"Dear and holy land. Noble heroes' rest. Her sacred shores, invaders shall never trample."
- Beloved Land, Marl Kahn National Anthem
An excerpt from its third stanza signifying the people's promise to the nation
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Marl Kah, or in its full, official name, the Monarchical Republic of Marl Kah, is an island nation located at the south-east peninsulas of the Ost continent. Comprised of over 14,000 islands, 5 major land areas, 3 named territorial seas and more than 800 unique ethnolinguistic groups, it is considered as the largest archipelagic state in not only Ostadonia but in the entirety of Promethea.
Myths and legends say that in prehistory, the islands that now comprise Marl Kah used to belong to several island kingdoms and thallasocracies, and that the humans who belonged to these prehistoric states crossed the vicious southern seas to escape from the bloody Fenrir-Felicitus-Foxian blood wars of the now extinct beastfolk. It is said that while they possessed a great deal of physical strength and extremely potent senses, the beastfolk are incapable of lasting on seafaring ships due to extreme seasickness and their staple diet that is widely comprised of fresh, nearly-still-bleeding meat that cannot last in distant sea-crossing trips.
As such, during the several uprisings and genocides perpetrated by the ancient tribes and kingdoms in Ost, the people of these islands were absent from any of it. Instead, the conflict that defined their respective histories were wars fought between island tribes and kingdoms, as well as territorial campaigns against monsters and demonic beasts.
Things were relatively stable for these people and their lands during the ancient and classical period. While their nearby nations such as Qima and Tenka kept records about these people such as trade records and alliance agreements, much of what is known about the ancient and classical proto-states of the isles were kept in clay tablets, copper plates and stone engravings.
All of this would change during the Colonial era when Yropan colonizers split up the region into their own colonial holdings, and with the goading of members of the Helenas Brotherhood, eradicated entire tribes and destroyed nearly all records of their unique culture and language. While the current number of ethnolinguistic groups in Marl Kah is more or less 800, it is believed that there could've been more than 4000 of them if these genocides did not happen. For several centuries, the kingdoms of Francois, Albion, Cattleya and Marianne would hold these islands and their people as colonies.
This was until the beginning of the Age of Uprising when the national hero of Marl Kah, Josefino Fabian Mendoza y Alfonzo Realonda or more commonly known as just "Jose", wrote a series of novels that seem to be entirely fictional but actually alluded to real-life events and conspiracies such as the massacre of farmers under false charges of rebellion and the execution of several Marl Kahn friars accused by Cattleyan bishops for heretical activities. These novels, once it reached the oppressed common populace, incited massive rebellions that quickly overwhelmed their colonizers.
As he belonged to the colonial territory of the Kingdom of Cattleya, Jose was arrested by the colonial government and as both the sentence for inciting a revolution and show the fate of their "figurehead" as a grave warning, he was executed through a firing squad. However, instead of seeing his death with fear, it only made the revolution to gain more momentum and justification.
Ten years after the death of Dr. Jose, the revolutionary government based on the ancient kingdom of Lakandula, declared the eight provinces that they have taken back from the colonial government as its own nation and from it, staged the bloody war that would chip away at what is left of the strength and territory of Cattleya until thirty years later, the entire archipelago would be freed from colonial control.
From here, things could have looked up for the better... if not for the fact that after several centuries of facing genocide and erasure of their unique cultures and histories, the people of the region has lost all traces of their past identities and the only thing that bound them now was the mutual experience of being colonized.
As then-Field Marshall Antonio Lunato said, "it was easier to thread a frayed thread through a needle while riding a horse than to convince these people to consolidate into a single nation". It would take the swindling of both Qiman and Tenkan business magnates, to convince them that they can only fight back when they are together as a single state.
After kicking out the exploitative businessmen, it was only then that they agreed that it would be easier and safer for everyone to form a single nation than remain fragmented, and as the principal powerhouse of the region as well as the home of the hero who started the revolution, Lakandula was hailed as the seat of power and from it came the name of the consolidated states that formed the Maharlika Republica (Republic of Maharlika).
