title: Ambassadors of the Silenced
author: Alfred Encarnacion
description: Alfred Encarnacion has taught writing at Temple University and published poetry, short stories, essays, and literary reviews in journals such as Crab Orchard Review, Florida Review, Indiana Review, North American Review, Paterson Literary Review, and The Virtual Artists Collective (online review). He has won a Wilson Foundation Scholarship Award, a Poets House Scholarship in NYC, and his work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. His debut book of poetry, The Outskirts of Karma, appeared in 2012. He is currently the director of the Stratford Public Library in New Jersey.
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  # [INTRO](../Text/toc.xhtml#Ref_12359a)
  
  
  Numerous gloomy voices bounced around a chamber.
  
  
  This place was known as the Garden of Whispers.
  
  
  At the center of the chamber was a round, scarlet table. Twelve seats were
  arranged around it, though three were vacant. “Kings”—leaders of various
  nations—sat in the remaining nine. Emperors, presidents, chancellors,
  chairmen—the nine were international leaders, selected from the countries
  participating in the Holy Ground Treaty. Silver masks concealed their faces,
  and sorcery altered their voices, so no one could identify who was whispering.
  
  
  “It would seem Akishige Yaze has been overthrown,” a masked “King” whispered.
  
  
  “Indeed,” another masked King replied, “In Itogami Island—the Far East Demon
  Sanctuary?”
  
  
  “Surely this poses no special concern. We expected his plan would eventually
  collapse. If anything, should we not view Tartarus Lapse’s actions as
  fortuitous?”
  
  
  “This makes nine Beast Vassals that serve Kojou Akatsuki. However