Greyashe chapter 279 is entitled 'Strict rules and regulations III.'

Previous chapter 278: Strict rules and regulations. II

Next chapter 280: Strict rules and regulations. IV

Summaries page.

-Short summary-

The canidates take center stage at they debate their positions on the issues as Cayden and the others fight against the Triad.

-Long summary-

Hydon finishes the introductions and the (truncated) rules of the election, and then invites magicians who are interested in the position of kaiser mage to step forward. Alekto leans back in his chair and blows air, complaining that this is taking too long. He just wants to put down his vote and then leave immediately. Larter asks what his hurry is, considering the 'festivities' have just begun. He wouldn't be thinking of 'fleeing' anywhere would he? Alekto glares at the fellow magician and huffs. He has no reason to tell Larter what he plans on doing after this farce is done with so he should just butt out. Larter grins; a cat upon his prey and agrees that he doesn't have a reason to tell him anything, thus he'll just infer what he needs to know.

Alekto is about to speak up again when a magician stands and makes his way down to the podiums set up for the candidates to have their debates. Hydon glances upward and welcomes the magician to the floor, referring to him as Tyson Skye. He then asks if anyone else will take a stand against Skye? Each magician would be allowed a chance to present the issues most relevant to their stance as the new kaiser mage, and the others who decide not to take up the mantle would then be allowed to put in their votes. Of course the door is open to anyone else who would want to run for the position, and they could very well win it if they are able to gather at least 92% of the vote. Hydon would keep the polls open for an unspecific amount of time, and then once he had felt that the duration had been long enough would close them and count votes. Even if the other magicians wanted to sit around and twiddle their thumbs, they wouldn't be able to leave until a new kaiser mage had been elected. He himself wanted to go out and destroy the man who had just been revealed to be the kaiser mage's murderer but he has his duty to run this election. To that end, Hydon is at the mercy of anyone who would decide that they want to run for the position. As long as candidates appeared and ask for time on the floor, he would have to oblige them. It is that stipulation that annoys the advisor the most, though it is also what makes this election so unique, and fair. Literally anyone could become the new kaiser mage if they had enough support from their peers.

A second magician stands and descends to the podiums where Skye stands. Hydon acknowledges him and motions for him to join Skye on the podiums. He refers to him as Viktor Inman, and seems to have some degree of respect for him. The two then shake each other's hands and take the podiums, ready to debate their positions. Hydon tells them that no topic is off limits, and that the others will not interrupt them until after they have opened the floor for questions.

Aicha who had been suppressing the urge to ask Larter or Alekto questions after their initial exchange can hold herself in no longer and asks Alekto (supposedly the lesser of two evils), his opinion on the two candidates. Alekto shrugs a shoulder and replies that he's never actually met either one of them, though their reputations are to be respected. Skye had formed some of the theories of sky magic that had made Grendel Wulf the powerhouse he is now, and Inman is an earth mage who had dedicated himself to studying the every ebb and flow of the world that they call home. It also goes without saying that they're both extremely powerful mages in their own right, and both would make excellent kaiser mages.

Inman begins by lamenting the loss of Acheron, claiming despite his age he was taken from them far too soon. In his stead, he will advance the age of the magician. His studies have shown that the world end scenario can be averted by them, the people who had dedicated so much of themselves to advancing their agape.

At hearing that the world end scenario could possibly be avoided, and without the help of the farseers the other magicians begin to clamor. Aicha too can't help but feel swept up by the fervor....the world end scenario had been the stuff of legends, and the one way of prevented it was even more legendary....apparently only the farseers knew how to avoid becoming eradicated by the scenario, and because of this they had made themselves scarce. So much so that finding them had become more or less a public effort, some countries even offering rewards to people who could give a general direction of where the nomad people had gone. If Skye is right and they could avert the scenario using their own power, then they could at long last call off the hunt.

Skye then points out he fallacy in this argument, stating that the scenario had never once affected the 'earth' but the people on it. Even if studying the planet itself could yield answers it would do no good if they would all be eradicated anyway. Magicians now need a leader who is going to take action, who has the strength and cunning to keep their enemies at bay. Studying is one thing, but practical application is completely another. He would be the man to go to for that. He admits that Inman is right, magicans would need to rise up if they were to keep the scenario from happening, but scholarship wouldn't be the means of doing so. They would need action, power, and most of all speed. Inman's Earth studies had given them knowledge on some fronts, but it had taken far too long.

