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The scene on the countless monitors zoomed out until it encapsulated the entire terrace. Khan became the center of a diverse scenery, something that most of the audience had only seen in holograms or history books.
The terrace had nobles, Thilku, Scalqa, and Ef'i sitting together and enjoying their respective company. The diverse group almost seemed united under a single banner, and the audience could only find one explanation for that theoretically impossible sight.
The bright-eyed man at the group's center looked both human and alien, and his interactions with the various representatives of each race conveyed pure respect. The different parties all looked up to him or valued him enough to fight for his attention.
The zooming-out had been a planned move. Prince Thomas wanted everyone to see Khan in his best environment, and the action had the intended effects. The tournament would bolster Khan's fame, but that single scene achieved something far greater. It showed the public that Khan's leadership was undisputed.
Nevertheless, the audience didn't get the chance to acknowledge the eerie feelings the scene was giving birth to. Khan had made an announcement, and someone eventually cheered in excitement. That triggered a chain reaction, spreading uproar among the stages.
"Humankind is more engaged than I predicted," Lord Rsi said in his perfect human accent. "Is this normal?"
"No, My Lord," Khan commented. "This event is unusual, which is why they are excited."
"They should make it a common occurrence," Lord Exr joined the conversation. "It's also a good way to separate strong and weak."
"The weakest warrior can become the strongest with the right training," Tlexicpalli announced, seemingly only wanting to contradict Lord Exr. "Humans have proven themselves flexible enough to prove that."
"[Ah]!" Lord Exr cried. "It's not training. It's guts."
"Prince Khan?" Tlexicpalli called.
"Yes, [Blue Shaman]," Lord Rsi uttered. "What do you think?"
Khan was already annoyed. The tournament had yet to begin, but the Thilku and Ef'i didn't waste time trying to get the upper hand in the conversation. Moreover, Khan also had to mind the attentive nobles, so the wrong answer could trigger an endless discussion.
"The best training is useless without the right mindset," Khan exclaimed, opting for honesty. "The tournament will test this. None of the contestants have equal backgrounds, so their instincts will make them shine."
"Well said, Prince Khan," Princess Rachel Montares announced. "You even exemplify your words perfectly. While you have noble blood, your prowess doesn't come from it."
Princess Montares wasn't supposed to say that. The other noble representatives understood why she did it, but the matter remained problematic, especially before alien envoys.
Everyone knew Khan was the exception among exceptions. His power made no sense and broke all human standards. His superiority over the noble descendants was justified and had become accepted. Yet, Princess Montares had implied something deeper. She stated that all non-noble descendants could rise higher than her peers.
That statement wanted to declare Princess Montares' allegiance with Khan. She didn't speak for her whole family, but the tournament was important enough to have vast repercussions. It stood to reason her faction was behind her and approved her words.
As beneficial as the open support was, Khan's annoyance intensified. The two alpha-dog species were already breathing on his neck, and Princess Montares pushed the nobles into the fray.
Luckily for Khan, lights shone on the floor, creating screens for the terrace's guests. Similar but bigger holograms appeared under the stages, illuminating the battlefield while depicting the same scene.
"Humans have so many spells," Tlexicpalli continued. "Will your training grounds teach them, Prince Khan?"
"I'm only providing better training environments," Khan explained. "However, we can try that."
"Didn't humans and Ef'i share mana studies already?" Lord Exr asked.
"Humans, yes," Tlexicpalli stated. "Prince Khan, not yet."
Lord Exr didn't say anything, and Lord Rsi also remained silent. Yet, the former eyed the huge aliens at his side, seemingly implying something his pride didn't allow him to voice, especially before his superior.
Khan didn't need to move his bright eyes from the battlefield to understand what Lord Exr wanted. The Empire had helped develop training regimens for the Scalqa without getting much in return. Still, Lord Exr couldn't admit that Khan could provide the same treatment to the Thilku.
"Obviously," Khan announced, holding back a helpless sigh. "The Empire will also be part of the process. It's only natural to share our achievements with all of us."
"Thilku and humans have a similar approach to mana," Lord Exr commented. "Maybe we'll discover something while working with the [Blue Shaman]."
"I'm sure the Empire's support will quicken our joint progress," Monica finally spoke, seizing Khan's empty cup and lifting a hand to summon the waiters. "Our cooperation has been extremely beneficial until now. I hope it will continue like this."
"It improved already," Lord Rsi said, "Miss Solodrey. As for these training grounds, the Empire will collaborate to ensure their quality."
"My Lord," Monica called, "Monica is fine. I can't ask my fiancé's allies to be so formal with me."
"Then," Lord Rsi exclaimed, pondering the matter, "Princess Monica?"
"Apologies, My Lord," Monica slightly lowered her head. "I'm not married yet, so I didn't earn that title."
"[Ah]!" Lord Rsi scoffed. "[Blue Shaman], you are firm in battle but hesitant with love."
"Lord Rsi, pardon the intrusion," Princess Montares stated. "This topic interests me. Prince Khan, when is the marriage happening?"
"Yes, Prince Khan," Monica called, lifting her head to show a teasing smile. "When is our marriage happening?"
'Kill me now,' Khan thought before eyeing the two Lords. "[Thilku women pale compared to her]."
Lord Exr and Lord Rsi could see Khan's words as an insult, but both exploded into a loud laugh, which Monica's glare prolonged. She had learned the Thilku language long ago, so she didn't miss the comment.
"[Ah! Blue Shaman]," Lord Exr exclaimed. "[Maybe you are more Thilku than you realize]."
Khan hoped the topic could end at that joke, but the word was out now. The representatives, Alexander, and Monica's parents were all ears, waiting for someone to add inquiries about the marriage.
Meanwhile, Khan focused on Tlexicpalli and the Scalqa. Those aliens were the only ones focused on the battles, and he hoped the other guests could imitate them. Sadly, that moment never arrived.