United Under Division

Shock Politics

Unmei's eyes recollected their count of everyone else who was present for the hundredth time. One, three, seven, and even more entrants mingled among themselves, some standing, others seated at the conference table that surrounded the circular floor.
The pillars supporting the dome roof stood tall. Perhaps the sand that coated them from countless sandstorms prior meant it was time to refurbish them. Then again, if they had stood for even before Unmei's birth, they can stand until her death too.
Judging by the other members rested on balcony seats next to these pillars, she wasn't the only one unworried about them.
What did worry her was the situation she was in now. Or was about to be.
Those pillars could hold up this place, the Jani Spire, but they could not shield her from human confrontation like this.
Many people on the balcony seats Unmei recognized as her own, and she brushed at the archaic red ribbon tied around her head to remind herself of that. They were Mirains. Her people.
But, unlike them Unmei was at the ring table in the center of the main floor. Deep down, it demoralized her that very few else at the table resembled her own. Except one in particular that placed a calming hand on her shoulder.
"Lady Unmei, do calm yourself. Your eyes are darting around like a rabid beast's." Tao's voice was hushed, a low, tender sound. Something she rarely heard out of Mirai's general. Mirai's taisa.
She looked back in his eyes, remembering back to the months before this that were swarmed in a much different conflict. The clash of a sword echoed in her ears. The flash of demonic minions devastating her land blinked across her memory. The word gods repeated itself over and over in many voices.
It had all been so much to take in. Still was. In her opinion, a rabid beast looked sane to how she felt.
"I appreciate the kind words, Tao. But, don't you think everyone should have that right, right now?"
He flattened his mouth, cocking his head to one side in a nod. "Duly noted." His posture straightened back up behind her. "Just be sure your thoughts are clear when this begins. It'd be a shame for your people to see the Akuma Pillar collapse on this day."
The Akuma Pillar. The Three Aspects. Wisdom, clarity, and strength. Mandatory traits for the authoritative leader, the rida, over Mirai. Unmei harkened back to a faded memory of her as a child. Her head nestled in the arms of her father, Aki. The former Rida.
A wave of emotion swept over Unmei. It had always been her wish to carry on her father's legacy, and more. This conference was definitely a good stepping stone for it, but Unmei worried if she really possessed what was expected of her.
Gods befall her, she hated expectations.
Starting to grow agitated from her thoughts, she retreated from them and surveyed the room. One-hundred and eleven.
There were near ten people seated and standing at the ring table. Most of them looked of noble reputation, as Unmei figured, though there were four she chose to keep close eye on.
The first, a dwarf adorned in layers upon layers of regalia colored deep shades of gold and red, the tones of the dwarven province, Tomo. His white hair was wrapped upward tightly, revealing the many callouses and lines on his face from old age, and perhaps experience too. To Unmei, Nanchi still looked alive as ever, caught up in a discussion with another dwarf beside him.
The second, a tall pale-skinned elf, like that of snow, who had the same friendly smile on his face since he had first arrived. He wore sheets of cerulean leather hitched over dark yellow fabric, the tones of the province, Dachi. Unmei knew Istuko well, admired his philanthropy, though not so much his passivity. She wondered how involved he would actually be in the talks to come.
The third, a mysterious man whose many skins, hides, and jungle-like clothing were just as such. A large hood was draped over his head, darkening his face until only his white pupils could be seen. Unmei knew little else than that his name was Haisheen, the chieftain of Mirai's long ally, Heiwa.
And the fourth, she gazed long at his calm stature. He spoke nothing, leaning far back into the chair, arms crossed. Eyes closed. Still wearing that purple scarf she knew all too well. Some people would mistake Graydon to be asleep, but Unmei knew this was when he was most alert.
For a moment, she wondered what it was he was listening for. In the end, she gave a brief wave to his second-in-command, Asuka, the man who noticed Unmei glancing their direction. He leaned against the wall behind Graydon leisurely. A posture that betrayed his boredom.
