Today, Equality Square wasn't as bustling as it was yesterday morning. Nevertheless, people steadily trickled in, continuing to bring flowers. The police were still stationed, and the direct paths to the former museum building were securely blocked off. There were no sanitary, epidemiological control, or chemical and biological protection service vehicles around the square. They had either done all the necessary work, or the authorities didn't want to unsettle the public further, and had brought the necessary specialists in a couple of military trucks parked near the entrance.
Naturally, we arrived late for the start of the gathering, but I didn't regret it. I had to assign training tasks to the Padawans since I had taken on the role of their instructor. Now, despite all that had befallen me, I felt a certain responsibility for these two lads. Regardless of how the situation evolved, a Breakthrough would happen eventually, and these two, who were essentially still boys, would have to fend off the unknown with their blades.
A substantial number of raigs had already assembled on the BKDW building: all of the organization's members, except for Maya, who was absent again, and almost everyone who was there yesterday morning, with a few exceptions.
The Knights were embroiled in a heated discussion, but our arrival on the roof halted all conversations. More specifically, it was my arrival that caught everyone's attention, as all eyes landed on my Projection. I acknowledged everyone with a wave. In response, some waved back, some bowed, some saluted with their weapons, and only Crixus, seated on the parapet, acknowledged me with a slight nod.
"Why all the shouting but no fight?" I asked, employing a colloquialism unfamiliar to this world.
"We're not shouting. We're debating," Halley responded. I was indeed correct in assigning him the leading role. His age might not be different from the rest of the raigs, but his confidence, calmness, and prudence were precisely what was needed in a crisis.
"In that case, continue. I'll listen and get up to speed," I said, moving towards the edge of the crowd to withdraw from the spotlight.
I honestly didn't think this would work. I anticipated being bombarded with questions, but to my surprise, they let me be. It seems Maya had relayed our yesterday's "adventures," so there is no hype. More precisely, judging by the posture of many, they were eager to ask more, but respect for their elders restrained them from initiating the conversation.
Sitting on the edge of the roof, I listen to the arguments, and it makes me nauseous. More than a day and a half have passed since the terrorist attack, and the Break Knights have been unable to reach a consensus on a multitude of issues! It turns out that even the scheduled meeting with the representatives of the authorities has been postponed for the second time.
In fact, the raigs were split into two uneven camps. The clear majority advocated for hard negotiations, revisiting the previous agreements with the House on the Hill entirely. The nucleus of this group was Crixus, which didn't surprise me in the slightest. The opposition consisted of Halley, Shiko, Leonidas, Kael, Thora, and a few other Knights. However, their position was significantly weaker, as they weren't fundamentally against revisions and pressuring the authorities. Instead, they proposed a delay, prioritizing making Eshin pay, and without collaboration with the Castle, the likelihood of a successful investigation dissipates into a distant haze.
On one hand, Crixus is undoubtedly correct: the authorities promised protection to the raigs and failed — it's time to reassess past agreements. On the other hand, the former heir to the Corsican family, as well as his supporters, lack life experience. If the issue is approached from the standpoint of seizing as much as possible immediately, then yes, ultimatums need to be set, pressure applied, "strike while the iron is hot." However, if the game is long, a more restrained position could yield significantly more benefits. Yet all of those gathered on the roof are young; even "tomorrow" seems a distant concept to them.
Overall, it's surprising that Halley hasn't been crushed, and they haven't accepted Crixus's stance as the main one. At least it was, until I heard an explanation. It turns out Maya was present at the morning meeting, and when the Corsican voiced his viewpoint, the girl sharply rebuked him, stating that since he hadn't participated in any reflection of the Breakthrough to Wilflaes, he should keep quiet and sit aside. Additionally, Maya established her position: either unanimity or nothing at all. And given her standing among the local Knights was immensely high, everyone was attempting to reach a unanimous decision once again.
