The next morning, the campus grounds were closed to all but the faculty and students, with only the duelling grounds being accessible.
I had yet to make my way over there. In fact, most of the chamite class had not yet done so, mainly due to how exhausted most of them were.
I didn't admit it out loud, but I worried a little for Lloyd and Zachariah, as they really got into the celebrations and wore themselves out. It was almost like they knew the end of their world was coming, and wanted to party as hard as possible before it happened.
My worries were totally unwarranted, however, as they awoke completely refreshed and practically ran with a skip in their step at first light, eager for the tournament to begin.
Bridgit calmly followed them about an hour later, and she could still be considered to be extremely early.
Guy had stayed up all night with me, and I humoured him with some last-minute practice. Seeing him use a sword for the first time really hit home how serious he had been when he claimed to have mastered various weapons. The fact that he still didn't think he could win despite his proficiency also highlighted the gap that existed between swordsmen.
As for me, whenever we took a break, I was searching the dormhouse for any sign of something out of place. I expected a hidden message from Merk, but there was no trace that they ever entered the building. Whatever they had done the day before remained a mystery.
I did follow up with Lily to see what she knew, but she seemed to be just as in the dark as I was. As for Paris, she still did not show any signs of suspicious activity, and I began to think Lily may have just been messing with me with her previous comment.
Fleur had packed her bags and left unceremoniously after everyone else fell asleep. She shared a simple hand shake with Guy and I, wished us the best, then left without another word.
We may or may not have quietly moved all my stuff into her room immediately afterwards, allowing me to finally have my own room.
Finally, Oliver never returned to our dorm after he went missing. Lily had tracked him fairly easily and advised us that he had rented a room at the Burning Sprite. We figured he didn't want to deal with staying in the same place as Fleur and left him be, though the question remained as to whether he would return now that she had left, given Axel’s presence.
Silly teenage drama. That was all any of these things amounted to in my mind. However, that's not to say I didn't enjoy watching such events unfold. These experiences may end up being something I begin to miss in the near future after all.
“Yo…”
Axel came downstairs, yawning loudly while he scratched his stomach, revealing an envious set of abs.
“Great night, huh? I'm makin’ breakfast, you want anything?”
“Nah, I already ate.”
I responded while killing time, going through my inventory.
I still had leftover water-breathing potions that didn't end up being needed, and the two “boom boom jars” I bought from Clink. There were also some poisons stored in glass vials that I had yet to find a use for. They were all self-made prototypes designed to utilise visceranid venom to replicate the performance-boosting effects without the adverse side effects.
Yes, they were practically performance-enhancing drugs, but such things weren't outlawed or regulated in most places. I intended to create a diluted version for emergency usage, but all my attempts were failures. Instead, they still caused immense pain and had no beneficial effects at all. I kept them anyway, thinking they could be used offensively one day.
Worst-case scenario, I just dumped it all on the Blood Thunderers for their entertainment, but ideally, I would find a more personal use for my collected treasures.
“I know a guy who would offer a decent price for all that, y'know?”
Axel commented as he waited for his bacon to finish.
“I might follow up on that, but for now at least, I'm keeping them. Can ego-armaments be coated with poison?”
“Don't see why not. Might piss off the soul inside, though. Lemme know how it goes if you try it.”
I had my axe with me since I had fought Guy, but I shook away the impulse to try it right away. I arranged everything to my liking and returned them to their casing, which I left out on the lounge room table.
“You're gonna go watch, right? Wanna place a bet on who'll win?”
Axel continued to make small talk.
“Rose is setting something up for that, I think. But if you mean a personal bet between us, sure. I'll put a gold piece on Lloyd.”
“Staying loyal to your Redwater brethren? Alright, I was gonna choose Zac anyway.”
“What a loving cousin you are.”
“Pfft, I just want some easy money.”
“That makes two of us.”
We shared some snide jabs before being interrupted by Guy, who came racing out of the training room.
“Am I late?”
He asked, perhaps louder than he intended.
“No. Contestants still have another hour, I think.”
I responded, grabbing a fork and helping myself to Axel’s food while he was in the middle of eating it.
“Oi! Ah, whatever... The others already left, you'd better go quickly.”
Axel rolled his eyes at me and nodded back at Guy.
“Thanks!”
He raced upstairs, and the sounds of him frantically opening his drawers and changing clothes echoed through the building.
“What's the hurry? He's got loads of time.”
I asked.
“The people assessing their performance are rumoured to observe them even outside of the arena. Being punctual, mingling respectfully, and behaving well all nets you extra consideration.”
“Behaving well? Being a good boy is important for sword fighting?”
“It's dumb as hell, I know.”
“Guess it just a rumour after all.”
“Oh, nah, man. I said it was rumoured, but that's just because most people don't know what I do. I've seen it in action; I even helped play the role of ‘disguised thug who bullies contestants in the waiting rooms’ a few times."
“A role that came naturally, I'm sure.”
“Heh…”
Guy came racing back down.
“How do I look?”
