ã€ŠShackled Exalted [Slow-Burn, Undercover Magic Academy, Progression Fantasy]ã€‹


 Chapter 1 - Expelled from paradise (1)

    Emil

    The slums of Lower Dannan were filled with unpleasant superstitions.

    Hearing a raven was bad luck.

    Meeting a black cat across the road was also bad luck.

    Being out in the rain amidst a storm was, of course, bad luck.

    Emil didn¡¯t believe any of these ridiculous omens, but even he couldn¡¯t help but feel wary once he overheard the guttural croak of a raven and crossed a black cat scampering into a nearby alleyway.

    Perhaps it was no surprise then, when the skies suddenly turned ominous and the violent rainstorm descended, Emil would find himself ambushed by two murderous assailants.

    ¡°Ngh!¡±

    His jaws rattled as he took a direct blow from his blind spot. Emil clenched his teeth, his lips bitter with the ferric tang of blood. He immediately tried to retaliate¡ªonly to be rebuked by the second assailant.

    Squelch!

    His careless attempt earned him another blast to the face. The nauseating pain made his head spin as he staggered backwards. Blood poured from his nose, bathing his fingers in viscid red before being washed away.

    Rain thundered in his ears. It pattered from the frenzy of a raging stampede. The frigid waters chilled his throbbing chin. The grounds of the slums quickly became mired in mud as he slogged back, trying to create some separation from his foes.

    His assailants stalked closer.

    Murderous glee was smeared across their scar infested faces. Ruffians. Likely belonged to one of the gangs from the neighboring turfs. They were tall and built, at least a few years older than he was. Teenagers.

    Emil was both outnumbered and overwhelmed.

    I need to run.

    As he looked for a path to escape, his eyes caught a shadow lingering behind his foes. Past the mist, he spotted a small girl hiding by the edge of a dilapidated building.

    Mia?! What the fuck is she still doing here?!

    The ruffians gave him no time to think. Emil tossed his head back, ducking beneath another punch that soared above his eyes. His skull was pounding in agony from the earlier attacks and he felt sluggish under the freezing rain.

    Running away was no longer an option, however.

    Not when Mia was still nearby.

    Emil dug his foot into the muddy earth as both assailants rushed at him. Once they got close, he lashed out with a kick, slinging mud in their direction. One of the ruffians floundered as they were blinded by mud landing in their eyes. The other continued his assault, unaware that his companion was lagging behind.

    Emil seized the opportunity and lunged. He dipped his head beneath the ruffian¡¯s swing and countered with an uppercut. A grotesque crunch echoed as his fist smashed into the ruffian¡¯s jaws. Without hesitation, he followed up with another vicious blow to the head.

    Thud!

    The ruffian collapsed into the puddle of mud. His mouth foamed, visibly concussed as he laid still.

    Relentless, Emil charged at the remaining ruffian who had just regained his vision.

    Startled by the sudden assault, the second ruffian swung in a panic. His desperate attacks fell short as Emil screeched to a halt. With his opponent off-balance, Emil raised his foot and stomped.

    A harrowing crack shrieked over the rain. His victim crumpled to the ground¡ªwailing, clenching onto his broken knee.

    Emil crouched down; his eyes blazed with madness while his hands cramped down on the ruffian¡¯s collars.

    ¡°Speak! Why are you intruding on my turf?!¡±

    ¡°I-It was an accident!¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Emil hissed, ¡°The two of you casually wandered in here, laid your hands on my friend, and then picked a fight by accident?!¡±

    ¡°I, umm¡ª¡±

    This was a waste of time. Emil slammed the ruffian into muddy waters. Merciless, he held down the ruffian¡¯s face as he pressed his knee against their throat. He felt the teenager squirm under his grasp.

    ¡°Your affiliation.¡±

    ¡°W-What?¡±

    ¡°Who are you with?!¡± he screamed into their ears.

    ¡°T-The Red Fangs!¡±

    ¡­Fuck.

    Emil clicked his tongue. The name nearly made him flinch.

    ¡°Get the hell out of my face,¡± he snapped as he drove his foot into the ruffian¡¯s stomach.

    ***

    The two Red Fangs members limped down the alleyway. Emil eyed them like a hawk¡ªready to pounce if they dared to take a detour. Gradually, their silhouette faded amidst the rain.

    ¡­It was the Red Fangs again?

    His assailants belonged to a violent gang with a formidable presence in the Lower Dannan slums. They were infamous for their aggressive attempts to expand their territory. Their intrusion was a bad omen.

    ¡°¡­Mia, you can come out now,¡± Emil said, turning back towards the beaten path.

    Silence.

    Incessant rain drizzled in his ears.

    ¡°Mia, I know you¡¯re there. Stop wasting my time.¡±

    Eventually, a small girl poked her head out of the dilapidated rubble. She sheepishly stepped out into the open, averting her eyes beneath the long strands of wet hair.

    ¡°I told you to leave, did I not?¡±

    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± Mia stuttered, ¡°Yes. You did.¡±

    ¡°Then what the fuck are you still doing here?!¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°I-I thought you needed help!¡± she blurted out. The corners of her mouth were twitching.

    Her answer almost made him lose it. Emil bit on his lips, focusing on the stabbing pain to quell his anger. Once he felt like he was in control of himself again, he let out an exasperated sigh. Shaking his head, he beckoned Mia over.

    ¡°Did they do anything to you?¡± he asked, the glare in his eyes softening.

    ¡°No. Not really.¡±

    Unconvinced, Emil lifted her arms up. Mia instantly winced. It was obvious why¡ªthe underside of her arms leered with a glaring gash.

    ¡°I just fell! They tried to drag me by the arm and I fell!¡±

    Emil saw red. He was about to turn around and¡ª

    ¡°I¡¯m serious!¡± Mia pleaded, on the verge of screaming, ¡°Nothing else happened!¡±

    ¡°¡­Fine.¡±

    Reluctantly, he dropped the issue. Mia¡¯s injuries were more important than trying to take revenge. There was nothing more that could be done anyways with the Red Fang members gone.

    ¡°Grab the stuff we¡¯ve scavenged. We¡¯re heading back to the compound,¡± he said as he went to pick up the bundle of miscellaneous junk that they had collected for the day.

    ¡°And please,¡± Emil pointed at Mia¡¯s arm, ¡°keep that a secret from Raz.¡±

    Heavy rain continued to pour as the two of them walked in silence through the somber corridors of the slums. Emil kept Mia close as his eyes darted around, alert¡ªnot wanting to be ambushed again.

    Finally, they arrived at the compound.

    Massive metal walls towered before him. A narrow corridor led to the entrance, composed of a large gate constructed from a patchwork of iron and wood. The gate was flanked by two sentry towers repurposed from abandoned scaffolding. Barbed wires lined the top of the walls for deterring ambitious intruders from climbing over.

    Emil slogged down the corridor and grabbed a bell dangling beside the gate. He gave it a violent shake. A shrill sound blared over the downpour.

    ¡°Identify yourselves!¡± A scrawny boy suddenly yelled from the top of the sentry tower.

    ¡°Dale! It¡¯s us!¡±

    ¡°Who the hell is us?! Identify yourselves and state your purpose!¡±

    Emil suddenly overheard the click of metal drawstrings. Is this bastard is aiming at me?!

    ¡°It¡¯s Emil, you idiot! I got Mia with me! Open the damn gate!¡±

    Over the dense rain, he could see Dale¡¯s face twist in horror. The boy immediately disappeared below the sentry tower. A few seconds later, the gate to the compound creaked open.

    Emil beckoned for Mia to enter first as he followed. Once he stepped inside the compound, his shoulders instinctively relaxed. Tension seeped out of his wary body. For a brief moment, the encounter with the Red Fangs was a mere afterthought.

    Finally, they were home.

    ***

    A flurry of footsteps splashed behind.

    ¡°Emil! Mia!¡± It was Dale. The scrawny boy was a bundle of nerves. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry! I couldn¡¯t tell it was y¡¯all from the rain!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Emil replied, frowning as he leaned closer to the boy, ¡°Dale, is your eyesight getting worse?¡±

    Dale flinched. He immediately averted his eyes as if caught in a criminal act.

    ¡°Should I take you off sentry duty?¡±

    ¡°¡­Does that mean I¡¯m not needed here anymore?¡± Dale whimpered. The corners of his eyes were trembling.

    It took a moment for Emil to realize that Dale was terrified. He understood why. The residents of this compound were all orphaned children like himself. The one thing they all feared the most was being abandoned again.

    ¡°No, you idiot,¡± Emil sighed, scratching his head, ¡°Do you think this place is some heavenly paradise that maintains itself? I¡¯ll find work for you. There¡¯re too many things that need to be done.¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯ll think about it then.¡±

    Emil waved him off as he ventured deeper into the compound. Mia followed closely behind. They soon passed by an array of makeshift tents, each fabricated from an assortment of rags scavenged from the slums. A boy suddenly poked his head out from one of the tents.

    ¡°Emil! You¡¯re back!¡± The boy exclaimed, sprinting out into the rain towards Emil. ¡°There¡¯s a problem with the well that you should look at.¡±

    Soon more kids emerged, apparently overhearing the commotion. Within seconds, Emil was swarmed by a group, all clamoring for his attention with problems that needed solutions.

    ¡°Hey! One at a time, you idiots! I don¡¯t have ten heads!¡± he protested, shooting an apologetic glance at Mia. The nasty injury on her arm still needed to be tended to. Luckily, one of the older boys, Bruno, lend her a helping hand as he took the scavenged items that she was struggling to carry.

    Emil turned back to the group. ¡°Alright, alright! Shut up and listen, dammit! I¡¯m only going to say this once!¡±

    ***

    ¡°Sorry, give me a second,¡± Emil said to Mia as he flopped onto the floor. They were inside his dwelling within the compound.

    Addressing each of the kids¡¯ concerns had sapped the last reserves of his energy. Emil leaned against a wall and closed his eyes, listening to the cascading pitter patter.

    There¡¯s too many problems and not enough heads to solve them, he lamented.

    This compound was the site of an abandoned lumber mill that he and Raz had found and then repurposed two years ago. Over time, it grew in size as the two of them took in orphans abandoned in the slums. Their decision was not one made out of charity, but a pragmatic one bore out of necessity.

    In the slums, orphans were treated like livestock. The lucky ones were recruited into gangs or adopted into brothels. The misfortunate ones were kidnapped and enslaved. Most starved, waiting to die in the alleyways for better luck in their next life.

    Orphans were weak. The only way for the weak to survive was to gather in large numbers.

    I need to start teaching some of the smarter kids to offload some of my tasks. But there¡¯s never enough time¡­

    The thought forced him to open his eyes. Mia was waiting for him, her wound still festering.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get your arm looked at.¡±

    He dragged himself towards a nearby shelf filled with an assortment of herbs, containers, and other miscellaneous items. He grabbed a clay bowl. At the bottom was a small amount of dark green paste.

    Ugh, I¡¯m running low. Damn Raz and his crew keep getting into fights.

    ¡°Stick out your arm and unroll your sleeves.¡±

    Mia did as she was told. Emil scooped up a line of the paste with a wooden spoon and smeared it along the gash. Mia winced, fighting to not make a sound. Emil then tore a piece of clean bandages and wrapped it around her arm.

    ¡°Does it hurt?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± she replied instantly. An obvious lie. But Emil let her be.

    ¡°How many herbs do we have left?¡±

    ¡°Not much. The markets haven¡¯t been selling them.¡±

    Great. ¡°How about the bandages?¡±

    ¡°I think the ones you have is the last batch.¡±

    ¡°Bruno brought back more cloth,¡± he said, motioning towards the pile beside him, ¡°Can you cut them into strips and boil them later? Or maybe call Dale to do it if your arm hurts¡ª¡±

    Thud!

    The door to his place suddenly slammed open. A boy towering above six feet tall stomped inside. He had a menacing tanned face blemished in scars.

    It was Raz, the co-leader of this compound. If Emil was the brain, Raz was the brawn.

    ¡°Mia,¡± he uttered, nearly growling. His wild eyes landed on the bandages around her arms. Oh shit. Emil shot Mia an accusatory glance.

    ¡°What the hell happened?!¡± Raz yelled, livid.

    ¡°Calm down, Raz. She¡¯s¡ª¡±

    ¡°Answer the damn question!¡± Raz swung, smashing his fist into the closest shelf. Everything on the wooden surface dropped onto the floor¡ªshattering.

    Emil clenched his teeth at the destruction. His throat burned. There goes all my work.

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, you¡¯re angry. I get it. But how about you don¡¯t destroy everything around you?¡± he snarled, eyes locked with Raz. His co-leader refused to back down however, holding his glare with his hands balled into fists.

    Fucking hothead. Emil decided to relent, not wanting to escalate this into a fight.

    ¡°¡­Two outsiders intruded on our territory. They saw her.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    Emil took in a deep breath, dreading what was going to happen next. ¡°¡­The Red Fangs.¡±

    Raz¡¯s eyes instantly went wide. Without another word, he spun towards the door.

    ¡°Raz!¡± Emil grabbed his arm. ¡°Where are you going?!¡±

    Raz glanced back, eyes blood-shot. ¡°To teach them a lesson, obviously.¡±

    ¡°I already took care of the intruders! They won¡¯t be coming back!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not enough! This shit is never going to stop at this rate. The Red Fangs need to learn to never mess with us again,¡± he declared as he ripped his arm free and broke out the door.

    Emil immediately gave chase.

    ***

    ¡°Enough!¡±

    Emil grabbed onto Raz¡¯s collars. They were outside, beneath the rain, standing before the assortment of tents within the compound. A crowd had already gathered around them, anxiously watching.

    ¡°Let go,¡± Raz spat.

    ¡°This is fucking stupid, Raz. And you know it.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who doesn¡¯t understand. If we let this pass, the entire slum is going to look down on us. They¡¯ll think that we¡¯re a bunch of cowards! How we react today will decide how all the gangs in the slums treat us going forward!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re wrong.¡±

    Raz snorted. ¡°Why, of course. What was I thinking? You¡¯re the great Emil. You know best, right? You¡¯re the smartest out of all of us here after all.¡± His eyes suddenly grew dangerous. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean you know everything! Now, let go before I lose my patience.¡±

    Bloodlust suffused the air. Emil realized words could no longer stop him. There was no other choice.

    ¡°Try me,¡± he fired back. Madness danced in his eyes. His chest flared with heat.

    The crowd, who had been anxiously quiet before, suddenly burst into a frenzy. The somber ambiance was immediately overtaken by the excitement of a potential brawl.

    ¡°Hahaha! Did you forget who you''re fighting?¡± Raz laughed hysterically, ¡°You think taking out two of the Red Fang¡¯s trash suddenly means you¡¯re hot shit?!¡±

    He suddenly tossed out a right hook. Emil ducked, forced to let go of his collars as Raz¡¯s fist swiped the air. Both of them jumped back, hands raised before their heads, sizing each other up for the next exchange.

    The crowd exploded. Gasps and cheers rippled amongst the kids like wildfire. The entirety of the compound buzzed with excitement at the matchup between its two leaders.

 Chapter 2 - Expelled from paradise (2)

    Emil

    Rain thundered in his ears.

    How long have I been fighting?

    In the background, he could hear the crowd''s screams and jeers, muted against the incessant rain. Emil narrowed his eyes. His vision blurred. His head spun as Raz''s fists blasted the side of his face. His cheekbones screeched in pain. Emil took a step back, wobbling.

    ¡°What? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re already done?¡± Raz¡¯s taunt blared in his ears. Emil felt his throat heat up as he threw a right jab.

    The heavy rain, however, sapped his stamina. Fatigue from his earlier fight against the Red Fangs dulled his movements. His reach was short. His punch struck the air. Raz jumped back¡ªa spring in his step.

    Shit!

    Emil caught a flash of the oncoming kick in his periphery. Pain exploded from his jaws. The next thing he knew he was staring up at the sky. Frigid waters drenched his back. Cold rain pattered against his face, chilling the scalding sting blistering across his cheeks.

    Raz loomed above. He crouched down, resting his knees against Emil¡¯s chest. He brandished a knife, pressing its rusted edge dangerously beneath Emil¡¯s neck. If he had wished, the blade would sink into Emil''s throat with just a gentle push.

    Emil felt a flush of heat rise to his cheeks as his will to fight waned. The gasps of the crowd suddenly boomed in his ears.

    ¡°¡­I lost.¡±

    ¡°Obviously,¡± Raz scoffed as he withdrew his knife and wiped his face. Blood soaked the side of his eyes and the corners of his lips. Although he won, he didn¡¯t escape the fight unscathed.

    ¡°Not bad, Emil. You got better since our last rodeo.¡± Raz sneered, eyeing his bloodied sleeves. ¡°But did you seriously think you could win?¡±

    Ptoop! Emil spat out a mouthful of blood. The red spittle was instantly carried away by the pouring rain. His mouth filled with a bitter aftertaste.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not stupid.¡±

    Raz raised an eye. ¡°But you fought me anyways.¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°Which was pretty fucking stupid,¡± he snorted before turning to one of the older boys in the crowd, ¡°Bruno, bring some bandages to my place later. I¡¯m staying put for the night.¡±

    Without another word, he departed from the scene. The crowd parted to make way for his exit as Raz disappeared into one of the dilapidated huts by the edge of the compound.

    ***

    Emil winced, glaring at himself in the mirror. Agony teared through his jaws. The pain pulsated madly¡ªa mixture between a sharp sting and dull buzz. The aftermath of his fight with Raz was becoming clearer. Black rings crowded around his eyes. His nose was still dripping blood. The bruises smeared across his face was beginning to purple.

    The bastard gave me a damn make-over.

    ¡°Keep your hands steady,¡± he said, his voice mired in resentment. His reflection continued to flicker under the dim candlelight. Mia was in his room, holding up the mirror for him to examine his injuries.

    ¡°I¡¯m trying! My arms are sore! Did you forget that I¡¯m injured as well?!¡±

    ¡°Wanna try having your entire face injured instead?¡±

    ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t be mean! You¡¯re the one who chose to fight Raz!¡±

    ¡°Oh, really now?¡± Emil snapped, ¡°Do you think I picked a fight with the best fighter in this compound because I enjoy getting humiliated in front of everyone?¡±

    ¡°¡­Then why fight him if you knew you were going to lose?¡± she asked, poking her head out behind the mirror sheepishly.

    Emil sighed deeply, trying to clear his head as he realized he was becoming too heated. ¡°...I was trying to prove a point. To make Raz realize that he was doing something incredibly stupid. So stupid that I would choose to pick a losing fight in order to stop him.¡±

    The side of his face was becoming hot to touch.

    Yeah, it¡¯s definitely going to swell. His injuries from the Red Fangs were already bad enough. Fighting Raz only exacerbated things. Emil could already imagine all the taunts and giggles about his new appearance tomorrow. I should just lock myself inside.

    ¡°But what if he didn¡¯t change his mind after the fight?¡± Mia asked.

    ¡°Then I would¡¯ve tried my best to break an arm or leg. Enough so that he won¡¯t be able to fight the Red Fangs,¡± he said, rising to his feet. Night had already descended. It was getting late.

    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s time for bed.¡±

    After escorting Mia back to her dwelling, Emil returned to his place. He shoved the items spilled by Raz to the side and plopped down onto the makeshift bedroll in the corner of the room. He closed his eyes. Rain continued to patter against the rooftop.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    Raz might have a point.

    Today wasn¡¯t the first time they had an encounter with the Red Fangs. Their members were spotted multiple times encroaching on their territory within the past few weeks. And it wasn¡¯t just the Red Fangs either¡ªother gangs in the slums were also starting to roam near their turf.

    Emil didn¡¯t think they had a weak reputation in the slums, however. Raz¡¯s infamy as a savage fighter usually kept the other gangs at bay. There were simply very few teenagers in the slums that were his size.

    It''s also getting harder to feed everyone.

    This year''s harvest was unusually low, apparently. The Lower Dannan markets were normally flooded with unsold food scraps at the end of the day. Lately, however, even those reserves were getting bought, leaving none for Emil and Mia to buy. More and more of their food supplies had to come from scavenging. Raz and some of the older crew were considering thievery the other day. Undoubtedly, the other gangs in the area were also feeling the same squeeze. The increased violence and intrusions on their turf suddenly made sense.

    All the gangs are getting desperate.

    The thought lingered in his head until the rain gradually lulled him asleep.

    ...

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    Emil woke up to his door being slammed.

    ¡°Emil! Are you awake?¡± The frantic knocking was accompanied by a shrill voice.

    Sure am now. He groaned as he wiped away the grime festering in his eyes. Dim light from daybreak peeked through the ragged cloth covering his windows. As the stupor began to wear off, he winced¡ªthe entirety of his face throbbed from yesterday¡¯s confrontations. Emil brushed the side of his cheeks, tracing the swelling that had hardened overnight.

    Yeah. Let¡¯s not look in a mirror.

    Reluctantly, he crawled out of his bedroll and went to the door.

    ¡°What?¡± He didn¡¯t bother to hide his annoyance. It was Mia.

    ¡°There¡¯s¡ª¡± Mia¡¯s eyes grew wide upon seeing his face, ¡°¡­are you okay?¡±

    ¡°No, but when has that ever mattered?¡± He sneered. ¡°So, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    Her face darkened immediately. ¡°You need to come to the gate. Raz took some of the older boys outside of the compound before dawn. They just returned.¡±

    Emil¡¯s heart sank. Dread crawled up his spine. You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. He was almost certain of the answer, but he had to ask just in case, ¡°Where did they go?¡±

    ¡°The Red Fang¡¯s quarters.¡±

    ***

    A group had already gathered by the time he reached the gates. Emil immediately spotted Raz amongst the crowd. It was impossible to miss him¡ªthe six-foot teenager was a goliath compared to most of the kids residing in the compound. He was frantically scrambling about, trying to keep the curious crowd at an arm¡¯s length.

    ¡°Raz!¡± Emil called. Raz immediately spun towards his voice. The first thing Emil noticed was the makeshift bandage clumsily wrapped around his forehead. Blots of dark red had already soaked through the cloth. The side of his face was stained in cuts¡ªthe blood still fresh, barely dried. What unsettled Emil the most, however, was the panicked glint in his eyes.

    I have a bad feeling about this.

    ¡°Emil, I need your help! Bruno¡¯s badly hurt!¡±

    Raz was about to lose it. The crowd quickly parted for Emil and Mia to enter. At the center of the commotion was Bruno¡ªthe boy was laid on his back, his face pale, eyes trembling with difficulty. A puddle of blood was pooling beneath him.

    Emil took a deep breath to prepare himself. Then he lifted Bruno¡¯s shirt.

    ¡°Oh hells.¡±

    The smell was rancid. A gruesome incision had been carved into Bruno¡¯s stomach. Blood pulsated out slowly with every beat of his heart. The wound was already festering¡ªyellowish pus mixed with the blood, foaming at the edges of the cut.

    This was bad. This was really bad.

    ¡°What the fuck happened to him?!¡±

    ¡°H-He took a machete to the stomach,¡± Raz whimpered.

    ¡°From who?! The Red Fangs?!¡±

    Raz nodded reluctantly.

    Emil saw red. ¡°I thought I made it clear that it was a stupid move! I got beat up and humiliated in front of everyone, for what?! For Bruno to get sliced in the fucking stomach?!¡±

    Raz averted his gaze, unable to refute. His jaws were clenched, teeth rattling with guilt.

    ¡°Mia! Get me everything on the top shelf inside my room.¡± Emil then pointed at a pair of boys in the crowd. ¡°You two, find me a sewing kit. There should be a few in the supply depot. The rest of you need to get a fire going! I need a bucket of boiling water!¡¯

    The crowd spurred into action. Emil stared at the nasty wound, still dripping blood, debating what would be the best course of action. The machete was probably poisoned or infected. Otherwise, Bruno¡¯s wound would not be festering yet. I have antidotes for the common poisons, but if it¡¯s something that I can¡¯t¡ª

    He shook his head, snapping himself out of the useless thought.

    I need to clean the wound. Halt the bleeding. He¡¯s already lost a lot of blood. Some of the herbal paste I have in stock might help coagulate the blood and ease the infection. But how do I even apply it? His wound is insanely deep.

    He slammed his head repeatedly with his palm, jogging his brain for any medical knowledge that he could still recall from the books on his late parent¡¯s shelves.

    Bruno suddenly started groaning.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± Raz asked, alarmed.

    Emil placed his hands over Bruno¡¯s forehead. The skin was blistering hot.

    ¡°Fever.¡± I don¡¯t have time to wait for water.

    He grabbed the set of clean bandages that he brought over for emergencies. Lightly, he dabbed at the incision, trying to clean the surface. With just a slight tap, however, the wound oozed. Blood overflowed, mixed with foul pus. The clean bandages were soaked in an instant.

    Before he could ask for more, Bruno began to spasm.

    ¡°Why is he doing that?!¡± Raz yelled.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡±

    ¡°What do you mean you don¡¯t know?!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen this before!¡± Emil screamed. Drool leaked from Bruno¡¯s mouth as his head began to convulse.

    ¡°H-Hold him down for now!¡±

    Raz and a group of boys rushed in on Emil¡¯s instructions, desperate to keep Bruno still.

    ¡°Now what?!¡±

    Emil¡¯s head blanked. Nothing was coming to mind. His knowledge was lacking. He had no formal training, no experience, nothing to deal with this sort of injury. Unable to formulate a thought, he froze, mouth agape, staring dumbly at the absurd situation before him.

    ¡°Emil! Say something dammit!¡±

    He shook his head. ¡°I¡­I¡ª¡±

    A pair of hands gripped his shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to save him!¡± Raz screamed into his ears, his tone full of accusation.

    ¡°I¡¯m not a fucking doctor!¡± Emil shoved him away, screaming hysterically. ¡°You idiots never listen to anything I say! And then when things go wrong, you come crawling to me, begging me to fix it. I¡¯m not a God, Raz! What am I supposed to do when you bring people back who are half-dead?!¡±

    The strings inside him broke. The injustice of being screamed at for something beyond his control finally caused him to snap.

    ¡°I¡ª¡± Raz tried to retort. He flinched instead as Emil stomped towards him.

    ¡°You caused this,¡± Emil got up into his face, ¡°This is on you. Your ego couldn¡¯t stand being wrong, and so you had to go out there and try to be a hero. And now Bruno¡¯s blood is on your hands!¡±

    Silence suffocated the air. Emil¡¯s words lingered over the vicinity. Bruno continued to groan in the background.

    Fucking hell, what am I supposed to do about this?

    As he grappled with the next step in his treatment¡ª

    The bell from the gate suddenly rang. Dale rushed down from his post manning the sentry towers. His face was in full panic.

    ¡°T-The Red Fangs are here!¡±

 Chapter 3 - Expelled from paradise (3)

    Emil

    News of the Red Fang¡¯s intrusion rippled through the crowd gathered at the gates. Everyone was stunned from the shocking announcement. Emil stared blankly at Dale.

    ¡°¡­How many are there?¡± he forced himself to speak. His voice was shaky, stirred by the panic that he was struggling to push down.

    ¡°I-I think at least a hundred! They¡¯re armed as well!¡±

    Oh for fuck''s sake.

    Suddenly, he felt dizzy Emil closed his eyes, grimacing¡ªthe side of his head suddenly throbbing. The day had barely started and already there was crisis after crisis. Bruno¡¯s life was dangling on a thread, and now a small army of the Red Fangs were marching towards their compound. It was obvious why they were here.

    ¡°Emil, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shut the fuck up, Raz,¡± Emil snapped as his eyes shot open. He threw the bloodied bandages in his hands onto the ground and stomped on the remains. Heat rushed to his face. He cursed as obscenities poured out of his mouth like water. His outburst caused his swollen jaws to inflame.

    Goddammit! The pain was excruciating, but it helped clear his head. He soon realized that everyone by the gates was staring at him, awaiting his command.

    As usual, whenever a crisis arose, it always fell on him to dig them out of the mess.

    One thing at a time. He took a deep breath. Panic gnawed at the back of his mind, but he focused on his throbbing jaws to suppress the turbulent thoughts.

    ¡°¡­Dale, get all the sentries to their posts. They¡¯re to be armed and ready,¡± Emil began, ¡°Raz, get everyone else ready to fight. Set up the barricades. Assume that the gate will be breached.¡±

    He turned to the remaining crowd of children. ¡°Carry Bruno to my place. Mia should be there. Tell her to keep the fever under control and slow down the bleeding. I¡¯ll be there to help right after everything settles down. Come back afterwards and help Raz. Now hurry!¡±

    Emil rushed towards the sentry tower after delivering everyone¡¯s instructions. Behind him, the compound broke into a frenzy as news of the Red Fang¡¯s approach spread like wildfire.

    Once he reached the top of the tower, Emil¡¯s eyes went wide.

    The corridor before the gates was swarmed with armed gang members. Machetes and knives dangled from their hands. Each one was adorned in hard leather with the insignia of a crimson wolf woven onto their sleeves. It was the Red Fang¡¯s signature embroidery. Emil heard that they only wore it when the gang went to war.

    Raz, what the hell did you do?!

    One of the gang members noticed his presence atop of the sentry tower. In a flash, the entirety of the Red Fangs turned on him. Emil flinched. Shivers crawled down his spine. The weight of all the bloodthirsty eyes bearing down on him was petrifying.

    A sinister voice radiated from the crowd. ¡°I heard that there was a boy with intelligent blue eyes who ruled this compound with Raz.¡± It came from an older teenager standing at the rear. Emil struggled to meet his venomous gaze.

    ¡°The name¡¯s Elias. You must be Emil,¡± he said as his eyes burned with hatred.

    Even the bigshot himself is here. Elias was the name of the Red Fang¡¯s leader.

    ¡°That¡¯s me,¡± Emil replied, barely managing to keep his voice from shaking. He forced to himself to smile to feign confidence. Sweat clung to the side of his neck. ¡°Now, this is awfully big party. Tell me, why are the Red Fangs encroaching on our territory again?¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Elias snarled, ¡°Did that bastard Raz not tell you?!¡±

    The sound of Raz¡¯s name immediately threw the Red Fangs into a frenzy. Like famished beasts, they thrashed and growled, slamming their weapons together and stomping the ground, raring to go wild at a moment¡¯s notice.

    ¡°His thugs raided our territory this morning! When those bastards were done fucking everything up, I found my cousin murdered in cold blood!¡± Elias screamed, tears foaming at the corners of his eyes, ¡°Now then Emil, are you still confused why I¡¯m here?!¡±

    Well, shit.

    Emil clenched his teeth at the revelation. He had a tiny sliver of hope that he might have been able to negotiate their way out of a battle. With the facts laid out, however, it was clear that a peaceful resolution was never on the table.

    The Red Fangs were hell-bent on revenge, and they wouldn''t be satiated until their loss was paid back in full.

    The ladder behind him rattled. Dale and the other sentries finally arrived. Each of them carried a makeshift crossbow, fashioned from wood, iron and braided rope. Emil took one from Dale, making sure to keep the weapons hidden beneath the scaffolding.

    ¡°Get into position. We¡¯re going to fight. Don¡¯t shoot unless I tell you to,¡± he whispered to the group.

    Elias suddenly called his name, ¡°Emil! I¡¯m a merciful man. I¡¯ll give you two options. Option one¡ªbring us Raz and we¡¯ll leave the rest of you alone. Option two¡ªwe bust this rotted gate down and slaughter everyone inside.¡±

    ¡°Any chance you¡¯ll be willing to change your mind? How about we trade instead? We''re no stranger to the food shortages plaguing Lower Dannan. I''m sure a few bags of food sounds very enticing!¡± Emil offered, trying to buy time for the others to get to their posts.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not!¡± Elias answered, his eyes gleaming with madness, ¡°Now choose!¡±

    In the corner of his eyes, Emil saw Dale flash him the ready signal from the other tower. Emil nodded in acknowledgement. He swallowed his nerves. His heart screamed to his ears. Here it goes.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ll choose neither!¡± he shot up from his spot and raised his crossbow, ¡°Fire!¡±

    Mechanical clanks snapped from the drawstrings of a dozen crossbows. Iron bolts suddenly crowded the airspace, raining down upon the Red Fangs before the gates.

    Emil¡¯s attack went straight at Elias. The Red Fang leader looked befuddled, mouth agape as his men began to fall. Before the bolt could land however, one of the Red Fangs shoved him out of the way. The grunt took the attack head-on as the bolt plunged into their neck.

    ¡°Take cover!¡± Elias screamed while being dragged out of the line of fire. Emil''s surprise attack was devastating¡ªthe bolts shredded the gang members apart like paper.

    ¡°Keep firing! Aim to kill!¡± Emil ordered as he reloaded the crossbow. They had to down as many Red Fangs as possible. Their compound only housed thirty orphans. Half of them were too young and small to put up any resistance against a violent gang. They were severely outnumbered compared to the one hundred strong Red Fangs.

    ¡°Shields out! Bring the battering ram!¡± Elias called over the chaos.

    Half a dozen Red Fangs soon emerged from cover. In their hands were massive makeshift shields, affixed together from a mishmash of wood and metal that covered the length of their bodies. Behind the shield bearers, another group marched forward with a giant log.

    ¡°Aim at the ones carrying the logs!¡± Emil cried. He fired a bolt at the Red Fangs carrying the front of the battering ram. The shield bearers, however, had positioned themselves at the vanguard. The giant shields cut off the trajectory as Emil¡¯s bolt clanked off the surface.

    With the formidable shield wall leading the way, the battering ram slowly advanced towards the gate.

    ¡°Stop shooting!¡±

    Emil clicked his tongue. They were ready for us. There was no doubt. The battering ram and shields were prepared specifically to breach this gate. The Red Fang¡¯s frequent intrusion on their territory must have been to scout their defenses.

    They were always planning to invade. Raz¡¯s raid just gave them justification.

    ¡°Dale, Plan B!¡±

    Dale nodded gravely before descending the sentry tower. Emil fired a few more bolts at the battering ram carriers, trying to sneak a few shots through the gaps in the shield wall.

    ¡°Emil, I¡¯m ready!¡±

    The battering ram was nearly at the gate.

    ¡°Do it!¡±

    The ground suddenly shook at his command.

    As the former site of a lumber mill, the path to compound gates was a narrow passage flanked by remnants of scaffolding and partially constructed buildings. Emil had repurposed those remnants into collapsible structures.

    The Red Fangs glanced up in horror. A long, ominous creak echoed in the air, followed by a horrible crack as the scaffoldings along the path began to collapse. Wood and stone rained down, threatening to bury the Red Fangs beneath the rubble.

    Shrieks of terror filled the air. The log carriers immediately dropped the battering ram and dove out of the way. The shield bearers weren¡¯t so lucky. The bulky shields were difficult to discard and their weight made it impossible to escape with. Nearly all of the shield bearers were crushed.

    Dust and debris soon packed the air. Emil narrowed his eyes, examining the destruction.

    Ruins of the scaffolds crowded the passage, turning it into a quagmire of rubble. The battering ram was nowhere to be found, presumably buried somewhere beneath the destruction. A few bodies laid lifeless amidst the wreckage. But most of the Red Fangs managed to escape unscathed. The collapsible structures took out far fewer than he would have liked. There were still too many of them left to force the Red Fangs to retreat.

    Not good.

    They were currently at a stalemate, but for how long? Their supplies were limited. Meanwhile, the Red Fangs were free to stay put and form a blockade. As long as they were patient, Emil couldn¡¯t do anything to stop them.

    Elias must have arrived at the same conclusion. He immediately ordered the Red Fangs to move out of the vicinity of the gates. Most of their members lingered at the outskirts, just out of the range of the crossbows.

    The Red Fangs began to set up camp. Emil could only watch in frustration.

    Now what?

    ***

    ¡°How is he?¡± Mia asked.

    Emil removed the wet cloth placed over Bruno¡¯s forehead. The boy was still unconscious, whimpering something unintelligible. The surface of his skin remained hot, but the temperature had fallen a bit since the onset of his fever.

    ¡°I have no idea,¡± Emil admitted, grabbing a set of bandages, ¡°Maybe he¡¯s getting better. Or maybe his body is just giving up.¡±

    ¡°Emil?!¡±

    Her horrified shriek fell on deaf ears. Emil lifted Bruno¡¯s shirt and continued dabbing at the gruesome incision on his stomach. Mia did a decent job. The bleeding had slowed and the wound no longer oozed pus at the slightest of pressures.

    ¡°Do we have more bandages?¡± he asked, tossing aside the dirty one in his hands. A pile of used cloth, stained in red and yellow, were stacked in the corner. The rancid smell no longer bothered him.

    ¡°Here,¡± Mia handed him another batch. Emil continued cleaning until he could no longer see yellow stains.

    Should I stitch him up for now?

    The incision was too deep and wide. Manual intervention was needed to help the wound heal. The issue was whether he had done enough to clean out the infection.

    I wish I knew a way to find out. Maybe I¡¯ll apply another coating of ointment just in case. For the stitches, I need a small fire to disinfect the needle. And alcohol¡ªdo we have any leftover? I think there should still be some, assuming none of the boys drank¡ª

    ¡°Emil.¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡± He shook his head; the sound of his name took him out of his thoughts.

    ¡°You should take a break.¡±

    Perplexed by the sudden comment, Emil raised his head. Mia was staring at him, frowning. Her eyes quivered with concern.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten all day, right?¡±

    ¡°I¡ª¡± his stomach grumbled. Damn. He was outed before he could even think of a convincing lie. As if suddenly aware of its own impoverished state, his body spurred into action. Hunger pangs ravaged his stomach. The side of his head throbbed with a dull buzz. Emil slumped against the wall, suddenly awash with fatigue.

    ¡°Honestly, I can¡¯t remember.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t remember because it never happened,¡± she said, handing him two slices of salted jerky. Emil accepted them without complaint. He sank his teeth into rough texture, savagely ripping the dried chunks apart. The caustic flavor of oversalted meat flooded his mouth. The flavor was unpleasant, but he ate greedily, trying to ignore the harsh taste as he swallowed the chewy bites.

    It was nearly evening. More than half a day had passed since the Red Fangs made camp on the outskirts of the compound. Emil kept a few people on rotation to monitor their activities. Several times the Red Fangs were caught trying to recover the buried battering ram. The sentries were ordered to keep them away with the crossbows.

    At this rate, we¡¯ll run out of ammunition before food. Without iron bolts for the crossbows, they had no other means of deterring the Red Fangs. A fight might be unavoidable at this rate. But we still need a way to deal with their numbers¡ª

    Footsteps thundered outside his dwelling. Frantic voices cut through the tense silence. A commotion. Soon enough, Emil heard his name being called. Mia rushed to her feet to open the door. Dale was at the entrance.

