On the first day of the semifinals, thousands of contestants withdrew from Commercial Streets around the world, and countless more were eliminated.
Yet the lists of those who had advanced and those still under consideration were thick enough to make a book.
The turmoil stirred up by the Art Capital's declaration of war remained outside the competition. Apart from opera performers who had secretly come from the Art Capital or kept in touch with it, most people knew about as much of the Art Capital as Annan had a few days earlier: What Art Capital?
The nobles, meanwhile, watched for entertainment. The Art Capital's opinion of Free City had hardly been kind—it had called him a thief who sullied art.
That was as good as pointing at the Champion Sorcerer and accusing him of not only desecrating art but stealing as well.
They wondered how Annan Reeves would strike back.
Free City remained quiet for two days. Then the New Issue of Voice of Freedom went on sale, carrying Annan's response: "To the Art Capital: A Pack of Pretenders."
Unlike The Art Gazette, which had put its attack on the front page, Voice of Freedom led with the Empire's mobilization of Soldiers. Page two was not about the Art Capital either. It covered the fighting at the Lake of a Thousand Lakes, announced that Free City would establish a Peace Zone, and urged all sides to remain calm.
Even "The People of Middle Earth Welcome the New Year" appeared ahead of it on page three.
Only on page four was there a brief, rather mild interview, written in a less-than-formal style.
Evelyn, editor-in-chief of Voice of Freedom, had interviewed the man at the center of the dispute: Annan Reeves.
Katelina tore a corner off the newspaper. The Magic Stone powder