Chapters 137: Another Princess
Unless fighting essence users, higher ranking enemies, large numbers, or extreme battlefields, most battles were not challenging enough to warrant a full team of six simultaneously. Most adventurer teams had a few members participating in a given battle at a time, while others with long cooldowns rested.
A team of six was easily divided into three teams of two or two teams of three, which made it ideal for both small engagements and large scale battles. At silver, the rank where the most important conflicts occurred, larger teams would find their full strength employed simultaneously. Teamwork and trust needed to be developed from the early stages, so most formed larger teams at iron rank, regardless of the frequency of large scale battles. If a situation devolved, the rest of the team would be there to save the others. It was an arrangement that prevented unexpected deaths and built a foundation for later ranks.
No matter what, a team of at least two or three was recommended.
This was the norm of Sanshi adventurers, but Nara did not know the education adventurers in Saggia and Rowen received. The Rowen Kingdom focused on specialists. A damage spellcaster would have mostly damage spells and abilities that boosted spell damage; They were min-maxers. Sanshi followed Saggia’s educational example, except their essence combinations were more unpredictable due to their adventurer education programs. Each region had its own quirks; Nara was looking forward to her visit to Saggia to see the differences for herself.
The multiple weeks of monster contracts leading up to the year’s end had pushed the team’s abilities up to Bronze 1. At the beginning of each rank, abilities always advanced the fastest. That’d greatly slow around rank 4 or 5, until they reached a crawl towards the end of the rank.
*****
The end of the year was upon them: A full week of festivities, in Sanshi’s characteristic flavor. Nonstop arena competitions of different kinds: combat, music, alchemy, running, painting, debate, research, the list continued. Street performances from performance troupes competed with voting slips to win a grand prize. Even the food and craft stalls competed for the stop spot with earnings.
The prize was quintessential to Sanshi’s foundational philosophy. Long ago, the Shian region had been ruled by a tyrant who took essences from the population for his own troops. The people hid their essences, building up the six great families in secret over decades who worked together to usurp the local tyrant. It was a slow and painful rebellion, essence users carefully hiding to increase their power enough to defeat the gold rank tyrant and his forces. The Nisei family had been the one to coordinate monster subjugations and clean up the battlegrounds so that the tyrant would not notice anything wrong, as well as manipulating the court to foment internal strife and distract from their building external threats. Insidious means for a good cause was foundation of Nisei and their infamy.
The Arlang had been the family of the military, who resented the actions of the tyrant but had no choice but to follow heinous orders in order to fool the tyrant. Thus, they swore they would never take on a noble title again. They would, from the moment the tyrant was finally killed, be the shield of the people against all forms of authority. To stand right when orders were wrong. They spread themselves over the world, an adventurer force that stepped in to save others when no one else would. They were strict, and they were righteous. All to one day wash away the blood of the innocents on their hands. No criminals to their creed existed in the Arlang family. They were slain by the family themselves.
They usurped the tyrant, and established the Shain Union, the foundation created by the six great families in a government. Government positions were based on merit, a test needed to be passed to gain a position. Positions required competency, and enough incompetence resulted in removal.
Sanshi was in its awkward transitional phrase of this history in development where members of the six great families were still numerous in Sanshi’s government, despite their original intentions. They had wanted to phase out their family members from the government (or at least, the families that still held paramount their foundational purpose did). However, like the Mongolians, their blood had spread far and wide. Their lineages were entwined into the foundational canvas of Sanshi, unable to be completely separated from the layers above.
Lee Hu and Ranshi Haihu were both distant relatives of the Fenhu, carrying a fragment of their name with them. Of the six great families that still carried the original intention of stepping back, they consoled themselves that their distant relatives were no different than the normal people of Sanshi. Other families, such as the declining Jagar, tried to desperately retain the power they once had, clinging on with the tenacity of burrs on wool.
All this meant that the prize of Sanshi’s festivities were obvious—essences and awakening stones. They had usurped the tyrant to prevent the consolidation of power and essences under a single entity. In particular, the performance competition was well known for the rarest prize: a five star, legendary, essence. Although Sanshi could not manage this every year, four star essence a far more common yearly prize; this year, it was achieved with a anonymous benefactor.
A skilled cook, even if they did not attend the Prep academy, could win top spots three years consecutively and become an essence user. These necessary rewards were the reason for Sanshi’s cultural importance on loot abilities. They needed essence generations to fund their free essence culture.
Nara had even sold a legendary essence to the government as the prize. She had converted it from a common Wasp Essence and chose which legendary essence she converted it to at random, although the government didn’t know that. It was a secret that she was the source of the essence. The local government had come to her on recommendation of the Prep Academy, since she was known for her sponsorships and store of essences. She had boasted she could provide any essence to her sponsors, and the government finally asked for a favor.
They still purchased it for an impressive price, and they only asked for one. They wouldn’t let her just donate a 5 star essence, which were normally unpurchasable, and Nara couldn’t tell them she had converted it. Nara’s pockets were once again heavy with gold coins. Nara didn’t sell her converted essences on the market, but she limited herself to just this one for a good cause.