However, the republic would face an existential crisis a mere decade after its founding when several surviving tribal kingdoms protested to having little to no representation in the government, and having no autonomy over their ancestral lands. This would incite insurgencies that culminated to the fall of the First Republic and the formation of the Monarchical system wherein the royal house of Salonga, who is the only remaining royal line of the ancient kingdom of Lakandula, was elevated to the throne as absolute monarchs.
With the new system, and the adoption of a semi-feudal government similar to the one used by House Nasburg of Yropa, the Kingdom of Maharlika managed to stabilize both their internal and external affairs. Years later, they would join the Ostadonian alliance as its co-founder alongside the Empire of Tenka, and aid their allies in freeing Ost of all Yropan and Atlanterran colonial control.
However, while the adoption of an absolute monarchical government brought all of these improvements and stability, most of the populace still wanted to have a voice in the central government instead of simply being under their respective feudal lords. As such, with peaceful negotiations with the monarchy, a parliamentary cabinet was consolidated into the government which is bestowed by the monarchy with most of its indirect powers. Additionally, with the rediscovery of the traces of several ancient tribes and kingdoms in the region, a movement was formed to rename the nation away from the Lakandula-based name of "Maharlika" into the two words from which it originated and is present in all of the native languages of the region: "Marl Kah".
As such, from over 800 years ago to this very day, the nation at the south-east peninsula of the Ost continent has been known as the: Monarchical Republic of Marl Kah.
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["Attention passengers and crew members, we will soon arrive at the territorial airspace of Marl Kah. Please be seated and wear your seat belts as we approach Plaridel International Airport."]
My trip to Marl Kah, while it seems to outwardly be to obey the orders of the Imperial Senate, was nothing more than a transaction between myself, my family and the royal house of this country.
While personally, my family and the royal house of Salonga, are close friends whose bonds are knitted together like mithril chain-mail, at the end of the day, we are still noble families with their own respective interests and agendas, as well as places in the hierarchy that is the Empire.
My presence here is favor owed by the royal family, and the service that I am about to give them is all for the sake of what they have promised to give me in exchange for it.
"We're here finally... I've been getting drowsy for a while." chimed the maid beside me as soon as the airship landed at the airport.
"Mm... I see that you changed into the summer dress that I bought for you, Martha. Was it just the right size? You didn't have a hard time changing at the bathroom, did you?"
"Geez... you really have to be more careful with your words. Ladies are sensitive about those things, y'know?" she replied, pouting about my question that could've been worded better.
"Alright, sorry about that... Still, your idea to come ahead of the fleet through a passenger airship helped a lot in splitting up the paperwork, as well as hiding the true intent of our arrival." I spoke, praising her idea to travel incognito ahead of our forces.
"You're very welcome... and because of that, I expect a reward."
"A reward, huh... Martha, you're one audacious woman to ask that from me." I replied to her request, giving her a smug smile and winking at her with a seductive tone.
"Y-Y-Y-You...!" This in turn, annoyed her and she looked away while spouting her murmurs beneath her breath which made me giggle.
A few minutes after our airship landed, the speakers in the cabin sounded the announcement from the captain about our arrival to Marl Kah.
["To all our dear passengers, we have received permission to disembark and will now be opening the cabin doors. Thank you for flying with Marl Kahn Royal Airlines and we look forward to flying with you again. Mabuhay!]
After we took our hand-carry baggage from the cabinet above our heads and walked through the cabin corridor and out of the airship's door, we finally stepped into Marl Kah.
Once we arrived inside the airport's interior, Martha gasped in surprise as a smile formed on her face.
"Wow!It's so... so...!"
"Modern?"
"Yes! Wow! Even the Imperial Capital wasn't this advanced! There's machinery everywhere and they even have air-conditioners!" Like a child let loose inside a large toy shop, Martha's eyes glittered at everything around her and it made me both amused with her reaction as well as a bit worried about whether she's annoying the people around us.