He presented himself to us. I think he looked pretty dapper with his little vest and tie, though why it mattered what he wore was lost on me, so I just gave a thumbs up.
“Lose the tie, they dock points for loose clothing.”
“Thanks, man!”
Guy did as he was told and ran straight out as fast as his legs would carry him.
“...loose clothing loses points?”
“The opponent could easily grab it. Makes you look amateurish.”
He explained.
“On the topic of clothes… you're not wearing are you?”
He scrunched up his face while looking at my brown jacket, which had accumulated multiple small scratches and holes from Tiara's claws over time.
“I'm not competing, I'll just wear my uniform.“
“Man, you're totally clueless, huh? Everybody there will be trying to stand out in some way. My uncle and the Emperor will both be there after all. More importantly, the tournament attracts some high-class women looking to make ‘connections.’ If you know what I mean.”
“You just want me to be your wingman, don't you?”
“Hey, you should feel honoured. Do a good job and I'll make you the best man at my wedding.”
“What about Fleur?”
“Huh? You don't think I grabbed her yesterday cuz I wanted to make my love true or some crap, do you? I just couldn't stand the idea of people thinking I couldn't get a girl.”
“Haha, you're such a dick.”
“Yep, now stop trying to change the subject and go steal one of Guy's suits.”
“Fine, whatever.”
***
Prior to leaving with Axel, I had to set Tiara down in my bed, as she seemed to be in a deep sleep and would not fit anywhere in my (Guy's) clothes.
We had arrived a little before the arena would be opened to the public. Even so, the place already had plenty of important-looking people milling around.
“The nobles always bribe their way in early; it's like a show of authority to get in before others.”
Axel explained why he chose this time to enter. Sure enough, the women he sought to flirt with would be more likely to show us favour if they thought we held status similar to their own.
“Target spotted, let's go.”
Axel wasted no time approaching a group of three young women, all dressed in extravagant attire.
I went into autopilot, allowing him to talk himself up and compliment the ladies as much as he desired while I backed up any wild claims he made to impress them. While they talked, I was busy admiring the area.
I had been to the duelling field before, but most stopped challenging me since I never showed up half the time, yet my ranking never dropped. I basically had no reason to be there under normal circumstances.
Still, I knew the layout, and what I was witnessing was certainly how the place usually looked.
One thing I found weird from the start was why our campus would host this event. I understood the political reasoning, but our facilities seemed lacking for what was required.
That question had now been answered.
Much like the spellcraft classroom, the entire structure had morphed and expanded, adding many more options for seating. I had yet to explore the other areas, but I could safely assume the rooms there had been similarly altered.
This much was possible through Mrs Abigail's magic, but the exterior of the detached building had not changed in size. For something to be bigger on the inside was physically impossible, but perhaps some kind of spatial magic could make it happen. As far as I knew, nobody at the academy could make such a thing happen however.
“Rex?”
“Hm?”
One of the ladies had started talking to me at some point.
“Ah, sorry, I was just appreciating what they did with the place.”
“Amazing, isn’t it? His royal highness did it with a snap of his fingers.”
I followed her gaze to an area high above me. There, behind a glass wall, was a small figure.
They were too far to make out clearly, but the strange, indescribable feeling that claimed me was all I needed.
Emperor Albrecht was up there.
“How I wish he would join us…”
The lady sighed with admiration, apparently unfazed by the oppressive atmosphere that was crushing me.
My attention was fixed on that distant figure, but without Tiara or my mask (Axel forced me to leave it behind), I could not improve my vision to better analyse him.
What I make out was the appearance of a second person, one who towered over the first. That build stood out too much, anybody could recognise the owner if they met him once.
“I wonder who that man is, to be so close to the Emperor?”
The lady mused to herself by my side.
I kept silent, but my gaze momentarily drifted in her direction.
“Oh, where'd he go?”
Her eyes widened in surprise, and I simultaneously felt a light weight fall upon my shoulder.
I turned to see a hand covered with a black leather glove planted there.
“His royal highness has extended an invitation.”
Merk spoke in a commanding, regal tone. That marked the third unique manner of speech he had shown me.
Not knowing how to respond, I quietly nodded and prepared to follow.
“Mr Lionheart. This invitation includes you as well.”
“Hm? Who's aski—”
Axel was halfway through turning before he reflexively assumed a battle stance. It took just one glance at Merk for him to assess that he was someone highly dangerous.
His usual cocky smirk was nowhere to be seen; instead, it was replaced with an uncharacteristically tense stare.
“Who are you?”
His voice was firm. Defiant even.
“Strike me if you wish.”
Merk didn't answer his question, and instead, he calmly reached forward.
Axel flinched but thought twice of attacking and instead relaxed his guard. His expression revealed that he wasn't very happy with the feeling of inadequacy he was experiencing.
“Excuse us.”
Merk bowed to the ladies while holding Axel and me. And without warning, my vision blurred, and my location changed.
“Urgh…”
“Wha—”
The feeling of teleporting was pretty much the same as , so I was merely hit with a slight dizzy spell. Axel, Much to his credit, managed to retain his footing just through his reflexes, but he couldn't contain his surprise.
