Volume 4, Chapter 7 – The Tournament. The Dark Horse of Democracy
The continent of Tsumonikal, where Rekhilon, the Empire of Arbakan, and many scattered duchies are located — falling under the control of various states, from the Empire to the Duchy of Firkun.
Southern part of the continent. The Empire of Arbakan. 07.05. 13:29.
The Wall ran along the entire coast, preserving every bend and pocket, meeting the sea and forming a large peninsula. At the junction with the mainland, it grew two rows of walls — thirty kilometers apart. And this was the only way into the capital — passing through several gates under the watch of a thousand Guards stationed on and within the walls.
The entire defensive line was white, with beams protruding a meter out from the walls, forming a grate along the entire perimeter — and above this grate, a magical shield moved like a wave along the whole wall.
Everything inside was filled with five-story buildings that also went several floors underground. All facades were covered in engravings, and state buildings were supported by monumental marble columns, towering over the entire city on a hill, separated from the citizens by a zigzag road constantly patrolled by guards who let no one through.
On the rooftops here and there stood tall pillars that emitted white light at night like lighthouses. And along the main roads — as wide as three tanks — dense greenery grew.
In the castle resided the Emperor and the council hall of the highest people of Arbakan.
"Emperor," the Servant bowed, entering the council hall.
The Emperor turned, adjusting his elegant white armor of light metal — his cloak, more like a banner of death, settled neatly on the table.
"Listening," the Emperor answered calmly, sitting on the windowsill and adjusting his cloak.
"News has been received that for a certain state, the Democracy of Silence, one hundred and fifty people registered at the international Tournament of the Kingdom of Ruma — and all received a qualifying rank of S," the Servant reported carefully, checking the letter.
The Emperor smiled and thoughtfully removed his white crown with black tips, twirling it in his hands with interest.
"The Democracy of Silence... How many from us?"
"One hundred, but only twenty achieved S. Ruma — one thousand, thirty S. Malevych — one hundred and two S. Rekhilon — fifty and three S. Firkun — twelve and zero S. And from other states, a total of five hundred participants were sent and two S," the Servant reported, reading from the list.
The Emperor placed the crown on the windowsill and lowered himself to the floor. He looked at the map on the wall, staring at the huge four-million-square-kilometer white spot. The Silent Silence looked like a tumor on the map, where everything else was green and blue.
"Do we know anything about their population and development?" the Emperor asked calmly, taking a quill and ink, beginning to cross out the name and slowly draw a new one — the ink running down like a landslide.
"No, Emperor... Only from the document proclaiming the state do we know of twenty-eight representatives..." the Servant carefully peeked at what the Emperor was doing and continued. "Also... The report stated that Seraphim registered personally, and also that two Archons were present, with whom Seraphim... Ahem..."
"Continue," the Emperor answered calmly, not looking up.
"Seraphim pointed a sword at an Archmage — and according to the report, a certain..." the Servant pulled out a magnifying glass to make sure he wasn't mistaken. "Ahem, quoting from the registration record, the name: 'The Mighty and Inimitable, the Best and Funniest and Coolest Dude, the True Frenchman from the Democracy of Silence.' According to the report, this name was confirmed by his documents, which stated exactly the same," — the Servant cautiously glanced at the Emperor from under the paper.
"Go on..."
"And this... Second one. Knocked out an Archmage with a kick."
"Anything else?"
"Coins... Pure gold, perfect minting. One of their coins, called the Euro, is worth ten to thirty gold depending on the state. Also, the second one collected bets on knocking out the Archmage and on the duel between the Archmage and Seraphim. In two duels, he cleaned up completely, stripping sixty people naked and taking over thirteen thousand gold..." — the Servant squinted, shielding himself with the paper — because that was ten percent of the budget the Empire spends on its citizens.
The Emperor finished writing "Democracy of Silence."
"How do you like it?" the Emperor stepped back to admire his work.
"Huh?" the Servant poked his head out from behind the paper and looked at the map. "Excellent, Emperor..."
"Since the King and the new... (Servant: President or Commander) and the new President Seraphim will be at the tournament... I should get some air too."
"Also. A statement has been filed with the IRC by Rekhilon, accusing [the Duchy of Malevych] of slave trade, cooperation with the Syndicate 'Emerald Scion,' and oppression of its own people on Rugun Island — and that island passed under the control of the Democracy of Silence on 05.05," the Servant added — and didn't dodge in time, as ink flew at him.
"Do you understand the difference between them sitting in the Silent Silence and an entire island fifty kilometers from trade routes coming under their control?" he calmly wiped his hand on his cloak.
"Send the Seventh to Malevych via trade ships — let them move to return Rugun under Malevych territory. Also, aim Tsunami-2.1 at Rugun and file a request to review the legitimacy of this seizure. And send our investigators from IBR-A for verification," the Emperor gave his orders.
—
—
Behind the Capital of the Kingdom of Ruma. 07.05. 15:00.
I sat on a block of the pyramid, almost at the very top, where the beam shone. Uyana sat next to me. Below, at my feet, the tents were a riot of color, and armor gleamed, tossing fragments of sunlight in all directions. On the green blocks below me, other participants lay sunbathing, waiting for their bouts to begin.
The Archmages had already vanished, and Clarence had returned to the Boeing, telling Amalia he'd found his wisdom and now lived for it. Though I wanted to convince him to stay with his sister, both he and she just nodded, promising to meet when the chance arose.
