When I wanted to go unnoticed there was nothing better than playing Jonah.

After all, apart from those four scrappy adventurers, no one was aware of this double identity of mine, and once I had dressed in the Torian clothes and put on the mask, it was enough to disguise my voice a little so that no one would recognize me.

Like Jonah, I could go wherever I wanted, listen to people and see what the general mood was, what they expected from me and what I could do to improve my reputation.

Every now and then I felt like I was back to the time when I was just a hunter eavesdropping on political speeches Dundee's tavern; except that now the tavern was an entire city, and the opinions to take into account were a few tens of thousands.

The festive atmosphere had already been filling Faria for a few weeks, but now that the fateful day was only a few hours away, spirits were overexcited, and the city was already practically in a carnival mood.

But it couldn't be otherwise, given that this would have been the first time in over a hundred years that the show of shooting stars from which the festival took its name would have taken place right in the skies of Eirinn.

Naturally, I had done my best to assign the right symbolic value to the event, also considering its religious importance for the followers of the Gaia cult.

As I walked aimlessly through the streets full of stalls and games of all kinds, I listened and looked around, noticing with pleasure how the situation had improved a lot in those three months.

The works that I had promoted by indebting myself for another five or six lives had resolved many urban planning problems, improved roads and expanded public spaces, as well as repaired the damage caused by the brief siege of the city.

Faria was certainly not Paris, but having been able to work on a city worthy of the name and see its progress certainly made me proud, reminding me that people's hearts were won in that way too.

Old Berthier said it well: you can conquer a country with soldiers, but you have to administrate it with engineers.

Still enjoying the anonymity, I headed towards the ducal gardens, where the heart of the celebrations would be the next day.

Even though it was still winter it was pleasant to walk through the tree-lined avenues or along the banks of the lake, and the citizens seemed to think the same way.

I admit that the inviting scent coming from the many food stalls made my stomach growl, and if it hadn't been for the mask I think I would have succumbed to the temptation to bite into a meatball or a fried fish.

"Scalia, Sapi! There's no need for you to stuff yourselves like that! Nobody will take it away from you!"

Putting a dragon and a yeti at the same table means watching a competition to see who can eat the most stuff in the shortest time possible; unfortunately for Septimus who had naively offered to pay their lunch, Scalia and Sapi had bottomless stomachs.

Luckily they were both too busy eating, otherwise I'm not sure my disguise would have been enough to fool them.

"And with that, we're at three hundred silver francs." said Giselle, looking out of her stall. "I told you, Septimus. These two would be able to digest even stones."

"Then stop bringing food, damn you!"

"Absolutely not. A tavern keeper's duty is to make his customers happy."

"Thank you for the meal!"

"Enough! Have you decided to dry me up?"

That was Incredible.

My army was now in the hands of kids.

Stubborn, impulsive, naive... but also incredibly loyal kids.

For some reason I couldn't understand I always tried not to put them in a position to risk more than necessary, and for some of them I had done things that went against everything I thought I believed.

For Scalia I had put in jeopardy a plan that I had been preparing for years; for Sapi I had bravely challenged a pig who could have killed me at any moment; for Septimus... I had leveled a fort for him.

Every time I saw them throw themselves into battle, a part of me couldn't help but hope that they would come back safely; a kind of thought I wouldn't expect towards someone who I said I considered little more than tools.

Before being noticed I decided to move elsewhere, but I only had to walk a few meters to come across Lady Valera intent on delivering a sermon in front of a small audience of believers.

Mary was in the front row as usual.

I had always considered religion a useful lie, a bogeyman to wave in the faces of the masses to keep them under control and catch their sympathy.

But faith had a completely different meaning in Erthea, and ultimately what I had gone through was proof that there really was some spiritual entity within each of us that survived the death of the mortal body.

Then one could embroider a beautiful story peppered with legends, miracles and divine interventions, and a new faith would appear out of nowhere ready to replace the old one.

In my old life, I had met very few supposed churchmen who actually believed in the sanctity of their role or what they preached; but seeing Sylvie reminded me that sometimes there could be people so pure and so noble of soul that they could truly be considered as sent from heaven.

