Interlude - Black Auras and Subtle Plots
"How fucking dare you!" the target, named as Princess Myra Eleanor Vallejo, shouted at Athalia. Her brow furrowed, jaws tensed, and nostrils flared. All physical signs of… anger. Thus, the slap she had just delivered to Athalia, was one done in anger.
Athalia analysed the entire encounter, sorting all the factors to determine the response.
The target was approached by Athalia.
Information had been delivered to target, of Athalia's existence and possible relation to her, by an agent currently in service under the target.
Target greeted Athalia, to which a response with sufficiently respectful vocabulary and body language. Slight quirking of the edge of lips and fractional closing of eyes. The response from target was judged to be positive.
Pleasantries were given by target. They were judged to be distraction until target asked the planned question, thus Athalia also used pleasantries.
The planned question, what Athalia knew about her family, was finally asked by target.
The planned answer was given by Athalia. She had grown up an orphan in a place that the targets paternal family had lived, until target's father's marriage to queen. Her father possessed features similar to those possessed by targets paternal family. She was born a few months before the target.
The intention behind the answers were to imply that Athalia was likely descended from a secret bastard line from one of the targets paternal ancestors, and to foster comradery through similar age.
The target instead slapped Athalia.
Thus, Athalia could conclude with minimal error in judgement, that the target had chosen to slap her for no apparent reason. An unprovoked attack.
Thus, going through her memories, Athalia decided that the ideal response was to…
"…an attack upon you, especially one without sufficient reasoning, deserves retribution of the highest level on the attacker, for even daring to harm the vessel of the true gods. Of course there are times that doesn't apply, such as wh-"
… deliver the highest levels of retribution.
However, the target continued existence was essential to the true god's plan.
The true god's plan had priority.
Thus the ideal response was to…
"… if you cannot, for any reason, do something immediately you must be patient and bide your time. Eventually the ideal time for action will arrive. An example of this is wh-"
… bide her time.
So Athalia expressed the facial expressions indicative of shock and fear while the agents around her began acting to salvage the current situation. But Athalia ensured that she remembered the targets face and any identifying features.
Athalia is the true god's vessel, thus attacks on her must be met with retribution.
Day of the Tournament
As Athalia stepped onto the slightly raised stone platform, that was the arena, she considered the goals for the current situation.
First primary goal is to acquire the relic sword, that was released from the royal treasury. The relic sword is required for the true gods plan, it will be the weapon used when Athalia is fulfilling her role as the vessel.
Second primary goal is to present a strong figure for future diplomatic endeavours. The diplomatic ties, that will possibly be made due to this, will make achieving the true gods plan easier.
Third primary goal is to increase perceived value of vessel in the eyes of Krigaia governing body. Doing so will provide opportunities that will aid in completing the true god's plans.
Only secondary goal is to ensure that the agents participating in the tournament get within the top ten position. The reward for the top ten positions are a significant amount of novel elixirs that are currently under the direct supervision of the chief royal alchemist, and thus outside the true god's believers reach.
Only tertiary goal is to provide retribution to former primary target, Myra Eleanor Valejo. Attacks on the vessel are to be met with maximum retribution, the former primary target has done so. Thus retribution must be given.
The tertiary goal conflicts with second, and third, primary goals.
Former primary target has positive relationship with parental figures, who are leaders of Krigaia kingdom. Retribution upon her will reduce reputation with Krigaia governing body, and portray a petty personality for Athalia.
"On the count of three!"
Thus the all primary, and sole secondary, goals were the only ones that shall be active during the tournament.
Thus, reviewing her combat guidelines, Athalia faced the former primary target.
"One!"
"It looks like you're pretty strong," the former primary target stated towards Athalia.
Athalia portrayed facial expressions indicative of surprise and slight flattery.
"Two!"
"Very well then, I'll show you a fraction of my power," Athalia immediately reconfigured her combat guiidlines, as is required when in a possible unknown combat-based situations, "come forth-"
"Three!"
"-Votusax"
A flash of light, not enough to obscure Athalia's vision. Behind it a large rift tore open in the world, from which grew golden mass. An eye blink later, the golden mass had become a golden dragon of at least five houses worth of height and mass.
Once again, factors were considered.
Summoned dragon was, judging from size and general pressure, was likely s-class at minimum. Possibility of it being SS-class is low, but not impossible. It is unlikely for the dragon to be SSS-class or higher.
At the current moment Athalia is incapable of combating anything above b-class.
The dragon possesses blue eyes and scales of a similar gold shade as the tall student the former primary target has been seen accompanying. They are likely the same individual. The metaphysical sensation from the dragon also matches the metaphysical sensation from the tall student.
It is likely that the dragon is being kept in service through means of providing compensation, as dragons tend to not do anything for those not of their species without sufficient compensation.