"Ah... now that I noticed them, the air-conditioners sure are blowing a lot of cold air. Ahh... I shouldn't have been in so much of a rush to change to summer clothes." After noticing the large metal boxes that contained magic stone-powered machinery to cool the inside of the place, Martha felt cold in her summer dress.
"It's alright. Once we get out of the airport, it wouldn't be this cold. For now... you can have this."
"O-oh... T-thank you."
I took off my coat and placed it over her shoulders, helping her stay warm until we get through the immigration checkpoint and out of this place. Speaking of which, we arrived at the checkpoint where upon my request to the guard, he led us to a lane for passengers that can only communicate through Common Ostadonian and thus, must be together with someone to translate.
"Good morning, ma'am and sir. Are you the ones who asked for assistance?" the immigration officer chimed with a bright smile. I replied and handed over our documents.
"Yes. We're traveling together. Here are our passports and travel permits."
"...I see. Mister Jonathan Bougainvillea and Miss... Miss... Missus?"
"Ah... I..."
The question of the officer made me stammer for a moment as I looked back and forth between her and a confused Martha. A moment later, I calmed myself to not look suspicious and gave an answer... or should I say, a lie.
"Nobya".
"A-Ah... I see... Miss Martha Robinson, it is." wearing a smug smile after she seem to have asked that question just to tease me, she set aside our passports after confirming our identities and scrutinized the travel permits. "Purpose of travel? Business or pleasure?"
"Pleasure. We'll be in vacation here for a while."
"Pleasure indeed, I sure see it..." Once again teasing me, she cut off the "arrival" stub of the travel permit and stamped our passports with the appropriate seals. "Well then, that's all. Again, welcome to Marl Kah! We wish you'll enjoy your stay!"
"Argh... Let's go, Martha." having enough of her teasing, I took our documents and left the booth with Martha as soon as the other door opened.
"...Hey, what was that all about? Why do you look flustered all of a sudden?"
"...It's the heat. It's nothing."
"It's still plenty cold though... and what does "Nobya" mean?"
"...It's Marl Kahn for "friend". Come on now, we should get going."
(T/N: We'll leave it up to you guys to search for what it means. Jonathan is the audacious one here, lmao. ;p)
We walked towards the baggage counter of the airport where we took our suitcases and since it was already past noon, grabbed some lunch at the food court. While I did eat a lot of Marl Kahn dishes because mother learned them from Queen Liwayway during their exile, these ones really tasted a lot better.
"Mmm~! These ones are so savory! The chicken meat is so juicy and tender, and the soy sauce-based sauce is perfect with it!"
"Yeah, yeah. Eat or talk, choose one will you? And sorry to rain on your parade, but this isn't even the really authentic ones."
"Hrm? Ish ishin't?" Martha asked while still chewing on her food.
"Yeah. We're still at the airport which has its food tweaked to accommodate a myriad of palettes since they expect much of the people arriving to be foreigners. Prince Ignacio told me that if I really want to taste authentic Marl Kahn cuisine, it would be at the streets of the city where the common folk eat out."
"Now that you say that, not even the local workers seem to be ordering at the stalls here. I guess that advice is legitimate."
"It is... Anyway, let's wrap up and leave soon. Our destination is quite far from here after all."
"Destination? Did you reserve a hotel or something?"
"Well... kind of like that, I guess."
After we finished eating, Martha and I walked towards the transportation terminal where the local tram car and Kalesa (carriage) lines are located. Here, people working as barkers offered and negotiated with outgoing passengers for trips on the vibrantly-colored horse carriages.
"Good afternoon, sir! Are you looking for a ride out too?"
"No, thank you. We're just waiting for our own vehicle."
"Ah! Understood, have a safe trip, sir."
We were offered one too, but I declined, stating that we have our own vehicle that we are just waiting for. A few minutes passed and the vehicle we were waiting for finally arrived in the form of a blue sedan car whose driver came out to greet us.
