Chapter 282: The Lance
The Inter-Choir tournament ended with a lot of fanfare, but for Rain the experience of it was oddly alien when seen through a screen.
Objectively he knew it was live video, but part of him thought of it like reading a book. What did the moment mean when he could just revisit it whenever he wanted? Thus, he watched the matches in a staggered fashion, sometimes with Cassiel and sometimes on his own, during the two days it took to decide amongst the six participating Choirs.
It was only after the spectacle of the finals that Rain realized his eyes had stopped hurting when watching screens.
In fact, ever since absorbing the threads of Helios’ body, Rain’s entire view of the technology around him had started to shift. It was a subtle thing, the surety with which he now operated mana panels, the precision with which he could now set the heat of the showers or navigate the city...
And the day after the Tournament ended, the purpose of the competition was laid bare, as the service of Cassiel and Malzkael’s teams in the archives came to an end.
At a massive gathering, Rainier stood behind Cassie on her right, while Ozzie stood left to Rain an armspan apart.
The room was a massive thing of smooth white stone with black-marbled pillars. Only the Primes of the Seven Choirs were allowed at the front, and the rest of the Executioners Order stood behind them in one undifferentiated formation.
The stage was sharply cut and raised from the floor, edged with gold stylized some some massive bird. In its beak, which was centered, it held a bundle of sticks wrapped around a steel axe. Each stick was of a different wood, and somehow Rain knew there were seven of them...
"Executioners!" the booming of the Master of Ceremonies’ voice interrupted Rain’s roving thoughts. "Stand to attention! The Son of Heaven comes!"