She couldn't blame him, she wanted to get things over with too. Yet, even though the spire was hers, it wasn't Unmei who officiated this. Casually, her fingers thrummed the table while she wondered when that man was going to show up.
Then, the main doors to the spire slid open, filling the room with a low growl of stone, followed by sets of footfalls.
"Finally." Unmei exhaled, watching the powerful wizard Yasuda emerge on the floor. His cyan robes flowed without gravity behind his feet, and other companions followed close behind him.
Two were people wearing the same robes that she didn't recognize, but easily discerned the seven others that came after. There was never any mistaking that motely crew, and wasn't surprised when several people in the balconies gave heart felt applause.
The Aku No Hana. Despite their quirks, they held a very valued reputation in Unmei's home. And soon, to the continent, no doubt.
In the meantime, the room fell to an eerie silence as the mass group settled themselves around the table. One of the seven, seated next to Yasuda, stood with a cough.
She remembered this man. His charismatic speech had been alluring to Yasuda, the root at why everyone was here today. No doubt, this man had a way with words. Though...
"I am your introductory speaker!" Calibri Sans Serif was certainly an oddball.
"Wow... that's how you start it?" One of the seven spoke up. Tysius' tone was unimpressed.
"Dad!" Iyeisha, the man's adoptive daughter complained.
"Come now, Tysius. Let these politics run its course." The aged Pontius responded, tugging at Tysius' sleeve.
"Politics? You think this'll be politics?" The extremely elder elf, Javy Dones interrupted. "It's all gonna be a hoax, I tell 'ya. A trick!"
"Not this again..." The aasimar woman, Vilnia sighed.
"Um, hey, gramps? Maybe let the young people do the talkin'?" The studious wizard Obadiah interjected on his grandfather's behalf, trying to hush him from every eye in the room that stared blankly in their direction now.
There was a small pause when that realization crossed them all.
In all honesty, Unmei had to stay herself from giving a laugh.
Then, Calibri continued.
"As many of you may know, great danger befell the land mere months ago. Danger that has been quelled, but has left a scar on more than the ground, but also in the hearts of many."
His speech was elegant, his hand motions dramatic and... natural as they gestured to Yasuda. "That is why Yasuda, among others, like myself, have spent countless hours persuading the many lands of Shashan to convene in council. Because, it was by our division this evil first happened upon us all."
In the corner of Unmei's vision, she saw Graydon give a subtle nod, eyes still closed.
"And so, as introductory speaker, I hereby open the floor to Yasuda, who shall commence and carry out this conference."
Calibri sat. Yasuda stood. And just like that, the conference began.

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"Nanchi, dearest," Itsuko insisted, "you are blowing things way out of proportion."
A slam on the table and Nanchi's face morphed even further into anger. "Speak for yourself, snowman, my land was decimated. Yet, yours was untouched. You honestly think I will believe you didn't have a hand in this?"
"Then, what of us, dwarf?" Haisheen's voice was a boom, a true voice of authority. "My people were also unharmed."
"Not even demons would dare venture so far across that wretched sea, druid." Nanchi was unrelenting.
Unmei was so disheartened. The conference hadn't lasted even ten minutes before people were at each other's throats. As she had feared, the situation had dissolved into exactly what she was afraid of.
Somehow, Javy's question of if this really would be politics made more sense to her. If not that, then what was this conference, really?
"Nanchi," Yasuda called over the crowd, "the last thing we should be doing is pointing fingers."
In response, he propped an elbow on the table, rotating his body in Unmei's tozoku's direction. "You know, wizard? You're right, in a way. We should be talking about this man instead. This new emperor over the land that caused all this."
Graydon's eyes still remained shut. He inferred no sign to respond. But Nanchi did.
"Look at him. He sits like this is a joke! I am inclined to think he has dozed off as well!" Nanchi shot from his seat, sending it screeching back a few inches.
"Nothing good will come of his authority! He won't give any good answers to anyone!"
