Ashwin inclined his head. “I understand your concerns. However, any great change – no matter how beneficial in the long term – will inevitably cause some upheaval and discontent when it’s first introduced. This is the nature of all living beings. We like our comfort zone, even when it doesn’t serve us.

“This centuries-long enmity between humans and Aeriels has claimed countless lives on both sides. Yet, it’s been going on for so long, it’s all many of us know. Naturally, it’ll take some time for both sides to adjust to this new paradigm of friendship and cooperation.” He smiled, the picture of sagacious benevolence. “But adjust they will.” Silver eyes flicked to Ruban, before returning to the reporter who’d asked the question. “We’ll make sure of that.”

Not to be so easily deterred, the reporter pressed on. “The anti-Vaan cults have reached the height of their popularity in the last few days, since the alliance was announced. Are you not worried that instead of solving the problem of Aeriel lynchings, this’ll exacerbate it?”

The man was not wrong. News of the alliance had agitated the cults and the Exiles alike.

The capital was rife with conspiracy theories about how the elites in the government had sold the country to Vaan, in exchange for a substantial fortune in feathers. Ruban could barely imagine what the situation was like in the countryside.

Across Vandram, the cults enjoyed unwavering public support. Even the handful of left-leaning public intellectuals who’d been vocal against the lynchings until recently, had changed their tune overnight.

The proclamation of the official alliance, sanctioned by the prime minister and his Cabinet, had left them little choice in the matter. Public opinion had swung so far in the opposite direction that to openly support the alliance at this point would be a career-ending move for any public figure.

The Exiles, for their part, were going out of their way to attack and antagonize not only the cults but also the Hunter Corps. They wanted to rule over humanity, to dominate – as they’d once dreamed of doing under Tauheen. They didn’t want to be equal (or, more realistically, junior) partners with humans, which was what this alliance would entail. And they most certainly didn’t want to do it under Safaa’s thumb.

If there was anyone more intent on sabotaging the alliance than the anti-Vaan cults, it was the Exiles.

When Ashwin spoke, his tone was contemplative. “Perhaps you’re right. The events of the past few days have emboldened the cults. In the short term, the lynchings might indeed get worse. And that problem, when it comes, will have to be faced head on.”

Ashwin cast a sweeping gaze over all the reporters and photographers gathered in the hall. “If we, in Vaan, have learned anything over these past few centuries, it’s the futility of flying away from our problems. They tend to give chase, snowballing all the while.” He sighed dramatically. “Trust me, I have an excellent set of wings. And as my sister would gladly tell you, have never hesitated to use them in a crisis. If I thought I could outfly this mess, I would.”

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Sporadic laughter erupted throughout the room.

“But that didn’t work for us six hundred years ago, and it won’t work for us now. The cults might be the ones enacting the lynchings, but they’re only a symptom of a deeper issue.” He leaned slightly closer to the microphones. “The centuries-long distrust between humans and Aeriels. Until we’ve healed that underlying wound, anything we do to stop the lynchings will only be a band-aid solution.”

Hushed murmurs filled the room as the gathered journalists dissected that speech. Ruban couldn’t make out the content of their conversations, but the general sense of smug satisfaction was hard to miss. The prince of Vaan had admitted, on a public forum, that his people had been in the wrong six hundred years ago. Furthermore, that they’d now ‘learned their lesson’ and were ready to make amends.

If the sun rose in the west tomorrow morning, it still wouldn’t make it to the front page of the newspapers. Ruban closed his eyes, seeing the headlines flash behind his eyelids. He bit the insides of his cheeks to keep himself from smiling.

Apparently satisfied, the reporter from The Ragah Times ceded his mic to a green-eyed, dark-skinned beauty from Ibanta Express, one of the leading media houses down south. Her distinctly biracial features made her stand out in the starchy homogeneity of the gathering. Which was probably what had driven Ashwin to choose her for the next question.

“Even if we accept that this alliance might have a positive outcome for Vandram, it’ll almost certainly lead to conflict with Kanbar and Zaini.” She brushed a few errant strands of hair away from her face. “Our neighbors would suspect, perhaps rightly, that the Vandran government seeks to gain military and economic leverage through this alliance.”

Before Ashwin could respond, the sharply-dressed gentleman sitting beside her interrupted. “And what’s to say this isn’t a ploy by Vaan to divide and conquer?” He demanded with a slight Zainian accent. “Turn the three nations against each other, then pick them off one by one?”

Ashwin raised an eyebrow. “To what end? If we wanted dominion over earth, we could’ve had it under Tauheen. Vaan’s conflict with Tauheen and her followers was based solely on this one fundamental disagreement – about the role that Aeriels should play on earth.

“A fragmented, warring earth would pose a danger to Vaan and to itself, particularly now that you can manufacture reinforced sif at scale. Even a fraction of your population, armed with reinforced sifblades, could inflict significant damage on Vaan, if things spiraled out of control. Stability and rule-of-law in all the countries of earth is the best possible outcome for us. Essential, even, for preventing mutual annihilation.”

“Is that why you’re trying to seduce Vandram into an alliance?” interjected the green-eyed reporter from Ibanta Express. “For self-preservation?”

Ashwin nodded. “Precisely, yes.”

Her shapely eyebrows knitting together, the reporter cocked her head, clearly taken aback.

“Vaan aims to establish – and maintain – good relations with all the nations of earth.” Ashwin continued, unfazed. “And of course, we’ll offer our allies all the help and resources that’s in our power to provide. Some might say this’d give certain countries a...” He looked around, as if trying to find the right word, silver eyes scanning the audience for reactions. “Ah, first-mover advantage, I believe it’s called.” He beamed. “But rest assured that we’d never willingly jeopardize the peace and security of earth. If for no other reason than that the security of Vaan is inextricably linked to that of earth.”