Thus the ideal course of action would be for Athalia to first surrender. Her survival was paramount to the true god's plan, and the true god's plan had priority.
"I surrender." Athalea stated, creating expressions indicative of fear and determination.
Then she assigned the dragon the position as a secondary target of subversion. Getting it on the side of the true god would help with the plan.
She also made sure to reassess the threat level possessed by the former primary target.
Day after the Tournament – Lunchtime
The secondary target was sitting in the canteen without the primary target. This was…
"… now, men with partners can be more difficult to subvert… but they can also be the easiest. It's all a matter of how attached to their partners they are, and thus the first thing you must do is collect information on them. Ideally, while they are away from their partners or intoxicated. This can also serve as an opportunity to ingratiate yourself."
… an opportunity for Athalia.
She began cross-referencing all information about the target provided to her, as well as the notes on the target's species behavior. Forming multiple plans of approach before eliminating non-optimal ones.
Once the ideal approach was generated, Athalia proceeded to execute it.
"Hello," she approached and greeted, noting target's reaction to the greeting. It was a simple acknowledgement, a nodding of his head, before target returned to his food. Combined with the minute expressions, this meant…
"… now these types of men need to be given space and time. If they feel like you are intruding on 'their' space, then it may ruin the attempted subversion."
… that Athalia should stay silent for a short period of time.
"My name is Athalia. It is nice to meet you," she introduced herself after the silence.
First name given with a tone of voice, followed by an indirect complement on how it was 'nice' for her to be meeting 'him'. An attempt to appeal to masculine and possible draconian instincts.
"I am Votusax. I suppose it is pleasant enough to make your acquaintance too," the target replies, the cutlery on table vibrating lightly at the enunciation of the name. Otherwise, the voice is deep, in a range which Athalia was informed would be 'attractive', and projected no particular desire to continue talking.
Mentally archiving the new information about the target, Athalia allows another short period of silence.
Then she began gathering information about target's personality.
"I heard that you nearly killed a student for challenging you. Is that true?" first came the attempt to confirm target's view on causing harm to other sapients. Important for compatibility with the true god's plans.
"Indeed," the target nods with features matching those common for annoyance, "though it was rather… vexing, how that resulted in the class becoming essentially useless. I had been hoping to actually learn something from the class."
Apathy towards pain caused to unknowns. A positive sign, one to be…
"… when attempting to subvert, ensure that you cultivate anything that would allow your targets to not hesitate in following the true god's plans."
…reinforced via affirmation. Athalia did so.
"I am sorry to hear that… I am sure you were looking forward to learning something new… but in the end it is good that you gave retribution to someone who challenged you. It was the right thing to do."
The affirmation showed the desired effects, with the target facial features matched that of contemplation, and eventually agreement, to the concept of significantly harming unknown sapients for little reasons.
"I had merely wanted to experiment with something," the target replied.
"…whenever talks about something they did, it's always a gateway to obtain more information."
"Is that so… and you love testing things?" Athalia probed, ensuring that her tone portrayed the tonal patterns of pure curiosity.
"Hmm… I do believe I enjoy experimenting…" a confirmation.
"If that is the case would it be possible for you to tell me wh-" Athalia began probing further, only to be interupted.
"Though I will say that I have a far greater passion for something else."
Athalia recalibrated her approach, "oh? And what is that?"
"I love cuisine. Cooking it, learning about it, and especially consuming it… I love it all," there was clear indicators of passion in the targets voice, "what about you? I recall that you are also a member of the cooking club."
Athalia was part of every club that she had been informed contained any targets of subversion or elimination.
"… and if someone asks if you also love something? It's an easy way to ingratiate yourself through a common interest, or begin a bond that can be an avenue of subversion."
"Of course," she lied, attempting to ingratiate herself.
"That is a lie," there was little delay before the targets statement, made with no signs of unsurety.
"… if they say something without hesitation? They're eith sure, or they are attempting to bluff in the hopes that you will slip up. If in that situation, always stick with your initial assertion…"
"Of course I love it," Athalia asserted again.
"Could it be that you, hate food?" there was a undertone of killing intent behind the target's question, specifically around the last part.
"…unless sticking with your assertion will have purely detrimental effects."
"I am… am ambivalent towards food," Athalia admitted, cataloging that the target likely had an ability to detect lies.
What followed was the target asking about what she actually enjoyed, to which she presented the truth again. Nothing. Target considered that to be a bad way to live, to which Athalia… did not know how to respond to that.
Then the target began feeding Athalia food.
The rest of the interaction was thus relegated purely to Athalia accepting food from the target, while attempting to obtain more information from target.
The results were… sub-optimal.
She would have to improve the approach next time… and obtain the answers for questions that she did not answer this time.