"Baron Bougainvillea and Lady Robinson, I presume?"
"I am... but please drop the titles. We're "not here" after all."
"A-ah, right. Please get in. I'll place your suitcases at the back."
As one of the nations at the bleeding edge of MagiTech, Marl Kah has more access to technologies never seen anywhere else in the world. Just like what Martha said earlier, even the Imperial Capital of Tenki was not as modern as Marl Kah and its capital of Lakan, and nothing exemplifies it more than the vehicle in front of us. In anywhere else in the world, it would be called a "horseless carriage", but Marl Kah calls it as a "Carro" or "Automobilio". However, a mixture of a word from Albion has simplified it as just "car".
The car was quite spacious, able to comfortably seat 4 people behind the driver who is sitting at the middle of its wide front seat. The inside was also air-conditioned, making the trip more comfortable for all of us.
Personally, I would've loved to get one of these vehicles for myself and the family, but since it is a very new technology to the point that it is a hand-crafted, made-to-order product, as well as needing refined magic stones as its fuel, I held off until the downsides are more tolerable or I can personally afford one.
In any case, our car moved out of the vicinity of the airport and entered the metropolitan area of Lakan city. True to its moniker "Fourize of the East", the city's architectural style and overall fashionable look of the passing pedestrians would make someone think that they are either in Cattleya or Francois. However, this appearance is also seamlessly mixed with its modern amenities and structures. While it maintains a mix of baroque and neoclassical architectural style, skyscraper buildings and arched steel bridges dominate the skyline of the city.
All in all, even I who has barely passing knowledge about architecture had his eyes caught by our surroundings, and that effect was greater for the woman sitting beside me.
"Y-Y-Y-Young master! Look up there! That tower-like building is so tall!"
"Yes, it is..."
"A-A-And over there too! That bridge and its lampposts are so elegant-looking!"
"Yep, saw it crystal clear too..."
Although I felt worried if she's disturbing the driver, I thought that it was far better that she is gushing over our surroundings than prodding me for answers about where we are heading to.
An hour later, we finally left the metropolitan area of the capital and entered a place that had a different ambiance from the busy, sleepless city. This change became apparent as soon as we entered a road with a sign that say the following in the Albion language: "You are now entering Casa Valencia district. The road ahead is privately owned and any unauthorized entry is considered as trespassing."
Before our car entered the place, it was stopped by a few men wearing light blue shirts, brown leather belts and straw hats with its front brim folded up. They were also carrying long rifles with embedded magic stones, showing that their users are Wizards.
The driver and one of the men talked in Marl Kahn for a moment until the men gave way to our vehicle and we entered the secluded district. Martha, seemingly interested with the ones who blocked us, asked a question.
"Who were those? I thought we were being harassed by highwaymen."
"Ah. Those are our Guardia Civil, missy. They're kind of a small offshoot of the army who guards historical sites and government buildings. As for the "highwaymen" comment, maybe a few centuries ago, you won't be so far off with that. Hahaha!" the driver spoke and laughed at his own joke.
"R-Really? They're from the army but they act like that?"
"Well... it was something from the colonial period. Nowadays, it's an honor to be one of them and I heard that it's the most popular stepping stone for someone to transition from serving in the military and into the government."
"I see... it was a left over thing from Cattleya, huh?"
As we entered the wide roads of Casa Valencia, the branches of enormous Acacia trees at the side of the road overlapped above us and as if knowing the timing, the driver turned off the airconditioning of the car and opened its roof to let us look up and see it.
"Wooow~!!! It's so pretty!"
"The air is so cool and clean too... it feels like all the heat outside was gone in just a moment."
For a while, we enjoyed the ride and soon, we arrived at a seaside mansion situated near a cliff that overlooks the rest of the district. From afar, we saw the mansions that we passed by earlier and it was at this moment that Martha snapped out of her trance and finally asked me where we ended up.
