Amaro had anticipated his first time being invited to Kaara’s tent would be different. However, that was more than likely wishful thinking on his part. Rorik was the only one missing from the tent since he was the one collecting the scrolls for him to read. There were conversations between one another, but the conversation never seemed to cross between a Tibur and Xirxus. Arik and Kaara chatted endlessly about the day, while Anitus and Raktus discussed the sparring they had undergone.
Amaro still wondered what it was that Kaara had wanted to discuss with her friends last night. He decided it was none of his business no matter how much he wanted to know. Although, even if he had made that decision, it didn’t stop him from trying to fill in the blanks with his imagination from time to time.
He wanted to preoccupy his mind with something else, tonight, however. He thought about what had happened to him this morning. How those boys had tried to start a fight with him. He thought about how it might have looked to the outside eye, especially the noble adults, that he and his siblings were on such good terms with the Tibur, but not their own children.
At the very least, while it likely seemed weird to outsiders that Tibur and Xirxus were getting along well enough to socialize in the same tent, it wasn’t anything that people would want to intervene with. Creating alliances and factions with the other children in the Tibur was seen as good practice for the future even if it was viewed as strange.
From what Amaro had seen all of today, it seemed as though nobles fighting the Tibur children their age was not uncommon. Anitus hadn’t been the only one to duel a Tibur child only a day after arriving in camp.
Nobles loved to establish dominance and superiority. It wasn’t surprising. Each noble child had been raised with the idea that they were entitled to the world and everything in it. They were meant to be on top because they were born better from everyone else. Even though the Tibur were technically still nobility, they were viewed to have filthy blood since anyone could join the Tibur if they survived their rituals. So then why was it different to accept someone like a Venator Knight into their noble bloodline? If the nobles thought mixing with peasants would dirty up their noble blood, then why did they often assimilate lowborn Venator Knights into their families?
Amaro could see things from the Tibur’s side as well. He had to think the Tibur didn’t take kindly to city kids who tried to establish a hierarchy just to put themselves at the top. There were already rumblings of factions gathering under Deka and a few other high level noble houses. Anitus had told him that he’d been approached by a few earlier to represent the Xirxus house under Deka’s leadership. Anitus, of course, refused. It was likely Anitus would just make his own faction where he could be the leader instead.
Amaro was glad his own reputation as an embarrassing weakling prevented him from getting involved in such a stupid conflict with the Tibur. While the noble children were all splintered amongst themselves under different leaders who didn’t want to follow anyone but themselves, the Tibur were all unified under a xio by the name of Tadios.
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Tadios, who had been rumored as the strongest of his generation among the Tibur, was already gaining a reputation as the boogeyman for the noble factions. Amaro wasn’t certain if Tadios was the strongest, though. Between Arik and Kaara alone, the title of ‘strongest’ was in hot contention among the Tibur from his perspective. However, Arik was not a leader, and Kaara didn’t strike him as someone who wanted to be considered the strongest. Either way, he shuddered to think of ever opposing either of them in battle. If there was someone stronger than him, then he would make the correct choice by siding with the Tibur instead.
The adults viewed these growing mock factions as a natural and healthy rivalry between their children. It was an exercise in warfare that they viewed as essential to their children’s growth as warriors. According to Kaara, this sort of conflict happened every time nobles joined the Siren Ceremony. Some of the Tibur even considered the duels that took place to be an unofficial event in their festival.
It made sense, considering how much the adults loved to fight and start wars over even the most petty of matters. Seeing their children reflect their warlike tendencies was confirmation they had raised their children properly.
Amaro wondered if he would inevitably have to join these unofficial war games. He hoped that he could be on whichever side Kaara chose, but he also didn’t want to oppose his siblings. It was probably better not to fight at all.
This year, however, there were rumblings that Deka might unify the warring nobility and claim their superiority over the Tibur. So in the end, maybe Amaro wouldn’t have a choice. He wondered if it would be the first time Tibur and nobility were on the same side?
Rorik came into the tent, carrying the leather scroll case under his fur cloak, “Sorry for the wait, I was jumped by a couple of challengers on my way back.”
“Are you alright?” Kaara said.
Rorik nodded, “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
“Be grateful you didn’t catch the attention of someone strong like me. I wouldn’t want you to have any more excuses for our match this weekend,” Anitus said.
“I suppose that’s your way of showing concern huh? Thank you.” Rorik said, tossing the case over to Amaro, “But please save your provocations for the weekend, will you?”
Amaro raised a brow. The vibe between the two of them seemed different since the last time, “Did you talk or something?”
“While you were fainting like a schoolgirl on your side we had some time to converse and discuss the terms of our next bout. Beyond that, it’s none of your concern, brother.”
Amaro snickered, “Glad to see you’re making friends, Anitus.”
“Just read the damn scrolls! I’ve got places I wish to be tonight.”
Amaro opened the case and unraveled the scrolls. He scanned over the contents, “That’s not right…” He muttered.
Everyone stared at him, “What do you mean?” Kaara asked.
Amaro tried a different scroll, unfurling it, “I swear I was able to…”
“What’s wrong?”
“These scrolls…” He tried the last scroll just to confirm it, “They’re all blank.”