"They say it was a heart attack."

Reasonable words were uttered too quietly to reassure anyone. For the last few days, various rumors circulated not only within the Tower, but also throughout the whole city. It was all too sudden. A week ago, no one could have imagined such tragedy. Even scholars looked confused, though, to give them credit, they proceeded with the election process smoothly.

Dalim Cheda wore a white outfit, in keeping with the tradition of his homeland. His companion, on the other hand, stuck to black. In the vast hall filled with people dressed in funeral attire, only the flowers on the stand added color to that gloomy day.

"Was it though, Lord Cheda?" the stocky man with the shaved head replied to Dalim's words. "Don't give me that look. Her Holiness was a healthy person and not even that old."

The pause took longer than any of them expected. They watched the funeral service in silence. The line of people arriving to pay their last respects to Imara was as long and impressive as the waters of Teena River. Finally, Dalim whispered, "Are there any evidence for you to suspect that this was the result of a power struggle?"

"There were no traces of poison, if you imply that," the man's voice sounded dry and hoarse. He bowed slightly to the passing delegation from Varman. "But there is another deadly thing that could easily cover its origin."

"Surely, you are not suggesting that her holiness was killed by magic? For heaven's sake, Yajin, we are talking about the Tower! It's the furthest away from the wall and safest territory; no nymph has ever set foot there since the Retaliation War."

"Nymphs aren't the only ones who can use magic."

The silence once again took over. Words spoken in a barely audible tone struck Dalim like the sound of a bronze gong used in Varman's religious rituals. Despite his will, he glanced at the delegation from the West. This time, Carlos the Second visited the Tower himself. An event of tremendous importance with no political risks, there was no way the king could not take advantage of this opportunity to consolidate his power. After all, the internal policy of Castro's kingdom wasn't in all favor for him or his heir recently.

Yajin noticed this single glance. Nothing seemed to escape his perceptive dark brown eyes.

"Lord Cheda, you know what they say. Castro has gone further than anyone in the MOP project. If we reduce the numbers, exaggerated by rumors, they will still have at least a few dozen Magic Snatchers..."

The man stopped. A rustling sound of moving clothes made him look around warily. But only a few pilgrims passed them, heading to pay respects for the deceased. Dalim gave him a serious look. Despite his low tone, it was still too dangerous to talk about such a topic.

"I hope these thoughts are just an exaggeration. A paranoid delirium caused by the lack of sleep over the past few days," Dalim continued speaking in a low tone. His companion's thoughts, voiced aloud, could cause a serious stir, even if they sounded ridiculous. However, he could not let even the smallest possibility pass unnoticed. Magic against humans is an unspoken taboo. "But it's better to test this theory too. Has Imara been in conflict with any country? Who of her enemies would be so bold and desperate as to commit such an atrocious act? Let's try to find answers."

"I'll gladly help in any way, my lord. But I must say this again - please rearrange resources correctly. Unfortunately, we can't investigate this issue, prepare for the rebellion, and at the same time spare people for other matters."

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"If you mean by other matters the search for Ashwin, say so directly," Dalim's gentle voice turned cold. His companion averted his gaze.

"It's been two years already. No matter how difficult it is to face the truth, you must do it, Lord Cheda. If your son were alive, he would have already been found. On the other hand, the lotus emblem of Rajah has stained itself with too much blood. People are becoming more and more discontent with the ruler, and now we even have a new master of the Tower with Vardana's origins. It's time to strike."

Dalim didn't reply. He watched the group of scholars surrounding the newly elected Tower's master - His Holiness, Giansh. The grieving men and women, the sobbing sounds that interrupted the silence here and there - Yajin's choice of place and time to ask to ask him to let go of Ashwin was too much. Dalim closed his eyes. Even now, he could clearly see his son's smiling face as he bid him safe travels. He should be a teenager now, but in his memory, he remains a well-behaved and sweet child.

"People can berate the ruler in the safety of their homes, but that hardly makes them fearless rebels. Please, concentrate on current issues for now. Even if we bring back people who are looking for Ashwin, it won't help us speed up the rebellion," Dalim finally said. When his companion did not reply, he added, "I can't let him go yet. Not yet, Yajin."

The man shook his head slightly. He was not pleased by Dalim's words, but he still decided to accept his answer. Venting his frustration, Yajin glared at the nearby journalist. His feelings about the presence of curiously lurking reporters around grief-stricken people were written all over his face. When one of them approached the two men and quickly asked questions, Yajin snorted. With a click of his tongue, the reporter left to find another victim.

"He should be more concerned about the next Draw, not the election of the new Master of the Tower," grumbled Yajin. He took a handkerchief and wiped away the sweat from his face. Despite the size of the hall, it was getting hot and stuffy.

"He is just doing his job," retorted Dalim. But the mention of the next Draw made him unconsciously cross his arms over his chest. Cheda's misfortunes started with the Draw, and it should end before the next one.

Yajin took the handkerchief away and sighed. "I wonder if Carlos will question His Holiness Giansh regarding the Draw. As far as I hear, the scholars haven't proceeded with an additional check of the Navigation Mechanism."

Hearing these words, Dalim glanced at Castro's king.

"The fourth term on the same territory - this kind of thing will not happen," he stated firmly. But Yajin grimaced.

"The third term also shouldn't have happened, yet it did. It seems like Carlos will not dispute the Tower's decision. But what if the king loses his place because of this decision? Or what if his heir opposes? All hell would break loose. This is another reason why my lord, you need to overthrow the Raja before next Draw."

"That is indeed concerning," replied Dalim to the long tirade. Despite the grim picture, he was not convinced that such a future might come true. Opposing the Tower was a suicidal decision. If the country dared to commit such blasphemy, it would face the combined wrath of humanity. No, no, Yajin was just exaggerating. He had such a tendency. "Let's focus on more urgent matters for now. It's too early to worry about something that will happen almost three years from now."