I also discovered why Maya was absent. It turns out she had gone to visit her father, who was serving on a ship patrolling the northern waters. The girl was supposed to return before six in the evening, but so far, she was delayed, or perhaps she had run out of prana. From what I understand, even with the speed available to a third-level raig, the journey is not short.
All in all, Maya did really well. She didn't neglect her family, her father; she set aside all her duties to meet him. He was undoubtedly distressed after the terrorist attack, especially since his daughter is an open Break Knight and the primary target if something goes awry. Once again, I realized that I had underestimated this girl.
As the debates and disputes circled back around, I had to intervene; otherwise, this would continue until the debaters' prana was depleted. In addition, I had grasped the dynamics, analyzed the stance of both sides, identified weak points, and most importantly, pinpointed those who were wavering. The people's energy was again waning, and a pause emerged, which I filled by calmly asking a question without raising my voice.
"Crixus, what do you want to achieve?"
"Everything!" The Corsican answers without a moment's hesitation.
Well, who would have doubted? It took significant effort for me to suppress a grin; the open face of my Projection, without a helmet and visor, is a considerable disadvantage.
"So, you mean the entirety of Novilter?" I clarify, immediately upping the ante.
"Yes! In the future, not now. Later. But it should be us, the raigs, who receive authority by right of being the world's defenders." I got him — he jumped to his favorite topic.
Moreover, his position is aligned, if not with the majority, then with about half of the Knights. However, this doesn't surprise me.
"Not now." I emphasize his words. "So you understand that the game is going to be long-term?"
"Of course!" The Corsican even jumped to his feet. "I'm not an idiot! Why would we Knights seize power here and now? To incite a civil war, massacres, the collapse of financial and industrial institutions, and then rule over the ruins?" He's truly not a fool; he has done his homework. "But time will pass, and quite a bit, and the shapeshifters will have to make room." His words resonate with the audience, creating a hum of agreement. "And no one! Ever! Will dare to harm a Break Knight or their family!" Someone even brandished a blade at these words. "But everything starts with the first step, and now is the time to take it!"
He's genuinely adept, flexible, capable of adapting on the fly, accepting new rules, and altering his approach while never straying a step from his ultimate goal. However, I notice how he toys with concepts, substituting meanings to garner mass support. In addition, he's overly self-absorbed and seemingly greedy for outward signs of honor, respect, and power. The latter might be a consequence of escaping from his family, but the underlying reasons are not so important at the moment.
"You were raised amongst nobility, weren't you?" I purposely phrase it as a question.
"Yes!" He proudly throws back his head and straightens his shoulders to emphasize this simple "yes."
"So tell me, what is more profitable in the long run: to demand reparations from a guilty clan or to gain a voluntary, albeit temporary, ally conscious of his guilt?"
"Well, it's not that simple..." Crixus starts to equivocate.
"Also, regarding the demands you put forth." Seeing him fall silent, presumably formulating an answer, I seize the moment to change the topic, pressing on a weak link. "Why do you suggest changing the status of recognized raigs from knightly to baronial?"
"Respect! We should not be content with scraps! They should formally treat us as equals."
"Formally." I hit the most contentious point. "Who here needs this?" I scrutinize the raigs with an intense gaze. As I expected, no one is ready to take a clear stand yet. "You see, no one but you. Because recognition of a barony affects the entire family, which requires paperwork and the assignment of a coat of arms — and this can't be done incognito. Therefore, the papers will contain real names and surnames. You don't care about your family — they are distant and have disowned you. What about us?" I slowly scan the crowd again. "Only you and Maya can use this demand without repercussions if it is met. Moreover, I'm not sure that Maya needs it at all."
I suppose, swayed by Crixus' eloquence, many have already visualized a baronial ring on their fingers, but my words made them reflect. Reflect deeply. And from the way the Knights' poses shift, it's clear they are beginning to comprehend the implications, and they don't like this understanding.
Realizing that he lost this round, Crixus retaliates:
"So, what do YOU want, Maestro?"