The sun warmed my face, and my palms were sweating, making me constantly wipe them on my linen pants and squint down with a smile.
"You knew..." I decided to start the conversation about what Amalia had told me, but I didn't know how to begin. We'd talked about various things, but this — I couldn't bring myself to start.
"Maybe I should knock out a tooth, esteemed Archon — you talk better without them," Uyana quipped impassively. And I couldn't tell if she was serious or just teasing...
I looked at her — she'd already changed into combat gear with some style.
A long emerald strand blended with her black hair, and on her eyes were drawn long, aggressive red arrows, with eyebrows painted so that in any emotion she looked displeased "\ _ /." A long emerald tunic tucked into black silk pants with a heavy belt engraved: "Victory is part of success. But I am victory."
"I... Well, ahem! I talked with Amalia... And—"
"You already know Archmages' names?"
"I have a thousand Archmage acquaintances," — I dialed down her... jealousy?
Uyana rested her head on her hand, pressing her elbow into her legs, and looked at me impassively. (Either thinking about how much I could be sold for, or what would happen if she pushed me off the pyramid right now — would the Archon die?!)
"And... She told me Azuy's wisdom..."
"And..."
"About tooth-shattering love," I said uncertainly, eyebrows pressed together, looking at her.
Silence...
Uyana thought, staring into my eyes, crawling through them right into my brain, tugging at neurons, examining what was going on in there.
"Why're you two hemming and hawing!" the smart-ass decided to intervene. "Hey! Guys, why're you touching me! Let go! Ow! That hurts! I! Ow! You're all cra—" — and off went the smart-ass with his "friends."
"And why love specifically?" Uyana asked, adjusting her hair.
"And 'tooth-shattering' doesn't bother you?"
"Not at all. It's accurate — you lost eight teeth in three days and got free on-site dentistry," Uyana parried.
I sighed, looking at the ground beneath my feet, where bonfires smoked across the whole area.
"Maybe it's meant to be — like, I'm the Archon and Commander of a country, and you're the Head of a Syndicate. You even have a bigger gold turnover. Well, of course, I don't have distribution... There's... Rekhilon... Oh! I shouldn't have said that," — I accidentally ran my mouth.
"Wow. Do you know how much information is worth about two states conducting trade — plus when one of them is at war?" Uyana decided to latch onto that.
"Not a word. That's a state secret."
"Esteemed Seraphim, you just said it at the top of the pyramid. It's no longer a state secret — it's money..." Uyana smiled. "I'd advise you to release a dozen similar agreements into society so no one dares to check this... Rekhilon."
(Whoa... She really is smart... Maybe it really is love? Or maybe she's a person who, even though she knocks out my teeth, is still under the influence of my aura... I can't think about that — we only met because of it... Maybe it's all fake? But how do I check... How do I make sure there's really something between us, and it's not because of the aura or my Archon status??)
(She stayed the head of the syndicate — but does a syndicate head walk around tournaments? Well, why not — she's human too. But what about love?)
"Do you like me?" I asked suddenly, surfacing from my thoughts.
Smack.
"Oww!"
"Ninth. What did you say?" Uyana caught the tooth impassively and examined it against the sun.
"..." — I held my split lip, touching the spot with my tongue where the tooth was missing again, and looked at her. (But how do I interpret all this? Just friends? Just a shield? Maybe I need to get to know her better? This is rushing — and rushing with a syndicate head isn't the best idea.)
"I'm asking, what division are you in?" I changed the subject, wanting to postpone it.
"I'm in 20/21. You're in 5/21, I think," she supported the topic, standing up and smoothing her fitted pants.
"Ah..."
"Ladies and gentlemen. This year's tournament is simply spectacular," the commentator shouted, his voice echoing out of the pyramid, spreading across the entire area. "Just think about it: two hundred! Seven! S-fighters! Twenty-one divisions! Seems like a new dark horse decided to burst into our tournament ON TWO LEGS! I look and see only a list of one hundred and fifty participants from a single state!" — the commentator announced emotionally, pouring a sea of emotion into every word.
"ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY! You didn't mishear — ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY! And you know what's most incredible! The King of this state is here!"
"Apologies, participants, my co-host got a dose of emotions and made a mistake — the President of the Democracy of Silence is here!" the co-host picked up. "And that's unimaginable, because our King of Ruma will also attend the tournament! And... Wait, hold on... One second. (Whisper: The Emperor has registered for the tournament)"
"WHAT!! Ladies and gentlemen, in this place have gathered the Dark Horse Democracy, the King of Ruma, and the EMPEROR OF ARBAKAN!" he swallowed. "And I, your dear and world-famous commentator Nork, will host the entire tournament!"
"And I, Khlorun, am already feeling some pressure. Hey, Norn, did we accidentally get the wrong door? Because I'm already sensing it's going to be HOT — and this isn't a tournament, it's a gathering of thrones."
"Khlorun, but when else will you see the Emperor kick someone's ass? (Whisper) I hope they don't cut my head off for that?"
"Well, Norn, you'll clearly have to hold your tongue among two hundred and eight S... Because this battle will be GRAND! And right now, while the fights for all below S are running, you can drink some water!"
—
(Emperor... Why is he here? Is that a custom of theirs? I don't know... But I'm here to win and get an audience with the King of Ruma. Maybe this is a chance to talk to him and establish an alliance...)