    ¡°The Red Fangs are moving again!¡±

 Chapter 4 - Expelled from paradise (4)

    Emil

    Emil rushed towards the gate. Dale trailed closely from behind.

    ¡°Are they going for the battering rams?¡±

    ¡°No idea! But the entire gang suddenly started running towards the gates!¡±

    The entire gang? Did they get impatient and decide to overwhelm us with numbers instead? It seemed unlikely. The move was too impulsive. It incurred too much casualties. Emil thought Elias was much more calculating given rumors of the Red Fang¡¯s turf wars. Throwing lives away to brute force his way through was not how he fought.

    What the hell are you planning, Elias?

    Barricades were already being set up as Emil and Dale ran past towards the sentry towers. Raz was shouting in the background, rounding everyone into positions. Emil sprinted up the ladder¡ªhis lungs burning by the time he reached the top.

    The sentries on duty didn¡¯t seem to have noticed him. Whatever was happening beneath dominated their attention.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked. The two sentries spun around. Their eyes were wide, shaking in horror like they had just witnessed something incomprehensible. They mumbled, stuttering something incoherent while pointing their trembling hands at the path below.

    ¡°Move!¡± Emil shoved them aside.

    Below the sentry towers, the Red Fangs were desperately climbing over the rubble towards the gate. They kept glancing back¡ªshouting obscenities as if they were running away from something.

    The source of their fear seemed to be a single man. Alone. He was on the outskirts of the path, trudging slowly towards the Red Fangs. Emil shuddered. The hair on his skin rose. His mind stirred, suddenly overcome with an intense dread. He didn¡¯t understand why, but watching the man¡¯s ghoulish movements sent shivers down his spine.

    In the midst of his confusion, he noticed black lumps littered around the man¡¯s vicinity. There was a thick stench of char permeating the air¡ªinterwoven with a thick, fatty odour. It was not unlike meat being grilled on a firepit. It would be another second before he discovered how apt this comparison was.

    Wait, those are¡ª

    Emil covered his mouth. His stomach churned at the disturbing realization. It took every ounce of his willpower not to throw up.

    The black lumps around the man were corpses. Red Fang members. Dead. Incinerated until they were nearly unrecognizable.

    The man suddenly screamed. Emil winced, plugging his ears. The loud, harrowing screech didn¡¯t sound like something that could be made by a human.

    Without warning, orbs of flames flared into existence. They orbited around the man¡¯s body, flickering with an ominous incandescent glow. The man stomped forward. The flame orbs suddenly paused, hovering still as if frozen in time, before snapping towards the Red Fangs.

    Screams pierced the air. The unfortunate members clawed at their bodies as flames devoured them with glee. In just a few seconds, their cries abruptly stopped. With a quiet thud, they fell¡ªthe remains of their bodies collapsed into a pile of ash.

    Where did those flames come from?

    Emil forced himself to not dwell on the horrific sight. He scanned the surroundings. There was nothing that could explain what he just saw. There was no ignition source, no tinder, nothing that the man could use to produce scorching flames with his bare hands. It didn¡¯t make sense, unless¡ª

    The realization struck him like thunder. It was the only reasonable conclusion he could think of.

    He¡¯s an Exalted.

    Exalted were special individuals with otherworldly powers that couldn¡¯t be explained by logic. Emil didn¡¯t know much about them, except that appearance wise, they were indistinguishable from normal Ordinaries like himself.

    In the slums of Lower Dannan, the Exalted were a rarity¡ªtheir existence something of a passing legend that he would occasionally hear amidst whispers on the streets. Emil never paid much attention to those rumors¡ªthey always seemed so far-fetched that he was sure they were exaggerated.

    Seeing an Exalted up close, however, made him realize how wrong he was.

    If anything, the rumors downplayed what they could do.

    The remaining Red Fangs arrived at the foot of the gates. Emil glanced down, watching as they desperately banged against the door. The Exalted loomed close.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    ¡°Open the damned gates!¡± It was Elias who yelled over the chaos. Their eyes met. Terror. Panic. The pleading glint in his gaze was unsettling. ¡°Emil! Let us through!¡±

    The Exalted continued his approach, now blocking off the exit out of the path that led to the compound. A deluge of burnt corpses laid in the wake of its rampage.

    Questions flared in Emil¡¯s head. Why was an Exalted here? Why was it doing all this? Was it seeking vengeance against the Red Fangs?

    As the Exalted got closer, however, Emil understood. Its eyes were blood-shot with madness. Its skin was warped and wrinkled, smeared with an ominous blue glow as its veins popped onto the surface. Its expression was terrifying¡ªits teeth bared like a feral beast; fangs protruded outwards, curved, tearing into its own jaws. Blood dripped from the self-inflicted wounds, drop by drop, leaving beneath a crimson trail.

    The thing was no longer human. Whatever rationality left in the person was long devoured by insanity. What remained was a monster on a warpath¡ªone that would not stop until it had burned itself out.

    ¡°¡­Tell everyone to evacuate,¡± Emil said. Dale and the sentries gawked at him, dumbfounded.

    ¡°Move! Tell everyone to leave! Now!¡± he screamed this time. The urgency in his voice jolted the boys out of their daze.

    ¡°A-Are you sure? What about the compound?¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t defend it. Not against that thing.¡± Emil grimaced at his own words, staring at the Exalted. ¡°Use the emergency exit. Take whatever food you can grab. Leave everything else behind.¡± Most of it is going to be burned to ash anyways.

    He grabbed a crossbow from one of the sentry¡¯s hands. ¡°I¡¯m going to use the Red Fangs to buy us some time,¡± his voice shook as he uttered those horrific words, ¡°Now go!¡±

    Dale and the others scrambled down the sentry tower. Emil turned his attention back to the corridor. The Red Fangs began tossing themselves at the gate. The metal door creaked with a violent thud from every collision.

    Emil loaded his crossbow and took aim at the largest member below. His hands wobbled. His heart screamed with guilt. It has to be done. He imagined Mia, Raz, and Dale being engulfed by the raging inferno¡ªtheir screams piercing the air as their bodies melted to ash.

    The possibility of that reality was all he needed.

    I¡¯m sorry.

    He pulled the trigger. The crossbow clicked. The iron bolt soared through the air and plunged directly into the large teenager¡¯s neck. Blood spurted like a geyser as he collapsed.

    Emil immediately loaded the next bolt. His lack of hesitation startled him. The daily desperation to survive as an orphan eroded his sense of morality. These barbaric atrocities that he could have never fathomed himself doing, he now did so with ease.

    As long as it was to survive.

    As long as it was for his friends.

    As long as he could find the justification, he could do anything.

    ¡°Emil!¡± Elias yelled from the foot of the gates, ¡°What are you doing?!¡±

    Emil responded with a snap of his crossbow. Elias ducked as the bolt narrowly missed its mark. Something seemed to click in his head as his desperate gaze twisted with fury.

    ¡°You bastard!¡± Despair and resentment clouded his blood-shot eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you! I swear on it! Even if I¡¯m dead, I will not forget this!¡±

    Without warning, Elias spun around towards the Exalted. The monster in human form continued to drag itself forward¡ªa low, guttural growl escaped its throat with every step. Elias raised his hands skyward.

    ¡°Come! We¡¯re breaking through! Follow me with the determination to die!¡± he screamed. The Red Fang members cried in response, rallying behind their leader¡¯s desperate last stand. Elias charged, brandishing the machete he held aloft. His men followed close, intent not to let their leader face the monstrosity alone.

    The Exalted paused, staring them down. Its eyes suddenly gleamed red. Emil watched as the space in the area began to vibrate, flickering with uncertainty as if it had a will of its own.

    Suddenly, a high-pitch ring buzzed in his ears. Emil felt a surge of hot air rush towards him. For a moment, the heat was almost comforting, like a warm embrace from an old friend.

    Then he saw white.

    ***

    When he came to, he found himself staring at the wretched sky. His vision blurred. The air was thick with smoke. His eyes watered, irritated by the ash and soot. He was on the ground somewhere. Flames cackled over the dull ring in his ears as they devoured every inch of his surroundings.

    Emil tried to pull himself up. His body, however, refused to cooperate.

    Huh?

    Confused, he glanced down. Oh. His lower half was a bloody mess. Most of his clothes had been incinerated to ash. The exposed skin beneath was on the verge of peeling from the intense heat. His left leg was disjointed¡ªbent so unnaturally that it was nearly pointing backwards.

    Did I fall from the sentry tower?

    Emil searched for the gate. He found the sentry towers engulfed by flames. The gate had been destroyed¡ªthe door blasted off into smithereens, the broken remnants just barely hanging onto the hinges. The Red Fangs were nowhere to be see. In the midst of all the rampaging flames, Emil saw the Exalted. Slowly, it limped towards him.

    Well, this is kind of terrible.

    He smirked at his own calmness. He already accepted his fate. Emil couldn¡¯t feel a single thing¡ªnot even the excruciating pain that have been screaming from his torn leg. Only a faint numbness frizzled along his body. His nerves must have been scorched by the heat.

    How long has it been since he ordered Dale to evacuate? He couldn¡¯t recall. Everything was a blur. As long as they made it out of here¡ª

    ¡°Emil!¡±

    He froze. Panic raced through his mind. Did he hear that correctly? Did someone call his name? No, I must be hallucinating. There¡¯s no way they¡ª

    ¡°Emil!¡±

    This time it was unmistakable. It was Raz¡¯s voice.

    Emil forced his desecrated body to turn around. His jaws dropped in disbelief. Raz was standing atop of the burning ruins of the compound. His face was blacked with soot. Lingering behind the veil of flames and smoke, Emil could make out silhouettes of the other children.

    He didn¡¯t want to believe it.

    Why?!

    WhyWhyWhyWhy?!

    Why are they still here?!

    His heart wailed. They should have evacuated ages ago. Emil turned around. The Exalted was suddenly alert, its head twisted towards Raz¡¯s direction.

    ¡°Leave! Run! Get out of here!¡± he tried to scream. But no sounds would come. His voice croaked. All he could produce were unintelligible gasps.

    Please! Go before it¡¯s too late!

    Raz and the others didn¡¯t understand, however. Suddenly, they were sprinting towards him, screaming his name frantically.

    No! No! No!

    Emil tried to wave them away, but it was already too late. Behind him, he could hear the Exalted cackling with glee.

    The last thing he saw was his friends devoured by flames.

 Chapter 5 - I am a monster

    Hortensia

    Hortensia observed the blazing ruins with a detached nonchalance. The remnants of the smoldering flames continued to shriek in the background. They burned, feasting at the wooden structures with murderous glee. She furrowed her nostrils¡ªslightly irked at the arid smoke suffocating the area.

    She had heard rumors that the abandoned lumbermill in the Lower Dannan slums were seized by a group of miscreants some time ago. Confirming it firsthand allowed her to archive one of the many thoughts that sometimes gnawed in the back of her subconscious.

    How unfortunate, she mused as she glanced at the pile of ashen corpses littered along the ruins. Judging by their sizes, they must have been children. Despite the hellish scene before her, Hortensia¡¯s eyes remained unperturbed. Not a single trace of horror or disgust¡ªnot even a reaction could be seen across her indifferent face. For her, a tragedy like this was just another day of work. A small part of her job.

    Another part of her job was punishing misbehavior.

    Hortensia lowered her gaze. The source of the conflagrations was lying on the ground, bathing in a pool of his own blood. A crimson line had been drawn across his neck, severing the head from the rest of his body. Despite being dead, the skin of the Exalted¡¯s corpse continued to glow a faint azure hue.

    It was a visual symptom of Overclocking¡ªa phenomenon where an Exalted goes mad due to excessive exposure to mana.

    Insanity, delusions, and a compulsion towards extreme violence were common side effects. An Exalted that was Overclocked could no longer be considered human. Due to their capacity for destruction and a complete loss of rationality, they were classified as natural disasters that must be swiftly eliminated. Failure to do so led to the carnage before her eyes. Hortensia''s conscious prickled with a tinge of regret. If she had been faster to respond, then perhaps¡ª

    Footsteps.

    The crunch of rubble being trampled echoed behind her. It was a young man dressed in all black. His face covered in ash. His teeth were clenched, rattling as if he was barely able to hold his composure. On the ground in front of him were three unconscious bodies.

    ¡°Van, what¡¯s this?¡±

    ¡°Survivors,¡± Van replied before shaking his head, ¡°Surviving, rather. Two of them appear to be in critical condition. I¡¯m not sure if they¡¯ll live.¡±

    Amidst the three, there was a young girl encased in soot. Beside her was a tall male, roughly in his mid-teens. His body was almost entirely black, covered in third-degree burns¡ªhis face unrecognizable. The last person was a younger male. Coagulated blood drenched his lower half. His legs and joints appeared to be mutilated from blunt trauma.

    ¡°And? What exactly are you planning to do with these three?¡±

    Van flinched, flabbergasted by the question, ¡°S-Save them, of course! Surely, we have to do something to help¡ª¡±

    ¡°Van,¡± she cut him off. ¡°Your job as an agent of Steiger is not to save the lives of orphaned miscreants. There are much better uses of your time.¡±

    ¡°Director!¡±

    ¡°Root out corruption. Eliminate Desperados. Maintain the status quo. The three mandates of Steiger,¡± she said sternly, her eyes unfathomably cold, ¡°It¡¯s only for those three reasons why you¡¯re allowed to stand before me.¡±

    Van grimaced. His hands had balled into fists, shaking with indignation as he was backed into a corner. Hortensia grinned, slightly awed by the young man¡¯s earnestness.

    On a whim, she decided to offer him an out. ¡°Give me a compelling reason why we should save these orphans.¡±

    ¡°Do we need a reason to help those in need?¡± he hissed.

    ¡°Yes. Steiger isn¡¯t a charity. It¡¯s an organization with limited personnel, limited resources, and limited time. It does not make decisions or take actions that produce no value. And so, enlighten me,¡± Hortensia demanded, ¡°what value lies in saving these orphans?¡±

    Van¡¯s answer, however, went beyond her expectations.

    ¡°¡­Article 5, Passage 4 of the Ardair Code of Laws,¡± Van began to recite, ¡°The rights of children are upheld by their membership to a registered household. In other words¡ª¡±

    Van¡¯s eyes darkened with resentment. ¡°¡ªorphans have no rights.¡±

    His voice trembled as he spat out those disgusting words. With great difficulty, he beckoned towards the three lying on the ground. ¡°By law, they are not even considered human. They can be treated like livestock. You can do whatever you please with them. No matter how nefarious, how disgusting, how evil your actions are. Not even the King himself can protest. The lack of repercussions. That is their value.¡±

    Hortensia stared at Van in stunned silence. This kid¡­

    Finally, she burst into laughter. Her joyous cackles echoed over the burning remnants of the ruined compound.

    ¡°Is this your idea of saving them, Van? To treat them like a livestock?¡± Hortensia wiped away the tears from her laughter. Van¡¯s words gave her an idea. ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll humor your request,¡± she said as her eyes lit up with a dangerous glint, ¡°Just don¡¯t complain about your decision later.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Van snapped.

    ¡°Really? I wonder,¡± Hortensia mused, ¡°After it¡¯s all said and done, will they thank you or resent you for forcing them to live?¡±

    Van crouched down to cradle the unconscious children. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter to me. Both sentiments are fine," he said, staring at their damaged bodies, "Just as long as they live.¡±

    ***

    Emil

    He remembered the first time he heard news of his parents¡¯ passing.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    It was a bright, sunny day. A gentle breeze caressed his face. He was on the patio, surrounded by the fresh fragrance of roses, lost in another leather-bound book found in his father¡¯s study. And then suddenly, there was a commotion.

    At first, Emil was annoyed at the cacophony disturbing his reading. But as footsteps thundered towards him, he glanced up, curious. The head butler was staring at him with a pained expression. His mouth clenched. His eyes narrowed, trembling at the edges.

    Emil instantly knew it was about his parents.

    His mother and father were merchants who immersed themselves in their work. As a result, Emil was often left alone on the family estate during their business trips. He passed the time lost in books, learning about the world, fantasizing stories of great heroes¡ªoblivious to the concept of loneliness. At a young age, his head was already crammed with a treasure trove of knowledge.

    But there was nothing in those books that could have prepared him to receive this news.

    ***

    The distant memory passed.

    Emil found himself staring at darkness. He tried to pry his eyes open, but his body remained unresponsive. He couldn¡¯t discern whether he was blindfolded or had lost the use of his eyes. A dull, floating sensation enveloped his body. It was disorienting, foreign, as if he was a phantom trapped in another person¡¯s vessel.

    Gradually, his mind began to clear. He could feel the hard surface protruding beneath the arch of his back. His limbs had been stretched outwards. He tried to move them. There was a bit resistance¡ªsomething had bound his wrist and ankles.

    Then, voices.

    They sounded disembodied, shrouded in harsh whispers and faint murmurs. He didn¡¯t realize it until he strained to make out their words, but his ears were ringing. The faint, high-pitch hum in the background was annoyingly persistent.

    ¡°¡­Are you sure, Director?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Certain.¡±

    Two distinct voices spoke in his vicinity. One was wrapped in uncertainty. The other, cold and callous.

    ¡°But this is untested! Even if it¡¯s legal, the ethics of it¡ª¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s fated to die at this point, no?¡±

    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±

    ¡°Then proceed. You¡¯re just doing your best to save a child¡¯s life.¡±

    The words perplexed him. A child¡¯s life. It took a few seconds for Emil to understand.

    ¡­Me?

    The question flicked a switch in his head. Memories suddenly poured in. The darkness in his field of view turned nauseatingly bright.

    Red, brilliant flames raged in his surroundings. The inferno spread violently throughout the compound, swallowing up everything in its path. The safe haven¡ªthe home that he had worked so hard to build had crumbled to ashes in an instant.

    Emil remembered being helpless on the ground. His body was scorched by the Exalted¡¯s flames. His legs was destroyed from falling off the sentry tower. Raz and the other children were running towards him, oblivious. The Exalted behind him shrieked like a horrific monster. And then his friends¡ª

    Screaming.

    Oh right.

    Everyone¡¯s dead.

    The next thing he heard was people yelling into his ears.

    ¡°He¡¯s convulsing!¡±

    ¡°Hold him down!¡±

    ¡°Hurry up and administer the aid, dammit!¡±

    Something sharp stabbed into the side of his neck. Emil felt a throbbing pain as the weight holding down his body intensified. Suddenly, his mind grew heavy. The frantic voices in the background gradually dimmed¡ªsubdued, until he could no longer hear them any longer.

    ***

    He woke up to an unfamiliar ceiling.

    Emil shot up in a panic. Cold sweat drenched his back. His chest heaved as he twisted his head around to make sense of his surroundings. He was in a narrow room. The faint stench of antiseptics permeated the air. There were white candle lights above him, flickering, radiating an odd clandestine feel.

    On the desk beside him was a cup filled with water. Suddenly aware of his thirst, Emil reached for it, throwing caution to the wind. He drank greedily, indulging in the relief from his parched throat. The water helped clear his mind.

    What¡¯s going on?

    Where am I?

    The events in the compound flashed in his head. His heart raced, but he shook off the terrifying memories. Not yet. He vaguely remembered disembodied voices surrounding him. The room was empty, however. His recollections ended there.

    ¡°¡­Hello?¡± he reluctantly called out. Someone must have brought him here from the compound.

    ¡°Anyone there?¡±

    Silence.

    He stepped off the bed. Something gnawed at the back of his mind.

    Wait a minute.

    He glanced down. His leg, which had been mangled beyond recovery from the fall, had been healed back to normal. But more than that, the lower half of his torso was covered in patches of discolored skin. Stitches marked the boundaries of the mismatched skin tones, making his body resemble patchwork.

    What the hell happened to my body?

    ¡°Emil Engel.¡±

    A disembodied voice suddenly echoed in the air. Emil spun around, startled. But there was no one else in the room with him.

    ¡°Son of the owners of the Engel Merchant Company. No living relatives. Now, an orphan with no assets to his name. What a shame that your parents only left you with debt when they departed this world.¡± The voice belonged to a woman. Cold, callous, devoid of compassion. As he regained his composure, Emil realized the voice was reverberating near the ceiling.

    ¡°I have two kids with me. One is a tall male in his mid-teens. Another is a young girl with a plain face. I found them where I found you. I presume you know who they are?¡±

    Raz and Mia!

    ¡°Yes! I-I think so!¡± Emil screamed, desperate. The knowledge that he might not be the only survivor gave him hope. ¡°Are they alive?!¡±

    ¡°For now.¡±

    The room suddenly shook. Emil leapt back in horror. Something massive slammed against the walls.

    ¡°If you want them to survive, then show me your worth,¡± the voice said, dripping with ominous intent.

    ¡°Worth? What do you mean?¡± Emil stammered. The walls shook again. He swore he heard a low growl on the other side.

    ¡°H-Hey!¡±

    Silence. Whoever spoke to him was no longer interested in responding.

    Crunch!

    The wall caved in. The wooden structure was torn apart. A hideous beast, towering over six feet tall on all fours, stomped into the room. Emil froze. His instincts screamed. The beast growled, grunting in a deep guttural bellow. Its snout quivered. The pair of bloodshot eyes zeroed in on him, gleaming with desire.

    The beast charged. It rushed in on all fours as it threw itself at Emil. Its jaws opened, monstrous fangs bared, dripping with spittle. Emil watched as its shadow loomed close.

    Death beckoned.

    He dove to the left. The beast¡¯s front claws narrowly grazed the side of his legs, carving a long crimson line down along his shins. Emil clenched his teeth. The burning pain was agonizing. He glanced down¡ªblood cascaded down his leg as parts of his skin and flesh were ripped off by the scratch.

    There was nowhere to run.

    I have to kill it.

    Heat suddenly radiated from his chest. It was uncomfortable, like a sealed cauldron on the verge of boiling, begging to explode. The beast spun around, screeching in delight at the scent of blood. The heat intensified. Emil grabbed his chest, realizing that a pendant dangled from his neck. The end was a jewel, glowing a brilliant blue, its radiance rising with the scorching heat. The discomfort soon grew unbearable, his body temperature continued to surge as if responding to his violent thoughts. His fingers and legs began to convulse¡ªhis body rapidly descending out of his control.

    The beast lunged.

    ¡°Ahhhhh!¡± Emil screamed.

    Energy crackled in his vicinity. The air snapped with a distinctive pop before everything suddenly exploded into a maelstrom of flames. Emil winced, curled up in panic¡ªmemories of the compound¡¯s destruction still fresh in his mind. It took the stench of burnt flesh for him to look up.

    The charred remains of the beast stood in front of him, a ghastly sight as its melting flesh peeled off its boned carcass. The entire room was set ablaze. Flames danced ravenously as it fed on the building material. The sight was heart-wrenchingly familiar.

    ¡°Well done. You might be of some use,¡± the woman¡¯s voice suddenly echoed once more.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Emil asked, confused by the vague words. Alarmed, he stared at his hands. Wisps of flames flickered in his palms. He pulled his arms back, startled. The flames, however, followed his movements. They felt hot, but not as scalding as expected.

    I did this?

    His healed leg. The patchwork of skin littered across his torso. The conversation he overheard between the two disembodied voices.

    ¡°N-No. Wait¡­¡±

    Scenes of the compound collapsing flashed in his head. His friends burned to ash. The Exalted squealed in delight at the destruction.

    He connected the dots. The realization sunk in.

    Emil screamed in horror, ¡°What have you done to me?!¡±

    He had become the monster that he feared.

 Chapter 6 - The Cleaner

    Nordica was one of the three major provinces in the Kingdom of Ardair. The northern half of the province was covered in treacherous mountains hiding rich mineral veins and troves of rare earth minerals. Its southern half was more tropical and diverse, blessed with meandering lakes, vibrant forests and arable flatlands suitable for farming.

    The capital city of Nordica, Dannan, was located at the frontier of these two halves. Unofficially, it was called the City of Metals due to its massive industrial district built on metallurgy and metalworking. It was estimated that over ninety percent of kingdom¡¯s metals and minerals pass through the city at some point during its circulation.

    Dannan was a city of two faces. Its upper district housed the royal family, along with a number of powerful noble houses and wealthy institutions. But its lower districts were sprawling with slums, mired in poverty and violent crimes. The ruling class had no interest in policing these areas. Thugs, criminals, and orphans proliferated these parts of the city¡ªall individuals who had no income and assets to tax, and therefore, devoid of value.

    With the absence of a police force to enforce the laws, the slums of Lower Dannan became the home of several powerful crime syndicates who ruled the area with an iron fist. For the longest time, they were allowed to do as they pleased.

    ***

    Ronny

    Ronny leaned back against his chair, indulging in the fragrant smell of aged scotch in his hands. His mind danced with a light buzz as he admired the view on his shelf. A vivid collection of skulls from various animals lined the rows, adorned in dazzling jewels and colorful paint. He grinned, basking in the drunken glow, satisfied¡ªuntil a slight itch in his nostrils knocked him out of his bliss.

    Irritated, Ronny opened the drawers and tossed a pouch of white powder onto his marble desk. Opium¡ªcultivated and produced on the ground floors of this facility that he operated on behalf of the Grenze syndicate. Just one whiff of this fine product would send him into an indulgent realm filled with the most wonderful fantasies.

    He opened the pouch with one hand, ready to go under¡ªwhen all hell broke loose.

    ¡°Boss!¡±

    The door to his office slammed open with such force that Ronny nearly fell off his chair. With as much dignity as he could muster, he composed himself and sat back upright, while trying to ignore the scotch dripping from his stained wool vest.

    ¡°What?¡± he snapped, not bothering to hide his anger. Normally, he would have already called for the head of the person who just barged in without warning¡ªif not for the fact this person was wearing the vest of his personal bodyguards.

    The guard who intruded had a boyish face at the frontier of adolescence and adulthood. A few nasty scars smeared along the curvature of his jaws, tainting his youthful face with a savage look. His eyes were large; their dark bluish hue gave off the impression of someone intelligent. His hair, jet-black and coarse, nearly dangled to his shoulders¡ªabnormally long for a man.

    Ronny narrowed his eyes, trying to fight off the effects of the alcohol. What was his name again? The guard was one of the newer recruits. Apparently, he made quite the impression during his evaluation.

    ¡°¡­Miles, was it? You better have a good reason for barging in unannounced.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Boss! The facility is currently under attack!¡±

    Fuck. Ronny shot up from his seat, kicking off the wool vest wet with scotch. Miles¡¯s words snapped him out of his stupor. Now that he was alert, he could hear the chaos rampaging outside the office.

    ¡°Who¡¯s attacking?!¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°Just one person. An Exalted,¡± Miles said, oddly calm, ¡°We think it might be a Cleaner.¡±

    Ronny froze. The mere mention of the word made his blood run cold. ¡°Y-You idiot! Shit! Why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner?!¡± His hands were trembling uncontrollably as he rushed out of the office in a panic.

    Why the hell is one of Steiger¡¯s hounds here?! Ronny mumbled obscenities as he tried to figure out the next course of action.

    He was at the basement level of his drug-manufacturing facility. As one of the executives of the Grenze syndicate, it was his job to oversee the syndicate¡¯s money-making operations. His focus was opium processing and distribution. This facility was one of the largest under his purview.

    If a Cleaner is here, then this place is as good as gone.

    The Cleaners were a special task force under Steiger¡¯s command, notorious amongst the syndicates for their brutality. Colloquially, they were called Steiger¡¯s hounds. Each one of them was apparently an Exalted. Ronny never encountered one himself, but he had no intention of discovering if the rumors were true.

    It¡¯s a shame that I¡¯ll lose three months of shipment, but¡ª he shook off his regrets. There was no amount of money in this world that can buy him a second chance at life.

    ¡°We¡¯re moving to the escape route!¡± he said to Miles as he ran down the corridor. The occasion echo of destruction thundered from the upper levels of the facility. Ronny winced with every cling and clank, imagining his precious facility get ripped apart into pieces. Steadily, the sounds grew louder. The Cleaner was getting close.

    ¡°Boss, you¡¯re here!¡±

    Footsteps rumbled from the other end of the corridor. There were three men, out of breath and drenched in sweat. Ronny recognized them as his other guards.

    ¡°What¡¯s the status on the Cleaner?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s sweeping the entire upper levels. It won¡¯t be long before he finds this place.¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s go! We¡¯re escaping to the tunnels!¡±

    The opening to the escape hatch was just up ahead. Ronny had already mapped their route in his head. The hatch led to the underground sewers of Dannan. Its sprawling networks of tunnels and passages was as disorienting as a labyrinth. Someone who was unfamiliar with its layout would get lost immediately.

    I¡¯ll need to inform the other executives. Steiger is raiding our¡ª

    The ceiling above and in front of him suddenly caved in. Ronny felt a hand on his shoulders dragging him back¡ªjust as black tendrils descended from the opening. The shadowy projections snapped down like spikes, resounding with a powerful crunch as they stabbed into the floor of the basement.

    Immediately, the tendrils retracted.

    Ronny broke out in cold sweat. Massive, horrific claw marks were left on the floor layered in concrete. If his guards had pulled him back a second later, then he would have been eviscerated.

    Someone dropped from the ceiling. It was a man covered in an ebon cloak. His mouth was shrouded by a black cloth, weaved with the grotesque drawing of a hound¡¯s fangs.

    The Cleaner.

    His guards immediately went on the offensive. Knives and machetes were unsheathed. Without an ounce of hesitation, they lunged at their foe.

    ¡°Cleave.¡±

    Ronny¡¯s eyes went wide. Black tendrils ruptured from the Cleaner¡¯s shadow.

    Squelch!

    The speed was lightning fast. Ronny couldn¡¯t even follow the trajectory. It was only when he heard the horrific sound of flesh and bone being torn apart that he realized the attacks landed. He stared, mouth agape, dumbfounded. His guards had been bisected vertically by the shadowy claws. Blood exploded like a fountain as their bodies split into halves, collapsing into a grotesque puddle of entrails.

    M-Monster¡­

    ¡°Boss, get back!¡±

    Miles was still beside him. The young man bravely stepped forward to face the Cleaner. Ronny fell on his knees in despair. W-What can you even do?! The bloodied remains of his guards painted a gruesome picture. In the face of the Cleaner¡¯s overwhelming Gift, the young man won¡¯t even be able to buy him time to escape.

    ¡°Such a heartwarming sight,¡± the Cleaner suddenly said, tearing off the cloth covering his mouth. The man had a plain appearance, sullied only by the playful smirk smeared across his face. Slowly, he approached, his footsteps echoed menacingly across the corridor.

    ¡°Ronny Kroller. An executive of the Grenze syndicate. Your offenses are almost too long to list. Violent crimes. Production of illegal substances. Distribution of illegal substances. But the most heinous of them all¡ª¡± the Cleaner giggled, ¡°¡ªTax evasion. That one is just unforgiveable, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Ronny stood there, frozen. There was nothing for him to say. If the destruction of his facility wasn¡¯t enough, the Cleaner had taken off his mask, revealing his appearance. The Cleaners did all of Steiger¡¯s dirty work. As such, their identities were a closely guarded secret.

    He would not leave this place alive.

    ¡°Lower Dannan might become a better place freed of your existence,¡± the Cleaner said, ¡°So, convince me. Is there a reason why I should let you live?¡±

    H-He¡¯s giving me a chance? Ronny glanced up. His eyes brimmed with a desperate hope.

    ¡°I¡­I can¡ª¡±

    Something hot ruptured from his neck. Ronny felt the warm, sticky rain of blood splutter out of his body. He choked, gargling, suddenly unable to speak. Huh?

    The attack came not from the Cleaner in front of him, but to his left. Slowly, he turned. Miles was staring him down. In his right hand was a blood-stained knife. His deep blue eyes gleamed dispassionately¡ªcold as the abyss.

    Ronny¡¯s consciousness waned.

    I see. I got played.

 Chapter 7 - Wishes that should never be said

    Emil

    Ronny¡¯s greasy body flopped to the ground with a loud thud. Dead. The look of horror in his final moments suited him well.

    Emil tossed aside the blood-stained knife his hands. The warm, viscous sensation of the Grenze executive¡¯s blood on his fingers felt gross. He took a deep breath and brushed aside the irately long hair dangling across his face. Finally, this disgusting job was coming to an end.

    ¡°Hello, Emil.¡±

    The Cleaner greeted him with a large smile, his tone bright and cheery as if the two of them were meeting at a tavern for drinks. Instead, they were currently in the foul basement floors of a drug facility, surrounded by a sea of gore.

    ¡°Van,¡± Emil said, frowning at the Cleaner¡¯s attitude. The man in front of him was his senior in the Steiger organization.

    ¡°It¡¯s been three weeks. I¡¯m glad to see that you¡¯re well. However¡ª¡± Van¡¯s voice suddenly dropped. His nonchalance disappeared. His eyes gleamed with murderous pressure. ¡°¡ªwhy did you kill Ronny? I don¡¯t remember giving you the clearance.¡±

    In the corner of his eyes, Emil caught the top of the black tendrils writhing at the edge of Van¡¯s shadows. His Gift beckoned, eagerly awaiting as if it had a will of its own, threatening to shoot out at a moment''s notice.

    Emil clicked his tongue. What a farce. ¡°It¡¯s because you were taking too damn long.¡±

    ¡°¡­Huh?¡±

    ¡°If your objective was to kill him, then do it quickly, you sadistic freak,¡± Emil complained.

    Van narrowed his eyes. ¡°I never said anything about killing him. What if I needed to interrogate Ronny for information?¡±

    ¡°Then you would have started torturing him instead of playing with your food,¡± Emil spat, ¡°Stop fucking with me, Van. I know this is your idea of a stupid prank. I don¡¯t have the patience for this right now.¡±

    At his urging, the bloodlust in the air suddenly vanished. The tendrils poking out of Van¡¯s shadow disappeared. Realizing his ruse was exposed, Van inexplicably puffed out his face and stomped the floor cutely, pretending to throw a childish tantrum.

    ¡°But c¡¯mon, Emil! He was a villainous bastard! Don¡¯t you want to see his hideous, arrogant face all terrified, shaking, stuttering, and begging to live?! It¡¯s so amusing to hear the excuses they come up with!¡±

    Ugh. Emil grimaced, suddenly remembering how draining it was to deal with his senior. Van was a frivolous man with perverse tendencies. He was probably normal once, until his time with Steiger inevitably twisted him into the clown he was today. If the kingdom knew that Steiger employed fools like him, the entire organization would lose all of its mystique and infamy.

    Van burst into laughter. Emil¡¯s disgust must have been written across his face.

    ¡°Oh, how I missed your hilarious reactions, Emil,¡± he said as he wiped the joyous tears leaking from his eyes, ¡°Anyways, if you knew I was coming, why didn¡¯t you just kill him to begin with?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know it was you,¡± Emil sighed, ¡°The witch didn¡¯t tell me anything. I had no idea that there was even supposed to be a raid today. I held back in case she wanted Ronny alive.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough.¡± Van nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Good work. You made it easy for me to find you by emitting mana.¡±

    Emil shrugged him off. ¡°It¡¯s standard procedure. You don¡¯t need to praise me for it.¡±

    ¡°Wow, how cool.¡±

    Emil rolled his eyes. ¡°If that¡¯s all, then I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    Van¡¯s silence gave him the clearance to leave. Emil immediately turned around and made his way towards the staircase leading to the facility¡¯s ground level. He had been stuck in this place for the past three weeks, masquerading as Ronny¡¯s body guard. The horrific things that he had to overlook and endure to maintain his cover nearly drove him insane.

    He was sick of it.

    He just wanted to go home.

    ***

    Mia

    Mia glanced at the clock. One hour past midnight. The tavern had already emptied itself¡ªeven the last of its unruly patrons had stumbled home in their drunken stupor.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    She sat down by the countertop, alone, soaking in the somber candlelight. And waited. The rhythmic sway of the pendulum clock quietly ticked away in the background.

    After the silence grew unbearable, she let out a disappointed sigh. Guess he¡¯s not coming home today either.

    Mia stood up and walked towards the pile of dirty bowls and cups hidden beneath the countertop. She needed something to distract herself. Something to occupy her hands. Something to pry her mind away from the resurging memories of that terrible day.

    Four years had passed since the incident that took away the lives of all their friends at the compound. Mia was fifteen now. Her hair grew long. Her body matured. The boyish looks that she was insecure about vanished as she blossomed into a respectable young lady. But her time remained still¡ªtrapped in the gruesome tragedy.

    Why?

    She couldn¡¯t understand it. Why did they get caught up by that Exalted¡¯s rampage? Why was her home destroyed? Why did her friends meet such a disturbing end? Did they do something wrong? Was that an act of divine punishment?

    Emil told her over and over again that it was all just bad timing. A coincidence, borne from a random series of unfortunate events. Mia couldn¡¯t accept that. It felt too cruel, too indifferent, too cold. There had to be a reason. There had to be someone to blame.

    There had to be.

    Clink!

    Her eyes grew wide, horrified. The glass plate that she was cleaning suddenly had a long crack running down the middle. Most of the tableware used in this tavern were made from wood or clay. The few glassware available were reserved for serving guests of high status. Glassware was absurdly expensive, but infinitely more brittle and fragile. In the midst of her thoughts, Mia lost track of what she was cleaning.

    Dammit, the owner is going to chew me out for this. She groaned, dreading the inevitable conversation.

    The tavern door suddenly crept out.

    ¡°Sorry, we¡¯re close¡ª¡±

    She froze. The rest of the words remained on her tongue unspoken. She stared blankly at the visitor. Jet black hair, long enough to his shoulders. A boyish face with glimpses of scars lined across his jaws. Dark bags crowded beneath his large eyes¡ªdeep in opulent blue as he stared at her sheepishly.

    The next thing she knew she was in his arms. Mia dove into his chest. The warm feeling of his body was blissfully comfortable. Familiar.

    ¡°You¡¯re late,¡± she finally said.

    ¡°Sorry, Mia,¡± Emil replied. His gentle voice danced in her ears. ¡°I¡¯m home.¡±

    ***

    After a few minutes of embracing in silence, Mia finally let him go.

    Emil took a seat by the countertop. Mia brought him a cup and fetched one of the unopened bottles on display. Unprompted, she poured him a drink. As the barmaid, she was no stranger to the detriments of alcohol. Yet even so, sometimes a bit of poison healed more than any remedy.