“It is customary to kneel.”
Merk still stood behind us and gently pressed a finger down into my shoulder, urging me to prostrate myself.
The sight of the man's back that stood before me was already enough without Merk's encouragement, and I promptly planted my knee to the ground.
Axel similarly froze in place and quietly obeyed.
The presence of Merk vanished, and before I knew it, it was just the three of us.
Axel, myself, and—
“Albrecht Drachenskrone.”
The Emperor himself spoke to us, his voice as encapsulating as ever.
“You may stand.”
Neither of us moved.
Speaking for myself, the bizarre air that seemed to exist around the Emperor filled me with a sense of trepidation to the point that facing it directly was terrifying.
“Not yet, then? A shame. How about now?”
Suddenly, that pressure vanished. It was as if a heavy weight that always existed was suddenly removed.
I looked up and found no trace of hesitation in myself anymore as I met the Emperor’s gaze.
“Hello.”
He appeared perfectly relaxed and regarded me with a slight smile. His attire was much more appropriate for his station compared to before.
His clothing was a blend of 'unbelievably wealthy wizard' and 'imposing military officer'. The robe alone was probably worth more than the entire campus, and definitely held some kind of enchantment considering the constant shimmering and shifting patterns.
His rings glistened with an unmatched sheen, and the cloak wrapped around his shoulders moved of its own accord, like a sheet carved from the night sky that had been bound to the man's authority.
Most remarkable of all, however, was the crown.
crown. As in the Black Crown, after which the Empire was named. It appeared as a set of disconnected umbral shards that floated around his head. A magical line of glowing violet energy bound the fragments together, and the shards seemed to suck in all the light around them.
I meant that last part quite literally, as an inexplicable halo of darkness had formed around the Emperor’s head.
I rose to my feet, still feeling a sense of unease. It no longer felt like some mysterious force; however, I was just nervous to be there.
“We have met once already, correct? How is your cat?”
He spoke to me directly, ignoring Axel, who still had not moved.
“She's fine. Just taking a nap right now…”
“fine? Perhaps my measurements were off. I was rather hoping to see the results of my gift before the fun begins.”
He gestured to the front row of seats that sat closest to the glass wall and took his own position on a throne that had the Imperial flag draped over it.
I looked at Axel and nudged him with my foot, but he only shook his head silently.
“He has yet to give up. Give him time.”
The Emperor commented nonchalantly as he poured a glass of red wine for himself.
So I sat next to him as requested, sweat reforming on my palms no matter how much I wiped them on my pants.
“What is it?”
I asked.
“Adalbert Eclipse. A well-known vintage from a well-known family.”
“Not the wine. .”
I nodded to Axel, who had begun grunting and sweating heavily from his place on the ground.
“That? A test. I released you from it as it was clear you aren't ready yet. Our friend there is still trying. But don't mind that, let us discuss why I brought you here.”
He offered me an unmarked binder, which I immediately began sifting through.
“No need to read it all, you authored some pages yourself anyway.”
The binder contained various reports from rebel groups that had been quietly suppressed, as well as a list of potential traitors within the Empire. It seemed the common link between them all was that they all hinted towards suspicions of an impending attack. I soon found a familiar report.
“...This is the report I made regarding the Farrowgate incident.”
“Indeed. I particularly enjoyed your comments regarding more stringent hiring practices and stricter training methods. Amusing that a teenager would pinpoint the internal issues we have been dealing with with such accuracy.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
He smiled at me, revealing a perfect set of teeth.
“By the way, how did you smuggle out the remains of the dead Visitor?”
We stared at each other in silence, but try as I might, the question made no sense.
“Hmm… so you weren't aware of what you were handling. Amusing.”
“Care to enlighten me?”
I was already looking for the term ‘Visitor’ through the collated reports, but nothing came up.
“It’s top secret info, that. You won't find it written anywhere. If you don't know yet, you will one day. If not, it means you were never meant to know.”
I frowned and stubbornly continued looking for any reference that might decipher that riddle.
“Haha, you don't trust me at my word? Then why trust that those reports are even real?”
I paused for a moment. That made sense, but it could be a double bluff.
I continued searching the files.
“Did Poggy teach you to be paranoid as well?”
My attention immediately snapped to the Emperor, who was observing each person as they entered the building and mingled with one another.
“...Why do you know that name?”
My heart had skipped a beat, but I kept my tone steady, so as not to let anything slip.
“? Not ? Well, truth be told, I didn't have any proof. But your profile, your skills, the fact that you were taught by a Druid. All of these factors point to only one likely culprit. Has he mentioned me at all? I imagine not, he probably hasn't mentioned any of his old acquaintances.”
The Emperor let out a hearty laugh.
“As for I know him… would you believe that we used to adventure together in our youth? Well, youth... We were even together when we first laid eyes on a Primordial.”
He was revealing crucial information with such a casual attitude that I had to force myself not to yell over him. Instead, I could only look wearily at Axel.