"While it's true that we traveled incognito, there are a handful of people who know that we're here and set up our accommodations for the next few days until the others arrive. Come on now, we shouldn't make the master of the house wait for us."
Once the car parked in front of the mansion, we got out and was greeted by a line of maids and butlers.
"Welcome, Mr. Bougainvillea and Ms. Robinson."
"Ah-ahh..." While we walked past them, Martha seem to feel a bit uneasy with being in the receiving end of the greeting that she used to do back home. Nevertheless, we walked into the mansion's foyer and was greeted by the lively voice of an adult lady.
"Oh-ho-ho! Welcome to Mi Casa, you two!" her greeting was followed by her gallant stride that made her semi-formal dress to move like waves as she took one of our hands.
"U-Umm...young master...?" Martha, being unaware of the lady in front of us, turned to me and I introduced them to each other.
"Lady Leonor, this is Martha Robinson, our House's head maid and my companion on this trip. Martha, I want you to meet Lady Leonor Consolacion Marisol Isabel Alfonzo-Salonga, the first Princess of Marl Kah and our host for the following days."
"Oh... EEEHHH?!!" it took Martha a few moments to digest my introduction and her shocked reaction made the lady to laugh out loud as she took her into a tight hug.
"AHAHAHA!!! You sure are a riot, young lady! Come here and let me give you a proper welcome."
"A-A-Ahh! N-No need for that, Your Highness! I-I-I-I am not worthy and—"
"Ah-ah-ah! I don't want none of that. This is the proper Marl Kahn greeting for friends."
While Martha is anxiously being wary of doing anything "impolite", lady Leonor continued to hug her until she finally let go and asked us a common Marl Kahn question.
"You guys must've been exhausted from the entire trip. Have you eaten yet? Bah! Does that even matter? Come with me to the dining hall and let me feed you till you're full for the rest of the week."
"A-Ah! We already had lunch at the airport, madame! There's no need to trouble—"
"Do you have authentic Mechado, lady Leonor? I've been itching to try that out for a while."
"Y-Young master—!?"
Before she can say something considered rude, I cut off Martha with a question that oozed with little to no politeness.
"Authentic Mechado, you say? If we don't have it then we'll make it! Sandra! Call the chefs and tell them to fire up the stoves! We have guests with empty bellies waiting!"
"Yes, my lady!"
"Any other requests, young man?"
"Hmm... Coconut pie and leche flan too, if you may."
"Alrighty! We have a menu! Get to work, everyone!"
As the mansion's staff hurried to their works, Martha stepped beside me and with cold sweat from nervousness, asked me a question while panicking.
"Y-Young master! What are you doing?! Imposing on your host like this is embarrassing!"
"Not at all, young miss."
"E-Ehh?" Lady Leonor's answer surprised Martha and what she said next explained to her what this is all about.
"In Marl Kahn culture, one is expected to be at the beck and call of their guest as long as they are willing to do it. This is our unique brand of hospitality and one of the many things that we are proud of... So please, don't be shy to ask us about anything. As long as we can and are willing to do it, we will for your sake."
Martha, still a bit nervous, turned to me and I gave her a smile and a nod, telling her to go on. Finally, she gave her request to the lady.
"C-Can I travel around the city at night? I... I wanna see all of the elegant sights there!"
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Somewhere in the south-west isles of Marl Kah, the quiet and dark sea surface was broken by an explosion that rocked its waves and moments later, struck the nearby island with pillars of flame and dirt.
["This is Major Elmer of the 17th. Your gunfire are off. Adjust by 50 on aft."]
"Roger. Stand by for second volley."
After saying those words, another series of explosions broke the silence of the night and caused an explosion on the island. Moments later, the man at the other side of the ManaCom line gave a report.
["Bull's eye. Maintain coordinates and open fire. We'll handle the rest, over."]
"Clear copy. Godspeed, Major."
