Chapter 572: Final Priorities in Krysal

Compared to the climactic end to their time in Irun, their trial period in Krysal practically drifted to its conclusion. For a few days Kai had been tense, expecting some additional fallout from their scheme, but for once everything went according to plan: both reactionary and nativist factions were massively weakened and the treasures ended up with the Crystalliers Cooperative.

They were distributed across various cities according to a political calculus that Kai was very happy to let Krainuun handle. What he understood was that all significant factions with the good of Krysal in mind received something, and hopefully they would cooperate more in the future. The crystalline armor, symbol of crystalliers past, was given to a former slave, while a group of acid cultivators formally bestowed the Brightwind gemstone on a reformed crystallier.

All nice and equal, in theory. Kai sat with Krainuun, sharing a glass of wine and worrying that it wasn't that simple.

"Of all the men I have ever met," Krainuun said, "you may be the least willing to accept a victory."

"I was happy after the revolution." Kai took a sip from his glass and barely tasted it. "Maybe that was for the best, but it sowed a lot of the consequences we're dealing with now. If we really created unity in Krysal, we did it through a clandestine operation... have we just sown more seeds for the future? Will future generations find out and condemn us?"

"I don't believe so."

The simple answer, especially from a man like Krainuun, threw Kai off his morose train of thought.

"Without question, there are negative consequences," Krainuun continued calmly. "I regret that some guards lost their lives. But fundamentally, radical factions chose to attack a shipment meant for the good of Krysal. We didn't lie about any of that, they simply showed their true priorities."

"I suppose you would know." Kai raised his glass in salute. "Here's to one victory, then. What's next? There are still a lot of factions, so what can be done about them?"

"I think this may be enough for now, actually."

"Really? I know the deadline is coming up, but that's just for the elites judging our work. We probably still have time before the incursion, and I'd be happy to spend it in Krysal."

"I'm aware, but the time for such dramatic actions may have passed." Krainuun set aside his mostly full glass and folded his hands across his lap. "There are still some very radical factions, including one most inclined to violence, but we have come this far via peaceful methods. I think, even if we knew the exact identities of the radicals, it would be the wrong move to target them."

"I suppose I'll defer to your judgment. I just hope they don't decide to try to kill crystalliers during the incursion."

"Even the most radical would not be quite that foolish, I don't think. No, if they are contemplating anything like that, it would likely be in the wake of the incursion. So Krysal may most need you again after the monsters pass."

Kai winced as he considered that possibility. He had been looking forward to taking on the incursion directly and hopefully squashing it, preventing all the lingering monsters and other troubles that had plagued the continent after last time. Unfortunately, he had to plan for the possibility that, even if all his battles went perfectly, the aftermath could be just as ugly.

"I may or may not have a personal gift for you as thanks," Krainuun said.

"What?" Kai looked at him strangely. "You're going to have to be more specific."

"I understand that you have been on the lookout for monsters of considerable strength, which are becoming a rare commodity in this day and age. Indeed, that has always been one of your priorities."

"Heh, that was actually one of the first things I asked you to do, back when you were pretending to be a servant."

"And now I am glad to do the same willingly." Krainuun pushed a sheet of paper across the table toward him. "I thought you would want to know that golden dragons have been sighted off the coast. It is, regrettably, almost certain that they will not land in the desert and there will be no dragon chase. However, if you were to take the Clanless and chase them..."

Kai grabbed the sheet of paper with both hands, his wine forgotten, and skimmed the text before looking at the map. He still remembered the golden dragon so clearly, refusing to give him a blessing and instead trying to burn him alive. Back then he'd pledged to eat the dragon, and he might have gained the strength to do it.

This really was an incredible gift... but as Kai considered, he understood why Krainuun had equivocated.

The trouble was that the golden dragons had been sighted deep into the ocean, and only once. If Kai chased them, not only would he monopolize the Clanless for an unknown period of time, it wasn't even guaranteed that he would find the dragons. Between his speed and his ability to sniff out sacred beasts, he thought that he could probably track them down eventually, and under normal circumstances, that would be incredibly valuable essence.

Except this wasn't normal circumstances: the incursion was likely to be in a month, and it could be even sooner.

"I'm thankful, but..." Kai sighed and set down the paper. "I shouldn't. The chance that it would take too long, that the incursion would come early... I can't risk it. Even with everything we've tried to build, our strategy needs me there."

"It is, of course, your choice," Krainuun said, but he gave him a slight nod that Kai thought was respectful. "It is believed that the dragons nest in some other location and only migrate past. Have you ever heard of the golden dragons during your travels?"

"There are dragons in Cloudspire, but I think they're a different type."

