Anaphol’s mind caught the words spoken. His mind still was reacting to the immense pressure of his own worry.

  “YES!” He accepted.

  Only one single whisper could be heard in the middle gallery to Naph’s left. Even that same whisper could only be heard as a noise to the ones next to the people meant to listen to it.

  The rest that followed happened faster than Anaphol could have the time to understand or question any part of it.

  On cue to no one in particular, a few spokesperson of the noble families gathered in the galleries called out to their emperor simultaneously.

  “Emperor Stelart!” A smile plastered on their faces. “If you will.”

  Stelart snuck in a sigh, afterall he is the emperor. “State.”

  Stelart’s gaze went to Lady Izne. She immediately took the reins, “To the present representatives, the boy Anaphol will learn basic minimum that is expected of him.” Her eyes scanned the galleries. “That includes a list of lesios with increasing order of difficulty in learning, the languages of our continent, his continent and the continent north of Tarna.”

  She waited a split moment for the audience to register it. “And he will also learn the basics of our history, his continent’s history, the logical reasonings, mathematics, and geography.”

  Anaphol barely noted that what he had agreed to had expanded.

  Izne continuing, “All so as to learn the lesios.” She did not have to give hints that the last added was to keep Anaphol from questioning.

  One spokesperson on the left galleries to Izne and Emperor Stelart asked, “The ruling family of the Dukedom of Fiarno wishes to know of the list of lesios and where would the boy learn them?”

  A different spokesperson across the grand hall in the topmost gallery called out. “Does it matter? If Anaphol is going to learn anything, he should first live a week as a student in any one of the academies.”

  Anaphol's mind had nearly just reached the process where he was understanding what Emperor Stelart had proposed. He only pushed the active conversation to the back of his mind. He was too exhausted. This feeling only became more apparent over time.

  A lady spokesperson cut in from the lowest gallery to the left of Emperor Stelart. “He should learn the few basics from Rian no Tera’s lesios. Most children learn it or gets to one of them. And we have the most understanding of those, those in itself would cut his time required to learn many different subjects into one single subject.”

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  Lady Izne’s head didn’t move but her mind did look down on the carpet in rejection. And then her words echoed. “Neither the Emperor Stelart Keyriftrian nor someone from His council gave any of you the right to speak on this matter.”

  The audience ate their words.

  Lady Izne kept her gaze on Anaphol. “Anaphol, you have the choice to choose the lesios you wish to learn. And yes, it will be best for you to go through a school’s week as you did so,” she turned to face Emperor Stelart with the eyes holding the lights of the grand hall within, “I believe so.”

  Emperor Stelart’s eyelids blinked ever so perfectly. It carried his meaning. Izne bowed.

  So did a few of the council members by the throne.

  Lady Izne Hont Keyriftrian proclaimed, “Emperor Stelart now opens the grand hall for discussion. Anaphol, please state your choice when we ask of you.”

  The same spokesperson who cut in first, “The governing family of the Dukedom of Fiorna requests that Anaphol learns the lesios of Fiorna’s Academy of Excellence and Proficiency’s beginner division’s class four. He won’t feel too old among them and the syllabus covers the recent understandings made about Regda and Tarna in unbiased form unlike many of the other dukedoms’ academies.”

  A laughter with a hint of mirth and ridicule snickered. The man who had just spoken turned his whole body to face to his far left on the same gallery.

  The one laughing feeling the plentiful of gazes said. “Oh, so unbiased!” The one laughing’s face couldn’t be made out from where Anaphol stood, yet he wasn’t looking at him. He was staring down at the carpet mulling over all he had heard of the battles happening and him just beginning to even consider scratching at how powerless he still am after all these years.

  The one who had laughed slightly controlled theirs and was about to state their own when another lady spoke right below them.

  “I agree with the Baronet Oliver of Verta’s say that Anaphol should learn as a student of one of our academies.” The lady speaking had lightest red shades marking her eyes while her lips counter matched it. Her fair complexion matched Anaphol’s white knuckles around his ride, ‘the doom delivering pedaler’ handle.

  “He should not be deciding to move this grand hall and Our Emperor in a week’s time. Give him two weeks while we subtly move our forces to influence and safeguard our foothold in the Territory of Sevenren.” She placed her gaze on the Emperor Stelart and said, “Emperor Stelart, our family,” she felt a tug at her elbow, “no, I, request that Anaphol learn from one of the Great Pillars of Knowledge academies.”

  The Great Pillars of Knowledge is a title bestowed upon certain institutes and academies by the Highest Family. And it is bestowed rightfully so. One of the reasons being the alumni that achieved many during their tenure there.

  Three distinct voices bellowed in response. “We refuse to teach someone who isn’t from Jhorime.”

  Emperor Stelart was unmoved by the protest. Lady Izne did give a glance to the three places from where the voices came acknowledging them.

  For next several moments no one spoke. Cryst and Dykur’s unease became more palpable after hearing the three distinct voices say the same response.

  Lady Izne having waited chose to ask Anaphol. “Anaphol, will you prefer being taught alone?” She considered her words.

  Anaphol didn’t quite catch her words. He said almost absentmindedly, his exhaustion increasing, “I have already agreed. Give me what…” He had to force to think, “Emperor Stelart considers right for me.”