“Don't worry, he can't hear us. He should be restricted to taste only by now.”
I was at a total loss for words; I didn't even question what he meant by that last comment. Was there anything he didn't already know about me? If he were a friend of Poggy’s, did he know our goal? If so, what did he think about it?
It was possible I was in danger being near this man, yet what could I really do?
“So? What am I meant to say here exactly?”
My words came out slowly, as each one was being cautiously measured.
“There is much to discuss. But our time is limited, so how about we address your slumbering passengers?”
His eyes began to glow, and he stared at my chest intently.
“The Primordials and I have a complex relationship. In fact, they never cared to commune with me themselves, save for one. I would very much like to hear your thoughts on them, especially as someone who is carrying the soul of their greatest member.”
“I'm afraid I have to disappoint you. I have not directly spoken to this one.”
I tapped my chest, avoiding saying the name of the Stag Lord just in case he wasn’t aware of it already.
“Beyond feeling an empathetic connection, they don't interact with me at all.”
The Emperor leaned back, a faint smile tugging at his mouth.
“You're holding back. He really did rub off on you. That's good, I suppose, but still disappointing for me. Fine. How about that morbid little parasite that has burrowed into your heart? I would pay you handsomely if you allowed me to extract it.”
He referred to the black tadpole within me.
“That was a gift… I think. I'll have to disappoint your majesty once more.”
“Another good answer. And another loss for me. If you fail to tame its mana, would you at least allow me to claim it from your corpse?”
He asked politely.
“A corpse is just a shell, do what you want with me at that point.”
“Morbid. Logical. And oh so cautious, did you think I wouldn't notice you reaching for that blade?”
As he said, I was subtly preparing to draw the dagger Leon gave me.
“Would it even hurt you?”
“Am I not human?”
Had that retort come from anyone else, I would have shrugged off the joke.
“...What is going to happen today?”
Maybe I didn't want to pursue the topic that had been brought up, maybe I just wanted to control the conversation. I wasn't sure either way, but I threw a direct question into the mix to escape answering.
“Someone will try to kill me.”
The Emperor grinned.
“Who will it be? When will they strike? Have they really acquired a way to defeat me? Is this a genius scheme, or a foolhardy grab for glory?”
He continued to pose rhetorical questions with a wide smile.
“We just do not know. Is it not exciting? If only my life were my own, I could humour these assailants to my heart's content. But without me, how will the Black Crown Empire survive?”
It took a moment for me to realise this was a real question he was asking me.
“You have heirs, and many competent people loyal to the Empire. They will carry on your legacy.”
I gave a standard response.
“You assume those people will retain their authority after my death. The vultures are always circling, Rex.”
“Then cull them before they can swoop.”
My dry response caused another burst of laughter.
“So simple? Just kill those who might be a risk? What if their loss would cause its own set of issues?”
“Establish a network of trusted people to replace them immediately.”
“Then I would be a tyrant, accused of nepotism for killing detractors and installing puppets.”
“And? You're the Emperor. You will be criticised no matter what, may as well do what you need to for the greater good.”
He stopped challenging my ideas and searched for something in my eyes. The silence extended for an uncomfortable length of time before he spoke again.
“Poggy had a similar outlook. Every day I wonder if I should have listened to him back then… I really should have forced him to stick around one way or another.”
“Stop humouring him.”
The voice that came from behind startled me so immensely that I reflexively tried to stab the owner in the throat.
I was disarmed faster than I could blink, however, and Merk calmly sat on my other side as he handed me back the weapon he had snatched from me.
“Milord, ruling with an iron fist is not sustainable. The more you expand our Empire, the heavier your fist must become, and we are already beyond the level where that could be accomplished.”
Merk calmly refuted my perspective.
“You doubt my abilities?”
The Emperor’s voice grew cold, but Merk showed no fear.
“I understand your power, which is why I know your limits.”
“...Haha, that's true.”
The Emperor relaxed, and the pressure dropped.
“Merk is correct, I simply wanted to see how you think... ‘For the greater good, ’ huh? Is that the lens through which the Primordials view the world, too?”
I felt a sense of unanimous agreement within myself.
“They really agree, then?”
The Emperor mused.
He could see them, I was sure of it. The Stag Lord and the parasite within me should not be easily noticed, yet he read them with perfect clarity.
“...Think long and hard about where you stand, Rex. I was once a mere pawn for higher powers, but I chose to forge my own path. Now, none can control my actions.”
He snapped his fingers, and the noise of the world around me became muffled as memories of a conversation that never happened surfaced in my mind.
“One day, you will need to make a decision. Serve, or lead. You have shown me an intriguing mind in that skull of yours, but it is so muddled by influence and doubt that I cannot recognise you for who you really are. Make your own judgement, and show me what you are beneath all these masks.”
Things returned to normal. Somehow, I felt that what he said had been directly carved into my mind, yet I knew his words were never spoken aloud. It was something besides telepathy, something unknowable.
There was no reaction from the Stag or the parasite. I knew intuitively that they had been left out.
“Hmm, looks like he finally tapped out.”