    Emil drank slowly, letting the bitter taste quench his throat. Mia watched him with a faint smile. He had grown noticeably thinner since he left for his assignment three weeks ago. She reached out to grab the coarse strands of hair dangling to his shoulders.

    I should give him a haircut. And feed him well.

    He eventually set the cup down. A pensive look drawn on his face.

    ¡°How¡¯s Raz?¡± he finally asked.

    Mia flinched. The candlelight flickered hesitantly. Couldn¡¯t this have waited till tomorrow? She didn¡¯t want him to ask about Raz. Not yet at least. He just got home. It was already late into the night. Emil, however, didn¡¯t seem content to wait.

    After a brief silence, she gave in, gathering the courage to respond, ¡°He¡¯s not great.¡±

    Emil¡¯s eyes grew wide. Mia felt her chest was going to explode.

    ¡°Show me.¡±

    Reluctantly, she led Emil to the second floor of the tavern. There were three rooms at the end of the hallway that the owner had set aside for them as part of their contract. Mia opened the farthest door to the right.

    She was immediately assaulted by the faint, astringent smell of antiseptics and smoky incense. She placed down a candlewick by the entrance. At the back of the room was a tall man lying prone on a bed.

    Raz.

    He was covered in bandages from head to toe. The exposed areas of his body were mired in patches of red. He was still, almost unmoving. It wouldn¡¯t have been unreasonable to think he was dead, if not for the occasional rise and dip of his chest.

    They were staring at the only other survivor of that terrible tragedy.

    ¡°¡­He¡¯s spending more time unconscious these days. And when he¡¯s awake, he¡¯s rarely lucid,¡± Mia explained as tears gathered in her eyes, ¡°He keeps screaming. I think he¡¯s reliving what happened on that day.¡±

    Emil shook his head. ¡°I thought the medicine was supposed to help with that.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re running low. I¡¯ve been rationing the dosage¡ª¡±

    ¡°Mia!¡± he suddenly shouted. His eyes were frantic, spittle flying in the air as he continued to yell, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier? I would have gotten more!¡±

    Stop.

    ¡°¡­How am I supposed to do that?¡± Her lips quivered. Tears cascaded down her cheeks.

    Please don¡¯t speak anymore.

    ¡°You¡¯re not home.¡±

    He doesn¡¯t need to hear this!

    ¡°And I never know when you¡¯ll be back¡­¡±

    She immediately regretted saying those words as soon as she saw Emil¡¯s face twist in horror. His eyes went wide. His jaws dropped as if he couldn¡¯t believe what he had just done.

    The apologies came next. Mia closed her eyes. She knew that Emil didn¡¯t mean it. He had just returned from his assignment. He was exhausted. Emotions were high.

    The three of them were the sole survivors of that tragedy. And because they were orphans, they only had each other to rely on. Losing Raz meant losing one of their last family members.

    She knew that Emil was trying his best to give the two of them a better life. She didn¡¯t understand the full extent of his job¡ªonly that he looked increasingly tortured each time he returned from an assignment. Whatever he was doing ate him alive. And he only endured because of her and Raz.

    Mia glared at Raz¡¯s sleeping body. Her heart shrieked with guilt at the nasty thoughts spiraling in her head. Words that she would never dare to speak aloud.

    I know it¡¯s wrong of me to think this way.

    She recalled the fond memories that the three of them shared in the past¡ªlaughing, telling stories, eating food before drifting asleep in each other¡¯s warmth.

    But sometimes I really wished¡ª

    Over time, those warm memories were slowly replaced by the cold, lonely nights of changing Raz¡¯s bandages, cleaning him from his own excrement, and sobbing to herself by his beside.

    The endearing feelings that she held towards him quietly changed to bitter resentment.

    ¨Cyou didn¡¯t survive that day.

 Chapter 8 - This bountiful opportunity

    Hortensia

    Hortensia leaned back against her chair, soaking in the quiet umbral night. A single candle illuminated her modest office. The night breeze from her window brushed the back of her neck. She inhaled, indulging in the whiff of a cigar.

    The foul scent gave her clarity and a wave of relief. She glanced down, finally feeling ready to tackle the mountain of papers stacked on her desk.

    When she accepted this job as the Director of Steiger, she thought she would continue to spend most of her time out in the field¡ªsolving Exalted related crimes, hunting down Desperados, and investigating corruption amongst Ardair¡¯s ruling class.

    Instead, her days were actually mostly trapped in this office, sifting through the endless amount of paperwork. Strategies and operations¡ªthat¡¯s what her predecessor called it. Her job was not to be the hound, but to be the one leading the hounds. Feeding them, training them, and assigning them targets to hunt. Hortensia thought she was ill-suited for this sort of work, but her predecessor apparently judged otherwise. Evidently, they were onto something as Steiger continued to run smoothly under her command.

    Lately, however, things were spiraling out of control.

    Hortensia narrowed her eyes on the report in front of her. The header was marked in red¡ªan indication that this one demanded an immediate response.

    Emergency Missive ¨C Immediate Action Required

    A shipment of Azurite designated for House Belle was ambushed last night at two hours after midnight. The rough location of the attack is north of the Lower Dannan outskirts. The shipment was taking the usual route for Azurite deliveries to the Rosales province.

    All assigned delivery staff were killed, including the two Steiger agents assigned for escort.

    Notable suspects include a Desperado wielding an eastern style blade. They were accompanied by a battalion-sized militia.

    Identity of the militia is unconfirmed, but suspected to be one of the three large syndicates in Lower Dannan. The stolen Azurite cache is also likely to be in their possession.

    The missive ended abruptly with the insignia of the royal family stamped at the bottom.

    ¡°¡­They killed two of my men,¡± Hortensia sighed, lamenting the loss.

    Finding personnel was a never-ending struggle. Exalted were in high demand and she was constantly competing against noble families and wealthy institutions for a small pool of candidates. Since Steiger dealt with Exalted related crimes and investigating corruption, Hortensia found herself in a never-ending arms race against the ruling class for Exalted talent.

    This isn¡¯t just something I can put off.

    The matter of a stolen Azurite cache was a national security risk. The royal family would be watching this incident closely. Hortensia massaged her temples, feeling the onset of a headache. She stared at her records detailing the roster of agents she currently had on stand by. Two names stood out.

    ¡°He¡¯s going to hate me for this.¡± Her mouth curved into an uneasy smile.

    ***

    Emil

    The cold touch of iron brushed against the side of his head. Emil ignored it¡ªhis attention drawn to the mechanical alarm clock in his hands. Broken. The arms of the clock had stopped ticking. Curious, he pried open the back and examined the tiny nocks and crannies of the device.

    The spring coil must be broken.

    He had a habit of tinkering and trying to fix the various broken tools and objects littered around the tavern. It kept his hands busy and his restless mind occupied. A tendency from his time at the compound.

    A pair of hands suddenly grabbed his face.

    ¡°Hey, stay still!¡± Emil obliged. Snip! A bundle of his jet-black hair fell onto his shoulders, brushing lightly against his neck. After the cut was done, Emil looked back down¡ªuntil he was interrupted once more.

    ¡°Can. This. Wait?¡± Mia asked, visibly irate, her eyes furrowed with a dangerous glint. Emil cautiously eyed the menacing scissors in her hands.

    ¡°Sorry.¡± He obediently placed the clock down by the window sill.

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to give you a haircut, Emil.¡± Snip! ¡°I don¡¯t think you realize how ridiculous you look!¡± Snip!

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Emil smiled uneasily. He agreed¡ªhe did look like an unsavory character. It was an intentional part of his disguise that enabled him to infiltrate the Grenze syndicate. Now that the job was over, however, it became a burden to maintain.

    ¡°I just wanted to fix things around the tavern before the witch drags me back.¡±

    ¡°I thought you had at least two weeks off. That was the standard, no?¡±

    That was before things got hectic. ¡°Yeah, but the witch has a fetish for breaking promises. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she¡ª¡±

    Thud!

    He spun towards the unusual sound. There was a pigeon perched outside their window. Suddenly, it began pecking at the glass. Emil noticed the small bundle of parchment attached to its legs.

    You¡¯ve got to be joking.

    ***

    It wasn¡¯t a joke.

    It was a summon from the damn witch.

    Emil stomped out of the tavern. His boots ground against the coarse metallic flakes littered on the ground. The tavern where Mia and he stayed was located on the outskirts of Lower Dannan¡¯s infamous industrial district. Dawn barely broke¡ªthe sun just managing to peek over the dense clouds.

    Despite that, he could already hear the distinct clank of hammers striking against anvil echoing in the background. Smoke boomed from the buildings in the vicinity, emitting noxious fumes from the bellowing blast furnaces. Horses trotted across the roads, pulling wagons filled with metal ores.

    Emil winced as they passed by¡ªa head-splitting pain suddenly screamed from the back of his skull. The foul, sour stench of sulfur carried by the wagons only made it worse. Shit. Is it happening again already?

    He eventually found himself beneath a massive escarpment. The steep cliffside was overshadowed by a colossal clocktower built near the precipice. It stretched to the skies, serving as a universal indicator of time for all residents of Dannan.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    Imagine if something this big suddenly collapsed, he sneered at the morbid thought before approaching the base of the escarpment. There was a series of mechanical elevators manned by the royal army.

    ¡°Your verification,¡± demanded one of the gruff guards, dressed in uniforms colored in imperial red and armed with an impressive spear. The elevators led to Upper Dannan where the wealthy elites resided. For lowborn individuals like himself, special permissions were required to gain access.

    Emil presented his fake papers. According to the documents, he was an inspector at the royal bank working to ensure the workshops in Lower Dannan could pay off their debts. A distasteful cover story chosen by the witch.

    ¡°Alright, go ahead.¡±

    The guards opened the path. Emil stepped into the metal shaft and onto the wooden platform, grabbing onto the guard rails along the perimeter. He was in a small enclosure that was connected to the top of the escarpment by a series of ropes and gears. The guards gave a signal and the elevator began to climb.

    Emil took in the view as he ascended, listening to the loud hums and creaks of the gears spinning. Beneath him, plumes of black fumes suffused the air, shrouding the buildings of the industrial district in an ashen veil.

    Beyond the industrial district in the north were the massive sprawl of slums. Surrounding the zone of Lower Dannan were two strips of concave land that sloped upwards towards Upper Dannan. They were roads, heavily guarded and monitored, meant to be used only for ferrying goods and raw materials between the two sectors.

    To an outsider, the scene before him might have left an enthralling impression. Emil, however, had long grown wary of this sight. Still, he reminded himself not to take this privilege for granted.

    Because for most residents of Lower Dannan, this view was something that they¡¯d never get to witness.

    ***

    Contrasting the dirty and dissonant environment of Lower Dannan, Upper Dannan was like a tranquil garden.

    Upon stepping off the elevator, Emil was immediately greeted by vivid greenery and the pristine glow of marble stone. The whitish rock was used everywhere¡ªin the walls of buildings, within the various sculptures on every corner, and on the terraces overseeing the streets. Even beneath the overcast skies, the marble stone sparkled, adorning Upper Dannan in a radiant gleam.

    It was quiet. Unsettlingly so. The absence of the blast furnace¡¯s rumbles and the clash of metals was strangely unnerving.

    Tch! Emil clicked his tongue, holding his head as the thunderous headaches came roaring back. His hands were shaking as he led himself off the elevator.

    The airspace of the path before him was crowded by aqueducts, delivering water to the myriads of plants and flowers out in full blooms on the side of the streets. Vines latched onto trees and walls¡ªalmost acting like a bridge between the various hanging gardens in the vicinity.

    It was a spectacular view, but Emil found it difficult to be impressed. When he considered about how much money must be used daily to maintain these opulent sights, he couldn¡¯t help but feel bitter.

    Eventually, he arrived at his destination. It was a building with a plaque mounted above its wooden doors, engraved with the words, ¡°Royal Bank of Ardair.¡± The royal bank was a striking sight¡ªnot because it overtook its neighboring buildings in opulence and beauty.

    Rather, it was astonishingly bland.

    Its walls were plain, absent of the viridescent matter that decorated the rest of Upper Dannan. Instead, it was composed of a monotonous glob of gray, discolored cobblestone. The royal bank was absurdly dull and sterile compared to the splendor of its surroundings.

    Just looking at it made Emil¡¯s insides churn.

    I really don¡¯t want to be here.

    ***

    ¡°Good morning, how can I help you?¡± the teller asked.

    Emil slid a token across the table. It was a brass coin inscribed with the fangs of a hound. ¡°I¡¯m here to see the Madame.¡±

    Codeword for a scheduled meeting with the witch. The teller shot him a brief glance and examined the token. After a few minutes of scrutiny, she stood up.

    ¡°Right this way, sir,¡± she said, beckoning for him to follow. Discretely, she led him to a stairway hidden in the corridors behind the bank counter. This branch of the royal bank was a front for one of Steiger¡¯s head offices. Steiger was an anti-corruption force specializing in Exalted affairs under the direct mandate of the royal family. The organization was currently led by the despicable witch.

    Emil climbed the stairs¡ªeach step he took stirred the inferno ablaze in his guts. Dread gnawed the back of his head. For him, the witch was a harbinger of despair. Each time they met, he was forced to split from Mia and ordered to do vile, contemptible things.

    ¡°Director Hortensia¡¯s been expecting you,¡± the teller said as they reached the top of stairs. Emil stood there, staring at the large doors to her office. His mind trembled. The corridor seemed to spin.

    This isn¡¯t about you. It¡¯s for Mia and Raz. He didn¡¯t want to admit it, but the witch¡¯s jobs were the only things keeping them off the streets. It kept Raz alive from his deteriorating condition and it kept Mia away from whoring herself out in the brothels.

    ¡°Come in already,¡± a voice echoed from inside. Emil¡¯s hands instantly moved towards the knob as if compelled by instinct. Before he knew it, he had stepped into his least favorite place in the world.

    He was immediately assaulted by the nauseating tang of tobacco. The heavy stench hung in the air, clinging onto the smoky vapors permeating the room. Emil scrunched up his face, making no effort to hide his disgust. As usual, the witch was sitting at her desk. She had a cigar in one hand, her chin rested on the other, leaning slightly to the side. A sinister grin smeared across her face.

    ¡°Hello, Emil.¡±

    Her deep, sultry voice reverberated across the smoky room. Emil didn¡¯t bother responding back. She continued, unfazed by his belligerence, ¡°I read through the reports on your infiltration of Grenze. Nicely done. Your track record remains pristine.¡±

    Emil¡¯s hands twitched. ¡°¡­Get to the point already,¡± he snarled, trying to ignore the pounding headaches, ¡°I doubt you called me here just for flattery.¡±

    The witch grinned, taking a slow, deliberate whiff of her cigar. Emil narrowed his eyes, glaring as she indulged in the disgusting fumes. It was her way of mocking his impatience.

    ¡°Youngsters have no taste for small talk these days."

    Without warning, she suddenly vanished from his sight.

    Emil suddenly felt a presence loomed behind him. Before he could turn around, a firm hand grasped the back of his head, locking it in place. Something sharp then stabbed into the side of his neck. He winced at the pain and pressure as the witch injected a red fluid into his veins. His body reacted violently, convulsing for just a moment before suddenly stabilizing. The throbbing headaches began to fade.

    ¡°I called you here for a matter concerning national security," the witch said, nonchalant as she tossed away the used syringe into nearby basket.

    "...Fuck, how about a warning before you stab a needle into my neck?"

    "A cache of Azurite intended for House Belle was stolen last night."

    Emil¡¯s eyes went wide. He instinctively reached for the thin necklace dangling around his neck. At the end of the accessory was a small gem colored in vivid blue.

    Azurite.

    It was a special stone capable of storing mana in high concentrations. Mana, and by extension, Azurite, was what gave Exalted access to their otherworldly abilities¡ªtheir Gifts. Without it, the Exalted were no different than regular Ordinaries.

    ¡°I thought the deliveries were supposed to be heavily guarded. How did an entire cache get stolen?¡± he asked. This incident was unprecedented.

    ¡°A Desperado of unknown origins was spotted at the site. The entire delivery team, including two of our own agents, were all killed,¡± the witch explained, ¡°Our goal is to recover the Azurite cache as soon as possible before we have an entire syndicate of Desperados running around. The main suspect is likely one of three major syndicates in Lower Dannan.¡±

    Emil felt his stomach churn. ¡°¡­And you want me to recover it?¡±

    He clenched his teeth. She knew exactly how much he detested going undercover. The syndicates weren¡¯t exactly a bastion of high morality. The disgusting things that he had to overlook to complete his missions gave him nightmares. He just returned from hell. He wasn¡¯t going to step into it again so soon.

    The witch smirked as if reading his thoughts. ¡°You, of all people, should understand the dangers of Azurite falling into the wrong hands.¡± Her voice danced with a threatening tone. ¡°It was, after all, the cause of the tragedy that befell you and your friends four years ago.¡±

    Emil¡¯s mind trembled. That dreadful day filled with flames and despair flashed in his head. He clawed at his throat, suddenly feeling it difficult to breathe.

    ¡°It was a Desperado that destroyed your home¡­¡±

    The witch¡¯s words coiled around his neck, intent to squeeze out every drop of air.

    ¡°¡­killed your friends¡­¡±

    Stop it.

    ¡°¡­and defiled your body¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough!¡± Emil screamed. His entire body was shivering. His chest felt like it was going to explode. What the witch injected him with earlier was a manufactured sample of blood from that same Desperado. Through a series of monstrous experiments, Emil was implanted with his body parts. It gave him a second chance at life and granted him the Desperado''s Gift. But the tradeoff was that he needed constant blood transfusions to keep his body stable.

    ¡°You think you can manipulate me into accepting?!¡± He swiped the air, furious yet scared. A part of him wanted to stomp over and bash the witch¡¯s face in. But he knew better. Her position as the director of Steiger wasn¡¯t just lip service¡ªshe could crumble him in an instant if she desired.

    Noting his indignation, the witch fetched something behind her desk.

    ¡°Your usual pay. Doubled.¡±

    It was a leather pouch filled with coins. Emil stared at the bag in disbelief¡ªwavering. He hated that he could be swayed by money. No, I refuse to go through that again¡ª

    ¡°And I also heard that your bedridden friend is having troubles recently.¡±

    She suddenly added another bag to the side. This time it contained a stash of expensive medicine and herbs that could be used to help Raz recover.

    I haven¡¯t been able to find any of this on the market. How did she¡ªThe realization sunk in. The witch prepared this carrot in advance. She was monitoring Mia and Raz. She knew of his predicament.

    ¡°Now you have a choice,¡± the witch said, ¡°Refuse this irresistible offer to keep your pride and accept that your bedridden friend¡¯s death was on your hands. Or¡ª¡±

    Hortensia¡¯s eyes gleamed like a snake¡¯s. Emil stood there, paralyzed¡ªshaking with resentment.

    ¡°¡ªBeg me for this bountiful opportunity.¡±

 Chapter 9 - Nostra

    Emil

    A low baritone ring blared in the distance. Coming from the clocktower overseeing Lower Dannan, it signaled the passing of another hour.

    Emil slumped in his seat. There were still two hours until noon, but the meeting with the witch had already drained him of all his energy. It was same as always. Whenever he pushed back against his assignments, she would press him on his guilt, trample over his emotions, and bring up events that he wanted to forget.

    At least I managed to squeeze more money out of her pockets.

    Mia won¡¯t be happy that he has to leave for another mission so soon, but what can they do? They needed Steiger¡¯s payments to afford rent. Raz¡¯s medicine was also becoming more expensive. Prices for everything had gone up after an abnormally weak harvest season.

    He let out a heavy sigh. He wanted to go home. His time with Mia and Raz was already being cut short and he didn¡¯t want to waste another second.

    Where the hell is this damn bastard?

    ¡°Yo, Emil!¡±

    And speak of the devil. Emil winced, hating how he immediately recognized that frivolous tone. He rolled his eyes as his accomplice for the assignment strutted to a seat across from him.

    They were inside one of the private rooms of a tavern located in Upper Dannan. Like all establishments in the upper district, this place was filled with well-furnished luxuries. Emil thought it was excessive for a tavern, but at least the aged wood used on the walls and the dim candle lights gave off a tavern¡¯s typical clandestine vibe. This particular establishment was secretly owned by Steiger and often used as a safe place for conducting meetings between agents.

    ¡°You look very excited to see me,¡± his accomplice said with a wicked grin. Emil fought the urge to bash him in the face. Unlike the witch, he had some winning chances against this guy.

    It was Van.

    ¡°¡­Why does Hortensia always put us together?¡± Emil complained.

    Van immediately began filling his glass with beer. ¡°Don¡¯t you know? Our pairing has the best track record in the organization. It¡¯s only logical to use your best one-two punch for a mission with national security at risk.¡±

    Emil narrowed his eyes. Van might have a point¡ªif he wasn¡¯t stretching the truth.

    ¡°I, have the best track record in the organization,¡± he clarified, pointing at Van, ¡°You, are just piggybacking off of it.¡±

    Suddenly, a glass of beer was slotted into his outstretched hands.

    ¡°Cheers!¡± Van exclaimed, clinking their glasses together. Emil grimaced, the bitter stench of alcohol irritating his nose.

    ¡°¡­Do I have to?¡±

    Van was somehow already half-way done his glass. ¡°Of course! Who the hell goes to a tavern and not get sloshed?!¡± he yelled, slamming the table.

    He gave up. Once Van was in his element, there was no stopping his momentum. Emil drank, reveling in the bitterness of his situation.

    He was four glasses in when the headaches began to kick in. Wincing, he reached for the plate of cakes that he ordered for himself.

    ¡°Alright! Time to begin the meeting!¡± Van announced as he snatched the plate of cakes out of Emil¡¯s grasp, ¡°A quick quiz! For every wrong answer, I will steal a cake away for myself!¡±

    You fucking bastard. He wanted to throw Van onto the ground, but his head was beginning to spin. Van¡¯s loud cheery voice boomed in his ears. In his inebriated state, it sounded even more grating than usual.

    ¡°First! Why is this mission so important?¡±

    ¡°An entire cache of Azurite is missing. It¡¯s a stone that¡¯s highly in demand since it unlocks an Exalted¡¯s Gifts,¡± Emil said, clenching his teeth in anger. He couldn¡¯t believe his cakes were being held hostage.

    ¡°And why is that a problem?¡± Van continued.

    Emil rolled his eyes. ¡°¡­A single Exalted by themselves could cause widespread destruction, so the distribution of Azurite is tightly regulated to make sure it doesn¡¯t fall into wrong hands. The royal family owns the distribution rights and it leverages that power to maintain their authority.¡±

    ¡°Ding ding ding! Stolen Azurite is not only dangerous, but it also undermines the royal family¡¯s power,¡± Van added before taking a bite of the sausage on his plate. The loud, disgusting sounds of his mouth chewing was disturbing to listen to.

    ¡°Alright, last question! Where do we think the stolen cache was taken?¡±

    ¡°Somewhere in Lower Dannan, likely in possession from one of the three major syndicates¡ªGrenze, Nostra, and Aois Nua. Only they have the personnel and space to keep something that valuable hidden,¡± Emil answered.

    ¡°Very good! You passed!¡± Van exclaimed, offering the plate of cakes that he held hostage. Emil immediately swiped it from Van¡¯s hands and devoured one of the pieces. The sweet, creamy texture of the pastry melted in his mouth. He leaned back, indulging in this fleeting moment of bliss.

    ¡°Out of the three syndicates, we can probably eliminate Grenze as a possibility,¡± Van said, suddenly serious.

    ¡°Why? Because I was stationed there?¡±

    ¡°Yes, the timing of the stolen Azurite overlapped with your undercover mission in Grenze. And Ronny, as an executive of the syndicate, would definitely have been involved if Grenze had planned the raid. As his personal body guard, there¡¯s a fairly low chance that you could have missed this detail.¡±

    Emil tapped his inebriated head, trying to recall anything that he might have overlooked during his three weeks in the syndicate. Blank. Nothing to came to mind.

    ¡°That just leaves Nostra and Aois Nua. And lately, both syndicates have started recruiting aggressively. This suggests that something big is brewing. Which then begs the question,¡± Van said, smirking as he pointed a finger at Emil, ¡°Two syndicates. Two of us. Which one do you want?¡±

    ***

    Emil ended up with Nostra.

    Not that it particularly mattered¡ªthe three major syndicates all had their hands in the same trades of drugs, prostitution, and violence for hire. The only difference was the territories that they occupied in Lower Dannan.

    Nostra conducted its operations in the northeastern quadrant of the slums. Its turf was the closest to the industrial district, giving it access to plenty of business from the laborers after a long day¡¯s work.

    With that in mind, Emil entered the slum¡¯s eastern sector in the evening. He walked with a slight hunchback reminiscent of the exhausted workers, while dressed in a pair of oily overalls atop of a stained shirt tarnished by soot. His sleeves were rolled up, exposing patches of discolored skin. They were old burns caused by his Gift, but they worked well with his disguise as an apprentice blacksmith.

    His destination was a dilapidated building by the area between the slums and the workshops of the industrial district.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Emil pushed open the crumbling doors at the entrance. Right away, he was assaulted by a wave of miasma. The thick stench of alcohol and rot permeated the air. The floor beneath his soles was littered in trash, and wet with something unidentifiable.

    Given the rancid smell, Emil guessed it was a hearty mixture of beer and piss. Guess I¡¯ll have to burn these boots later. He walked in, not bothering to hide his disgust. The wooden floors creaked and groaned with each step. Van called this place a watering hole¡ªsuffice to say, Emil wasn¡¯t amused.

    It was fairly late into the night at this point, and the watering hole was sparsely occupied. Still, the few patrons in the building eyed him with burning stares as he took a seat by the dimly lit counter. They¡¯re unusually open about their hostility. This is probably the correct place.

    The barkeep arrived a few minutes later. It was a lanky man with a flashy haircut¡ªhalf of his head was shaved clean, while the other half was long enough to reach his back. His face was covered in scars and warpaint.

    The barkeep immediately leaned uncomfortably close to Emil¡¯s face. Unfazed, Emil watched as the barkeep¡¯s eyes darted about, as if scrutinizing every detail of his appearance. When he was finally satisfied, the barkeep retreated, putting on a flippant smile.

    ¡°You¡¯re new here, aren¡¯t youuuuu?¡± he said with a flamboyant tone, deliberately stretching out his words with a pompous inflection, ¡°Do you have any idea where you are?¡±

    Emil narrowed his eyes, pretending to be annoyed at barkeep¡¯s pretentious attitude. ¡°A fucking shithole. This place sells booze, does it not?¡± he said, choosing his words carefully as he pushed a copper coin across the table.

    ¡°It sure does,¡± the barkeep said as he poured ale into a wooden cup. He pushed the cup towards Emil with his slim fingers. ¡°But I think beer isn¡¯t the only reason why you¡¯re here.¡±

    He¡¯s sharp.

    Emil took a whiff of the cup¡¯s contents. The caustic stank of malted alcohol burned his nostrils. Normal. The foam bubbling on the surface was promising enough. He took a cautious sip, trusting in his Steiger training to keep him alive from any poisons.

    ¡°Thoughts?¡±

    ¡°Worse than piss,¡± Emil said, scowling. The laborers of the industrial district were infamous for their gruff and vulgar attitudes¡ªa symptom of the backbreaking work, long hours, and dangers of constantly being near molten flames. Emil hoped that his portrayal was convincing enough to not draw any suspicions.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a compliment,¡± the barkeep said, ¡°So? Enlighten me. What¡¯s your deal?¡± A dangerous gleam flickered his eyes. Emil sensed the patrons at the back of the watering hole stir. A faint murderous pressure was directed at his back.

    ¡°¡­I need cash. Quick,¡± he said as he set the cup down, ¡°I heard this place was hiring.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. Don¡¯t you see this shabby building? I can barely afford to keep it from collapsing.¡±

    ¡°Not this shithole,¡± Emil clarified, ¡°Your¡­owners. The people behind you. I heard they¡¯re looking for men.¡±

    The barkeep immediately narrowed his eyes. ¡°You know of us?¡±

    Was that too direct? Emil took another sip of the disgusting ale, trying to hide his slipping composure.

    ¡°I do.¡±

    The barkeep¡¯s face crept to a nasty sneer. ¡°Then it depends,¡± he said. The floor suddenly creaked. ¡°What can you offer?¡±

    Emil immediately threw his head back. A knife¡¯s glint flashed above his eyes, slashing the air where his neck had just been. He pushed off the stool to face his assailant. The knife came again. Slow. He lunged forward, grappling his assailant¡¯s arm before the blade could arrive. Without mercy, he pulled.

    ¡°Ngh!¡± his assailant screamed as a nasty pop echoed in the air. Two more men rushed forward at the sight of their companion struggling.

    Emil threw his first assailant to the floor. He stepped back and reached for his cup on the counter. One of the men charged at him with a machete in hand. Emil flicked his wrist. Beer shot out of the cup and splashed in the man¡¯s eyes. Unable to see, the man stumbled forward yelling.

    Emil raised his foot and stomped on the man¡¯s knees. He felt a slight resistance until he heard the grotesque crunch of bone being snapped.

    The last man froze after seeing his two companions fall. Emil lunged at his hesitation. He cocked his arm back and delivered a heavy punch to the man¡¯s jaws. The blow sent him reeling to the floor¡ªinstantly unconscious.

    The fight was over in less than a minute. Emil stared at the wreckage, admiring his own work. He deliberately stuck to hand-to-hand combat. Revealing himself as an Exalted would immediately destroy his cover.

    He heard the barkeep whistle in admiration. Without a word, the barkeep walked to the side of the counter and reached for a wooden tube hidden below.

    ¡°Baer, there¡¯s a candidate I like you to meet. He just destroyed three of your men without breaking a sweat,¡± the barkeep said. Emil realized he was talking into a voice pipe.

    ***

    There was a hidden door on the other side of the counter that led to the basement of the watering hole. Emil climbed down the winding stairway, strong with a dank earthly smell. Eventually he reached the bottom, finding himself face-to-face with a wooden door that was slightly ajar.

    Over the years, he made an interesting observation. The elites of the ruling class seemed to love residing on the highest levels of their estate, while the important members of the syndicates preferred to scurry along in the lowest floors instead.

    If that pattern holds, then whoever¡¯s in here must be a bigshot.

    He entered the dimly lit room. The miasma of beer and piss on the ground level disappeared, replaced by a fragrant earthy scent. Scotch? It was the same smell that permeated Ronny¡¯s office during his time in Grenze.

    But instead of Ronny, Emil was greeted by a tall, brawny man. A fur coat adorned his shoulders, draped over his bare chest. In the room with him were a group of his henchmen. Each of them had a black mask painted with large gnashing teeth covering the lower half of their face. A pair of machetes was latched onto the straps on their hips.

    ¡°Baer,¡± the brawny man introduced himself as he approached with a wicked smile and an outstretched hand. Emil received it. Immediately, he could feel Baer squeezing down on his hands.

    ¡°Miles,¡± Emil gave his alias while also tightening his grip.

    ¡°Caiside spoke highly of you. I see that he had a point.¡± Baer smirked as he loosened his grip. Caiside? Is that the name of the barkeep? ¡°So Miles, do you know who we are?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re Nostra. One of the three big syndicates.¡±

    ¡°And how did you know to find this place?¡± Baer asked, feigning nonchalance.

    He¡¯s testing me.

    ¡°Rumors. I used to be a resident of the slums. I got out. But I kept contact with a few people still living here,¡± Emil answered. Nothing he said was a lie.

    ¡°And yet, here you are. Back in the doghouse again. Why?¡±

    ¡°Money,¡± he said without hesitation, ¡°I have debts to pay. Family members to feed. The jobs of the industrial district don¡¯t pay enough.¡± He let his voice quiver with desperation. The syndicates tend to lower their guards once they have something that they could control you with. Now they knew he was desperate for cash.

    ¡°It¡¯s true. Life is getting tougher around here thanks to the poor harvest. You have my complete sympathy,¡± Baer said. Suddenly, his demeanor changed. His eyes went wild, sharpened with a savage glint. ¡°But why should I trust you?¡± he hissed, ¡°You¡¯re just a random dude who showed up out of nowhere and thrashed three of our guys.¡±

    Baer snapped his fingers. His henchmen instantly spurred into action. Startled, Emil immediately fell into a fighting stance. Instead of a battle, however, he found a small wooden table with a string and a machete placed before him.

    ¡°¡­What is this?¡± he asked, not daring to drop his guard.

    ¡°Show me your conviction,¡± Baer said, beckoning at his left pinky finger with a cutting motion, ¡°Show me that I can trust you.¡±

    Emil stared at the machete in disbelief. He wants me to cut it off?

    ¡°¡­You¡¯re serious?¡± He narrowed his eyes, suddenly feeling the sweat on his neck. Baer flashed him a wicked sneer.

    ¡°Very.¡±

    Fuck.

    All eyes in the room were on him. Emil could feel their taunting gazes and the nasty smiles hidden beneath their masks. Damn sadists. Grenze never had this sort of insane initiation ritual, so why the hell was Nostra like this?

    Emil clenched his teeth, cursing his own ignorance.

    Not wanting to feign weakness, he slowly tied the string around his left pinky until it was taut and etched sharply into his skin. His finger was already growing numb.

    I can still escape. He could easily fight his way out of here. If it got too precarious, he always had his Gift if absolutely necessary. His mission, however, would be instantly forfeit.

    The witch¡¯s words echoed in his head. ¡°¡­Know that your bedridden friend¡¯s death was on your hands.¡±

    Raz¡¯s medicine was on the line. If he failed here, he would not get a second chance.

    Emil grabbed the machete. The weight of the cleaver felt strangely light in his hands.

    It¡¯s just a finger. It¡¯s not like he was cutting off his entire hand. He would still be able to use his left. It wouldn¡¯t be debilitating¡ªin fact, he doubted it would even affect him.

    He raised the machete. He squeezed tight against the handle. His right hand was shaking, drenched in sweat. He swallowed. His heart bellowed in his ears.

    Come on! Suddenly, he pictured Raz, shrieking in the middle of the night, reliving the terrors of that incident. He imagined Mia, whisked away, forced to sell her body to disgusting strangers on the streets to make ends meet.

    It¡¯s just a finger!

    Emil screamed. He willed himself to comply. The machete finally descended.

    ¡°Stop!¡±

    Squelch!

    Blood sprayed. Emil felt a strong hand holding his wrist. It was Baer.

    ¡°You¡¯re one crazy bastard,¡± Baer remarked in delight, ¡°I couldn¡¯t even stop you in time.¡±

    Baer had pushed his arm at the last second, altering the trajectory of the machete¡¯s descent. Instead, it grazed the side of his little finger, ripping off a small chunk of flesh. The finger was mangled and bleeding, but it remained intact. Functional.

    ¡°Get Miles first aid!¡± Baer called out. His henchmen moved immediately. Emil glanced at their hands, noticing that none of them had their pinkies removed. ¡°This was supposed to be a harmless test, but you were stronger than I expected. Amazing. You¡¯ve showed me your conviction,¡± Baer said as he took out an expensive-looking bottle from a nearby cellar. He set aside two cups on the table and popped the cork open.

    ¡°Your injury is unfortunate, but this is a good opportunity.¡± He cut a slit into his palms with the edge of the machete. Blood dripped, flowing into the bottle of scotch. Emil followed suit, hovering his mangled finger over the bottle. Blood oozed¡ªhis heart still racing from the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

    Satisfied, Baer poured both of them a cup.

    ¡°Cheers, Miles. And welcome to Nostra.¡±

    Emil downed it in one gulp. The ferric accent was unpleasantly bitter.

 Chapter 10 - A dance with the devil (1)

    Emil

    Emil returned to the watering hole the following day.

    ¡°There¡¯s someone I like you to meet,¡± Baer said while leading the way down to the basement, ¡°He¡¯s one of our key distributors at Nostra. I¡¯ll have you work as his personal bodyguard.¡±

    Emil gave a curt nod. Nice. All according to plan. His brutality yesterday was a deliberate strategy to show off his martial prowess, so he could have a higher chance of being assigned this role. The syndicates were surprisingly pragmatic when it came to leveraging the skills and talents of their members.

    The bodyguard position was desirable because it gave him the best chance of being placed close to important figures. Executives, strategist, managers¡ªthese were the individuals within the syndicates with the power to make decisions, and therefore, were most likely to have knowledge of a stolen Azurite cache.

    Emil winced at the dull pain buzzing from his hands. The act of getting here nearly costed him a finger, but his boldness paid off.

    They re-entered the basement office. A man was there¡ªhis hands, adorned with opulent rings, locked behind his hunched back as he scrutinized the array of liquor bottles Baer had on display. His oily hair was long and disheveled, draped down messily to his shoulders. His skin, pallid and wrinkled, was smeared with dark spots. At the sound of their footsteps, he turned around. The first thing Emil noticed was his crooked nose and clefted lip. His eyes were twisted into a nasty scowl.

    ¡°Baer, you¡¯re late,¡± the man hissed. It was an unpleasant sounding voice¡ªslightly shrill, yet somehow still retaining the timbre of a man. It didn¡¯t sound right.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t give a time,¡± Baer replied, scratching his head.

    ¡°The whore houses open in thirty. The miners and craftsman are done in forty. These are prime hours for business. Or are you feeling so charitable that you¡¯re willing to dock your pay for me?¡± the man asked, visibly irate. Baer said nothing except react with a wry grin. Emil noted his discomfort.

    The man suddenly turned towards him. Emil nearly flinched¡ªthe hair on his arms rose at the intensity of his gaze.

    ¡°So, who¡¯s this?¡±

    ¡°Your new bodyguard.¡±

    The man frowned. ¡°I asked for the best you¡¯ve got, didn¡¯t I? I didn¡¯t ask for some scrawny kid¡ª¡± He suddenly stopped. Without warning, he reached out to grab Emil¡¯s arm. Emil almost retaliated out of instinct. Despite his infirm appearance, the man¡¯s movements were astonishingly fast and strong. His hands instantly slithered the length of Emil¡¯s arm like a snake.

    ¡°¡­Never mind, he has some promise. Looks certainly can be deceiving,¡± he said, breaking into a creepy smile, ¡°You must be the person Caiside mentioned. Miles, was it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Emil replied. Jitters rushed down his spine.

    What¡¯s this uncomfortable feeling?

    The man before him was hardly imposing, but there was something threatening about him. It wasn¡¯t Baer¡¯s deference to his authority. It wasn¡¯t his unpredictable movements that had no respect for personal boundaries. Nor was it his unusually sharp gaze that seemed to cut straight through you. Emil was an Exalted¡ªthere weren¡¯t many things that could invoke such a visceral discomfort out of him.

