The great continent of Westeros lived to the rhythm of the seasons and the kingdom's major events. Two Thursdays a month were dedicated to the Red Mine, allowing valiant miners to obtain a rare weapon, Arya's, or Raymond's. These 24 hours often transformed men: the hardiest farmers could become fierce warriors, and the most adventurous and warlike could transform into true miners.

The stakes of the day were none other than Raymond's weapon. A reward worthy of the most diligent warrior and for intensive labor. Not the best of the best, but the miner of miners. For Kingdom 276, these were always intense preparations to try to put Arthurion's allies at the forefront of the tax-paying ranks.

• Arthurion: Paco, today is the big day! Grab your picks and go for it. And above all, do it quickly. If anyone sees us harvesting together, I'll be laughed at throughout the kingdom.

• PacoVega: Did you tell everyone we're married? Normally, two spouses together in a field, people quickly understand...

Long, painful hours were about to come for the knights of Kingdom 276. Hours of war, of violence. Having to defend themselves against the knights of other kingdoms, who also want their share of the spoils, or simply there to cause as many deaths as possible. Arthurion already had the weapon at its maximum level; he didn't need it. He was only there to help Paco and his other allies. Would they still encounter formidable obstacles? Would Paco manage to rank among the best miners? It wouldn't take much longer than 24 hours to get the answer.

The early hours of dawn...

As soon as the sun rose (or set, depending on where you are on the continent), PacoVega settled into the red mine, with the legitimate comfort one would expect from a mine. The blasts of the mines were already echoing through the galleries. Paco was always very diligent in his work, even in the mines. That was surely why Arthurion had married him: his early morning motivation.

The first hours passed without too much difficulty. No one dared intervene to get PacoVega out of the mine. The miner's tranquility seemed to have spread even to his enemies. Arthurion, who was staying up, was even able to take a very substantial nap. It was, in fact, very easy to fall asleep. By counting sheep? No. By counting the blows of the pickaxes. Four thousand eight hundred and twenty-two. Four thousand eight hundred and twenty-three...

- PacoVega: Arthurion: Are you dead?

- Arthurion: No! Focus! And don't forget, you take the red crystals, but the gold is mine!

- Pacovéga: Have you counted the crystals? I'm at 6,742. But the 2,456th is really unusual; you'll never guess its shape! And no, it's not what you think!

The Journal of Time to Kill...

The hours continued to pass... Pacovéga and Arthurion had exhausted their conversation. The weather. The size of pebbles. In-laws. The color of pebbles. Children. The mass of pebbles. Politics. The price of pebbles. War. The place of pebbles in the visible and invisible universe. PacoVéga had one task to accomplish: mining. But for Arthurion, it was something else entirely... He was bored stiff watching over his friend.

- Arthurion: Paco? Can I borrow a pebble, please?

He placed several pebbles around the mine entrance.

- Arthurion: Everyone to their posts! And we're keeping an eye out for enemies! South pebbles, anything to say against my orders? No? Then please stop arguing with your colleagues.

But the hours were terribly long... Even for a man accustomed to boredom, time seemed to stretch on forever, without any enemy (or even friend) appearing.

-Arthurion: Paco, I'm bored!

-PacoVega: Put the stones away!

-Arthurion: It's done...

Another hour passed... It was becoming difficult for Arthurion to find something to do in the middle of the day. Arthurion was almost hesitant to go and provoke the other warriors on the smaller mines. With any luck, one of them would fly into a rage and try to attack him repeatedly? But no, he had to focus on Paco. And on time... So he did what he could with what he had at hand.

-Arthurion: Paco! I founded a city of stones. It's called "Paco-City."

-PacoVega: What role do I play in that?

- Arthurion: Well, you're the king!

- PacoVega: Isn't there any trouble in the city?

- Arthurion: No. But I think your council just passed a law against blue crystals. They say only red crystals will be tolerated... I think I have communist crystals.

Of course, Arthurion's cavalry quickly came and wrecked Paco City's existing political system. It only took a few clumsy kicks from their big hooves to send everything flying. Would Arthurion have the courage to start from scratch? To found a civilization from the beginning? From the era of bronze pebbles to the great rush for gold pebbles, including the pebble revolution?

