While the Whale of ZhiXia may be synonymous with ZhiXia City's current time of peace, the City's original defending Titled One was Khasim, the Shark of ZhiXia, known for his dangerous lethality in close combat. He was the one who established a group of peacekeepers at the City's founding, known as the Sharks.

Today, they are still responsible for resolving small-time day-to-day disputes in ZhiXia City.

— Excerpt from The City Beneath YiZhi Mountain, by Scholar Erryn

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ZhiXia City Center, two days before the Whale of ZhiXia's trial

Molam found imprisonment a curious concept.

There were many ways to think about it. He had been imprisoned before: a short stint above a bonfire, and then for most of his life in RainBringer's Castle. Well, it hadn’t truly been an imprisonment, but his freedom of movement had certainly been restricted. Molam supposed he preferred thinking of that time as imprisonment because it helped him understand the experience, but also knew that he was fortunate to have never found himself on the wrong side of physical bars.

Part of him thought about how he would apply imprisonment, if it ever came to that. How should it be used? As punishment? As a threat? As coercion? He remembered how Agytha had imprisoned the discontented population of JiangXi City and wondered if she had given it a similar amount of thought. Perhaps she had only treated it as a temporary removal of her enemies.

But Molam knew one thing for certain: imprisonment spoke of an imbalance of power. By force, trickery, or something else, it made little sense for the stronger power to be imprisoned no matter how he looked at it.

And so Molam never would have thought he would be threading his way through the gathering crowd in front of the City Center, trying to understand how the Whale of ZhiXia ended up in ZhiXia's prison.

"Shurra isn't coming, then?" Molam asked, shoving past the multitude of people. All wore black clothing or black effects, the signs of mourning. Most were shouting obscenities, demanding the Whale answer for the loss of their loved ones. Molam tried his best to ignore the eerie resemblance to a crowd that had once gathered in front of a bonfire.

"No, she says she was tasked with something important." Primrose had somehow found a way to look eye-catchingly solemn in her black dress. Her bright orange-red hair, normally wild and loose, had been tamed into a tight bun. A stem of blue satem flowers poked out from the center. Molam had no idea how she seemed to flow right through the crowd despite wearing clothes that should easily snag.

"Something important, hm?" Molam was surprised. "More important than the Whale's imprisonment? Any idea what that could be?"

"I saw her leave with a sack of animal food, saying she needed to practice."

"A sack of… animal food." Molam repeated, unsure of what that could even mean. Primrose shrugged at his questioning look, and Molam decided to move on. "I'm surprised Madam Scarlette allowed you to be here. Isn't HuaLang Chamber focusing all its efforts on charity work?"

"Madam Scarlette is interested in this," Primrose replied, sidestepping a mother carrying two crying children. "Freeing the Whale of ZhiXia would be more important than doling out food to the needy. Wasn't it you who told me back in JiangXi that people should be applied to what they are best at?"

"Well, that's true." Having pushed through the crowd, Molam found himself looking at the guarded entrance to the City Center, a large double gate with the insignia of a shark stamped on it. The same shape as the auric bubbles he had seen in ZhiXia City before. The building had been spared from the OutCast's rampage.

"We may need to be versatile with our approach," Molam said as they walked up to the two Shark enforcers flanking the entrance. "Remember — the trial is in two days. I'm going to speak to Master Ji, and you're going to —"

"Gather information," Primrose smiled, and Molam's gaze lingered. Primrose had applied glamor in a way he couldn't quite place, but he found the result more… alluring. Something emphasized her lips and the purple of her eyes. Perhaps it was part of her plan, considering the more hotblooded Sharks should be easy targets for her. "Find out who is pushing for this. Learn what they want. Discover what the underlying circumstances are so we can free the Whale of ZhiXia."

"Yes," Molam looked away. "We can't go to Oasis without Master Ji."

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Primrose took satisfaction in Molam's moment of distraction. Finding his weakness had become her personal game ever since she noticed Molam did not react to her usual glamor. She generally found both men and women were eager to keep the conversation going whenever she allowed her attention to wander, but Molam always seemed to be distracted by his own thoughts. Scarlette had mentioned something similar, wondering aloud whether Molam preferred the company of men; HuaLang Chamber had four Flowers that could better keep Molam in check. However, Primrose had seen little to corroborate that theory, believing Molam merely wanted to keep things cordial.

