Chapter 82   - Politics

His gray eyes locked with her green gaze. The world seemed to come to a standstill, every other person and noise fading into the background. For a moment it was only them.

Then an announcer stepped forward to address the crowd. Kai didn’t hear any of what he said, except for two words - Valela Hightide. That was the name of the girl who reached Orange ★★.

A quiet polished smile on her face for the crowd watching. But her eyes remained fixed on him. If it wasn’t for her mana fluctuations, Kai would have thought he was the only one surprised.

The little princess averted her gaze, moving to address the crowd. Her words echoed clearly in the packed square. It was obvious the speech had been rehearsed, and yet it felt like her words came straight from the heart.

It wasn’t what he expected. Valela started by narrating the hardships and challenges every islander had endured. Never naming any culprit but focusing on how they had always pulled through.

Only then did she address the elephant in the room. It was such a great opportunity the Merian Republic had offered them, thanks to the tireless efforts of the council in Higharbor. The chance for a brighter future for the whole Baquaire Archipelago. They were the generation who were going to make it come true.

The kids around laughed at her jokes and sighed at the heavy moments. Kai even saw a few tear up.

It must be a skill. How can she be this good?

Kai tuned out her speech. It was easy to sway a crowd of children. He wasn’t so naive as to let a few sweet words change his mind. Facts spoke louder than words, and until now there was more than one reason to be suspicious.

“How old is she?”

“What?” Flynn asked, confused. He had also been listening, but the feelings written on his face were very different from anyone else's. A few dark slivers of hate and disgust escaped his cured facade.

In a world with skills, I can’t truly trust anything I see.

The terrifying part was that these were just children, exceptional ones probably, but kids nonetheless. Kai felt a shiver at what they would become in the future.

“How old is the little princess?”

“Oh… I think she’s about nine.”

Just a year older than me.

Virya and Elijah had told him ad nauseam how great and powerful the brats of the mainland were. After hearing it countless times, it started to lose meaning. The continent of Talthen where monsters hid in every corner felt so far. More myth than reality.

I’ve been careless. I’m the frog in the well.

He wasn’t the only little monster lying in wait. Another stood just a few meters from him right now. Considering he was a step from Orange ★★, he probably had her beat in that, for now. According to Flynn, she had been showered in wealth to help her grow since birth. They had both begun at the bottom of Red. Each with their own advantages.

The problem was that his perk was running out. A few more years and it would become irrelevant. Hers would go as deep as the pockets of her family and the governor went. Considering she was here doing propaganda for them, she probably got something in return.

Does she know what she is doing? Or is she just another pawn in the governor’s hands?

With the little princess’s speech coming to a close, Kai was forced to put an end to his musings. Valela walked to the edge of the stage with a focused expression. Before Kai could wonder what was going on, she started chanting under her breath in a strange tongue.

“Reh’ve me tehek sa’rla tha…” The attention of the whole crowd was on her. Their murmurs grew, drowning out the chant.

Before Kai could ask what was going on, he sensed it. A ripple through the ambient mana quickly reaching a crescendo. Then a burst over their head.

Checking for any danger, Kai couldn’t believe what he was seeing. It was snowing. One by one all the kids turned their heads to the sky, mystified by the sight.

It had been eight years since he last saw snowflakes, the archipelago never got cold enough. But now tiny crystals of ice appeared from thin air and slowly twirled upon the crowd.

There were a few screams as the first flakes reached the children below. After it became clear they were harmless, laughter and wonder took over. In seconds it turned into a mad dash to get as many snow crystals as possible. Hundreds of hands extended in the air as far as they could reach, children climbing on top of each other. Disappointed sighs and giggles when the fragments of ice inevitably melted away.

Not even Flynn was spared from the general mood. Eyes wide and mouth hanging open in childlike wonder.

Despite the best efforts of the organizers and enforcers to maintain order, the square had devolved into chaos.

Kai watched a tiny flake fall on top of his hand. A pinprick of cold on an otherwise warm day. The delicate crystal star turned into water against the heat of his skin.

