Mai Kijo

by: countdown-to-suicide

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Mai Kijo: Social Studies 101

Lesson 2:

One thousand years ago, the planet's magnetic fields have become unstable. In order to prevent this disaster from destroying Fuka completely, a machine was launched into space to stabilize them. However, consequently, this changed the current of the magnetic fields and gave it EMP-like capabilities amongst other things. This mutated magnetic field is called Searrs Field. It was because of this field that electrical devices/ machines cannot function, weather conditions have become erratic and abnormal, and some parts of the world have temporal differences-- slowing down time in some places and speeding up in others. Lastly, and the strangest of all, the human brain's frequency has intermittently synchronized with the Searrs field-- like radios responding to radio waves, unlocking the barrier that has kept humans from using the full capabilities of their brains instead of just the normal 10. This gave 30 of the people in Fuka psychic powers and the rest with extra abilities.

These people were not given any names/titles to differentiate them from the normal ones. One reason was that, these abilities were inherited at random like one would inherit a genetic trait. Another, more important reason, was that people were afraid of the possible conflict, born out of prejudice, should they force segregation or insist upon such disparities.

Thus, living beings that inherit these abilities are simply acknowledged as psychogenetic or as a whole, psychogeneration.

Terminologies:

a. EMP - Electromagnetic pulse; a pulse that emits electromagnetic energy that renders anything electrical inoperative.
b. Psychogenetic - a person who carries psychic genetic traits. These genes are also called psychogenes.
c. Psychogeneration - a generation of psychogenetic people.
d. Searrs Field - it is the planet's mutated magnetic field. This abnormal field is named after Jonathon Searrs, the scientist who discovered it.

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Act. 1 : Mai's Challenge

10 years later...

It was late in the afternoon when the last of the world's representatives entered the borders of Aglacia, the capital city of Amaranth, and even later in the evening when the aforementioned ambassador entered the palace. The soldiers guarding each hall did not blink when the golden-haired foreigner stormed past them. Only when she stomped past them again for the second time, then the third, did they finally exchange baffled and amused glances with each other. The fourth time they saw her walk by, she was following behind a slightly harried-looking servant, her face flushing with embarrassment and anger.

The foreigner and the maid paused in front of a paper door upon which, the latter proceeded to kneel down daintily. She slid the door halfway then pausing to reposition her hands before pushing it open all the way. The whole formal procedure caught the attention of the people inside. "Your Majesty, Lords and Ladies..." The servant began, "I present to you, the ambassador of Levantine, Lady Haruka de Mille." Then she graciously gestured for Haruka to proceed through the door.

"About time she showed up..." The representative and president of Valori, Mashiro Blan, muttered irritably under her breath. Haruka threw her a baleful look, and everybody in the room tensed. The servant quickly slid the paper door close, having no desire to get caught in this political crossfire. Before Haruka could open her mouth to rebuke the other girl, a quiet but authoritative voice cut through the air.

"Lady Haruka, please sit down."

The knight's jaw immediately snapped shut and turned her head to look at the figure sitting imperiously on an elevated floor. The young empress looked magnificent in her four-layered mauve-gold-black-white robes and golden sash. Her long, orange hair was pulled up in an elegant bun, and was adorned by beautiful gold and jeweled pins. Unlike most Amaranthian women of nobility, Lucretia Mai chose to forgo the fashionable white make up and rouge lipstick. The effect on her appearance made her seem child-like and innocent. Yet, no one could deny the strength shining in Mai's eyes, nor the steel in her disapproving gaze as she looked steadily back at Haruka.

The knight turned away and took her place on the left row right across from her only ally in the room, the ambassador of Newland, Yukino Crosworth. The meek, bespectacled woman smiled at the blonde after Haruka sat down cross-legged on the pillow instead sitting on her ankles like the rest of the women. When the Levantine ambassador was settled, everyone looked up at the empress expectantly.

Mai looked down on her hands for a moment then looked up to finally address the representatives. "As you all know the previous empress, my mother, died last month. What you don't know is that she did not die of illness. She was murdered." Mai examined each face carefully as the news sunk in. Most of them looked taken aback, and three... the representatives of Malkav and Il Balad respectively-- were stoic. The empress let her eyes linger on Wataru Ivanhardt, and Hadiyya Kaiji and his daughter Akira. "A thorough investigation showed that it was the work of one, Francesca Shizuru. Otherwise known as Lady Red." This time Wataru's eyebrow arched in mild surprise.

"Isn't she supposed to be one of yours?" Haruka demanded indelicately.

"She hasn't been... ours since the war ended." Mai answered calmly even though she wanted to frown at the rude blonde and wipe the scornful smile off Wataru's face.

"Pardon me, your Majesty." Yukino spoke. "I understand why you hid this truth from the public, and I can understand why you've guarded this secret so fiercely that even our Intel did not suspect a thing." At this, Kaiji nodded solemnly in agreement. "What I don't understand is that... why did you choose to tell us now? Wouldn't it have been better to have kept us all in the dark?" What was left unspoken was that the information Mai had disclosed could have been used against her. Allies and enemies alike, took note and acknowledged this unsaid admonition.

Mai chuckled humorlessly and tilted her head towards Yukino who immediately ducked her head timidly. "Well said, Ms. Crosworth. Under normal circumstances, I would have. However, I am neither ignorant nor foolish. Murdered or not, my mother's death provided the perfect opportunity for one of you to try and dethrone me. And I know you all think I am too inexperienced, too young, and too weak... to rule an empire. I have heard whispers of conspiracies and preparations of war." The room erupted in shouts of outrage.

"Are you reading our minds?!" Haruka roared.