"A pity. Still, they must have some sort of flight path, so perhaps if they do not return, you can locate them during the break between incursions."

They lapsed into silence and Kai tried not to stare at the paper. So far, he hadn't needed to make many decisions that limited his power, but of course there were concessions. If he didn't care about his home continent at all, he and his wives could have gone to Lostwreck or the Blood Current or some other mythical place to push themselves even harder.

Returning to Deadwaste had granted them many other things, of course, including substantial new understanding of Physique. Even if it hadn't, though, Kai decided that it was worth it. He turned over the paper on the golden dragons so he wouldn't have to look at it.

"I understand that you have some trouble with claims of illegitimate children," Krainuun said abruptly.

"Not you too." Kai groaned, more as a joke than anything, but it was true that he didn't like to think about it. "I wish I could shut it down, but if I make an announcement denying all claims, that will look suspicious."

"And you don't want to take any actions that would encourage more claims."

"Right, plus I feel bad for them. A few of the women are just crooks trying to make some coin off their kids, but some of the others... maybe they're confused, maybe they're just doing what they can for their children."

"That may be the wrong way to think about this." Krainuun leaned forward, regarding him thoughtfully. "You don't want to legitimatize any of the claims, you just want to help due to an abstract sense of altruism."

"Right," Kai agreed, "but if I-"

"It seems to me there is a logical conclusion: you simply need to help in a way that does not encourage future claims."

That was easy to say, but not really a solution, so Kai was irritated for a second before he started to consider it. Setting aside the emotional element, these were just mothers who wanted a better life for their children. Kai had already spent lots of time and money helping his students after they got unlucky, and he'd thrown plenty of resources at other Krysali already. Thinking about it that way, perhaps there really was a good option in there.

"What do children need?" Kai asked. "Sorry, bad question. I mean, I'm not buying anyone qi crystals or I'd be recreating crystalliers. Does Krysal really have training programs anymore?"

"Not as many as we might want," Krainuun answered, smiling again. "Some schools run by nobles have shuttered, and the new ones starting up are limited. Whether children want to be scholars, merchants, or hunters, they do need an education."

"So... we set up something like a school, free for select students. We let the honest claimants join, but we also invite a bunch of others in need. Enough that others don't think they need to lie about me fathering their children, they can just ask to join. Do you have other children who could use a school?"

"Far more than I can manage, sadly."

"Then could this really happen?" Kai sat forward, looking over all the papers and considering the details. "You need money, obviously, but I have money. Probably best not to involve any factions, make this a neutral place. We'd need people to manage the school..."

Krainuun gave him another small smile. "I think I might be able to find someone."

So they discussed the details, starting with Kai setting up an endowment fund worth a million Goralian Eagles. He was actually running through all the money he'd earned on Cloudspire, but what worth was gold if he didn't spend it? Given his current strength, it would be easy to make more, and many of the things he needed now couldn't be purchased with coin.

As they discussed the other details of founding a school, Kai kept coming back to that figure of one million. Almost eight years ago, when his future in Goralia had been dead, he'd considered rumors that in the Krysal City States, you could buy nobility for a million Eagles. How strange that he had basically destroyed that nobility and here he was, handing over that sum of money to Krysal for entirely different reasons.

Yet it was fitting, going full circle in a way that he hadn't even realized he needed. His childhood had been radically altered by Gunjin Granfian taking him in. For a time he had been bitter about being rejected, but Kai accepted that he was fortunate to receive all of that training.

Now he was founding an orphanage of his own, even if it would include more than orphans. He couldn't afford to spend much time there, not when he already had his students and there were so many other things to draw his time. But he hoped that it would make a difference for all the others who came after him.

"Thanks for helping with all of this," Kai said once they had the basics sorted out.

"You just handed me a million Eagles," Krainuun said, "I should be thanking you."

"No, truly. I feel that I should take responsibility in a direct way, but I'm going to be throwing this on you again. I know I should stay, but most likely something will come up again..."

"Hasn't it already?"

"What now?" Kai glanced across the table. "This isn't another Irunian thing, is it?"

"Not at all." Krainuun steepled his fingers and regarded him over them. "Wasn't the basis of your agreement with the Frontier elites that your work in Irun and Krysal would be evaluated? I may not be privy to such details, but it seems to me that you have done well, and in that case, you will begin working with them more directly. I imagine they might be busy these days."

Kai had been so distracted by his priorities, not to mention problems like Yuinafal and the radical factions, that he hadn't even really been thinking about that. He was one of the Frontier elites for real now... he didn't know what all that meant, but it definitely included even greater responsibility as the incursion rolled toward them.