Chiro

“I didn’t want it to be too formal,” her supervisor laughs.

The occasion is inevitably rather formal. The room is filled with many faces, new and old. Chiro, with her closest confidante Emery by her side. Vesper Costello, with Vincent von Unten not too far away. Magnolia and many high-ranking Knights. Established scholars. The Rat King himself, the proud host. Even Cole. Lanterns adorn the walls, brightening the place, and the atmosphere is rather festive.

Tonight, the Underground celebrates another breakthrough.

Hot Lights: The Handbook to Fire has been met with glowing reviews across the City. The work details the intricacies of how fire truly functions, its natural properties, its main purposes, and, most importantly, an in-depth analysis of how to use it safely.

The work was overseen by lead author Vesper Costello, yet it incorporates the contributions of many dedicated scholars, including Chiro, whose extensive observations on different extinguishing methods proved crucial. Her work comprises the majority of the content in Chapter 6.

This is their first major scholarly contribution since becoming one of Costello's underlings (a highly sought-after position).

You don’t have to be a Knight to become a notable figure. Glory doesn’t just live in titles, in names, but in what you can contribute to the future.

“So,” Vesper adds, “what are you interested in looking at next? I do intend on officially putting more about the nature of stars to paper, now the discussion about keeping bounds of Spirits and humans in mind during research is drawing to a close.”

“I have ideas. There is still more to uncover and say about the properties of metals themselves, how they interact with fire and air, about electricity, about how we can safely understand human technology… with ethics constantly at the forefront of that, of course.” She puffs up her fur with a characteristic wink.

“And then perhaps we can understand electricity’s properties and its behaviour without causing widespread destruction ourselves. As for metals, well, I see a project shaping up there: to test different metals in different experimental situations, and say what you see. A reasonable starting point, honestly. Perhaps we could take this even further.”

He grins as he talks, and she grins back. There's a mutual understanding between the two; two bats with unbounded curiosity and ambition.

A figure glides towards the pair, and Vincent von Unten, the Count, appears and lands on the same side of Vesper as always. He wordlessly hands something to him. A grape, very much browned, almost inedible, but with two perfectly pierced holes through its skin.

Vesper grumbles under their breath. “I can… do that myself…”

It’s met with a grunt, an eyebrow raise, and almost – almost – the faintest hint of a smile.

“…I'll be looking forward to a first draft of a proposal by the end of the week. We'll meet in the lair, as always.”

The conversations and jubilations continue until well into the night.

Later on, Emery begins buzzing slightly. Chiro knows something is amiss.

The two meet in a corner of the Nether Labyrinth, away from the crowd.

“The-Rightful-Scholar Chiro… as we are best friends and i hope i am always your best friend given you are an esteemed scholar and i am a reporter for the Rat King's court… i… think i should at least tell you this. not that it's bad news, it's actually very good news, and that is come tomorrow Vesper Costello is going to become a member of the King's council which is good because i know that they are a good scholar, possibly the best if you didn't exist of course… but nobody else is supposed to know this and this may be dangerous and i do not mean to cause trouble but i think it's a good thing and you would like knowing this as it is very exciting anyway here's a cherry i found. just for you.”

Chiro takes the cherry, grins, and promises to keep the secret. Perhaps it's good news indeed.

“[…] I conclude that such a system of operation is indeed sufficient. When one considers the alternatives, it is easy to find the pitfalls that come with social structures that lack a distinct hierarchy. The Nether Kingdom’s so-called 'Monarchy' is, despite common misconception, not like other monarchical structures wherein the title is merely hereditary. The role of Monarch is bestowed upon the most fitting sage, who is willing to put their own needs aside to evenly distribute the resources held by its people and ensure safety and security for all. It is not an act of selfish greed, but arguably the most selfless. Without clear guidance, personal conflicts would frequently arise. It would be inefficient for every member of the populace to take such matters into their own hands. Nonetheless, I agree that an open, elected Council of Delegates is a wise choice for the future of the Underground’s political landscape. Hence, a balance shall be sought between the desires of all involved. However, as I argue in section 3.2., not all information should become public knowledge. If an underdeveloped highly sensitive concept were to slip, the consequences could be dire (cf. Nile 21-3-13TRK:3, Costello 29-2-15TSQ:4).

I shall ever believe in an Underground where a benevolent Monarch oversees its operations.”

– An extract from 'A Defence of the Electoral Monarchy as a Political System', Chiro (TRK18).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Firstly, it would be unjust of me to not begin by thanking His Lowness, The Rat King (or Remington to those who know him), for taking me into his care all those Winters ago. He listened to every story I told, every outlandish theory my immature mind conceived, and still embraced me with open arms, giving me a new lease of life in the Nether Kingdom. I will eternally be grateful for his humble acts of benevolence and the wisdom he imparted onto me. Thanks, Dad.

Every Knight I have met throughout this journey, thank you for listening, for bearing with me, and for giving me menial tasks when ever I so desired them. If I were to thank you all by name, this acknowledgements page would become even longer than it already may well be. I think of you all fondly, and I am proud to say I hail from a Nether Kingdom where you all work so tirelessly to keep it operating at its full capacity. Having studied one or two human-era machines in my scholarship, I know this is no easy feat.

Thank you to Maple, of the Suburbs, Scholar to Scholar, for letting us peruse and build upon your notes on switches in the Shelters and providing us with an invaluable insight to the functions of electricity.

All of my colleagues, namely Dale and Nile. We all know how much you appreciate Costello (thank you Quencie for keeping Dale in check before embarking on numerous rambles). Even now that Gruff has since departed into a welcomed retirement from the endless linguistic riddles they once weaved, I still recall our first meeting, where you enlightened me to that presence who has guided me through years of study. Together.

A presence who I shall now thank. Vesper Costello, fellow Councillor, together with whom I have worked for my entire academic career. Vesper Costello is a bat who has given everything they have for the values of academia, scholarship, knowledge, and wisdom, even when this came at the highest cost. I am proud to say I met you, and even more so, I am proud to be able to shout your name for all to hear. For being the best scholar this City has ever seen.

But, finally, I want to thank my closest friend, who has been by my side all these years. For every mission we have undertaken together. For every late-night chat we have had when a project wasn't getting very far. For taking in the pages and pages of ramble I gave to her, and repeating them back to me word-for-word. None of this could have been done without you and the expanses of your mind. And that's why I've saved you for last, the best reporter the Court has ever seen.

Thank you, Emery, truly.