Twenty Four - No rain, no gain

It is time.

Guests are already arriving.

There was a great amount of things surrounding the celebrations.

I grabbed the gear prepared for me and put it on.

The same armor worn by the Council guards.

I do not know how they managed to get hold of it, but I will certainly blend in more easily.

The musicians were still preparing to start the concert.

Waiters were already circulating with drinks and appetizers.

No one important had arrived yet.

No one important shows up that early to a party.

I took up a position where I can see and analyze the entire hall.

I will simply stay here.

The way a guard would.

Now, it was just a matter of waiting.

I have been feeling the effects of the solstice since early on.

All the magic is gone until the early hours tomorrow.

My body feels a bit heavy and more tired.

The good news is that it is not raining outside.

I think this is the first time in eight years I have seen the Capital without the eternal rain.

Everything is still wet.

The ground, the houses, the buildings, the trees...

Yet, people are wearing a more colorful demeanor than when they are not soaked from head to toe.

The atmosphere of the entire place is certainly different.

A blend of relief that the rain has stopped and a sense of loss over the absence of magic.

Perhaps if magic vanished from the entire world forever, the rain would cease forever too.

Everyone would be happier for it.

Would they?

If I had to choose, would I sacrifice all the magic in the world to stop this eternal rain?

Probably not!

There must be another way to fix everything.

And it starts with putting an end to the Council.

I also do not know what to expect from all the activity involving the rest of the team.

There are multiple fronts scheduled to take action today.

At any moment, the party could be interrupted by a commotion elsewhere in the city, which might disrupt the mission here to some extent.

It is going to be hard to predict much of anything today.

I am just going to stick to the plan and hope for the best.

The party is now in full swing.

Karlos will give his speech in a few minutes.

Practically all the guests have arrived, I think.

People are dancing, talking, and socializing throughout the town hall.

Wearing the Council guards' armor gives me the advantage of overhearing communications from everyone activities.

I have not moved much since taking up this position.

I have made a few trips to the restroom and took an hour to eat in the kitchen with the others.

No one suspected a thing or asked any questions.

Perhaps I should be suspicious.

He finally arrived: Council Member XVII Karlos Joshua Bowthe.

The music stopped.

He is greeted with a round of applause.

It makes me sick.

He begins, "Good evening, distinguished guests. Thank you very much for coming and gathering for our magnificent celebrations. Today, we celebrate not only the solstice event and the humanization of the world, but also the tenth anniversary of the liberation of the entire continent. We must always remember our brave soldiers who fights and who have fought so that today we can stand here celebrating freedom and peace."

Every word he speaks just makes me want to vomit.

He continues: "Ten years ago, we made an important and difficult decision to launch a fight, liberate the oppressed, and make the entire continent a safe place where everyone could live in peace and security. It has not been an easy task over these years. Countless bloodthirsty rebels have tried to seize power back. Countless victims have been lost due to the actions of these reckless rebels. Today, many families mourn the loss of cherished members taken too soon. Yet, who undoubtedly sacrificed themselves so that our entire nation could sleep soundly. And tonight, we honor and remember those heroes."

He could just shut up at this point.

But he does not: "The unrestrained use of magic caused nothing but chaos and confusion everywhere. The violent, savage nomads of the north bared their claws and fangs, destroying all the aid and civilization we brought them. They would rather see their people left with nothing, starving and dying in the desert dunes, than simply accept the gentle hand we extended to them years ago. But we will help these poor masses rebuild their lives using our latest invention."

The lights in the hall go out, and a huge projection appears, floating above the guests.

Karlos continues his explanation: "The Council and our esteemed scientists and artificers have worked tirelessly to develop new tools to help fight against the violence and put an end to this conflict. I present to you our newest aircraft. It is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and capable of flying long distances, transporting supplies and personnel to hard-to-reach locations that were previously inaccessible to the Council. It can fly at high altitudes and withstand extreme temperatures, whether scorching heat or freezing cold."

This is insanity.

“We have already managed to build a couple of prototypes. The results are magnificent. Soon, we will be able to liberate the entire continent and bring the peace that all of us, decent citizens, deserve.”

The hall erupts in deafening applause.

I want to wipe everyone here out.

Yet another weapon of mass destruction.

Your freedom and peace are lies.

Just lies.

This will be responsible for the deaths of millions of people if it is not stopped.

Our days may all be numbered.

“I earnestly appeal to everyone who is able to contribute: the Council is accepting donations and assistance from all who wish to help combat violence and build a better world. Unfortunately, we have suffered some losses in recent months; yet, despite this brief setback, our spirits remain steadfast and resilient. We are ever ready to fight for what is just and right.”

Widespread panic.

Several explosions begin to detonate across the Capital.

The night lights up.

It had begun.