Well, I would have assumed that my second visit to the council would be a bit less stressful compared to the first one.

Well, the place itself has not changed much. There is still the market acting as the heart to the place. Right now the shops are not as active as they were the previous time. Almost everybody here seems to be looking at me. It is actually a pretty awkward experience.

If before the people knew little about me, now they knew who exactly I was. I could see it in the way that the people here stopped everything that they were doing here to look at me. I am surprised that the people have not already begun to riot. The people certainly looked ready to do that.

The way that they look at me is not the way in which a person would look at a curious creature. Instead it is the way in which the people would look at a convict on his way to the executioner. A kind of morbid excitement. These people are here to see some blood.

There is a clear tension in the air that was missing the last time that we were here. I can see the legendary aggression of the snow tribe now. I can see why the council has to be careful in dealing with these people. Just the smallest thing might set these people and you cannot who it will explode on.

All in all, this time my trip into the council is not a pleasant experience at all.

Anyway it is time for me to focus on the matter at hand. This time the council trial room is more familiar. I do not have anything to add to it though. This is a simple place with a simple purpose. Not that it is any less intimidating though.

The arrangement of the five tribes are also the same as the last time. This time there is a difference in the atmosphere of the room. The reason for that I think is the man that is leading the tattoo tribe this time.

Well, I am not really able to get a read on the man. Compared to the lady the last time, he is much older. I would say he could compete with the commander in terms of age.

The only thing that I can really tell about it is that the man has a presence about him. If before, with the lady everybody here were more relaxed, now they are more stressed.

Even the men of the blood tribe are taking on a more alert posture.

The man begins to speak, his voice heavy and has a gravitas that only experience can bring.

"Well, we have come here to deal with this mess.", speaks the man. "This thing has gone on for a week too long. I call the trial of this legioner to head. Anybody that has a problem with that can voice it now."

Even I can tell a challenge when I hear it, even if it is in another language.

Nobody rises to the challenge. Thus the man speaks on.

"Well, does any of the other clans want to vote on this man's fate. The beast tribe and the tattoo tribe have already voted and we have no desire to change it. Does any of the other tribes want to change their votes. Well, you have not voted technically." He speaks on, this time directed at me. With the way that his presence magnifies, I understand that this is a threat. This man does not like me one bit.

"Well, the last time the control of the council was in the hand of a leader that was a novice. It was her first time here.", he speaks. "You shall find no opportunity to shoot your mouth here, legioner. Such obvious attempts at dividing us. As can be expected of the legion."

"Well, my lord. I just answered the questions that were asked by the blood tribe.", I reply. I struggle a bit to get the words out but this is no commander.

He speaks to me again, some kind of a threat maybe.

"The lord says that you have no need of answering any questions then.", cloak speaks behind.

The man shifts his attention away from me completely, now speaking to the blood tribe.

"Lord of the blood tribe, do you change your decision.", he speaks. "I have warned you against the outsiders for centuries now. Don't fall to their words now. Trusting a man that is with the legion of all things."

This time the man of the blood tribe speaks. There is still no fear in his voice but there is a clear edge to his words.

"My lord, the blood tribe knows what is good for it and what is not. We do not need you to tell us that.", he speaks. "As for our vote we shall change nothing. The man will not die due to this duel of yours, if we can help it."

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"As my predecessor must have pointed out this is not a execution. What can we do if the kid is arrogant enough to challenge a snowlord with his paltry strength.", he speaks, his presence pressing on the man like it did with me.

Well, it did not even have the effect it did on me. If anything it just helped to piss off the other side.

"That is what you tell. Though knowing what the kid has told us, it would be wiser for you to take care of your allies before us.", he speaks. "The vote of the blood tribe will not change. The kid shall not duel your snowlord."

"Fine, then, lord of the wolf tribe. Do you change your vote?", he asks them.

Well, the lord of the wolf tribe is a man of a few words. Even during the previous trial the man did not speak much.

"We do not change it, lord of the tattoo tribe.", he speaks. "We have reason to believe that you will not be able to conduct this duel fairly. Thus respecting the spirit of the duel, we do not approve of it."

The man does not try and convince the other side more than this. With that he turns to the spear tribe who will be deciding my fate.

"Lord of the spear tribe, this council is then brought to you. You have withheld your right to vote in the last trial as well.", speaks the man of the spear tribe.

