Chapter 57. Please Explain
Griffin, as it turned out, fit none of Rhys’ expectations. As a proud graduate of Purple Dawn, he wasn’t disloyal to his academy, nor did he bear a personal grudge against Ernesto. He had a strong sense of righteousness, but that wasn’t the problem.
The problem was that he was aggressively, excessively, to far too extreme an extent—straightforward and by-the-book.
“Why didn’t you come faster?” Ernesto snarled, annoyed.
Griffin put his hands on his hips and gave him a broad smile. “Pursuant to Alliance Code for Resolving Inter-School Conflicts, the two schools’ representatives should first be given a time to resolve their differences via martial or other means for a period of not less than twelve hours, and not more than seventy-two. In the case of extreme emergency or in the case that one of the academic institutions is not party to the Alliance, the armada can intervene as early as six hours—”
Rhys blanked out. He watched the stars, counted the blades of grass, anything but listen to Griffin quote legal statements. The moon fell, and the sun rose. In the distance, he heard the startled cries of students as they woke up from their nightly meditations to find an armada floating overhead. Rhys studied the ships, mentally memorizing their shapes and forms, and cataloging the emanations that reached him, even down here on the floor.
The three high-Tier mages spoke for a while, their conversations interspersed by long-winded recitals from Griffin, until at last Rhys heard his name and snapped back in.
“—according to the Peace Treaty of Nartois, both parties must send a representative to a formal contest, wherein the contestants’ rank in the contest, or their battle against one another, should the two see one another in battle, determines who is in the right—”
“Yes, thank you, Griffin. What it boils down to, is that we both send representatives to the upcoming tournament in Purple Dawn Academy, and whoever wins, wins. If we win, then Rhys, and the entire Infinite Constellation School, is free to go; if Ernesto wins, then we are party to his wishes, within reason, and up to a limit of value equal to or greater than—sorry, the legalese infected me. Within reason,” Aquari summed up. She turned and looked at Rhys pointedly.
Rhys pointed at himself. “Me? I’m the representative?”
“I’m pretty sure Ernesto would accept no less,” she said, quirking a brow.