“Careful, Minn-O! They’re all expecting you to slip up! Be extra delicate formulating your response!”
But the Princess already knew that perfectly well. In the magocratic world, there was an ancient law that had served as a bedrock principle for millennia, which read: “Common rabble, ignorant of the art of charms may never be equal to the wizarding kind.” To rephrase the archaic piece of legislation in more modern terms, people without magical abilities were not allowed to hold upper leadership posts, which were traditionally reserved for mages.
However, the population of Earth had grown since that law was written, and the majority of humans were born with no magical abilities. At present, out of a total population of eleven billion, there were less than forty-five thousand mages. And that meant for every child born with a predilection for the art of charms, a quarter million newborns entered the “common rabble.” And thus, more and more exceptions were found to the ancient law all the time. It was just not possible for every city, large enterprise and scientific laboratory to be headed by a person with a talent for magic. And the apotheosis of these “exceptions” was the rise of General Ui-Taka, who had taken the Second Directory by force and proclaimed himself king. The rulers of the remaining thirty directories could huff and puff all they liked, make reference to their wizarding majesty and simply ignore the upstart ruler, but that did nothing about the fact that they were in no condition to stop or impede the highly successful general.
But mentioning those exceptions here, in the palace of the mage-rulers, the very heart of the magically-imbued world, would be a huge mistake. Minn-O understood that perfectly, so she said what she thought the audience most wanted to hear:
“Coruler Onuri-Unta La-Varrez may well be under the impression that I must be speaking out against the order of our world that because my magical abilities were discovered so late in life. Well, I’m afraid I have to disappoint him. In fact, I am heiress to the ancient La-Fin dynasty of mage-rulers, so you’re unlikely to find a person more zealously devoted to upholding historical law and tradition as I. All posts and professions which are legally proscribed for those with magical abilities will go to mages and that is that. And the fact that a number of traitors will flee my faction, six of whom are here in this room,” Minn-O said directing her laser pointer at a group of people squirming awkwardly in mage robes sitting with the Fourth Directory rulers, “has no effect on our eventual success. In fact, when the rats flee a ship, its crew is usually inclined to celebrate! Furthermore, the First Directory has sufficient magically-gifted citizens to replace these dissidents. “
For the first time since she began her speech, there was some applause though it was fairly tepid and fell silent as soon as Coruler Onuri-Unta La-Varrez turned to the chamber with a frown of dismay.
“Let’s say you’re telling the truth. Although I still cannot see where you will get enough mages for your faction. But regardless, the main issue today is something else. Recent events have proven that the La-Fin Faction supports our opponents from the alternate world, and that its soldiers fight side-by-side with enemies of the magocratic world. And that I simply cannot abide! It is obvious that only one of the worlds can remain at the end of the game’s tong of safety, and it will be whichever one has a greater number of game hexagons. So we must all work together to make absolutely sure that our world is the one that survives! And to that end, there can be absolutely no working for the enemy and threatening our very future!!! So for that reason, I demand the Ruling Council conduct a vote of nonconfidence in the head of the First Directory Coruler Gnat La-Fin and his wayedda, head of the La-Fin Faction Gerd Minn-O La-Fin! They must be deposed for collusion with the enemy!!!”
Introduction, Part Two. Consequences
BY THE END OF HIS SPEECH, Archmage Onuri-Unta La-Varrez was essentially screaming, adding fuel to the fire of indignance and trying to impress upon his opponent with the gravity of his accusation. The chamber was also buzzing in support of the old Archmage, which kept the Princess from responding for quite a while.
“They’re gonna need a bit of a push,” the voice of Mac-Peu sounded in Minn-O’s head again. “We didn’t want it to come to this, but our opponents have left us with no choice. Smear them! Use the arguments we prepared yesterday to counter that very accusation!”
Minn-O La-Fin waited patiently for the din to settle, then started to answer with a mocking smile:
“How deplorable it is to see that advanced age has robbed one of the three Corulers of Humanity of his clarity of mind! And it’s doubly vexing that a mage who was once so great squandered the statistic points the game bestowed upon him in a belated attempt to increase muscle mass and paper over childhood insecurities rather than improving his Intelligence!”