The Emperor spoke as if nothing had happened, and with a flick of his finger, Axel suddenly rose, gasping for air.
“Impressive.”
Both Merk and the Emperor offered a small applause as he staggered into a seat nearby.
“Haaa… haaa… where the hell am I?”
He was drenched in sweat and looked like a dishevelled mess. He was squinting at us and trying to unblock his ears with his pinky.
“You are in the company of his royal majesty Albrecht Drachenskrone. Mind your behaviour.”
As Merk spoke, Axel slowly opened his eyes properly.
“Right… I remember now… gods, my head feels like it's gonna split open.”
He clutched at his head, but a wide grin revealed itself behind his hands.
“What did you do to me? I felt my senses leaving me one by one.”
“Just a test.”
The Emperor waved off his question.
“Axel Lionheart, I remember when your request to become an Imperial citizen was reported to me. The King’s own nephew, abandoning everything. Why did you do such a thing?”
“Your majesty, let me first apologise for my behaviour. I was feeling disoriented.”
Axel left his seat to once again kneel, but he was no longer being compelled to do so.
“As for your query, I felt the Empire was a better fit for me. I am sorry if my actions caused any offence to you.”
“Why would it offend? The Empire has gained a man of great potential in you. Tell me, Axel. Can you guess why I brought you here?”
Axel’s uncharacteristically respectful behaviour took me by surprise, though maybe that was how I should have been acting too.
“...Does it have something to do with my uncle?”
He asked.
“Yes. He will be joining us here shortly. He will no doubt be displeased with your presence, but there is nothing he can do about it, seeing as you are my subject now.”
“Are you trying to antagonise the ruler of an allied nation, your majesty?”
Axel’s smirk was poorly hidden.
“Of course not, Soleo is a valued ally, and King Leonidas Sol Proudmane is a friend of mine; I have no desire to damage our relationship.”
I listened as they talked to one another, with Merk and me caught in between. I was also struggling to understand why Axel had been brought along if not as some petty move to shake up King Leonidas.
“You may stop kneeling. This is a casual get-together, not a hearing at the royal court.”
Axel followed the suggestion and returned to his seat.
“It raises some interesting questions; If you have to choose between the nations, what would you do? Could your fellow Imperials ever truly trust you, should our nations come into conflict? Could you ever fight in earnest if it conflicted with Soleo’s wishes?”
Axel leaned back, waving his hand in a dismissive fashion. It appeared he was more than happy to take the Emperor at his word and return to his usual self, without the polite speech.
“I don’t care about Soleo or the Black Crown Empire. I care about my own ideals. If you want an honest answer, I admire you more than my uncle, but would rather fight for a trustworthy Solean than a scumbag Kronenvolk…”
He was brimming with his usual confidence once more, but seemed to be holding something back still.
Merk regarded him for a moment, seemingly understanding the hesitation.
“You have met one of these ‘scumbag’ types recently, haven’t you? Perhaps during your previous outing from the academy.”
Axel tensed up.
“Relax. We have our own suspicions regarding that man. Prove yourself to us and you may even receive a chance to do something about them.”
Merk took the binder from me and tossed it into Axel’s waiting hand.
Apparently, they had decided to let Axel in on everything. But their reasoning was still unclear to me. The Emperor made small talk with me, mostly asking about my thoughts on the IMA and presenting thought experiments to kill the time. Finally, Axel finished up and handed the binder back, but before he could say anything, we were interrupted.
“His royal highness, the Golden Lion, King of Soleo, Slayer of Archdemons, Conqueror of the Iron Master, announces his presence.”
While the voice behind the door spoke, the Emperor rolled his eyes and silently mimicked the words. He then whispered just loud enough for me and Axel to hear.
“The time for levity has passed; it would be best if you only speak when asked to from here on.”
I stood and prepared to bow, but Merk stopped me.
“I am aware you have not been taught the ways of the nobility, but it is not proper to bow to a foreign monarch while in the presence of your own Emperor.”
Axel nodded in agreement and also remained in his seat, even when the King and his royal guard entered the room.
There were only four people with him, but considering the Emperor only had Merk, perhaps it was normal to keep your personal guard small in number. This wasn’t Earth, after all. These two men were like an army on their own, so being caught alone probably wasn’t much of a concern to them.
The Emperor stood and met King Leonidas in the centre of the room before shaking his hand.
“Albrecht. Where did you disappear to after the academy greeting?”
King Leonidas spoke firmly, his attention fixed solely on the Emperor while his men spread out along the far wall. They were all fully armed and armoured, but even behind those helmets I could feel them watching me.
“Leonidas, good to see you again... I was around, you weren't looking for me, were you? I do apologise for any inconvenience I have caused you.”
The Emperor spoke eloquently, remaining positive and agreeable in all his actions. Yet there was an underlying sense of mischief to it all, as if he was testing the waters for something.
“It doesn't matter now. Why are these children here?”
Leonidas looked at me briefly, then fixed Axel with a disapproving glare.