Then there was Mary.

Ever since we were children, she had always been very religious, perhaps because she sought some comfort in faith for the disgusting life that had befallen her.

It was nice to see that one could be a devout believer and still cultivate faith in reason, contrary to what was said in my old world.

Honestly, I often wondered what I would have done if fate hadn't put someone like her in my path; I often boasted that I was a genius at mathematics and economics, but Mary mastered both to a level that I could never hope to reach.

Being aware of the importance of being able to count on trained people, I had tried to gather competent people around me from the very beginning, and Mary was the greatest gift that good fortune could give me. I could have done without Septimus, Oldrick, perhaps even Adrian; but without Mary the Free State simply could not have existed.

The way she had explained to me how in her opinion it was a good thing for the State to go into debt to finance public works had left me speechless, crumbling in just a few minutes one of my most solid beliefs and convincing me to ask for that loan.

Not to mention how much she had matured in that last year; now when I tried to stick my nose in economic affairs I was treated like a nuisance, and yet the situation for the national coffers only improved.

When she told me that she had had thousands of bank bonds printed and sold while we were still counting the damage from the war without saying a word to me I wanted to strangle her; when people fought to buy them, causing the value of our currency to skyrocket, I wanted to dedicate a statue to her.

You know what? Do what the hell you like. People like you are simply irreplaceable.

A little further away than the rest of the small crowd, Athreia also followed the function with clasped hands and bowed head.

Even though the Circle had distorted Gaia's teachings to justify human supremacism, there were many monsters devoted to the cult of the Trinity, and she was one of the most faithful I had ever met.

I was sincerely sorry for how it had ended with his sister, even though I would never, ever said it aloud. I had decided that I would bring her to my side at any cost from the day I saw her charging my troops on the Gael Pass, but the price to pay, especially for her, had been too high.

At least Medea's death had motivated her properly, and even though I knew I had to pay attention to her sense of honor, I felt I could trust her in everything.

Exactly as had happened with Xylla, who walked among the stalls like a soldier on guard. I had taken an unleashed fury by the hand, put a leash on her, and taught her how to vent her anger in the right direction. I knew that manipulating a confused, angry little girl like that was wrong in many ways, but at least she wouldn't go around killing everyone until she met someone stronger than her.

"Little Xylla! Did you go out without having breakfast this morning too? It's not good, you know?"

"I don't feel like it now, Miss Lori."

"Come on, don't be a naughty child. Try these biscuits I made especially for you."

"I said I don't like it..." she tried to say, before Lori forced a whole handful of marzipan animals into her mouth.

Poor Xylla.

She still didn't know that it was impossible to refuse to obey Lori.

"Can I know why you keep hanging around me? I already told you I don't need your help!"

"You're so hard to deal with. You remind me of that naughty Daemon, only he was excused by being a child."

Natuli, who was demonstrating her archery skills at a nearby stall that gave away dolls to winners, took a step forward.

"I will never believe that you treated Lord Daemon this way. He certainly would never have let you."

Yet she did it!

"Daemon may seem strong and resolute now, but there was a time when he was truly a pest. Once he pulled his sister's hair when she forced him to do homework, another time he put salt in his grandfather Passe's wine. But after doing something he always came to me to hide and confess, and I convinced him to apologize."

What else could I do? You always threatened to tell the worst things if I didn't obey you!

Natuli was pretending to listen to the story, but the way she looked at me eavesdropping on the conversation from a bench made my blood run cold.

"Was Lord Daemon really such a bad child?"

You snake, I'm sure you understand very well that I'm here! Don't you dare ask strange questions!

"Bad, no, but he certainly liked causing trouble. But with me he was always an obedient and affectionate cuddler."

And you were a great mother. You had little, and yet you gave it all to me. You were always ready to forgive everything I did. If there is still something righteous in me, I owe it largely to your teachings.

"And deep down he's still a mama's boy, fond of his mother."

Wait, what!?

"Just think, he sucked my breast until he was three years old, and he continued to ask me for them until a few years ago."

It's not true! You're the one who always pushes my face against them!

"This is how you destroy a myth." said Natuli "And I had who knows what idea about Daemon."