“Come now, pitiable wayedda of a space pirate. See that you don’t overstep your bounds!!!” shouted the insulted Archmage Onuri-Unta La-Varrez, trying to talk Minn-O La-Fin back from the brink. But she was no longer listening to him, turning up her microphone and continuing:
“Well, if my opponent ever had deigned to improve his Intelligence, he might be able to take a more critical look at his own words instead of telling a blatant lie to the council of mage-rulers! And meanwhile, an elementary logical counterexample can break down all the Coruler’s arguments: it is easily possible that the dominant faction on the planet could be one containing players from both worlds! And if Leng Onuri-Unta La-Varrez had ever even once improved his Intelligence, he may have come to this thought on his own and realized his idea that one world is sure to be destroyed is nothing more than empty conjecture!”
Princess Minn-O took a brief pause and, noting with satisfaction that the rulers were finally listening closely and even discussing what she had to say, continued:
“So then, let me direct the honorable mages’ attention to the fact that even humanity’s wise Geckho suzerains do not yet know what will happen to two split worlds after the tong of safety runs out. Insufficient data, they say. And I am now stating the official position of the Viceroy of Earth, Kosta Dykhsh. Refuting it would not merely make you look foolish, but also subject all humanity to harsh reprisals for disrespecting our suzerains! The Meleyephatian Horde does not know what will happen to a double world with bifurcated space either, even though they have been exploring the game that bends reality for over three thousand years. The Union of Miyelonian Prides also does not know, even though my husband Coruler of Humanity Gnat La-Fin has spoken on the subject with the wisest and most authoritative rulers of the Miyelonian race. And so Coruler Onuri-Unta La-Varrez cannot possibly say that with such certainty after being in the game for all of five minutes. He does not even know the basics and yet he insists upon making a laughingstock of himself by spouting far-reaching categorical prognoses!”
“Minn-O, what have you done?! You should have stuck to the facts, without pejorative comments about the age and mental capacity of Coruler Onuri-Unta! You made the head of the La-Varrez faction look like a liar and damaged his Authority before his subjects in the most serious fashion! The Archmage will never forgive that! You have just cut off almost all positive lines of the future!”
The mage-rulers in the chamber started buzzing in dismay and even stomped their feet because it was hard to take the Princess’s words as anything other than a direct insult toward one of the three respected Corulers of Humanity. Minn-O herself also understood that she had crossed a line and overplayed her hand, dashing the audience’s budding sympathy. But she wasn’t the least bit sorry for what she’d done. Archmage Onuri-Unta La-Varrez opened and closed his mouth a few times, preparing to respond to the accusations of incompetence and lying, but in the end he waved a hand and plopped down dismally into his seat with the look of a beaten dog.
It was some time before the clamor quieted back down, and only because the other Coruler, Archmage Anri-Huvi La-Shin, stood up and called for silence. After that, he turned to Minn-O and shook his head in reproach:
“Such harsh words are not befitting
of a highborn Princess! I believe, as a representative of the ancient and glorious La-Fin dynasty, you should be ashamed of such intemperance. But most importantly magess Minn-O: you did not respond to the allegation that you are working for the enemy! And those are truly grave allegations which threaten the most severe consequences for the leaders of the La-Fin dynasty, who have now completely lost the trust of the Ruling Council!”
Minn-O clenched her teeth until they cracked, trying to restrain herself this time while also not revealing her disappointment and despair. Before today’s council session, she was hoping for Coruler Anri-Huvi La-Shin to at least take a neutral position because he was always considered a friend of her family. The fact that the second Coruler of Humanity supported the allegations came as a heavy blow.
