"If you leave now, you will never win against him."
The words slipped from her lips, light yet dripping with condescension as Ricky rolled his eyes, taking another step past her, unwilling to entertain whatever mind game she was trying to spin.
"Listen, I might be a dumbass sometimes, and yeah, I might be slow other times, but Merlyn still thinks I'm a threat, and he-"
"He sent you here because he, like everyone else in their life, makes a decision that will forever alter it." Gaea continued, her finger gliding along the arm of her wooden throne.
"He chose his path-"
"He chose his path~" Ricky mocked, turning around and waving his hand in the air, his childish gesture making Gaea chuckle.
"Riddle me this, b*tch," Ricky muttered under his breath, a sharp edge to his words as he continued his stride toward the exit which was the treeline, a curtain of shadows that hugged the tree bark all around it.
Huff
"Wait." Alexander huffed, finally controlling his breathing better as he grabbed at Ricky's shirt. Ricky shook his head, brushing off the plea.
"C'mon, Alexander, let's not even humor her, she's not even hot," Ricky sighed, his voice laced with sarcasm.
"I'd give her a couple more seconds if she were a little more appealing to the eyes but she's all-...bones." Ricky completely didn't care for beauty on the inside and much preferred it on the outside, judging her for the mess she appeared before him as right now.
"Let's just-"
"I WILL TRIUMPH!" Alexander roared, his voice filled with raw defiance, forcing his head up despite the overwhelming sensation that gripped his heart.
Ricky, caught off guard by Alexander's sudden surge of strength, gradually came to a stop at the edge of the looming curtain of shadows.
Ricky frowned, his gaze lingering on Alexander, who, despite his exhaustion, steeled himself and returned the look threefold.
"You ain't any less of a man for walking away," Ricky said, his voice serious while his words hung in the air.
He looked down at Alexander, the conqueror who always felt the need to push forward, no matter the odds, and yet, in this moment, it was clear that even the strongest could falter.
"Take it from me, a guy who couldn't even look his problems in the f*cking eye unless he was forced to," Ricky continued, his voice steady and his eyes locking onto Alexander's.
Lancelot, standing off to the side, looked a little out of place, confusion flickering in his gaze as he didn't fully grasp what Ricky was saying.
But Ricky wasn't talking to him, this was for Alexander, a moment of understanding between two men who had faced their own battles, in different ways.
"You faced your fears and faltered, whatever," Ricky said, poking at Alexander's furry chest with a hint of sarcasm but also a strange kind of respect.
"That's better than most, hell, it's better than me, and she probably groomed you for all I know." Ricky gestured toward Gaea, who remained seated with her back turned to them, indifferent to their conversation.
The silence between them was thick, but Ricky wasn't backing down, speaking from a place of experience, knowing all too well what it meant to push forward despite all the sh*t weighing you down..
"Ricky, I will triumph." Alexander's gaze was unwavering, the intensity in his eyes making it clear that he couldn't walk away from this without seeing it through.
He looked at Ricky, as if his entire sense of self would crumble if he didn't push forward like he always had.
Alexander was a conqueror, not a peace-maker.
Alexander wasn't like Ricky; he didn't want to make peace with himself, he wanted to conquer this feeling, this trauma, that had plagued him for so long.
Ricky rubbed the back of his neck, torn between respect for Alexander's determination and the nagging feeling of trying to be a good friend.
Sigh
"F*ck~" Ricky cursed, looking over his shoulder at Gaea patiently waiting for them to finish then back at Alexander.
"Alright, but I'm taking the lead, since I'm still a little pissed I fell for those weird word gymnastics of hers, even after I said I wouldn't." Ricky slapped his chest, grinning as he looked down at Alexander, who wiped the sweat from his furry brow.
"And I shall be at your aide when needed." Alexander said, raising his tiny gerbil fist as Ricky met it with a fist bump, both of them turning back toward the goddess of life.
The grass crunched softly underfoot behind Gaea, who sat in her throne, one hand lazily propped beneath her chin while the other traced slow, deliberate circles in the air.
Her gaze never left the horizon, a patient smile curling on her lips as if she knew what was coming.