Don't listen to that degenerate cow! It's not true at all!

"But, do you know what? Daemon certainly has a very strong spirit. He always had it. However, such mess in which he has found himself involved is putting him to the test. I know it. At first, I thought he didn't want to see me because he was ashamed of me, and how I only embarrass him. Then I realized that his busy schedule simply doesn't leave him time to think about anything else. So I decided to do my best to help him out, and you should too. The more we try, the more problems we take off his shoulders. This is the best way we can help him."

...

"So now little Xylla, stop acting up. I know you want to help Daemon, but you can't do it if you don't have strength."

"... If you put it that way... and these cookies aren't that bad after all..."

"What a good little girl you are."

"Mind your own business, pointy ears. Don't you have anything better to do?"



The next day the whole Eirinn was celebrating.

The occupation government had decided to close all non-essential activities, so that everyone could fully enjoy the celebrations for an event as special as it was unexpected.

According to legend, the shooting stars that once a year crossed the skies of an ever-changing place were the tears of joy shed by Gaia on the day she defeated the Old Gods, restoring the true faith throughout Erthea.

The only way to understand with about a month's notice where the rain would occur was through a series of complex calculations and rituals; and the fact that precisely in that year the spectacle was destined to happen on the skies of Eirinn must have seemed to many a celestial sign with multiple meanings.

Great celebrations were planned not only in Faria, but also in every city and village of the nation, including buffets, dances and religious functions, all while waiting for midnight when the celestial show would begin.

Of course, it was in the capital that the most incredible party atmosphere was felt.

Daemon and his companions had done everything to make that day unforgettable for years to come, and indeed no one could remember another event so well prepared, where joy was felt at every step.

Too bad Daemon was the first one who couldn't say he was destined to enjoy all this.

His schedule was so full that he would barely have a moment to breathe.

And those who knew him better had no troubles in imagining that for him that day would have been more stressful than being in the middle of a battle, among blood and cannons; because Daemon hated formal occasions more than anything else, where it was necessary to dress and act in a certain way.

"It's a good thing my father left before seeing me like this." he said while looking at himself in the mirror with the clothes that the occasion required. "If he were here I think he would laugh."

However, Adrian's mind, to whom he had asked for advice, seemed to be somewhere else.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes, sorry. Just a few too many hassles. However, you don't look bad dressed like this."

"Don't make me laugh. I hate having to wear this stuff. And there are people in the Empire who go into battle dressed like this."

And Daemon wasn't the only one who thought so.

"Daemon! I demand that you give me permission to get this thing off me! It's bulky, and frivolous, and... Why're you dressed like that? You look like a tin soldier."

"Look, this cloak doesn't drive me crazy either, Scalia. And no, you can't take it off. Today we will have the eyes of all of Faria on us, and you are still my sister. Whether we like it or not, there is a protocol to respect."

"At least let me wear a uniform like yours. I'm still the leader of your guard. I look like one of those porcelain dolls that rich spoiled little girls like so much dressed like that."

"We're not going to a military parade today." Adrian interjected, almost amused. "And what's the harm in appearing a little more feminine for once?"

"If you don't stop staring at me like that I swear I'll castrate you, you rouged dandy."

"Anyway, Adrian is right. The people of this nation see us as leaders, but we are still representatives of a foreign country that is occupying their land after a war. It is important to give an image as similar as possible to what they would like to see."

While Scalia tried not to die of embarrassment at the sight of her reflection, Adrian took Daemon aside.

"While we're on the subject, could we talk about your escort for a moment? Your trust in these people is commendable, but with all due respect perhaps you shouldn't have reduced the number of guards so much."

"I don't want to appear like a dictator surrounded by his minions. This is also why I abolished the Ducal Guard, which for centuries was the symbol of the Montgomerys' absolute power over Eirinn. On the other hand, if I walked around surrounded by soldiers, people might think there were problems. Are there any?"

Adrian replied with a smile: "No, of course not. Force of habit. Usually those who govern never feel too sure."

At that moment, Alfred opened the door to the room: "Everything is ready, Your Grace. The carriage awaits you."

"Thank you, Alfred. Come on my friends. Let's go meet our people."