“I was simply not allowed to finish, respected Coruler Anri-Huvi La-Shin, so I was not able to give an explanation. And as for the harsh words, it’s hard to maintain calm with Coruler Onuri-Unta La-Varrez and his vassals constantly trying to mentally attack me and break my train of thought! What’s more, I was not the one who started throwing around insults such as ‘inexperienced girl,’ and ‘pitiable wayedda of a space pirate.’ By the way, the fact you called me a wayedda means your information is out of date. Coruler Gnat La-Fin raised my status yesterday from wayedda to senior wife.”
“I confirm!” Mage Diviner Mac-Peu Un-Roi took a step toward the podium. “The ruler of the First Directory, Coruler Gnat La-Fin declared Princess Minn-O his senior wife yesterday and left her in charge of the La-Fin faction on her personal request. Someone with decision-making authority must always be present to maintain contact with neighbors, expand faction borders and manage our grand building projects. And that is why Leng Gnat embarked upon a spaceflight and left his wife Minn-O La-Fin at home.”
The news made the mage-rulers start buzzing again because it seriously changed the speaker’s status and impacted the political landscape of the whole world. One lone shout rose up from the chamber:
“Princess Minn-O, do you care to comment on why Coruler Gnat waited until now to do that? Was it out of desire to secure the property of the La-Fin dynasty before this meeting? After all, after a directory leader is deposed, his senior wife may lay claim to a portion of the dynasty’s property, unlike a travelling wife.”
Minn-O turned to see who that was and smiled with the very corners of her lips:
“My husband would hardly be guided by such mundane concerns. It’s just that, until recently, the position of senior wife was occupied. Perhaps if you were paying closer attention to the galactic news, you’d know that the human Leng Gnat La-Fin performed a ritual marriage dance with Leng Keetsie-Myau, commander of the Miyelonian fleet in our part of the galaxy. So technically, she was my husband’s senior wife and it took some time to smooth over that little misunderstanding. At any rate, the amusing episode also came with an upside: the Miyelonian race has officially renounced all claims to our planet, so we now have one less potential invader!”
Minn-O La-Fin was expecting the mage-rulers to react positively, but nothing could have been farther from reality. In fact, Coruler Anri-Huvi La-Shin knocked the Princess down a peg and again demanded that she respond to the allegation she was working for the enemy rather than “recount the amorous adventures of a space pirate.”
“Space pirate???” she again started losing control. “If I were you, Coruler Anri-Huvi, I would choose my words more carefully because the fate of your faction’s starship now hangs on nothing more than my husband’s peaceable nature. As you know, the dispatchers and customs officials of the space port are subordinate to Earth’s Viceroy, Kosta Dykhsh. And the Viceroy is fiancé to Uline Tar, a close friend and business associate of my husband’s. So the ‘space pirate’ Leng Gnat already knows the route that will be taken by La-Shin faction’s rickety three-hundred-year old rust bucket, as well as its cargo – gemstones!”
Old Archmage Anri-Huvi reeled, went pale and clutched at the heart region of his chest. The that his starship was under threat clearly shocked the old man. It was immediately apparent that the La-Shin faction had invested serious funds into purchasing the second-hand shuttle and had placed a big bet on the starship making a successful trade run. Some attendants ran over to the Coruler, grabbed him under the arms and carried him to his seat, pouring some sustaining elixirs down the old man’s throat on the way.
As she looked on, Minn-O winced in disgust. Archmage Anri-Huvi was nearly two hundred years old. Any powerful emotional trauma could kill him. Still he was the one who started arguing with her and making allegations against her faction. Not waiting for the old man to be brought to his senses, Minn-O continued:
“As for the accusations, which are ludicrous on their face, let me assure you all that no one is doing more to safeguard our world than my husband Coruler Gnat! Seeking out extraterrestrial allies and new technology, constructing a planetary shield...”
“Healer! The Coruler’s heart has stopped!” an agonized erupted, interrupting Minn-O’s speech.
