Steel and Mana
Chapter 438 – Offer

It was in the early afternoon when Rashira was led into the city of Avalon after spending most of the morning with Yuri and Luna, mostly having a simple conversation, at least on the surface. She was experienced enough to realize it was more like an interview as the two women subtly probed her thoughts and temperament. Not that she minded it, but it was good to finally head out. Even if she was guided by another wife of this Sovereign Leon, Mikan, matching her steps, Rashira's arms were loosely crossed as she surveyed the city, trying to hold her surprise down, not showing it directly.

Knowing exactly what she was trying to do, Mikan just smiled while introducing her to all the main attractions, walking past them. What Rashira also noted was that the woman, despite her blessed figure and position, dressed simply, wearing a white blouse with a matching skirt and a big straw hat. There were no rings or opulent necklaces, and more importantly, there wasn't anything that would suggest she was a... Shaman.

"You don’t wear jewelry," Rashira said suddenly, breaking the routine. Her tone was cautious, maybe a bit hostile, but mostly because she didn't know how to ask what she wanted to ask. "You don’t dress like someone born into power... I mean, into... the ability to use the Gods' power."

"For a long time, nobody thought like that," Mikan smiled faintly without looking over, remembering how she was in the past, before coming to Avalon. “Power... I never really had it, and now I think that the word itself is very different for everyone... In my case, I think that it is something you earn and not something you are born with."

"Not everyone can do what you can," Rashira argued without letting her finish.

"Even if you are born to someone important, people expect you to prove you're worthy of it. Isn't your youngest sister in a similar position?”

"..."

Falling silent, they turned onto a long avenue that opened onto a massive central square. Rashira’s eyes drifted toward the structures around it while thinking of an answer that she never managed to say out loud. She watched the school buildings, massive halls of stone, marble, and iron, with people of every age pouring in and out. Some of them wore simple uniforms, some with a more militaristic flair to them, while others had white robes over their regular clothes, but their hands were also stuffed with books.

What was more surprising for her was that there were girls and boys. They were not separated but mixed together, laughing, reading, bickering, and some of them looked somewhat desperate as they mumbled to themselves.

“This… this is?” Rashira asked, gesturing subtly, looking at Mikan. "Is this the..."

“This is the University District,” Mikan answered calmly. “You’re seeing the top of the education within Avalon. All the children go to school here, and after finishing, the truly bright people can apply to further their understanding of the world. This is no longer mandatory education, as the topics taught here are much more advanced. Reading, math, history, logic, all of those are taught to the citizens of Avalon. Here, those get combined and are challenged to their limits.”

“Even the girls?”

"Huh?" Mikan turned her head, quickly reminding herself that Khulman was a different country, one that she had a very poor opinion of. “Yes, even the girls.”

Rashira’s lips pressed together, not really knowing what to think of what she was seeing.

Back home, she had spent years hiding books as a kid. She did it not because she couldn’t read or it was forbidden for her, but because reading too much made her dangerous in the eyes of future 'husbands' and delegates of rival clans. The Kahn's position was absolute, but... she wasn't Kahn. She was an asset, and assets sometimes get broken. A girl with thoughts more competent than her future husband was a girl asking for trouble. So, she had made sure to read every book coming her way. She took every old scroll she could get her hands on and began learning archery to ensure that if someone came for her, she could take care of it before it reached her.

“They all go to school until what age?” Rashira asked, trying to mask the tension in her voice, pushing down the sudden flood of early memories.

“Fourteen and then those with above average grades get two more years of advanced studies. After that, they can choose. Some go to higher academies. The excellent ones can join the University instantly, and those with a bit lower scores can take another two-year course to prepare for it. Then, those who fail or no longer wish to pursue further knowledge start apprenticeships, their own businesses, or whatever they desire. Many join the military.” Mikan paused, giving her a sidelong glance, stopping counting on her fingers, “It doesn’t matter if they’re noble or not. We don’t have noble castes here, anyway.”

“No castes?” Rashira almost choked, but then she understood why the people felt so weird while walking the streets. There was no clear indication of who had a name and who didn't. No crests, no flags, no clan colors, only the one that belonged to the Sovereign.

“None,” Mikan repeated with a smile. “There are leaders of communities or workplaces, yes. But no one’s born into something you would call... worth. You make your name. Or you don’t. Both are fine.”

As they continued, they passed a mural on a long, curved wall, and Rashira slowed down in front of it. The mural showed a progression, with children studying, then the same but slightly older figures in training, and finally, standing atop a hill, all of them looking proud, looking towards the horizon... maybe into the future.

