“Hello and good afternoon, everyone. It is a humbling experience to stand before you today, and I would like to express my deepest gratitude for this opportunity. Let me take a moment to introduce myself to those who may not be familiar with me. My grandfather, King Jibrail Ashurabanipal, ruled Asura before me, and I am proud to continue his legacy as the 113th leader. My name is Lycoris Ashurabanipal.
The media, textbooks, and official records all document that my grandfather and his councilmen gave their approval for the war against the humans. What you might not know is that the councilmen were not unanimous in their support of the war. This I can say with certainty, as during that time, I was the sole Ashurabanipal in that council. As a former member of my grandfather’s committee, I would like to share my experiences with you all.
Devoted to the will of the people, my grandfather was a model of selflessness and service. It broke my heart to say that certain Asurans used the alleged terrorist act by three foreigners as an excuse to pressure the king into war, all to prove their superiority over other nations. Some of the council members who initiated the war have been apprehended by the 108 army and are now either incarcerated or facing trial. With our voices asking for peace falling on deaf ears, the three of us councilmen took matters into our own hands and led the uprising. “
She bowed to the students, feeling the weight of their expectant eyes upon her.
“To all those who suffered the loss of a loved one during the war, please accept my sincere apologies. As times change, I am attempting to reestablish peace within the U.W.F. and extend it to the rest of the world. Give the Asurans a chance and keep the doors of peace open for us. That’s all I ask for.”
The queen drew in a breath, feeling the weight of the moment, before lifting her head to address those gathered before her. She continued:
“I, along with two other councilmen, dissented from the decision to go to war through arbitration. We attempted to use diplomacy with the U.W.F. to address the terrorist attack on our soil, which sparked the war. The council members were not receptive to the idea. We relinquished our positions on the council and headed east to search for a solution to the violent war on our own. Perhaps it was a cowardly decision. At Magdalena, I united with foreigners and Asurans who shared my desire to end the war, and together, we put an end to the conflict. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come. We succeeded and Asura extends our sincere gratitude to those who serve their countries and protect them from war.”
The room erupted in a symphony of applause and foot-stomping, all in honor of Lycoris. Lycoris’ presence and delivery had a comforting effect on the hearts of everyone who had lost someone in the war, including Ason and Chiaki, who had some personal trauma and resisted joining the crowd.
“My purpose here is to deliver a lecture on our government system, followed by a Q&A session to discuss anything related to our country and its citizens. Hopefully to clear any misunderstanding about us.”
She gave a smile and continued on her lecture regarding how the new Asuran government’s approach to governance.
“Prior to my ascension to power, as you know. The Asuran government composed of a council of twelve members and the king who presided over all the decisions. In order to prevent potential conflict among council members, I created a new government system - a bicameral legislature under the autocrat. The bicameral legislature comprises the Imperator’s Council and the Asuran Senate. I handpicked the members of my Imperator's Council to take on specific duties. The imperator’s council is in complete alignment with me, making me confident in my judgment despite having the final say.
My chief of staff works with the Asuran Senate, which is eleven elected representatives from the Asuran territories, with three members from each region except the north, to address country-wide issues and policies before they present them to me.”
“Autocrat, huh? Monarch? What’s the difference? Maybe she is a true dictator, after all.”
“She scares me… she dismantled the government.”
“What are you all talking about? She is the best leader from any country so far!”
“Even though most of the dictators in history books were bad… Maybe she really was the first benevolent ruler.”
The lecture continued for longer before it concluded, and she invited students to ask questions they had. Lycoris answered a wide range of questions, from humorous to serious, and responded with a great sense of humor to the funny ones, always bringing a smile to people’s faces when answering the serious ones.
“Your Highness, who are your political role models?”
“Oh, that is tough. The number one would be my grandfather! “
“Your Highness, where is your Royal Guard?”
“Ah! That’s a thought-provoking question. To those who are not aware of the Asuran tradition: The royal family, especially the autocrat, may have their own personal bodyguard… I suppose one’s own knight. The identity of the person is being kept a secret for now.
Her eyes scanned the crowd for more questions, and that’s when she spotted Ason, his hand raised high. Lycoris stared at Ason for what felt like an eternity, causing him to feel uneasy and blush. She stared at the field for so long that even the surrounding people felt uneasy. Cassiopeia’s eyes widened as she covered her mouth with her signature fan. She mouthed the words “Oh ho~” behind the feather fan before Ason asked his question.
“Your Highness, I’m Ason, uh... In the Asuran War, was there such a thing as the Six Blades?”
The murmurs echoed throughout the field, above a whisper, but still present. Vincent shifted his gaze towards Chiaki, who sat next to him.
“You think she knows about the Six Blades?”
The history teacher and students all sat in rapt attention, waiting to hear the answer to the question about the Six Blades that Yu had sparked their curiosity with. The group sat and waited for the queen’s reaction, hoping she would refute Yu’s previous statements and declare him as having a distorted view of reality. Ason’s question was so outlandish that everyone else thought he must be crazy.
When Chiaki looked at Yu, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. His eyes looking down, with a slight downturn of the lips and furrowed brows. No one believed him, and she knew that was the reason. Cassiopeia’s face was full of joy as she turned to Lycoris, who remained calm and wore an unwavering, radiant smile.