- Arthurion: You know, Paco, those 11 hours by your side really helped me. I think I've finally understood the meaning of life.

- PacoVega: Really? What's that?

- Arthurion: Don't stay in a mine for 11 hours...

After long minutes of doing nothing, Arthurion finally broke down and asked his allies from Kingdom 276 for help to come and take PacoVega's place, thus freeing Arthurion from his marital commitments.

- PacoVega: How do we get out of the mine?

- Arthurion: I don't know. Usually, you're the one pushing me!

- PacoVega: No, it's you!

- Arthurion: No, it's you!

- PacoVega: Where is Cailloux-City?

- Arthurion: Paco, come sit down... I have some bad news...

Baby one more time...

With almost 12 hours of occupation in the mine, Paco was firmly established at the top of the rankings, and almost impossible to catch. It was now time to make way for the other comrades from Kingdom 276 who also wanted to be in the main rankings. Would the battles to place Cid Kagenou, Kenpachi, UrielGrande, Brissy, and Spartacus in the top 10 be as peaceful as for Paco? Fortunately, Arthurion was still very alert regarding safety rules:

- Arthurion: Okay, guys, be careful! Paco got a speck of dust in his eye. But apparently, it's okay. He removed the eye, removed the dust, and put it back in place.

One by one, Arthurion's allies took their places in the mine without encountering the slightest resistance...

MAXIMUM ALERT!

Fortunately, Arthurion was still on alert when the first enemy struck. A member of the FVG alliance came to rescue Kenpachi from the mine. After nearly 16 hours of waiting for a war, Arthurion was ready. Or almost ready.

The enemy's name was CrashJaeger, and he was clearly infantry. Hungry for a fight, ready to fight to the fullest, Arthurion threw himself ferociously into the battle. He had only received stones, now it was time to kill! CrashJaeger would pay for all the enemies who hadn't dared to come during the day.

The preparations were meticulous. Arthurion checked his formations, motivated his troops, and mentally sharpened his strategy. Finally, a real fight! Finally, the chance to prove his worth! He multiplied the combat bonuses, had animals sacrificed for the gods, and the shock was... disappointing.

The armies charged forward with a roar, banners flapped in the wind, war cries echoed... and when the dust settled, the toll was appalling. A few archers, nothing more.

- Arthurion: Seriously?

- PacoVega: What? Was there nothing?

- Arthurion: No.

- PacoVega: Did you look under your horses' hooves?

CrashJaeger, visibly as disappointed as Arthurion by this battle, never returned to contest the mine... Arthurion was disillusioned. The final hours passed, without any enemies yet coming to disturb them. At least Arthurion's main objective had been achieved: to place Paco and his allies in the rankings. But Arthurion's secret sub-objective of achieving epic battles was a resounding failure... His state of mind was a mixture of pain, boredom, and satisfaction at finally seeing this boring day come to an end.

Conclusion...

When the end of the battles on the red mine was announced, the final ranking was unsurprising. PacoVega, mayor of Paco City, was in first place with his almost 12 hours of mining, followed by all the other members of Kingdom 276. Victory was complete.

• Arthurion: Well... At least mission accomplished...

• PacoVega: I feel like I won a race being the only participant.

• Cid Kagenou: At least we all got rewards!

• Kenpachi: And I finished my book. "The History of Paco City Through the Ages."

• Vangark: Uh guys, there's an army of red crystals arriving at my castle gates. They say they want to pool the means of production.

• Arthurion: They're the refugees from Paco City. He'll take care of them...

Patience was a virtue Arthurion absolutely lacked. This day was therefore a formidable test for the rider. Never had he known a day so lacking in fighting spirit. What Arthurion had lost in life expectancy waiting, his allies had gained in rewards for obtaining Raymond's weapon.

PacoVega returned home with Raymond's weapon, and above all, a crowd of red stones ready to attack Arthurion's gold. Arthurion returned to his castle as clean as he had arrived.

• PacoVega: Next time, I hope there's more action.

• Arthurion: There wasn't even any gold...

Another day finally ended for the heroes of Kingdom 276. A bittersweet day, with no enemies, no formidable warriors, no powerful alliances. Boredom, and simply boredom. In addition to a wonderful lesson in patience, this day was almost a lesson in humility. Sometimes, the absence of a challenge is more trying than an impossible one.