"Well, I thank you, lord of the tattoo tribe.", he speaks. "We have reason to believe that the snowlord has lied about issuing the challenge to the duel. We shall verify the validity of the statements from the accused. Does the lord grant us the right to do that."

"Yes, I give you that right.", he speaks, contradicting his own statement a few moments ago.

(After almost an hour.)

Right now I can feel my own head slow down. It is almost like I have suddenly woke up from sleep. I have been spending the last one hour speaking continuously.

The spear tribe have been continuously questioning me about the fight I had with the snowlord.

They questioned me about every aspect of it for the last hour. This is to a point that I have been repeating my answers for a while now.

I don't know what exactly they are looking for but they have been certainly insistent in their questioning. I think they are trying to see if I might change my story if enough pressure is put on me.

They have finally stopped about a minute ago. I can still feel my head ringing from the amount of talking that they have made me do.

I almost do not catch what they are speaking. A few moments later I hear the translation.

"The spear tribe has questioned the kid and finds there to be no reason to doubt the tattoo tribe. At the same time, we have to agree that the wolf tribe is also right. This duel, while true to the laws will go against the spirit of the duel. We cannot therefore support the motion to conduct a duel. We therefore vote against this duel."

As I am processing this, the lord of the spear tribe goes on.

"we propose an alternative. We would believe that a winters loop would be a more fair method of conducting this duel."

"Are you sure, lord of the spear tribe.", speaks the man at the tattoo tribe, his voice taking a very dangerous edge. Anywhere else that tone would have meant swords would be drawn.

"We are more than sure, lord of the tattoo tribe. The man has the relevant experience at controlling formations as well. It is the ideal choice.", the spear lord replies.

"Well then, we shall accept this alternative. We assume that the spear tribe has already voted on it.", he speaks. "Whichever tribe agrees to this raise their hands."

None of the tribes speak, as the spear tribe, tattoo tribe and the beast tribe raise their hands.

"With that cleared, we have to discuss about which tribe will be taking charge of the legioner.", he speaks. "With every passing day the presence of the legioner is causing chaos. The quicker we get rid of this matter, the better for us. We of the tattoo tribe will not take charge of his security though."

"The beast tribe will not be able to manage protecting the kid. We will not take charge of the kid.", the beast tribe speaks.

And then everybody starts speaking. Even cloak behind me stops trying to translate them. Even he seems to be struggling to keep up with all the people suddenly speaking.

(After about ten fifteen minutes.)

I have no idea what the fuck is going on here. All I can really tell is that nobody wants to take responsibility of my safety.

Right now the main argument is happening between the tattoo tribe, the spear tribe and the wolf tribe.

Both the blood tribe and the beast tribe are out of this argument now. The remaining three are arguing with a passion though.

Anyway, the reason that I am recording right now is actually due to the fact that the lord of the blood tribe has spoken up.

Even right now he is speaking, though I am not able to make out a single word of his. All I have really is his tone. The man has a calm and collected tone, though there is an edge hidden in his voice.

Whatever the man is speaking, the others in the room do not like it. The way that they react remind me of the soldiers of the legion before they enter into a fight. That steely calmness, not many in the continent can replicate.

"The lord of the blood tribe have taken responsibility of your protection. He has informed the council you will be taken to the bloody city.", cloak translates behind me. "He shall take you their immediately after the end of the council. He is asking the lord of the tattoo tribe to end the council so that everybody can be on their way."

As I am hearing the translation, the tension in the room has taken on another new level. For a few moments I am left wondering if they will end up fighting.

Finally, the lord of the tattoo tribe finally barks something, which I have to assume is the command to end the council.

Almost as soon as that statement ends all the figures present there rise at the same moment. Again, it feels like there is going to be a fight as the council all begin to slowly disappear, each into their own hidden tunnels.

(After about five minutes.)

I can feel the blood pound in my head like a drum as cloak makes me rush through the complicated tunnels of the council.

He does not even dare to stop even for a few moments as we just keep running through the place.

He has finally stopped now, which is why I have started this thing again. The reason that he has stopped is due to a bunch of snow tribe people all armed to their teeth.

I don't recognise any of them, other than the five that are leading them. This is the blood tribe's soldiers it looks like.