Chapter 36: Peasant Economics, And Escalating Tensions

Chapter 36: Peasant Economics, And Escalating Tensions

Sakura

A few weeks later, I stood with Gamera and Rayce in the middle of the town square. The entire city, really all of the settlements on Gameras shell and inside him, were abuzz with activity and celebration.

It's disappointing the guild decided to schedule this hearing on an Emergence Day, young mis. Barka, the legal scholar and clerk that Uncle Raif had procured for me, said as we walked through the square towards the far end. Where several large buildings made of immaculate stone, and that stood several stories tall in the open air of the cavern stood. One of those buildings, the largest one crawling with clerks and officiants if I had to guess, held the guildhouses.

Normally such days are reserved for celebration and festivals. But with business having been backed up due to your parents absence, Barka pointedly did not look in Gameras direction. All of the guilds have been forced to remain open in order to catch up.

I understand. I did understand, but something in my tone must have been off as the man flinched. I put on a smile, and his visible tension eased a bit. Hopefully this will be quick, and the guild masters will see the benefit in my proposal for the entire realm swiftly. Then we can join our parents for the festivities. I hear theyre overseeing another tournament.

Gamera grumbled good naturedly. Sad that it was only for the Kindred refugees. Id love to have seen the two of you go up against real opponents. Both of you have improved dramatically since your last performances.

It's okay. Rocky is still learning my commands. And not to trust people. Rayce said as he shot me a suspicious glance.

I couldnt help but smile, at least a little. Hes a good dog. And I cant help it if he likes the treats I slip him behind your back. Hes started to figure out that when we spar, it's okay to fight me. Hell get it. And then I'll have to figure something else out.

Your two smaller companions are also growing. Theyre nearly at the Iron stage, where Rocky is. Gamera said. When they do go up a stage, you need to think of a proper way to celebrate with them.

Rayce thought about it for a moment. Theyve been wanting to go visit the peaks again. Dont know why, but it seems important to them for some reason.

Then you should take them. This time, with parental approval and a guide. Rayce winced, as Gamera glared down at him.

My companions are not the only ones growing. Rayce deflected. Sakuras turtle is nearly at Iron too. How big is he now anyway? I havent seen him in a few days.

Hes been in his den for nearly two days molting again. The staff had helped me dig a burrow for Little King made of special mana and chie infused sand, and then stuff it full of all his favorite treats. Which largely now included certain types of coal. Hes really taken to the fire element. I wonder what that means for him.

Gamera, the Kame, scratched his chin in thought. Hmm. Usually King Gamera are able to use multiple elements. Though none very well. They focus almost exclusively on chie cultivation, growing their body to rival that of a young, but mature Kame in their elder ages. In the wild this is to protect their families from attack from large beasts. Rarely, a King Gamera will show particular interest in a set of mana types.

What do you mean by set? I asked, as we got to the stone steps of the guildhouse.

A discussion for later, I am sure young mis. Barka said as he took the steps ahead of the rest of us. For now, let us focus on the task at hand. Do you remember what I suggested earlier?

I nodded. Yes. For me to stay quiet no matter what is said, and let you do the work.

Right. The dynamics between high born and low born are already fraught, even given the best of circumstances. People like myself help smooth out such contract negotiations. It is our function and role. Thank you for respecting that.

***

The tailors guild hall was near the back of the building, and consisted of a small waiting room, and an only marginally larger meeting room with seats around a circular desk that ran around its outer edges. We took our seats in the center of the room at a small desk. The Kagya family did the same, and both Mr. and Miss Kagya smiled and waved at me.

I returned the smile, and nodded politely. It is a pleasure to see you and your family again master Kagya. Thank you for entertaining my proposal.

Youre more than welcome young mis. He scratched the back of his head for a moment as if embarrassed. I have to say, the fact we have to go through this process is frustrating.

I nodded. I agree. But rules, and laws, are built much like walls. For a purpose. Without them our society would collapse down on itself like a roof with no walls to uphold it. So we must endure.The initial instance of this chapter being available happened at N0v3l.Bin.

The Genji in me squirmed at that idea. Laws and rules had been used to oppress me my entire life. While Sakura understood their need. At least in this case. They protected the weaker and lower class people from the abusive whims of the nobility.

If only those laws protected me back on Earth. Things would have been a lot different. At the thought, a knott of sadness seemed to settle in my chest. If only those in power had taken their responsibilities as seriously as they did their privileges.

Gamera chuckled. You sound like an old sage. Quiet it. Youre too young to be so reasonable. He leaned in close so only I could hear. Do not let that darkness grow child. It will swallow you whole if you let it. No matter what caused it.

I nodded, and began to turn back towards the Kagya family, only for the doors on the far side to open and six well dressed men and women, most Steel ranked or lower to file into the room. Once they had taken their seats, the oldest of them sitting in the central part of the semi-circular desk knocked a stone against a piece of wood on the desk specifically for the purpose.

