Kalyndi stepped forward. "Actually, it's a public matching ceremony. And according to Section 12 of the Accords, all citizens have the right to witness matches." She produced a tablet displaying the relevant text. "We're simply exercising our rights."
The guard's eyes darted between us and the building behind him, clearly calculating his options. Before he could respond, the massive doors swung open, revealing Minister Thorin, one of Magnus Terra's highest officials.
"War Chief Redmon," he greeted me with forced politeness. "We were not expecting such an... entourage."
"Former War Chief," I corrected. "And we come as concerned citizens, nothing more."
His eyes narrowed. "Citizens with a concerning number of weapons."
"For protection only," I assured him, though we both knew it was a thin pretense. "The Accords permit traditional armaments at ceremonial gatherings."
Thorin's jaw tightened, but he nodded stiffly. "Very well. You may enter, but any disruption will be met with immediate removal."
"We understand completely," Kalyndi replied with a sweetness that barely masked her determination.
As we entered the Sacrarium's great hall, the assembled crowd parted before us like water around a stone. Inside, theceremony was already underway with five human-monster pairs stood on the central platform, their expressions ranging from resignation to outright fear. A Magnus Terra official droned on about "duty" and "genetic harmony."
"They look terrified," Kalyndi whispered, her eyes on a young human woman paired with a massive Stoneclaw warrior.
"They should be," I replied quietly. "The woman on the left is matched to Garvek of the Mountain Tribe. He's known for his cruelty."
We positioned ourselves strategically around the hall, our supporters spreading out as planned. I caught Elder Marok's eye across the room. He nodded once, signaling all was ready.
The official reached the portion of the ceremony where objections could be raised. A formality never actually invoked in living memory. "If any here know reason why these matches should not proceed, speak now or forever hold your peace."
I stepped forward, my voice carrying to every corner of the vast hall. "I object."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The official froze, clearly unprepared for someone to actually use this ancient provision.
"On what grounds?" he stammered, looking to Thorin for guidance.
"On grounds that Magnus Terra has perverted the matching system for its own purposes," I declared, moving toward the central platform. "That these matches are not for peace, but for genetic experimentation without consent."
Thorin surged forward. "This is outrageous! Guards, remove him!"
Several security personnel moved toward me, but stopped when our supporters shifted positions, making it clear intervention would trigger conflict.
"Let him speak," called a voice from the crowd. Not one of ours, but a tribal elder I recognized from the Eastern Valleys. "The Accords guarantee the right to formal objection."
Thorin's face flushed with anger, but he gestured for the guards to stand down. "Make it quick, Redmon. You test our patience."
I climbed the steps to the platform, towering over the official. "For generations, we've accepted the matching system as necessary for peace. We were told it prevented war by binding our peoples together." I turned to face the crowd directly. "We were lied to."
Murmurs spread through the assembly. I continued, my voice strengthening.
"The matching system isn't about peace, it's about creating a generation of children with specific genetic traits. Children who can survive in the dead zones, who can be molded into whatever Magnus Terra desires." I gestured to Kalyndi. "My own match was calculated to produce offspring with particular abilities, as were all of yours."
One of the monsters on the platform, a female Rivercliff with iridescent scales, spoke up. "What proof do you have of these claims?"
"Let my mate present our evidence," I replied, extending my hand toward Kalyndi.
She joined me on the platform, carrying a data tablet. With practiced efficiency, she connected it to the Sacrarium's projection system. Instantly, the air above us filled with images of scientific documents, genetic charts, and most damning of all, records of children separated from their parents.
"These are Magnus Terra's own files," Kalyndi explained, her voice steady despite the tension in the room. "Obtained from their central facility with the help of Dr. Vega, former Director of Genetic Integration."
On cue, Dr. Vega stepped forward from our group. "I confirm these records are authentic. I helped create the program, to my eternal shame."
Kalyndi continued, methodically presenting evidence of the systematic genetic manipulation. "Each pair is selected not for compatibility of temperament or mutual benefit, but for specific genetic markers that, when combined, produce children with enhanced abilities."