    ¡°Polite as well. What a catch, Baer,¡± the man mused, ¡°You can just call me Decim. All I do is sell drugs, it¡¯s hardly a job worthy of respect.¡± Decim turned to glare at Baer, ¡°And speaking of job, thanks to Baer¡¯s tardiness, I¡¯m late.¡±

    Decim made no efforts to hide his displeasure as he walked towards the stairway leading to the ground level. He beckoned for Emil to follow.

    ¡°Come Miles, let¡¯s have a chat while we work.¡±

    ***

    Evening arrived in Lower Dannan when they left the watering hole. The skies were slathered in a somber coat of twilight. The low hum of the Dannan clocktower blared in the background. Emil trailed behind Decim as he trekked deeper into the slums.

    A stale odor permeated the area. Unlike the smoke and ferric vapors of the industrial district, the slums reeked of piss and decay. Trash and mold littered the ground like grass. Fruit flies and other unidentifiable bugs buzzed in the air, delighted by the abundance of sustenance.

    Emil tried not to react to the stench. The difference between Upper Dannan and this was difficult to reconcile in his head. It was disturbing how both scenes were somehow part of the capital city of Nordica. He bit on his gums in self-admonishment, reminding himself that it was only until four years ago that he called these slums his home.

    ¡°I got some tidbits of you from Caiside. Strong. Fast. A vicious fighter. You¡¯re an apprentice blacksmith in need of cash,¡± Decim said as he stepped over a pile of rubble. They were venturing down one of the many meandering passageways of the slums. ¡°I have to say, you''re quite nonchalant about the slums as someone who came from the industrial district.¡± His tone was casual, but Emil didn¡¯t miss the faint hints of scrutiny in his voice.

    I¡¯m being tested again.

    ¡°I lived in the slums for a few years before escaping,¡± he replied.

    Decim tilted his head, his eyes dilated with interest, ¡°Oh! And how did that happen?¡±

    ¡°I stumbled into a business owner by chance. They needed an extra pair of hands for their work. Said I looked intelligent enough with my blue eyes.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    A set of half-truths. ¡°Business owner¡± referred to the witch. ¡°An extra pair of hands¡± wasn¡¯t technically wrong either since Steiger was always in need of personnel. And the witch did comment on his eyes a few times during the early days of their wretched relationship.

    This should be fine.

    Decim didn¡¯t say anything¡ªonly offering a faint whistle to acknowledge his response. Emil felt sweat claw down his neck. His new boss¡¯s expression was unreadable.

    The sun slowly descended as the meandering path soon opened up to a wider, more bustling part of the slums. Dilapidated buildings lined the side of the road. The street was noticeably cleaner¡ªlacking the stench and deplorable rot of the previous alleyways. It was still clandestine, but for the slums, Emil thought it was fairly livable.

    ¡°Welcome to Lover¡¯s Lane,¡± Decim said, gesturing dramatically like an actor on stage. Emil narrowed his eyes at the name, until he noticed a laborer being escorted into a building by a pair of girls.

    Oh. We¡¯re in that part of town.

    He realized most of the buildings on the street had a woman standing by the entrance. They were all adorned in a red dress. Their shoulders were laid bare. Their legs peeked out of the hems of their skirts. Their faces were pale, caked in powder, and their lips accented with a deep scarlet hue. For every woman, Emil caught at least two men hidden in the shadows of the building or at the edges of the alleyways. Guards.

    ¡°This entire area is owned by Nostra. Operated by yours truly,¡± Decim presented with an exaggerated bow, ¡°We keep the streets presentable, provide protection, and of course¡ª¡± he reached inside the pockets of his coat and produce a pouch. He gave it a light shake. The sound of tiny grains rattled inside.

    ¡°¡ªoffer the good stuff. You¡¯re a laborer. Surely you know what this is?¡±

    Opium. It was the same product that Grenze was producing. It seemed like demand for the white powder was insatiable. Emil nodded.

    A wicked sneer crossed Decim¡¯s face. He beckoned towards the brothels on the streets.

    ¡°Our clients to come here after a long, backbreaking day of work. The women provide them with a good time, and just as they¡¯re basking in the afterglow, they¡¯re offered the magical powder,¡± Decim explained with a despicable smirk, ¡°A single whiff, and they¡¯re taken to a world without the pain, the disgusting soot, the blazing heat of the blast furnaces. Ecstasy. It¡¯s heaven in the mortal realm. So of course, they always, always come back for more.¡±

    Emil felt his nails dug into his hands. He was suddenly cognizant of the heat rising in his chest. Decim¡¯s words brought back a disturbing experience that he¡¯d rather forget. The revulsion clung to the pits of his stomach.

    Relax. He had to remind himself to see the bigger picture. The Azurite cache. That¡¯s what he was here for. This wasn¡¯t the time for his misplaced sense of justice.

    ¡°By the way,¡± Decim asked, leaning close¡ªhis pale, slimy face glistening with curiosity,¡± To celebrate our partnership, want a woman and a whiff of this amazing thing? My treat.¡±

    Emil shot him a side-eye, fighting the urge to deck him in the face, ¡°¡­I¡¯ll pass.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm? Really?¡± Decim looked down. ¡°Surely, you¡¯ve got a functional cock, yeah? And things that you would rather forget?¡±

    The latter made Emil stir. The temptation gnawed at his subconscious. The terror of that incident flashed in his mind. It would be pleasant to forget sometimes, wouldn¡¯t it?

    No.

    He¡¯s seen what happened to people who underestimated the substance. With just a single whiff, they¡¯ll become slaves to the powder.

    ¡°I¡¯ll abstain,¡± Emil said, more firmly this time, feeling the heat in his throat, ¡°I can¡¯t exactly be your bodyguard while high off my mind.¡±

    Decim grinned. ¡°A principled man, aren¡¯t you? Well, suit yourself.¡± He approached the nearest brothel. The lady standing at the front flinched upon seeing him. She immediately lowered her head in reverence.

    At the base of the lady¡¯s neck, beneath the veil of the whitening makeup, Emil could see glaring glimpses of rashes and skin lesions. He listened as Decim made some distasteful jokes and offered a few flattering comments. Then at the end of their brief exchange, he handed her a pouch of the drug and received a purse of coins in return.

    ¡°And that¡¯s how we conduct business,¡± Decim said. He faced Emil with a villainous smile, ¡°Miles, do tell me. Does the sight of this disgust you?¡±

    ¡°¡­It does,¡± Emil admitted, clenching his teeth, ¡°But I¡¯m not na?ve. I know what I walked into. I¡¯m not going to let it affect my job.¡±

    ¡°Great,¡± Decim giggled, ¡°I do enjoy working with a professional.¡±

    ***

    What the hell am I doing?

    Three days had passed. Each evening Emil would accompany Decim in his daily patrol of the slums, collecting payments from Nostra owned businesses and dealing with whatever nuisances that arose. During that time, Emil had gotten no closer to figuring out the whereabouts of the stolen Azurite cache.

    Hopefully Van¡¯s having better luck in Aois Nua.

    Aside from his frustrations over the lack of progress, he hated how he was already growing numb towards the deplorable state of the slums. His disgust from the first day had faded¡ªno longer did he feel the same rage watching the slum residents get exploited by the syndicates. The speed of how fast he accepted this as normal was alarming. It worked well to keep his cover intact, but Emil had to constantly remind himself that this was all wrong.

    Today, he noticed that they were deviating from Decim¡¯s usual route. Nostra occupied the northeastern quadrant of slums. They had been walking west without rest since they left the watering hole.

    This is venturing towards Aois Nua¡¯s territory.

    Decim led them out of an alleyway and onto another main street within the slums. This time Emil immediately felt a shift in the air.

    A malicious tension suffused the vicinity. His skin began to crawl as if the malignant vibes were a tangible mass, threatening to swallow him whole. Between the three syndicates, Aois Nua was known for their savagery. While Nostra and Grenze were content as long as they were making money, Aois Nua actively sought out conflict and violence.

    The road before them seemed empty, devoid of life, but Emil could already feel several eyes scrutinizing their arrival, hiding amongst the dilapidated ruins.

    ¡°¡­This isn¡¯t Nostra territory anymore. What are we doing here?¡± he asked.

    Decim flashed him a knowing smile, ¡°You¡¯ve noticed? That¡¯s good. Be ready. Maybe you¡¯ll finally prove yourself useful today.¡± His words stung, although he wasn¡¯t wrong¡ªthere simply wasn¡¯t much for Emil to do during the past few days when Decim was patrolling Nostra¡¯s own territories.

    Decim added, ¡°I¡¯m meeting a client here. Don¡¯t ask why they decide to choose Aois Nua territory as the meeting place. All you need to know is that this is an important matter, so I expect you to make sure our conversation isn¡¯t interrupted.¡±

    He expects trouble? Emil read between the lines. His discomfort must have been obvious as Decim suddenly broke into laughter. His shrill cackles rang across the eerie streets. Emil cringed at the grating sound. Does he not realize we¡¯re being observed?!

    ¡°Miles, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re getting cold feet just because you might have to do your job.¡±

    ¡°No. Just resolving myself,¡± Emil replied firmly.

    ¡°Good. Let¡¯s hurry up then. I¡¯m tired of all these eyes staring at me like I¡¯m an animal.¡±

    They entered a small alleyway off the corner of the main road. The pathway was formed by a cascade of dilapidated stone buildings roughly two-stories tall. The ground was littered with splintered planks and metal fragments. As they walked, Emil noticed an abnormal number of rats scurrying about. This place looked like it was part of a residential area, but the dearth of people implied otherwise.

    Darkness descended when Decim suddenly stopped before the hollowed doorway of a ruined building. ¡°I¡¯ll be in here,¡± he said.

    Emil tried to peek into the door, but the absence of light made it impossible to discern what¡¯s inside.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, just wait out here. I should be out in about fifteen minutes,¡± Decim said before scrolling into the building.

    Emil watched as Decim¡¯s body was swallowed by the darkness. Suddenly, he was alone, in the middle of a violent syndicate¡¯s territory.

    The eyes hiding in the vicinity all fixated on him.

 Chapter 11 - A dance with the devil (2)

    Decim

    The air was heavy with the stank of rot.

    Decim walked carefully as he stepped through the dark, dilapidated building. The darkness seemed to wrap around him, muting his senses, distorting his field of view. Vaguely, he could make out the faint vestiges of his surroundings thanks to the glimpses of moonlight leaking in from the walls. The room he was in seemed mostly empty¡ªminus the fragments of rotting wood decorating the corners.

    He took a step. The old wooden flooring groaned with a dull creak. The sound was blaringly loud against the suffocating silence. A den of rats suddenly scurried nearby.

    ¡°You¡¯re here.¡±

    The voice nearly made him jump. Decim twisted his head frantically, trying to discern the source of the voice.

    ¡°Keep walking straight.¡±

    He obliged cautiously¡ªonly because he had no choice. Eventually, he found himself before the doorway of another room. Moonlight streaked in from a small window to his left, faintly illuminating just a portion of the space beneath. Below the silver lights, a person stood by the window sill, peering into the night.

    ¡°Kleine?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s me,¡± the person named Kleine turned around. Decim shuddered as their eyes met.

    Pale skin. A pair of piercing eyes colored in crimson. An impassive, doll-like face. Their hair¡ªlong, white as snow, glistening under the moon¡¯s illumination. Moonlight seemed to wrap around them, enshrouding their body in an ethereal veil.

    An otherworldly beauty.

    Decim would have mistaken them for a woman, if he didn¡¯t know in advance the person he was expecting to meet. It was now obvious why Kleine requested this dreary location¡ªwith such a breathtaking appearance, it was impossible for him to not draw attention.

    ¡°My name is Decim,¡± he introduced himself as he slowly took out a pouch concealed on his body. At Kleine¡¯s behest, he unveiled its contents. There was a small stone. Moonlight bounced off its uneven edges, producing a subtle azure glow.

    ¡°Five pounds of Azurite. Processed and refined. As you requested,¡± he set the leather pouch down.

    ¡°And the rest?¡± Kleine asked. His face remained unreadable, barely acknowledging the transaction.

    ¡°Stored safely under my jurisdiction. It hasn¡¯t moved since that swordsman of yours helped us retrieve it.¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t be safe there for long. Steiger is undoubtedly looking for it,¡± Kleine said, ¡°Rumors are already spreading that one of the syndicates stole something valuable from them. Given how fast the news is moving, this is likely Steiger¡¯s handiwork. Both Aois Nua and Grenze are already reacting. They¡¯re trying to draw you out.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m aware of that.¡±

    ¡°Then you should be moving it to a securer location.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m making preparations. But it takes time. The bottleneck is procuring more personnel to aid with the transport,¡± Decim admitted, ¡°I need time to verify their skills and their loyalty.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re recruiting at this timing?¡± Kleine asked, dumbfounded, ¡°All you¡¯re doing is adding spies into your ranks. That is a mistake.¡±

    ¡°I need numbers to defend against the inevitable raids from Grenze and Aois Nua.¡±

    ¡°What you need is speed and secrecy,¡± Kleine¡¯s voice lowered to a growl. ¡°You¡¯re still treating this as a petty territorial squabble between the syndicates. But it¡¯s not Aois Nua and Grenze that you need to worry about. It¡¯s Steiger.¡±

    The air suddenly thickened with murderous intent. Kleine¡¯s face barely moved an inch, but his impassive demeanor instantly turned cold.

    ¡°Perhaps you¡¯ve forgotten since you¡¯ve been left alone for so long, but the only reason you¡¯re allowed to exist is because Steiger tolerates it. There¡¯s no amount of lowlife rabble in the slums that would help you survive against their raids.¡±

    Decim realized his hands had balled into fists. His teeth were clenched, baring angrily at Kleine.

    Kleine continued, unfazed by Decim¡¯s open hostility, ¡°A missing Azurite cache is a national security threat. Steiger will not ignore this. The only reason they haven¡¯t done anything significant yet is because they aren¡¯t sure who has it. You need to cull your numbers. Eliminate anyone that might be a rat. Only your most trusted should be tasked with this job. If Steiger gets confirmation that Nostra is the one holding the Azurite, then consider all of your lives forfeit.¡±

    ¡­He¡¯s not wrong. Decim clicked his tongue in frustration. Just a week ago, one of Grenze¡¯s drug processing facilities was apparently dismantled by a Cleaner. Years of Steiger overlooking their operations had made him arrogant.

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep your words in mind,¡± Decim hissed, reluctant to concede. His chest burned. The realization of who they were actually dealing with finally began to settle in.

    Suddenly, he was having regrets about this job.

    ***

    Emil

    Emil waited by the entrance, staring at the ominous moon lingering in the shadows of the night skies. Frigid winds grazed his arms, stealing away vestiges of warmth. It was silent. Oddly so. It was as if a thick blanket had been draped over the area, snuffing and muting all sounds.

    Aside from the rats scampering about on the ground, Emil couldn¡¯t feel any other presences. The buildings around him were completely dark. Even at night, in Lower Dannan, there would usually be the occasional candle light glimmering from the edge of windows.

    Not here. Even the prying eyes from earlier had disappeared. It only exacerbated things, however, as his imagination of the unknown ran wild. Emil¡¯s senses assured him that he was fine, but his instincts refused to be convinced.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Am I being too paranoid? Barely ten minutes had passed and his unease was already growing unbearable.

    The clocktower suddenly roared in the background. Emil nearly jumped out of his skin, startled by the blaring overtones. Wait¡ª Without warning, he caught sounds scurrying from the darkness. Footsteps. They came from all directions, almost masked by the ringing clocktower. They were too heavy to be from the rats.

    ¡°Decim!¡± Emil called into the dark room. He suddenly felt eyes searing into his back of his head, ¡°Decim! We need to leave. Now. There¡¯s a bunch of people coming this way. Likely hostile.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ve finally taken action, huh?¡± Decim¡¯s voice echoed from the darkness. Another voice suddenly followed.

    ¡°There¡¯s a lot of them. Do you want a hand?¡±

    ¡°No. My partner is apparently quite competent,¡± Decim said as he emerged from the dark room. He glanced around, taking in the situation. A vicious smirk soon crossed his face. Emil wasn¡¯t sure if he was insane or oblivious to their predicament. They were deep inside Aois Nua territory with no reinforcements.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go before they¡ª¡±

    He caught the mechanical click of a drawstring. Emil immediately tossed his head back as he shoved Decim aside. Something sharp cut through the air. It struck the doorway with a sharp thud, etching itself into the wooden frame.

    An iron bolt.

    ¡°Move! Move!¡± Emil pushed Decim forward. The two of them broke into a sprint as a barrage of bolts rained down on the spot they were just standing at. The moon was in full bloom at this point, no longer concealed by the dark clouds as it casted its ominous gaze upon their location. Emil suddenly felt very exposed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t stop! We need get into the shadows!¡±

    He picked up a rusted fragment of metal on the ground as they ran by¡ªusing it as a makeshift shield. Projectiles continued to pepper them from behind. The fragment in his hands rattled violently each time a bolt bounced off the surface.

    There were a few meters left until they were out of the moonlight.

    ¡°Keep going, almost th¡ª¡±

    Something wet suddenly splattered against the back of his neck. Emil groaned. Pain seared from the back of his left shoulder. Iron teared through his flesh, striking bone¡ªthe impact nearly knocked him over.

    ¡°Miles?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± he screamed. The pain was manageable. He¡¯s suffered much worse. What scared him, however, was whether or not the bolt was poisoned. I guess I¡¯ll find out in a bit. There was nothing that could be done right now. They needed to shake off their pursuers first.

    Finally, they made their way into the shadows. Without the moon¡¯s illuminations, the accuracy of the enemy¡¯s crossbows lessened significantly.

    Emil tossed the useless scrap in his hands away as he tried to catch his breath, ¡°How far away are we from the main road?¡±

    ¡°Just up ahead,¡± Decim replied curtly, lacking his usual chattiness. Still, the languid man seemed composed, strangely unfazed by their situation.

    They were about to speed up when an array of torches emerged from the bend in the road. A group of men stomped onto the path. Each of them had the insignia of a cross coiled by snakes woven on their sleeves.

    It was the symbol of the Aois Nua syndicate.

    Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake.

    The men¡¯s eyes gleamed like predators. Their mouths curved into a murderous sneer. Machetes and knives spun excitedly in their hands, eager to draw blood.

    They were surrounded. Arbalists were at their rear, and these men blocked their escape.

    Do I have to use my Gift? Heat immediately surged from his chest in response to his thoughts. Emil suppressed it. The decision couldn¡¯t be made lightly. The moment he exposed himself as an Exalted, his cover would be blown. Decim¡¯s death also had to be avoided¡ªletting his boss die would instantly forfeit his Nostra membership.

    No, I can still get out of this.

    ¡°I¡¯m opening a path! Stay behind me!¡± Emil yelled as he rushed headfirst into the crowd of enemies. The Aois Nua men laughed, roaring with glee at his reckless charge. Unfazed, Emil brandished the machete strapped by his waist. He swung at the nearest man. Blood sprayed as his cleaver ripped through the man¡¯s throat. His victim collapsed, twitching in a pile of gore, choking in disturbing garbles as he struggled to hold onto life.

    The laughter ceased. The members of Aois Nua froze at the savage violence. The prey that they thought had been cornered suddenly pushed back with a frightening vengeance. Emil didn¡¯t waste this chance. As the Aois Nua soldiers were still in shock, he lunged.

    His eyes grew cold. Time seemed to slow. The noises around him became muffled. His body moved instinctively, flowing with a surgical precision. Like an efficient machine, he weaved and hacked, adhering to his Steiger training.

    Decimate them. The witch¡¯s whisper cackled in his head.

    Squelch!

    The unsetting sound of flesh being cleaved apart blared in his ears. Limbs, dismembered, flopped to the ground. Blood drizzled. The screams of his foes shrieked in the background. With cruel indifference, he continued chopping away to clear a path forward.

    Something tore into his right arm. Emil ignored the warm blood splattering against his face. His hands felt numb. Nonetheless, he tightened his grip and brought the machete down. The blade carved into the shoulder of the nearest Aois Nua member. Unlike before, however, his swing was abruptly stopped. The machete remained embedded in the man¡¯s shoulder¡ªhis bones blocked the cleaver¡¯s path, preventing a clean dismemberment.

    His right arm suddenly lacked strength.

    Emil tried to pull the cleaver out, but the glint of steel flashed in his periphery. He ducked¡ªa knife slashed the air where his head had been. He was forced to retreat. Iron bolts whizzed by as he leapt back, taking away chunks of his leg. He clenched his teeth, feeling the agony this time as the attack snapped him out of his trance.

    His injuries were piling up. He lost his weapon. He no longer had the initiative.

    Where¡¯s Decim?

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough.¡± The man in question suddenly stepped in front of him. His languid expression was gone as his face glowed with a renewed vigor. His back straightened. His hunchback disappeared. ¡°Who would have thought that a beast was hiding behind those intelligent blue eyes? Looks really are deceiving.¡±

    Decim brought down his hands. The rings on his fingers suddenly glowed with a deep, cerulean blue. Emil¡¯s jaws dropped. There was only one object in this world capable of emitting such a brilliant hue.

    Azurite.

    ¡°Now sit back and observe!¡± Decim said as he lifted his hands. The puddles of blood spilled by Emil earlier suddenly rose. Rapidly, they agglomerated, condensing into a solid scarlet sphere just above Decim¡¯s head. Then, with a snap of his fingers, the sphere of blood splintered into thousands of tiny needles.

    ¡°Pierce.¡±

    The needles of blood quivered for a split second, almost hesitant¡ªbefore surging forth with vengeance. Like a barrage of arrows, they rained down on the members of Aois Nua. Blood-curdling screams filled the night. Men were mercilessly skewered. As they bled, Decim seized control of their blood immediately, adding to his arsenal to continue the assault.

    At his flank, Emil overheard the clink of crossbows. Before he could call out the attack, Decim had already flicked his hands back. A sheet of blood manifested from the bloody mist, coagulating immediately into a solid form.

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    The bolts bounced off the shield of blood. As the projectiles stopped, Decim swept his hands, retaliating with another barrage of needles in the direction of the arbalists.

    Suddenly, it was silent.

    The corpses of the Aois Nua members painted the ground in a river of scarlet. Emil couldn¡¯t help but wince at the gruesome sight. He was no stranger to gore as a Cleaner of Steiger, but even so, there were limits to what he could stomach.

    ¡°I think that¡¯s it,¡± Decim said casually. He snapped his fingers. The bloody mist in the air suddenly dispersed. Blood that had been controlled by mana fell onto the ground with a soft spat. The air was thick with a ferric stench.

    ¡°Good work, Miles,¡± Decim said, extending a hand. Emil stared at it in disbelief. A deluge of thoughts spiraled in his head.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡ª¡±

    ¡°An Exalted,¡± Decim said with ecstasy in his eyes, ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve been able to use my Gift. What a nostalgic feeling.¡±

    He was evaluating me this entire time.

    Decim¡¯s Gift wiped out the entirety of the Aois Nua forces in the blink of an eye. His nonchalant attitude this entire evening suddenly made sense¡ªas an Exalted, he was never in any real danger.

    ¡°So? Are you going to accept my hands? Or did the sight of a Gift scare you into disobedience?¡± Decim let out a shrill laugh, ¡°Your savagery has earned my respect, Miles. Therefore, I granted you the privilege of knowing my secret. I¡¯m an Exalted. One of the few confined in these slums.¡±

    He dangled his hands in front of Emil once more.

    ¡°And here¡¯s to our wonderful partnership.¡±

    Ensnared by his presence, Emil reluctantly accepted Decim''s hands. The foul texture of blood was caked along his palms.

 Chapter 12 - Something feels wrong

    Emil

    ¡°How are your injuries?¡± Caiside asked as Emil entered the watering hole.

    ¡°Fine. Bearable,¡± Emil replied curtly, feigning exhaustion from a long day¡¯s work. Decim had given him a day to rest after returning from their client meeting inside Aois Nua¡¯s territory.

    The injuries he suffered that night were nothing major for someone who survived Steiger''s hellish training regiment. Still, he took the rare opportunity to clear his mind and share his findings with Van. ¡°Miles¡± was just a regular blacksmith apprentice after all.

    ¡°Let me know if you want something to take off the edge,¡± Caiside offered with a smile. Today he accompanied Emil as they climbed down to the basement floor of the watering hole. Baer and his men were already there. The brawny leader flashed his signature smile as their eyes met, before stomping towards the back of the room.

    ¡°Here we go,¡± Baer muttered as he pried apart a piece of the wood attached to the wall. It revealed an opening to an underground tunnel, barely high enough for a normal person to fit when crouched. Without being prompted, his men began filing into the narrow passageway.

    Like Grenze, Nostra also controlled a hidden network of underground tunnels that connected different locations within the Lower Dannan slums. Today, they were heading towards Decim¡¯s office. The man had called for a special meeting.

    I swear these guys have a fetish for staying underground.

    Emil winced once it was his turn to enter. He was hardly the biggest person around, but even then, the narrowness of the tunnel was giving him trouble. Claustrophobia clawed the back of his mind. The wet, earthy musk of the tunnel was nauseating. The heavy pants echoing from further down the tunnel only added to his discomfort.

    ¡°Miles, nicely done,¡± Baer, who was behind him, suddenly said.

    ¡°¡­What do you mean?¡± Emil replied, fighting to keep his voice as steady as possible. Panic was starting to creep into his throat.

    ¡°Decim was singing praises for your performance the other day. You should rejoice¡ªhe rarely speaks well of anyone. Good stuff man,¡± Baer said excitedly, ¡°Let me know if you ever get the itch to punch something. I¡¯m always down for a good spar.¡±

    Emil rolled his eyes. Why am I not surprised? Baer was the prototypical muscle head¡ªsomeone who only thought about strength and fighting. They were simple and obedient if you had their respect, but notoriously difficult to deal with once they got an ego. Emil learned that the hard way dealing with Raz back in the day.

    ¡°I was just doing my job,¡± he said unassumingly. He also learned that projecting a certain amount of indifference always seemed to make them impressed. Maybe they see it as confidence.

    After what felt like a grueling eternity, Emil finally arrived at the end of the tunnel. He pried himself out of the musky passageway. His limbs relaxed with relief at having more than an inch of space in his proximity.

    He suddenly found himself before a massive subterranean chamber. The area was modestly decorated and furnished generously with an array of wooden chairs and tables. A stage had been built on the far side of the chamber, seemingly designed for an orator to deliver speeches. Calling this an ¡°office¡± was a gross understatement¡ªthis was an entire auditorium.

    Decim¡¯s status must be higher than I realized. There was at least one hundred people that could fit comfortably in this underground hall. It seemed excessively extravagant for a common manager of a syndicate.

    ¡°Is Decim an executive or something?¡± he asked. Baer shot him a confused look.

    ¡°Yeah. You didn¡¯t know? Decim is one of the highest-ranking members in Nostra.¡±

    ¡°¡­I see.¡±

    And why the hell did no one tell me?!

    Emil¡¯s heart sank as he recalled his boorish attitude over the past few days. In hindsight, perhaps it should have been obvious. Decim had his hands in nearly all of Nostra¡¯s businesses. Above all, he was an Exalted.

    Fucking muscle head. Emil gave Baer the side-eye when he wasn¡¯t looking. The man should have been the one to say something when he made the initial introductions.

    Footsteps suddenly clacked across hardwood. It was Decim who scrolled onto the stage while clapping for everyone¡¯s attention. The miscellaneous conversations amongst those in attendance immediately silenced in his presence.

    ¡°I see that everyone is here. Good. Let us start the meeting,¡± Decim said as he scanned the audience with a piercing gaze, ¡°The people gathered here tonight have been selected for their track record, competence, and loyalty. I have an important job that must be executed to perfection. It¡¯s a simple affair really, but it¡¯s been made complicated by some nasty rumors going around.¡±

    Decim described the rumors, detailing how Steiger was currently monitoring the slums after one of the syndicates stole something under their grasp. The mere mention of Steiger instantly dampened the air with an unsettling tension.

    Emil narrowed his eyes, trying to understand the implications of this new information. Despite Decim¡¯s statement, whispers of Steiger investigating the slums hadn¡¯t reached his ears.

    ¡­It doesn¡¯t make sense for the syndicates to be spreading these rumors. They must realize that all they¡¯ll be doing is inviting Steiger to investigate the slums. That''s the last thing they would want. Assuming the syndicate leaders aren¡¯t complete idiots, this must the witch¡¯s handiwork.

    Emil grinded the inside of his teeth. The witch¡¯s interference was an indirect message that she was getting impatient.

    On the other hand, does this mean Nostra isn¡¯t the one with the Azurite? Emil pondered the possibility as Decim continued to explain in the background.

    No. It¡¯s possible that Nostra has it, but Decim isn¡¯t aware. He might not be involved with the Azurite business. Nostra would want to minimize information leaks by restricting knowledge about the Azurite to only those who need to know.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°The job is to deliver a shipment of goods to an important client in the slums. However, with these rumors circulating, our rivals, Grenze and Aois Nua, as well the dogs of Steiger, will all be keeping their eyes peeled on any significant movements. Tensions are a little high. Undoubtedly, there¡¯ll be those who are overeager to attack anything that they see.¡±

    It¡¯s also possible that Nostra has it and Decim knows. This is not something he would reveal to his henchmen after all.

    ¡°So, here¡¯s the plan. The delivery will take place tomorrow evening. This group will act as a decoy by escorting a fake wagon of goods to a destined spot. While you guys draw the attention of the onlookers, the actual shipment will occur on a separate route. I will be leaking your decoy route in advance,¡± Decim explained, ¡°Baer, you¡¯re the commanding leader. Caiside, you¡¯re to assist him as the second-in-command. You should expect combat.¡±

    There is also a possibility that this shipment is the missing Azurite. Emil squirmed at the realization. He wanted to ask what they were helping to deliver, but the question would immediately make him suspicious. Still, if this shipment was the Azurite, letting it slip away would be a huge blunder. Not only it would be in the possession of a new unknown owner, but they would also have to restart their investigations and track it down once more.

    This might be my only opportunity.

    Emil grappled with indecision as Decim wrapped up the meeting.

    ¡°If you do find yourselves under attack, try to hold out until the midnight bell.¡±

    ***

    Emil sat at the counter of a small bar located in the corner of the auditorium. Decim¡¯s meeting had adjourned. The Nostra members present remained to discuss the details and logistics of tomorrow¡¯s delivery.

    At least that was supposed to be the plan.

    ¡°To my brethren!¡± Baer¡¯s rambunctious voice echoed over the auditorium. He raised his hand skyward, holding a huge cup filled to the brim with ale. Against the rambunctious cheers of his men, he greedily downed the cup in a single gulp.

    Somehow, I feel like nothing else productive is going to be done tonight.

    Emil tried to ignore the cacophony behind him. As he turned away from the festivities, he found a glass filled with vibrant colors waiting for him at the counter.

    ¡°¡­What¡¯s this?¡±

    ¡°Just a small concoction,¡± Caiside replied, taking his natural spot behind the bar, ¡°Something to shake off the nerves. You look anxious.¡±

    Did I? Emil frowned as he scrutinized the colorful layers of the drink. He didn¡¯t think he was that terrible at concealing his expressions. Perhaps his uncertainty was affecting his composure.

    ¡°The color is from juice. There¡¯s some herbal tea, infused with lime and some spices for energy. I added just a tiny ounce of alcohol.¡± Caiside winked, ¡°A spur-of-the-moment decision. You don¡¯t look like you¡¯re in the mood to drink.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Emil replied, slightly wary. He took a sip regardless, not wanting to act suspicious amongst Decim¡¯s most trusted men. The drink was sweet, not overpowering, accented by a slight sourness and spicy aftertaste that went smoothly down his throat. He observed his body for any adverse reactions. Nothing.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­novel,¡± he commented.

    Caiside let out a laugh, ¡°Never heard that one before. Did it help with the nerves?¡±

    ¡°Not really,¡± Emil admitted, ¡°But this is normal. Being anxious before doing something dangerous is normal. That¡ª¡± he thumbed at the festivities behind him, ¡°¡ªis not.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mind Baer. That¡¯s just his way of keeping morale up. After all, some of us might not make it back tomorrow.¡±

    Fair point, Emil thought as he continued to sip on his drink. The route that Decim drew up took them through both Grenze and Aois Nua territories. Grenze might leave them alone, but a fight on Aois Nua¡¯s turf was pretty much unavoidable.

    ¡°Here¡¯s the route that the actual delivery is going to take tomorrow,¡± Caiside suddenly said, producing a folded map inscribed with ink. Emil raised an eye. Why is he showing me this?

    ¡°Decim wanted you to know. This is the route that we¡¯re supposed to draw attention away from as the decoy,¡± Caiside explained as if reading his hesitation.

    Curiosity overcame his suspicions as he reached for the map. It was a crude drawing of the Lower Dannan slums. Emil committed the marked route to the memory, trying to reconcile the map with the physical locations.

    ¡°Why me?¡± he asked.

    ¡°In case I die,¡± Caiside shrugged, ¡°Someone else needs to know which routes we need to avoid. Baer is ill-suited for it. I¡¯m usually the brains and he¡¯s the brawn. I guess Decim thinks you¡¯re the next best thing.¡±

    Decim? This was Decim¡¯s decision? Alarms raised in his head. His hands suddenly grew sweaty. Something about this felt wrong.

    Emil tried his luck with a question, ¡°Any idea what we¡¯re delivering?¡±

    ¡°A few carets of sapphire, apparently.¡±

    Sapphire. The word thundered in his head. No way. Emil reached for his drink and took a long, cautious sip. He focused on the sweet and sour flavors of the concoction, trying to distract himself from his raging heart.

    Sapphire. It was a gemstone that radiated a blue cerulean hue.

    Emil swallowed his drink and asked, ¡°Decim explicitly said it was sapphire?¡± This question was stretching it. But he had to be sure.

    Caiside blinked, as if caught off guard by his bizarre question, ¡°No, actually. He just said it was an expensive blue gemstone. Enough of it to make a fortune.¡±

    There was another stone that also produced a blue glow.

    Azurite.

    ***

    What do I do?

    Emil leaned against the wall, frustrated, agonizing over his next course of action. He was resting inside his temporary dwellings¡ªa modest room in a cheap inn deep within the industrial district. It was an ideal location for his undercover mission. Nostra¡¯s eyes did not extend this far out of the slums, and the inn was a comfortable distance from the tavern where Mia and Raz were staying. The last thing he wanted was to be recognized by some of the regulars at the tavern.

    He replayed the information unveiled this evening. Decim is aware of rumors that something was stolen from Steiger. The suspects are the syndicates. He has a delivery for an important client. The shipment is apparently a few carets of an expensive blue gemstone.

    There¡¯s a high chance the shipment might be the Azurite. The timing of the delivery seemed too convenient of a coincidence.

    At the very least, it was a solid lead worth pursuing. Given he and Van have already spent a week undercover without making much progress, this information felt like a lifeline.

    I should contact him now and get Steiger to make a move. The thought boomed in Emil¡¯s head, but for some reason, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to take action. A sickening dread stirred in the pits of his stomach. Something continued to gnaw in the back of his mind, begging for him to reconsider.

    What am I worried about? What am I missing? His gut feeling warned him that something was off. Emil scoured his memories of being undercover for the past few days, trying to figure out the source of his unease.

    Decim¡¯s words suddenly echoed in his head, ¡°The people gathered here have been selected for their track record, competence, and loyalty.¡±

    Emil¡¯s eyes went wide. Then why me? Why was I chosen? Decim¡¯s words might have applied to the rest of the members in attendance, but not him. He was only initiated a few days ago. He had a single instance in Aois Nua¡¯s territory where he demonstrated his competence and loyalty, but that should not have been enough for him to be considered ¡°trustworthy.¡± At the very least, he should not have been amongst the likes of Baer and Caiside.

    Am I overthinking this?

    He bit his thumb in frustration, embroidered with uncertainty.

    Decim. The answer lies with him. Based of what I know of him, does he seem like the type of person who could trust someone so easily?

    ¡°No,¡± he muttered to himself. He didn¡¯t even need to think about it. The person known as Decim was cunning, methodical, and skeptical. He was conniving. He scrutinized everything. He regularly withheld information¡ªonly revealing what he felt was necessary.

    And he was constantly testing me.

    A snap of clarity flickered in his head.

    Oh, I get it now.

    The relentless gnawing in his subconscious vanished.

    This feels like another test.

 Chapter 13 - Thunderous rain

    Emil

    It was night of the mission.

    Emil tossed the hood of his cloak over his head and fastened his Nostra mask over his mouth. Rain poured from the pitch-black skies, slamming against the earth in violent patters. Cautiously, he advanced¡ªhis feet already drenched in the puddles of the incessant rain as he held onto a lantern encased in glass. The flickering candle inside barely illuminated a few meters in front of him.

    Baer and Caiside were close behind. Further down the line was a wagon hauled by a few of Baer¡¯s sturdier men. The rest of them surrounded the wagon, diligently escorting it down the muddy roads.

    Emil was at the vanguard. His eyes darted back and forth, scrutinizing the darkness for any signs of an ambush. They were supposed to be the decoy to draw attention away from the delivery of the real shipment. If they did their job well, then a fight was almost inevitable.

    I don¡¯t know if I made the right choice. Emil¡¯s mind drifted amidst the raging downpour. In the end, he decided not to inform Steiger of this potential lead. His gut feelings last night convinced him that this was another test devised by Decim. When he thought about it rationally, however, he couldn¡¯t erase the thought that this was a missed opportunity.

    This is stupid. Did I seriously let a vague feeling change my mind? He gritted his teeth, suddenly regretting his inaction. This was an affair of national security he reminded himself. The royal family and House Belle, the victim of the stolen Azurite, were observing this situation closely. The witch will not tolerate failure.

    Fuck. He clenched his fists. Rain thundered in his ears. I really hope I¡¯m not wrong.

    ¡°Take a left, Miles,¡± Caiside said, his voice muffled over the raging rain. Emil turned, rounding the bend of the road.

    ¡°We¡¯re out of Nostra territory now. This is the neutral area. Stay vigilant,¡± Caiside announced. Emil narrowed his eyes, picturing the map in his head. They were about a quarter of the way through the assigned route. The wagon behind them creaked loudly as it struggled to make the turn.