More precisely, he thinks he's retaliating and buying himself time to devise a response, but in reality, he's falling into a trap.
"What do I want?!" I raise my voice. "First and foremost, I want to understand why we're here. Is it truly to barter the bodies of our comrades for a higher price?!" Silence descends, and everyone freezes. "What?" My voice drops to what musicians call a groove, almost a growl. "Am I wrong?! Isn't this haggling over bodies — these demands for status, increased payouts, and prize money?! 'Knights'..." I spit out the last word contemptuously.
Indeed, the list that Crixus had prepared contained many other items, but these were the ones I targeted, knowing I could utilize them to my advantage.
"So, is this why we are here and now?" Silence meets my question. "I ASKED! Is it?!!" I push my vocal cords to their limit.
"No!" Shiko is the first to respond, shaking his head.
"No...no...no..." A cascade of replies follows, with others joining in. "No..no...no..."
And even:
"No!" From Crixus.
The Corsican backs off, seemingly not having anticipated that his demands could be reframed and viewed in such a context. He probably included these points to leverage the mercantilism of the young people to fortify his position. But he miscalculated. Intellect and even the finest training are insufficient, especially in situations where experience is paramount.
"Good. That's good." I ease off the pressure. "So, shall we get down to business?"
"Do you have any suggestions, Maestro?" Halley, the first to recover from my onslaught, asks in response.
"I do." I lower my voice to a tranquil tone, creating a contrast; all the raigs' attention is now riveted on me. "My first suggestion is not to demand anything." And before anyone can dispute, I carry on. "They'll come and offer, on their own[1]. Or am I mistaken, Crixus?" My gaze lands on the Corsican.
"They will..." He answers with significant reluctance.
"Perhaps they'll offer less than the list you've debated so fervently. That's true." I strive to maintain a calm and slightly indifferent tone. "But do we truly need to secure additional bonuses right now? Or is there something more important?" The Knights' reaction suggests they're listening attentively. Even Crixus is fully engaged without his usual feigned nonchalance. "Maybe we should consider what will be useful, rather than what will bring money, stroke our pride, or prove profitable? How about discussing what will enable us to retaliate against Eshin for our comrades' deaths, and also be useful in repelling Breakthroughs? We don't need concessions from the authorities but a mutually beneficial dialogue. Because Crixus is partly right - now is a favorable time for such negotiations. Our endless arguments and lack of unity are currently working against us. However, Maya's demand was on point. We, the Break Knights, must unite: those within the BKDW, allies of the organization, and those who wish to remain independent raigs. Because no matter how the situation unfolds, a Breakthrough will come, and we'll need to fight side by side." I stumbled slightly in my wording - I shouldn't have used "need to" at this point, but what's said cannot be unsaid. I hope it wasn't a critical error.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
"And what do you think would be beneficial for us?" Crixus has recovered from his setback and is again attempting to assume the leading role. His persistence in this is quite remarkable.
"So what?" Suddenly, unpredictably for everyone, delicate Kael steps forward. "In your opinion, only you and the Maestro can think, while we're here merely as decoration?"
"I didn't..." The Corsican throws up his hands in denial, but the girl doesn't allow him to defend himself.
"We also have heads on our shoulders!" As thin as a reed, the girl advances on the Corsican, who retreats under this unexpected onslaught. "September is coming soon, and most of us are either high school students or freshmen. What we really need is less restriction on extracurricular activities and more free time in universities and colleges! This would allow us to dedicate more time to investigation, assistance to city services, and preparation for Breakthroughs!"
"Hold on!" Shiko jumps into the discussion. "We can ask for this, and I'm certain they'd concede, but to do this, we'd need to reveal our identities."
"No, you don't understand!" Kael shakes her head. "Revealing our identities now, especially when the security services have already demonstrated how 'trustworthy' they can be, is not an option."
"What then? I don't understand." Shiko seems ready to scratch the back of his head, but then remembers he's wearing a closed helmet.
"General concessions for all students in Wilflaes!" Thora's sister responds in place of her.