*****
Nara had a booklet that detailed a schedule of performances and competitions. She wanted to see some of the research presentations, and gain a better understanding of what magic researched looked like in this world, what was Erras’ equivalent of science. Eufemia had marked out which performance troupes she expected to have the best performances, as well as a couple dark horses. It was impossible to see them all over the course of six days. Many performances were simultaneous at different locations.
The week before the festivities, the local government had delivered six performance voting slips, each colored for a different day. They could vote once each day with those tickets. Aside from that, to encourage and reward food stall performances, food stalls had raffle tickets issued by the government they gave out for purchases. The raffle tickets allowed entry to the high society banquet, a dream of many who sought connections to the upper crust of Sanshi. Or they could receive an essence instead, if they didn’t care for it.
Nara wanted neither, nor did she expect to win. If she won, she’d give up her prize and have the government draw again, which was an option.
The team all made their separate plans for the week. They’d occasionally meet up to enjoy a performance together. Just because they were a team, they didn’t spend all of their time together. Eufemia’s casual performance troupe wasn’t competing, but there was no doubt the arts was where she would spend her time.
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John held an interest in alchemy and healing magic research. He’d also volunteer at the city health tents in case anyone got hurt or if anyone wanted cleansing for free, a gift of the festivities from the church of the healer the and church of purity.
Nara made sure she’d attend Redell’s performance in the concert hall at the end of the week. She had access to his box seats, and would go with the entire team. It was the event she most looked forwards too.
Encio was interested in the debates as well as the mirage chamber matches. Sen shared similar interests, although more towards the large scale simulated battle that was the final day showstopper of the mirage chamber battles. Two sides of 50 essence users fighting against each other in a chaotic player versus enemy versus player battle.
Many large cities had a culture of mirage chamber competitors. It was one of Erra’s few competitive sports. While adventurers enjoyed the matches, they often held low opinions of mirage competitors; they were cowards who could not bear the risks of true combat and fight monsters. However, they begrudgingly respected their ability to work in a team, honed by the inability to die from mistakes. Competitors bought cores with their earnings or directly won them, stopping at silver rank. In Sanshi, with its low magic, competitors were no higher than bronze rank. Silver rank teams moved to higher magic cities, where the competition was fiercer, and the earnings were greater.
Mirage competitors had greater prominence in cities with traditional nobility, unlike Sanshi. Scions that lacked the nerve for adventuring could console themselves with mirage battles, earing honor for their family and honing their skills in a mirage reality. The good competitors that were also adventurers were exception to adventurers’ distaste for the culture.
*****
Nara walked with Chrome and Encio, wearing traditional Sanshi festival clothing, a rarity for Encio. Chrome had grown to enjoy dressing up in fun clothing, although he’d never admit it to her.
Nara wore a light blue robe, distinct from her usual preference for dark blue. It was embroidered with clouds and wind, shimmering with a silver brocade pattern. It was layered with moonlight silk, a shimmering transparent silk and specialty of the Sanshi region.
Encio wore a dark green robe, with a sleeker silhouette. It was embroidered with reeds and weed wood. He looked more reserved and scholarly than his usual teasing air, although his sly grin dispelled any illusions of a quiet scholar.
Chrome was the most ostentatious, wearing a rich red robe with a draping cloak of onyx black that contrasted against his dazzling golden hair. With Encio’s more elegant and sleek style, Chrome became the most prominent member of their group. He was the ancient emperor walking among his people, gracing the peasants with his heavenly countenance.
A recording crystal floated above their heads, recording the colorful and warm atmosphere of the festival. Decorated stalls lined the streets, past commercial districts. Shops flung their doors open wide, inviting in festivalgoers with themed products and advertising shouts. Tapestry depicting the traditional iconography for the new year; the phoenix, for rebirth. The sun at sunrise and sunset for old ends and new beginnings. The star peony, which grew on Shian’s tallest peaks, had petals which softly glowed at night in beautiful shades of pink, purple, gold, and blue.
As usual, Encio started with background explanation that educated much of what Nara had learned about Sanshi’s culture and history. Nara purchased a star peony from a stall, placing it in Encio’s hair.
“Men should wear flowers more often,” she said with an indulgent sigh, “Everyone should wear flowers more often,” she corrected.
“Then let the two of us start now,” Encio said with a grin. He purchased his own flower, a lunar lily, from the same stall, and strung it into Nara’s hair which was done up in a bun by Sage.
“There. That’s the two of us.”
They turned to Chrome.
Chrome had a string of white Pearl Arabis flowers strung down his long braid. He was by far the definitive fairy queen of the group, delicate flowers entwined with locks of sunlight. It had interrupted his original red-on-black imposing outfit, a fashion atrocity he wouldn’t let live, and swapped them for delicate white airy robes. If he was to be subjected to his summoner’s fashion whims, he would at least look good doing it.
He had been stopped several times now, by men and women alike, some of which who shyly asked for his names with faces tinted of pink embarrassment. Others, more confident in their pursuit, were foiled by the revelation he was a familiar, and not a runic-celestine with unusual glowing hair. That did not stop some.