The Tailors and Weavers Guild of the Western Province of the Southern Kingdom is brought to order. The others took their seats and sat quietly waiting for her direction. Thank you all for coming. Let us recognize our noble sion Lady Sakura Gamra whose proposal we are here to determine the efficacy of on behalf of the Kagya family.

Her Ladyship has retained my services to represent her in these negotiations, Chairwoman. Bakra stood and bowed at the waist. If it pleases the chair.

The elderly woman nodded acknowledging my lawyer. Bakra. Youre welcome to these proceedings as the ladys representative. The slight scowl on the chair woman's face didnt budge, but her gaze felt softer for some reason. That being said, dont think we didnt hear about the incident with the Smiths guild. Youre still banned from their proceedings I hear.

Yes master. I jumped towards the rooftop, the street was still filled with people running for their lives, and I didnt need for someone to get in the way of one of my knives and get hurt. My feet landed on the tiles with a clack, I had left my shoes below. The tiles were cold, kept cool by some kind of enchantment I was sure as the sun above gave off a steady drum beat of heat.

The roofs were slanted towards the streets, with a central walkway atop them where people usually went to hang their laundry, or do other outdoor chores not easily done on the city streets. Not exactly clear, but clear of people.

If I damage a bedsheet, no one will bat an eye. If I killed some stupid kid because he jumped in front of an already flying knife, well, that would be an entirely different story.

I ran along the slanted roof, clear of clothes lines and people. When I got within shouting range the assassin furthest back from the fighting, turned his bow at me.

Leave child. This doesnt concern you.

I shrugged, then launched a dagger at the nearest censor. It impacted in the dirt sending a small dust cloud up from the hard packed road.

Youve signed your own death warrant child. The assassin let loose his arrow, and it honestly felt like it was moving through mud. I dodged it easily, and tossed another knife even as the first reappeared in its sheath.

Steel cultivator! The assassin shouted, and I grinned at the acknowledgement. These were common born assassins most likely, most of them were barely low iron if I had to guess.

But why would someone hire iron assassins to take out a Barron level cultivator?

That was when I got another glimpse at the ambassador. Another censor lay at his feet, billowing the green poisonous smoke directly into his face as the arrows launched by the half a dozen assassins kept him pinned. He was slow, sluggish even.

As slow as the assassins.

The poison is suppressing his cultivation. But how?

My second dagger landed home, shattering the first censor to pieces and stopping the smoke. Dogs howled, and Rocky, my brother's Steel stage spirit companion charged forward baying for all he was worth. He reached the second censor, gripped it in his jaws, and shattered it into fine dust with a single bite.

Good dog! I shouted, as I dodged another arrow, and took aim at the censor directly under the ambassador's feet.

Rayce was right behind Rocky, and I heard his two smaller companions howling in the far distance. Raising the alarm and shouting for help. Rayce slid towards the third censor, dodging several lazily aimed arrows. When he got within arms reach, his movements began to slow, though not to the same effect as what was happening with the Ambassador. He reached down, grabbed the smoke releasing mana and chie construct, and shattered it between his hands with a flex of his fingers.

Maybe it affects higher ranked cultivators more?

I didnt have time to contemplate on it, as an arrow clipped my ear, and caused it to bleed. Ay! I shouted, and I decided I had had enough of the rude assassin. Im a kid!

You were warned, brat! Now die! He raised his bow, and launched another arrow at me. This one infused with mana and probably chie. It blazed with red fire as it leapt from his string, but it still moved far too slowly.

I threw myself up onto the flat platform on the roof, and rolled to a crouch. Then let loose a dagger of my own.

The knife glowed a bright white, as I let it go, I shaped the Imbued Strike to be concussive, hoping to disable and capture, rather than kill the man.

The knife struck his knee, and the concussive blast had disastrous effects. Both his knees shattered, bending the wrong direction in an eye blink. The man's screams of pain were cut short as he fell and his head hit the corner of the platform. He went limp, and fell off the roof.

Did, did I just kill him?

I stood there in a daze as several more arrows whizzed by me unnoticed. I just killed a man.

The watch! Weve failed, run! one of the assassins yelled as he disappeared off his roof.

The sounds of heavy feet stomping on cobbled stone reverberated through the courtyard as the market watch responded to the fighting. Dozens of warriors charged into the square, and several skirmishers among their ranks lept atop roofs to intercept the attackers.

The fighting stopped, and the assassins broke ranks and ran. Scattering like rice before a whirlwind.

Young miss. Are you alright? A guard, one of the skirmishers who had stayed rather than join his brothers and sisters in the chase for the assassins, asked. She lowered her face covering and revealed glittering blue eyes. Her face was pale white, and her hair was golden blond.

She looks American, or European I thought. And the oddity of it stirred me out of my stupor.

Young miss. Can you hear me?

I . . . I killed him. I pointed towards where the man's body lay on the street below.

Yes. It appears you did. It was a brave thing, helping the ambassador like that. Well done. Come, let's get off this roof.