Senator Campaign

The plaza was great, with one large monument in the middle that encaptured all of it. The blue sky, the white doves flying throughout. There was no other day than this to do it. Nothing greater than a political debate, of course.

It was hosted in Royalia first, then it would be in neighboring cities. I don't think Sultan mentioned Bortabelle, not once, but then again why would he? All of the voting power seems to be in cities like these.

Low commoner towns like those, have no room. Almost like pouring water into the ocean, there would be no direct point for it.

Even airships, something that I thought would be a lost art and technology appeared. Banners of the Royalia emblem as well as the nation. Which goes to show that this politic scheme doesn't do it in the name of the person, I believe.

Airships glided past, their hulls embedded with the twin emblems of Royalia and the Aurean Nation. Proof that even this political spectacle wasn't truly about people—or power.

It was about progress. Or at least, the illusion of it.

A show to keep the Islands moving…regardless of who fell behind.

Speaking of that, I could look below, and see the many, many people who had came to watch. Squinting my eyes, I could narrow down one person alone who was there amongst the crowds. Neutral face, perfect fair white skin, and a black blindfold.

Of course, Vaniti had to come along. I feel like even on the job I'm a babysitter. Where else could I put her? Tell her to go grind Voyage quests while I'm over here?

…

…

I put a finger to my chin, well, actually, that might've been a far better idea anyways.

Whatever, in case anything goes wrong, Vaniti will see. She gets to see all of this, and Royalia looks far more pleasing on the eyes than Bortabelle—

"Agh, she can't even see correctly. It wouldn't have made a difference either way." I confess, but it's the thought that counts, I believe. I was already floating above, keeping my mana signature to directly low.

If Vaniti wanted to see me, she would literally have to squint, and have pinpoint accuracy. Something that I doubt she has, or well, hope she doesn't anyways. 

I descended towards the back stage, there, Chancellor Sultan was getting ready for his debate on politics. It was the re-election year, and he already discussed his plans with me. It's supposed to be easy, fairly easy.

Sultan knows his opponent inside and out. I don't think he'd resort to blackmail if he lost—he doesn't strike me as that kind of politician

He takes more pride in beating him right here, right now.

A fairly ambitious trait, I would say.

My boots descended on the wood platform, then looked right at him. "Everything seems clear. You sure you needed my help?"

He chuckled once, had a few other people helping him with his attire. "Of course! A few of my hired associates are…away from the island as of now. Helping me establish connections to other nations. And since I don't directly have them…"

He points at me with his staff. His…comically large staff.

"You'll have to do."

I nodded in return. Of course I have to, I have the Chancellor's blessing for quite literally anything. He could do me any favor, just any.

Thing is, I have no idea on how I want to use it just yet, so I'll let it sink in my head later. For now, I just need to worry about protecting him. 

A person, a women came, which I assumed was his assistant. Spread out all five of her fingers, he nodded and then tilted his head, popping a few bones in his neck. Without another word, he went emerged from the red curtains, and a loud applause was matched.

Wow, talk about a grand entrance.

The sound was almost deafening, so I flew away. Turns out having pointed ears doesn't just give you increased hearing range, but just overall highly sensitive to any spikes in sounds. Wasn't anything that I couldn't brush off the next moment or so.

There, I perched on a building not too far away. Making sure to keep both of my eyes on Chancellor Sultan, and Vaniti, who was just watching in the crowd. She didn't move her head around to look for me, so I suppose that maybe she was actually taking an interest into this.

I turned my gaze to the crowd again in it's entirety. A few nobles in formalwear were whispering. Most likely about Sultan and his opponent. My pointed ears twitched twice, almost like tuning into the radio. It didn't take long to figure out the name of the one he would clash with eventually in the final city.

Lucen.

"Ladies and gentleman of Royalia," Sultan's voice boomed from the stage, now amplified magically across the plaza. Everyone turned their attention to him.

"Today is not about victory, it is about certainty. The kind that only we, the Aurean Natino, can offer."

I didn't even know what that meant, but the crowd clapped anyways. Sounds like a whole lot of nothing to me.

"In just a few hours," Sultan continued.

"We will vote, we will remember. And we will build forward—because that is what we do in the face of fear. We build."

Now, what would Lucen say?

He cleared his throat. He was far younger, brown hair, but he still had his gray streaks. He coughed slightly, and then magically amplified his voice.

"Of course, what we must do as Chancellor, is for the greater good of Aurea Islands, but I must ask, Senator Sultan. Is it entirely important to achieve yet another position of power?" Lucen began.

"You've already emerged from the Senate, and you are now attempting to become the Chancellor. I understand, in the past year Aurea Islands was…in a state of great emergency, but something tells me that you attempting to make this more than just a temporary seat."

"If you could, it would be permanent."

Sultan only laughed, before responding in the same manner.

"Tell me, Governor Lucen. I have demonstrated and have excellently showcased the ability to balance both the powers of the Senate, and the role of a Chancellor. Thank you, for applauding my efforts, but this is nothing more than a simple concept at mind, you see? I wouldn't necessarily degrade you and admit that you would be trying to combine the power of a Chancellor…and what, a governor?"

Sultan laughed on, and like on command, everyone else did as well. Lucen didn't back down however, I couldn't see a hint of embarrassment. Almost like he knew exactly what angle Sultan would get at.

The charismatic and lovable type in politics. There's simply no better archetype than that, I'm afraid. If Lucen wants to win this, he needs to come out with something greater than just accusatory claims of power.

Especially if Sultan has done a far better job at hiding all of it anyways.

Lucen pinched the bridge of his nose, then continued. "Fair, but that never does address the claim. In the nation's thousand-year history, never had we needed a senator to become Chancellor, not only that it's impossible by law, but now that re-election is arriving, you don't want to give up on the seat, why is that?"

Sultan's face sharpened. Unexpectedly, it even caught me off guard. He leaned forward on the pedestal, both hands gripping on the edges.

"Take it from…my point of view, Lucen. In time of dire need and struggle, when others failed to rise the occasion, I did. When others failed to run the nation as it should, I did. When the economy suffered greatly and struggled horrible, who was there to fix it?"

"I did."

There was an increase of applause, but it didn't look like Sultan was finished. No, he had more to prove and show out every single reason why he wasn't Lucen tried to paint him as.

Or, possibly stroke his own ego. Could be both.

"When relations with others nations struggled, who reconnected it? I did, and when the Magical Index plummeted to historical levels, who innovated the guild system?"

"I. Did."

More cheers and applause could be heard. Sultan's squinted eyes and sharpened face relaxed for just a moment. Lucen looked one, not entirely demotivated. This doesn't look like the first time he's fought against Sultan.

Doesn't look like it'll be the last, either.

"I don't just serve Royalia. I am Royalia."

He raised his hands, and clapped multiple times for himself, and for the people. I couldn't help but feel my skin crawl. Something about that…didn't feel right.

Then, I felt it in my horns, a low hum vibrating sensation.

Mana.

And not just mana, a mana surge.

An active rush and use of mana too quickly where it's barely noticeable. Concealed too much, only users at advanced mana sensing could get that.

I looked around, quickly.

Someone's trying to sabotage this event.

And I saw them, a hooded and cloaked figure atop of a building. Sigils and glyphs forming around them as nobody watched or even sensed it.

Then, I traced their line of sight.

Wait, no.

It wasn't aimed for the people…no.

It was aimed for the Chancellor.

Sultan.