Victory City

Krishna is the 18th of the 22 kings who will rule Bisnaga before it is destroyed. The manner in which he came to be king is disputed. An Italian traveler named Niccolo de’ Vieri offers a series of violent, extravagant stories about his ascent, though Pampa provides more mundane explanations that contradict the Italian’s account. In the final story, Pampa and Zerelda appear before Krishna, transform from birds into beautiful women, and pledge their allegiance to him, which serves as a public demonstration that Krishna has the right to rule. These seemingly supernatural beings are treated as guests of honor in Bisnaga. They become advisors to the king, who is dealing with unruly territories on the borders of his empire. Pampa and Zerelda offer their services are skilled warriors and impress everyone with their combat skills. In conversation, Zerelda describes her childhood aboard many ships. She claims to be a map of the world due to her detailed knowledge of the many places she has visited. In contrast, Pampa claims to be a map of time. The two women agree to create their maps; Pampa’s map is the story that is being translated, while the great room of maps that Zerelda creates will be lost in the destruction of Bisnaga.