It was a shame that Scarlette couldn't be here. Somehow, the Madam had responded with forced calmness to the news of the Whale's arrest and imprisonment. But Primrose had grown up with Scarlette — her flower sister still pressed her lips together when her temper seethed. Primrose knew her flower sister still cherished the faded petals she wore as a Petal when rescued by the Whale, tucked away in her journal.

Well, it didn't matter whether or not the Madam could be here personally. She had already assigned Flora, Cassia, and Primrose herself to this task. Though the Sharks hadn't held real power ever since the Whale of ZhiXia had taken on the mantle of the defending Titled One, HuaLang Chamber had a few questions that needed answers: why now? What were the Sharks after?

And, why was Captain Aster allowing it? Or worse — was Aster the one behind this decision? As Captain of the Sharks, an event this large could not have escaped his notice. There were questions and they needed to be answered soon.

Primrose fervently hoped that Aster had only made a mistake.

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Jail, ZhiXia City Center

Molam followed two members of the Sharks to the jail area. Primrose had expertly parted from him at the entrance, leaning towards a young Shark enforcer to express her difficulty with the crowd and tight spaces. Molam had no doubt she would be able to gather much information before he was done speaking to Master Ji.

The feather stayed silent. The Oracle and the phoenix were engaged elsewhere, something about the other greater spirits. Molam hadn't been privy to the conversation, but the phoenix had replenished the feather's aura before he left Sanctuary.

The man leading him was named Khalim — apparently the vice leader of the Sharks. Reasonably tall with streaks of gray in his hair, the man had processed Molam's entry with the strict decorum of one who was used to seeing that procedures were done by the book. He had looked unimpressed when Molam showed up with Santuary's token, asking to speak to the Whale of ZhiXia.

"Sanctuary is not allowed to interfere with ZhiXia's due process."

"There is no interference in speaking," Molam had deflected.

They stared at each other before Khalim acquiesced. "I assume you understand the rules of visitation?"

And then came the strip search. Molam thought it completely unnecessary, given that the Sharks themselves admitted they were only holding the Whale out of his own cooperation, but Khalim said it was simply how things were done. Perhaps that was why Primrose had agreed she should stay outside. Finding nothing, they nevertheless took away a dagger Primrose had lent him before allowing him through — he didn't know how they would react to however many blades Primrose was carrying today.

They walked past no more than ten cells; a testament to the City's orderliness. Or perhaps, Molam mused, the constant reminder of the Whale's watchful Domain deterred most from their more illicit machinations.

A Domain that, as of last night, no longer existed.

Upon reaching the last cell, Molam frowned. Master Ji sat cross legged on the floor with the manacles on his wrists attached to the ceiling's corners, forcing his arms into a half-raised position.

"Why have you bound a man yet to be convicted?" Titled or not, Molam couldn't imagine the setup to be intended for anything but discomfort. "You do understand Master Ji is allowing himself to be held here?"

"It is simply how the law was written," Khalim responded. The other man shrugged. "Given the risk that auramasters pose."

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"And when were these laws last updated?"

Khalim shrugged. "Sixty years ago?"

"Even words can rot, given enough time." Molam stepped up to the cell, pressing his hands onto the bars. "Master Ji, I'm quite short on time, given your trial is soon."

"So you came." The Whale did not look up, nor did he move. The chains stayed silent. "How is Nettie?"

Nettie comes first, huh? thought Molam. "She's… still a bit distraught. She blames herself for all of this happening to the City and it's been a lengthy few conversations to explain to her that she's not a burden." Molam looked around for a chair, then accepted one from the younger Shark. He looked towards Khalim. "May we have a private conversation?"

The man shook his head. "The rules of visitation are clear. All interaction must be —"

"Yes, yes, the rules," Molam pressed his lips together, quelling his exasperation. He settled down into his seat, flanked by the two men as he looked at Master Ji. He noticed the younger man's eyes glowing a light shade of yellow. So the Sharks intended to monitor and verify his exchange with Master Ji as well. Was it Khalim's idea? Or was it ordered by the Captain of the Sharks, this so-called Aster?

Turning his attention back to Master Ji, Molam took in what he could visually. It had only been a day since Shurra had informed them of the arrest, but it was clear that the man hadn't shaved for longer. Perhaps since as far back as Martyker's death.

