NOVEL NEXT 85 - Tense Meeting
The seated representatives and the people they had brought with them looked at Zoe, Alexios, and the Thesios clan boy who had entered the meeting room.
The three Kheironites walked and stood behind the one remaining chair.
"What's the meaning of this?" Alexios asked, his face stern.
"You are late," Rigomaros said. "But you came, so sit down so we can start."
"Sit down?" Alexios asked. "We need two more chairs."
The rest of the assembly snickered.
"One representative per village," Rigomaros said. "The others haven't been invited, so there is no reason for them to sit."
"We are not from one of your villages," the Thesios boy said.
"Elias is right," Zoe said.
Rigomaros drummed his fingers on the table as he leaned back in his chair.
"Is your representative going to sit or not?" he asked. "We are waiting."
"Yes," Alexios said, pointing to Ilmara. "We will sit. You, stand up so Zoe can sit."
He then pointed to Ilmara's neighbor, who wore her hair in a ponytail, and repeated the same order.
[This is not going to end well.]
(Yes, should we intervene?)
[No, Rigomaros has things under control. It will not end well for Zoe and her new friends.]
As Div and En talked, Rigomaros smirked and nodded to Ilmara. Behind her, Serien put a finger in his ears.
The Trabine girl with the purple feather opened her mouth and, with a voice echoing into hundreds of dissonant notes, she said, "We will sit. You stand up."
Despite her being on the other side of the table, Div, En, and Gennorina winced in discomfort as Ilmara's voice resonated through the room. It was as if a thousand nails scratched on a blackboard at once. Like biting on a fork and feeling the metal grind against your teeth.
"Are you mocking me?" Alexios asked, his face turning red.
"Are you mocking me?" Ilmara echoed making everyone in the room recoil.
Alexios was about to gather mana into an attack when Rigomaros spoke.
"Enough. Ilmara, I'm sorry, but please stop. Alexios, I'm going to assume you are the representative of Kheiron. Sit down and stop delaying the meeting."
"Alexios does not represent me," Elias said.
Zoe echoed the feeling almost immediately.
"Then be content and stand," Rigomaros said. "We have wasted enough time as it is."
He stood up.
"Actually, let's all stand up. Having people standing behind us while we are sitting is uncomfortable anyway."
The other representatives followed Rigomaros' lead. It was his village, after all. The three from Kheiron relented.
[Whatever they are here for, being too overbearing will do them a disservice.]
(Unless they came to disturb this gathering.)
[I don't see the point in traveling so far just to do that. You need to think more sometimes, En.]
"The goal of this meeting is to allow for each delegation to meet each other and figure out if training opportunities can be arranged between us," Rigomaros said. "However, this year's gathering is larger than usual, so we'll see how it goes."
Everyone nodded, they already knew that. At least, the representatives did, they had been briefed by their teachers.
"I'll start, Bavacium can offer advice on sleep magic, we are looking for an ice magic expert…"
Rigomaros went on to give a long list of the information Bavacium was ready to trade and what they were looking for in exchange. The others did the same.
(Wouldn't it be better for the adults to handle those discussions?)
[I'm sure they are, too. This is just a facade to train the representatives.]
(Really? How do you know?)
[Look, I like Rigomaros, and he's doing well. But, I wouldn't trust him with such an important task]
"I speak for Camboaci," Gennorina said when her turn came. "We can provide sky, mind, and water magic, speed training, and tailoring. We are looking for information on mind and rot magic."
Div and En stared at Gennorina who gave them a knowing look.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
(All her demands were for us. She's so great…)
[Yes, but she shouldn't, the others could use that chance too.]
"Rot…" Alexios spat, interrupting the conversation. "You better not spread such dangerous magic around."
"Agreed," Zoe said. "Furthermore, you do not get to teach our sky magic to others."
"And mind magic?" Elias joined in. "Another forbidden magic."
"Alexios, Zoe, Elias, you are not in Kheiron," Rigomaros said. "Neither rot magic nor mind magic are forbidden here. Wait for your turn to speak."
"No," Alexios said. "I'll speak whenever I have something to say.
(What a prick.)
[He's always been like that.]
"You barbarians are already disrespecting us by harboring a criminal," he accused, pointing to Div and En. "Then you seduce our elders into working for you…"
"Alexios," Rigomaros said, raising his voice. "Watch your tone."
"Rigomaros, we've been nothing but respectful. You, on the other hand, are constantly provoking us. I want that rotten filth out of the room."
[Oh, he's talking about us.]
(Awkward.)
Everyone turned their head toward Div and En as Alexios singled them out.
"Rigomaros," Gennorina said, coldly. "This moron is disrupting the meeting. Can we kick him out?"
"Kick me out?!" Alexios shouted. "Do you know who you are talking to?"