If the day before the new gardens were simply crowded, that morning they were flooded with people.

An endless stream of commoners and nobles walked along the large, newly expanded tree-lined avenues trying their luck at the dartboard or some other game, tasting local products or simply enjoying a walk on that unusually warm winter day.

Even before reaching the center of the park, the carriage carrying Daemon, Scalia and Adrian was literally stormed by thousands of onlookers, some of whom were proudly waving both the flags of Eirinn and the Free State.

Daemon returned the greetings with nods, and in the end, the guards had to intervene to allow the chariot to travel the last few meters.

As usual, Daemon improvised, speaking off the cuff; he thanked everyone for their affection, equally showering promises and compliments, and reaffirmed his desire to be not the sovereign, but a humble administrator of the nation, receiving thunderous applause in return.

Mr. Suchet, recently elected mayor, almost begged Daemon to attend the lunch organized for the citizens; but he politely refused, citing the many commitments that still awaited him in that long day and limiting himself to accepting the candy he received from a child.

Then, after greeting the crowd one last time and officially opening the celebrations, he and his entourage got back into the carriage and set off on their journey again.

"I'm exhausted! And this was just the first task today!"

"You have demonstrated your skill with words several times, but in this case you were even better than usual. Free State aside, I have never seen the plebs so enraptured by the speech of a sovereign."

"One must know how to speak to the hearts and minds of the people in the same way. If the people do not feel cheated and have faith that things will improve, they will be more prepared and inclined to face difficult times."

"This, however, implies always having to take into account the whims of the people, and..."

"... and what the people wants is almost never the same as what the people says. I know it very well. As if that weren't enough, everyone, poor or rich, finds it easier to think with their stomachs rather than with their heads. And this is a luxury that those in government cannot afford. It's up to us to make people understand that unpopular decisions are often made in their own interest."

"How can an unpopular decision be right?" Scalia asked. "If something is done for the good of the people, shouldn't it always make them happy?"

"If I pass a law to raise taxes, the people will certainly not be happy." Adrian explained. "But if with the money I earn I can repair a fort or build a road, I have indirectly done it in the collective interest."

"Perhaps it may seem strange to someone rich like you, but we are not ignorant simpletons. I think anyone could understand something as simple as that."

"It's not a matter of being simpletons, sister. The thing is, that ordinary people, especially if they are from a low social class, are used to thinking in a simple way. Not because they are stupid, but because survival itself is often difficult for them, and they have neither the time nor the desire to think so abstractly."

"So we are very committed to improving their existence precisely so that it is easier for them to understand these things and accept them as necessary. Am I right, Daemon?"

"Perfectly, Adrian. And the more those who govern are respected and esteemed, the more easily the people will accept the sacrifices that we ask of them."

The next stop was the great temple of the city where the religious ceremony would take place attended by the Archbishop in person.

The Free State's status as an excommunicated nation prohibited holding masses, but as Eirinn was still a formally independent nation, no one could accuse Sylvie or the occupying forces of blasphemy.

Not to mention that it would have been absurd not to hold large ceremonies in the very country where the Star Festival would have taken place that year.

Daemon and others always had to laugh at the thought of how the prelates of the Circle must have felt at the thought of seeing the anniversary occur in Eirinn, and what they must have tried to invent to delegitimize the festival.

After Connelly and Saedonia, Eirinn was certainly the nation in which the cult of Gaia was strongest and most heartfelt, so it was not surprising that shortly before the start of the ceremony the temple was overflowing with believers.

Daemon and all his collaborators watched from the front row, also accompanied by some local authorities.

In her homily Sylvie reiterated her hope for a new rebirth for Eirinn and its people, the end of conflicts and the beginning of a period of peace and coexistence, in which the ideals of the Revolution could germinate without the need to impose them by force.

Even though he had never been a very religious person, Adrian also followed the ceremony with a certain interest, at least until a guard approached him and whispered something in his ear.

"Trouble?" Daemon asked, noticing his look

"Just one more nuisance. I have to leave for a moment."

"Nothing serious, I hope."

"No, don't worry. Just enjoy the mass. Lady Valera is good at singing your praises."