    From the lantern''s dim lights, he could make out the outlines of their surroundings. The road they were on was straight, flanked on both sides by scaffolding from abandoned and unfinished buildings. The strange feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu wormed into his conscious. This is near the compound. His heart screamed, overpowering the stampeding rain. He hadn¡¯t set foot in this area since that incident.

    Stop. He bit on the inside his gums to steady his nerves. The throbbing pain echoed in his mouth. You can have your breakdown later.

    Suddenly, he caught a distinct mechanical thunk amidst the rain. Emil turned. A glint of silver crossed the air from the atop of the scaffoldings. He instinctively covered his vitals with his arms.

    ¡°Argh!¡± the man beside him suddenly groaned. He writhed maniacally¡ªthe light from his lantern flickering out of the control until it smashed onto the ground. He collapsed, twitching, choking as blood pooled from the bolt embedded in his neck.

    ¡°We¡¯re under attack!¡± Emil yelled.

    ¡°Shields up!¡± Baer immediately ordered. His henchmen reached for the metallic plates strapped on their backs and raised it above their heads. They crouched to make themselves as tiny of a target as possible. Iron bolts shot from the skies, peppering the plated shields with heavy thuds.

    Emil dove to the side and clung to the wall of the left side of the road. The lantern was still in his hands, projecting a dim glow into the darkness. The man that was beside him now laid lifelessly on the ground.

    Shit! If he hadn¡¯t gotten caught up by his memories, he might have noticed the ambush earlier.

    He raised his lantern and peered into the darkness. Several bolts instantly flew in his direction. He dropped flat onto the ground upon seeing the glimpses of silver. The bolts blasted the walls right above his head.

    Arbalists. About fifty meters away. Atop of the makeshift tower from the scaffoldings.

    Harrowing screams from Baer¡¯s men soon screeched over the downpour. Despite their shields, the iron bolts were finding their marks in the gaps between their formation. Slowly, injuries were piling up. Men began to collapse. The wagon couldn¡¯t advance further. There was no cover on this road. There was nowhere to hide and nothing to protect them from the relentless barrage, except for the flimsy plates of metal in their hands.

    I need to get rid of the arbalists.

    Emil chained the lantern against his hips and sped across the road towards the closest tower. Baer¡¯s voice cried from behind, ¡°Miles! What are you doing?!¡±

    What am I doing?

    The question thundered in his head. He was rushing into the fray alone into an unknown group of assailants. It was foolish. Even if he was an Exalted, he was still human. He wasn¡¯t invulnerable. And for what? To save the lives of a couple of lowlifes dwelling in the slums?

    Over the past week, he grew increasingly disgusted with how Nostra exploited the residents of the slums. He was honestly glad that some of their members were dying a pitiful death.

    But even so, I¡¯m still undercover. Even if he had to turn a blind eye to revolting scenes before him. Even if he was disgusted with himself. Even if he had to put his own life on the line. Emil could not betray his cover.

    Because doing so will forsake his mission.

    ¡°I¡¯m attacking!¡± Emil yelled back, unsure if his voice would travel. The base of the scaffolding came into the view. As Emil got closer, he could make out silhouettes of five men guarding the base of the tower. Under the illumination of his lantern, he caught a glimpse of the insignia woven on their shoulders.

    Aois Nua again.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Emil revealed the machete beneath his cloak. He lunged at the nearest person and lashed out with an overhead swing. The Aois Nua soldier shrieked as Emil brought down the machete against his shoulder.

    Clank!

    Huh? There was resistance against his attack. His machete bounced off as the rebounding shock numbed his hands.

    They¡¯re wearing armor.

    Unfazed, he swung laterally. The Aois Nua soldier was still reeling from the initial strike¡ªdefenseless as Emil¡¯s machete sliced through his neck. The other four guarding the tower finally snapped into action.

    Emil shoved the dead soldier backwards into the direction of the oncoming guards. Three of them were blocked, entangled by the mass of bodies. The fourth one rushed at him, hatchet in hand, aimed at his head. Emil leaned back as his assailant¡¯s attack swiped the air uselessly. Without hesitation, he drove his foot into the guard¡¯s knees.

    The horrific crunch of bones teared through the air. He immediately put the man out of his misery.

    Behind him, he could hear Baer¡¯s voice shouting out orders. The clash of steel and blood echoed over the rain. More Aois Nua soldiers streamed out of the darkness, surrounding the wagon. The rest of their assault had begun. With everyone occupied by combat, no one from Nostra should be watching him.

    It should be fine now. Emil took a deep breath. A cerulean blue suddenly glowed from the inside of his clothes. His chest instantly felt lighter as if his heart was caressed by the soothing light. High density mana embraced his body. It came from the fragment of Azurite dangling from his pendant.

    The mana responded to his will, coursing through his body, imbuing his limbs with an inhuman strength.

    He was using Mana Arts¡ªan alternative technique that allowed the Exalted to use mana itself, rather than manipulate it to manifest their Gifts.

    Emil rushed at the remaining soldiers. The guards stared at him in disbelief¡ªhesitant at the otherworldly light surrounding his arms. Mana was usually invisible to Ordinaries, but in high concentrations, they could be seen as a pale blue light.

    Taking advantage of their hesitation, Emil swung. His fist drove deep into the first guard¡¯s chest. His body armor screeched as it caved under Emil¡¯s inhumane strength. His ribs soon followed, fracturing with a resounding crack.

    Emil twisted his fist. The mana in his hands spontaneously burst, ejecting a concussive blast that flung the guard backwards. The guard¡¯s body crashed into the legs of the makeshift tower with the momentum of the mana blast. The scaffolding immediately collapsed, burying the remaining guards and arbalists atop into an untimely grave.

    One down. Emil stared at the carnage before turning to the remaining tower across the road. His eyes were icy cold, gleaming with a savage glint.

    ***

    Baer

    What the hell is he doing?!

    Baer was speechless as Miles¡¯ body disappeared into the rainy darkness. He was about to run after him when Caiside pulled him back.

    ¡°Baer! We don¡¯t have time for him!¡± Caiside yelled, his face frantic with fear. Baer finally realized that something was wrong. Out of the darkness, members of Aois Nua suddenly emerged from their flanks and sides.

    They knew we were coming, Baer sneered uneasily. He was glad that they were fulfilling their roles as the decoy for Decim, but the number of enemies was beyond his expectations. They were here to buy time, not to get slaughtered.

    ¡°Form squares!¡± he ordered above the roaring rain. His men immediately shifted into a square formation with the wagon at its center. Their shields were raised to the front, forming a formidable wall along the perimeter. In their main hands held machetes brandished at the side, waiting, ready to attack once the enemies got close.

    In the near distance, something tall seemed to have collapsed amidst the darkness. Baer noticed that the attacks from the arbalists had lessened significantly. That must be Miles¡¯ doing. He smirked wildly, resolved not to be outdone by the newcomer.

    ¡°Roar! Slaughter them!¡± he yelled. His men responded with a resounding cry.

    The soldiers of Aois Nua rushed in. They slammed into their square formation from all sides simultaneously. The walls of shields held firm. Machetes slewed through the air, clashing against flesh and iron. Bodies began to topple as the deaths steadily rose.

    ¡°Caiside! Take command!¡± Baer said, wrapping his fists in a pair of iron gauntlets. The rear of their formation was being pushed back. He jumped into the frontlines, wasting no time as he immediately lunged at the nearest foe.

    Squelch!

    Blood sprayed. His victim went down as their face was brutalized by his savage blows. Baer didn¡¯t relent. Like a vicious beast, he continued his wild assault, rampaging through the enemy ranks with reckless abandon.

    More. His mouth curved into a murderous smirk as another foe was downed.

    More! His heart thumped with ecstasy.

    More! More! More! His hands were already drenched in his enemy¡¯s blood. Bodies sprawled around him. Death loomed over his head, gnawing at his subconscious, threatening to devour him at any moment. He reveled in the fear, the thrill, the rush of fighting to survive aside his men.

    Could there have been a more joyous moment than this?

    ¡°Baer! We need support on the left flank!¡± Caiside¡¯s voice rang over the chaos. Baer halted his advance and spun back towards the left side of their formation. There, his men were getting violently pushed back.

    A single person led Aois Nua¡¯s advance. Baer watched as the leader unleashed a devastating punch against their defenses. The wall of shields instantly folded¡ªthe metal plate caved in like it was a piece of parchment, bending inwards with a metallic screech.

    The sight confounded him for just a moment. Abandoning his thoughts, Baer rushed at the leader of the assault. He tossed out a fast jab at the man¡¯s side. His fist landed¡ªnot against flesh, but something insanely hard. Baer winced as the recoil stunned his hands.

    The man turned to face him¡ªright as a machete came down on his blind spot.

    Clank!

    Baer¡¯s eyes grew wide. The machete chopped down at the man¡¯s bare shoulder. Just before the blade made contact, however, the surface of the man¡¯s shoulder suddenly morphed into a layer of silver. The result was the machete¡¯s blade bouncing off with a resounding thud.

    What the hell was that?

    There was nothing that could have explained what Baer just witnessed. In the midst of his confusion, the man spun around and delivered a kick into his assailant¡¯s torso. His leg was like a hot knife, slicing through Baer¡¯s henchman with ease. His henchman flopped onto the ground, eviscerated in half as his blood splattered against the rainy earth. The grotesque aftermath sent terror rippling down the line.

    Baer wavered for the first time.

    He''s like Decim. That was the only way to explain what he just saw. An Exalted. He wanted to order a retreat immediately. They stood no chance against one¡ªnot with just a group of Ordinaries.

    But the midnight bell hadn¡¯t rang yet.

    The Exalted lunged at him. Baer retaliated with a right cross, aimed at their neck. Cling! The Exalted didn¡¯t bother dodging, electing to take the hit head-on. His fist bounced off uselessly as the Exalted swung.

    He saw a glimpse of death. The Exalted¡¯s punch was like a steel hammer as it smashed into his chest. His body armor cracked instantly. His lungs screamed. His head tossed back, whiplashed and dazed. In the midst of his stupor, he felt himself airborne, before his body finally crashed into the wooden frame of the wagon.

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± he groaned. Pain seared from his ribs. Something threatened to erupt from his throat. Baer tried to suppress it, but instinct took over. He threw up. His chest was drenched in a viscous puddle of red. His vision blurred, frazzled by the concussive blow. Agony rippled through his lungs each time he breathed.

    Someone was screaming his name. But Baer could only keep his eyes on the Exalted. It trotted towards him with a sneering arrogance. The rest of his men were occupied by the other Aois Nua soldiers. Not that they can do anything anyways.

    He forced himself to smile. He tried to rise from his spot, but his body refused to cooperate. Slumped against the wagon, he simply stared at his executioner.

    There was no need to fear death. He knew that the moment he joined Nostra, his life was on a timer. Tonight was just the end of his luck.

    Heh, do your worse.

    As he embraced death, something shot into his vision. It dove into the Exalted, knocking it out of Baer¡¯s view.

 Chapter 14 - Wailing flames

    Emil

    Crash!

    The craggy earth stabbed into his side as Emil slammed into the ground, rolling¡ªhis body entangled with the Exalted.

    He tried to grapple the Exalted¡¯s arms when a silver glint suddenly flashed from below him. He tossed his head back. The arm of the Exalted blew by above his eyes in a wide crescent, narrowly missing a direct strike. Sensing danger, Emil jumped back in retreat.

    The Exalted slowly rose to his feet, his eyes glaring with murderous intent. Emil brushed the side of his chin. His fingertips were briefly bathed in warm blood before being washed away by the chilly rain.

    Great, another scar on the jaws.

    He was isolated with Aois Nua¡¯s Exalted, a distance away from where the main battle was taking place. After eliminating the arbalists, Emil returned to help his Nostra companions. When he saw the Exalted in action, he immediately charged into its blind spot. With his body fortified by mana, he slammed him through the brittle walls on the side of the road. They landed in the ruins of a compound.

    The area was nearly pitch-black. Only the lantern hooked onto his belt provided the dimmest of illuminations. In the background behind his foe, he could make out the faint outlines of an abandoned building. Light also bounced off the Exalted¡¯s limbs, glimmering with a metallic luster.

    From what I can tell, his Gift allows him to encase parts of his body in steel. But is it just the skin that¡¯s fortified or does it also include the flesh and bone as well?

    He considered his options. The Exalted¡¯s Gift was formidable in close combat, but he should be fine as long as he avoided a direct hit.

    If only his skin is metallized, I can grapple his arms and then try to break the bones and joints. But if it¡¯s the entire limb¡ª

    He had no time to think. The Exalted suddenly lunged with a wide jab. Emil stepped beneath the arc of his swing. Sensing an opportunity, he charged in to grab the outstretched arm.

    His instincts screamed. Emil immediately abandoned the attack and dove to the ground. Metal sliced the air above him. The Exalted had spun with the momentum of his jab to unleash a vicious kick.

    Emil struggled onto his feet¡ªencumbered by the muddy earth. The Exalted was on him immediately, flaying away with his metallized arms. Emil managed to brandish his machete at the last moment, deflecting the oncoming blows in desperation. Sparks flew, instantly snuffed out by the rain. The clash of cold steel resounded. He was being pushed back, his machete rapidly degrading under the relentless pressure.

    I have to create an opening!

    Clank!

    The machete finally fractured. Emil leaned back to evade the next attack as he unhooked the lantern on his belt. The lantern fell, its glass enclosure shattering as it slammed against the ruined earth. Exposed to the elements, the candle wick was instantly snuffed out by the rain.

    Darkness swallowed the vicinity.

    Suddenly engulfed by night, the Exalted froze.

    Emil seized the opening. Mana gathered in his hands. He targeted the Exalted¡¯s head, intent at smashing his skull into smithereens.

    An ominous clank echoed over the rain. Emil¡¯s hand collided against something hard. He felt the screech of his bones rattling from the recoil. Throbbing. Under a distant flicker of light from where the rest of Nostra was fighting, he could see the Exalted¡¯s head had morphed into steel.

    You¡¯ve got to be kidding me.

    Pain exploded from his upper body. The thing he knew, Emil found himself airborne. Agony blazed as his back torn through a wall.

    ¡°Ngh!¡± he groaned, landing hard against the ground. His lungs burned, mouth heaving blood as he gasped for air. His ears rang. His head was trembling, dazed¡ªhis vision blurring in and out of focus. His surroundings were unfamiliar, but he noticed the rain was absent. He must have been flung inside the abandoned building.

    He pressed a shaky hand across his chest, trying to assess the damage. The Exalted struck him with a blast of mana. Emil instinctively reinforced his body with Mana Arts before the attack landed. The reaction saved his life. But even so, he was still left in a wretched state.

    Well, this is fucking terrible.

    Thud. Thud. Thud.

    Footsteps echoed nearby. Rain pattered above. The Aois Nua Exalted entered his blurry view. The side of his face was disfigured¡ªblood dripping from the spot where Emil had struck him earlier.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°I knew you would be alive,¡± the Exalted hissed. His words came out slurred due to the dislocation of his jaws. ¡°To think Nostra had another Exalted besides Decim. I cannot let this be.¡±

    Great, now I¡¯m being hunted down.

    Emil staggered onto his feet. He narrowed his eyes, trying to steady his flickering vision. The damage to his body was acceptable. Bad, but not debilitating. Not the worse he¡¯s ever experienced.

    In the background, the Dannan clocktower suddenly blared. The deep brass overtones signaled the advent of midnight. Their mission as a decoy for Decim¡¯s delivery was complete. Baer and Caiside should be ordering their men to abandon the wagon and retreat.

    Why do I get the feeling that they won¡¯t come for me? Emil thought with a self-deprecating smile. Not that they¡¯ll be of much use against an Exalted, but hey, it¡¯s the sentiment that counts.

    He wiped off the blood stained at the edge of his mouth. He heaved¡ªthe dry rasps agonizing as his lungs burned.

    I guess I don¡¯t need to hide this anymore.

    Emil tossed aside his rain-soaked cloak. Mana from his Azurite pendant raged, transforming into a torturous heat that rippled through his body. He grimaced. The sensation made his skin crawl.

    Memories of that incident flashed in his head. The sight of his friends being devoured by the unholy blaze. Those same insidious flames now gathered inside of him.

    The image ate at his heart.

    I hate using this. Steam rose from his skin¡ªthe rain rapidly evaporating by the rising temperatures. But I can¡¯t win without it.

    ¡°Bruno, Dale, Esmeralda,¡± he recited the names of his dead friends.

    Emil wailed. The visceral cry echoed across the abandoned building. Grief quickly twisted into fury. His body was suddenly set ablaze. Flames bloomed, engulfing his limbs and torso as if his flesh had become the tinder for the all-consuming blaze.

    The Exalted charged in.

    ¡°Burn!¡± Emil screamed. His guttural rage filled the air, like a pained howl from a wounded beast. The flames burst from his body. Like humanoid appendages, they flew at the Exalted.

    His opponent ducked and weaved, desperately trying to escape the flame¡¯s grasp. A few tendrils of fire caught onto the edges of the Exalted¡¯s clothes. Instantly, the flames erupted¡ªblossoming into a hellish conflagration bent on consuming its target. The Exalted pressed forward, undaunted. He dug into the earth and lunged. His body shot forward like a missile. His arms were encased in steel, stretched outwards, aimed at Emil¡¯s neck.

    Emil stomped the ground. The space before him cackled with energy as the ambient temperature climbed rapidly. The air spontaneously ignited, right as the Exalted arrived.

    Boom!

    The entire building shook from the explosion. The concussive force torn apart the weakened ceiling. Rain poured in, extinguishing the scorched earth.

    Emil stared at the remnants of his foe. The Exalted laid still on the ground. Steam rose from its burnt corpse, scorched beyond recognition.

    ¡­Dammit. Emil slumped onto the floor. The rain came down endlessly. The flames devouring his body slowly vanished.

    ***

    A distant memory.

    ¡°Control it!¡±

    Flames raged in his field of view. The temperature relentlessly swelled. As if a million ants had crawled onto his body, the flames burned¡ªgnawing away at his skin and flesh with a voracious appetite.

    ¡°Control it, you fool!¡±

    Emil screamed. Pain exploded from every pore of his body. Like a rampaging beast, the flames refused to be tamed, continuously burning with an undying vengeance, desperate to devour everything in its wake.

    How?!

    He wanted to protest, but he was occupied by the overwhelming desire to scream. He wanted to run, but he had nowhere to go. He wanted to kill the interlopers that defiled his body, bestowed upon him this curse, held his friends hostage, and turned him into the disgusting monster that killed everyone.

    But he was too weak.

    It would be a meaningless protest. Right now, he was nothing. He had no power. No allies. No plans. He would only be lashing out to rid himself of this nasty fury and discomfort. Like a child throwing a tantrum.

    No, he needed to store these emotions. Use it as fuel. If he wanted revenge, then he should have sought to make it more systemic. More intentional. More complete.

    But the witch robbed him even of the ability to think.

    Emil could no longer feel the sensations of his body. Like a disembodied mind, he stood there, bathed in unholy flame that ate his body.

    Then he saw white.

    ***

    I don¡¯t recognize this ceiling.

    Emil opened his eyes to a small, dilapidated room. The low hanging ceiling above looked like patchwork, filled with an odd pattern of fresh and rotten planks. Rain continued to lightly patter against the rooftop. The dim candlelight nearby and the absence of metalwork clanking in the background suggested that it was still night.

    I¡¯m probably somewhere still in the slums.

    He sifted through his memories, trying to reconcile with how he ended up here. He remembered limping out of the ruins of the abandoned building amidst the pouring rain. The battle between Nostra and Aois Nua had already ended¡ªthe roads filled with death from the aftermath of the encounter. Emil wasted no time and ran. Undoubtedly, Aois Nua would have been searching for their missing Exalted.

    What happened after that was a blur.

    Alarms rose in his head at the blanks in his memory. Emil tried sitting up¡ªonly to be met with an excruciating pain tearing apart his body.

    He clicked his tongue and laid back down, wincing at the agony. His head suddenly pounded with a raging headache. He lightly tapped his chest¡ªa dull sting radiated at the point of contact. Burns. The costs of using his Gift.

    This never gets easier to manage, Emil lamented.

    His ascension into an Exalted was an unusual one. Unlike most Exalted, who either possessed a Gift at birth or underwent a natural Awakening, he obtained his via a transplant. He was the product of an unholy experiment that brought him a second chance at life. And while it granted him a Gift, his body was a vessel ill-suited for his new powers.

    The result was an Exalted who could not withstand the power of his own Gift. The flames he conjured consumed his flesh. No matter how much the witch trained him to control it, he could never fully eliminate the side-effects.

    Footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the room.

    Emil moved his right arm down the length of his body. A knife concealed along his thigh was still there. He hovered his hand over the handle and closed his eyes, pretending to be unconscious.

    Van did tell me that there¡¯s been a rise in demand for organs on the black market.

    He smirked at the dark thought. If the person who brought him here had any ill intentions, he must aim to kill. His injuries and fatigue were too excessive for him to hold back.

    Let¡¯s hope they¡¯re friendly.

    The door creaked open.

 Chapter 15 - An unexpected encounter

    Emil

    The interloper entered the room. Emil listened closely. The old wooden floor creaked under the weight of their footsteps.

    They¡¯re alone.

    He heard something being placed on the table nearby. Emil took a chance and peeked his eyes open. A hooded figure stood across from the room. Their backs were turned, occupied with unloading the items in their arms. The oversized cloak covering their body made it ambiguous who exactly he was dealing with.

    Emil glanced at the table. He found an assortment of bottles and various miscellaneous items. Scissors and a set of clean bandages amongst the pile. There was a faint astringent stench of alcohol mixed with the fresh scent of wet herbs.

    He moved his hand away from the knife concealed against his leg.

    ¡°So, which one of my organs are you planning to harvest first?¡± he suddenly asked. The stranger let out a panicked yip, startled¡ªfumbling as they dropped all the items onto the table at once.

    Definitely a woman. Or¡­an extremely effeminate man.

    ¡°H-Harvest organs?! Wha¡ªgosh no, that sounds horrific. Is that what they do here? I would never!¡± the stranger exclaimed.

    Emil raised an eye. No one who''s a native of Lower Dannan speaks like this. The person spun around, visibly flustered as they brushed away strands of black hair covering their eyes. A girl. Aroound his age. She had features that resembled a doll, pale skin nearly porcelain white, decorated by a pair of emerald eyes glistening under the dim candlelight.

    Looks like someone¡¯s expensive daughter ran away from home.

    It was a surprisingly common story¡ªthe estranged daughter of a noble family in Upper Dannan decides that their life at home was too suffocating and makes a rash decision to run away. Someway or another they end up in the slums. Most manage to return home with just a few traumatic experiences under their belt. Some are never seen again.

    The stranger¡¯s naturally pale skin and her mannerisms were dead giveaways.

    ¡°If you¡¯re not here to harvest my organs, then what am I doing here?¡± Emil asked, barely hiding his smirk.

    The young lady blinked, eyeing him with a blank stare, ¡°Oh, do you not remember? You collapsed on the ground near my residence. You were a wet mess. I eventually managed to drag you inside myself.¡±

    Oh. The vague recollection slowly trickled in. He must have been desperate to find shelter from the rain. In a normal situation, he would have never allowed himself to pass out in the open. It could have gone bad. The slum residents were cut throat. There was a real chance he could have gotten robbed and killed in his sleep.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Emil apologized, grimacing at his carelessness, ¡°And thank you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± the young lady smiled before asking a question, ¡°But what happened to you anyways?¡± She glanced down the length of his body. Emil realized that his torso was covered in rags. He had ripped off his chain mail after killing the Aois Nua Exalted. The rest of his clothes were badly singed by his own flames. The remnants were stained with ash and char. Glimpses of his skin peeked out from the gaps, unveiling the glaring blisters and blots of red.

    ¡°¡­Occupational hazard," he replied.

    ¡°Huh? You look like you got burned¡­do you work in the mines or workshops then?¡±

    "Yes, I''m an apprentice blacksmith." Emil responded with a vague smile.

    ¡°But then why you did end up like this?¡± the young lady frowned, ¡°Were you doing something suspicious? You''ve had to be, I don''t recall the work of blacksmiths being this dangerous.¡±

    Definitely not a native of the slums. She doesn¡¯t know when to stop prying.

    ¡°Everyone has a few secrets that can¡¯t be shared,¡± Emil said, his eyes dancing with a mischievous glint, ¡°I¡¯m sure you can sympathize.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± she blinked, clearly confused. Emil sighed. Is she seriously oblivious? How did she even survive down here being this na?ve? He decided to clear up her ignorance. It was the least he could do for someone who saved his life.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ¡°First of all, there¡¯s an unspoken rule in the slums to not pry if someone refuses to answer properly the first time. Second, fix your mannerisms and word choice. No one speaks like the way you do down here.¡±

    The young lady¡¯s pale face burned red.

    ¡°I¡ª¡± she tried to protest.

    ¡°Third,¡± Emil stressed, cutting her off, ¡°Only prostitutes have pale skins like yours in the slums. Even then, their faces are caked in powder. If you want to blend in, you should at least smear parts of your face in dirt and charcoal. Slouch a bit as well. Your posture is too straight. And then there¡¯s your eyes¡­¡± Emil frowned. Those pair of emeralds would attract attention no matter the place. ¡°I recommend not making eye contact if possible. And keep your hood on at all times.¡±

    The young lady immediately pulled her hood over her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll keep your advice in mind,¡± she whispered, the corners of her mouth quivering. She suddenly turned around and fetched a few bottles she left on the table earlier. ¡°In exchange for your wisdom, please allow me to treat your burns.¡± She enthusiastically uncorked some of the bottles loose.

    Emil was instantly assaulted by the powerful stench of alcohol. ¡°Put that away,¡± he said, scrunching his face in disgust.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°No offense, but you have no experience treating a burn, do you?¡±

    The young lady stammered, trying to come with a retort.

    Emil drove the point home, ¡°Reading stuff from a book doesn¡¯t count.¡±

    The statement silenced her.

    ¡°...It¡¯s fine. I appreciate the gesture, but please do what I say instead,¡± he then asked, ¡°Do you have any ointment?¡±

    The young lady approached him with another assortment of bottles. Emil narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized the containers, fighting the urge to sigh. Of course, none of them are labelled. He isolated the ones that were colorless and took a whiff. Two of them produced no odors. He then dabbed his tongue on the edges of both.

    ¡°This is aloe vera.¡± He motioned towards the ointment with a bitter taste. He tried to sit up, and then promptly gave up. Pain rippled down the length of his body, protesting with vengeance. His limbs refused to move¡ªfighting back with an agonizing shock each time he tried to force it.

    ¡°Please, let me help,¡± the young lady insisted as she made Emil lay back down, ¡°What do I need to do?¡±

    ¡°¡­Smear it across the red areas. Avoid any blisters.¡±

    She nodded and got to work. After rolling up her sleeves, she reached her pristine hands into the bottle. Then as gently as she could muster, she lifted the rags off his chest and began to spread the ointment.

    Silence settled in. Light rain continued to patter against the roof. Emil stared at the walls, trying not to distract the young lady¡¯s work. She wore a scowl; her lips pulsed, eyes furrowed, deep in concentration. Frankly, this was a bizarre situation, even for him. Getting his burns treated by a runaway noble was definitely an uncommon experience.

    ¡°¡­Doesn¡¯t it hurt?¡± she suddenly asked.

    ¡°Not at all,¡± he replied curtly. That earned him a glare. The young lady narrowed her eyes, obviously unconvinced. Emil sighed, ¡°I¡¯m used to it. This isn¡¯t the first time it¡¯s happened. The pain is manageable so far. Or perhaps enough of my nerves have been burned away? Either way, you haven¡¯t caused me any discomfort.¡±

    With that, the young lady resumed her treatment. A thought settled in Emil¡¯s head. This is a rare opportunity. It wasn¡¯t everyday that he got to speak so intimately with someone of noble heritage. A connection with a noble never hurt anyone. Especially if he ever decided to escape Steiger¡¯s grasp.

    ¡°I¡¯m Miles, by the way. How about yourself?¡±

    The young lady remained silent. Then, after a minute, she finally replied, ¡°¡­I''m Lisha.¡±

    You might have as well just told me it was a fake name. Emil rolled his eyes. Well, not like I¡¯m any better.

    ¡°Well then, Lisha, thank you for everything you¡¯re doing. There¡¯s not much I can offer you, but is there anything I can do to repay this?¡± he asked. He wasn¡¯t na?ve. He had experienced enough to know that ¡°kindness¡± did not come without strings attached.

    Lisha paused to stare at him.

    ¡°Hm? Do I need a reason to help someone out?¡± she said, tilting her head. The remark made Emil hold his breath. Lisha must have noticed his strange reaction. ¡°But if you insist¡­¡±

    Her opulent green eyes glimmered under the dim light. For the first time since their encounter, Lisha wore a faint smile.

    ¡°¡­If we ever encounter each other again, please treat me to a meal.¡±

    ***

    Shortly after the treatment was done, Emil fell asleep to the pattering rain. When he finally woke up the next day at noon, Lisha was gone. A note was left for him on the table along with a platter of food.

    Did she just assume that I¡¯m literate? He grinned at her naivety as he read the note. The message was short and concise, wishing him well and a swift recovery. Emil folded the note neatly and stashed it in his pockets. Feeling peckish, he turned towards the meal laid out for him.

    He took a bite. The lightly salted flavors danced in his mouth. Tears suddenly clouded his eyes.

    ¡°Do I need a reason to help someone out?¡± Lisha¡¯s words echoed in his head. Caught off guard, Emil scrunched his face, desperate to not let the waterworks pour.

    He couldn¡¯t remember the last time that a stranger showed him kindness without an agenda. Before his parents¡¯ deaths, he was the son of a merchant family who lived in a world dominated by transactions. After that, he became an orphan in a nation where orphans were despised. And even now, he was an unwilling dog of Steiger.

    For the first time in his wretched life, he received a small helping hand.

    The plate was suddenly empty. Emil sat there, indulging in this rare moment of warmth. Once the novelty wore off, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and reminded himself why he was here in the first place.

    He was in the slums, undercover as Nostra bodyguard, trying to find a stolen cache of Azurite. The kingdom''s stability was at risk. A treasure trove of medicine for Raz on the line, contingent on his success.

    Alright, enough of that.

    When he opened his eyes again, his hopeful glint disappeared. Once more, he donned the mask of a Steiger Cleaner.

 Chapter 16 - Red banquet

    Emil

    Evening arrived. Like clockwork, Emil entered the watering hole. The fate of last night''s delivery was heavy on his mind.

    The old, rotten flooring of the dilapidated establishment creaked as he teetered forward, trudging with a slight limp from last night¡¯s injuries. Caiside was at the front of the bar as usual¡ªhead down, occupied with cleaning a used cup. The sound of Emil''s approach prompted him to look up.

    ¡°Miles?! You¡¯re alive!¡± Caiside exclaimed as his eyes instantly lit up. A few of Baer¡¯s henchmen posing as patrons also stood up to greet him.

    ¡°Well, barely,¡± Emil grimaced in pain as he dragged himself onto the closest seat. Without being asked, Caiside immediately began mixing one of his signature drinks.

    Something alcoholic would be quite helpful right now. He needed it. Something to dull his senses and numb the throbbing aches pulsating through his body.

    ¡°You have no idea how happy it makes me to see you alive. I¡¯ll let you tell your story later. Baer would be dying to hear how you survived Aois Nua¡¯s Exalted,¡± Caiside said while rummaging through the bar inventory for a specific bottle.

    ¡°How many did we lose from the ambush?¡± Emil asked.

    His question was met with silence. The henchmen around him lowered their heads, suddenly sullen. Caiside continued to work¡ªthe somber air filled with just the echoes of glasses being stirred and bottles being uncorked.

    ¡°There were some casualties,¡± he finally said as he set two glasses topped with drinks on the countertop, ¡°But things could have been much worse if it weren''t for your sacrifices. You kept the Exalted away and you dealt with the arbalists, didn¡¯t you? Your actions didn¡¯t go unnoticed Miles. We¡¯re grateful. Decim is sure to award you nicely.¡±

    Caiside raised his glass.

    Emil returned the gesture. A dull clink rang through the air. He downed the cocktail, drinking greedily, taken in by the somber mood. A subtle buzz danced on his tongue. His head felt light. The injuries that were tormenting him grew somewhat bearable. He finally felt comfortable enough to ask the burning question that¡¯s been gnawing the back of his mind.

    ¡°What about the delivery?¡±

    ***

    ¡°Miles, you¡¯re one crazy bastard!¡± Baer¡¯s voice boomed in his ears, ¡°Hahaha! I thought you were a goner for sure!¡±

    Emil winced as Baer repeatedly slapped the back of his shoulder. For some reason, brawny men like him had an annoying tendency to show admiration through violence.

    ¡°Baer, he¡¯s injured,¡± Caiside said. Baer immediately withdrew his hands, smiling awkwardly as he realized his mistake.

    ¡°S-Sorry. Force of habit,¡± he coughed into his fists in a vain attempt to regain some semblance of dignity. He suddenly lowered his head in a reverent bow. The rest of his henchmen followed suit. ¡°Thank you, Miles. If you hadn¡¯t pushed that Exalted away, a lot of us here would probably be dead.¡±

    Why are they doing this? Emil smiled uneasily, startled by the sudden display of gratitude. Mixed emotions bloomed in his chest. His insides churned at the revolting thought of being thanked by a members of a syndicate. His heart thumped with joy at being shown gratitude after putting his body on the line. His mind grappled with guilt for being jubilant over something trivial.

    You¡¯re undercover. Your goal is to locate the Azurite, not save a bunch of criminal''s lives. The cold reminder silenced his turbulent thoughts. ¡°Well, I was just doing my job,¡± he said with a practiced indifference, true to his cover.

    Emil spun up a story of how he evaded the Aois Nua Exalted as the group made their way towards the auditorium. Decim had apparently called for a meeting. The status of the real delivery was still unknown¡ªlikely the announcement was to be made tonight. Emil still had no idea if his gut feelings were correct. The ambiguity weighed on his mind like a festering itch that refused to dissipate no matter how hard he scratched.

    Soon, they arrived at Decim¡¯s office.

    This time the subterranean chamber was already crowded. Emil squinted his eyes at the blinding chandeliers above. The dazzling lights were just one of the many pieces of decoration that weren''t there during their last visit. An array of dining tables had also been set up in the open area before the stage, the tabletop already adorned with plates and utensils. Excited clatters filled the air.

    ¡°Who are they?¡± he asked, confused by the plethora of unfamiliar faces.

    ¡°Members of Nostra,¡± Caiside said after scanning the crowd, ¡°They¡¯re all from the latest cohort of recruits who joined before you arrived.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    Caiside shrugged. ¡°Decim must be in a celebratory mood. He has a penchant for extravagance whatever something goes well. I guess that means the delivery that we were the decoy for was successful.¡±

    Their group was led towards an empty table by the right end of the auditorium. Boisterous conversation hollered in the air, filled with anticipation for what Decim had planned for the night.

    All of it fell on deaf ears. Emil couldn¡¯t focus. His back buzzed with heat. His mind adrift, detached from the ongoing celebrations happening around him. The chandeliers above suddenly felt nauseatingly bright. He took a seat, nodding as Baer rambled on about something beside him¡ªfighting to keep his inner turmoil hidden within.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡­Did I mess up? Was the decoy mission not a test?

    He felt sick.

    The lights in the auditorium suddenly went off. Amidst the darkness, the excitement was snuffed out, until a single source of light illuminated the stage. A set of footsteps resounded against the hard wood. Decim strolled into the limelight with a brilliant smile plastered across his face, absent of his usual languidness.

    ¡°Gentlemen! I am Decim, an executive of the glorious Nostra syndicate. On my behalf, I welcome you to the family!¡±

    Cheers and claps resounded across the auditorium. After a minute of feverish excitement, Decim beckoned for the crowd to quiet down.

    ¡°All of you have worked tirelessly for the last few days, adhering to my unreasonable requests without complaint! In honor of your efforts and success, I invite you to this bountiful feast!¡± Decim clapped his hands. The lights before stage flashed on, brightening the dining tables in lavish colors. Food arrived in platters from the backrooms, carried by men donned in a servant gown. Wine was being served by the barrels as cups clinked across the venue in celebration.

    Emil stared at the food. The meaty stench made his head spin as he was suddenly overwhelmed with the urge to puke.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Miles?¡± Caiside asked, concerned.

    He shook his head. The nausea made it difficult to think. His thoughts spiraled with the possibility of failing his mission.

    ¡°Is the food not to your liking?¡± The question slithered into his ears. It came from Decim. The Nostra executive was making his rounds around the tables.

    ¡°I¡ª¡± Emil winced. Headaches ravaged his skull as he struggled to come up with an excuse.

    ¡°¡­I think his injuries are still bothering him, sir,¡± Baer joined in to help.

    Decim gave a curt nod. ¡°Well, it¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t feel pressured to partake. Just make yourself comfortable,¡± he said, ¡°It is a celebration after all.¡±

    The hairs on Emil¡¯s back suddenly rose. Alarms blared in his head as he caught a glimpse of Decim''s mouth curve into his signature conniving smirk.

    Twenty minutes passed when Decim returned to the stage. By now, the auditorium was crowded with drunk Nostra members slumped in their seats, basking in the joy of an exquisite meal.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re all enjoying this banquet I¡¯ve prepared,¡± Decim said to the accompaniment of drunken cheers, ¡°I wanted to take this time to highlight some of our recent successes. Over the last few days, I¡¯ve asked nearly all of you to partake in some sort of mission despite the declining stability of the slums. Escorting a delivery, negotiating a deal, collecting a shipment, amongst many others.¡±

    He suddenly paused. His head scanned the crowd. Emil stared at him, watching closely as his hospitable smile suddenly grew sinister. The eyes that were gleaming in celebratory joy instantly turned cold and detached.

    ¡°During that period of time, I¡¯ve found at least ten instances of sensitive information being leaked to our rival syndicates.¡±

    His proclamation echoed like thunder. Silence suffocated the auditorium. Confusion rippled across the tables. Eyes widened. Mouths agape.

    ¡°Tell me,¡± Decim demanded, his eyes dancing with madness, ¡°Just what could this possibly mean?¡±

    His question cut through the air. No one dared to utter a word. Then suddenly, a glass shattered against floor.

    Someone collapsed from their chair, flopping onto the ground with a heavy thud. Without warning, their body began to convulse. Their face writhed in agony. Pained rasps escaped their mouth before a profusion of dark blood forced its way out.