All hell broke loose! A huge buzzing crowd was instantly gathered around the Archmage, who was crawling impotently on the floor. The members of the ruling Council jumped up from their seats, many trying to get over to the leader’s unconscious body and shouting advice. Just then, Mage Diviner Mac-Peu Un-Roi took advantage of the commotion and approached the podium. With a gesture, he called for Minn-O to lean down and whispered into her very ear:
“This is all turning out wrong! Now no matter how this ends now, there will be no avoiding a vote to strip you of your titles! And the whole chamber is inclined against us. I checked. What’s more, they came in feeling that way, and the whole spectacle of you making a report and answering questions was just an empty formality. They all knew the outcome in advance. Everyone here has been promised a share of the La-Fin dynasty’s riches, so they will all vote to depose. Even the mages sitting in the First Directory section have been paid off, lock stock and barrel. In fact, everyone in this chamber is a ravening jackal who rushed here as fast as they could to make certain they would get their piece of the big pie.”
“Good thing we came prepared then!” Not a single muscle twitched on the Princess’s face when she heard the worrying news. She just readjusted her grip on the remote she’d been using to control the slides and pressed a button she hadn’t touched before.
The image of the port under construction changed. The new picture on all the holographic screens looked something like thermal transfer or a microchip and it had a little red blinking light in the middle. The slide change didn’t catch the mages’ attention right away, but gradually the din in the chamber fell silent. All that remained were the healers fussing around next to Coruler Anri-Huvi, who had been brought back to his senses with artificial respiration. The others were all silent and awaiting commentary from Minn-O. And she didn’t keep them waiting long:
“Respected members of the Ruling Council! This is quite a long story, and I will start from the beginning – with the history of this palace. As you most likely know, two hundred years ago, there was a devastating great war between the magical dynasties. At a certain point my great grandfather, Coruler of Humanity Yuho-Loru La-Fin was on the verge of defeat and the Council of Rulers convened in this very chamber to discuss whether or not to depose him. In fact, at that time, the Palace of the Ruling Council was half destroyed and it was restored just for the occasion. The thing is, that was also when this furniture was installed in the Small Chamber. You have all probably noticed how disproportionately thick the crimsonwood benches are. And trust me, this is all important to the story. You see, Coruler Yuho-Loru La-Fin had each of the dozens of benches in this chamber packed full of nitro-plastic explosive – the most powerful bomb-making material known to humanity at the time. Fortunately, that vote went how the head of the La-Fin dynasty wanted and there was no need to blow up the Council of Rulers at that time. But as we all know, history has a funny little way of repeating itself. The furniture in the Small Ch
amber hasn’t been replaced in those two centuries, so all we had to do was add more modern detonators – there’s one beneath every bench. And the design on screen is a schematic of their inner workings. Hey now, none of that! No one stand up!!! Silence in the chamber!!!”
The mage-rulers who jumped up from their seats in fear were forced to sit back down. Such a silence came over the chamber that still prostrate Coruler Anri-Huvi La-Shin’s rapid breathing was suddenly audible. And meanwhile the Princess’s servants, who had been sitting meekly in the corner, walked up to their master. The large man lifted Minn-O delicately and moved her from the podium back to her levitating throne. The woman then took the dangerous remote from the Princess’s hands.
And unhurriedly, making her way to the exit between the rows of tensely seated but stock-still mage-rulers, Minn-O La-Fin commented:
“I could go on and on about the absurdity of the allegations against me and my husband Gnat La-Fin for ages, but you wouldn’t listen. Yes, I am perfectly aware that each of your votes has been bought and that there is no cause to expect an honest outcome. But still I will try to take a fair survey. Respected mage-rulers, answer me this: do you really consider it acceptable to depose the ruler of the First Directory – a man who is doing more to ensure the continuation of humankind than all of you taken together? So on that note, I bid you adieu, and my trusted servants will be staying behind to make sure you all vote your conscience here today. If they don’t like the way things turn out, you’ll have only yourselves to blame!”
With these words, the Princess unclipped the microphone from her dress and, accompanied by the Mage Diviner, left the chamber. As soon as the doors closed behind the Princess, the miniature woman got up on the podium and raised the dangerous remote high in her right hand:
A Jump into the Unknown (Reality Benders Book #5) LitRPG Series Page 2