocation gone as if it had never been. Relief surged through her limbs, but the ghost of the Domain's weight still clung as a lingering echo of fear.

A collective gasp filled the space. Ryu's ears picked up a cacophony of sharp inhalations and desperate wheezes as people dragged air back into their lungs. The water in the pool rippled as struggling figures surfaced, coughing and shuddering as they reached desperately to pull themselves up over the edges. It appeared that several bystanders had fallen in and become entangled in their clothing, and were now in need of rescue.

A curt nod from Ryu gave Yanar permission to dive into the pool. The man was amazing; hadn't they both just experienced the same thing, and now she was still recovering while Yanar was saving lives? Though Ryu thought many here deserved to drown in their gains, it would leave a poor taste in her mouth if she did nothing. She herself wanted to tear off her clothes and dive in to help, but even after what had just happened, Ryu didn't know if it was proper to abandon decorum in front of these snobs. They'd say something about it, and she'd rather not deal with more whispered words behind her back. Authority meant nothing if others fought to undermine you at every turn.

Instead, she looked towards Steward Clayton just as Steward Jyori stepped forward, but the two of them were silenced by a single look from the man. Steward Clayton's voice seemed relatively calm.

"The three of us should visit the Lord's chamber."

Oasis, Highest Point, Solemn Spire

Ryu dared not sprint past Steward Clayton, who simply walked up the long flight of stairs. Much to her chagrin, she and Steward Jyori could only follow behind the eldest Steward as they made their way up to the Lord's audience chamber. Even in times like this, procedures demanded they follow decorum? With no audience in sight?

But at least it gave her time to think. If they'd felt the Lord's Domain shift, there was no reason to think that the effect hadn't reverberated throughout Oasis. Everyone had experienced it by now. Drat. There would be questions when she returned to the Lower Tiers later, and at the moment, she had no answers.

What happened? The Lord's Domain was rarely felt, if ever. Ryu only remembered twenty-something of her thirty Sorrows, but she'd only ever experienced it once when the Yellow Kirin had entered the pomerium seventeen years ago. Even then, the effect still hadn't been this dramatic.

Are we under attack? Improbable, but not impossible. The Spear and Shield of Oasis were currently away at the Black Pyramid. Had the mursashu decided to do something drastic? That seemed silly even if the two currently here weren't bound by treaty. While both Mursa Allyce and Mursa Khan were Titled, they could never dream of causing a ruckus while visiting Oasis. Not when the Lord's Domain actively surrounded them. Unless some fit of madness had taken hold of them and the Lord had enacted a swift counterattack? Was Ryu going to return to the Lower Tiers to find the priestesses getting ready to conduct mass funeral rites for the mursashu?

More questions came to her, each more bizarre than the last. She was still struggling to prepare herself when they finally reached the massive doors of the Lord's private chambers, only to bump into Jyori, who had bumped into Steward Clayton.

"Sorry," muttered Ryu, but the other two did not seem to pay her any mind.

She looked ahead only to find the double doors already open in front of Steward Clayton. Beyond him, the vast chamber where the Lord preferred to listen to their reports yawned in eerie silence. The sandy floor shimmered with shifting shadows, disturbed only by the flickering glow of a lone, defiant flame in a brass brazier.

A greatsword, gleaming in the dimness, was buried deep in the center of the chamber's floor. The massive blade stood at a slant, tilted slightly as though someone had hurled it into place with immense force. The brazier's wavering light danced across the chamber walls, sending restless, jagged shapes climbing the towering stone columns that lined the hall.

But the throne at the very end of the chamber sat empty. A silver spear and a golden shield hung on either side of the seat, untouched by dust or time. They remained as they had always been, their metal polished to a mirror sheen, reflecting ghostly streaks of light.

They removed their sandals at the threshold before stepping inside. These particular grains of sand, finer than powder, clung to Ryu's bare feet, cool and soft. Jyori moved ahead, her steps soundless despite the vastness of the chamber, while Ryu followed in her wake. Steward Clayton was already making his way toward the greatsword, his long robe trailing behind him like a specter's shadow.

Ryu barely noticed the way the sand shifted beneath her soles. Her gaze was fixed on the weapon before them.

It was not a sword she recognized. The make was unfamiliar—too ancient of a design, too sparsely decorated to be one of the greatswords still forged in the city's smithies. The blade was thick, its crossguard wide, but there was a sharpness to its edges that made it seem untouched by the ages. This sword was older than she was; her gaze flickered to the spear and shield hanging on either side of the throne. Was it…?

Steward Clayton reached the sword first. He extended a hand, fingers hovering just above the hilt, but then hesitated. Instead, he leaned in, inspecting the angle at which the blade was buried, his sharp gaze tracing the marks left in the sand. A line of tension ran down his spine.

Jyori, however, had veered to the right. She stopped near the wall, her fingers brushing over a deep wound that had been torn into it. Ryu followed her line of sight and inhaled sharply. The gash was closing. Grains of sand seeped into the hole, reforming that which had been cleaved open.

She looked at the greatsword again, noting the angle herself.

Had that been how it entered?

Then Steward Clayton spoke. "This… is troubling indeed. The weapon returned without its bearer."

"I'm afraid I speak for both of us when I say we aren't certain what this weapon is, or whom it belonged to," said Jyori. Ryu did not like that she was grouped in with anything Jyori said that included herself, but could only nod in agreement. She did want to know about the sword. But she wanted more to know what had transpired here.

Steward Clayton drew a deep breath, then turned to both Jyori and Ryu. For the first time Ryu could remember, the man's brows were furrowed with worry. "I forgot neither of you met him, being young as you are. This is a greatsword our Lord gave to Martyker. I assume he is dead. Someone must have brought his old weapon home."