By the time they reached the Cougar village, Zu Mari was well and truly tired of hearing Kiru Tori speak. The enthusiastic young man refused to give up in his quest to convince Zu that the Otta clan should purchase clothing and magical gear from Clan Tori. At least Zu felt confident he’d made progress in converting Kiru to his side, but the tedium of the process wore at him.

“…while there’s a minor but notable difference between river jade and mountain jade, our alchemists can—“

“Enough, Kiru,” growled Ruxja. “The time for bragging about your clan is over. Zuma has an important meeting to attend.”

Zu smiled gratefully, but Ruxja did not smile back. The aggressive warrior only pointed him toward the massive meeting hall. “Lord Viha Cougar awaits you, Ambassador Zuma.”

“Thank you,” Zu said, stepping as close to Ruxja as he dared, smiling as he bowed. Knowing that any progress he made in converting them would at least partly carry through to future loops made such gestures much easier to stomach. It was all in service of greater power and influence. None would resist him!

Still, Viha represented his biggest challenge yet. He didn’t know the range on his Protagonist Fragment’s power, but it seemed to be fairly limited. He suspected it may reside in his aura, which explained why more powerful people seemed to hardly notice it while the weaker succumbed easily.

Zu stood by the door, waiting for the guards to open it, and made sure to smile and thank them all. Knowing he had this power changed everything. No longer was the outside world a foreign and deadly place, full of implacable enemies waiting to pounce. No, instead the outside world was an untapped resource, countless followers and subjects just waiting for Zu to claim them and give them some purpose in their otherwise meaningless lives.

Every interaction, no matter how insignificant, was another step toward power and absolute freedom. None would stand in his way as he ascended to rule the heavens!

Zu took three steps toward the patriarch upon his throne before giving up and seating himself on the expensive rug conveniently placed on his side of the long hall. He patted the plush square of carpet appreciatively. The Chartreuse Cougars knew quality when they saw it.

“Zuma Otta, welcome back.”

Zu glanced up sharply, meeting the patriarch’s gaze across the empty hall. Only then did he notice. The table had already been removed.

Lord Viha smiled. “I believe you are here to demand access to our secret library?”

Oh no. No. No no, Viha had spirit memory. He couldn’t be looped around, he’d recall every attempt Zu made.

Even if he didn’t suspect Zu of being the cause of the loop, he was clearly aware of its existence and ready to exploit that fact.

No no no nooooo… what could he do? There was no way he’d get close to Viha long enough to let his Protagonist Fragment convert him without Viha catching on.

“You look pale. Would you care for some tea?”

Zu nodded gratefully. “Yes tea.”

Little Otter poked him from where she hid in his collar.

“And something for my familiar, if you please. Fish or meat or… whatever you have that an otter would like.”

Viha gestured and one of the advisors bowed, then hurried out a side door. After several minutes he returned with a small tray table in his hands and cushions under his arms.

He set it all out halfway between Zu and Viha, then retreated to his position in line.

“Come, join me.”

Zu felt the weight of his presence recede, and hesitantly got to his feet. Viha rose as well, stepping toward the small tea table.

It couldn’t be this easy. It had to be some kind of trap.

But Viha didn’t suddenly expand his aura to suffocate Zu, instead keeping it tightly restrained and Zu mercifully free of its crushing weight.

They sat, no more than arm’s reach apart. Zu could only hope it was close enough.

He nodded politely and sipped at the tea, while Little Otter scampered down his arm and dove into the bowl of assorted fish pieces set out for her.

Neither Zu nor Viha spoke.

Zu did his best to sip his tea very, very slowly. Lord Viha paced him effortlessly, his every movement singing of elegance and perfect bodily control. Not a single expression or twitch failed to carry deep weight.

“Who are you, Zuma Otta?” asked Viha, finally breaking the stillness.

Zu looked up sharply, but Viha gave no indication of his intentions, his face as calm and serene as ever.

“An ambassador from the Otterman Empire?” Zu said uncertainly.

“No. That is a task, not a person. Who are you.”

Zu forced himself not to blurt something out rashly, held his tongue, sipped his tea, and thought furiously. “I am a seed of eternity that has yet to blossom,” he said finally, hoping it sounded suitably wise and deep.

Viha raised his eyebrow fractionally. “Indeed?”

Zu wasn’t sure how to continue the conversation. He took a very tiny sip, then set his cup back down, folding his hands and watching Little Otter as she picked up first one piece of fish to nibble at, then set it aside to try another. Very particular creature, it seemed. Finally she found one that satisfied her and settled down to eat it.

“You are not an Otta.”

Zu looked sharply up at Viha.

“Your familiar is too young to belong to an ambassador. You should have bonded your otter when you were both children, grown up with her, and had her full grown and fully capable in her own right by now. This is a farce of a deception.”

“My first familiar is not with me, he is out hunting. Little Otter is my second.”

“You disregard rules and protocol too frivolously. Your accent is provincial and local. You are not from the Otterman Empire at all. Now, again, who are you.”

Zu let out a breath, trying to think of any way out of this conundrum. But he was stuck. Viha was too powerful to defeat, too canny to deceive, and would remember if Zu tried.

So, last resort.

He drew himself up proudly, swallowed the last of the tea, and bowed in greeting.

“I am Zu Mari, and I’m here to clear up a silly misunderstanding my dear cousin may have spread about me.”