“They hold the two top ranks in the newly established chamite class. Well, technically, Mr Jaeger is ranked third, but the elf left this morning. Are you not intrigued by how they are being managed? Your own daughter is a part of it as well, after all.”
“I receive updates from my daughter and the school. I have no interest in probing further. Send them away so we may discuss important matters.”
Leonidas gestured to the door, as if expecting Axel and me to obey. When neither of us moved, he tried to approach Axel.
Before he could take a second step, the Emperor moved to block his way.
“I'm afraid I have already promised these boys a seat with me. We can always have a more formal meeting after the fun comes to an end.”
The air in the room grew cold as neither side moved to back down. Finally, after what felt like an age, Leonidas looked away and took his place at the second throne in the room.
Axel strode past him as he came to my side of the room. The two thrones were separated by a walkway, and a single chair on that side. They were likely meant for each monarch to place their most trusted companion, seeing as they represented the only obstacle between monarchs.
Merk had been sitting there, but as Axel walked over, he was guided to take that spot instead.
I watched Leonidas closely, and he understandably appeared slighted. His teeth were clenched, and a hefty vein pulsated along the side of his head.
Still, he remained silent.
“I hear your girl will be up first. I am excited to see how my academy has benefitted her growth.”
The Emperor settled back into his own seat and steered the conversation away from Axel and me.
It was a nerve-wracking situation, but the Emperor continued to fill the silence with polite small talk.
I would have been more comfortable if Axel weren't seated on the other side of the Emperor, but for some reason, he was wanted there. I had to simply kill time by watching the people slowly filter in and take their seats below us.
Familiar faces were difficult to spot, but I at least knew where Rose was, as she had set up her own mobile food stall and was constantly moving around the crowd.
I don't think such a concept existed in Arden. Did she think of it herself? I did tell her many ‘fairy tales’ growing up that referenced modern-day earth, maybe that inspired her?
Someone came out to the centre of the arena, and through some unknown means, their voice projected directly into our room.
“Welcome one and all, please remain respectful and hold your applause until the end of each match. You will be asked to leave if you cause an uproar or heckle the participants, keep in mind this event reflects Soleo’s ideals, and unwelcome behaviour will be appropriately punished.”
As the announcement paused, Leonidas spoke.
“That applies to this room as well.”
He clearly directed that to Axel, but I was not able to see if he was listening.
“Our first match is between Bridgit Sol Proudmane and Mark Turner.”
The contestants entered and bowed to one another before drawing their swords.
“What do you think?”
The Emperor asked me.
“...I can't see anything.”
We were way too high up; they may as well have been little blobs flailing around for all I could tell.
“How about now?”
He tapped my forehead, and my vision sharpened considerably. I knew that feeling; it was , but the efficacy was greater than what I was used to. I could even zoom my vision as desired.
The fight was just as Felicia had described when we returned from Redwater. A showy display of skill, but nothing like a real fight.
The participants would interfere with one another, trying to interrupt their demonstrations with a swift stab or a measuring slice. But they never committed to their attacks, apparently unwilling to cause any harm.
I thought I might appreciate it more in person, but honestly, Felicia was right. It was boring.
“There are no stakes… Bridgit is clearly more refined, but so what? A ribbon dance would be more engaging.”
I answered the Emperor, careful to keep my voice low.
“Heh, I know, right? Maybe my mysterious foe wants to lull me to sleep before they strike?”
The fights dragged on, and I found myself more interested in chatting with the Emperor.
“...I figure that the circuitry that allows mana to flow through us must have a constant factor, even if they are all unique in their formations. If we could understand that factor, then it may be possible to carve circuits into those without mana, or even inanimate objects.”
I was in the middle of presenting one of the theories I had formulated as a child, when I had nothing better to do with my time.
“I can confirm such a thing is possible, the problem is that it is nigh-impossible to determine which formation to use, seeing as a slight miscalculation will cause the mana to leak out before a spell can be completed. Even if successful, with no mana source, the circuits serve no purpose.”
“Right, but what if there were a way to bottle mana? Then it could be distributed among regular soldiers to create temporary mages.”
“Do you have a way to accomplish that?”
“Mana crystals. If a strong enough mage were to—”
“Quiet.”
King Leonidas firmly spoke over us. At some point, we had gotten a little too immersed and forgotten to lower our volume.
“Apologies, my friend.”
The Emperor responded, and we both assumed the same pose: Cheeks resting on our right palms as we slouched in our chairs. It was the universal sign of boredom.
Zachariah was at least somewhat interesting to watch whenever it was his turn, seeing as he moved so fast and used the entire arena to demonstrate his huge, sweeping attacks.
He had just finished another round, and it was only then that I realised he was against Bridgit.
She stayed still after the results were announced, seemingly dejected by her loss. Zachariah led her out, though, and the next round began. Shortly after, we received a visitor.
It's Zachariah. I have Bridgit here.”
“Enter.”
Leonidas responded to his son's voice.
The door opened, and Bridgit promptly took a spot beside her father. Zachariah apparently only came to escort her, as he never followed her into the room.