“There are degenerates, even in this world. I’m impressed,” Nara said as Chrome lifted a persistent woman by her waist, jumped to the top of a building, and left her there. There was a way down, on the other side of the building she’d have to make her way too. But she remained at the railing, gazing upon Chrome as the three left her field of view through the crowd.
“You should not be impressed with the degeneracy of people,” Chrome said unhappily, “Your base instincts are so repulsive.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t look like a bipedal humanoid then.”
Chrome scoffed, “And arrogant. Do you believe that that only souls have the right to a bipedal humanoid shape? That, if I did not want to be harassed, that I should’ve looked different?”
“Point taken, my bad Chrome,” she apologized. “I’ll keep them off you next time instead of laughing.”
He huffed and rolled his eyes, placated.
Chrome had his own aura, and could direct others away from him normally, but this craziness of a festival meant that some people inevitably bumped into him. Chrome liked to be appreciated—he didn’t mind the spotlight—but only from the proper, respectful distance. He didn’t like grabby children that tried to touch his glowing hair, snot nosed brats that touched his nice clothing, or men and women with more confidence than control who tried to flirt with him. Chrome had a general distaste for most people and existence by default, despite his contradictory desire of liking reality.
With both her higher rank and stronger aura, the manipulation of her familiar’s auras correspondingly increased. They were limited by their vessels, no matter how experienced they were in their own aura control. While familiars had their own auras, it was mixed with the aura of their summoner. A sufficiently higher rank or skilled essence user could recognize a summoner through their familiar.
Among her familiars, Sage had the best aura control, blending into the background as like a vase in a house. Even if one noticed her at a passing glance, most subconsciously ignored her. Chrome’s aura control was the next best, but he made no attempts at stealth, beyond making life easier for himself. He didn’t specialize in it as Sage did either. Aura control was not integral to Chrome’s function; it was the result of his long existence, and not out of tactical necessity.
Thanatos’s aura control was the worst, but still good for a familiar, as his powers involved some measure of stealth. He could swap between aggression and power, physically attacking enemies along with Nara, and transition to something stealthier. In many ways, he matched Nara’s own inclinations between offense and stealth. However, he would not get past any detection specialist. It was more than enough for monsters, and a tactic he could utilize fighting them.
Familiar’s auras were more a direct result of their nature. Sen’s Avatar of Wrath would never have an aura that was stealthy. It was always powerful, and always angry, and it made damn sure everyone in the area knew they were withing mauling distance.
It was late morning, still before the hours of the afternoon. Each day of the year end festivities was filled with activities. They were headed to the mirage chamber arena for the opening match of the week.
The arena was large and circular; apparently, the universal shape of an arena. Earth’s stadiums dwarfed the mirage arena. Fundamentally, mirage chambers did not require much actual space for the competitors; most of the space of the arena was for seating. Some pace was still required, but the dreaming mirage effect meant that space was expanded in the mirage. What was about the size of a small dueling arena could become massive forests, sprawling grasslands, and ruined towns thanks to magic. Projection screens were the only way the battle could be comprehensively watched. Watching essence users twitch in their sleep wasn’t particularly engaging.
The three lined up at the arena, waiting to enter. They could use the retreaters’ private viewing room, but Nara wanted to see what it felt like among the crowd of people. She was curious how they enjoyed the match. Was it like the excitement of a sports game, or more the quiet watchfulness punctuated with exclamation of an action movie?
*****
“Happy end year festivities to all of guests in Sanshi’s main arena!” A female announcer exclaimed, “Today, we have the much anticipated match up between Team Incessant Rain and Team Meat Skewer!”
Nara didn’t think she heard the announcer quite right.
“…Team Meat Skewer? Someone was thinking with their stomach, not their head. What would our team name be? Team International? No, Inter-astral? Team Cosmic Coasters? Or Team Definitely Not Nobility? We have way too many members that are ‘technically not nobility’ and its starting to feel damn odd. I don’t think Eufemia can make fun of you and Sen anymore.”
Encio smirked, “I wonder how many times I can get away with calling her princess before she’d try to punch me.”
“She’s going to do it to you right back.”
“I’m thick skinned,” Encio said. He paused for dramatic effect, “And…An honorary young duke.”
“You’re finally going to own up to it now?”
“When have I not? Eufemia is right, technicalities are technicalities. The power the Aciano family holds, irrespective of our union with the De Lucas is on par with nobility. The Arlang family is renown worldwide for their quality of adventurers. Even in Rona and Rowen, they have political sway.”
“Alright, Prince Charming, I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Am I?”
“Am I what?”
“Charming.” He beamed with a lofty, too-perfect grin.
“No, silly, it’s just a reference. Prince Charming gets rejected for a swamp ogre anyway.”
He jokingly pouted, slumping back into his seat with the beauty of a model in a greyscale photoshoot than the sloppiness of a teen with their pants pulled past their ass.
“These seats aren’t very comfortable,” he said with joke complaint. “I already miss the nebula house.”
“Even your ass is used to luxury. Now hush, Prince Whining, the match is starting.”