Aiji: Yeah they do that…It’s how they keep their control. Alright first up, -he points to the first picture- you absolutely know her already, Seraphina Vesta. The actual head of the Vesta family, they’re incredibly powerful and well known fire mages. Their family goes waaaay waaay back, do not bother them. She looks all smiles but she is ruthless, however since she’s the Prime Minister right now she doesn’t do much…publicly. She’ll just make your diplomatic journey hard if you piss her off.

Persie: Mmmm no she seems like it. I could tell that smile is very fake and there is a lot under the surface.

Aiji: That’s how she got elected… -he swipes to the next picture- You know this ugly mug, Cornelius Greenweld. He is the top construction and architect mogul in Opirea and quite frankly anywhere else mage centric. He essentially has a monopoly over acquisition of materials all over the continent which makes it incredibly difficult for any non-mage construction companies to exist. On paper however he has “proof” of fair open trade so it doesn’t look like a monopoly by law. His branch family members are in Parliament, obviously, and mainly handle zoning permits.

Persie studies his face: Hmmm he carries a cane around with him. I’m assuming that’s where a lot of his magic is sourced out. *he writes this down* Makes sense with how he got stone from Istrelar which is literally impossible..

Aiji: -he swipes to the next picture and points at the woman in the picture- This? This horrifying disgusting being right here? Stay. Away. From her. Scarlett Nesryn is quite frankly the scariest thing I’ve ever heard of and will run as fast as possible if I ever see her in the street. She’s known as a contract mage and has a bunch of businesses that help create contracts and pacts for whatever reason…and I do mean whatever reason you can afford. She is very well known for having an…appetite for younger males and it’s not pretty whatever happens to them. Her branch family members…are part of the census and immigration department. No one has ever stopped her with her contracts before because on the surface all parties seem consenting.

Persie cringes deeply, remembering her face and this eerie hunger she had behind her eyes. She wasn’t really looking for someone for her cousin, she was looking for a new non-consenting play thing, yuck!!: Yeah I remember her, she was not right…at all. She really was scary. To be honest, the Philonias guy was the LEAST scary but he may have not been THE head but a branch lead or something. But her? Yeah nah, I did not like her AT. ALL.

Aiji: Funny you should mention him… -he swipes to the next picture and it’s of Philonias- Philonias Heliotrope, his family runs several city offices and Parliament seats that control business permits. Everyone in Opirea knows that if Philonias doesn’t like your business or you say one wrong word…you’ll get shut down and kicked out. Some businesses get shut down outright…other’s get destroyed slowly…He can somehow get all your clients to just ghost you…then you’re financially devastated and it’s so much worse than just getting kicked out…He’s a master at charm magic but there’s never been any solid proof that he uses it to influence business.

Persie: *he starts thinking of that Peacock man* I hope I didn’t put his business in jeopardy that would honestly be a shame…Mmm I remember him. I think he’s gay as fuck haha which is fine but I’m surprised he’s got a pass unless that family doesn’t care too much for continuing their line. But he’s not the head though?

Aiji: He is the head, he already did what his family wanted and produced heirs. One by his at one point legal wife, and two more by random mistresses. Now he’s only ever seen with male escorts.

Persie: Ah makes sense. Okay well next. So he talks mostly business but you sneeze wrong he will shut you down. Mmm bitch!

Aiji: -he laughs and swipes to the next picture of someone Persie hasn’t met yet. The picture is of a woman with snow white hair and piercing deep blue eyes in an all white outfit, the picture looks like a candid at a gala event- This frigid bitch…Please meet Sharnade Whiteridge, her word in the social world is law. None of her family is in Parliament thankfully but she’s dangerous without the political connections. Now she married into this family and they used to be the LeBlanc’s. They were really chill but when she married into the family she forced the name change to Whiteridge and they shot up the social ladder. Whatever Sharnade approves of is the general opinion of the higher echelon of mages. She can take even the highest family from the upper crust to complete outcasts with just one word. Philonias can destroy your business but Sharnade can get you chased out of Opirea just because you breathed wrong in her presence…you lose your status, your kids get kicked out of school, you won’t even get a housing permit approved…you can’t even be near her presence if she doesn’t want it.

Persie: Wow…she is a bitch. That’s just a lot also with the fact that she married into a family, it’s not even her family. Hmm well she’s a problem but only for high society. *looks at Ajii* Oh…yeah. Is she one of the main reasons why you had to get married? Because it sounds…like it.

