Chapter XX

Summary

• The protagonist watches a naumachia, a mock sea battle, on a lake in an arena. The battle begins as a spectacular light show and a choreographed interaction between the gaudy decoration floating naval vessels.
• The main protagonist notes that there is no genuine seamanship on display; the vessels are powered and steered by Will, not by the usual strength of sailors.
• The naval combatants are either volunteers or imprisoned civilians, and their main intent is not to win, but to survive or impress the hierarchical authorities in the hope for a pardon.
• The protagonist's attention is redirected after a great explosion, after which the most wanted man in the Republic, Estevan, walks into the centre of the arena and addresses the crowd.
• Estevan, who identifies himself as the leader of Anguis – a group fighting for a better world – condemns the spectators for their complicity in an unjust society in a very loud and accusatory speech.
• Estevan, with an accomplice, causes mass destruction and death in the crowd by using some form of energy blast. This power is so strong that it disrupts others from using their own Will powers. The crowd shifts from anticipation to fear to fury.
• As panic sets in, with people trying to escape the stadium, the protagonist and a companion, Aequa, decide their best chance of survival is to make their way to an empty stand, assuming Estevan will not target an deserted area.
• The duo make their way through the gruesome aftermath caused by the explosion to the inner ring of the arena, where they discover a sewer which serves as an exit. Despite the risk of Estevan’s dangerous energy blasts reaching them, they see no other option but to use this pathway.
• However, the protagonist decides to return and try to stop Estevan, leaving Aequa to escape through the sewer route. The protagonist’s decision to confront Estevan is driven by moral responsibility and the knowledge that he could be the only one able to get close to Estevan to stop his rampage.