"How extraordinary," he muses, caught up for a moment in Roland's description. "If Taiki were such a size, I'm sure Whitejewel Palace would be arranged very differently."

The idea of a kingdom shackled to a creature with the potential to turn on it... It unnerves him. But then, it is no more dangerous than his own rule, in the end.

"The ruler receives the mandate of heaven when he ascends, and with it, the directions set by Tentei for correct governance. There are many ways he might stray: excessive warmongering, decadence or pride, or neglect of the people..."