Then, slowly, Ricky stepped into view, his arms crossed confidently as Alexander perched on his shoulder, the small rodent's eyes flicking warily toward the goddess.
But this time, there was something, or rather, someone else.
A third figure emerged from the shadows, their presence unmistakable.
Click
The Shadow Broker materialized slowly from the darkness of Ricky's shadow, his presence almost imperceptible at first, like a phantom woven into the very fabric of the scene.
He moved with practiced elegance, setting down a sleek, black briefcase before him.
The latch clicked open with a quiet snap, and from it, he pulled a single piece of paper.
Ricky hadn't always relied on the Shadow Broker since to him, the Broker had been just another tool, a negotiator's ace up his sleeve.
But the more Ricky started to read the system after his fight with Lady Roma, reading the skill descriptions more thoughtfully and the implications, the more he realized it was something far more powerful than that.
This wasn't just about bargaining or deals, it was about subtle manipulation.
By merely being present, the Broker had the ability to influence perceptions, to nudge the minds of those around him, steering them toward decisions that would favor Ricky's agenda.
Ricky wasn't going to take anything, not even her mere words, for granted and especially not with Gaea, who had managed to turn Alexander, the great conqueror, into a panicked mess with nothing but her words.
In Ricky's eyes, Gaea was way beyond what his skills in terms of manipulation, next level stuff.
If Alexander hadn't been there, sharing his firsthand experiences of her tactics, Ricky might've still been wrapped up in her grip, playing right into her hands without realizing it.
Even now, he wasn't sure if he was simply another pawn in her game, but instead of stepping back or retreating, he wasn't about to let her win.
He was going to try again and although he might fail with the situation collapsing in on him once more.
But just like a cockroach always finds a way to survive, no matter the odds or the mess, he'd crawl out of it, and try again.
For all that Ricky was, he had one thing going for him: Gaea's impression that he wasn't worth her time.
Like Merlyn and many others before her, she underestimated Ricky in terms of wit.
It's true that compared to them, he wasn't as smart nor strategic but unlike them, his intellect was growing at a rapid speed.
With every tick to his Intelligence attribute, his mind was more easily soaking up experiences, comprehending them, and absorbing every bit of knowledge with each passing moment.
So when he turned his gaze to Gaea, and her form seemed to loom over him, growing larger with each passing second.
It was as if a mountain had appeared, its shadow stretching out and engulfing him.
But instead of shrinking or faltering, Ricky did what he always did, he met it head-on.
That same cocky, sleazy grin tugged at his lips as he readied the ascent.
RIP
"Prove it," Ricky suddenly said, the paper tearing at the side as Gaea raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his words.
"Wha-"
"Prove that I can win just by being here," Ricky suddenly said, his eyes locked onto Gaea, who responded with a sly smile, the corners of her lips curling upwards as if she had been waiting for this moment.
"Why do you think that Merlyn sent you here?" Gaea wondered, smiling lightly at him as if he was but a boy trying to wear adult sized clothing.
"Because being around you is torture?" Ricky asked, his voice laced with a hint of challenge, using another question to deflect the tension all while Gaea smiled, as if she appreciated the sharpness in his response.
"To make you stronger, Ricky," Gaea replied calmly, her voice carrying a weight of truth that seemed almost too heavy to ignore.
Ricky rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his gaze narrowing as he considered the implications of her words.
He was actually listening to what she said this time, his usual reflex to come up with witty quips replaced by a rare moment of genuine focus.
The change in him caught her off guard, and it made her laugh, a soft, knowing sound.
"He knew, as much as I do in this moment, that you are not enough to warrant a threat to his life." Gaea said, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons as she watched Ricky carefully observe every subtle shift in her movements.
"He sent you here because he expects you to ask or illicit my help, which I can provide-"
"For a price, yeah." Ricky said, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. This was the direction he wanted to take the conversation.
With a casual flick of his hand, he formed a construct into a chair, sat down across from her, and relaxed, watching her closely.
"I wouldn't say price-"
"I would." Ricky interrupted her, his eagerness causing her to laugh softly as she continued tracing circles with her finger.
