"How are you going to deal with that?" Beaugois commented, noting the severity of the compensation.
Compensations aren't a common occurrence, as most heads don't usually meet the sage, making it more of a once-in-a-blue-moon type of situation. Some heads aren't even familiar with the overall meaning of compensations.
"It's not that hard, really," Henri noted, walking back to his seat at the large table.
"Really? You do trade in materials, you know," Beaugois said, finding this interesting.
"A small price to pay," Henri replied, slightly dismissive.
"I never really understood your relationship," another head remarked. "You and Kokoro…"
Both Henri and Beaugois turned to see a woman Freya, She wore a simple linen tunic, its earthy brown color blending seamlessly with the natural tones of the land.
The tunic was cinched at the waist with a worn leather belt, the only ornamentation a practical necessity rather than a sign of wealth.
Over her shoulders, she draped a transformed into a richly decorated mantle, fastened with a modest iron brooch.
The cloak, though plain, provided much-needed warmth against the biting chill of the northern winds.
Her sturdy leather boots, scuffed and practical, had seen many miles. Freya's hair was braided simply, the loose strands framing a face that spoke of quiet determination.
simple tunic was now complemented by a gleaming chainmail shirt, each link catching the light and casting fleeting reflections.
The leather vest she wore over it was adorned with metal studs.
The brooch securing her cloak was more ornate, fashioned from polished bronze and shaped like a fierce wolf.
Her boots, now reinforced with metal tips, clinked softly as she walked.
she smiles coily
"Oh…" Henri murmured.
"You were mocking him almost, and now you're here sulking?" freya said in pure disbelief.
"You wouldn't understand," Henri replied.
"Oh, I wouldn't?" freya asked, laughing a bit, then turned her attention to the head who had first introduced himself at the start of the meeting.
A man stood up, wearing armor similar to that of the Inca civilization. His outfit consisted of intricate gold-plated breastplates that gleamed under the light, feathered headdresses with vibrant colors of blue, green, and red, and an ornate ceremonial mask that covered the upper half of his face.
The breastplates were adorned with detailed engravings of celestial symbols and geometric patterns, each symbol representing the gods and the universe. His headdress, made from the feathers of rare birds, added an aura of regality, while his mask bore an expression of serene power.
"I have no say in this matter," the man said. His name was Inti Yupanqui.
The woman slumped on the table, visibly bored, before turning to Bel-ibn. "What do you think of this incident?" she asked.
Bel-ibn looked at freya for a moment in silence, his eyes distant, before responding. "I only care for my heir," he said, then added, "I am intrigued, as most of the other heads are, at the future state of the Takashiro family."
"Who isn't?" freya eplied.
"A man dies, and you're talking about his business?" Henri said, surprised.
"Stop fooling around. Everyone can tell you're also interested," another head said.
This head wore a simple yet refined outfit inspired by the Greek civilization, consisting of a white chiton with a himation draped over his shoulder.
His hair was short and curly, resembling the style of ancient Greek statues, and his sharp, calculating eyes suggested a personality that valued logic and strategy.
"Oh?" Alphonse added, surprised at the man speaking up. "I thought you would remain silent throughout the entire meeting."
"What are we going to do about Colard?" freya asked, tapping her cheek a bit.
"He won't wake up until after the meeting, probably," Ashur said, sighing slightly, as he had been near when Colard got hit.
"How about the boys that Henri beat up?" Alphonse asked.
"I didn't beat them up; it was—"
"Discipline."
"Yeah," Henri admitted, "I was just mad, is all. I didn't hit them that hard. They'll wake up soon," he finally said.
Most heads didn't seem to care, but Alphonse merely nodded slowly. "Uh-huh."
Takashiro lay on the floor, unmoving and unconscious. Then the sage started speaking, interrupting the interaction between the heads, which was surprising, as most thought they wouldn't even interact until after the meeting.
The sage spoke without pause, trying to get the meeting out of the way instantly, it seemed.
"Rule 4: After each wonder, return to the tower for the keeping of the materials. This is compulsory."
"Rule 5: You are allowed to steal other people's materials, unless they are in the stem."
"Rule 6: Communication with the heads is prohibited."
"Rule 7: Only use items after the quest begins. You cannot obtain items from the stem."
"Rule 8: A translator will be present in each wonder, though you would have found out yourself. You can only use one translator per two wonders."
"Rule 9: Double heirs—if one dies, it's an automatic loss."
"What's the point of sending two, then?" Henri muttered.
Both Anna and Elara quivered where they stood, not wanting to think of the possibility.
"Rule 10: You cannot stay in any civilized place in any wonder for more than four days."
"Rule 11: When you enter a wonder, you cannot leave until the objective is found."
"Rule 13: If an heir is caught conspiring with external forces, they and their guide will be banished from the quest, with no chance of return.
"Rule 14: Heirs are forbidden from exchanging materials with each other unless done during a sanctioned trade event.
"Rule 15: Any attempt to manipulate or alter the environment of a wonder will result in immediate expulsion from the quest.
"Rule 16: Heirs must return all acquired materials to the tower before departing for another wonder; failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the materials and penalties for the next wonder.
"What are this rules??" Ashur said, contrasting the voice.
"Most of these rules are acceptable," Alphonse said.
"No communication? That isn't acceptable," Henri said, visibly mad at the rule. Whatever this sage was thinking, the heads had nothing they could do.
"How are the rules?" Leonardo asked Anna as she walked back to her place, no longer fawning over her father. Alain also returned to the crowd, seeing that the fight had stopped—really fast, honestly.
"Bad, but it's manageable," she said.
"We don't even need to fight any demons!" Elara exclaimed. "It's just an exploration quest at its core. Worst case scenario is fighting other heads," Anna said.
"So we should go to a wonder where no heirs go?" Leonardo suggested, trying to pitch in ideas.
"Yeah, I mean, technically," Anna said, then paused. "Do you remember the wonders Richard mentioned?" Anna asked.
"Yeah," Leonardo replied. He had talked to Richard when they were sleeping on the couch.
He then paused and looked at their outfits. "Your outfits…"
"Don't," was Elara's response. Since the tower, they had only worn their tattered clothes from the explosion. Even Anna's skirt looked like it was screaming for relief—not cut, just burned.
"While yours seems like it was made an hour ago," Anna remarked.
"You never did explain how it regenerates like that," Anna asked.
"Ask the sage," was Leonardo's reply.
Both Elara and Leonardo started giggling a bit.
"But I honestly don't know; the tour guide gave it to me."
"The tour guide gave it to you?" Elara asked, confused.
"We really don't know a lot about each other," Leonardo said, sighing a bit.
"Back to the café?" Anna asked.
"You didn't want to go there in the first place, remember?" Elara said.
"I do not remember," Anna replied.
"You'll have to explain the 'clock' to me," Leonardo said, referring to the floating text used to explain the hours.
They both turned to him and sighed simultaneously.
"Hey," Marquis said, joining the conversation and bumping into a few heirs on the way. "The sage will soon give the unwritten skills he promised." He seemed sad, trying his best not to recall the events of Ryuji killing his own father.
"Yeah," they all said.
He then turned to Leonardo and said, "I'm sorry for leaving earlier."
"It's okay."
"Thanks."
Then there was silence. The girls had only interacted with Marquis a few times in the stem, and it was countable even. This quest had been the time they actually talked a few times without political or influential reasons, or any other reasons than their free will.
"So… uh," Marquis tried to say.
"Where's your guide?" Anna asked flatly, breaking the awkward silence.
"He's not here," Marquis replied in a similar tone.
Anna scoffed slightly. "Prick."
"I heard that."
"I don't care."