The Authorized Interviews: Kosthor Rink

The Authorized Interviews: Kosthor Rink is a series of interviews conducted by the historian Rhea Kuhn that was condensed into a manuscript on the 6th of the 4th Block on 197BV. Already a bestseller since its release, the book became a bigger runaway hit after Kosthor's disappearance.

## Excerpts

*In response to “After you became mayor of Valenoff, may residents were disappointed to see that you’ve become less accessible to the public as you focused your time onto city development. What are your thoughts about this City’s future direction and how it’ll impact your relationship with its residents?”*:

“That was one of the most difficult aspects about assuming the mayoral position, the fact that I wouldn’t be able to spend more time with the people. Even now, at times, I get the feeling that this city would be much better off having someone else in this position. But I know that that is a selfish thought disguised as selflessness- I love the residents of Valenoff, my heart yearns to engage with their thoughts, to share in their joys and pains, to trade stories over a hearty dinner. But with that love, comes fear- I fear, that with the abstract and high level decisions that come with being mayor, that my head will grow bigger and my heart will grow smaller. Looking at Edinthorpe and the Select- the way the Select makes these grand complex plans for their city without throwing even a glance at the people- that is not the way I want this city to develop. Edinthorpe has their own cultures and practices that makes The Select an apt council for them, yes. In Valenoff, however, the people need to come first. This city needs to be built for the people, not for some complicated philosophy and not for the mayor, whoever it will be.”

*In response to "Where were you originally from before you arrived in Valenoff to end the Elemental Wars?":*

“I can’t go too into the details of where I’m originally from, let’s just leave it with the fact that it’s not Esterra. Very close to Esterra, though. The first time I came to this Platform, I was only able to experience just a little slit of it, but the people I met during that time… it seriously left an impression on me. It’s actually how I developed my philosophy of excellence, watching those people love each other with excellence and humility. Second time I came to the Platform, that’s when I met my good friend, Droxidor. He convinced me to stay that time around, he showed me how much beauty could be found here. We lived together in his small shack in the forest before we found our way up to Valenoff.”

*In response to "What are your thoughts about Esterra as a whole?":*

“Esterra as an environment is a desolate, wretched place. The divine have clearly created this world without any clear thought for the residents in mind, and all of Esterra’s creatures suffer because of their lacking. I suppose the divine supposed that their creation will all perish once they get bored and turn the other way- I also imagine that the divine never really expected that their creation will tenaciously cling on to existence even after the divine abandoned them. But lo- living in this wretched world have forced the mortals to blossom into a fully, truly realized state of being. A being forged by the suffering and hardships they’ve gone through, not by the whims of some bored divinity. I see so much beauty in Esterra because of this- not because of the aberrations that constantly get through the NoZone, not because of the constant disasters that befall every region, no, the beauty in Esterra comes from the very mortals who live there. Their very existence is a defiant act against the divinity who expected them dead. And unlike the divine beings who created them, mortals actually have the power to love themselves, to love one another, to still have hope in life on this wretched world even the divine have forgotten. It’s such a powerful thing, mortals treating each other with the excellence and respect they all deserve. I wish more people can understand that love is a purely mortal power that not even the divine can take from them.”

*In response to "What is your current favorite food?":*

“There is a new fantastic noodle shop that opened close to the Elementalball Stadium that have the best noodles ever- called Kal-noodles, after the head chef who makes them- I can’t stop eating them! They’re thick noodles because they’re cut rather than spun- absolutely brilliant, I can’t eat any other type of noodle now. And the broth- still trying to coax the secret recipe out of Kal, but its astounding, so hot, so rich, so filling! I’ve had Kal-noodles for dinner for the last 2 months, I’m still not sick of it.”

*In response to "What are your opinions of the rapidly rising popularity of Elementalball?":*

“I think the Elementalball Stadium has finally given Valenoff the economy and tourism boost that we’ve been aiming for so long. I am certainly very proud of how Elementalball has been progressing as a competitive sport- once a training exercise for the Clements Elemental Monks, now a national sport, with teams in every major city across Esterra. I also find it quite humorous how our city, which was once almost destroyed by Elementals, is now thriving because of Elementalball. Team Valenoff Valors 100%, of course, still not that happy with the design change for our mascot Vlad Viper, but if that’s what the fans want, I’ll oblige.”