    They weren¡¯t alone. Another person dropped to the floor as well, tormented by the same symptoms. The strange affliction spread like a plague. Within seconds, almost the entirety of the auditorium was infected.

    What the hell is going on? Emil spun towards the stage. Decim was watching the scene unfold with a crazed, insidious delight as if he was observing a spectacle amongst animals.

    The realization dawned on him. It¡¯s the food. He turned to the people seated at his table. Shockingly, each one of them was fine¡ªonly disturbed by the hell descending around them.

    ¡°There''s only one explanation¡ªthere are traitors lurking in these seats,¡± Decim declared with his hands outstretched, ¡°And it''s only fitting that traitors deserve the most painful of deaths!¡±

    ¡°Decim! You bastard!¡± Several Nostra members rose from their seats. Their bodies staggered, eyes bloodshot, mouth drooling with dark scarlet spittle. Forcing themselves to move, they charged at Decim with a frantic desperation.

    ¡°Oh, please.¡± Decim snapped his fingers. Blood drops that stained the floor suddenly surged into the air. They gathered together and solidified into sharp tendrils. In a blink of an eye, they exploded outwards, skewering the rebelling Nostra members.

    Gradually, the auditorium grew silent.

    The cacophony of suffering ceased as those afflicted croaked their last gasp of life. Emil stared at the aftermath in disbelief. Hell was an apt description for the insanity before his eyes. A crowd of over a hundred boisterous Nostra men was reduced to a bloodbath of corpses. The bodies were sprawled along the ground, draped over chairs, or laid toppled against the tables. Tortured expressions were permanently etched on their faces¡ªa sign of the agony suffered in their final moments.

    Right, this is a syndicate. The callous reminder poured over his head like frigid waters.

    The brotherhood of Baer¡¯s cadre made him forget, but this level of cruelty was not atypical amongst the gangs of the slums.

    Thud. Thud. Thud.

    Decim¡¯s footsteps thundered across the silent stage. Slowly, he took a seat by the edge. His mouth widened into a maddening grin as his eyes fell on Baer¡¯s group. Emil realized they were the only ones still alive. Suddenly, the people by his table all stood up and kneeled in reverence. He quickly joined.

    ¡°Congratulations. You were the only group who didn¡¯t leak any information and fulfilled their mission till the very end. As expected, this group was the most trustworthy.¡±

    ¡°Sir...¡± Baer spoke up. His voice was trembling. "If I may ask, what is the meaning of this?¡±

    ¡°Of course, my dear Baer,¡± Decim said condescendingly, ¡°I gave everyone under my direct control a test of loyalty. That was your mission last night. In truth, there was no actual delivery. I was examining how you lot would act. Would you falter in a dire situation? Would cowardice seize you at death¡¯s door? Would you be tempted by greed? Or did your allegiance lie elsewhere in the first place? Those were the questions I sought to answer out of every group in attendance today.¡± Decim beckoned at the crowd of corpses. ¡°The dead here were amongst groups that failed the test.¡±

    Emil shuddered, awash with a mixture of revolt and relief. I knew it. His gut feelings hadn''t been wrong. Last night''s mission was no more than a farce.

    ¡°But was it necessary to kill all of them?¡± Caiside added, ¡°Perhaps I''m wrong, but I sincerely doubt all of them were disloyal.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not wrong, Caiside. If I were to give an estimate, there were probably five to ten rats at most,¡± Decim said, eyeing the Nostra members that were skewered by his Gift, ¡°But well, identifying who the exact traitors were would have been a monumental effort. I don¡¯t have the time nor do I possess the means. And frankly, none of those dead are irreplaceable. There¡¯s plenty of rabble to scour from the slums.¡±

    Still, what a reckless way to eliminate traitors. Emil frowned. If he had leaked the information to Steiger, then perhaps he, along with Baer and Caiside, would have also been lying dead on the ground tonight.

    Decim suddenly clapped his hands, ¡°Now that the traitors have been cleaned up, it''s time for the actual main event of the night. We have a job to do. An actual job this time. One that requires the utmost secrecy.¡± He waved them over, beckoning them to climb onto the stage. Emil followed alongside Baer and his henchmen, careful to not step on the disturbing gore littered along the floor.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure the bloody spectacle was a feast for your eyes,¡± Decim exclaimed, giggling with glee, ¡°Hopefully all of the excitement was enough to wake you from your drunken daze.¡±

 Chapter 17 - A fool with a misplaced sense of justice

    Emil

    Decim opened a hidden hatch located to the left of backstage.

    How many hidden doors are in this damned place? Emil took a deep breath, readying himself for another adventure down a claustrophobic passage. Baer¡¯s men were already dropping into the hidden opening unprompted. A steel ladder led the way down into a lightless abyss. Emil lowered himself in, grabbing tightly onto the ladder rungs as he began his treacherous descent.

    The walls around him were absurdly narrow. Emil was hardly the biggest person around, and even he could barely stretch his elbow outwards without touching stone. He had no idea how Baer would fit.

    Dank, moldy musk clung by the walls. Claustrophobia began to gnaw at his sanity. The darkness only exacerbated his fear. Emil swallowed nervously. Sweat drenched his palms. He could feel the panic rising to his chest, begging to explode. Don¡¯t make a fuss, dammit. He bit on the side of his lips until a vague taste of iron caressed his tongue. The accompanying pain helped distract from this wretched scenario of being cramped underground with a bunch of criminals.

    After an oppressive eternity, he finally stepped on solid ground. His legs, shaky from the descent, wobbled as he took a second to adjust his balance. The bottom of the ladder was pitch-black. He could vaguely make out the silhouette of the Nostra members directly in front of him from the vestiges of light leaking from above. Once his senses settled, he found himself assaulted by a putrid stench. The foul miasma hung in the air, heavy and concentrated, seemingly permeating the entirety of the space around them. Emil grimaced. Where the hell are we?

    ¡°Anyone got a torch or something? Or are we all just going to stand here and look at each other in the darkness?¡± Decim¡¯s voice resounded behind him. There was a frantic shuffling of clothes and hands, before several lights came alive. Emil squinted from the sudden brightness. They were inside what appeared to be a cavern, flanked on all sides by earth and stone.

    ¡°Whoever¡¯s in the lead, keep to the left. Don¡¯t stop until you reach the end of the corridor.¡±

    The group moved in accordance to Decim¡¯s instructions. Once they arrived at the end of the corridor, they found a massive wagon. Atop of it was a pile of luminous stone, radiating a subtle cerulean blue. Specks of azure bounced off its surface, flickering, lingering in the air amidst the torches¡¯ dim flames. Shrouded by darkness, the ethereal spectacle was breathtaking.

    Emil nearly gasped. No way. It¡¯s here!

    ¡°Gentlemen, the most coveted ore in this nation. The source of the nobility¡¯s stifle. The makers of the royal family¡¯s fortune. And the fuel behind the Exalted¡¯s powers,¡± Decim declared, admiring the otherworldly stone with trembling eyes, ¡°This is Azurite, the ore that stores mana.¡±

    His words echoed in the air. Emil tried to control his excitement. The highly concentrated mana in the air was intoxicating. His body soon settled into a trance-like state, drunk on the feeling of tranquility bestowed in the presence of the stone. He never seen Azurite in this quantity before it. His mind felt light, powerful, as if he was imbued with authority.

    ¡°¡­This is what Steiger was looking for, wasn¡¯t it? We had it this entire time?¡± Caiside asked in awe.

    ¡°Yes. It was stolen from them by another Nostra executive with some help from our client. The surviving members from that raid were the ones who served you dinner tonight,¡± Decim explained, ¡°Aside from them, only you and the executives know about this. If word got out that Nostra was the one who stole the Azurite, Steiger would have teared our syndicate apart.¡±

    ¡°Why take such a risky job?¡± Emil asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

    ¡°Money, of course. Our client gave us a hefty commission to process and purify this cache, along with a small portion of the Azurite. The assets gained from this job would allow us to finally break the three-way gridlock between us, Grenze, and Aois Nua. The day when Nostra rules the entirety of the slums is just on the horizon," Decim explained, "But personally, I took on the job because I¡¯m an Exalted. For us, Azurite is our lifeline. Without it, we¡¯re no different than regular Ordinaries, except burdened with the knowledge that we could be so much more.¡±

    Emil nodded. He could understand Decim¡¯s sentiment to a degree. Stripping an Exalted of their Gift was like cutting off the wings of a bird. It was the source of their identity, their joy, and the very essence of their being. Most Exalted who become deprived of their Gifts usually went insane over time. Some quickly resorted to suicide to free themselves from the feeling of loss. Others would commit the most heinous of crimes to obtain a single fragment of Azurite, abandoning everything just to feel the rush of their otherworldly powers once more.

    For the Exalted, Azurite was a more potent drug than anything the syndicates could procure.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s enough talk. It¡¯s time to work,¡± Decim ordered the members closest to the wagon to grab it, ¡°Our client expects a timely delivery. They will be meeting us at the destination. Torch bearers will be on the perimeter. Baer and Caiside will bring up the rear. Miles and I will remain on the vanguard.¡±

    ***

    The delivery is happening tonight.

    The thought boomed in Emil¡¯s head as he advanced down the dark passageway. Decim hadn¡¯t revealed where they were going, only delivering short bursts of instructions each time there was a split in the path. The meandering routes were nauseating to navigate¡ªthe absence of light and lack of distinct landmarks made these networks of tunnel feel like a labyrinth. Everything was beginning to look the same, morphed into same amalgamation of earth and stone.

    Emil already gave up trying to keep track of their positions. However, now that he confirmed Nostra had the Azurite, he needed a way to communicate its location to Steiger.

    I didn¡¯t get a chance to report with Van last night. He frowned at the timing of the events. His fight against the Aois Nua Exalted had taken him out of commission for most of the day. Everything was unfolding too fast. I have to create a signal once we¡¯re back on ground level, and hope that another agent is close by to see it.

    ¡°Take a left.¡±

    Emil obeyed, rounding the bend of the corner. His torch suddenly flickered, the flames wavering with a loud whoosh. There was faint breeze against his skin. He could hear the sounds of water running nearby.

    Where the hell are we? He paused, squinting his eyes to strain out the faint vestiges of the underground tunnels.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Miles. Keep going,¡± Decim insisted, pushing him forward. The end of the bend led to a wide subterranean chamber. The source of the pervasive stench suddenly became clear.

    In front of him was a large trough, about fifty meters wide, filled to the brim with viscous goo. Trash, wooden planks, fragments of miscellaneous items were scattered about, partially submerged in the foul mixture, still flowing downstream.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    They were atop of a concrete platform. Across the trough on the other side was a similar structure. From the torches¡¯ light, Emil could make out a series of passageways along the walls similar to the one they had just arrived from.

    ¡°What is this?¡±

    ¡°Sewers. It¡¯s a conduit for carrying waste and water. Especially useful during periods of intense rain to contain flooding,¡± Decim explained, ¡°They date back to Ardair¡¯s founding. Currently, they¡¯re abandoned.¡±

    Does the witch know about this? The endless branching paths made his head spin. Mapping out and navigating this underground system must have been a herculean task. This must be how the syndicates managed to evade Steiger¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°You¡¯re telling me someone built this?¡± Emil glanced at the ceiling. They must have been several dozen meters underground. This wide conduit and concrete structure seemed to stretch endlessly into the abyss.

    ¡°This labyrinth sprawls the entirety of the Lower Dannan slums. Impressive, isn¡¯t it? Too bad the royal family has no interest in it,¡± Decim said with a wicked smile, ¡°The original founders of this land were architects. Builders. Visionaries. When Azurite was discovered in the mines in the northern mountains, however, those builders abandoned their creativity in exchange for pickaxes. Rather than hone their craft, they became obsessed with the arcane.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like they carried that obsession through time,¡± Emil commented, ¡°Dannan¡¯s industrial district has the best builders in Ardair, and I doubt any of them could even fathom something like this.¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t blame them. Who wouldn¡¯t be fascinated with the thought of weaving the elements with their will? You¡¯ll understand if you ever have the fortune to awaken a Gift, Miles. This sensation is enthralling,¡± Decim said, his voice quivered with glee, ¡°Power courses through your veins. Phenomena bends at your fingertips. You feel like a God amongst men.¡±

    Oh, I understand plenty. Emil sneered. For once, he was glad that he was at the vanguard where his expression couldn¡¯t be seen. A dull pain buzzed from his burns as he walked¡ªa constant reminder of his defective status. For him, this Gift was both a blessing and a curse.

    ¡°Alright, stay vigilant now. We¡¯re not the only ones using these sewers. Grenze and Aois Nua roam these tunnels as well.¡±

    The ensuing silence was suffocating. Emil kept his eyes peeled, scanning the vicinity for any abnormalities. The flames of his torch flickered with every hint of a breeze. The stream of sewage continued to flow downstream beside him¡ªthe sound of water flowing a constant cacophony.

    Footsteps of the group echoed across the labyrinth. The massive wagon transporting the heavy cache of Azurite creaked with every bump and drop in the concrete. Emil winced, scrutinizing every passageway they came across. If there were enemies in the area, they would have definitely heard their approach.

    This is nauseating. The stench was overpowering. Sweat poured down his back. His attention was strained to its limits as he struggled to keep track of all the miscellaneous sounds and movements in the surrounding.

    Thunk!

    Emil spun to the side and immediately raised his shield towards the direction of the sound. A barrage of iron bolts bounced off the metal surface with dissonant clanks. The voracity of the attack startled him as he staggered backwards.

    ¡°On the left! Arbalist!¡± he shouted. A group of enemies emerged from one of the passages ten meters ahead. The wagon grinded to a halt as Nostra members on the perimeter readied for combat.

    Decim brandished a knife. With a quick swipe, he made a clean incision on his hands. Blood poured from the open wound. He instantly snapped his fingers, seizing control of dripping blood and morphing it into thin needles. After a wave of his hands, the blood needles flew, burying themselves in the bodies of the interlopers.

    The labyrinth fell silent. The confrontation barely lasted a few seconds.

    ¡°Miles, you alright?¡± Decim asked with narrowed eyes, ¡°Do I need to move you to the back?¡±

    Emil was heaving loudly. The injuries from last night continued to be a source of discomfort. ¡°¡­No. I¡¯m fine. My senses are still sharp,¡± he replied before resuming his position as the vanguard.

    Small skirmishes continued to occur sporadically each time they bypassed one of the passageways branching along the walls. A few of Baer''s men fell in combat. Decim callously ordered them to be abandoned, much to Baer''s dismay. They couldn''t afford to stop.

    Their journey lasted for another hour.

    ¡°Turn left. We¡¯re almost here,¡± Decim said. Emil obliged. Eventually, he found a ladder and makeshift elevator at the end of the corridor. This must be the spot. He breathed a sigh of relief. Tension had stretched his mind like a taut rope. Finally, he could relax and freed his senses from being on constant alert.

    ¡°Load the Azurite onto the platform in chunks. Emil and Baer, remain on standby until everything is lifted up to the surface. Caiside, you¡¯re in charge of making things run smoothly,¡± Decim quickly delegated tasks before ascending the ladder.

    Baer¡¯s men immediately got to work, carrying fragments of the Azurite onto the wooden platform under Caiside¡¯s orderly commands.

    Now I need to find an opportunity to make a signal. Emil took another deep exhale to quell his frazzled nerves. This dreadful night was just beginning.

    ***

    Emil climbed to the top of the ladders. Finally, he could escape the headache-inducing stink of the underground sewers.

    As he reached the surface, he immediately noticed the sharp ferric tang in the air. The faint groan of steam-powered machinery hummed in the background. The ambient temperature was absurdly hot, like he had stepped into a center of a fire pit.

    ¡°Good work, Miles,¡± Decim was there to greet him.

    ¡°Where are we?¡± Emil asked, taking in the sight, awed of the massive machineries moving about.

    ¡°A Nostra processing facility,¡± Decim said, smirking, ¡°Looks familiar? Drugs and prostitutes aren¡¯t our only sources of business. As residents of Lower Dannan, it¡¯ll be foolish not to be involved with metallurgy and metalworking in some capacity.¡±

    Is this somewhere in the industrial district then? On Emil¡¯s right was an array of blast furnaces. Flames crackled from within, producing plumes of ashen smoke that bellowed to the ceiling. The occasional clink of hammers resounded nearby.

    There are laborers still working at this hour? It was almost midnight when they left Decim¡¯s auditorium. No matter how outrageous their work ethic was, the workers of Lower Dannan were still human. Curious, Emil stepped closer into the workshop section of the facility.

    His eyes widened in horror.

    The laborers were there, standing hunched back, lifting hammers wielded by their scrawny arms. Their bodies were thin, nearly skin and bones. Their taut skin was smeared in ash and soot. Their eyes were blank, worn by fatigue, decorated by heavy bags clouding beneath their lifeless gazes.

    Children.

    The workers of this Nostra facility were all children.

    ¡°Move!¡±

    Emil turned to the source of the voice. An adult male suddenly shoved one of the children to the ground. The boy, who looked barely ten years old, laid pitifully on the floor.

    ¡°I said move, dammit!¡± The boy remained unresponsive¡ªhis eyes were wide open, blankly staring off into the distance, but his body was frozen still.

    ¡°Get him out of here!¡± the overseer roared as a pair of Nostra members emerged to drag the poor boy out of the workshop.

    Emil watched the scene unfold in disbelief. His insides churned. It took every ounce of willpower to stop himself from rushing to the overseer and tear his throat apart.

    ¡°Miles, what are you doing?¡± Decim suddenly asked.

    Emil spun around. Before he realized it, his hands were on Decim¡¯s collars.

    ¡°What is the meaning of this?!¡± he screamed. The sound of his voice travelled far along the resonant walls of the facility. Footsteps stomped close as he was instantly surrounded by Baer¡¯s henchmen.

    ¡°This?¡± Decim raised an eye, unfazed by his hostility. Then suddenly, he sighed. ¡°Ah, I see what this is about.¡± Decim fell silent, calmly brushing away the stray hairs covering eyes.

    Emil blinked. Without warning, a fist tore into his chest. The strike flung him backwards. Thunk! Warm steel slammed into his back. He slumped against the ground, head rattling from the devastating blow. How did I not see the attack? His lungs were ablaze as he gasped for air from the sucker punch. Decim¡¯s voice echoed from above.

    ¡°You know what I hate the most? Fools with a misplaced sense of justice. Unfortunately, I had a feeling you would be one of them, Miles. I saw it in your eyes when I took you to those whores on the block on your first day. There was pity. Empathy. Anger.¡±

    Decim grabbed him by the top of his hair. Emil grimaced at the scalding pain. His scalp felt like it was being pried apart.

    ¡°Maybe you forgot because you were fortunate enough to leave the slums, but here¡¯s what you ¡®normal¡¯ folks don¡¯t understand. This place is a shit hole. These children and those whores you saw before¡ªthey chose to be here. Because the only other option is to die a slow, agonizing death in a ditch somewhere as the crows peck at your lifeless body,¡± Decim spat. His glacial eyes were filled with disgust. ¡°Lock him up somewhere. Make sure he doesn¡¯t do anything stupid while the clients are here. I¡¯ll deal with this later.¡±

    Decim stomped away. The rest of his men approached Emil with apprehension, grabbing his limbs to make sure he couldn¡¯t resist.

    Emil glared at Decim¡¯s fading back. His heart raged with indignation.

 Chapter 18 - Wretched moonlight

    Emil

    He leaned back. The kiss of cold steel scraped his shoulders. Emil found himself locked behind bars, confined in some backroom away from the machineries and fiery furnaces of the facility. Night crept in from a small window just outside of his cell. Rain clouds from the previous day had completely cleared. The moon was out in full bloom tonight, casting a pale, ethereal glare into the room.

    Emil bathed in the lunar glow, sulking in shame. His cheeks burned with humiliation.

    What the hell am I doing?

    Every ounce of trust that he painstakingly gained, every atrocity that he overlooked as part of his cover¡ªall of it was instantly destroyed by a single emotional outburst. He should have never allowed himself to get so upset, much less lay his hands on Decim. The sight of the children in the workshop working in those deplorable conditions, however, had snapped something within him.

    Those were all orphans.

    Emil wanted to believe that no parent would ever subject their kin to such a deplorable life. Unless they were desperate for cash. Unless they were depraved. Unless they were selfish, pathetic, despicable bastards who only cared for themselves¡ª

    Enough.

    He wasn¡¯t na?ve. He¡¯s seen enough to understand that the limits of human depravity went far deeper than what the average person could fathom. To be an orphan in Ardair was to live a life worst than livestock. They were treated like ghosts under the words of the law and as vile pests under the gaze of the fortunate. In this rotten kingdom, the most vulnerable were the least protected. Decim was not wrong. For most orphans, being enslaved to work in this wretched factory was their best option.

    Mia and Raz flashed in his mind. Emil clenched his teeth, reminding himself why he was here. It¡¯s so that I never have to see them in those children¡¯s place. Just the mere thought of them with weathered eyes and charred skin, shriveled up by fatigue and malnutrition, whipped into work by those goddamn overseers made his chest scream.

    He let out a sullen breath and considered his next moves. In some ways, being locked up here gave him an opportunity. He was isolated, far away from where Decim, the most dangerous person in the facility, was operating.

    Only two of Baer¡¯s henchmen were assigned to monitor him. They were nonchalant, distracted, and tired from the long night. The small window just outside of his cell provided ample space to broadcast his distress signal. He had been stripped of his knife and cleaver prior to being confined, but what of it? His body, honed over the years by the damn witch¡¯s teachings, sufficed as a deadly weapon on its own. All that mattered was the Azurite necklace still dangling over his chest.

    It was time to work.

    Emil limped towards the barred doors. The metallic bars were caked in a layer of rust. He squinched up his face, feigning a pitiful and haggard look.

    ¡°H-Hey, brothers,¡± his voice came out as a whimper. He hunched his back, squeezing his chest, holding his stomach as if still reeling in pain from Decim¡¯s earlier blow. Baer¡¯s henchmen roused from their stupor.

    ¡°Miles? What¡¯s up?¡± They walked up towards the cell.

    ¡°Sorry for my outburst earlier,¡± he dipped his head, sounding as apologetic as his voice could allow, ¡°If you¡¯re able, I like to ask for a favor.¡±

    The two henchmen blinked at each other. ¡°Y-Yeah. Maybe. What do you need?¡± they asked, stepping closer to the door. Suddenly, they were within range.

    Emil dug his foot into the ground and lunged. A flicker of azure flared across his body. His shoulder, reinforced with Mana Arts, barreled into the cell doors. Weakened by rust, the bars instantly caved as they broke apart from the door frame with minimal resistance. Freed from his confinement, Emil immediately thrusted his arms out before the henchmen could process what just happened. Like a snake, his fingers coiled around their necks with an inhuman strength.

    They didn''t even have time to scream. A disturbing crunch softly echoed across the silent room. The henchmen''s bodies suddenly grew limp. Life was squeezed out of them with astonishing ease as Emil brutally crushed their throats. After confirming their deaths, he released his grip. The two dead men flopped to the ground with a thud. Emil didn''t spare them a second glance as he rushed towards the window.

    I should hurry.

    The kills were quiet enough, but the clatter of the rusted bars striking the floor was louder than he expected. There was no way to know if anyone heard the sound.

    He took out his necklace and cradled the small fragment of purified Azurite dangling at the end. He closed his eyes while letting out a deep breath. The mana dwelling inside the stone suddenly spiraled with violence as he forcefully exerted his will over the ethereal matter. He compressed it¡ªsqueezing, wrapping, and then squeezing again until a portion of the mana was concentrated into a singular point. Then he let out it loose. The pressurized mana spontaneously surged out of the Azurite, producing a thin cerulean beam that shot off into the distance.

    The light lasted for just a second. Emil repeated the same process again. The result was a stream of blue light flickering on and off above the night skies.

    Please see this. He desperately prayed, hoping that a Steiger patrol might be nearby. It was a race against time between whether Steiger or Nostra finds him first.

    ¡°Miles?¡±

    Fuck.

    Emil winced.

    It was Caiside and Baer. The two emerged from the darkness of the facility, their eyes furrowed with a look of confusion.

    They haven¡¯t seen the corpses yet.

    Emil stared at them, unmoving. There was nothing he could do now. Cerulean light continued to flicker from the Azurite in his hands. Then he saw it. Caiside and Baer¡¯s expressions suddenly warped. Shock. Disbelief. Grief. Disgust. Anger. Rage. The full spectrum of emotions cascaded across their faces in a split second.

    ¡°Miles! What the hell is the meaning of this?!¡± Baer roared. His eyes grew murderous. Tears streamed down his face. Like a savage beast, he stomped towards him. ¡°Answer me!¡±

    Emil fought the urge to look away. Baer¡¯s fury clawed at his heart. I really hate this part of the job. As much as he loathed to admit it, he felt a semblance of comradery for these two. How many times have I seen this now? The shock. The anger. The despairing gaze of betrayal etched on his former companions¡¯ faces once they discovered his treachery. It never got easier to deal with.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Meaning?¡± Emil asked, his voice nearly a whisper. He forced himself to laugh. It truly was an absurd situation. Why did he, someone who was supposedly working against the bad guys, feel like a villain? Nevertheless, he did what he always did. With a vicious sneer, he donned the mask of a cruel, indifferent Cleaner, covering the guilt lingering in his gaze with a fresh layer of hatred.

    He thought about the women of the slums who were forced to sell their body to make a living. He imagined the laborers of the industrial district who were exploited for their exhaustion into a lifetime of addiction. He remembered the orphans who were left with no choice but to slave away in this facility just for a chance to survive another day.

    Slowly, he released all the vitriol and disgust that he had been suppressing.

    ¡°There isn¡¯t a meaning, Baer. It¡¯s exactly as you see it,¡± Emil hissed, his voice dripping with villainy, ¡°I killed them. Because they were in my way.¡±

    ***

    Decim

    The cache of Azurite glowed brightly beneath the vestiges of the pale moonlight. The stones were stored in one of the small, inconspicuous rooms by the rear of the facility that masqueraded as an unused compartment. Decim stared at the vibrant stone, admiring its ethereal glow as he waited for his clients to arrive.

    A side of him was reluctant to part with the Azurite. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Never again would he see another pile of this size. With this inventory, Nostra could rise to new heights by recruiting more Exalted into their ranks. They had the cash to compete against the salaries paid by the noble houses. All that they lacked was a supply of Azurite, a predicament that was solved completely by this cache.

    Am I being too greedy? Or are the other executives lacking in ambition? Decim frowned. Although this was a job brought to them by their clients, he thought the other executives had been too willing to part with this opportunity. They should have negotiated further to land their hands a bigger portion of the spoils.

    It¡¯s possible that they¡¯re being overly deferential. Their client was apparently a bigshot within the underworld of Ardair. Besides their abundance of wealth, rumor has it that all of their members were Exalted. Yet despite their powers, they were annoyingly discrete and enigmatic, making their presence only known to a select few.

    Collectively, they were known as Vigil.

    There was movement outside of his room. ¡°Sir, the guests are here,¡± one of his men said through the door.

    ¡°Let them in.¡±

    The door soon creaked open. Two figures stepped in. Their bodies were shrouded in a gray cloak and their faces concealed by black cloth. There was a tall man and a short woman. Even with all the layers, the man¡¯s snow-white visage leaking through the hood was unmistakable.

    ¡°Kleine, welcome,¡± Decim said, rising to his feet. It was the same person he met in Aois Nua¡¯s territory just a few days ago.

    Kleine removed his cloak, letting his long unblemished hair dangle to his shoulders. His scarlet eyes shot towards the Azurite cache, immediately scrutinizing the stones as if trying to find some semblance of fault. After a brief second, he nodded.

    ¡°You did well, Decim. I¡¯m impressed,¡± Kleine said. His tone was loose, but each word seemed to echo with authority. ¡°I¡¯ll admit that I was skeptical of your competence at first, especially once Steiger¡¯s hounds began roaming the slums. But now I can see that Nostra is a notch above the rest.¡±

    ¡°Your words flatter me,¡± Decim said as he lowered his head to feign respect, fighting to overlook the condescension dripping from Kleine¡¯s voice. Arrogant bastard.

    His eyes naturally drifted to the short woman by Kleine¡¯s side. He blinked, surprised at the dark skin hiding beneath the cloak. Decim had his suspicions¡ªconfirmed once he noticed her barefoot encased in sandals. This choice of footwear was only wore by the indigenous groups in the sandy province to the south.

    A native Gharian.

    ¡°Your eyes are nasty, Ardairan,¡± the lady hissed with a slight accent.

    Ardairan. Decim smirked. Only Gharians who still dreamt of their independence used that word.

    ¡°This is Karni.¡± Kleine made the introductions. ¡°She¡¯s an associate. Treat her as my equal.¡± A flicker of discontentment passed by his eyes for the briefest of seconds.

    ¡°Right, of course,¡± Decim replied. Tensions quivered at his fingertips. His instincts rattled at the flash of bloodlust from Kleine¡ªwarning him that the man before him was a threat. With a subtle breath, Decim dampened his fighting spirit. If the rumors are to be believed, then she is also an Exalted. The number disadvantage aside, his Gift was ill-suited in a direct fight. Without a pool of blood readily available, his combat potential was significantly diminished.

    I won¡¯t be able to brute force my way into this. He decided to take a different approach.

    ¡°If I may offer a suggestion,¡± Decim said, pushing past the tension to squeeze out his thoughts, ¡°What do you think about increasing Nostra¡¯s split of the Azurite?¡±

    Kleine frowned. His unamused expression looked terrifying amidst his pale pristine skin and blood-red eyes. His hostility felt tangible this time.

    ¡°I believe we had an agreement,¡± he stated in a strained voice.

    ¡°I would like to offer an amendment. I had to cull a bunch of my men to satisfy your requirements for secrecy. I believe this is the least you can do to compensate me for making this arrangement,¡± Decim said, sounding calmer than he felt. He knew he was pushing his luck. Nonetheless, this was an opportunity he couldn¡¯t let pass.

    Kleine stared at him¡ªsilent. His associate, Karni, was also quiet. Beads of sweat suddenly crawled down his neck. Goosebumps rose along his skin. Decim forced himself to smile.

    ¡°¡­You¡¯re quite audacious.¡± Kleine sneered. He turned towards his companion. ¡°Karni, what do you think?¡± Suddenly, a strange look crossed his face. Karni¡¯s eyes were in a daze. She was staring blankly into the distance, her pupils stretched thin, her iris white, devoid of light¡ªas if her soul was no longer dwelling within her fleshly vessel. Then suddenly, life returned to her eyes.

    ¡°Steiger¡¯s moving. Several agents. They seemed to be converging on this location,¡± she announced.

    ¡°Impossible!¡± Decim bellowed. Karni¡¯s declaration thundered in his head. The timing didn¡¯t make sense. None of his men knew he possessed the Azurite, much less its current location until a few hours ago. There was no way for information to have been leaked.

    ¡°My companion does not lie,¡± Kleine growled.

    Decim felt the man¡¯s intense gaze bore into his eyes. His guts churned with humiliation.

    ¡°Either you were followed, or you let a rat into your ranks.¡±

    ***

    Hells! Who the fuck is it?!

    Decim rushed through the Nostra facility. His urgent footsteps rampaged across the concrete floor. Two thoughts raged in his mind.

    First, he had to round everyone up. They had to evacuate into the sewers immediately. If the Gharian woman was right, then this facility had to be abandoned. Steiger would not rest until they razed this place to ruins and skewered their bodies to display in the slums¡ªpunishment for committing the most heinous crime in the kingdom and encroaching on their authority. It would serve as a brutal warning to the rest of the syndicates.

    Second, he had to find out who the traitor was. Everything went to shit in an instant because of their meddling. Decim lost his facility, gave up an entire cache of Azurite, and humiliated himself in front of one of the esteemed clients in the underworld¡ªall because of a single rat.

    His mouth drooled at the idea of tearing the bastard apart limb by limb. He would torture them to the brink of death before dousing their body in naphtha. Only then he would grant them the sweet release of death by setting them ablaze. He would listen to their tormented squeals as they floundered into hell. It would be a fitting end for the person who dared to cross him.

    He was so engrossed in the thought of revenge that he was late to notice that something was off. Where are my men? The facility was eerily quiet. Aside from the ominous hum of the furnaces and the rhythmic clanks of hammer from the orphan workers, Decim couldn¡¯t hear a single sign of his men. Baer¡¯s group was a rambunctious bunch¡ªnever quiet, always stirring like children who can¡¯t sit still. So where the hell were they?

    Miles. He should have been confined in the backrooms still. Decim remembered assigning a few people to watch over him.

    Once Decim arrived at the backrooms where Miles should have been, his blood went cold.

    The first thing he saw were the shattered iron bars of the cell door. Then the floor, glistening under the moon¡¯s glare, was drenched in a pile of gore. His men¡ªrather, what was left of them, were sprawled amongst the river of crimson. Their faces were smeared in shock and torment, a ghastly glimpse into their final moments.

    Baer was amongst them. And standing in the midst of the carnage, was Miles.

    The young man cradled Caiside¡¯s limp body in his arms as he set him down slowly¡ªalmost with a delicate tenderness. Then he rose, staring straight at Decim. His deep cerulean eyes glimmered beneath the pale moonlight.

    Decim noticed his arms were drenched in blood. The young man''s eyes were sharp, lacking in fear, burning with a rebellious resolve.

    ¡°I see, so it was you,¡± Decim said as the pieces connected. He let out a painful laugh.

    Mana bloomed at his fingertips.

 Chapter 19 - I wont watch again!

    Emil

    Decim¡¯s hollow laughter thundered across the room. Pain and lunacy resonated with every echo while sparks of mana crackled in his vicinity.

    He¡¯s here.

    Emil gulped. His chest felt tight, his breathing short and arduous as if an invisible chain had coiled around his ribs. His torso throbbed, flaring from the unhealed burns, reminding him of the ruined state of his body. His hands trembled¡ªpartially from the adrenaline flushed in his veins and partially from the dread of confronting the vengeful Nostra executive.

    And his timing couldn¡¯t have been worse.

    Decim¡¯s Gift involved controlling blood, and Emil had just created a bloody carnage with the corpses of his men. The timing was almost comical as if the spirits of the dead were handing their boss the means to avenge their deaths.

    Emil kept one eye on Decim. The other darted about, trying to come up with a way to escape. With the ravaged state of his body, he was in no shape to fight him.

    The chilling laughter stopped abruptly. Silence lingered as the last echoes vanished.

    ¡°Since when?¡± Decim asked. His voice dropped to coarse whisper. His eyes sharp, steeled with a glacial glint.

    ¡°The very beginning,¡± Emil admitted. Guilt squeezed his heart.

    ¡°Really?¡± Decim snorted. He pulled back his ragged hair, shaking his head in disbelief. ¡°I should have known,¡± he said, frighteningly calm, ¡°A strong, young man with such earnest eyes wanting to join a syndicate? Absurd. So obvious in hindsight.

    Without warning, he stomped the ground. The puddle of blood in front of Emil bubbled ominously. Suddenly, an array of blood spears burst forth. They rushed at him like arrows¡ªbegging to tear his body asunder. Emil dove to the ground. The spears of blood grazed the edge of his clothes, shredding the hems cleanly. Most of it missed, splattering into the walls behind him.

    Emil peeked at the aftermath. The remaining metal bars of the cell door were diced into miniscule pieces. Deep holes bored into the walls as the formless blood splashed against the surface.

    It wasn¡¯t hard to imagine what it would have done to his body.

    Decim cackled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry! I won¡¯t let you die so easily. Not after I thoroughly indulge myself.¡±

    The river of gore on the floor rippled with a violent frenzy. Azure light flooded the room. The blood rose from the corpses of Decim¡¯s men like flowers in rapid bloom. They sprang, flowed, surged, and settled into a forest of macabre tendrils and phantasmal projections.

    Emil stepped back, gawking at the nightmarish sight. It was as if the souls of the men he killed had been reanimated, risen into these ghastly forms drenched in blood. He needed to run, fast. But there was nowhere to go. He was in the rear of the facility. Walls flanked him at all sides. The only way out was ahead¡ªblocked off by a vengeful Exalted.

    Bloody tendrils quickly covered the entirety of the space before him. His path was cut off. No room, no gaps, nowhere to go but to charge into the horrific domain.

    His heart screamed. He had to fight. He had to survive. Death was not an option. Not when Mia and Raz depended on him.

    Decim thinks he has me cornered.

    His foe believed that he had an overwhelming advantage. It was true; in a normal fight, an Ordinary could never hope to best the prowess of an Exalted.

    He doesn¡¯t know about my Gift.

    Pain pulsated across his torso. Burned skin, still freshly scarred, smeared his body. With his dreadful state, he could probably only maintain his flames for a few minutes at best.

    I only get one shot to take him by surprise.

    Once he revealed his Gift, all bets were off. Emil gritted his teeth, resolved with a plan. The edge of his fingers trembled incessantly. He dug into his foot into floor¡ªand charged straight ahead.

    ¡°Wow! Marvelous!¡± Decim howled in ecstasy from beyond the bloody tendrils, ¡°What bravery! How courageous! Struggle! Resist! Turn this into a spectacle!¡±

    The distance between them shrank rapidly. Mana from Emil¡¯s Azurite pendant gathered across his skin, vibrating with a feverish voracity, eager to erupt. Not yet! He forcefully contained it at the cost of his screaming body.

    Decim screamed, ¡°Feast!¡± The bloody tendrils surged at his command. They warped into the shape of headless mouths, shrieking like famished beasts hell-bent on gorging its prey apart.

    Emil pressed forward. The projections crowded the airspace, blotting out the faint vestiges of the moonlight. Darkness engulfed the room. The seconds ticked. The projections were inches from his body¡ªteeth bared, ready to devour.

    Decim was finally in range.

    ¡°Rage,¡± Emil uttered. A popping sound crackled in his ears. The mana suppressed by his will flooded outwards like a storm. The ambient temperature climbed rapidly. The surrounding space seemed to vibrate¡ªreverberating with a panicked hesitance until the invisible force keeping it intact could no longer contain it. Air spontaneously ignited. The tendrils threatening to eviscerate his body instantly vaporized. Everything turned white.

    When he came to, he found himself surrounded by a sea of blaze. Flames spread ravenously, devouring the materials and equipment stored within the facility.

    ¡°Ngh!¡±

    He tried to get up. His limbs refused to move, protesting with agonizing pain that made him see stars. He glanced down. The freshly scarred skin across his torso had peeled off. Blood drenched the exposed flesh, parts of it already coagulated and cauterized from the scalding heat. The inside of his body spazzed at the abuse.