"Do you know what is so fascinating about the future, about time?" Gaea suddenly shifted the subject, steering the conversation off course as Ricky scoffed and crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his face.
"Oh no, you ain't pulling me off my game, not this time," Ricky shot back, fully aware of her attempt to distract him.
But Gaea, ever the elusive figure, simply ignored him and carried on with her subtle manipulation.
"It is both set in stone and ever-changing, a contradiction that few can truly grasp," Gaea said, her voice smooth as she tried to lead their thoughts in another direction.
Alexander's eyes narrowed as he listened, but Ricky, remaining true to form, simply ignored her before kicking himself, focusing in on her words instead of blowing her off.
"What I mean is that the choices you make now ripple outward, but there are some currents even you cannot fight against. No matter how much you prepare, some fates are unavoidable." Gaea continued, her tone deliberate, attempting to play on the fear she knew Ricky held deep within from earlier with his family.
She thought she saw a shift when Ricky's eyes widened, and for a brief moment, she believed she had succeeded in planting that seed of doubt.
"You can't see the future." Ricky said, his voice carrying a new sense of clarity as he stood up, his smile growing wider with each word as Gaea's head tilted to the side, her expression curious.
"But I have-"
"Nuh uh," Ricky said, shaking his head with a confident laugh.
"Now that I really think about it, like really, really think about it, it doesn't make any sense." Ricky chuckled, proud of himself for seeing through her words as Gaea's lips almost twitched, a faint smirk forming as she lightly gestured with her hand, almost as if amused by his sudden burst of clarity.
"May I be enlightened?"
"Damn right you're gonna be enlightened," Ricky said, his grin widening.
"In fact, I'm gonna rub it in your face, because do you remember, like, three minutes ago when I was all angry and annoyed about my family?" Ricky leaned in slightly, as if savoring the moment as Gaea's expression remained calm, though a flicker of curiosity danced in her eyes.
"Yes, I can still remember."
"Well, you said that you can't decipher the thingy and only know what it is-uh-oh, what it allows!" Ricky snapped his fingers, his face lighting up with triumph as if he'd just cracked the case. He adjusted an imaginary Sherlock Holmes hat.
"So what I think is that you don't know anything unless it's going down right this second, and I think my family is alright cause-HA!" Ricky clapped his hands together, jumping into the air before landing back down with a dramatic flair.
"Because you're just trying to stall, cause you don't know what's going on either!" Ricky fist-pumped in the air like he'd just won a grand victory and Gaea, unphased, leaned on her hand, a subtle smirk tugging at her lips as she observed him.
"I don't?" Gaea asked, tilting her head the other way with feigned curiosity as Ricky wagged his finger at her.
"Yeah, you're like f*cking Switzerland," Ricky said confidently, ignoring the puzzled expressions on both Lancelot and Alexander's faces, who clearly didn't get the reference.
"I'm a beautiful country?" Gaea wondered out loud, looking at herself then back up at Ricky who had a scowl on his face.
"F*ck no, you're ugly, like a barren desert somewhere in Arizona." Ricky said, shaking his head since he always expected Goddess to be downright sexy only to see this mess.
"I'm saying you're stupid and neutral," Ricky revealed, his words finally causing a flicker of understanding across Lancelot and Alexander's faces, though they still seemed a little confused.
Gaea's expression stayed composed, but her head tilted slightly again, as if trying to process what he was really implying.
"Ricky, I do not understand," Alexander whispered, his voice full of uncertainty, unsure of what tactic his comrade was playing at in this moment.
"Lucky btches and moans about it whenever he talks about how crappy European policies were because of his ties with Sicily, especially whenever he drinks that fcking whisky," Ricky said, turning to Alexander on his shoulder.
Alexander's confusion was evident, but as Ricky's words sank in, his eyes widened with realization.
Flashback
HICCUP
"Lemme tell ya, if there is a country that I can't ever respect-"
HICCUP
"It's those Swedish meatball motherf*ckers," Lucky drunkenly muttered, leaning back in his black chair as the late night hours dragged on.
In his study, a plate with a T-bone steak sat next to an open bottle of whiskey, the amber liquid catching the light, with Ricky's familiars nearby, laying Go-fish within in the dim-lit room.