“Notice the names at the bottom?” Mikan said, and Rashira quickly followed her gaze. “Those people did something for Avalon. Half of them are teachers at the University. Some of them are younger than me.” She giggled.

Rashira said nothing for a long while, glaring at the woman with a nonbelieving, sarcastic gaze. Yet... Mikan didn't seem to be joking. With their legs moving once again, they walked further, out of the University Square and onto a narrower path that was leading them between residential buildings, each window open in the summer heat, adorned with plants or drying clothes hung out on strings. Rashira had to realize she didn't see anybody who looked like a vagrant either, nor did she feel like there would be a part of the city where more... unsavory people would go and snatch others' goods when they weren't looking. Here, families moved about without even thinking about it, and despite being clearly foreigners, many of the children waved at them as they passed by.

“You’re lucky,” Rashira said suddenly, her voice trembling a little. “Your life… And I mean everyone here, not just you... It has to be great that living here is not just about power or appearance. Having... freedom. Nobody looks at you like you’re about to be chained to someone... I am jealous of you.” She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment.

As she spoke, Mikan also slowed her steps, listening without trying to interrupt her, feeling that something really wanted to come out of Rashira.

“That’s what they want for us back home,” she continued, her tone sharpening with apparent anger. “Me, my sisters. Yeah, we smile, we bow, and we obey when ordered... But they want us to be pretty trophies and nothing more. We are to be married off to solidify power, as our mothers, and theirs, and theirs... and theirs.” She stopped as she looked away, her fists clenched at her sides, trembling. “I don’t want that for my sisters,” she muttered, gritting her teeth. “I can handle it, but Meyli? Or Jila? No... They would be broken down, if not immediately, then soon after. I am not willing to sacrifice their smiles!”

Listening, Mikan remained silent for a few more moments, watching the side of Rashira's face. Then she stepped closer, stopping just before one of the neighborhood benches. Without asking, she sat down and, without speaking, motioned for Rashira to join her. She hesitated… but only for a moment before she sat next to her.

“You know,” Mikan began after collecting her thoughts, “I was taken away so soon, I don't really recall much of my childhood. I was discovered in Ishillia to have magic... and people like those are whisked away to be the property of the Emperor.”

"..." Rashira leaned forward slightly, her eyes widening as she listened. She looked at Mikan, not believing yet still understanding the important part: it was the truth. No matter what her first thought was.

“Worse than that, I was bad at it.” Mikan continued, chuckling, “In the end, I was kept around as the example of what the worst witch in the Empire, of what not to be. What I didn't know was that I was also the fat little lamb, being raised by two people at once...”

"What do you mean...?" Rashira asked, gulping.

"One of them was an old monster of Ishillia, an Emperor that lived for 300 years by consuming other mages. I was being kept around to be his meal. The second one... Was my own ancestor, living inside me."

"What?!"

"On my back, I wore a tattoo. It was put on me by Leon," Mikan explained with surprising pride, something that Rashira quickly identified, "One that has suppressed the presence and soul of an ancestor of mine, someone who wanted to cheat death and return in the future... The only issue was that I was here."

"That... is hard to believe."

"I know, and I am not trying to convince you of it. The main takeaway from my tale is that both of those people," Mikan said, taking her hand, "were considered powerful, and I was not. Yet, they are dead... and I am not."

"Because of Avalon?" Rashira asked, looking at her, jaw tight, muscles tensing.

"Exactly. And now, I do believe Leon is right. We have the opportunities; we can make it. It is on us, not on anything else. You and your sisters also have this opportunity!"

"We... do?" She muttered, furrowing her brows.

"Without having to marry Lancelot." Mikan clarified quickly, "You only need to go to my husband and tell him that you wish to become part of Avalon, either as a citizen or a political refugee, and he will help you. I know he would."

“And go against my Father? Against an alliance?" She scoffed, but Mikan's serious gaze suddenly made her feel weak and uncertain. Finally, her unbroken look made Rashira's defenses crumble, "You’d just… let us become citizens?”

“My Leon would,” Mikan nodded. “If you asked him. He’s the Sovereign, but he is not a tyrant. He gives people the tools to decide who they want to be.”

“I don’t know if they’d believe it,” Rashira murmured. “I mean, back home... And... I don’t know if I believe it.”

“You don’t have to believe it today,” Mikan said gently, letting her hands go. “Just… remember it’s possible. That’s all.”

They sat in silence for a while longer, the bustling noise of the city coming into focus around Rashira, making her raise her head and watch the flow of people walking past. Then, slowly, straightened, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. By now, her face was calm again, but also smoother and relaxed.

“Thank you,” she said.

"Mhm," Mikan gave her a sidelong glance with a smile, “Anytime.”