"Hey, um, dude?" Tysius objected. "Blaming others right now won't get any answers either."
Nanchi's eyes met Tysius'. There was a slight crease to the dwarf's frown, no doubt eyeing every detail he could of the man in the conical hat. "Hmph, so the demon speaks."
"Half demon, actually." Tysius corrected.
Unmei had to do something. Everyone was way out of line here. At this rate, nothing was going to be created except more enemies.
She knew that, yet every time she moved to open her mouth, something kept her from showing her voice. It wasn't magic, but worse. Her nervousness.
The onslaught continued.
"You all want an answer?" Nanchi declared. "Then, I'll give us the first one. The dissolution of Gunji Teki."
There was a huge slam on the wall, and everyone, Unmei especially, looked in its direction. Where Graydon had laid a curled fist to the wall behind him. Eyes open, staring daggers at Nanchi.
"No." His bass voice rang from behind his scarf.
Nanchi gave a soft chuckle. "Why? Because you'd lose all that power? Boy?" Unmei swore the daggers in Graydon's eyes became swords.
"Listen to yourself, Nanchi, you speak so rashly." Itsuko said, his voice contempt to try and calm him. "Dissolution? Dissolution into what, exactly?"
"Good question. Why not ask the queen who believed she had the power to maintain the Tekian regime in the first place?" Unmei's soul felt like it fell into a deep chasm the moment Nanchi's eyes fell over hers.
"It was by your hand this man became the new emperor. Your hand that aid was sent to rebuild what had been destroyed in Gunji Teki. Don't you remember it was their hands that forced your people low?"
Unmei didn't respond. Taken aback by the sudden shift on her. The eyes that watched her felt like spearpoints piercing every inch of her body. She couldn't move. But, the truth was, she did remember.
Then, Nanchi sat back in his chair. "Of course not. You have been Mirai's Rida for, what, a month? Of course you would be a halfwit. Mislead by your virgin years as a follower, not a leader."
Suddenly, the room was encompassed with a loud crack, the bang of a lightning bolt. Though, there was no flash, no sign of clouds. Just the noise.
Silence befell the room yet again, a natural fear running through everyone. That was when Yasuda's voice rang true.
"That will be enough. I have seen children behave with much more maturity than what I see now." His eyes swept over everyone as he stood. "In my meeting with each and everyone of you, it was agreed our attendance would be met with productive debate and progressive action. An act toward unification, not separation."
Unmei saw several nods of heads in the crowd on the balconies. She caught herself doing so too.
"So, I open the floor here and now," Yasuda declared, "if you believe that no hope can come from this conference, the doors are open for you to leave."
Seconds passed. Then, seconds became minutes. No one spoke. But more important, no one moved. Not even Nanchi, who Unmei watched the whole time.
Then, Yasuda sat. "Very well. Now, let us carry on."
The conference continued.

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"The United Provinces?" Itsuko's tone equated to that of a confused teenager.
"Is there anyone not here who is also expected to join this union, Yasuda?" Haisheen asked.
"Everyone I have spoken to is present today, old friend." Yasuda's voice was much calmer than his color of a storm earlier.
Unmei felt more at ease in this environment. Everyone's voices spoke clear and temperate. Deep down, she still felt that tension that clung to the congregation, but it was very deeply buried.
"For now," Yasuda continued, "Lady Unmei. If you would please stand and voice the parameters of the United Provinces."
Unmei inwardly jumped at the sudden call out. Thoughts raced through her head faster than even her powers would let her run. Thoughts of the guidelines and principles regarding one's involvement in the United Provinces.
She remembered the countless times she had shut herself away in her palace bed chambers, reading over the charter again and again as Yasuda had firmly requested.
Was this why? Had he made Unmei almost memorize to heart the legislation just so she would present it?
Her teeth ground against each other, hidden only by her pair of lips she pressed closed.
Still, Yasuda continued to eye her, his expression almost prodding her forward like a rambunctious brother forcing on his sister a dare. A dare that everyone was present to see.
