Editing Interlude – The Titan’s Question (section)

== Synopsis ==

The chapter takes place about a month after the [[Titan's Game (Daquin)|Games of Daquin]], where [[Wil Kallinad]] and [[Umina Caxical]] emerged victorious, thus earning the right to ask the [[Niers Astoragon|Titan]] a question of their choosing.

It starts off with the students of the [[Titan’s School|Titan's school]] being informed of the results of a test Niers had set up for educational purposes. Each student had to outfit and supply a small division of soldiers, for which Niers had set up a fake town with hired [Merchants], [Swindlers], [Courtesans] and other classes, unbeknownst to the students.

Much to Niers' amusement, [[Venaz]] volunteers to have the result of his ''test'' read aloud, which he regrets after learning that he, like many others, failed after having had to deal with unsavory classes and circumstances. Notably, [[Wil Kallinad]] managed to get the third best result.

Close to the end of the class, with [[Perorn]] having taken over to speed up the proclamation of results, Niers teases [[Umina]] by initially calling out to her and then asking her to remember to write down her name on reports the next time.

After class, the members of the Titan's advanced class find themselves arguing whether or not Wil and Umina should just ask Niers to have their questions answered instead of waiting for him to bring it up. Venaz argues that the whole situation is a test of courage and that the professor is waiting for them to take the first step. Marian's of the opinion that Wil and Umina should wait for Niers to approach them when the time is right.

Being invested in the discussion, with all other students being curious as to what Umina and Wil will ask, they find that they caught up to their teachers in the building. With Perorn, Foliana and Niers present, [[Jekilt]] gathers up the courage and humbly asks Niers when Umina and Wil will be able to ask their question, with Niers replying that his schedule is beyond full at the moment. Wil, noting that [[Niers]]' reply was unusually snappish and that the summer break was drawing close, decides to demand to ask the question ''today''; Umina follows suit and does the same.

Niers agrees and Perorn tells him that she knew they'd do it within a month. As it turns out, this too was a test, as he wanted them to demand to ask the question, instead of request. Perorn and Niers had even made a bet for an amulet on when the students would ask. Relieved, the students leave to get a drink.

During their outing, the students discuss several things and the question of what Umina and Wil are going to ask comes up. Wil states that he'll ask a question that's to the benefit of his family, one of the reasons being that he relied on them to have the fleet present at [[Titan's Game (Daquin)|Daquin]]. Another topic is the different kinds of nobility on [[Terandria]], their family structures and how they manage their offspring. Having been explained some parts of it, most of the present group agrees that it's freaky and weird.

[[Jekilt]] tries to buy the right to ask the question off of Umina or Wil; [[Kissilt]] gets angry about this, as he wanted to do the same. [[Xelic]], pitching in on the ensuing argument, tries to provide pointers on what to ask and states that a [Merchant] friend of his has a similar offer to Kissilt's and Jekilt's.

With everyone trying to convince the two victorious students that their question is ''very important'', Wil and Umina manage to flee the scene with the help of [[Venaz]] and [[Marian]]. After their escape, Venaz conspiratorially confides in the two that he has a list of three unrecovered seafaring ships that sunk while bearing relic-class artifacts; Umina and Wil flee again, this time from Venaz.

The time has finally come; [[Wil]] and [[Umina]] meet [[Niers]] in his private quarters, both of them having dressed up for the occassion.

Having entered Niers' quarters, both of them notice how it has been adapted to fit Niers; tiny possessions and [[Fraerling]] technology next to huge furniture.

Their meeting continues in a convenial and leisurely way with food and drink. Niers informs the two students that he has cleared his schedule for the entire night, and that they are his guests. They shouldn't worry about their questions but rather relax and ask him anything they want to within reason. The [[Niers|Titan]] tells them that he doesn't make the victorious students of his tests march in one by one to ask their questions, but rather invites them to a conversation as people, not as student and teacher in a school setting. The evening is supposed to be a dialogue and discussion, with the question being the end.

During their dialogue, Niers tells them about [[Tulm]], what he thinks the purpose of ''secrets'' is, what made him become a [Strategist] and many other things in a very relaxed and cozy atmosphere. Wil also asks Niers about his battle with the [[Flos|King of Destruction's]] [Strategist], [[Queravia]].

We jump to later on in the night, the bowls of snacks mostly depleted and bottles emptied, [[Wil]] steps into the room once again, with only the Titan present to ask his question. Wil had won a contest with Umina to decide who got to ask their question first.

=== Wil's Question ===

Q1: What is the most valuable piece of information that will aid the Kallinad family at this moment?

Niers, enquiring whether this is ''his'' question or his father's, states that he will answer to the spirit of it, but would like to know what Wil really wanted to ask.

Q2 (unofficial): What is the greatest treasure or mystery of this world that you know of concretely that has yet to be uncovered, Professor? To clarify—how may it be found? What are the dangers? Where would one begin searching?

The professor says that it's a good question and asks Wil if he'd like to have that one answered instead, which Wil declines.

Answer to Q1 (shortened): Your cousin Girent, who is a member of house du Havrington, is marrying Lady Cassicel du Havrington; the marriage is a sham.

=== Umina's Question ===

Q1 (unofficial): Am I special? Do I stand out? As a student?
A1 (shortened): No.

After explaining [[Niers|his]] reasoning for the answer, Umina asks another question.

Q2: What is the identity of your mysterious chess opponent?
A2 (shortened): Declines to answer.

Niers explains to [[Umina]] that the question is too dangerous and that previous questions have gotten students killed, among other reasons. Umina agrees to ask a different question.

Q3: What was the answer to the question Tulm the Mithril was going to ask you if he won at Daquin?

After initially declining to answer again, he answers the question faithfully, but we only learn the actual answer later on in the chapter. 

A3 (verbatim): No, you idiot. You got a young one. There are more. Perhaps on Baleros, but I know of two on Izril. They walk among us. Leave them alone.





Niers, after the having answered both questions and the students having left, states the answer to Umina's first question has changed. No other student had been as hard to predict.

Lying in bed, the pieces fell into place for Umina: Dragons.

[[Wil]], preparing a message with the answer to his father, is visited by [[Foliana]] who erases his memory with a [Erase Memory] scroll and then takes the paper Wil had drafted his message on and swallows it. She then hands him a a short missive from Niers which explains their reasoning.

A question on someone else's behalf is no real question, in his mind. However, he is aware of a number of sea-based locations which the [[Forgotten Wing Company]] has not been able to explore so far. A list with those locations is attached to the letter. Furthermore, he urges them to try to back before the end of their summer break. Additionally, Wil's father should direct any of his inquiries to him directly.