“I am sorry, father…”
Bridgit drooped her head, her shame plain to see.
“No need for apologies, you did admirably, my daughter. Take your frustration and let it fuel you to greater heights.”
For the first time, Leonidas spoke without any edge to his words. The love for one's child could truly soften any man.
“Thank you, father. I will do better next ti—”
She stopped and stared at me, then shifted her focus to Axel.
“Why are you two here!?”
She forgot herself and jumped out of her seat, her face beet red.
“We are honoured guests of Emperor Albrecht, first of his name, grandfather of mana, master of the vast expanse, ruler of the forgotten dragon.”
I made up a bunch of nonsense titles and presented them with a straight face.
“You forgot ‘charmer of women’ and ‘beloved by all’. Otherwise, very good.”
The Emperor’s words lent credence to my joke, and Bridgit stared at me with her mouth agape.
“I still don't get the criteria here. Why did Bridgit lose?”
I moved the subject along so that she wouldn't have time to register that we were screwing with her.
“She showed fantastic accuracy and movements suitable for single-target combat, but her form was rudimentary and did not display any creativity.”
Leonidas answered my question.
“...Yes. That is a fair assessment.”
Bridgit returned to her seat.
The next few rounds were uninteresting, but then we had a match between Lloyd and Guy.
“Ah, the Vespertille.”
Leonidas smiled.
“I look forward to seeing him in action.”
I kept my own thoughts to myself and watched with mild interest.
Guy employed a one-handed style of swordsmanship, using his free hand to weave crimson aura into patterns that lingered in the air as he deftly passed his blade through them. It looked very nice and demonstrated both his aura control and his ability to multitask
I had seen this already, but his fluid motions and the flashy appearance still struck me more than most of the other contestants.
But then Lloyd began to let loose.
“This boy… he did not show such power in the early rounds.”
Leonidas was on the edge of his seat, and even the Emperor made a small noise of surprise.
It was understandable. The entire audience was amazed by what was unfolding.
Lloyd had entered the tournament with a simple longsword, but he had discarded it in the wake of Guy's display. Instead, he produced a perfect blade of refined aura from his fingertips. It was a deep blue crystalline existence that left trails of glittering light with every stroke.
He did not interrupt Guy, and instead deliberately kept pace with him, like a couple of synchronised dancers, if one was inherently brighter than the other.
When Guy attempted to throw him off, a masterful flourish and a graceful step were all that was needed for Lloyd to keep things under his control.
While others clashed and struggled to make the stage their own, Lloyd complimented his foe and showed that he could replicate their performance, and even refine it.
The mere fact that he could solidify aura into a weapon was already an incredible feat on its own. His performance only solidified the fact that he was truly worthy of such a talent.
Eventually, Guy had to accept his defeat with grace when he could no longer keep up with Lloyd’s moves.
“Remarkable…”
Leonidas covered his mouth as the word came unbidden from his heart.
I had seen scenes like this too many times in Redwater to be surprised anymore, but a faint feeling of resentment still bubbled within me.
“Lloyd of Redwater… such a well-polished gem has made itself known.”
Leonidas spoke to Bridgit.
“If you wish to meet him, Zachariah and he are quite close. I'm sure it could be arranged.”
“Alas, I won't have the time. Perhaps one day in the future…”
They continued talking about him even as the following round began.
I simply zoned them out and waited for it to end.
And it finally did, but only because the subject of everyone's affection had taken to the stage once more.
“This oughtta be good.”
Axel spoke up for the first time in a while, and I saw him lean forward to get a better look.
“Remember our bet, Rex.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
It was the final round, and the only two participants remaining were Lloyd of Redwater and Zachariah Sol Proudmane.
The match began, but neither party moved.
“What are they doing?”
Bridgit mumbled.
“Can’t we hear them?”
I asked.
“They seem to have cut themselves off from the audio amplification spell.”
The Emperor answered. He then glanced over me and at Merk, who was intently focusing on the two.
A strange silence hung over us, and something began to set off warning bells in my head.
Leonidas shifted ever so subtly, the Emperor and Merk shared a glance that lingered slightly too long, and Axel’s muscles visibly tensed up through his shirt.
Then, glass shattered, the room shook, Merk suddenly leapt back over the chairs, and a glowing golden blade was rapidly approaching the Emperor’s throat.
I had not registered the source of any of the chaos, and instead moved purely on instinct.
Before I knew it, both my axe and dagger were out, and I threw myself at the golden blade in an attempt to push it back.
The weight behind it was too much for me, though, and I felt such intense pressure on my arms that I thought my bones were going to break.
They would have too, if not for Axel arriving a split second later and aiding me in deflecting the blade with his .
Yet even with the two of us, we were still sent hurtling across the room. My back broke against the solid wall, and before my feet could even hit the ground, one of the royal guard had me pinned, his sword pushed firmly against my throat.
Another tried the same against Axel, but he had landed on his feet and immediately begun striking back.
The room was in chaos. The glass wall and the ground near it had been blown apart by some external force, and everybody was in a state of panic or confusion. I could hear the screaming of the crowd below, and could only hope nothing was happening down there as well.
