RED FREEDOM | FOR YOU

Where Did We Come From

Azad, Inja, and Kurt were three 11-year-old friends chasing after a wooden boat crafted for them by Inja’s older brother, Kartal. However, the river was swift that day, and as they tried to catch up with the boat.....

Azad: Wait for me! I can’t keep up with you guys

Kurt: Hurry up! The wooden boat is about to sink

Azad: But we’re approaching the borders of the Bosnian soldier’s camp

Kurt: That’s why we need to hurry

Inja: Stop talking and let’s go faster

Azad: Stop with the logic.....

But before young Azad could finish his sentence, he heard the sound of an automatic rifle firing, which severed his cousin Inja’s head in half. Immediately after, another bullet pierced through Kurt’s cousin’s chest, leaving him frozen for a split second to comprehend what he saw before running with all his strength, attempting to escape the gunfire. However, he couldn’t make it as a final bullet in this massacre detonated his lower half from his upper body.

A week earlier......

On a stormy and snowy day in the winter, in the northeastern region of the continent of Gondwana, specifically in the exile camp of Samara, Grandfather Stal sat with his grandchildren to tell them stories. His grandson Kurt asked him to tell them the story of the Ten Million War.

Stal: Well, even though it’s painful, in the end, you must know how we all ended up living in this camp that resembles a prison for over 100 years. Listen carefully and don’t speak. Let’s begin:

In the year 1214 Tauri, the war ignited on the continent of Gondwana between the great nations, known as the Ten Million War due to the death of over ten million people. This war reshaped the world as many countries, whether powerful or weak, were either annihilated or occupied by the victorious nations. The victorious nations were the Empire of Samiya, the Kingdom of Samara, the Kingdom of Amara, and the Empire of Bosonya. The defeated nations that managed to preserve a part of their territories were the Maule State, the Kivar Emirate, and the Kingdom of Samba.

Inja: But why, Grandfather, don’t they live in peace and share sweets and food with each other instead of killing one another?

Stal: That’s the nature of the human psyche. It always covets what others possess and is never satisfied, and the more it gains, the more it desires.

Azad: But, Grandfather, why do they want the lands and wealth of other countries? If they gave me a single coin, it would be enough for me.

Stal: That’s because you’re children, and your hearts are still innocent, untouched by greed, hatred, self-love, and a lack of concern for the well-being of others, unlike the adults who initiate wars due to their personal desires, without considering that these actions will harm the innocent, like you children, women, and the elderly.

Kurt: Enough with the questions, Inja and Azad. I want to hear the story

Inja: It’s none of your business. I’ll ask whatever I want

Kurt: I’ll show you whether it’s my business or not

Then Inja ran behind her grandfather to seek refuge, with Kurt following her

Inja: Grandfather, Kurt wants to hit me.

Stal: Go, Kurt, and don’t harm your cousin

Kurt: But, Grandfather, she started it.

Stal: Very well, let everyone calm down so we can continue the story.

But after 120 years following that war, another war erupted, but this time between nations possessing more powerful and advanced weapons, and they coveted the lands and riches of other kingdoms. Two alliances emerged from it. The first alliance included the Empire of Bosonya and the Empire of Samiya. On the other side, there was an alliance led by the Kingdom of Samara, the Kingdom of Samba, and the Kivar Emirate, while the Kingdom of Amara remained neutral in this war.

The war lasted for 8 years, but it left 22 million casualties. Although this war was shorter than the previous 37-year war, it resulted in the displacement of tens of millions of people from their homelands.

The massive impact of this war was due to the long period of peace the world had experienced. During this time, science advanced, weapons evolved, the population increased significantly, and countries prospered, along with their trade.

Azad: Did anyone from our family die in this war, Grandfather?

Stal: My grandmother told me that she lost her father, several uncles, and cousins. Her brother, who was just 10 years old, was also killed in front of her by a soldier from the Empire of Samiya.

Inja: Those people are heartless. How could they kill an innocent child who didn’t harm them?

Stal: Some people have replaced their blood-filled hearts with hearts made of metal that do not respond to any form of life.

Meanwhile, Inja’s older brother, Kartal, entered the room.

