Even though Will was inoculated from the rioting, he knew about the smaller riots that happen across the tribal lands. The second week of rioting happened the third week of the month.

People who were unhappy with the rising inflation met a central park. The crowd bloomed from 5,000 to 30,000 as people from the surrounding farmland came to the city to protest. Nearly a quarter of Rijilir's population attended the protest.

Protestors peacefully marched to the middle portcullis. Bad luck engulfed the military when a rookie archer accidentally shot protestors in the head. Protestors began to riot again, people grabbed ladders to scale the walls. In one hour, no less than twenty ladders were up, with rioters climbing the ladders. The military responded with a volley of arrows raining down on the protestors. The military was able to hold barricades, but thousands of rioters lay dead.

The same week Bearmen and women began to desert the army. A sprinkle of soldiers abandoned their post at the beginning of the third week, but by the end of the week, it was few dozen. Each time a soldier abandoned their post loud cheers were heard; protestors congratulated soldiers.

For 10-days straight violent fighting erupted, the military was slowly being pushed back. Panic erupted in the middle circle. The protestors began throwing torches over the walls, setting ablaze structures in the middle city. On the seventh day, the protestors were able to create a hole in the military's defense and begin ascending the wall. Hundreds of protestors with axes, pitchforks, rakes, brooms, hammers, scythes, sickles, and shovels attacked soldiers with heavy armor and swords. For two days the fighting lasted nonstop, over 30,000 rioters against a company of soldiers. Due to the narrow walls, heavy armor, and training the soldiers held out. On the 10th day, a division of 12,000 Bearmen entered the capital and quickly regained control.

Out of the 30,000 plus protestors, roughly 5,000 were killed or injured, 15,000 were jailed, the rest escaped the ire of the military. City Lord to further quell the animosity, City Lord announced he reduce the price of rice by more than half to 3 lead credits per kilogram.

While the protest in Rijilir was quelled, in other areas of tribal lands the riots were far from settled.

Will heard from his guards, the war in Snake Clan territory was turning particularly gruesome. The Tiger Clan crossed the river and began massacring Naga soldiers, using their Naga commander's heads as war flags. With the Wolf Clan allied, and the Bear Clan neutral; the Tiger Clan took advantage of the riotous Naga villagers, and claimed the river basin, and pushed the Naga military to a plateau below a cliff, this would serve as the new territory boundary.

Simultaneously, the Eagle Clan pushed the Naga tribe east, toward Rijilir. The Eagle Clan regained their lost ancestral homeland in the Western Mountains pushing the Naga from the mountains lakes. The Naga Clan was dispersed. There Clan territory was cut by a two-third. The Orca Clan failed to send reinforcement, due to the rioting in their Clan. The Eagle Clan began attacking the Orca Clan's mountain territory. The entire western mountain range was brought under subjugation in two weeks. Clearly, the Eagles conspired with the Tiger Clan.

The rioting in the Orca Clan set fire to the harbors, fish canneries, shops, and homes. The oil from the cannery proved to be difficult at extinguishing. The fire jumped from one harbor to the next. Setting the entire Orca village on fire. The clan territory was in disarray. It wasn't until the third week, that the Orca Clan was able to regain order and extinguish the protest. Learning from the Bear Clan, the Orca Clan also cut the price of rice and fish by over a half.

Will knew there were no winners in the riots. Both the protestors and the government came off as villains. Only the Eagle and Tiger Clans could claim victory. Snake Clan could only lower their heads in shame, losing two-thirds of their territory. Moreover, the Snake Clan lost both their main water sources, the river boundary shared with the Tiger Tribe, and the mountain lake now controlled by the Eagle Clan. The balance of the west was recalibrated, and each tribe realized their tentative balance.

As Will examined the reports in the library, a butler approached and said, "Eleanor Li, is here to see you."

Will motioned for the butler to bring her into the study.

"Will," Elder Li was wearing a beautiful orchid silk gown, that resembled a sari, with gold embroidered trim. A silk hood covered her cat ears. Will had only seen her a few times, with her hair uncovered by a hood.

"Elder Li, greetings," said Will bowing.

"No, please call me Eleanor, I resigned from the library, I am no longer your elder. Now, we can just be friends.

"Teacher Eleanor, I'm surprised to see you. Lawrence, Holo, and I have been trying to speak with you," She may no longer be Will's elder, but she had taught him so much, he wanted to show his respect.

"After the trial, I left with my clan. My father and the Tiger Clan had to finalize the marriage contract. Now both clans are preparing for a wedding. My fiancé is the eldest son of the Tiger Clan. I have come to invite you all to the wedding," said with a sad face.

"Teacher, you look sad. I am sorry for causing you trouble," Will bowed deeply to show his regret.

"Before I left for the Guidon years ago, I was already engaged to the eldest son, Ye Fan. Ye Fan and I were engaged at birth. But, I left the territory ten years ago when Grandmaster Thaddeus accepted me as a junior librarian. It was my curiosity about humans, that motivated me to leave. I did not like Guidon, but I will miss my old friends. I am glad I met you!" she was emotional.

"Before I left Ye Fan and I agreed to marry in 10 years. That is why I am here. Even before your trial, I had returned to fulfill my promise. However I delayed the contract signing because I wanted to visit Guidon one last time to say my goodbyes," she finished.

Before he could respond, the butler re-entered, "Master, Sir. Ye Fan is here to see you."