When Ricky had taken over the Luciano family and Lucky had secured control of the bank, it had seemed like a fair tradeoff on the surface, but in truth, the old man had found himself in a place he'd never imagined he'd be.
For the first time in his life, he was forced to confront a reality he'd once dismissed.
Downtime.
Lucky actually found himself with a rare commodity: time.
Time that wasn't filled with the never-ending demands of the Luciano family and when he had taken over the bank, it had come with its perks.
The work was still relentless, but there was a surprising amount of downtime, more than he had ever anticipated.
It baffled the workaholic in him, who had been so accustomed to constant movement and responsibility.
But with everyone else busy, Ricky off handling his own matters, Meyer now preoccupied with another kid, Lucky found himself alone.
The silence felt heavier than it should have, and he couldn't quite settle into it.
So, he did what he knew best: he filled the emptiness with routine.
Medium rare T-bone steak, collard greens, mashed potatoes, and a glass of that old whiskey.
It's how he spent every Friday night ever since Ricky took over the Luciano family as its acting head.
The whiskey, in particular, was the one thing that kept him from thinking too hard, but it always had a way of loosening his tongue, making him talk more than he liked, especially to himself.
But talking to himself wasn't his style as he much preferred to have someone around to toss words to, someone to get lost in conversation without actually having them talk back.
So, when the house grew quiet and he was left to his own devices, he began bribing Ricky's familiars.
Not with words or promises, those never worked with these creatures, but with snacks.
It was why an assortment of nuts were scattered across the coffee table alongside four boxes of cheese pizza.
The familiars didn't entirely acknowledge him unless Chester happened to take an interest in the topic, but they were there nonetheless.
"I mean, what the hell is armed neutrality, huh?" Lucky drunkenly said, waving his glass in the air as whiskey swished and swooshed within it.
"Give me your four and three," Garfield demanded, his mouth still full of pizza as he casually shoved the slice into his mouth, savoring each bite. With a lazy flick of his paw, he extended it toward Alexander, who was visibly rattled.
Alexander trembled, his hands shaking slightly as he slowly handed over the cards with a grave unwillingness.
"Congress of Vienna my ass, those little yodeling motherf*ckers are just playing both sides." Lucky ranted, filling his drunken onslaught with gibberish but indirectly explaining Switzerland's neutrality policy.
Switzerland's armed neutrality is a unique political stance that allows the country to remain uninvolved in foreign wars while maintaining a strong defensive capability along with trade.
The policy is not a passive stance but an active commitment to maintaining military readiness while avoiding direct involvement in foreign conflicts.
A big reason why they became like this was because of the Swiss Confederacy's defeat at the Battle of Marignano in 1515.
It was a sort of wake-up call to Switzerland who promptly abandoned expansionist ambitions and adopted a policy of non-intervention.
Though it didn't become widely known until the Napoleonic Wars when Swiss neutrality was recognized internationally, and in 1815, the Congress of Vienna formally established Switzerland's perpetual neutrality.
This recognition was a crucial factor across Europe, as Switzerland's strategic location in the heart of Europe made it a potential battleground for major powers.
Rather than becoming a pawn in European conflicts, Switzerland developed a strong defensive military strategy, ensuring that any invader would face significant resistance.
For example, during World War I, Switzerland remained neutral despite being surrounded by warring nations.
The country mobilized its military, reinforced its borders, and maintained strict diplomatic balance to avoid being drawn into the conflict by using their mountain terrain to their advantage.
It's just that they were pussies for it.
"Alexander," Chester said, eyeing his lone remaining card with a focused gaze. He extended his wing, holding it out toward him.
"May I have the jack?"
FLASHBACK END
"She's trying to be all natural and shit while trading with both sides, Alexander! She's playing both fucking sides!" Ricky said, laughing obnoxiously as Alexander slowly began to understand the reference to Lucky's drunken ramblings.
Gaea simply looked on with a smile, watching Ricky jump up and down, his excitement uncontained and making sure to rub it in her face.
"Let us say I am, let us say that I am playing both sides, why would I help you-"
"Because of Alexander, you want something from him, you're a creep, and that's why you're talking to me," Ricky continued, pointing at Gaea. She simply stared back at him.