Kartal: Hello, what are you all doing?

Kurt: Grandfather is telling us the story of the Ten Million War and how we ended up stuck in this camp.

Kartal: I remember when I told you that story. Those were beautiful days compared to these days.

Stal: We, the adults, have to tell you our story so that it is not forgotten or distorted. This is the story of the struggle of an entire people.

Kartal: Alright, I have to go to the workshop to get some supplies.

Stal: Is Bur and Turkhan there?

Turkhan: Yes, everyone is working, but you know we pretend to be obedient to them while secretly stealing from them.

Stal: Be careful not to get caught. You know they’re a group of killers

Kartal: Don’t worry about us. We have become professionals

Inja: Kartal, bring me some sweets when you come back

Kartal: If I have money, I’ll bring them. Goodbye for now

Stal: Now, let’s continue where we left off

Azad: We were talking about the reasons behind this war, Grandfather

Stal: Yes, yes. Let’s continue

There were many consequences of this war besides the loss of lives and the seized territories. One of the consequences was the occurrence of famines due to a severe shortage of food and water. There were also massive massacres committed against innocent people. The largest of these massacres took place in the Kingdom of Samara, where the Empire of Bosonya carried out a massacre known as the Hunger Massacre. The Bosonya forces burned half of the population of the city of Lisan in Samara due to food shortage. The commander of the battalion responsible for Lisan decided that the lives of Bosonya soldiers were more important than the lives of people who were considered slaves to them. Therefore, he ordered his soldiers to burn a significant number of women and female children, as they would not be as efficient as men in physical labor such as digging trenches and construction. More than 200,000 people were killed in that massacre.

The city’s population was then relocated to the northeast of the Kingdom of Bosonya due to the abundance of mines and the presence of a river that facilitated the transportation of extracted resources. The people were divided into three camps: the Gold Camp, the Coal Camp, and the Beach Camp. My grandfather was placed in the Gold Camp and there he met my grandmother, who was a widow. They got married and had ten children—three daughters and seven sons.

Azad: What was the outcome of this war, Grandfather?

Stal: Bosonya and Samiya emerged victorious over Kivar, Samara, and Samba. However, they couldn’t completely end their rule due to some revolutions in the occupied territories. So, they decided to make a peace agreement with the defeated nations.

Inja: They are truly savage!

Kurt: When will we regain our freedom, Grandfather, and return to our ancestors’ land?

Azad: Yes, Grandfather, let’s go back to it despite them.

Stal: It’s easy to say, but in order to do that, we have to pay the price with our souls and the souls of our loved ones. For freedom to be attained, you must be willing to pay the price. Perhaps, in the end, some people must sacrifice their lives so that the rest can live in freedom.

Kurt: Don’t worry, Grandfather. When I grow up, I will fight the enemies and free you.

Azad: Yes, I’m with you. We’ll fight them and seek revenge.

Inja: And I’m with you. I’ll bring you food while you fight.

Kurt: Oh, how cowardly of you to ask you to fight with us. Look at Turkhan, she fights and isn’t afraid.

Inja: I’m not a coward. I’m a weak and small girl. I can’t fight.

Stal: Calm down, all of you. You’re still young. You’re all brave, but with time, you’ll understand life better, learn to fight, and learn weapon-making from your siblings. I don’t know if I’ll live to see those days. Old age has consumed my strength.

The grandfather concluded his words with enthusiasm, addressing his three grandchildren, saying to them:

“But learn that I place my hopes on you. Be a support for each other, protect one another. You never know what the future holds for you”

The grandchildren looked at their grandfather with enthusiasm

Kurt: I promise you, Grandfather, we won’t let you down, and we’ll do everything we can. Isn’t that right, Inja and Azad?

Inja and Azad: Yes!

Azad: Let’s go to the farm tomorrow to train in horseback riding. What do you think?

Kurt: Yes, let’s go

Inja: I have no problem as long as I get to ride the first one

Kurt: No problem, but I hope Zard is there to help us

Stal: And now I have to go to sleep so I won’t be late for work tomorrow. Goodnight

Inja, Azad, and Kurt: Goodnight to you too, Grandfather