His gaze moved to the girl on stage, her serious demeanor only broken by a faint smile on her lips. The little princess stood straight and proud, but his senses could see her bright channels were a few shades dimmer.

A woman in grey uniform appeared beside her, whispering in her ear. Kai couldn’t pick what they were saying over the general clamor, but she didn’t look too pleased. Valela’s expression did not waver, but her steps faltered as she was hurried off the stage.

A thousand questions yelled for attention in his mind. The magical display looked impressive, but nothing far beyond his scope. It was pretty, he would give her that. What flustered him more was how she achieved it.

What the hell just happened? Dora owes me a few explanations.

~~~

Val stumbled inside the building used as the organization's headquarters for the event. The woman’s furious whisper turned into full-out yells outside of public eyes. Val didn’t even know who the woman was. Probably one of the coordinators of the selection.

She was too tired to entertain her nagging. The cast had been more demanding than expected. Even with the help of the chant her master prepared, making the snow condense over the whole square had pushed her limits.

Her mana reserves were fine, but skill overstrain was torturing her mind. There was nothing she wished for more than a cup of tea and a quiet place to rest.

“That’s enough. I’ll take it from here. Go make sure the event proceeds as scheduled.”

The huge figure of Captain Zerith loomed over her with a stony expression.

The woman fell silent, glaring one last time before leaving without another word.

Val schooled her expression. A nameless clerk was one thing, but it would not be wise to ignore a captain. Especially not this one. “I’m sorry—.”

“For what? That was the funniest thing that happened in a month, maybe more.”

Raising her confused eyes, Val couldn’t stop a giggle from escaping her lips. Zerith showed the mischievous grin of a child. On one of the tallest and most muscled men she had ever met, the sight was ridiculous.

Val faulted her tiredness and the pounding headache. Not that it was a valid excuse. She couldn’t afford to make mistakes.

Was the captain as careless as he looked? Maybe she couldn’t figure him out because there were not second or third motivations behind his actions.

I can’t lower my guard so easily.

“I apologize if I went slightly off script. While expertly crafted, the speech provided would have had little impact given the age of the audience. So, I took the liberty to do some minor modifications.

“In the same vein, I thought seeing snow for the first time would leave a more lasting impact than basic offensive magic. It was a last-minute decision. I apologize for not warning you in time.”

A shiver ran down her spine. Zerith silently listened to her. He didn’t look angry, but the grin had left space for the inscrutable demeanor of an enforcer.

“While you should have asked before making any change to the script, your choices were effective. I’ll convey your apology to the other officers. Come, I’m sure you’d like a place to rest.”

Right as she thought she was about to figure him out. His answer turned the table upside down. Confused and tired, she let the captain lead her through a maze of corridors and doors.

“Where are we going? I’m sure there is a closer room I could use.” There was no one else around. Not even the sound of voices.

Where are my bodyguards?

“I think I can find a room on my own.”

Before she could make a move, Zerith picked her up and walked into a room. No windows and mismatched furniture covered in dust haphazardly piled around.

The door closed with a metallic clunk behind them. “Here no one will hear us.”

Her heart raced, a visceral fear gripping her insides. Different possibilities flashed through her mind, all ending with her death. Mana flowed on her fingertips begging to be used. Her voice of reason screamed loud enough to stop her. That would only give him an excuse to respond. The difference in strength was too great.

Freeform magic would hardly tickle him. Even if she miraculously got the time to complete a chant before he knocked her unconscious, the result would be a slightly stronger tickle. She needed to think rationally to survive. Her fingers traced the scars beneath her clothes.

“What’s the meaning of this? Lead me back this instant. My father is a high councilor and good friend of the governor.” Val stood up straight and imperiously stated her demands. After witnessing it countless times, it came easy to assume the pose of those arrogant scions.

Taking time was her best option, her bodyguards would soon discover she was missing and come looking for her.

“Good friends with Cressida you mean? Not that I think she truly has friends.” Captain Zerith chuckled with no amusement. “I told Ervyn not to marry her, but it was true love he said. Damn, fool.”