This naval vessel, a battleship named after the female Marl Kahn hero Gabriela, fired upon the island that acted as a nest of the local socialist rebel group. From its 12 cannons, it fired shells that either caused enormous explosions or burst up in the air into steel fragments that cut up both trees and men. Meanwhile, an elite group of soldiers are on the island, watching the camp that is being bombarded and picking off those that managed to survive the ordeal.
In the end, there were no survivors from the side of the rebels, and by morning, there was nothing in sight other than burned tents and huts, trees stripped of its leaves, and countless corpses burnt by explosions or cut up by the fragmentation bombs.
["This is Major Elmer from the 17th. Mission accomplished. Requesting naval extraction back to the Gabriela, over."]
"Affirmative, Major. Take photos for the after-action report and await extraction by boat at the coast. Over and out."
After replying to the marines that confirmed the lack of survivors from the enemy camp, the ship captain sat down on his chair and read the newspaper while sipping coffee.
"This mission sure went fast, sir."
"Yeah... but not fast enough. It seems like even with a "zero tolerance" policy and a direct order from the King, every rebel camp that we destroy gets replaced by a new one by the end of the day."
"Recruitment is strong at the factories and colleges?"
"That, and the fact that somehow these rebels are getting Atlanterran weapons and equipment from supporters in Chi-Kohe."
"Damn these f****** communists."
"Indeed..."
The exchange between the captain and his first mate was cut short by a shout from the mana sensor officer.
"Captain! Several unidentified airships entering the border due north-west of our position."
"What? Are those f****** Qimans back to declare that this is their sea? Oliver, connect me to the open line, I'm not in the mood to f*** around with these pests."
"Roger!"
A second later, the captain of the ship spoke a radio challenge into the ManaCom receiver.
"Unidentified vessel, you are entering Marl Kahn territorial waters and airspace. I repeat, you are entering Marl Kahn territorial waters and airspace. Turn around and leave immediately or face the consequences."
His radio challenge was received by the ship but it was never reciprocated. Because of this, as well as the stress from the sleepless night before, the captain ordered to have their cannons and anti-air guns pointed to the direction of the airship fleet and would've fired upon them if not for a call that came just in time.
"Captain! A direct line from regional command!"
"Huh? What are they demanding now? Connect me through while maintaining our weapons on the airships."
After his ManaCom console was connected to the other side, the familiar voice of the highest officer in the region came out with a single order.
["Turn your guns away from the airships and let them through. That is an order."]
"General? What is this all about? Why are we letting through a bunch of unknown airships?"
["That's none of your concern, Captain. Heed my order now and leave them be. Erase any mention of this from your after-action report and tell your crew to keep their mouths shut about this as well."]
"B-But sir, this is—"
Before he can reason out, the line was cut and he became annoyed with the lack of explanations... nevertheless, he ordered to have the ship's weapons at ease and let the airships to trudge along over them.
"Darn... what was that all about? They're so hush-hush about it too..."
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At the cockpit of the Ghost of Fenris, Gunther looked down at the large Marl Kahn battleship that was seconds away from firing at them until they somehow lowered their cannons and anti-air batteries.
"Seems like the king's orders managed to arrive in time."
"Well, thank the goddesses for that." Beside him, Renzo Robinson gave a comment as he looked out at the wide, glistening sea below them. For the next few days, it and a few islands here and there would be the only things they'll see. "I wonder what Lord Jonathan and Martha is doing right now."
"...Probably gathering information about our task."
"Argh... I want to call and ask them directly about it too."
"You know we can't do that. We're in strict radio silence until we arrive in Marl Kah..."
"I know, I know..."
The two looked down on the island that was bombarded last night and saw the disturbed earth and burnt greenery around the target area. With that, a single feeling of exasperation filled them.
"The Demesne, an Atlanterran invasion and now, a political rebel group..."
"Just our f****** luck, isn't it?"
"Indeed."
The two, entrusted by their master for the task, sighed before going back to their respective preparations.
"Still, someone has to do what must be done."
"Yeah... let's get to it then, young Gunther."
"Right behind you, sir Renzo."