"I know exactly who you are, southerner," Gennorina said, locking eyes with him. "Nobody here is afraid of you. Now stop bringing ridicule upon yourself and shut up."
"You…"
"Enough," Rigomaros ordered, silencing everyone. "Behave or leave."
Zoe put a hand on Alexios' shoulder, holding him back from making things worse. Then, she coughed, attracting the attention to her.
"I would like to raise an objection," she said.
"Go ahead," Rigomaros waved.
"Camboaci is trying to sell the magic of my clan. I believe this should not be allowed."
"If Theaphilia wants to teach sky magic, there's nothing you can do to stop her," Gennorina said. "Unless you think you can tell an Ascended Rank what to do?"
"We don't concern ourselves with such matters here," Rigomaros said. "Do you think any of us has any real power here? Stop squabbling so we can continue."
"Fine," Elias said. "But our elders will not let this rest."
"Then," Rigomaros said, "it's your turn, what can you offer, and what do you need?"
Alexios scoffed and said, "We don't need anything from you, barbarians. But our elders have been so kind as to send us to instruct you on sun magic, sky magic, and the noble martial discipline of Kheiron."
"Alright," Rigomaros said once everyone was done. "I hope you've all taken notes because we're not doing that again. Relay this information to the rest of your delegation and make contacts on your own. The next thing on the menu is the upcoming sparring event."
Everyone leaned forward and focused to make sure they didn't miss anything. This was the main reason they had come here. They were all curious to see how their village stacked up against the others.
"Usually, we organize a small tournament open to everyone," Rigomaros explained. "But, there are too many participants this year so we are forced to proceed differently. Each delegation will send three people to participate. Then, we will draw random lots so that each participant can fight once."
"No prize?" Someone asked.
"No, this is not a competition. There will be no ranking, just a few matches."
[That's too bad.]
(I wanted to fight Alexios.)
[Maybe we'll get the chance.]
(It's unlikely. We'd need to be selected to participate and get extremely lucky in the draw.)
It would probably not happen. But it was fine, Div and En had grievances against their former relatives but even they knew fighting wouldn't solve the root of the issue.
There would be other chances in the future.
"That's all for today," Rigomaros said. "You're all free to go."
Alexios was the first to storm off, quickly followed by Zoe and Elias. At least, the other two didn't share the former's abrasive temperament.
As they walked out of the building, Div and En sighed, "This could have gone better. Thank you for supporting us."
"This is my duty as a representative," Gennorina said.
"Still, we appreciate it."
"Don't mention it," she waved her hand. "By the way, you're probably going to be one of our picks for the sparring matches."
"Really?"
"Did you expect otherwise?" Gennorina asked, surprised. "You're clearly the strongest fighter in the class. Even if you have flaws."
(Hey! That last part wasn't necessary.)
[Take the compliment for what it is En.]
"Thank you," En said, making his hand sign. "But I thought that since I was new in Camboaci, others would be favored."
"Really?" Gennorina asked, stopping in her tracks. "Is this really what you think?"
"I mean," En continued. "I don't want to take someone else's spot."
"Div, do you feel the same?" Gennorina asked.
"No," Div said. "I'll take the spot. Also, if you could fix the draw so we land on Alexios, that'd be nice."
Gennorina looked at them silently for a moment that stretched into time. Their eyes met, unblinking.
"I'm disappointed, En," she said. "I thought we made it clear Camboaci had adopted you."
"No…" En said. "I'm sorry. I appreciate everything you've done for us. It's just, seeing people from my hometown again… It brings back some bad memories."
"Is it because of Alexios?" she asked. "You shouldn't care about him."
"I don't! He's always been an ass. But Zoe, we used to be friends, you know…"
Div took over, signaling it with his hands. "En's right on that point. Seeing her like that feels strange."
"Well," Genno said. "I don't know how your relationship with her was back then. But you have me now! Us, I mean. You have us."
"Thank you."
They resumed their walk. Just as they were about to reach the building they were staying at, they bumped into Martos who was going in the opposite direction.
"Ah, kids!" He said. "Glad to see you here. I was just going to the farm to pick up my order of flowing sheep wool. I need extra hands, want to come along?"
Gennorina had heard about the farm from Div and En's retelling of their punishment. But, Martos wasn't about to send her to clean the sheep, and she was curious.
"Sure," she said. "Let's go. Diven is also volunteering."
"Am I?" Div and En asked.
[No we're not. I'm not going back there.]
(I'm with you. Let's run!)
But before they could escape, Gennorina continued, "Yes you are. You're not going to let me carry everything by myself, are you?"
"Right," En said. "I guess we have to come."
[Weak.]
(She's right!)
[Martos can carry everything by himself, idiot. He's an Evolved Rank tailor and a traveled merchant.]
(Oh…)
"Don't worry, Diven," Martos said. "You will not regret coming."