Inman argues back that starting fights and acting in gaudy displays of bravado would get them nowhere either. Many had been killed during the WITCH war....and for what? Nothing. They hadn't advanced anything or been able to prove anything. The WITCHes who had chosen to believe in magic still do, and the ones who felt they should distance themselves from it still do just that. Having power and flinging it about is the epitome of foolishness, and as magicians they would need to act with more intelligence.

The two go back and forth, making point and counterpoint, the other magicians in the room neither agreeing or disagreeing with them. It then dawns on Aicha why Acheron had stipulated that she attend this gathering...as someone who had seen what high agape levels and magic could do close up, she would be the best 'witness' to report her --no Peter's findings of magic's intents with agape. That it is the enemy. Aicha's resolve rises and she makes a decison not to let Acheron or Peter down.

Meanwhile Cayden motions at Aithne goading her to come at him. With Frieda giving him directions and his advantage over grass magic, there's no way he can lose. Iselia reprimands him, giving a stern reminder of the situation they're in right now. Rather than picking a fight with her, they should be helping those injured by Willard, and then making their way to 'Dover tower'.  Cayden glares at her and replies that he understands the situation quite well, which is exactly why they can't just leave. How many more people does she think will be hurt if the three start to pursue them through the city? Even if they are able to get away, which is something he strongly doubts they'll just maraude and murder until she gives herself up. They'd have to take care of them now if they want to have safe passage to the tower. Besides, he owes them a thing or three for putting her in danger in the first place.

Aithne glances back at Delaney who nods curtly. Cayden and his group interfering had been a hiccup they had been expecting, but who knew it would take this long? Though the advantage of a long fight is theirs, if Willard and Aithne start getting fatigued while fighting Cayden and his group, Iselia's escape to 'Dover tower' would be that much more assured. They'll need to eliminate these obstacles before they become a major problem. Cayden then fires an icicle from his hands at Aithne who uses another vine to smack it away. The resulting crash of ice crystals freeze her hands to her vine and limit her movements which allows Cayden to follow up by freezing the ground underneath her. Her movements shut off in the small alleyway, Aithne begins to fall when Delaney catches her and then lunges forth at Cayden. The ice user jerks back in surprise and releases a barrage of small ice crystals, which explode in a powdery mist upon making contact with Delaney. Cayden stands at guard and whispers to Frieda, asking where he is now. She replies that he hasn't moved, and he won't like what he sees.

The mist clears and Cayden's eyes bulge. Sure Delaney has a few scratches from the sharp edges of the ice barrage, but he is unaffected by the ice itself. His hat was blown off by the barrage, and his glasses clatter on the floor, breaking upon impact. Cayden is taken aback by his appearance, white hair, purple eyes and pale, pale skin. The ice user instantly remembers the girl Van had been traveling with when he had been at their school for a little while. Hadn't she said something about not being affected by agape? If that's the case then...?

A vine rushes through the air towards Cayden. He tries to duck out of the way, but it grabs him by the arm it's thorns digging into his flesh. He screams and tries to freeze the vine, but Aithne is faster and yanks it back hard, an audible 'snap' resounding through the alley as it dislodges from the joint.

Skye and Inman have come to an impasse, both claiming that the other isn't looking out for magicians enough, and claiming that their opponent is only trying to look out for himself. Alekto mumbles that all magicians ever do is look out for themselves, and a woman near him wearing a sarape scarf over her head stands up and agrees. She makes her way down to the podiums until Hydon stops her and asks what she thinks she's doing. She undoes the sarape and the magicians gasp upon learning who she is.

Libitina Moors sporting a new shorter hairdo grins at Hydon and proclaims that she's here for the people. Apparently Skye and Inman had forgotten about the normals who can't or don't use magic? They're for magicians and everything, but there's a wider world out there. She then turns to the magicians and points out whether they like her or not, she has 40 percent of the vote, so tough luck.