"To make such adjustments in three days and send them to all educational institutions?" Shiko expresses his surprise. "No one will agree to that!"
"We won't know if we don't try!" Kael continues to insist on her point. "And it is important! The academic year is about to start, and if everything remains as it is now, most of us will have no 'personal' time at all!"
The approving murmur supporting her words clearly indicates that this is indeed a touchy subject. Indistinct exclamations evolve into whispers and then into a heated discussion about the sisters' proposal.
Kael's intervention was timely. Not because her suggestion is truly essential. Not because she tripped up Crixus, who had begun to regroup. But because she reminded me that the people around me are not puppets or marionettes, but real individuals. And I am not a director or scriptwriter, but one of them. For some reason, this thought filled my chest with warmth.
In general, the sisters are right; the academic year is about to commence, and even such regular meetings will become unfeasible for many without posing a significant risk of revealing their identities. As for myself and those who will be studying while living on the premises of an educational institution, the situation will become even more complex.
I need to pay more attention to the sisters. They're proactive, unafraid to take on work, and possess the ability to think – individuals like them are always needed. The key is to guide their initiative in the right direction; otherwise, they can cause chaos. On the other hand, why did I assume that I have the right to dictate how these young people should live and what they should do? Preventing the slaughter of innocents is one thing, but assuming ongoing responsibility for overseeing the raigs is another.
Meanwhile, the raigs had shifted from simple slogans to discussing the finer details and phrasing, contributing insightful points and amendments. Within less than ten minutes, the proposals were sufficiently detailed and well-formulated, and none of them seemed unfeasible. There were no demands to shut down clubs or cancel after-school activities, only to loosen control over attendance through increased monitoring of extracurricular work done.
As the discussion of this matter started to die down, Leonidas stepped forward and somewhat hesitantly suggested that it would be beneficial to conduct joint training in the Break. As soon as he said this, for some reason, everyone's gaze shifted to me.
In principle, if there were no constraints posed by everyday life, I would agree. Not because I'm particularly eager to, but because the swordsmanship skill of the raigs was significantly lacking. This, in turn, posed a threat that something might go wrong during the next Breakthrough. Indeed, the issue has been long overdue: the Break Knights, of course, are not fools and train as best they can, but each does so according to their own understanding and capabilities, which is certainly insufficient.
I had to rise and explain that I can't be a coach for everyone due to a lack of free time. Additionally, the matter is quite complex because if we commence training, it has to happen at a specific time, and the only somewhat free hours I'll likely have will be at night. I thought these words would suffice, but to my surprise, many backed the idea of night training. So, I promised to consider this topic and make a specific proposal later. Moreover, we had all gathered for a different reason, and today's main issue was negotiating with the authorities.
As the people shifted their attention to another proposal, I turned to the Padawans and offered a slight, guilty shrug.
"Honestly, it only just occurred to me that we could train at night. But you're guilty too — couldn't you have suggested it yourself? Who needs training more, you or me?" I phrased it intentionally to keep them on their toes. "For now, stick to the tasks already assigned to you; we won't be focusing on training in the coming days anyway."
I then joined the discussion of a new proposal presented by Halley. The essence of it was to expand the interaction between the Knights and emergency services, to create a bridge between the raigs and the police, firefighters, ambulances, and others. Any of us could call or message a hotline where the raig wouldn't have to explain who they were, and their message would be taken with the utmost seriousness and urgency. We could develop individual codes or identifiers for this service. In principle, something similar already existed, but only for full-fledged members of the BKDW. Halley proposed to expand this practice to all districts of the capital. This would not only benefit the current crisis but would generally ease life for those Knights who wish to help the city but don't yet know how to do it without risking their safety. Moreover, such a service would allow the recruitment of trustworthy people, a critical necessity in light of the terrorist attack. The proposal was unanimously approved after a brief but passionate discussion.
