Fortune sways the fight. It matters little how skilled a warrior might be; if luck abandons him, he could trip while dismounting his horse and snap his neck. Fantasia is a breeding ground for superstitions, and one such belief is that a maiden's favor is essential to emerge victorious in any competition.
"I know! My sister Leonor will surely grant me her favor. She isn't married yet."
Marcus smiles and nods, blurting out the first name that comes to mind. But his joy is short-lived when the obese Master of Jousts grunts and shakes his head.
"That could be seen as an allegory for incest, and there are nobles who practice it. Do you wish to insult the nobility? To send the message that your lineage deserves to be as pure as theirs? Boy, Stoicus is the most neutral point of the Union. Let us uphold our conciliatory tradition; do not seek out misunderstandings or trouble." Seeing Marcus keeping his head down in indecision, the Master of Ceremonies continues. "Many warriors settle for the favor of a goddess. Choose any with whom you feel an affinity. Lacrimossa is quite popular among the pious."
"But all the goddesses I know have children..."
"They are goddesses! They remain maidens regardless of the offspring the legends attribute to them."
Marcus cups his chin, frowning in deep concentration, but no deity comes to mind. Praying to any of them would feel hypocritical when his true faith is vested in the crystal resting deep beneath the castle.
The soldier's eyes widen in surprise as an important detail dawns on him: he doesn't actually know if the Dungeon Core is a man or a woman. It could very well be a woman. Not a human one, obviously, but he suspects that if he could hear its voice the way Dowmy the imp can, it might sound as melodious as a song.
Just the thought of a beautiful magical entity supporting him makes Marcus's heart race.
"You're blushing, and your armor are catching a pinkish hue. Have you finally thought of someone? The infatuation doesn't need to be mutual, just the assurance that she desires your victory in the jousts. Captain Axiel asked for Princess Gineber's favor, and she, being a giggling damsel, granted it, even though their disparate statuses would make any union between them impossible and scandalous."
"I had no idea Captain Axiel was participating in the jousts, or that he would fight for the Queen's daughter. I hope I don't have to face him," the soldier mutters.
Marcus remembers that the Dungeon Core's existence is a closely guarded secret, but even if it weren't, he still doesn't have a proper name for him—or her.
During the soldier's hesitation, a new voice joins them.
"Sign my name in your ledger. I offer my favor to young Marcus."
Hilda enters the tent, dressed in her street clothes: a green linen tunic with a belt cinched below her chest, tight white breeches, and thick leather boots. A longsword hangs loosely at her side—a clear reminder that even without armor, she remains a fierce warrior.
Marcus stands at attention and salutes the woman. Hilda, her voice calm, tells him to relax, finish his registration, and focus on his upcoming bouts.
"How did you know I would be fighting in the jousts?" Marcus asks. He assumes Baldo or some other gossiping comrade tipped her off.
"We have... a mutual acquaintance, and we will both be watching your performance closely. Don't let us down," Hilda clarifies without offering further details.
"E-Excuse me, Dame Hilda. Favors can only be granted by maidens," the Master of Jousts says, using a tone far more respectful than the one he had used with Marcus.
"I know," Hilda replies, her single eye fixed on the man's sweaty face.
"I understand. In my ignorance, I assumed Inquisitor Knights were allowed to marry. I will write down your name at once."
"Of course we can join in matrimony. Committing our lives to fight against evil does not impose vows of chastity upon us," Hilda states with a firm voice.
The Master of Jousts swallows hard and bows his head under the Captain's piercing stare, pretending to scribble something down in the book. Marcus watches them, picking up on the growing awkwardness in the air. Jimbo, who had arrived alongside Hilda, takes advantage of his invisibility and intangibility to slip away and wait for the captain outside.
…
Thirteen kingdoms, one Union.
To the southeast of the map lies Stoicus: The Shield of the Union. It is named as such for being both the entry point to the Underdark via the Great Rift, and the first line of defense against subterranean threats—a nest of darkness that has plagued the surface since time immemorial. Towns, farms, mines, and the ruins of ancient stone or rammed-earth walls occupy the green plains and rolling hills of Stoicus. It boasts only one great city, sharing the kingdom's name. Sometimes it is derisively referred to as the Kingdom of Commoners, due to the mundane origins of its founder and the strict 100-year limit placed on ruling dynasties, a tradition that prevents any true nobility from taking root.
To the east lie Aquas and Ludopedia. Until the arrival of the Magic King, they were sworn mortal enemies, and even today, a fierce rivalry persists, one that Kazuto's administration has managed to suppress for centuries.