The captain took two chairs from the pile and positioned one in front of the other. He sat first and gestured to the empty seat. “Sit down. No need to be so tense.”

The door was just a dash away, her mind screamed to run and scream. Val killed that instinct and sat down, maintaining her haughty demeanor.

She would not let herself be fooled twice. Behind his careless act, there was indeed much more. If he only wanted to talk, that aligned with her goal of stalling for time.

“So? What was so urgent that you had to drag me here? I knew the rumors were that you cared little for etiquette, but this is beyond rude.”

Zerith's clear eyes bore into her own. “I see… I had forgotten. I’m sorry if this brought up unpleasant memories. When I noticed what you were doing, I acted impulsively. The chaos around was perfect to have a quiet chat away from prying eyes. You’re playing a dangerous game, Valela.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I had hoped for a quiet retirement.” Zerith sighed tiredly. “Did your father put you up to this? The speech put more emphasis on your father than the Republic, but that was understandable. You are his daughter.

“Then there was your chant. It could only be the work of your master, but it was possible you had learned it for a different occasion and chose it to show off. Those kids won’t forget you for the rest of their life and the stories will spread like wildfire. Sure, it could be counted as the impulsive actions of an arrogant little child.

“Finally, your apology. It had not been a minute since you stepped off stage, and yet it sounded like reading one of those letters I receive from Higharbor when I ask for more funds. You don’t need thirty years as an investigator to understand you had prepared it beforehand.”

Val felt the blood drain from her face. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about. It’s not my fault if the script for the event was so terrible, I had to make adjustments.”

“You don’t need to say anything. I only want to warn you and make sure you understand the situation. Once it could be a coincidence. But if you continue like this, it’s only a matter of time before someone else connects the dots and rumors reach Higharbor. Do you know what you are getting yourself into?”

With Poise, Val made sure nothing showed on her face. “Can I go back now?”

Zerith sighed. “You were always free to go.”

Standing up, she walked out without looking back. Her steps remained calm and measured for two hallways. Then she started running. The echoes of voices soon appeared, but she didn’t stop.

“Are you okay, miss?”

Val turned to see her maid hurrying over, her bodyguards already at her side.

“Did anything happen, miss? After your speech, we couldn’t find you anywhere.” Nalia's eyes scanned her from top to bottom. Val knew she would have hugged her if they were alone.

Using Poise, she responded with a steady voice. “I got lost in the corridors looking for a room to rest and couldn’t find my way back.”

“Oh, you should have asked me. I already had a room prepared for you.”

Val gave her a tired nod. A large bed and a bath were ready for her.

“Leave me.”

“Are you sure, miss?”

“Yes, Nalia. I wish to be alone.”

The presence of her bodyguards hung beyond her door together with her maid. Val let herself fall on the fluffy covers. The bed wasn’t as good as the one she had back home, but it would do. She desired nothing more than to close her eyes and forget her problems for a few hours, but she couldn’t. Today had almost been disastrous.

The captain was wrong. They were just taking what Lady Cressida promised them. Her father told her it wouldn’t be a problem if she didn’t overdo it, but she had failed him. It was only the beginning of her tour, and someone had already seen through their plans.

Thank the spirits, it appeared Captain Zerith had no sympathy for Lady Cressida. If he had planned to expose her, he wouldn’t have warned her.

It was all her fault. Her father told her to choose wisely in which towns to go off script. Sylspring was an important city with a sizeable population. It was fine to modify the speech. But like a fool, she changed the planned cast too on the fly. Her father would be so disappointed.

Why did I do something so stupid?

Looking back, she quickly found the problem. It was that kid that threw her off her game. Those thoughtful gray eyes flashed in her mind.

He looked younger than her but had already reached orange grade. He had looked surprised to see her. The selection was only open to the natives, but his appearance was unusual. He must be of mixed origins. There were not many such couples in the archipelago.

Val thought of all the ones she knew, but none had a kid that matched the description and age. His parents must not be very important to pass unnoticed. But then how did they provide the resources to raise him…

She needed to find out if this new variable would play in their favor or not.