Aiji: -he sighs and deflates a bit- Not that long ago she said “It’s so disappointing when children don’t do their duty by having an heir. I wouldn’t want to be the mother of something so disgraceful.” Ever since then…every mage family in that higher circle have been pressing their kids more and more to get married and reproduce…I know there’s a birth rate problem but she took it way too far with that..

Persie: Hmmm so she seems like she’s meant to keep the social etiquette in line but also to try to keep birth rates going. She seems like a piece of work, but nah I’ve never heard of her.

Aiji: Yeah no one really knows how she did it…but she is a hurricane in pumps. Ready for the next person you don’t need to piss off?

Persie: *he nods, having his journal and pen available* yes this is fun but also really interesting.

Aiji: -he swipes to the next picture. This picture is of a younger woman with tanned skin, wild blonde curls pulled back, smiling with shades on around a bunch of children- This is Helia Amarillo, she’s actually the youngest head of family when it comes to all of them. She is personally in charge of the school systems in Opirea, while her branch family members also handle education departments in Parliament. Since she makes the curriculum…she decides what all these schools are teaching young mages and she decides the standards these kids have to live up to. No one is quite sure how she became the new head of her family. The old head just kinda…abdicated and went on…vacation.

Persie: *makes notes* Honestly, that is weird because she doesn’t look that much older than us. Maybe late 20s? I thought she would’ve been more opposed than on their side unless she’s one of those overzealous types to pave her own way no matter what?

Aiji: Honestly I don’t know her that well. Since I got into Mythic I didn’t have to worry about her…but there are rumors. That sunny demeanor is one serious mask. -he swipes the photo and shows a slightly blurry candid where her sunglasses are slipping off and you can see just the top of her eyes glowing brightly- They say she’s so powerful the glow never goes away, so she keeps the shades on so she doesn’t scare the kids.

Persie: Oh wow, those are some serious eyes. You would’ve thought she was a fuckin’ god. Even a lot of mythics don’t have eyes like that. But I wonder what else besides trying to reform mages does she do? Like some serious punishments or just overlooking certain incidents or covering them up? *he taps his pen on his head, thinking* Yeah…she looks…wild. Like a split root type of wild? I remember learning that while in Baehalan because they kept thinking I was one.

Aiji: You ever admit you have a split root to mages nowadays and you’ll have wedding invitations out the ass…and probably people watching you…honestly dude for your own safety this is gonna sound wild but…you need to use my name. Say you’re my companion. They’ll obviously think something wild and completely untrue but it’ll keep you safe for the most part…Anyways we have one more family.

Persie: Ugh fine fine. I don’t like doing that but okay. I’m ready!

Aiji: -he nods and swipes to the last picture. The picture is of a man with long fluffy blue hair, two long scars on his cheek, and very muscular and in shape- This is Astros Adamaris; he and his family members in Parliament run imports and exports all throughout Resosia. There’s maybe a tiny handful of ports he doesn’t control or know about so if anything wants to come in or out it absolutely has to go through him. All of the families use him for whatever they wanna get here whether it’s legal or not. But with no manifest to prove it, it doesn’t matter. All of the higher families just let this shit ride cuz well…all of them control their fates. But to be honest it’s only the normal or even lower rung people that could be harmed by their antics and nobody cares about them enough…They have such a choke hold on this ridiculous “we have money we’re better than you mentality”....really this “we’re mages we’re better than you” shit that no one stands up to change it…the consequences run way too deep.

Persie, sits back, thinking: I see…this is a lot and seems to have been going on for decades at the least. I don’t know what we can do but I want to try at least.

Aiji: Look…bud…I’m happy  you wanna help the people of Aralan and help immigrants coming in for a better life…but I am actually begging you…do not take these people head on…don’t dig into them, don’t get on their radar…people have gone missing for far less and -he takes his hand tightly- I really don’t even want to entertain the thought of losing you…you’re my best friend Perse…

Persie looks at him and pats his shoulder: Okay. I won’t. I don’t want to, so I'll try my best with Parliament but while you are here, can you help me with my case opening? I’m being too forward honestly…and it’s been hard to not just ask.

Aiji: -he shakes his head and smirks- Ah, asking me to do your public speaking assignments again? What ya gonna pay me this time Perse~?

Persie slams his fist on the table but funnily and says in a funny accent: More food for the Good Lord Ajii. Diamond, if you could please ask your Sister to gather the finest refreshments for our Lord, it would be wonderful! *bows to Ajii* Yes yes anything for you my good bitch! Hahah.

Aiji: -he cackles loudly and pushes him playfully- You absolute fucking jerk hahahaha~!