"I'll get straight to the point, Master Ji." While Primrose and the others worried about how they could potentially save Master Ji, Molam had a different question in mind. "You allowed yourself to be arrested. Those who care for you are worried about how they can help you, but I know you could leave if you wanted. Those chains aren't enough to bind you, are they?" Molam leaned forward. "To be unwilling to lift a finger to help yourself means you must either believe this is where you should be, or you have given up and lost your will. Which is it?"

"All actions have consequences," Master Ji responded. "I am simply here to face them."

"Consequences? Is that what you call this misguided pillorying from masses driven mad by grief?"

The Whale laughed grimly, the chains rattling against his wrists. "And you think yourself better than the masses? That their feelings don't matter because they're grieving?"

"I don't trust crowds," Molam answered curtly. "They tend to make short-sighted decisions."

"I sincerely understand why you would think so."

Silence. Molam was keenly aware of the silent Sharks behind him, listening in on this conversation. He wet his lips, then began in a low tone, "So. If, in two days, the populace votes you to be guilty: you die."

"Yes," the Whale answered simply. No hesitation, no reservation. "To do otherwise would be to ignore the will of the people."

"The will of the people," Molam echoed. Something about the way Master Ji didn't even want to contest the decision elicited a buried rage deep inside of him. "Susceptible to manipulation and demagoguery. Ignorant and impulsive, easily influenced by their base desires. How many of them would willingly die to uphold the law?"

Someone shifted behind him, but Molam did not turn, his eyes staying affixed to the Whale of ZhiXia.

"Many would not," Master Ji’s shoulders shifted in a tiny shrug. "But I do not allow the actions of others to influence my own decisions. I agreed to the law when they gave me a home here — to break my oath now would be to betray their trust even further."

Molam could not understand. Not that he couldn't entertain the idea; but that he considered it and found it wanting. His next words burst out with frustration and anger alike.

"The mob outside is ruled by their emotions! They are demanding your death to satisfy their own sense of justice, because it is easier to put you to death than to rise up against the one who caused this: the OutCast, and the Empire! There's nothing if you die, and the City won't be better off as a result either! You'll have lost everything and they'll have gained nothing but a momentary satisfaction! What is the purpose of being strong like you if you still bow down to the whims of those who can't even see past their selfish desires?"

As the echo of his voice died down, the memory of a crowd dissipated in his mind. Molam did not want it to linger — but he knew he was not wrong. He couldn't be. Throughout his life, he had thought that if he hadn't been a child but someone stronger, they couldn't have tied him down. He could have fought them, and then —

Master Ji responded after a lengthy pause, breaking Molam's train of thought. "That line of thinking is dangerous, Molam. Only tyrants believe they know better than what the people want."

"To preserve one's own life is tyrannical, is it?" Molam gripped his knees. "Do you not have regrets? Or did you ensure you lived a fulfilling life in case the Empire came here too?"

Master Ji lifted his head and Molam recoiled, a chill creeping down his spine at the intensity of his gaze. "Do you think someone with my number of Sorrows has no regrets?" the Whale whispered. His fists clenched, and the chains began pulling taut. "Of course I have regrets. Many of them I cannot undo." The tattoo of the tiger snarled in Molam's peripheral vision as Master Ji looked at Molam. "I am here because I do not wish to add to my regrets. To not face my responsibility; that would be another regret."

The chains clinked, then went slack as Master Ji relaxed and hung his head again.

"No," Molam rejected. It pained him to see this situation; the Whale of ZhiXia, chained by the very people he protected. Awaiting the possibility of death. Voluntary suicide, or so Molam had heard. The very idea disgusted him; they could not kill the Whale, but they expected him to willingly give up his life.

But all was not lost — Molam had found what he needed to make this conversation worthwhile. Master Ji simply believed himself responsible.

"The responsibility is mine," he leaned forward again, aware of the two men still standing behind him. "I was the one who told you to go after Nettie, leaving ZhiXia City defenseless. I was the one who tricked the OutCast into summoning an echo, causing all of the death and destruction. Martyker died because of me. I was the one who…" he clenched his knee again, "... who preserved my life. Tyrannical, I know." He laughed grimly, "The OutCast warned me, but I don't care for God Yven's call."

"I already told you to not blame yourself for Martyker's death. And ZhiXia City is not your responsibility."

"No, but does that absolve me from the consequences of my actions?" Molam turned to look at Khalim's stoic face. "Well, Khalim? Should I be judged too? I'm already here — your friend," he nodded towards the younger man with the yellow Sight, "Can attest that I speak the truth."