"That's actually incorrect," Gaea replied with a laugh, effortlessly raining on Ricky's little parade.
"I do want something from you." Gaea revealed, looking at Ricky who's frown deepened as he tried to process her words.
"Damn, really?" Ricky asked, thinking her raging boner for Alexander far exceeded her interest in him.
"Unfortunately, I do want you to put my little disciple in his place," Gaea said, extending her hand. Slowly, a rose began to materialize in her palm.
"With this," Gaea continued, revealing the object with an air of significance.
Everyone around her seemed clueless about its importance, until the Ebony Crown and Ebony Shield recognized it.
"Is that the Ebon Rose?!" the Ebony Crown exclaimed, shoving the Ebony Blade aside to get a clearer look.
The eldest sibling couldn't even muster a frown before the Ebony Shield also pushed him out of the way, eager to get a better view as well.
"The Ebon Rose, eh?" Ricky tapped his cheek, casually bullshitting his way into the conversation as Gaea's expression shifted to one of mild surprise.
"You know of the Ebon Rose?" she asked, her tone laced with incredulity, though she played along.
Deep down, she knew he'd never have heard of it until she explained its significance, giving her just the opening to twist its value and perception in the way she saw fit.
'What the f*ck is that flower guy?' Ricky thought internally, keeping a straight face as he directed the question at the Ebony artifacts as he could practically hear the scoffs from them, each of them clearly disapproving of his casual tone.
'Why should we tell you-'
'I will piss on you,' Ricky thought, interrupting their disapproving thoughts as he tapped his chin, laughing aloud to stall for time while maintaining his confident, almost mocking demeanor.
'...' The Ebony Crown and Shield both went pale at the sudden, absurd threat as the mention of something so trivial yet oddly potent had shaken them to their core.
Their usually unshakable composure faltered, leaving them speechless and unnerved and even Gaea's gaze flickered for a brief moment
'It is one of the four cornerstones of life within Otherworld.' The Ebony Crown said with a newfound sense of urgency, clearly believing that this demon would do such a thing again.
The Ebony Shield perked up with this, seeing that RIcky wasn't immediately satisfied and thinking he would be pissed on too if he didn't contribute.
"Our master always muttered that it was of 'great importance' to the element of life, a representation of nature in Otherworld," The Ebony Shield continued, his voice carrying the weight of the revelation.
His words left Ricky and The Ebony Blade deep in thought, each processing the significance of this new piece of the puzzle.
"Gaea, come on, everyone knows it's the element of life and a representation of nature or whatever," Ricky scoffed, shrugging his shoulders as if it was the most obvious thing in the world as Alexander slowly looked up at him, confusion flickering in his eyes.
"We do-"
'Yes Alexander, shut up and play along.' Ricky said inside Alexander mind as the gerbil immediately underwood the assignment.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, OF COURSE, HOW COULD ONE NOT KNOW OF HOW IT'S A-"
'Cornerstones of life-'
"CORNERSTONES OF LIFE!" ALexander yelled, having to stop midway to get a little nudge by Ricky who mentally told him the rest of it.
"Is that so?" Gaea said, raising an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes as Lancelot stared at the Ebon Rose in shock.
"Mother goddess, it was you who possessed this sacred flower?" Lancelot asked respectfully, his voice tinged with awe as Gaea simply laughed, the sound light and knowing.
"Well, of course, after Merlin's little purging of Morgana's land, I found it nestled within the rotting and festering remnants of nature." Gaea said with a smirk, her eyes gleaming with something buried under the green of her iris.
"But I must say, I am surprised that these two know-"
"Yeah, yeah, it's a mystery." Ricky waved his hand, interrupting Gaea who chuckled at his rudeness.
"Listen, first offer, twenty bucks." Ricky said, reaching into his knight armor and pulling out a wad of cash.
"Is this one of your little jokes?" Gaea wondered out loud, looking at the money that literally held no value to her in the slightest.
"Aye, I could get like twenty roses in central park for like 50 cents, so if anything this is a steal for you." Ricky said, smiling as if giving her a discount as Gaea slowly shook her head at this little rambling of his.