Would Unmei take up that dare? Not allow her pride to be toyed with? Or would she let it sink into nothingness and collapse, like every fiber was tempting her to do?
The Akuma Pillar. Wisdom, clarity, strength. Those words filtered through her brain, followed by Tao's words from earlier.
"It'd be a shame for your people to see the Akuma Pillar collapse on this day."
No. She wouldn't let it fall. She'd overcome this fear of confrontation, push forward and reach that confidence that so many people coveted. It was the least she could do as the rida.
So when she stood, she made sure her back was straight, form tall. She forced her hands to hold steady, fingers gently folded in between each other. And when she spoke, she didn't let an ounce of it sound worried. But, ferocious.
"Thank you, Yasuda. You may be seated." He didn't move for a moment, his expression never changed. Then, he sat down, face briefly glancing to the seat below him. In that instant, Unmei swore she saw the briefest glimpse of a smile across his face.
Then, she pressed on. "There stands to reason we all come here today with a lot of baggage of our own. At this moment, whether it was because of the events of months prior, or the events of years ago no longer matters."
Unmei's eyes met every single person in the room as she made her speech. Each time, what she saw weren't the eyes of bickering leaders, but the irises of astute listeners. She had to admit to herself, that feedback went a long way in her conviction to proceed.
"Yet, it has been those same trials that have shaped us into who we all are today. Further, it is the backbone of why we all gather here at this moment. Not for destruction of one, or the redemption of another, but the unification of all."
That statement was met with a round of hushed, but genuine applause. She let it all fade out before expressing her next words. "The United Provinces shall merge our lands into a collective state, gradually crafting a scape that cooperates with everyone around them. And to help clarify the shape it shall take, it is my honor to read off the charter this will be bound to."
No one made any sudden objections as Unmei was off to the races. There was no piece of parchment she read off of. No arcane sigil that reminded her of each and every bullet point. Just her memory, and her motivation to carry on her father's legacy, and more.
She recited guideline after guideline. Some were lengthy and specific, while others were kept short and vague. Some felt major and impactful, while others seemed like a bore to the present audience.
To Unmei, however, boring and entertaining wasn't what was important, their necessity was.
It wasn't until Unmei reached the final item of interest that worry resurfaced. In this small pause she took, she recognized just how negatively some of the members might react.
Not because of some stereotype to be regarded as law. Not because of a restriction that would hinder certain people groups. But because it would ultimately put these peoples' trust to the test. Something she saw this assembly heavily lacked.
Even so, she didn't hesitate in introducing it. "Finally. So long as the United Provinces stands and services its people, one of the monarchs shall always stand at the head of this union. This man or woman's title shall thereon be referred to as mikato, until otherwise elected out by majority vote."
Several hushed conversations commenced at those words. Unmei stood frozen while it all happened.
Above it all, she heard Nanchi with a voice loud enough to silence any further murmurings. "This mikato shall be chosen out of the council of monarchs, emperors, and Ridas that join the United Provinces. When shall that kind of choice be made?"
Unmei's answer was stoic. "Immediately after each province has signed off on the charter."
There were a few gasps in the audience. Unmei noticed Nanchi's eyes go wide for a split second. He opened his mouth, but Itsuko answered first. "Such a crucial decision, so soon after its formed?"
Unmei looked to Yasuda, hoping for any sort of guidance here. It wasn't enough his expression still showed nothing, his eyes weren't even on hers. She would get no help from him. Not when she had come this far.
"Yes." The only reaction she received were each of the leaders sinking back in their chairs in thought. Except for Haisheen, who glanced between each of them.
"It is obvious no protests shall be made," He said, "the signing shall carry onward."
"Very well." Yasuda declared. With a faint shock of blue light in his hands, a wrapped scroll suddenly appeared in it. He laid it out onto the table, unwrapping its blue ribbon as he did. "If any leader here thinks it's beneficial to join, please approach and sign."

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Unmei felt breathless in this moment.
The conference had concluded.