(The boy sure knows some exciting information. I wonder how Lycoris is going to handle this?)
Lycoris closed her eyes, took a deep breath, cleared her throat, and then answered Ason’s question.
“The Six Blades...? What a surprise. The Asuran special ops are secretive that unless you have a friend in the organization, you won’t even hear whispers about them.
Let me provide a formal answer to your question. It’s true that the Six Blades played a significant part in the Asuran War. Dante Eleftheria, head of the military, had direct control over the special unit. No one has any definite knowledge about them. Even when I went through records, there was nothing I can find.”
“Then how do you know they exist?”
“I met a few members.”
Ason and the others were stunned into silence. It turns out Yu was correct all along. Ason sat back down, and the three sat in silence for the rest of the assembly. The crowd grew louder, and she could hear people shouting and cheering. The news journalist and other reporters were relaying information about the Six Blades to their respective cameras.
“Young man, over there, due to time restrictions, I will answer your question after the assembly. Please come to me after this is over.”
The queen was still looking at Ason’s way, but no one saw a hand or anything flagging for Lycoris’ attention.
(Who was she talking to?)
The sun’s rapid descent made the day feel like time was slipping away, too.
In Chiaki’s class with Yu, the students were eager to know about the Six Blades and asked him many questions. He felt useless because he had little to offer and believed everyone was already well-informed. There was no use in pressing him further about the Six Blades, since he had no evidence to back up his claim. All he responded with was: “I heard it from someone.”
The club didn’t start until after school, and the sun was already dipping into the horizon. They agreed to take it easy that day and unwind after a long day of school. Yu and Chiaki met with Vincent and Ason to remind them of Guiren’s meet up. The avatars and friend believed that today was the opportune moment to approach Yu and inquire about the many questions they had been itching to ask.
As they waited for Guiren at the local café, the gang savored the aroma of brewed coffee wafting through the air. As they sipped their drinks, the group huddled around Yu, chatting about the latest gossip. Most of them shared laughs, except for Yu, who remained aloof from the group.
The three friends met Guiren at the café with a chorus of friendly hellos. Guiren had a unique hairstyle. The two-toned hair had a unique look, with its white strands contrasting against the natural brown roots. They styled their hair up and spiky and Yu guessed if there was no hair product used, Guiren’s hair would fall down to their shoulders. Guiren wore their slim dark jeans and fitted button-up shirts. Guiren and Yu exchanged an acknowledging glance, and both nodded as if they understood each other without saying a word. As if they had planned it in advance, Guiren sat down next to Chiaki, and they both smiled at another.
Guiren’s stoic expression was like a mask, hiding whatever emotions they might be feeling. Guiren’s energy levels were not what Yu had imagined, unlike Chiaki, Ason, and Vincent, who were much more energetic. While typing away on their phone with one hand, Gurien offered a handshake to Yu, who’s face grimaced, to establish a connection through physical touch.
[Guiren Bingbing, nice to meet you.]
Yu looked down at Guiren’s phone.
(Is he mute?)
Vincent seemed to anticipate Yu’s thoughts and spoke before Yu could.
“Guiren prefers to talk through text. Just how she is.”
“Ah... I’m... Yu Mizuno, nice to meet you.”
Yu extended his hand and gave Guiren’s hand a firm shake. He couldn’t help but notice how soft Guiren’s hand felt in their firm grip. Chiaki beckoned the waiter and ordered an iced milk tea for Guiren, then waved to Yu, her hand a blur of motion.
“Guiren, this is Yu Mizuno I’ve been talking about on the phone. He might not look like it, but he’s a super skilled cook. Good at cleaning too. If you ask him, he’ll tell you the answers to all your homework.
Yu, this is my best friend and childhood friend. We grew up together. Guiren comes from the Bingbing family and they have a lot of influence on our city too. Someday, Guiren here might be the successor.”
Yu remained silent, nodding in agreement. Yu had expected Chiaki to continue, but it cut off. While at the cafe, Yu studied Guiren’s body language and expressions. Neither of them were outgoing or talkative. Navigating through news articles and blog posts, Guiren remained glued to their smartphone.
(He’s… attractive. Chiaki and Guiren are… dating, no?)
Guiren’s glance up at Yu. As his self-consciousness set in, Yu’s cheeks flushed and darted his eyes back to Chiaki.
(Just an opinion... Just an observation and opinion.)
Chiaki leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table, fingers intertwined, and locked her gaze on Yu.
“I’m pretty sure you were expecting this. But how did you know about the Six Blades? Honestly.”
Yu prepared for this. He let the thoughts form in his head before opening his mouth.
“I thought I told you to see me after the assembly was over.”
As soon as the familiar voice reached their ears, everyone at the table perked up. The sound of footsteps caught everyone’s attention, and they turned to see a woman wearing a stylish newsboy cap, sunglasses, and chic clothing. Vincent’s head lowered as he spoke in a low voice, his smile still visible.
“What brings you here, your majesty?”
As soon as they saw it, their eyes grew wide with shock. Lycoris Ashurabanipal, alone.
“Do you mind if I enjoy a cup of coffee with you all?”
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