'Quick, tell me why this stupid rose is important?' Ricky said in his mind, using his dumb jokes as a diversion.
'It's-'
SIGH
"May we not play this little game of yours?" Gaea said, her tone shifting slightly, the amusement still lingering in her voice.
"It was fun the first time, but I can simply tell you what it is, rather than having you ask Merlyn's little creations there." Gaea gestured with a flick of her fingers at the crown, shield, blade, and chalice.
"Nah, I'd rather hear it from them." Ricky said, not needing Gaea when he could hear it from them.
'I was going to say, before I was interrupted, that I do not know what it does, since Merlin never mentioned its purpose. He only ever said that he needed it,' The Ebony Crown spoke within Ricky's mind as Ricky rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"So it does that~" Ricky muttered, rubbing his chin and convincingly bluffing as Gaea rolled her eyes.
"Ricky, it-"
"Oh, is that so?" Ricky continued to mumble, interrupting Gaea who looked away, waiting for Ricky to be done.
"Alright, new offer." Ricky said, taking out the full stake of money wedged into his golden money clip.
"Forty whole dollars-"
"It imbues the beholder with the essence of life and connects them more deeply with nature," Gaea interjected, getting straight to the point as she felt an unusual compulsion to end this conversation, as if there was something else at play.
'Ricky, use this sudden openess to ask how this power would teter the scales of power.' The Ebony Blade said, having judged that Gaea seemed more honest than she ever had in this moment and Ricky went to repeat the question that loomed in his head.
'Ask her what it tastes like!'
"What does it taste like?"
"..."
Everything went deathly quiet after Ricky's remarks, wanting to repeat what the Ebony Blade had said only for the Ebony Chalice to pop out of nowhere and accidentally change his question.
"Ha~" Gaea laughed, thinking Ricky was joking around and weirdly sought to comply.
Since for some reason, Gaea felt an unusual sense of unease and frustration with Ricky, more than she ever had before as it was enough to make her want to speed things up.
"It tastes-" Gaea began, but she immediately stopped herself, her words caught in her throat.
Her relaxed demeanor shifted into one of tension, and the air around her seemed to thicken as her eyes darkened, hidden beneath her hair, as a shift in her presence became palpable.
Slowly, Gaea's gaze shifted as she stood up from her seat, her eyes narrowing with a newfound intensity as she studied Ricky in a way that made the air between them feel charged.
"It seems that I, too, underestimated you," Gaea said while her gaze locked onto Ricky, almost as if she were trying to pinpoint something elusive.
For a moment, she seemed to feel the subtle effects of the Shadow Broker's presence, yet she couldn't quite place where it was coming from.
Gaea felt it, the subtle influence of the Shadow Broker.
Even though it was incomprehensible to her, she could sense a change within the course of this conversation, a slight tremor beneath her usual control.
Her thought process was shifting, just slightly, the more Ricky pressed.
It was as if the reins that had always been firmly in her grasp were loosening, even if only by a fraction.
The sensation was unsettling, and she couldn't help but feel the weight of it, like something was beginning to slip from her control.
"I know that little bear of yours is connected to nature, and this will boost it temporarily." Gaea spoke, plucking a rose petal as she revealed her knowledge of Chastiefol's affinity.
Although she hadn't realized it was a spear yet, its configuration still resembling a teddy bear, once it crossed into her domain, she felt its connection to nature.
Gaea instinctively reached out, attempting to claim it for herself, but the moment her presence touched it, she felt it reject her.
Cough
"Definitely knew that already, but whatever." Ricky coughed, laughing lightly to cover it up and shrugging.
However, Gaea wasn't playing anymore as she stared at him directly, her gaze sharp and unwavering.
"Listen, I ain't gonna give you my first born or nothing so let's just skip this whole thing and I'll bump it up to sixty bucks-"
"All I want is for you to watch what makes Alexander a true leader, one who triumphs over anything you'll ever make of yourself," Gaea said calmly, holding up an orb that floated in the air.
It burst out a projection of a memory, catching Ricky's attention as he raised an eyebrow and Alexander's eyes widened.
