Chapter 11 Part 3 of 3 (Patreon)

Eli’keen read the report from Avegaaren. “So, Lord West is showing his colors.”

Beatrice pushed a piece of paper across the table. “A tournament has been called, undoubtedly targeting him and Rugrat. People are purposely using a moniker that Rugrat does not like. The infractions against Erik and Rugrat are greatly inflated, and they have been harassed constantly.”

The windows rippled around Eli’keen with his anger. He took a deep breath.

“Sorry about that, Beatrice.”

“No sir, I know that you like fairness above all else.”

“Serkin?”

“He is monitoring the situation. He has not taken an active role. He could be using this?”

“It might be the case. He has been fair in his assessments so far.” Eli’keen picked up the piece of paper she’d put on his desk and read it.

“The empire banned all Associations from the First Realm?” Eli’Keen shook his head. “I guess there is little we do in the First Realm. Hiring is rare and we are mostly just looking for rarities to sell in the higher realm and offload junk.”

“It’s signed by every nation leader in the First Realm,” Beatrice interjected.

“Every nation? That would mean that they control the first realm. What are the implications?”

“They control the Mortal, Earth, and Sky realms. All of them listen to Alva. They are allied with so many and offer teaching to all. No one wants to bite the hands that feeds them. Military somewhere around a million at least. Strength, unknown.”

It was more control than the Imperium had ever been able to spread over the realms.

“How can we not know?”

“Alva citizenship is hard to gain. Their people are incredibly free, and they provide basic securities and necessities. Their military is a core part of their identity, half of their nation has been in the military or has someone in the military. Their intelligence department reaches across the Ten Realms. When they appeared two years ago, they fought the strongest alliance of Sky realm and lower sects that the Ten Realms has seen in generations—by themselves. They have an unknown number of Experts and they sell Journeyman equipment as if it’s going out of style.” Beatrice put another piece of paper on the table. “This is a report on Emperor West and Rodriguez’s security detail.”

Eli’keen rubbed his temples. “There are forty people here. They’re all working for Erik and Rugrat?”

“They should be the strongest of Alvans.”

Eli’keen snorted. “At least there’s that, I would expect to see these cultivations in the highest rankers of Avegaaren. We also know that their warships and technology is much more advanced. Even someone without a cultivation with the Alvan gear could take on people realms stronger than them.”

Beatrice nodded.

“I don’t know what is more worrying, that they have so many power houses, or the fact these people could have joined Avegaaren but didn’t.”

“This is not the first or even second time that the Association has been seen in a bad light by them.” Beatrice pulled out more reports.

“An Association member tried to take control over their second city, Associations tried to pressure them into giving them greater concessions to end the fight at Vuzgal.” Beatrice took a breath.

“Vuzgal was a place where people from all the associations went to craft and to train. We have seen many of the Association members in the lower realms leaving after their contract finishes, joining the Alvan equivalent, over the treatment of Alva. People that have interacted with Alva and Vuzgal, realm heads, managers and association heads have all expressed their frustration. Hiao Xen, an up and coming leader in the Blue Lotus, and previous acting head of Vuzgal, has declined several promotions, and is withdrawing to join the Alvan mercantile. His son, who was healed by Erik, is also ending out his term and planning to join Alva’s adventurers and military if they let him.”

“So everyone that’s come into contact with them is leaving the associations to join them. Others are allying with them as fast as they can and they’re educating the next generation.” Eli’keen sucked in a breath. “I would applaud them, I want to, but this puts the associations and the Imperium at great risk. I was hoping I could just deal with this as students of Avegaaren, but this is a political nightmare. I pride myself on the fact that we treat everyone equally in the Associations, this flies in the face of that.”

“Is it worth doing something? It will weaken your position.”

“We are supposed to be above the squabbling that the sects go through.”

“If I show my support for Erik and Rugrat to punish those that haven’t been doing their jobs as teachers and administrators, the traditionalists would say that I’m being unfair. They want them to fail and to disappear.” He shook his head. “Though if I let this continue, and Erik and Rugrat have every reason to distrust us, it will only lead to a great schism between them, the Imperium and the Association.

Maybe in a year, five years, or ten years, we will have the Alvans stepping up into the eighth and into the ninth realm in numbers never seen before. We can’t stop them, and then what? Each time we have someone who’s not from the association we bend the rules to kick them out? What happens when there are more applicants not from the associations?”

Beatrice gave him an apologetic smile.

“I hope that some answer comes about.”

“Do you think that the Imperium Head will show up for the tournament?” Beatrice asked.

Eli’keen snorted. “Rekha is his student, when has he failed to show up to cheer her on?” I’m sure he’ll show up for at least that.

“He might not be the most delicate about these things, but he has the strength to pull Avegaaren together.”

“Or as he would say, give them a smack and pull their collective heads out of their asses. He’s always been critical of how they treat people not from the Associations.”