Aquas is renowned for its net-fishing industry, yet paradoxically lacks a naval force, and the bulk of its inhabitants suffer from a phobia of the ocean. This is due to the cruel sea currents that smash fish and shellfish against the rocky coasts. These very shores cemented the belief that Aquas is impossible to conquer by sea. The kingdom's people believe that the breakwaters are actually the spine of a slumbering, colossal dragon, and to keep the beast dreaming, they have cultivated a rich culture of dancers and minstrels. They are an artistic folk of deep-rooted customs, but one tradition Kazuto outlawed upon conquering them was the practice of tossing virgins into the sea in a bid to reap more treasures washed up by the tides.
In the mountains and forests of Ludopedia live rugged people of simple lives, lovers of wine and ale. They do not mine their mountains, considering them sacred, but they have no need to; the kingdom is famous for its weekly meteor showers. From these cosmic stones, they extract the materials used to develop the most refined smithing techniques in the Union. The finest weapons and armor hail from Ludopedia. Once, when a scholar tried to peek underground to explain the anomalous concentration of meteors, he was kicked out of the mountains amid screams that his ridiculous science would anger the heavens. And while the men forge, plump women manage the mountain cows—docile giants whose abundant milk and meat form the second pillar of Ludopedia's trade.
Up north is Platia, the realm of Merchant Princes, settled along the banks of the Three Gorges River, the Union's main fluvial artery. There is a prevailing theory that Platia's nobles have secretly encouraged the enmity between Aquas and Ludopedia for centuries, enriching themselves off the conflict while stunting their neighbors' growth to maintain an edge. Such ideas have been demonized and persecuted by the Kings of Platia, who insist they are merely the ramblings of madmen and republicans.
Connecting with virtually all the kingdoms is Great Conquistia: the largest and most populous realm of the Union. This territory was inherited from the dynasty of Hall the Terrible, the last of the rebel kings to fall at the hands of the Magic King. Hall's overthrow sparked a series of civil wars, with warlords claiming to be Hall's heirs or Hall reincarnated—delusions of grandeur that dragged Kazuto into fresh conflicts. Yet chroniclers agree that by then, the era of pacification had effectively ended the moment Kazuto defeated Hall atop the Black Tower, whose ruins still dominate Conquistia's skyline. Hall's supposed heirs never quite matched The Terrible.
Adjacent to Conquistia is Mahou: the magical realm and administrative capital of the Union. Only authorized personnel are allowed to cross the heavily guarded borders of the most majestic kingdom ever built. Enlightened scholars and powerful sorcerers waste their lives away trying to earn enough merit just to visit the Magic King's home. One of the main landmarks in Mahou is the Monolith of Law, a massive stone monument where Kazuto carved the foundational laws of his government, including justice and freedom for all races of the world. Such courtesy toward non-human races caused great discontent among the fiefdoms during the Magic King's first century of rule, and even now, racism remains a constant issue.
Jo and Caido, south of Conquistia, were territories liberated by the legendary Aoi, and are considered brother kingdoms with a long, shared history. Jo is famous for its flowers, tea plantations, and masters of the bow and sword, being the birthplace of the katana. Caido is known as the Kingdom of Foreigners, a sanctuary for those arriving from other lands seeking a home far from barbarism. It also holds the highest non-human population.
West of Jo lies Gorgon, the capital of the human gods. Many religious cults, whether ancient or newborn, have major headquarters in Gorgon, making the kingdom a place of pilgrimage and learning for fledgling priests. Currently, the hot topic in Gorgon is the Great Miracle that saved Stoicus from the dark elf invasion. Theologians have yet to determine which god is responsible for such a feat, and some even entertain the possibility that it heralds the birth of a new god.
Furthest south sits the Druid Kingdom, whose true name remains a secret to speakers of the Common or Friendly Tongue. But even behind its fortresses of giant trees, the druids do not possess the most isolated and secretive kingdom; that title goes to Zombra, the land where Hiroshi's fiefdom once stood long ago. Zombra boasts the highest concentration of cemeteries and necromancy schools, and serves as the resting place of the great tomb belonging to Antiquia's first king.
Heading further up past Zombra is Adobencha, the Kingdom of Adventurers, and the realm with the second-highest non-human population. Above Adobencha is Antiquia, humanity's first kingdom, now mostly a collection of uninhabited ruins. Despite its lack of populace, Antiquia is a site of worship for archaeologists and scholars, which is why the Great Library of Antiquia is located at its heart. The grand canyon of the Aldebaran dungeon lies between this territory and Adobencha.
Thirteen kingdoms united in harmony—or so it was believed for a long time, until news arrived of the rebellion of Jo and Caido, rising up to claim their independence.
The reason?
Suspicions that the Magical Council is hiding the death of Kazuto, the Magic King.