Friends and strangers stayed for a while after, before taking their leave.
The whole time, Unmei couldn't help but look at the floor, flustered over what had all happened. She swore she heard taisa Tao congratulate her, before excusing himself. She sensed Pontius, Obadiah, and the rest of their friends crowd around her, giving their own praise to her.
How had that happened? Her thoughts couldn't focus on the people around her. They could only pedal back to the many minutes before this assembly finished.
One by one, each major monarch of every province had stood to walk and sign the terms. Yasuda was first, as he was right next to it. Second had been Haisheen, followed by Itsuko. Nanchi had hesitated at first, but became number four nonetheless. Graydon didn't say a word as he went next. And finally, Unmei was the last to sign off.
There were very few words during this entire exchange. The silence felt eerie, unnatural. But thankfully, Unmei was still breathing when she returned to her seat, so all was well in the end.
Then Graydon spoke, raising his hand. "I elect for Unmei as mikato."
She didn't look his way, but her eyes perhaps went wider than Nanchi's had. When Haisheen and Itsuko gave the smallest of nods a couple seconds later, Unmei's jaw fell agape.
"Wait, hang on-" Unmei tried to demur, only to be cut off by Haisheen.
"Even after brief thought, I can agree with what emperor Graydon has chosen."
"Indeed," Itsuko added, "Out of all of us, it is quite obvious you are the only one to have kept a cool head."
Unmei tried to raise fingers, but then Nanchi included himself.
"I suppose that can't be argued in my case... Besides, I wouldn't really want to be it anyway."
And that means I do!? Unmei retorted in her mind, though even her thoughts were cut off.
"Oh, what a great moment!" Pontius exclaimed.
"Now, that's an accomplishment." Obadiah acknowledged.
Unmei was speechless. Everything was unraveling so fast in front of her. Suddenly, the whole prospect of, "and more", to her whole legacy thing felt extremely daunting.
Yasuda gave his words. "It would seem the court here is, otherwise, unanimous." He flashed her another smile. "Then, so it shall be. Until otherwise removed, rida Unmei, you are hereby named mikato Unmei in our presence."
Cheers filled the entire chamber. All Unmei could do in that moment was sit. Try and take it all in.
But the noise died down before she could even begin to fathom it. When it once again quieted, Yasuda gave a courteous nod, before he moved on to the final statements of the conference.
His words discussed the future of the continent now that everyone was bound to it. He relayed predictions, estimations, and other assertions of what would be expected of each province in the time to come. And in the end, each monarch was expected to gather in future conferences if ever one was called.
Once Yasuda had spoken his last word, Calibri rose beside him, calling the conference to a close.
And now, here Unmei stood, surrounded by the Aku no Hana. Not knowing how else to react, she instead chose to meet their eyes.
Vilnia was the first her eyes met. "This is a great opportunity for you, mikato Unmei."
Unmei couldn't help but smirk at that comment. Iyeisha leaned into her view. "So, this basically means you're in charge of the whole continent, right?"
Suddenly, Unmei felt the sensation to hurl. The whole continent. Subconsciously, she knew that, but to actively think the words brought it to a whole new scale. Luckily, she held her lungs steady, instead giving a laugh.
"I suppose so, Iyeisha. Say," Unmei glanced around, "I just noticed you all have been short one friend."
"Oh, Muramasa?" Pontius chimed. "A few days ago, he needed to return south, to his home in the peaks."
Unmei raised an eyebrow. "The Igoku Peaks? What home could he possibly have there?"
"I know!" Tysius agreed. "Man's gotta be insane or something."
Several of them gave a laugh, before Unmei continued. "Well, I suppose we'll see him again soon enough. For now, I think it's about time I repaid you all. As thanks for solving my problem months ago, let's see about helping you all out with yours."
They exited the Jani Spires, walking out to the streets where Unmei was met with many of her citizens. She didn't need an escort. The Aku no Hana was enough.
Mikato. That word never left her thoughts the whole day.

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