It isn't a mistake.
After the asteroid struck the Earth, growth began anew. Although other lands, Islands, and inhabitants surround the unknown continent of the modern day, the Island of the center square couldn't be overlooked.
The gathering was supposed to be more about understanding and the way forward as the ruling countries' representatives in the unknown continent of the modern day engage in this dialogue. The Island of the center square which stood at the outskirts between the Ciist and Musm, the influential ones sit looking at the subject of the matter.
The Island, which was left by civilization due to the wonderful description of nature formed there. Travelers do whisper that it looked like Paradise reborn as rivers braided through an emerald valley while different fruits hung heavy on trees and the air itself felt untouched by greed. The shores were guarded by coral reefs and the people lived simply, without hunger or war.
Although the island of the center square was small and beautiful, it grew anxious in a world of giants. Its king, Isla was not a foolish ruler who did not see growth as tantamount. He saw the changing tides and global trade, military expansion, technological empires rising and he feared his island would be swallowed by irrelevance so he wrote letters to Ciist and Musm inviting them to a summit on the island.
“ Help us develop, teach us, partner with us, let our people flourish without losing who we are” he pleaded in his letter and they came.
The gathering was held in an open pavilion carved from white rock and behind them was the ocean shimmering while the birds circled lazily in the golden sky.
The representatives sat opposite each other as Ambassador Hale of Ciist was in a sharp suit putting on the sharpest smile while Minister Varex of Musm embodied calm eyes and unreadable expression.
King Isla sat between them and spoke first. “ My island seeks growth, we need schools, hospitals, and ports for a start. We seek partnership and not ownership” he uttered.
The representatives nodded politely but as the hours passed, the tone shifted.
Ciist offered infrastructure but required military docking rights while Musm offered funding but demanded trade control as each proposal carried an invisible chain attached to it like cob web.
“Surely there must be a way for cooperation without control” the king stated but silence fell as the envoys exchanged a glance that was grief-stricken and calculated and this was because neither of them was willing to lose the island. If the island remained whole, whoever controlled it would gain an advantage over the other so they both asked for an indoor meeting without the king to conclude first so the gathering ended that day.
“ If you take it”, Hale said quietly.
“ We will not allow it,” he whispered.
“ And if you do,” Varex replied silently.
“ We will contest it,” he replied.
They both understood something cold and ancient and concluded that if neither of them could possess the island then the island must not exist. Destruction would reset the issue and rebuilding would justify permanent presence in which control would come disguised as rescue because warships could be framed as protection and occupation could be called stabilization. A ruined island was easier to own than a thriving one.
But without them knowing, the king heard enough for he loved his land.
The next morning before the final agreements could be signed. The king stood before them in the pavilion once more and said.
“ I confirmed that you both are like throwing a hand fan up to the sky many times as possible, it will always land sideways and I know that is why you wanted a secret meeting” he stated, coughed, and continued.
“ You speak of partnership, but you calculate advantage and measure my shore as a position on a board”
The king’s gaze hardened.
“ You would rather see my home burned so that you may rebuild it under your flag”
He stated firmly as none of the ambassadors denied or responded.
Then the king spoke the words that would echo long after the summit dissolved as the wind moved through the pavilion like a witness.
He said, "What will help you will not first destroy you, you don't come to develop this island but to weaken it until it depends on you”
He tore the unsigned agreement in half and continued.
“ We will grow slowly. We will struggle honestly but we will not climb your scaffolding blindly” he concluded leaving the representatives displeased knowing their mistakes were greed and their flaws weren't a mistake.