    Even his ears were clogged with a high-pitch ring that refused to cease. As his mind cleared, Emil realized that he was hearing cries and whimpers.

    He spun around¡ªhis face immediately aghast with horror. He had somehow landed in the workshop where the children were working. Flames ravaged the space. The row of furnaces had toppled over, contributing to the growing conflagration. The orphans were lying amidst wreckage. Some unmoving. Some screaming.

    Most were staring at him.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Their eyes were wide and their mouths trembled. When Emil made eye contact, they would flinch or freeze, sometimes shrieking in terror. As if they were in presence of a hideous monster.

    What have I done?

    His stomach boiled with a sickening revulsion. The children were dead because of him. And now their semblance of a home was destroyed, sullied by his desperation to live. Emil¡¯s mind flashed back to that horrible incident when his safe haven was decimated. The situation was eerily similar. Except now he played the role of the deranged Exalted.

    Thud. Thud. Thud.

    Footsteps boomed over the raging inferno. Emil spun around. The hairs on his back instantly rose. It was Decim. The Nostra executive slowly staggered out of the smoke and flames. Half of his face was scorched¡ªthe skin and flesh partially melted, peeling, accompanied by blotches of glaring blisters.

    H-How is he still alive?!

    Emil didn¡¯t hold anything back in his desperate gamble. He unleashed everything he had in front of Decim. There was nothing that stood in his way¡ªDecim should have experienced the full brunt of the attack.

    His question soon found an answer as Decim fully emerged from the smoke. From the neck down, he was covered in a layer of dark scarlet. As he walked, cracks fissured across the scarlet coat like broken glass. Bit by bit, they began to flak off, departing from his skin as if he was a bug emerging from metamorphosis.

    Did he create a coat of armor from the blood?! Emil was in disbelief. He immediately dragged himself to his feet, ignoring the painful protests of his body. He had to project strength. Decim must not discover his defective nature.

    ¡°So, you were an Exalted. Didn¡¯t see that one coming,¡± Decim hissed, his voice hoarse and sharp like a wounded animal, ¡°You¡¯re just full of surprises, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    He stopped. A distance of twenty meters separated them. Flames roared in the background. The two were locked in a standoff, glaring at each other, trying to size up the enemy.

    Emil narrowed his eyes. He¡¯s wary. He doesn¡¯t know what else I can do. Can I scare him off with a bluff? No. Likely not. He''s too committed to retreat. He was sprinting to my cell when he caught me killing Caiside. That means the facility is likely compromised. Steiger is coming. He knows. And he saw his men die. He had a chance to escape just now. But since he¡¯s still here, it must mean he¡¯s only seeking revenge.

    One of them had to die for this confrontation to end. Emil gnawed the side of his gums, trying to silence his frazzled nerves. Sweat and ash clung uncomfortably to his skin. Time was on his side. The longer Decim delayed, the more likely that other Steiger agents would arrive¡ª

    Decim suddenly moved. Emil lowered his stance, ready to evade at a moment¡¯s notice.

    Squelch!

    Huh?

    A high-pitched scream erupted from his right. One of the orphans nearby dropped to the floor, clenching his stomach. A spear shaped in blood was thrust deep into his guts.

    Another shriek came from his left. Another orphan was down on the floor, grabbing onto his neck as a protrusion of blood plunged into his throat. He gargled, gasping for air, desperately trying to cling onto his rapidly depleting life.

    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Emil bellowed. Decim was silent. But his eyes responded, gleaming with madness. The part of his face unsullied by flames curved upwards into a semblance of his signature sneer.

    He¡¯s doing this on purpose!

    Emil saw red. He launched himself forward. Flames bloomed across his chest and limbs, feasting on his war-torn body. They spluttered; pathetic¡ªincomparably weaker than his usual output. But he didn¡¯t care. He had to stop the indiscriminate killing.

    His left leg was suddenly unresponsive, inattentive to his will. Numb. He glanced down. Something had torn into his left thigh.

    Squelch!

    Pain arrived first this time. Another projection of blood dug into the side of his torso. It gorged, clamping down on the flesh and bones. A gasp of agony escaped Emil¡¯s mouth. The flames engulfing him flared in response, enveloping the blood projections. In an instant, they were consumed by the blaze, vaporized loose from his body.

    ¡°Hahaha! So foolish! So predictable!¡± Decim cackled maniacally¡ªhis words slurred from the destruction to his face, ¡°This is why I detest those with a misplaced sense of justice! You¡¯re just so easily manipulated!¡±

    Tendrils of blood continued to erupt from the ground, spilled by the orphans who became unfortunate collateral. Emil tried to move. His left leg refused to budge, however, resting uselessly like a lump of stone.

    Fucking hell! Desperate, he threw himself backwards.

    ¡°Burn!¡±

    Flames blossomed in a spherical radius around his body, acting like a blast shield to keep the bloody tendrils at bay. But Emil¡¯s defense was flimsy. A flames¡¯ form was ephemeral, incompatible for defending against physical attacks.

    ¡°Argghh!¡±

    Two of the projections bored into his shoulders. Emil whimpered as his back smashed against the leg of a work bench. Something slammed onto the ground nearby. Screams pierced the air from the children still hopelessly stuck amidst the destruction.

    One of the blast furnaces toppled onto the floor, smashing against several metal columns supporting the facility. The structure creaked. Molten metal spilled onto the floor. A disturbing sizzle echoed over the chaos as the foundation of column began to melt.

    Emil glanced up. The ceiling of the workshop screeched, caving in as the columns keeping it upright were melted apart.

    ¡°Run!¡± he screamed to the children around him. Some of them still had their wits about them and immediately fled out of the way. Most of the orphans, however, remained still. Their eyes were in a daze, overwhelmed by the raging chaos.

    The ceiling collapsed. Chunks of metal rained down, descending onto the helpless children. Time slowed.

    Not again. Emil despaired. The situation was eerily familiar. The sight of Raz and the others running to his help¡ªoblivious to the insane Exalted waiting behind him. The picture of them being devoured by the flames replayed in his mind frame by frame. And then there was himself, lying down on the ground, incapacitated.

    Unable to move.

    Unable to help.

    Unable to do anything to change their fates.

    Why is it happening again?

    That incident cursed Emil with a self-destructive Gift. And yet, he endured. With a Gift, he was no longer a helpless orphan without agency. He had power. He had value. As long as he was available, he could change the unfortunate fates of those around him.

    Or so he thought.

    Reality was despicable. It was sick. Cruel. Unchanging. Once again, he could only watch as another tragedy unfolded before his eyes.

    Why?

    Why does the world despise orphans? What did we do to deserve this? Is it because we¡¯re useless? Have we sinned in our past lives? Or is the world so greedy that it must exploit the least fortunate?

    Emil¡¯s throat felt dry. He must have been screaming. His arms dangled uselessly by his side. Somehow, he dragged himself onto his feet. He nearly fell. His left leg struggled to withstand the force of his weight. His mind shut off the pain¡ªdriven by a singular thought.

    No! I won''t watch again!

    If he could save just one orphan.

    If he could tell them that they deserved normal lives.

    If he could show them that there was at least one person willing to extend a helping hand without asking for a single thing to return.

    He rushed into the fray. Desperation smeared on his face. The orphans beneath the collapsing ceiling stared at him blankly, unmoving, waiting for their impending deaths.

    I¡¯ll save you!

    Mana from his Azurite pendant suddenly surged. It swelled with an unrelenting pressure, engulfing his body in cerulean light. Emil grimaced, readying his nerves for the onslaught of pain. It never came.

    Instead, mana danced in his vicinity. It was tender. Gentle. Comforting. His wary body was soothed, caressed by the effusive flow.

    A spark jolted down his spine. His mind blanked for a split second. He had no idea what just happened, but it felt as though a library of esoteric knowledge had flooded into his head. Suddenly, he moved on instinct, as if in a trance.

    Emil stomped the ground. Pale mana streamed into the earth. The spot beneath his feet rumbled as an array of stone pillars suddenly ruptured from the ground. They simultaneously struck the collapsing ceiling, propping it up in place of the destroyed columns. The ceiling held¡ªjust inches away from falling atop the frozen children.

    What just happened? Emil¡¯s eyes went wide.

    ¡°An Awakening?!¡± Decim¡¯s voice knocked out of his daze, ¡°Impossible! H-How can an Exalted possess two Gifts?!¡±

    Emil had no time to analyze the situation. Decim immediately unleashed a barrage of bloody spears. Emil reacted on instinct, slamming his palms onto the floor. A wall of stone shot up instantly, rising in the path of the attack. The projections splattered against the stony surface with a loud splash.

    ¡°Pierce!¡± Emil pulled his arms back as if he was dragging a rope tied to a heavy load.

    Squelch!

    Decim groaned. A stone spike suddenly pierced his torso from behind, protruding outwards from his stomach. The Nostra executive glanced down, eyes shaking in disbelief. His face then twisted into an amused snarl.

    ¡°Honestly, you really are just full of surprises.¡±

    Without another word, his eyes dimmed. Decim¡¯s body grew limp like a puppet with its taut strings cut loose.

 Chapter 20 - Ominous foreboding

    Van

    A day had passed since the conclusion of their mission to recover the stolen Azurite cache. Van found himself in the smoke infused room of his detestable superior¡ªthe one that his beloved junior adorably calls the witch.

    The longer I serve her, the more that nickname grows on me, he thought as he completed his report on the outcomes of their mission.

    ¡°¡­In the end, about 95% of the Azurite cache was recovered. A Nostra metallurgy facility, a Nostra executive who was an Exalted, and an entire cadre of their members were eliminated. As part of his undercover duties, Emil also executed a Desperado from Aois Nua.¡±

    On the night of the mission''s conclusion, Van was patrolling the Lower Dannan slums as an undercover member of Aois Nua when he suddenly saw a thin beam of azure cross the night sky. To an Ordinary¡¯s eye, the light could have been easily mistaken as the vestiges of a bright star or a hallucination of the mind. For Van, however, it was a signal that demanded immediate attention.

    Without hesitation, he abandoned his position and sprinted towards the light''s source. The beam of azure continued to flicker and vanish at a constant cadence, solidifying his suspicions. It was a call for help.

    Is that Emil?

    Van traced the direction of the distress signal to the outskirts of the industrial district¡ªthe section that encroached onto Nostra territory. He sped up. His junior had already missed the previous night¡¯s scheduled meeting.

    When he arrived, he discovered the burning ruins of a metallurgy facility. Dark fumes bellowed. The brilliant fire towered to the night skies, cackling as it feasted on the structure. The walls to his left suddenly collapsed. Out of the wreckage emerged Emil¡ªa haggard mess. His face was drenched in ash and soot. His body in the midst of being devoured by flames. In his arms carried several unconscious children.

    Van later learned that they were orphans employed by Nostra.

    He massaged his forehead, suddenly back in the office. Hortensia was reading his report. Her eyes darted across the pages as she let out a plume of smoke. An absurdly long cigar was in her left hand. Her office was filled with a sweet fragrance, infused with a lingering hint of oak. Not an unpleasant scent, but Van would have much preferred something stronger and more stimulating. Something to make him forget the hellish nightmares inside the ruins of the Nostra facility.

    ¡°Well done,¡± Hortensia finally said after a minute of silent contemplation. As a veteran of Steiger, Van knew better than to interrupt her while she was quiet. His shoulders relaxed as he heard her affirmation. I guess we get passing marks.

    ¡°¡­There¡¯s the remaining 5% of the reported Azurite that was not recovered. What should we do? It¡¯s not a trivial amount,¡± Van asked. The entirety of stolen Azure cache was reported to be around 300 uncia, roughly the weight of an adult horse. Five percent of that was enough to supply a small number of Steiger Cleaners through a half a year¡¯s worth of missions.

    ¡°It¡¯s within the margin of error,¡± Hortensia said, scowling, ¡°At least, or so the royal family claims.¡± She let out a short, exasperated sigh. ¡°I don''t agree with their decision, but they told us to close the case for more pressing matters. I don''t have the jurisdiction to refuse. At the end of the day, they¡¯re the ones who pays our salaries.¡±

    Hortensia removed the blemished cigar in her mouth and shoved it into the ashtray.

    ¡°Van, I want you to look into a person behind the raid on the cache. There was a Desperado with the profile of an Eastern swordsman. As far as I¡¯m aware, that person does not belong to Nostra. My suspicion is that he works for the ¡®clients¡¯ mentioned in Emil¡¯s report.¡± She pushed a set of documents close to Van. ¡°Someone is using Nostra as a scapegoat. Find them.¡±

    Another mission this soon? Van frowned with bitterness. The cadence of their workloads was starting to get ridiculous. It was a sign of turbulent times in Ardair if the nation¡¯s secret police force was becoming understaffed and overworked. Reluctantly, he accepted the documents.

    He had to¡ªif he wanted to get what he desired.

    ¡°By the way, how¡¯s Emil?¡±

    ¡°Alive. Our little rising star is recovering well.¡± Hortensia smirked, shaking her head. ¡°He¡¯s just full of surprises, isn¡¯t he? To think he would undergo a proper Awakening into a full fledged Exalted. When you made that silly proposal to save him and his friends four years ago, I would have never expected him to turn into one of our best agents. Life really is absurd. Perhaps, we ought to revisit the Bestowed Project once more.¡±Stolen story; please report.

    The mere mention of those words made Van wince.

    The Bestowed Project.

    It was a set of horrific research papers written by an unknown author. He first heard of this enigmatic project several years ago, just around the time when he found Emil and his companions in the aftermath of a Desperado¡¯s rampage within the Lower Dannan slums. The details of the project were apparently leaked to Steiger by an anonymous source.

    The papers made a terrible hypothesis¡ªthat the organs of an Exalted can be implanted into an Ordinary to induce an artificial Awakening.

    The procedures laid out in the papers were later used on Emil who was already on the verge of death. His survival and subsequent Awakening proved two things.

    One, the revolting research was valid. And two, there was someone in Ardair who was committing atrocities through conducting abhorrent experiments.

    ¡°Does this mean he was two Gifts now?¡± Van asked.

    ¡°Yes. He does,¡± Hortensia said with a sinister smile. ¡°This is unprecedented. His very existence disproves the theory that an Exalted may only possess one Gift. He might upend all our of existing knowledge. Whoever was behind the Bestowed Project must have been a madman.¡±

    A surge of anger flared in Van¡¯s chest. The sensation of disgust was palpable, clinging dryly onto his throat. Azurite and its use as an efficient storage and conductor of mana was discovered only a century ago. Since then, human beings have remained the only living being capable of bending mana to their will.

    In other words, the forbidden knowledge described by the Bestowed Project was likely obtained from a mountain of human corpses. And now it was in the hands of this foul witch.

    ¡°Your eyes could kill, Van,¡± Hortensia said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have no plans to use this research. Confirmation that it was real was enough. In fact, I¡¯m more curious about who its authors were.¡± Her eyes suddenly narrowed with a dangerous gleam. ¡°Ardair is a wretched nation, but even so, for the sake of upholding some semblance of ethics, we can¡¯t have people running amok and experimenting on our fellow countrymen.¡±

    Silence followed her declaration. Van stood there awkwardly. It was finally time. There was a question that he wanted to ask ever since he was summoned into her office. Those who worked under the witch all have something they want.

    ¡°Director,¡± he began; his voice teetering with unease, ¡°do you have any news about my sister?¡±

    ***

    Kleine

    Somewhere on the northern outskirts of Lower Dannan, out of the arid fumes of the industrial district and near a set of ruins deep in the northern woods, Kleine sat down by a tree.

    Pale moonlight leaked in from the tiny gaps of the canopy, offering the dimmest of illuminations. He leaned back against the trunk and removed the black hood covering his head. A bundle of white hair fluttered out. He brushed his hands through it, straightening the messy folds. The strands flowed amidst the night breeze, glistening under the wary moon.

    For a man with such a distinct appearance, the uninhabited wilderness was the one place where he could let his guard down.

    His sharp scarlet eyes suddenly peered into the darkness. There was a faint shuffle from a nearby bush. Soon, a petite Gharian lady emerged from the undergrowth.

    ¡°You¡¯re slow, Karni.¡±

    Karni clicked her tongue at the unnecessary jab, ¡°Naturally. My legs are like stubs compared to yours.¡±

    ¡°Fair point. But fret not. You have plenty of other attributes that make you a radiant lady,¡± Kleine said, barely concealing the faint grin emerging on the corners of his mouth.

    ¡°Don¡¯t patronize me,¡± she spat. She walked towards the center of the ruins. Fragments of stone and broken pillars littered the vicinity. A broken statue, shattered and overtaken by moss, towered nearby. A similar sight could be seen all over the uninhabited lands of Ardair. These were former sites of worship, dedicated to the pagan Goddess Endora¡ªthe patron of the Exalted.

    She was once a beloved Goddess, worshipped across the lands for her benevolent blessings. Now, she was forgotten, her religion rendered obsolete by the discovery of Azurite, which led to proliferation of Exalted across Ardair. What used to be an esoteric power wielded only by mystics and shamans was now the currency of influence and authority within a militaristic nation.

    As Karni reached the center of the ruins, she snapped her fingers. The ground stirred. Hushed pitter patter rippled across their surroundings, no louder than a whimper. The nearby undergrowth began to shake. Suddenly, out of the woodworks emerged a cadre of rats. They scurried across the stone ruins with a frenzied speed, their red beady eyes piercing the darkness, converging onto Karni¡¯s location.

    ¡°Here.¡± Karni pointed to a spot beside her. From Kleine¡¯s eyes, a wisp of mana gathered at her fingertips. The rats immediately rushed towards the spot. Then, each of them dropped something that was kept between their fangs.

    Once all the rats were done, a small pile of radiant ores were left on the ground.

    ¡°Fifteen unica of Azurite,¡± Kleine said, marveling at the pure cerulean blue.

    ¡°And all it took was three weeks of scurrying around Lower Dannan like moles and crippling an extremely useful pawn in Nostra,¡± Karni lamented, ¡°Don¡¯t expect to make any moves in Lower Dannan for a while. Steiger will be on full alert.¡±

    ¡°It''s fine. You should be happy instead. We gained a lot and learned plenty about one of our biggest oppositions. Frankly, I¡¯m a bit underwhelmed. Steiger underperformed to my expectations with their response this time,¡± Kleine said as he stood up. He strolled towards the pile of Azurite and traced his long fingers along the stones. His heart swelled at the presence of concentrated mana. ¡°With all this, we¡¯re set for the next stage of our plans.¡±

    ¡°Give me a week to process these into useable accessories,¡± Karni said.

    ¡°Of course, take your time. We¡¯re ahead of schedule,¡± Kleine replied as his eyes danced with madness. An insidious smile crossed his pale ethereal face. ¡°I can see it now. It won¡¯t be long before we can finally drag those indolent fools to their graves.¡±

 Chapter 21 - A reason to kill

    Emil

    A small, empty room. Pitch-black. Silent.

    The air, chilly, seeped into his back, crawling along the lines of his spine. Emil sat on the floor. Trapped. Unable to escape. There was nothing to do in an empty room deprived of his senses. At the very least, he tried to cling onto his sense of time by counting the seconds that elapsed.

    Once he reached the sixth digits, however, he gave up. His mind was trembling on the verge of insanity. The lack of sensory stimuli drove him mad. Wisp-like, formless projections began to manifest before his eyes. They were always there, persistent, ever-present¡ªeven if he closed his eyes. At some point, he could no longer tell if they were hallucinations or just the byproducts of his strange reality.

    Disembodied voices also echoed in his head. He had no idea what they were saying. The string of words sounded hollow, muffled, more like a garble of noises than any coherent language.

    None of it mattered to Emil. For the first time in what seemed like an eternity, he could hear another person¡¯s voice instead of his own insane thoughts. It was torturously comforting.

    A dim candle suddenly illuminated the room. Emil winced. The formless projections in his vision dissipated, retreating to the edges of his periphery before vanishing¡ªas if they were being vanquished by the cleansing light. His ears rang, humming with a shrill pitch. The disembodied voices stirred, angered.

    An adult body was sprawled behind the candlelight. They were gagged, bound by rope, their eyes concealed by a black cloth. Their frame suggested that it was a man. A steel collar was coiled around his neck, baring the insignia of the crown. As Emil¡¯s eyes adjusted to the light, he saw a black ¡°X¡± marked across the man¡¯s forehead.

    They were an inmate of the state. Sentenced to death.

    How did they get in here? Emil sifted through his memories for answers. It didn¡¯t help. He was too drunk on the precipice of madness. The sensory deprivation messed with his mind. He had no recollection of when the inmate was tossed into the room. They could have been here the entire time for all he knew.

    He eventually noticed a knife implanted onto the ground before him. A single note was attached to the blade¡¯s end.

    ¡°Here¡¯s your reason,¡± it wrote. The edges were stained in blood. The ominous message jogged his mind. Right, he was sent here for disobedience. The witch wanted to teach him in killing techniques for the next stage of his training. He stubbornly refused, adamant that he won¡¯t take a life unless he had a compelling reason to do so.

    Here¡¯s your reason.

    The witch¡¯s condescending voice echoed in his head. He could see her sadistic sneer, mocking him for his na?ve stance. The implication here were clear¡ªif he wanted to leave this hell, he had to kill the man before him.

    The disembodied voices shrieked. They raged with a deafening bellow, screeching ravenously once he acknowledged the note. Although their words remained incoherent, Emil understood their intent. It wanted him to kill.

    The presence of the dim candle restored a part of his senses. He could acutely feel the droop in his eyes, melting into his orbital sockets. The snag of his skin. The grimy coat of oil that clung onto his body. His brain reverberated within the confines of his skull¡ªexhausted, yet pulsating with excitement at the prospect of leaving.

    Emil stared at the handle of the knife. He then turned to his target. An inmate of the state. On death row. In other words, a treacherous bastard. A scum of the earth. The worst of the worst.

    The witch made it easy for him to decide.

    Here¡¯s your reason.

    Emil smirked with a look of resignation. He grabbed the handle of the knife. It felt absurdly light in his hands. The incongruity was unsettling¡ªhow could such a small tool so effortlessly end a person¡¯s life?

    He approached this target. His eyes narrowed. The voices in his head squealed in delight, cackling in anticipation.

    He could finally leave this torturous room.

    All he needed to do was plunge the knife into his victim¡¯s throat.

    ***

    Emil opened his eyes. Incandescent lights flickered above. His nose furrowed, assaulted by the nauseating smell of antiseptics. Sterile walls flanked him from all sides.

    A familiar place.

    It only took him a second to realize that he was in a medical house owned by Steiger. These establishments were spread across Ardair, hidden in plain sight, built for the sole purpose of providing rapid medical response to Steiger Cleaners on the field. This was the handiwork of the witch aimed at improving the survival rate of her indentured slaves.

    He grimaced, suddenly struck by a violent headache. The entirety of his body was still shaking¡ªa visceral reaction born from his earlier nightmare. That was a memory that I didn¡¯t need to relive.

    His ankles wobbled as he hopped off the bed. His left leg was still weak after his fight against Decim. The rest of his body was covered in bandages. His final recollections of the Nostra facility were vague. He remembered he confirmed Decim¡¯s death before rushing to drag the surviving orphans out of the burning wreckage. He must have passed out shortly after.

    The door to his room clicked open. Emil raised his head, expecting to see a medical staff. Instead, it was a face that instantly made him grimace.

    ¡°Well damn, you look absolutely overjoyed to see me, Emil!¡± It was Van. His obnoxious voice resounded across the sterile room, defiling the sanctity of the space.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    ¡°How are you feeling?¡± he asked with a stupidly wide grin as he glanced up and down Emil¡¯s body.

    ¡°Terrible,¡± Emil replied flatly. Everything ached and throbbed. The pains lingered with persistence, refusing to dissipate, as if his body was wrapped in a scalding blanket. Even breathing was uncomfortable.

    Without warning, Van leaned in and pushed out his hips in an exaggerated fashion, making a mockery of the seductive poses done by prostitutes in the entertainment districts. ¡°How about after seeing your dear Van?¡± he said in a disgusting voice as he blew him a kiss.

    I¡¯m going to puke.

    ¡°¡­Now I wished someone had gorged my eyes out,¡± Emil said, visibly disturbed, ¡°Actually, no. I should have just died. What¡¯s the point of living if I have to wake up to see this horror?¡±

    ¡°Ahahaha!" Van howled in delight, "I''m so glad that you still have a sense of humor!¡±

    No, but I was being completely serious.

    ¡°Seriously though, I¡¯m happy you¡¯re still alive,¡± Van said, suddenly dropping his frivolous tone. He reached out and gave Emil a firm pat on the shoulders. ¡°I just gave Hortensia a run-down of the mission outcomes. We recovered most of the Azurite and eliminated the remaining Nostra members in the area. All in all, this was a resounding success.¡±

    Emil brushed his hands away. ¡°What about the children that were working in the facility?¡±

    ¡°Hortensia had them moved to an affiliated orphanage. The plan is to evaluate their potential after they¡¯ve rested up. Those who are deemed capable will be inducted into Steiger.¡±

    The last sentence made Emil shudder. His throat burned. All the horrific experiences that he went through during his training flashed across his mind in an instant.

    ¡°Emil, I understand your feelings on the matter. But¡ª¡± Van¡¯s eyes narrowed. His usual flippant attitude vanished at the flick of a switch. ¡°¡ªSteiger isn¡¯t a charity. This isn¡¯t an organization with unlimited resources. They must be pragmatic about this. The fact that Hortensia was willing to offer these orphans a chance to make themselves useful is already intervening more than she should.¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s the damn problem,¡± Emil snapped. It took him a moment to realize his jaws were clenched. His hands were balled in fists, digging deep into his blood-stained palms.

    ***

    He was discharged later that day. The medical staff wanted him to stay for another night, but being confined to a bed basking in the stench of antiseptics was too much for Emil to bear. And frankly, he missed Mia and Raz. This mission had already stolen too much of his time.

    Emil pulled his hood over his head and trotted out into the streets of Lower Dannan. The medical house was located at the outskirts of the industrial district¡ªnot too far from the tavern where Mia worked. The sun was on the precipice of the horizon, beaming blood red as twilight descended upon the land.

    It¡¯s quiet. Too quiet. It was the end of the day. There should have workers roaming about.

    Paranoia gnawed his mind. He quickened his steps. The low drawl of the blast furnaces continued to blare in the background. Plumes of smoke rose from the array of workshops and facilities lined along the district like ink blots against a canvas of brilliant red.

    Maybe it¡¯s just a long workday? Emil frowned. He hoped he was just being overly cautious.

    The tavern that he currently called home finally came into sight. At a glance, everything looked normal. As he got closer, however, he noticed a couple of anomalies. The ground before the doors was unusually messy. Shards of glass littered the vicinity. Broken bottles in sight.

    Fuck. Emil rushed in.

    The inside of the tavern was chaos. Tables were flipped over. Chairs smashed. Traces of food and booze smeared the walls and doors. Broken plates and scattered utensils were everywhere.

    A group of thugs were crowded at the back. They had machetes and knives in hand. A wicked grin plastered on their disgusting faces. Their eyes were wide with savage glee as they slowly closed in on someone as a group.

    It was Mia. She was cowering. A knife was in her hand as she desperately tried to fend them off.

    Emil saw red.

    ***

    Mia

    Mia staggered backwards. Her legs teetered. The knife felt uncomfortably loose in her hands as she stared dumbfounded at the scene before her.

    Another intruder suddenly appeared. In a flurry of attacks too fast for her eyes to follow, the five thugs that ransacked the tavern were immediately downed. They crashed into the floor, bleeding and foaming at the mouth, seemingly unconscious. Mia gulped, unsure if the new arrival was friend or foe.

    ¡°Mia, are you alright?¡± the intruder asked. Mia froze at the sound of her name. Who is this? As if realizing their suspicious appearance, the intruder slowly pulled back the hood concealing their face. Disheveled black hair flopped onto their head. Their eyes were wild and intense, betraying the intellectual gaze dwelling in the bluish pupils. Scars and fresh burn marks sullied their boyish face. It took Mia a second to recognize him.

    ¡°E-Emil?¡± she whispered in shock. She couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. When was the last time I saw him fight? She sifted through her memories, unable to recall a single instance except for that day four years ago when their safe haven was destroyed.

    She couldn¡¯t reconcile this version of Emil inside her head. The person in front of her radiated the sharpness of a dangerous, battle-hardened warrior.

    What have they done to you? Her eyes trembled, unable to imagine the hell he must have endured to become¡­this. It suddenly dawned on her. Four years had passed and she still had no idea of what he was doing to bring money in to keep them afloat. All she knew was that he was frequently absent and often in pain once he returned home. Whenever she tried to ask, Emil always stubbornly shut her down.

    He took a step towards her. Mia instinctively flinched. His savage violence was still fresh on her mind.

    ¡°S-Sorry,¡± Emil mumbled.

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m fine. They didn¡¯t touch me,¡± Mia said, trying to pacify his rage. The terrifying glare in his face finally softened. Slowly, he began to look like his usual self.

    ¡°B-By the way, are they still alive?¡± she eventually found the courage to ask, grimacing at the thugs sprawled on the floor. The grisly aftermath of Emil¡¯s rampage was horrific.

    ¡°Barely. But they¡¯ll live,¡± Emil muttered dispassionately. He approached the unconscious thugs and grabbed each of them by the foot. Without mercy, he began dragging them out of the tavern.

    ***

    ¡°So, what happened?¡±

    The two of them took a seat by the counter. It was the only place in the tavern that was relatively intact. Everywhere else was a ransacked mess.

    Mia couldn¡¯t help but notice the fresh scars on Emil¡¯s face. Nasty welts and cuts smeared his cheeks. She saw bandages wrapped around his body from the few glimpses she caught beneath his cloak.

    That should be my question. She chewed on her lips, fighting to push down the emotions threatening to erupt. The sight of Emil¡¯s injuries was tearing her apart.

    ¡°¡­The local gangs in the area are getting rowdier. It started a couple of days ago. We weren''t the only ones that have been attacked,¡± Mia explained, ¡°There are rumors that the three syndicates in Lower Dannan are all under pressure. They were the ones apparently keeping all the smaller gangs in check. Without their presence, everyone started to do whatever they wanted.¡±

    Mia caught the briefest of shock flash across Emil¡¯s eyes. So he had something to do with it. She quickly changed the subject, knowing that he would feel guilty for indirectly putting her in danger.

    ¡°Raz is getting better by the way. The medicine you brought is working.¡± She tried to reassure him with a smile.

    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± he muttered. News of Raz''s recovery seemed to have eased the tension on his mind. Emil¡¯s head suddenly slumped onto the countertop. In just a few seconds, he was fast asleep.

    Mia stared at him longingly as the tears she had been holding back stormed out.

    A cauldron of emotions escaped her chest. Relief that Emil was back. Fear over the instability plaguing Lower Dannan. Pain at Emil¡¯s suffering. Helpless that she couldn¡¯t do any more to alleviate his burden.

    Please tell me, she sobbed, wincing at the needles prodding her heart, what else can I do to help him?

 Chapter 22 - A chance to burn the witch

    Emil

    Emil woke up to the dim glimpse of dawn. The sun had barely peeked over the horizon¡ªits gentle rays peered through the gaps in his blinds, slowly heating up the blankets enveloping his wary body. Spoiled by the warm caress and the comfort of his own bed, he gradually closed his eyes once more.

    He was on the precipice of deep sleep. Random thoughts adrift his subconscious. Mia''s cooking. Fixing the broken chairs. Cleaning up the tavern. The vibrant cocktails by Caiside that he wanted to share with Mia.

    The orphans that he failed to save.

    Emil shot up, jolted awake by the horrific imagery. The scene of the children buried beneath the flaming wreckage of the Nostra facility flashed before his eyes. The disturbing sight was forever seared in his mind. He clenched his chest, trying to stop the furious pounding of his heart.

    I did everything I could.

    He repeated those words to himself, trying to silence his guilty conscious. It took a solid minute before he finally felt calm enough to settle down. Emil groaned as he sunk back in bed. A dull, scalding buzz washed over his torso and limbs¡ªthe unhealed scars from his fight with Decim.

    This is going to take awhile to heal, he thought, hoping that the witch was aware of his wretched state. He didn¡¯t expect her to be sympathetic to his troubles¡ªempathy didn¡¯t exist in monsters like her. But at the very least, he believed that she was rational enough to spare him from any new missions for a little while. Overworking an injured agent would only lead to disaster.

    Thankfully, he uncovered the Azurite cache and left the hospital yesterday at a fortunate time. If he would been any later to return to the tavern, then Mia might have gotten¡ª

    Stop it. He shook his head, catching the panic flaring in his chest. The worst didn¡¯t happen. Let¡¯s not think about hypotheticals.

    Still, the irony of the situation was not lost on him. His assignment with Nostra was to prevent a stolen Azurite cache from escalating into a national security incident. His task with Grenze was to reduce their authority and destroy their exploitative businesses within the slums. Both missions were supposed to be for the betterment of society. And yet, his actions somehow directly led to Mia suffering.

    It felt like the world was playing a cruel joke on him.

    Either way, this area isn¡¯t safe anymore. We probably need to move. Or I can petition the witch to add more security to this area until thing stabilize¡ª

    Tap, tap, tap!

    Emil turned to the window. A carrier pigeon was pecking on the glass.

    ***

    The witch summoned him again.

    Fuck! I can¡¯t believe this!

    Emil stomped towards the elevator shaft separating the halves of Dannan.

    When he first realized the pigeon carried a letter from the witch, he immediately wanted to tear the pages apart and ignore whatever message was written. It wasn¡¯t until his eyes caught the first line that he forced himself to stop.

    ¡°Don¡¯t rip this apart¡ªor I¡¯ll remove the agents I placed around your home.¡±

    That damn witch, she knew.

    She knew that his patience had worn thin, and she knew that the tavern had been ransacked last night. Dannan was Steiger¡¯s headquarters, so naturally the witch had prying eyes surveying the city. And of course, she knew exactly how to tug at his conscious to make him do her bidding.

    If she was willing to go this far to convince him to come, then something serious must be brewing. Emil shook his head in disbelief. He had to come up with a ridiculous lie for Mia to let him leave. Like a puppet being pulled on taut strings, he made his way towards Upper Dannan.

    He eventually arrived at the Royal Bank of Ardair, the undercover headquarters of Steiger¡ªthe same dreary building that looked laughably out of place amongst the opulent splendor of Upper Dannan. This time, however, the receptionist led him downstairs from the ground level.

    After an agonizing descent down a long treacherous flight of stairs, they safely reached the bottom. There was a narrow room with a door and a tiny lamp affixed to the wall. The receptionist went to unlock the door.

    ¡°The director is waiting for you inside,¡± she said before turning back up the stairway. Emil stared as the receptionist faded into a moving silhouette. Suddenly, he was alone.

    Calm down.

    He took a deep breath. Claustrophobia was already gnawing at his nerves. He tried to silence the panic rising to his chest. A meeting with the witch was always an ordeal, and he had to prepare himself for any of her disgusting mind games.

    Emil pushed the door open.

    Rather than a modestly furnished room, he was surprised to find himself before a large underground chamber containing a wide field. The ceiling of the chamber was nearly two stories tall. Torches lined the stone walls, brightly illuminating the space, revealing an impressive array of weapons and equipment arranged along the field¡¯s perimeter.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    I can¡¯t believe she has an underground training facility right below headquarters.

    The witch was standing at the center of the field. She was wearing a casual outfit more compatible for movement, consisting of a simple undershirt and linen braies that stretched to her ankles. Her long hair was tied back. A cloth towel draped over her shoulders. Beads of sweat clung to her exposed skin, glistening from the torchlights.

    ¡°You certainly love to dawdle, Emil,¡± the witch said with a chilling grin. Emil scowled as he approached the center. I have a bad feeling about this.

    ¡°...I¡¯m not overly fond of being summoned when it¡¯s supposed to be my time to rest. This is the second time that this has happened,¡± he spat, not bothering to hide his fury.

    ¡°Then logically you should have hurried up to get this meeting over with instead waiting by the door,¡± the witch retorted, ¡°I¡¯m also short on time, so let me get to the point.¡±

    The towel on her shoulder suddenly fell towards the ground. Emil blinked. Hortensia inexplicably vanished from his sight.

    Huh?

    His eyes were slow to process what just happened. The left side of his neck suddenly itched. In his periphery, he caught a glimpse of the air vibrating. Specks of azure crackled at the edge. His instincts screamed at him to move.

    Emil tossed his head back¡ªright as Hortensia phased into existence on his left. Her arm swiped laterally in a wide crescent, splitting the air where his neck had been just a second prior.

    ¡°Not bad. Your sensitivity towards mana certainly improved.¡±

    Emil forgot to breathe. Air returned to his lungs as the harrowing realization set in¡ªhe nearly just had his head cleaved off.

    ¡°W-What the fuck?!¡± he screamed, taking a few steps back to increase the distance between him and Hortensia.

    ¡°Spar with me,¡± the witch demanded with authority. Emil winced at the murderous pressure exuding from her presence. Suddenly, he was regretting his decision to step foot into this place. Still, he refused to be ordered around like a slave.

    ¡°A-Are you insane? Do I look like I can put up a fight right now?¡± he lifted his shirt and pointed at his torso, still wrapped in yesterday¡¯s bandages. Patches of sweat and blood already drenched the surface.

    ¡°Irrelevant,¡± the witch said nonchalantly, ¡°You¡¯ve awakened a second Gift. This has never happened before in the short history of the Exalted. You¡¯re an anomaly. I need to understand how the Awakening has changed you.¡±

    So she summoned me here to beat the shit out of me. Emil clenched his teeth, suddenly indignant.

    ¡°How about fuck off and find someone else to be your punching bag?! I¡¯m not doing this shit right now!¡±

    As much as he wanted an opportunity to bash the witch¡¯s face in, Emil was not stupid. The gulf between them was immeasurable. Hortensia didn¡¯t ascend to the position of Steiger¡¯s director due to nepotism or seniority. The woman was fiercely competent¡ªboth as a combatant and a field agent. It could be said that the infamy of Steiger¡¯s Cleaners as ruthless and relentless hounds originated from her feats.

    ¡°An extra week¡¯s pay,¡± the witch suddenly said. Emil froze. The rage boiling inside his chest was instantly quenched as if someone had submerged him in cold water.

    No! I¡¯m not falling for this again!

