[Lauchenoiria]

The group of five Kerlians moved through the streets of Shuell, glancing around excitedly and taking pictures on their cameras. It was unusual for them to be allowed to actually visit a foreign country. Even those among the athletes who had been granted permits to compete abroad in the past were excited – on previous occasions, they’d been required to remain in their hotel rooms when not training or competing, lest they face some terrible consequences on their return home should they be deemed insufficiently loyal.

The group consisted of a pair of footballers, Jenny Ikeda and Lena Jin, along with gymnast Susanne Reynders, runner Leyla Rosenberger and archer Minenhle Flanagan (known to her friends as Minnie), who had managed to win a bronze medal. Of the Kerlian Olympic team, the five were on the richer end of the scale, some tracing their ancestry back to a Councillor’s sister (or so Lena claimed, as proof had never been discovered), which gave them the resources to enjoy their time in Shuell.

“So, when we finish the tour, do you want to go back to that restaurant from last night? I didn’t think I’d like Shuellian food but it’s fascinating. I never realised there were such choices of food available,” Minnie grinned, her stomach rumbling. The five were part of a tour group who had been going around Central, though the people from other nations tended to give the Kerlian group a wide berth, almost as if they were afraid.

“That’s what happens when the Sanctarians don’t ration you,” grumbled Susanne. “I wish so much that they’d leave us be, but they despise us. Perhaps one day things will change, but I’m just glad they’re not here competing. I feel sorry for their women, having to live under such a clearly patriarchal government.”

“It’s not Sanctarian women I feel bad for,” interrupted Leyla. “It’s the Lauchenoirians. They’re so completely brainwashed. After the 1500m final, their athlete, Destiny McFarlane came over to me and made a snide comment about how the rationing, claiming it was no surprise I’d done poorly given that my ‘government is starving’ me. When it is her government’s fault there’s rationing! I don’t blame Sanctaria, I blame Lauchenoiria for the whole affair.”

“Let’s… let’s not argue about this,” suggested Lena, who looked rather nervous, glancing at the Shuellians following the tour group for their ‘protection’. “There are some things it is not necessary to talk about,” she said pointedly.

The others shut up suddenly and nodded, getting the message. After all, the whole fencing team had been confined to their hotel rooms on the orders of Councillor Greenwood after one of them had apparently insulted the Matriarchy to a foreigner – a foreigner who had then repeated the comments to the patriarchal media.

“Look how tall that building is!” exclaimed Minnie suddenly, pointing at a skyscraper. The other Kerlians all turned around to stare at it, murmuring. Kerlian cities, given that the population of the nation had never been high enough to require it, did not tend to have many large buildings.

“I’m glad we had the opportunity to come,” Jenny said quietly. She rarely spoke, and certainly never about politics. The others did not know why, although they could all guess – it was typical behaviour for a Kerlian who had family members who had been arrested in the past for political crimes.

“So am I!” Minnie enthused. “It’s been so exciting, and I got to try that Yvesta moss thing, and visit that museum of all the weapons! I wish I could stay longer, see more things, meet more people, experience a whole new culture – and maybe get used to this cold!”

“Careful, Minnie,” warned Lena, “you’re starting to sound too enthusiastic. One could think you weren’t looking forward to being back in the Matriarchy.”

“Th… that’s not what I meant,” stammered Minnie, suddenly slightly alarmed, lest someone think her disloyal.

“So,” Susanne interrupted, changing the subject. “How do you two think you’ll do in the football?”

“Oh,” Lena began, “we don’t stand a chance, to be perfectly honest. Which is fine. I’m sure the others only put so much funding into their football teams because it is a sport loved by the patriarchy. While we are trying to take it back for women, I understand that it will take a long time. I hope we get the chance, one day, to show the patriarchal countries that women are just as good.”

“I experience a similar situation in gymnastics,” Susanne nodded. “While back home, it is seen as a demonstration of skill and agility, I was speaking to someone about it, and in the patriarchal countries they view it as a sport for women – not because we are more agile and skilful, as we see it, but because apparently it makes us look pretty for the males! It’s made me rather nervous, I keep thinking about patriarchal country men watching me and making… comments at their TVs,” she shuddered.

“Oh, Susanne, I’m sure they won’t!” Leyla said, horrified, and put her arm around her friend. “They wouldn’t dare, they’re all terrified of Kerlians, that’s why they feel the need to sanction us. They know their own weakness and so our very existence is a threat to them. Just remember that when you’re competing: they’re far more scared of you, than you are of them.”

Susanne nodded and squeezed her friend’s arm, and the group fell silent, listening as the tour group gathered around the guide as he launched into an explanation of a historic monument that the group were standing next to.

"And here we have a monument to Ludwig Stieler,” began the guide. “In the early history of Shuell, the land was ruled by various warlords, until they were all united into the Kingdom of Shuell by Ludwig Stieler, a warlord-turned-monarch. Stieler claimed to be crowned by the Shard-being itself..."