"The Sight is not entered as compelling evidence in trials because witnesses can simply believe or be charmed into thinking they are telling the truth," Khalim looked down his nose at Molam. "Though this conversation is interesting, I have no orders or laws to enforce regarding your acts of self-preservation. Based on what you've said, the Whale of ZhiXia's alleged crime is listening to you in the first place when he abandoned his duty to protect the city to save an inconsequential child."

Inconsequential. Molam clenched a fist at the word. But no — he could not speak of Nettie's status as the Prodigy or even mention the SunFlower. Flangel's Ring had already been stolen. ZhiXia City had suffered the Empire's invasion before, and only enjoyed their peace now because the Prince did not have the SunFlower. He could not afford for them to find out that he and the others had failed to prevent the Empire from retrieving the SunFlower's design.

He closed his eyes, then turned to Master Ji again. "When this is over, we're going to Oasis. You and I will take responsibility for our actions by bringing about real change."

Master Ji did not look up. "If they acquit me."

"When," Molam corrected, standing up and pushing away his chair. "Votes haven't been cast yet. Thank you for your time, Master Ji."

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Upon leaving the cells, Molam found Primrose still talking to several of the Sharks, three men and two women, laughing at one of their jokes. It hadn't even been that long since they parted and Primrose already commanded their utmost attention. She noticed him immediately, excusing herself from the group, and together they left the City Center. The crowd was still gathered outside, and the shouting had grown uglier. People were demanding to see the Whale of ZhiXia, and it didn't sound like they were looking to exchange words of goodwill.

The two of them did not speak until they turned into a quieter alley.

"Well?" Primrose asked immediately. "Is the Whale being drugged or threatened?"

"Not drugged, no. And you really think someone in ZhiXia could threaten him?" Molam asked, almost bemused.

Primrose blinked, scrunching up her nose, then corrected herself. "Yes, you're right — that sounds silly. I have no idea what someone could hold against him."

"Master Ji is a prisoner of his own volition. He intends to act according to the will of the people," Molam informed her, still thinking about his earlier conversation. "I don't fully understand, but it doesn't matter. He seems to care for his ideals, which means if we can get the people to vote in his favor, he'll come out."

"His… ideals?" Primrose seemed just as confused. "Letting others decide his fate?"

"I said I don't fully understand it either," Molam repeated. "All that matters is, we need to see if it's possible to influence the public opinion. We have two days." He looked up at the setting Sun, then puffed out his cheeks in exasperation. "My guess is HuaLang Chamber can…?"

"It's not a lot of time," Primrose's brows furrowed, deep in thought. "But I'll see what can be done."

"And you?" Molam asked, then added, "Who is pushing for all this?"

Primrose smoothed out her dress, then said, "As you may have guessed, the person pushing for the arrest of the Whale is the current leader of the Sharks, Aster." She paused, looking as though she was considering adding more, but then decided against it. "HuaLang Chamber knows Aster. Madam Scarlette will be able to speak with him; I believe she has already looked for him."

Molam nodded, his mind awhirl. "Tell Madam Scarlette that I'm curious to know this Aster's motivations."

"HuaLang Chamber is quite experienced in gathering information without any reminders." Primrose seemed miffed.

"Of course. I didn't mean to imply otherwise," Molam apologized. "I'll need to find out as much as I can about the law and how this will be conducted." He frowned; ZhiXia City uniquely did not have a Library, and the only one nearby he knew of was high up in the clouds. "I suppose," he thought aloud, "I'll need to go back to the City Center. I need more information if we're going to resolve this predicament."

"That is good to hear," the voice came from behind Molam. "Perhaps we can talk?"

Primrose slid past Molam, spinning him around as she went, her voice challenging. "And why are you following us?"

Recovering from his momentary disorientation, Molam settled his gaze on Khalim. The older man had his hands held out, signifying he was unarmed and not a threat.

"I was looking to speak with Molam," Khalim explained, taking a step closer to them. Primrose did not budge from her ready stance, one hand reaching behind her back. "Though it sounds like Molam was already on his way back towards the City Center. Perhaps there's mutual interest in having a discussion in my office?"

Molam's eyes narrowed. "And what makes it mutual?"

Khalim met his gaze with a disarming smile. "I would also like to save the Whale of ZhiXia."