Next, Crixus stepped forward, firstly, volunteering himself as a trainer, which I immediately backed since his swordsmanship was excellent, and he had been professionally trained. Secondly, he made a sensible proposal of his own. He suggested that we demand from the authorities the establishment of a media department that would provide more comprehensive and higher quality coverage of the actions of the Break Knights than the "free media" currently does. His motive was clear; in this way, he could work towards his plan to gradually force the shapeshifters to share their power. Nonetheless, the idea was still sound. The only disagreement was that Crixus insisted on stopping the policy of "pacifying the population," downplaying the threat of the Breakthroughs. After listening to his arguments, I sided with Crixus on this matter. Currently, all news is filtered solely for the benefit of the shapeshifters, disregarding our interests. Such an innovation could, to a degree, change this situation. Besides, Shiko became very animated. It turned out he was studying either journalism or media management and volunteered to oversee this media department, if one was created.
"In light of that," I began, aware that my next words might not be well-received given their youthful inclination to see the world in stark shades of black and white, "if a media department is established, it should be responsible for censoring all new productions in the context of danger from the Breakthroughs. I understand that the word 'censorship' might repel some, but it's not only our lives at stake, but also all the inhabitants of our world."
"Something like that already exists," Halley responded. "Not in an explicit form, and it's more behind the scenes. So far, the filtering has been left to the editors-in-chief of publishing houses and film studios. But the idea of involving us in the process is sensible. Who understands this issue better than the Break Knights? Any objections?"
Given this perspective, no one objected. As a result, this item was added to our agenda. Halley then raised a question that had seemingly been troubling him for a while.
"We just need to decide who will represent us in the negotiations... Because I... I can't handle this. I'll be crushed... I have no experience!" He seemed somewhat terrified by the prospect. "The meeting is scheduled for eight, and it's already seven!"
Once again, all eyes turned to me. And without my suit, there was no way to remedy the situation within an hour. I desperately needed a solution! Maya was still missing! She was definitely capable of managing this, plus she had a good relationship with curator Rock. The pause lingered, and I made my decision.
"I propose Crixus," I suggested. My proposal was met with stunned silence; even the Corsican seemed taken aback. "If you put aside your emotions and think logically, he is the best choice. Crixus understands how the shapeshifters think. He was trained as an heir, which includes tough negotiation skills." The unsuccessful shapeshifter nodded in confirmation of my words. "He knows all the nuances of etiquette and won't embarrass himself inadvertently. He can tactfully articulate and communicate our requests in their language. Moreover, it's crucial that he doesn't like shapeshifters." Crixus didn't comment, but his stance made his sentiments clear to everyone. "So, in terms of advocating for our position, he is the best choice. Also, Halley and I will be nearby — in the Break."
I anticipated a barrage of discussions, arguments, and complaints, but as soon as I finished my speech, everyone extended their necks as if something behind me had caught their attention. I spun around and moved aside just in time to avoid Maya, who was landing on the parapet.
As she landed on the rooftop, she greeted everyone with a casual wave of her hand.
"Hello everyone! From what I gathered, you all finally agreed!" Simultaneous nods from Crixus and Halley confirmed her speculation. "That's great. However, I came here on business. Maestro, may I borrow you for a few hours? It's important."
"Um..." I hesitated for a moment. I really didn't want to leave right now as I deemed overseeing the negotiations between Crixus and the representatives of the House on the Hill as the top priority.
"Maestro, we'll manage," Halley interjected, misinterpreting my reaction. "And since Maya says it's important, we understand."
"Perfect!" Maya exclaimed, grabbing my elbow.
Perhaps something really did happen? She wouldn't simply whisk me away for no reason, right? As for the negotiations, I can always find out how they proceeded later. I gave Maya a nod, and we leaped off the roof together.
[1] TLN: "Never ask for anything! Never and nothing, and especially from those stronger than you. They will offer and give everything themselves!" - This is likely a reference to this quote from 'The Master and Margarita.' If you haven't read it yet, you should. While it's not a web novel, it's an excellent book.