"You saying I ain't a leader? That I can't lead?" Ricky scoffed, crossing his arms as he glared at Gaea, who met his gaze without hesitation.
"Cause I can lead, I can lead real f*cking good," Ricky laughed, looking defiantly at her as Gaea didn't shake her head, but rather nodded.
"Sure you can." Gaea said, putting her hand over her mouth to hide the smile as he tilted his head.
"Huh?" Ricky said, thinking she, the mother goddess of life, might actually stoop to his level and fire a comeback but instead, agreed.
"Anyone can lead, Ricky, that's a given," Gaea said with a calm confidence, her smile returning as she watched him.
"But only a few can inspire." Gaea revealed, having only seen a handful of figures that could encourage people to move mountains with mere words
"I can inspire people," Ricky said, his voice firm, knowing he'd done it at least once or twice before as Gaea nodded, her expression unreadable.
"Of course."
"But can you make them believe in something greater than themselves, make them believe they are greater than themselves?" Gaea leaned forward, her gaze steady, testing him all while Ricky's frown deepened.
"I can make people believe in me." Ricky continued, watching Gaea nod her head once more only to raise her gaze at him.
"And that's why you'll never be more, Ricky," Gaea simply said, walking forward toward the path. Ricky scoffed, shaking his head.
"Anyone with enough charisma can garner the belief and faith of others," Gaea replied, her voice dripping with confidence as if understanding what it was that Ricky will always and forever be.
"It's why there have been so many leaders throughout the world and time." Gaea acknowledged, looking at Ricky since for all accounts, he was a leader.
But he wasn't Alexander.
"But of that handful, there are those who stand on the palm's fingers, and rose above all the people who had defined themselves with sheer will alone." Gaea said, pointing above her outstretched hand and smiling wider at Alexander staring directly at the memory.
"Alexander stood even above that."
"If you don't believe my words, look." Gaea spoke softly, her hand gesturing to orbs on the tree, each holding countless moments that had defined history.
Within one of them, Alexander's human form stood, unwavering and supreme.
It was as if continuing his memory from within the Valley Of Whispering Mists.
Gazing at his hands, he looked at the blood of all those innocent, guilty, and everyone inbetween staining his fingers tips before a hand was placed on his shoulder waking him up.
"Alexander, the army cannot continue, we must turn back, our men are mutinying!" His second in command, Parmenion, yelled, snapping Alexander out of his daze as he turned quickly, his gaze falling upon his troops.
His once-loyal soldiers, the ones who had followed him across countless battles, were now hurling words of protest and defiance.
The murmurs of dissent grew louder, and Alexander's aides could feel the weight of their anger pressing in on him, urging their leader to do something.
After a ten-year-long campaign, Alexander and his Macedonian army had conquered much of the known world, stretching from Egypt to the Indus River.
By 324 BC, the exhausted but triumphant army returned to Opis, near modern-day Baghdad.
It was here that Alexander, in a bid to maintain order and manage the increasingly strained relations with his men, ordered some of his veteran soldiers to return home to Macedonia.
However, the mood was far from celebratory.
The soldiers, who had been away from home for so long, were angered not only by their long absence but also by what they saw as insults to their honor.
The final straw came with Alexander's adoption of Persian customs, something that many of his Macedonian veterans viewed as a betrayal of their culture and traditions.
The respect that had once been unwavering was now replaced with bitterness, and the seeds of discontent began to sprout.
In the face of what they perceived as dishonor, the veterans mutinied, shaking the foundations of Alexander's leadership.
"Who are those who stand against me?" Alexander demanded, lifting his gaze as thirteen ringleaders, the instigators of the mutiny, stepped forward.
"We are your highness-"
Slashing his spear through the air, thirteen heads tumbled from their bodies, hitting the ground with a sickening thud.
A heavy silence blanketed the army, each soldier trembling in what could be described as fear and awe, struck by the sheer power of what a human could achieve at the peak of their strength.
His lips raised and with it, a speech that would forever be etched into histories as one of the most invigorating speeches to ever grace the ears of man.
However, his exact words were lost to the annals of history, passed down only through second-hand whispers and scribbled accounts, until now.
"What I'm about to say isn't meant to stop you returning home."