    ¡°I don¡¯t ne¡ª¡±

    ¡°And if you impress me, I¡¯ll double it.¡±

    That silenced him. Emil¡¯s jaws dropped at the irresistible deal. ¡°¡­Are you serious?¡±

    ¡°Yes. When have I ever lied to you about compensation?¡± the witch said with a devilish smirk. She knew she got him. Emil bared his teeth, hating himself for being tempted by the trap.

    He needed money. Bad. The raid on the tavern meant that particular area of Lower Dannan was no longer safe. He had to move Mia and Raz to a more stable location. All of that costed extra money he currently did not have.

    ¡°Fine.¡± He resolved himself and got into a fighting stance. The witch raised an eye, seemingly amused at his sudden change of heart.

    A distance of twenty meters separated the them. Emil waited, focused, ready to react to any subtle twitches or flexions along Hortensia¡¯s body.

    Mana suddenly gathered at the soles of her feet. What? He''s never seen mana move in such detail before. The changes to his vision perplexed him, but he had no time to dwell on it. Hortensia dug her heels into the ground. Immediately, she lunged, crossing the gap in an instant.

    Shit! Emil ducked left. Hortensia¡¯s fist rocked the air. Gust from the impact of her punch grazed the side of his neck. He immediately retaliated with a right hook, fighting to control the momentum, aimed at the witch¡¯s jaws. She easily weaved out of the way. Sensing danger, he retreated¡ªright as Hortensia countered with a vicious kick.

    ¡°Not bad. Your reaction speed is greatly improved.¡±

    Sweat trickled down Emil¡¯s neck. He let out a heavy breath. They barely exchanged two moves, but Emil was already exhausted. The pressure exuded by the witch was suffocating. His nerves were on constant alert, frazzled by the knowledge that one direct hit will likely knock him out. His unhealed injuries didn¡¯t help either.

    Still, he wasn¡¯t completely helpless.

    I can definitely see more now.

    Sparks of azure danced around Hortensia¡¯s body. Emil¡¯s eyes could now pick up on the turbulent mana coursing in Hortensia¡¯s vicinity. An effect of his Awakening. Reading how the mana fluctuated, he could somewhat anticipate the witch¡¯s movements.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see how you deal with this!¡± Hortensia suddenly vanished.

    She¡¯s using her Gift now! Emil¡¯s eyes scanned the vicinity, turning his head in quick bursts, trying to decipher where she was going to appear.

    He was mid-turn when the ambient mana suddenly surged. Hortensia phased into existence, appearing at the spot where he was facing just a second prior.

    ¡°Ngh!¡±

    Pain exploded on the right side of his torso. Emil felt his body airborne as he was flung to the side by Hortensia¡¯s empowered kick. In his periphery, she vanished again.

    He crashed into the earth. His back throbbed. His torso screeched in pain. But there was no time to agonize. Emil suddenly sensed Hortensia behind him.

    Immediately, he rolled to the side, struggling to his feet, narrowly avoiding a heavy stomp to the chest. Hortensia pursued him like a relentless predator, unwilling to yield the initiative.

    Desperate, Emil activated his Gift.

    ¡°Burn!¡±

    His Azurite pendant glowed a brilliant blue. Fire snapped into existence, swarming his body. He ignored the flash of agony as he beckoned the blaze to devour the witch. The flames surged with a sadistic glee. Right before they made contact, however, Hortensia phased out of the way. She immediately re-appeared to his left.

    This time her punch connected.

    Emil¡¯s skull rattled. Tears clouded his vision from the thunderous pain. Hortensia gave him no room to breathe. Another punch loomed. The hairs on Emil¡¯s arm rose. Goosebumps slithered across his skin. His instincts screamed.

    Unlike the previous strikes, this one possessed an intent to kill.

    ¡°Ahhhhh!¡± He cried out of desperation. Mana swelled out of his pendant. He crossed his arms over his chest in a last-ditch effort to intercept the killing blow. As Hortensia¡¯s fist approached, his arms were suddenly encased in a layer of earth.

    Crunch!

    Emil was sent to the ground. His arms stung, abuzz with a searing pain. Stone fragments dropped around him¡ªthe byproducts of his new Gift.

    He blocked Hortensia''s killing blow.

    Excited, he tried to stand up¡ªonly to find his body unwilling to comply. The ceiling of the underground field suddenly began to spin.

    ¡°Looks like that¡¯s all you got,¡± the witch¡¯s voice boomed in his ears, sounding disembodied. She was crouched beside him, eyeing his pathetic state with a sneering grin.

    ¡°Rejoice, I just thought of your next assignment.¡±

 Chapter 23 - A mission only you can do

    Emil

    The underground training facility conveniently had a medical bay. A doctor was already on standby when the witch dragged Emil¡¯s limp body into the room. Bandages, ointment, and a myriad of other medical grade items were already laid out on a table in advance.

    She had this set up so she can cobble me to her heart¡¯s content. Emil shot her a glare. The witch replied with a conniving grin as if she had read his mind.

    He grimaced as he was carelessly flung onto the bed. The doctor went to work immediately, placing a bag of ice on his swollen jaws and stripping him of the dirty bandages glued to his body. The process was agonizing. Dried blood kept the bandages tight against his body and removing them peeled away patches of his damaged skin. The doctor tried to wet the bandages with water to lessen his suffering, but it did little to alleviate the pain.

    Indifferent to his troubles, the witch suddenly began, ¡°So, about your new assignment¡ª"

    ¡°Can this fucking wait?¡± Emil hissed through gritted teeth, ¡°First answer me this, what the hell happened to my body? I thought an Exalted could only have one Gift.¡±

    The witch shrugged, ¡°As did I. And then you happened. I believe you might be the first Exalted in recorded history to have multiple Gifts. Congratulations.¡±

    ¡°Am I screwed?¡±

    ¡°No idea. This is threading new territory,¡± the witch said, completely unhelpful, ¡°How do you feel? Any abnormal pains? Any malfunctioning faculties? Do you remember what happened prior to your Awakening?¡±

    ¡°Nothing unusual. Just the regular burns from using that wretched Gift. As for memories...¡± he said while trying to recall what unfolded within the Nostra facility, ¡°I was desperate. I wanted to save the children from the collapsing ceiling. Then my body was suddenly enveloped in mana. It was tranquil. Soothing. I felt strong. My head suddenly felt like it was being flooded with knowledge. Afterwards, I instinctively knew how to invoke my new Gift.¡±

    ¡°Then you went through a proper Awakening. I can attest to that from our spar. Your mana perception has improved, as did your physical constitution. These are all regular effects of an Awakening. We also confirmed that you can invoke both Gifts without an issue, which makes you the only person fit for this next assignment,¡± the witch suddenly declared, ¡°I want to station you as an undercover student at Exalted Academy.¡±

    All of the things Emil was expecting the witch to say, going undercover at the most prestigious academy in the kingdom was definitely not on the list.

    Exalted Academy was an independent institution founded to hone talented Exalted and to further the understanding on the mechanisms of Gifts and Azurite. The Academy was located at the heart of Azure City¡ªa massive metropolis situated at the center of Ardair. It shared borders with all three of Ardair¡¯s provinces while functioning as a de facto independent city-state with its own method of governance. While Ardair¡¯s provinces were ruled by the royal family and two other noble houses, Azure City was run by the Council of Mana¡ªa governing body elected by staff and affiliates of Exalted Academy.

    ¡°You want me to become a student?¡± Emil asked in disbelief. Is she insane? The witch had warped his body and mind for the past several years into a killing machine. And now she suddenly wanted to drop him into an institution of learning filled with kids.

    ¡°Oh, it won¡¯t be that bad. Most Exalted have a couple of loose screws in their heads. The students of the Academy are no different. You¡¯ll fit right in.¡± Hortensia waved off his concerns. ¡°As for your objective, your main task is to be the main field agent within Azure City for any work that falls under Steiger initiatives.¡±

    ¡°That sounds incredibly vague and suspicious.¡±

    His comment was met with a knowing smile. She¡¯s doing this on purpose. There is definitely a bunch of things that she¡¯s leaving unsaid. Emil narrowed his eyes.

    From what he knew, Steiger had an authoritative presence everywhere in Ardair¡ªexcept for Azure City. The Council of Mana insisted on its rights to self-governance due to its unique status as an independent city-state. Instead of having Steiger lord over its affairs, the Council wanted full control of everything, including the anti-corruption duties that usually fell under Steiger¡¯s jurisdiction. Given its tremendous influence over Exalted affairs, the royal family was forced to acquiesce.

    Which conveniently makes it a hotbed for corruption and crime, he smirked at the obvious implications.

    Steiger¡¯s existence was to ¡°maintain the status quo.¡± In a kingdom lurking with individuals possessing abilities that could bend the reality to their will, the organization was found to ensure the continued survival of the royal family¡¯s authority. Azure City was Steiger¡¯s one blind spot within the kingdom. And after years letting them do as they pleased, the witch suddenly wanted to establish a presence in the city despite political pressures blocking her before.

    In other words, something foul was brewing in Azure City. One that may threaten the royal family¡¯s authority.

    ¡°That sounds highly above my pay grade,¡± Emil said.

    ¡°In addition to a bump in salary, I will also have accommodations planned for your two friends to move into the city,¡± the witch replied.

    Emil¡¯s eyes went wide.

    ¡°And before you try to back out, you should know that you¡¯re the only one capable of performing this mission.¡±

    It didn¡¯t take Emil long to figure out why, ¡°¡­It¡¯s because I have two Gifts.¡±

    Before Emil¡¯s Awakening, it was an established tenet that an Exalted could only possess a single Gift. As a result, the form and manifestation of a Gift can be used as an Exalted¡¯s unique identifier. Given this fact, it was simply unfeasible for a Steiger agent to go undercover in an institution built around the Exalted.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    Hortensia nodded. ¡°You¡¯re at the perfect age to be admitted and you have enough pre-requisite knowledge to keep up with the curriculum. During the day, you will hone your newly awakened Gift. At night, you will conceal your identity and perform Steiger-related tasks with your original Gift. You¡¯re the perfect candidate. The only candidate.¡±

    Emil groaned. The witch was not going to let him refuse. Resigned to his fate, he sighed as he considered his next steps. Fine. But I¡¯ll make sure to squeeze you dry.

    ¡°¡­My raise. How much is it going to be?¡±

    ***

    He was medically discharged in the afternoon. Emil limped through the opulent terraces of Upper Dannan and onto the elevator that would take him back to the lower district. The discussion with the witch lingered in his head.

    Become a student. He winced at the thought. Ever since Steiger turned him into a monster, he gave up on the possibility of living a normal life. His dream of going to school and spending his days idly studying, engrossed in books was supposed to be an unreachable fantasy. Now suddenly, an opportunity appeared. Even if it was on a false premise of going undercover, Emil couldn¡¯t help but feel conflicted.

    Can I even do it?

    The idea of a normal life seemed so foreign and out of reach. What did people his age even talk about? What did they even do? Emil couldn¡¯t imagine. It was difficult to envision himself in a classroom amongst students his age, fretting over benign problems like homework, relationships, and exams.

    No matter how he rationalized it, he could only see his cover getting blown.

    Failure wasn¡¯t an option, however. Despite Van and the witch¡¯s cavalier attitudes, Steiger as a whole was a ruthless organization predicated on merit. Emil was well-aware that his open belligerence towards Hortensia was only tolerated because of his flawless track record. The additional compensation that he receives from the witch was also a privilege¡ªnot a given. A carrot to dangle in front of his face so he would continue to produce stellar results even when worked to the bone.

    A single blemish on his flawless record would wipe all those privileges away.

    And then there¡¯s Mia and Raz. Was it right to move them into a new city? Lower Dannan was becoming more unsafe, but Emil at least understood what to be wary of. Azure City was a completely new environment, unknown¡ªfraught with its own set of cultures, intrigues, and dangers.

    He would also be alone to fend for himself. Steiger¡¯s lack of presence in Azure City meant that there would be no one to back him up if he ran into trouble.

    What alternatives do I have?

    Separating from Mia and Raz was out of the question. The only other option was to demand the witch to change his assignment.

    That will definitely put me in trouble. He was the only one who could do this work. Refusal to accept would be tantamount to disobedience. And Steiger had no use for a dog that won¡¯t obey.

    Thud!

    The engine moving the elevator shaft grinded to a halt. The platform resounded with loud creak as it landed on the ground. Emil was back on the outskirts of Lower Dannan.

    The sun bled a scarlet red as it inched towards the horizon. Emil trudged back towards the tavern, still grappling with indecision¡ªwhen something caught his attention.

    The back of his neck suddenly flared with an irresistible itch. His Steiger training jolted him out of his thoughts. Someone¡¯s following me.

    Emil pretended not to notice while scanning his surroundings from his periphery. He caught a glimpse of the culprit as he rounded a corner. In the short moment that he was unseen, he ducked into a narrow alleyway off to the side of the road. His pursuer emerged around the bend a few seconds later.

    A hooded figure. They were visibly confused as they turned frantically, presumably looking for him.

    Emil silently lunged into his pursuer¡¯s blind spot.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± he whispered, placing a hand on the person¡¯s shoulders. He felt the person flinch.

    ¡°Don¡¯t speak either. Unless you have a death wish,¡± he said, coating his voice with the intent to kill. The person froze, unmoving¡ªexcept for the faint shudders coursing through their body. Emil slowly pried off their hood.

    A bundle of hair leaked out. A feminine face. Their skin was unusually dark with a powdered texture as if it had been meticulously smeared in ash. Their eyes radiated a distinct emerald green.

    ¡°¡­Lisha?¡±

    ***

    It really was her. The expensive daughter of some noble family who was wandering Lower Dannan in disguise. She helped him on the night he collapsed after fighting against the Exalted from Aois Nua.

    Lisha had a hand over her chest. She shivered, laboring with deep haggard breaths. Sweat and tears cascaded down her cheeks, carrying bits of the powdered ash off her face as it dripped to the ground. Emil stared at her sheepishly. He was the cause of this visceral reaction.

    Ugh, I feel really bad.

    ¡°Umm, sorry about that,¡± he apologized. The young lady nearly broke down. Emil had to drag her off into the alleyway to keep her vulnerable state out of sight. With Lower Dannan in chaos, he didn¡¯t want to risk her being seen by any of the gangs that might be lurking about.

    ¡°I-I seriously thought you were going to kill me!¡± Lisha said between sniffles, having regained enough composure to complain.

    ¡°Well, it was a possibility,¡± Emil admitted. She shot him a glare.

    He continued, ¡°Let this be a lesson not to tail anyone in the lower district. Given how close the slums are, people are bound to be a little paranoid.¡±

    ¡°I think that went beyond a little paranoid!¡± Lisha protested, ¡°No normal person tries to kill someone just for following them!¡±

    He smirked. ¡°Well? What did you want?"

    ¡°¡­I just wanted to say hi. I was curious how you were doing after that night, but I wasn¡¯t sure if it was you.¡± Lisha glanced up. ¡°You see, umm, your face¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough. Don¡¯t say anymore.¡± Emil raised his hands. The swollen part of his jaw suddenly flared up, searing with a dull pain. He winced, cursing the witch for giving him a make-over. Out of all the places if she could have chosen to hit.

    ¡°Anyways, the lower district is becoming more chaotic recently. You should probably stay out of here,¡± he warned, ¡°Whatever troubles you¡¯re running from, I can guarantee it¡¯s not worth losing your life over.¡±

    Lisha narrowed her eyes, ¡°Why do you assume that I¡¯m running away from something?¡±

    Emil stared at her blankly.

    ¡°Ah, is that the stereotypical story?¡± Lisha asked with a wry smile. She stood up from her slumped position, peering intently into Emil¡¯s eyes, suddenly feeling audacious, ¡°You know, when you deliver unsolicited advice, it¡¯s often because you''re projecting your own troubles onto someone else.¡±

    Emil¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°That¡¯s¡ª¡± He fell silent, unable to refute. Lisha¡¯s word punched deep into his guts.

    ¡°Just so we¡¯re clear, I¡¯m well aware that I live a privileged life. Far more than what you can imagine,¡± Lisha said with a solemn gaze, ¡°But knowing is different than experiencing. I came to the lower districts to gain a different perspective. To try and understand the plights that the commoners face. And perhaps it¡¯s presumptuous of me, but I wanted to see if there¡¯s something I can do to make life a bit easier for everyone.¡±

    So it wasn¡¯t running away from home, but because of a sense of noblesse oblige. Emil sighed. Which is the second most common reason why expensive daughters are found in the lower districts.

    He shrugged, ¡°Fair enough. I apologize for assuming.¡±

    ¡°Your apologies are accepted. I will, of course, still heed your advice. I could feel it myself too¡ªthe vibe of the lower district has gotten increasingly hostile lately. It¡¯ll be problematic if I get myself into trouble.¡± Lisha¡¯s expression softened as she readied to leave the alleyway, ¡°But before I leave, however,¡± she flashed him a wink, ¡°You have yet to fulfill your end of the bargain to me.¡±

    End of the bargain? Emil shot her a confused look. He rattled his mind for memories of their first encounter.

    ¡°¡­Oh, treat you to a meal?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It was the original reason why I wanted to see you,¡± Lisha smiled. Her emerald eyes glistened with mischief. ¡°So, what will it be, Miles? Will you treat me? Or will you rest uneasy being forever in my debt?¡±

 Chapter 24 - Exalted Academy

    Emil

    ¡°Sure, why not.¡±

    Mia¡¯s nonchalance was the last thing Emil expected when he brought up the idea of moving to Azure City. He had armed himself in advance with a list of pros and cons. He had rehearsed his talking points not once, twice, but thrice, going as far as he can to prepare himself for a heated discussion. Instead, his preparations went to waste. Mia was unexpectedly open to the idea. Excited even.

    ¡°But I have two conditions,¡± she said with a determined gaze, ¡°One, you let me work during the day. And two, you share your class notes with me so I can learn alongside you.¡±

    Emil blinked, perplexed by her second condition. ¡°¡­Yeah, I can do that. But why?¡±

    Her mouth curved into a wistful smile. ¡°It¡¯s fun to learn, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯ve always wanted to be a student.¡±

    With that, the next chapter of their life was decided. Emil sought the witch¡¯s help to fulfill Mia¡¯s first condition of finding a job in Azure City. He insisted, of course, that the job would not place her in any danger. Mia¡¯s second condition was also amiable as it gave him an excuse to visit her and Raz on the weekends.

    Exalted Academy was a boarding school and it expected its students to live on campus during the duration of their studies. The Academy was rather infamous for its strict curfews, not allowing students to wander outside of campus past six in the evening. It claimed that these draconian rules were necessary to foster an ideal learning environment. Emil thought that it was just a convenient excuse to keep its students gated and monitored.

    Talented Exalted were in high demand in Ardair, but absurdly low in supply. They were one of the most sought-after assets in this kingdom¡ªonly second to Azurite. These strict curfews were mostly in place to keep the students sheltered and ripe, until they could be safely scooped up by noble families and wealthy institutions upon graduation.

    That was one of the ways the Academy made its money¡ªby taking a hearty commission out of an Exalted graduate¡¯s first employment contract.

    Once Emil agreed to his mission, the witch immediately put him to work. The first pre-requisite that he had to clear was the Academy¡¯s entrance exams. During the day, he honed his newly awakened Gift under Steiger¡¯s tutelage. During the night, he studied diligently under the candlelight.

    For the first time in ages, Emil experienced some semblance of a normal life.

    Like a dream, the peaceful month passed in the blink of an eye.

    ***

    ¡°Congratulations,¡± the witch said, a cigar in her left and Emil¡¯s letter of enrolment in her right. The two of them were walking down a set of dark narrow corridors in the basement floor of the Steiger headquarters.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t win any scholarships, but you made it in.¡±

    ¡°Getting a scholarship wasn¡¯t the goal,¡± Emil hissed. He quickly let out a sigh of relief right after. Anxiety over the exam results had been tearing him apart. Heavy bags clouded beneath his eyes from the sleepless nights lost to worry. The uncomfortable knot in his stomach finally loosened as the good news settled in.

    ¡°I¡¯m supposed to be undercover anyways. Being a scholarship student would have drawn too many unwanted eyes. It would have made the investigations significantly more difficult.¡±

    The witch snorted, ¡°I don¡¯t necessarily agree. But sure, I¡¯ll concede if that makes you feel better.¡±

    Emil felt his cheeks flare.

    ¡°What name did you give to your Gift?¡± the witch asked, ignoring his indignation.

    Azure City had a unique identification system where all Exalted entering the city must have their Gifts recorded in a registry. They were then assigned a badge with their names inscribed, which granted the user permission to use their Gifts within the premise of the city. Those who unlawfully used their Gifts without a badge were immediately treated as a Desperado to be hunted down by city¡¯s police force.

    With the largest Exalted population in the kingdom, Azure City implemented this rule as a measure to dissuade Exalted-related crimes.

    ¡°¡­I named it Bulwark,¡± Emil said. The name was a reference to the defensive capabilities of his new Gift, which gave him the ability to manifest and control the earth.

    ¡°How cute.¡± The witch grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s establish some ground rules for your new assignment. For the sake of brevity, let¡¯s call your original Gift, Blaze. Your cover on campus will be ¡®Emil Milligan.¡¯ Any time you¡¯re acting as Emil Milligan, you¡¯re only allowed to use Bulwark as your Gift. Once you¡¯re off-campus and working on Steiger-related tasks, you will remove your badge and only use Blaze.¡±

    Emil nodded. It was a logical measure to separate his two identities.

    ¡°Now listen closely. Do not mix your Gifts unless you want to risk your cover being blown. Do not get caught as a Desperado. Consider your affiliation with Steiger severed if you¡¯re apprehended. Do not attempt to use Steiger¡¯s name to get yourself out of trouble, or the consequences will be uncivil.¡±

    The witch made the implications clear¡ªconsider Mia and Raz¡¯s lives forfeit if he broke this rule.

    It was a harsh punishment, but perhaps warranted. The witch was taking an incredible amount of risk implanting him in Azure City. If his affiliation with Steiger was ever exposed, a political incident could break out between the royal family and the Council of Mana.

    The witch rounded the corner of the bland corridor. Where the hell are we going anyways? Emil thought as she suddenly changed the topic, ¡°How much do you remember about your first Awakening?¡±

    His face hardened. The question dug up unpleasant memories that he would rather not recall. Faint vestiges of being tied down to a cold steel bed flashed in his head. He remembered thrashing about¡ªtrying to escape the contraptions and scalpels that defiled his body and pried open his insides. There was a low-hanging ceiling. There was the ever-present stench of antiseptics that meandered in the air. And then there were the unrelenting pains and dizzying hallucinations that followed.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°¡­I was torn apart and bestowed the Gift of my friends¡¯ murderer,¡± Emil said bitterly.

    ¡°You were implanted with some of his body parts. The end result was an artificial Awakening,¡± the witch added, ¡°The techniques used on you that day were a piece of forbidden knowledge leaked to us by an anonymous source. You were on the verge of death. As a last resort, I made the decision to use you to validate those claims in that leak.¡±

    Emil shot her a glare. The witch¡¯s face stayed impassive, her eyes as cold as icy snow. If she even felt an ounce of remorse or guilt over her decision, she did not it let it show.

    ¡°The fruits of that decision finally revealed itself. You¡¯re now the first Exalted in the history of this kingdom that possesses two Gifts. That makes you invaluable,¡± the witch proclaimed, ¡°However, there is also another implication. This knowledge had to have come from somewhere.¡±

    Fury surged in Emil¡¯s chest. His throat grew hot as he muttered, ¡°Someone was working on this. Experimenting on humans.¡±

    The witch nodded. ¡°The name of this initiative was the Bestowed Project. And as much as I yearn for the advancement of human knowledge, there are some lines that shouldn¡¯t be crossed.¡±

    ¡°You want me to find out who did it. You suspect the culprit is in Azure City.¡±

    It was a logical deduction. Azure City was at the cutting edge of research on Exalted and Azurite. It was the only place in this kingdom without Steiger¡¯s presence. Those two conditions made it the perfect breeding ground for these sorts of heretical experiments.

    The witch¡¯s mouth curved to an eerie smile. ¡°We have reasons to believe that project has been long discontinued. Nonetheless, your secondary objective will be to uncover evidence of the Bestowed Project. Your primary objective¡ª¡± she suddenly stopped before a set of barred doors at the end of the long, meandering corridor.

    ¡°¡ªis this.¡± She opened the barred doors with the turn of a key. The door creaked open, revealing a small, dimly lit room. The air thick with the nauseating mix of blood and antiseptics. There was a single bed along the wall. Occupied.

    A petite person rested on the bed. Their face was deformed, littered with bulging splotches of virulent green and dark scarlet across their cheeks. Tumors. The lumps pulsated madly, squeezing against the person¡¯s eyes and nose, rendering most of their facial features unrecognizable. Emil fought to keep his composure, not wanting to make a face at the disturbing sight.

    The witch walked over and carefully removed the covers over their body. This time, Emil couldn¡¯t hide his shock.

    The same tumors were smeared across their body. Glaring incisions and stitch marks lined the edges of their torso, indicators that the person had been pried apart and then closed up.

    ¡°What the fuck is this?¡± Emil cursed through his teeth. The witch placed the covers back over the person.

    ¡°A survivor. She came from Azure City. Likely, she was a subject of human experimentation,¡± the witch uttered with a frightening calm, ¡°Your long-term assignment is to collect evidence of Azure City¡¯s heretical experiments. If possible, you are to find the malicious actors enabling these cruel acts to continue.¡±

    ***

    The day of the entrance ceremony arrived. Emil ventured into Azure City with a modest suitcase filled with his belongings, eager to settle into his new living space on the campus dorms. Mia and Raz had already moved into the city a couple of days prior with Steiger¡¯s assistance. Emil planned to meet them later on a weekend.

    The morning sun was gentle. Excited chatters sang in the air from students, parents, and servants eagerly anticipating the start of the school year. Emil crossed the gates and stepped foot onto the campus of Exalted Academy. Immediately, his heart swelled, beating with awe.

    The path beneath his feet was paved in polished, patterned brick. Beautifully trimmed hedges lined the trail. Alongside the hedges were plots of land lined with trees and vivid flowers in full bloom, not dissimilar to the views of a miniature orchard.

    Students were found basking beneath the shade of the trees or resting on the various terraces scattered along the campus grounds¡ªchatting or pouring over large books.

    It¡¯s similar to Upper Dannan. But the vibe is distinctively different.

    If he had to describe it more succinctly, the d¨¦cor and hanging gardens of Upper Dannan were built to impress. The splendor of its exotic plants and vibrant layouts were designed to seize your attention, inviting you to gawk and marvel in awe of its display.

    The campus of Exalted Academy, while still splendid, was far more modest in its approach. The design was easy on the eyes and the layout was practical and spacious. For someone whose childhood was rooted in books and nature, Emil should have been overjoyed to be in this environment.

    Instead, his heart was threatening to explode out of his body.

    Calm down. He clenched his chest. His neck was damp with sweat. The edge of his fingers quivered, abuzz with the dread of danger looming in the back of his mind. Emil fought to keep his face neutral, trying not to stand out amidst the myriads of eyes gazing around.

    The source of his distress was the number of Exalted in his vicinity. Their constant presence in every direction made him extremely uncomfortable.

    They¡¯re not your enemies.

    He repeated the statement in his head, desperate to convince his body to tone down his combative instincts. For the past few years under Steiger, he had been conditioned to see other Exalted as a threat. Aside from Van and the witch, the only other Exalted that he came into contact with were Desperados while on the job. Those encounters would always end in bloodshed.

    He would emerge battered and scarred¡ªforced to use Blaze as he fought a self-destructive battle.

    Somewhere along the line, his survival instincts began to associate other Exalted with danger. Those same instincts that kept him alive were now threatening to break him apart.

    Emil felt his vision blur. Fear continued to gnaw the back of his mind. The mental battle of keeping his frazzled nerves intact was overwhelming. The ordeal was only intensified by his Awakening. His sensitivity to mana had increased significantly¡ªenough to sense the small perturbations from students nearby. All of it manifested as searing itches across his skin.

    They¡¯re students. They¡¯re not Desperados. They¡¯re not your enemies. They¡¯re just here to study. They don¡¯t mean you any harm¡ª

    ¡°Excuse me!¡±

    An irritated voice blared in his ears, jolting him awake from his daze. Emil spun around, lashing out his right arm by instinct. Shit! He quickly realized his mistake. He tried to pull his outstretched arm back, but it was already too late.

    Thud!

    His victim was a female student. Petite. Her scarlet hair dangled to her shoulders. A pair of bright, doe eyes stared at him, wide with disbelief. Her belongings, scattered across the ground, had been knocked out of her arms.

    Emil would have found her cute, if he wasn¡¯t mortified by what he had just done.

    ¡°I¡¯m sor¡ª¡±

    ¡°Do you have a death wish?¡±

    Emil froze. The cute face immediately deformed into a monstrous visage. The chilling question radiated murderous intent.

    Before he could explain himself, the girl lunged. Mana swelled, engulfing her vessel in a layer of azure. Spontaneously, the coat of mana snapped, blooming into sparks of electricity.

    The shrill cackle of electric discharge filled the air.

    Emil immediately took a step back. His hands itched. Inadvertently, he found an outlet for all the combative energy rampaging in his body. The witch¡¯s ground rules echoed in his head as he channeled Bulwark. His hands were suddenly enveloped by a gauntlet of stone.

    ¡°Die!¡± the girl screamed. She was absurdly fast. Emil could barely follow her movements with his eyes. It was only through the minute mana fluctuations around her limbs that he could anticipate her intent.

    Boom!

    His armored hand collided against her fist. Emil felt a jolt of energy rush down to his shoulder. He winced at the dull pain, shocked by the petite girl¡¯s power.

    The girl was equally surprised¡ªher eyes raised in alarm. But her hesitation barely lasted a second. Without warning, she instantly whipped around to deliver a high-arcing kick. Emil ducked beneath the attempt as the whizz of electricity screeched past his ears.

    Her Gift is bad news. Sensing that he was at a disadvantage, Emil jumped back. He was contemplating his next move, when¡ª

    ¡°Stop! Cease your fighting!¡± the authoritative voice knocked out of his fighting trance. Clarity poured over his head as his lust for combat dissipated. Suddenly, he remembered his situation.

    Right, I¡¯m supposed to be a student.

    He found himself surrounded by a cadre of Academy staff members. Behind the staff, students across the campus were gawking at him.

    Shit. What have I done? He grimaced with regret as he raised his hands to surrender to the Academy staff.

 Chapter 25 - Scarlet-haired Seibert (1)

    Anna

    Anna was having a terrible day.

    It started from the onset of dawn when the sun had barely risen above the horizon. She got up early and stepped out of her temporary residence in Azure City, excited to begin her new life as a student of the prestigious Exalted Academy¡ªonly to find a set of disgusting, degrading messages smeared along the walls and doors of her stay.

    She wasted ten minutes cleaning after the mess.

    Next, as she trotted down the street of Azure City enroute to the Academy, she was stopped by a group of Ordinary vandals blocking her path. It was frankly a pathetic attempt to scare her away from attending the opening ceremony. With a quick blast of electricity, she neutralized the threat and called over the Sentinels patrolling the area to take the goons away.

    Another five minutes wasted.

    It wasn¡¯t until she neared the campus gates when a set of horse carriages intentionally slung mud into her face that she got the message.

    She was deliberately being harassed.

    It didn¡¯t take long for her to figure out why. Exalted Academy was not simply just an institution for learning, but it was also a scouting ground for Exalted talent. Each year, ahead of the opening ceremony, the Academy released a public list ranking their new students based on their admission scores. It was judged on a combination of theoretical knowledge scored on the exams and practical skills demonstrated during the evaluation. The top ten students were granted scholarships, along with an abundance of interest from the noble families and wealthy institutions seeking their talents.

    Anna was the sole commoner amongst the top ten. Inevitably that drew a lot of attention¡ªattention that she had hoped to use as leverage to demand her rightful place amongst her family¡¯s merchant company.

    What she didn¡¯t expect, however, was the childish harassment she would receive in exchange. No doubt it was the work of students from noble families who felt their pride scratched for being rated below a commoner.

    By the time she finally arrived on campus, she was already fuming. Getting her belongings knocked to the ground by another student threw her fury past the tipping point.

    ***

    ¡°Well, this is certainly a historic moment. Never once in my tenure at the Academy have I ever witnessed two students getting into a fight right before the opening ceremony,¡± a bespectacled man in his early 30s said while scratching his neck in disbelief.

    There were traces of grey in his slick black hair. His face, well-structured and symmetrical, was already littered with wrinkles and signs of being worn by age. His eyes were relaxed and soft, however, bestowing him with the air of a gentle disposition.

    ¡°And it just happens to be two of my students. Admittedly, this is a rather awkward way to get acquainted, but such is life I suppose. I¡¯m Professor Callum,¡± the man introduced himself, ¡°I¡¯m your homeroom teacher and I give lectures on mana fundamentals.¡±

    After the fight, Anna found herself escorted to an office designated for the Academy staff. A rosy fragrance permeated the room with modest furnishings. She was seated on a couch, her arms crossed, the fingers on her right hand tapping incessantly at the hems of her sleeves. Her assailant was across from her, aghast with a mortified expression. It took most of her willpower to stop herself from lunging at him.

    ¡°Anna Seibert. Emil Milligan,¡± Professor Callum addressed them, ¡°Would the two of you please explain to me what led to this¡­unprecedented event?¡±

    ¡°What is there to explain? He assaulted me,¡± Anna stated plainly. The boy named Emil immediately raised his hands, desperately shaking his head in denial.

    ¡°H-Hold on, that¡¯s not¡ª¡±

    ¡°What? You clearly swung your fist at me. Or are you going to suggest that I just threw my stuff onto the ground on purpose so I can have an excuse to attack you?!¡±

    ¡°No, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sick of it! I¡¯m sick of all you damn cowards who keep harassing me out of some misplaced sense of pride. It¡¯s been happening all morning! If you have an issue with me, then face me head-on without any frivolous schemes!¡± she yelled.

    All of the frustration that she kept bottled in the entire morning spewed out. Anna tried to hold onto her composure for the sake of keeping peace on the opening day. She was planning to deal with her tormentors later. That plan went into flames the moment she snapped and retaliated. Now that she was already in trouble, she aired out all of her grievances without a care.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ¡°Hey,¡± Emil suddenly said.

    The word echoed unusually loud in her head. Anna instinctively froze. Her eyes went wide. The anger raging inside her heart suddenly extinguished as if she had been drenched by cold water. What the hell was that?

    She glanced down. The tips of her fingers were trembling.

    A surge of murderous intent.

    ¡°Can I speak? I¡¯d like to explain my side of the story,¡± Emil continued. His voice sounded normal this time. The suffocating pressure that radiated from his presence vanished. The danger that seized the air was so fleeting, so instantaneous that Anna began questioning her sanity. Did I imagine that?

    She shot a glance at Professor Callum. The professor was watching her, waiting with an eye raised, as if he was perplexed by her silence.

    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± she replied. Sweat trickled down the back of her neck. She gulped, suddenly cognizant of the boy in front of her and the menacing scars that lined his jaws.

    Emil quickly explained his side of story, stating that he was on edge from all the Exalted roaming on campus. Apparently, their presences made him nervous due to an incident in his childhood. When Anna addressed him from behind, he panicked and lashed out inadvertently.

    ¡°Again, I¡¯m sorry for knocking into you. It was an accident and I seriously didn¡¯t mean any harm,¡± he apologized, lowering his head without hesitation.

    Anna narrowed her eyes. She considered herself a good judge of character¡ªa skill that she honed from a young age as a former merchant apprentice. Still, she found herself confounded. Emil¡¯s apology felt genuine, but¡ª

    ¡ªHe has the face of a liar.

    The incongruity only raised more alarms in her head. Her instincts were rarely wrong. And yet, somehow her gut feelings told her two different stories.

    ¡°¡­Fine. I accept your apology,¡± she said, deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt. There wasn¡¯t much she could do anyways. She might have been able to pressure the professors to punish him, but Anna felt like it was unnecessarily cruel. The stain on her reputation would have been far worse than any vindication she could receive.

    Her declaration earned a loud, satisfied clap from Professor Callum.

    ¡°Great! I¡¯m glad this was all a misunderstanding. We can forget it all happened,¡± the professor said, a bit too eager to drop the issue, ¡°Anna, if you like, the Academy could investigate on your behalf to find out who¡¯s been harassing you.¡±

    Anna waved him off. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s all just petty nonsense right now. I can deal with that myself.¡±

    ¡°As long as it¡¯s within the Academy rules,¡± Professor Callum said as he glanced at the clock, ¡°Now then, if you hurry, you might still be able to reach the opening ceremony on time.¡±

    ***

    The opening ceremony was conducted in the Grand Hall located in the southeastern quadrant of the Academy. True to its name, it was a hall¡ªand it was grand.

    Aside from those attributes, the hall was quite disappointing from Anna¡¯s point of view. The name of Exalted Academy should have commanded more grandeur than a simple set of chandeliers dangling from the ceiling and a set of portraits engraved in gold frames adorning the walls.

    Anna found herself surrounded at the center of the hall. The massive stage towered from the front, granting her line of sight onto the speakers on the platform despite her diminutive height. The first one to step on was the Headmaster of the Academy, Ivar von Tuatha.

    The short, round man trudged onto the platform with a slight hunchback¡ªhis physique hardly impressive compared to his title. Yet as he stepped onto the podium to address the students, his voice rang with unmistakable authority.

    ¡°Class of Year 75, I greet you as the Headmaster of Exalted Academy! Welcome!¡±

    Deafening applause filled the hall in an instant as Ivar beckoned for a reaction. A natural orator, Anna thought as she followed along with the cacophony.

    Ivar¡¯s speech was short and to the point, introducing himself and giving an encouraging welcome to the arriving class. A stellar performance befitting of the person who led the Academy¡¯s operations. The other speakers that accompanied him, however, were far less impressive.

    Each of them sounded like pompous, self-important people who came on just to present a thinly veiled speech to boast about their greatness. There was a special kind of off-putting boredom that involved listening to people who were in love with the sound of their own voices.

    Anna fought the urge to roll her eyes. The only thing that stopped her was the uncomfortable number of glances shot in her vicinity.

    Yes, yes, I¡¯m the girl who got into a fight this morning. How could you possibly tell?

    If she had to guess, it was her brilliant scarlet hair¡ªan apparent hallmark of the Seibert family. The faint traces of mana lingering around her body and the edges of her uniform that were charred by electricity probably didn¡¯t help either. