After saying goodnight to his new friends, and thanking Veldre once more for covering the bill, Klarion found himself once being escorted by J-65. As he followed her, he couldn’t help but think about how much better the day had ended than it had started. The Hearth & Ember had been the kind of place he hadn’t expected to find at the Imperial Academy — welcoming and unpretentious — and his new friends had made the experience even better. The easy camaraderie and acceptance had lifted the weight that had settled on his back as soon as he arrived. Klarion smiled, thinking of the laughter over dinner and the shared understanding that had formed so quickly between them. For the first time, the Imperial Academy felt just a little less daunting.


    J-65’s footsteps were steady and measured as they walked down the street toward where Klarion would be staying. It turned out that the route they were taking was not a long one, but given the silence that the Sentinel kept as they made their way there, it seemed to take longer than it actually did. Klarion was starting to get the sense that it was out of the way when J-65 led him down a side street and he saw it for the first time.


    The apartment he had been expecting was a manor instead. A towering structure, it stood at the end of the dead-end street behind a tall, heavy metal fence with bars that were capped with the crest of House Blacksword. It looked like something out of a forgotten age, solid and intimidating, yet eerily quiet. Given how late it was, and that there were no lights within any of the windows he could see from the street, Klarion guessed he would have to entire place to himself. While the estate was undeniably grand, there was no denying its somber aura.


    On either side loomed buildings that Klarion could tell at a glance to be abandoned. Windows were broken or boarded up, ivy crept along the walls, and from what he could tell, the roofs were in need of a bit of work. The silence around the whole street was oppressive, as though the entire area was holding its breath.


    It was not what he had expected.


    J-65 slowed her pace as they reached the gates. The metal crest of House Blacksword gleamed faintly, almost as if struggling to share with anyone unfamiliar with the manor the strength of the scions that lived there. If any had lived there. Without ceremony, the Sentinel pushed them open, causing the metal crest to part down the middle. The high-pitched, scrapping creak as it opened told Klarion that no one had been by the manor in a while.


    “This place is… large,” Klarion remarked, breaking the silence as he followed the Sentinel to the front door. “A bit too large for just me.”


    J-65’s mask turned toward him for the first time since she had begun escorting him since the end of his meal. “This estate was built with purpose, but it has not been fully utilized. You are the first scion of your House to occupy it in quite some time. While owned outright by your family, the dorms on either side were taken from House Blacksword through various means and then allowed to sit empty as a way to drive a wedge between your House and the rest of the noble scions. As such, those that would have previously considered living here during their time at the Imperial Academy have been forced to live elsewhere. Only the residence for scions of House Blacksword remains.”


    Klarion nodded, processing the information. “So, it’s not a deliberate choice of my family?”


    “No,” J-65 replied, her tone matter-of-fact. “As the rules of the Imperial Academy prevent outside interference, your family had very little say in the matter. It’s simply an extension of the rivalry that has existed for centuries. It will be up to you to fill this space, lord, not just with wealth, but with the power of your name. Work hard, and eventually, you will be able to afford staff, tutors, and perhaps — when the time is right — restore your influence over this portion of campus.”


    “I understand.” And he did. Sort of. The school currency system helped fill in some of the gaps, and he already knew it was largely up to him how, if, the House Blacksword faction was restored. “It comes down to working hard to make the changes I want to see.”


    J-65 nodded again, her posture never wavering. “Indeed. Your instructors will provide more details on that, and as you progress, you’ll learn what’s necessary to gain the resources you need.”


    They reached the front door, and J-65 pushed it open. Inside, Klarion looked at an impressive yet somber interior. At first glance, the manor had the feel of a fortress more than a home. A stone floor and a tall ceiling seemed to reinforce that impression with each step he took. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings and reliefs that depicted battles, victories, and family triumphs. All faded with age and covered with dust. The faint scent of old wood and stone lingered in the air, and the silence was even more present than it had been outside — broken only by the soft echo of their footsteps.


    J-65 directed his attention to a small table that sat against the wall. Upon it was a neatly arranged stack of documents, and resting atop the pile was Klarion’s class schedule. As soon as his fingers touched the paper, it disappeared in a burst into green light and a System screen appeared in front of him.


    1. Foundations of History — held in the Lecture Hall, Rm. 101.


    2. Essence Studies — held in the Arcane Hall, Rm. 101.


    3. Combat Studies — held in the Martial Hall, Rm. 105.


    4. Etiquette and Courtly Manners — held in the Lecture Hall, Rm. 113.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    had decided to be so helpful. Since his arrival at the Imperial Academy, she had been professional, but more than that, she had been quietly supportive. Almost as if she had a vested interest in his success. From everything he had learned, the Sentinels were tasked to be the ever-present but not always visible guarantee of Imperial Academy security, tasked with ensuring that the students, especially the noble scions, remained safe and followed the rules. But J-65 seemed different. She had not just been efficient; she had gone out of her way to explain things, and to answer his questions, despite her earlier admonition that her role precluded her from doing anything that verged on teaching. The thought gnawed at him, but he hadn’t gotten an opportunity to ask her.


    The Hearth & Ember. Leaving the kitchen for now, he continued his exploration of the manor.


    Noble Awakening: Success


    Bloodline Validation: Success


    Character Sheet Modification: Success


    Error: Unbound from Imperial Loyalty Constraints


    Error: Inherited Prerogatives Locked