Despite my own precarious situation, the man holding me seemed content keeping me down rather than taking my life, so I looked instead to the one I knew was at risk of death.
Axel and I had, fortunately, made enough of a difference in delaying that golden blade, as the Emperor had been able to duck under it and was standing confidently as he faced his assailant.
The man who held the other end of the imposing sword was none other than King Leonidas.
“F-father, wh-what is happening?”
Bridgit meekly called out as she backed away, drawing her rapier without a shred of confidence.
“Stay back, Bridgit. I will explain everything later.”
The slight edge in his tone had now revealed itself to be an unrestrained razor poised to cut the Empire open. He did not speak so much as he growled, and his thick, combed mane had become a wild mess.
In contrast, the Emperor had no weapon and kept his hands behind his back as he offered a slight smirk and a shake of his head.
“Haaa… to think it was really you… I considered it, of course, but I never would have expected a surprise attack from Soleo. Whatever happened to fighting with honour?”
A bloody helmet flew past him as Merk decapitated one of the royal guards with his bare hand and moved to engage another.
“It pains me to resort to such cowardice, but you have left me no other recourse, Albrecht!”
Leonidas roared, and his aura engulfed the room as he thrust his blade at the Emperor.
But a tear in space formed, and his sword simply passed into another realm.
He withdrew his weapon before the mysterious portal could close and claim it forever.
“Come, now, I loathe one-sided conversations like this. Tell me what has you so riled up, so that I may at least understand why I must now kill you.”
Leonidas did not answer, and instead stomped his foot down with such force that the room split in two.
He again lunged for the Emperor, aiming for his upset footing to distract him from the next blow.
But instead, a transparent dark sphere engulfed the Emperor like a barrier, and Leonidas’ attack was deflected.
The next moment, they were both falling down to the arena below, and I could no longer follow their clash.
Merk had already butchered another guard; his erratic, swift movements and deceptive range were just too much for them, it seemed.
“...shit.”
The voice of the man pinning me muttered as he witnessed two of his allies die. He then made a worrying decision.
“Drop your weapon or the boy dies!”
The blade pushed deeper into my neck, and a trickle of blood ran down the cold steel.
Axel was barely hanging on against his own target and was unable to help. Bridgit was still in shock and had yet to commit to helping either side.
And the impact on my back had left me unable to move from the neck down.
Merk never even hesitated.
His arm snapped back, and the air cracked audibly as he flung a dagger with such force that the guard's head exploded.
I collapsed to the ground and could only helplessly watch as the last surviving guard threw Axel to the ground and rushed to engage Merk.
They never saw their own death coming, as they suddenly found their head torn from their shoulders with a lightning-fast attack from Merk. Merk never said a word, nor did he look particularly fazed after killing four royal guardsmen. He quietly dropped the head he held in one hand and looked over to me.
But I once again found a blade aimed at my throat, and this time, Merk didn't seem willing to take action.
“St-stop! Everyone, stay where you are!”
The cold blade of Bridgit’s rapier suddenly began to heat up as she activated her gift.
“Put the sword down. You were not aware of this treachery; therefore, your death is not required. But if you harm that boy, I will have no choice but to put you down.”
Merk remained calm as he delivered his ultimatum.
Bridgit bit her lip, weighing her options before lifting me and holding me hostage as she backed up to the door.
“I won't harm him if you stay back!”
She was desperate. Anybody could see that she was out of her depth.
“Bridgit… don't.”
I remained calm despite the pain coursing through my body.
“Think. Where will you go? How far can you drag me? All we know right now is that your father—”
“Shut up!”
The hilt of her sword struck my head, and my vision spun. She was more heightened than expected.
I chose to remain silent, but the damage had been done.
“Father wouldn't do this without a good reason! What would you know!?”
“Brother must have known too, that's why he blew up the room! They have their reasons, they're good people!”
“I just have to get down there! They'll explain everything!”
“I advise you not to strike him again.”
My vision had already faded, but Merk's voice was still audible.
“I said, stay back! I'll kill him, I will! Like you killed Francis, and Joseph, a-and—you monster! Why did you kill my friends!?”
She must have really cared for those guards. Her behaviour made a little more sense all of a sudden.
“Huh? Who are you? Stay back! All of you, get away!”
She became increasingly hysterical, but I could not tell what was going on. I felt my back push up against something hard again, though, and I judged she was preparing to run me through.
“Bridgit! Put him down! Don't you understand what uncle has done!?”
Axel's voice joined in, as did numerous other frantic sounds that began to blend together.
Ah… what a mess…
To think that I already expected something to happen, and yet I still ended up in such a pathetic state.
Naturally, but what can I do?
You think I will hand over my body?
…No. I will not lose myself any more than I have.
I hate riddles…
…I'm not giving you control. I am simply taking a break. Do what you have to.
My consciousness left me, as did my memory of that conversation.
Emperor Albrecht Drachenskrone
King Leonidas Sol Proudmane