"Don't be stupid. What do you think that guy is for?" Mashiro scoffed at the blonde as she nodded her head pointedly at the young man sitting at the foot of the empress' dais. Johann Takumi, Mai's loyal retainer and distant cousin and had the ability to turn off anyone's psychogenetic ability within a six meter radius, smiled at Mashiro slightly.

"I do not care what you think of me, ladies and gentlemen. But I do care about the welfare of the empire." Mai's voice was calm but her eyes had darkened. "I am not like my mother."

"Indeed you are not." Fumi, the Ezran representative who had been silent up until now, agreed gently.

"I do not like war." The young empress went on. "I do not like battles of any kind, and I do not like how tense relations are between our nations. Peace is hanging by a thread. The smallest provocation elicits conflict. It has always been so, for the past nine years. I do not understand why people refuse to let go of their hatred or be contented with what they have. Yes, you might call me naive. But such things are beyond my understanding." Mai shook her head sadly. "I am not weak, but I lack the strength to atone for my mother's sins. I am not a coward, but I am afraid of the burdens you all expect me to carry. I am barely prepared to take on this kind of responsibility but with time... I will be. However, I know none of you are patient enough to tolerate my immaturity and inexperience."

The room was deathly silent as everyone stared at her. After her confession, she met their shocked expressions with a wry grin. "You don't need to waste your time making plans to dethrone me. I would gladly step down should you find someone better suited for the throne than I am."

Wataru shot to his feet and shouted, "This is madness! What are you saying?!" His entire body was shaking with fury and he jabbed a finger in the empress' direction. "You say you don't want another war! But this- this foolishness will destroy us all! Do you expect us to work together to find a replacement for you? NO! We would turn against each other, fight each other, and kill each other for that privilege! You may not like war. But I like it less! I have seen its horrors firsthand, and they are nothing like you IMAGINED!!"

"Calm down, man. Let's hear what the empress has to say." Ironically, it was Haruka who said it. "I believe you have more to add, your Majesty?"

"Yes, I do." Mai gave the knight a grateful nod. "I have a proposition for you." At this announcement, Takumi pulled out a scroll from his robe and placed it in front of him. The empress continued, "I understand how disastrous the repercussions would be should I step down from my position. You are right, Gen. Ivanhardt. No truer words were said." She gestured at the scroll empathetically and all eyes narrowed at the seemingly innocent object. "That, everyone, is the contract. Anyone who signs it will accede to its conditions and meet my challenge. Whichever nation wins it will inherit the right to the throne and concede to the victor's wishes. The rest must promise to ally themselves to the winning nation, agree to a peaceful and uncontested reunification, and converge to their aid should they need it. The Amaranth nation will also participate in this contest of equal opportunities. Let this challenge decide the fate of the empire."

"Hmm... The idea sounds promising." Fumi mused with interest.

"What challenge?" Mashiro and Haruka chorused then eyed each other menacingly.

The steel in Mai's eyes returned as she spoke, "Instead of going to war, each nation will choose a champion to represent them. Our champions will then compete against each other to bring to me the woman responsible for my mother's death. There are only four conditions in this contest;

"one, the government and the military are not allowed to be directly involved in the contest. They will not aid these champions in combat, supply them with information and other necessities, or 'take out' the competition. I will each give them enough funds to pay for whatever they need. But after they use it all up, they are on their own;

"two, harming innocent people is discouraged. Whether they can help it or not, each time they hurt someone who is not involved in the contest-- their disqualification becomes eminent;

"three, no one is allowed to disclose the nature of this contest, or reveal its existence, to anyone except the involved parties. I would like to avoid vigilantes and patriotic fools from helping out our champions as much as possible, or causing panic among our people. I'd like to stress that our champions practice utmost discretion;

"and four, the champions must all be female.

"Anyone who is caught violating these rules will be disqualified. I do not need to remind you that I have eyes everywhere." She paused before the corners of her mouth twisted sardonically. "There are enough loopholes to make everyone happy, and minimize possible deaths and damages as much as possible. I am aware that the contest will satisfy no one unless there is a battle involved. Now... I am sure all of you have a lot to think about. You will be given thirty days to decide whether you wish to sign the contract or not. To those who need to confer with their leaders, contact them as soon as possible. We shall meet here again in a month. That is all."

The representatives rose to leave-- their expressions an amalgamation of thoughtfulness, apprehension, and confusion. The room was quiet and nearly empty save for two people. "Am I doing the right thing, Takumi?" Mai whispered weakly.

"I don't know, Mai," he answered, "but what other choice is there?"

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Everyone had gathered together once again in the same place thirty days later. Haruka was only three hours late this time. The scroll was once again in front of Takumi, unfurled, the contents visible for all to see. Below the written contract were signatures written in blood-- all seven of them. Mai addressed the assembly once more, "Have you chosen your champion?"

"Yes," said Mashiro, "I have chosen Sleeping Beauty."

"Yes," quietly said Yukino, "I have chosen Miyu."

"Yes," said Fumi, "I have chosen the Hunter."

"Of course," boldly declared Haruka, "I will be Levantine's hero!" Yukino spared her a brief and startled glance. The rest rolled their eyes at the knight's breach in formality.

"Yes," said Wataru, "I've chosen the pride of Malkav. The wolf of Rutenberg."

"Yes, I will represent my country," Akira added stiffly and her father nodded solemnly beside her.

"And I," Mai said, "have chosen Lady Red's predecessor... Lady White."

Haruka leaned over to whisper to Yukino who was sitting beside her this time. "You know, except for me and the Rutenberg wolf, everyone else is either an assassin or a mercury."

"It's mercenary, Haruka." The other girl smiled slightly. Whenever the blonde was agitated, she had a bad habit of confusing her words. It was kind of endearing.

"May your champions be victorious and bring glory to our nations." Mai told them courteously, concluding the meeting. "Let the contest begin."

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TBC...

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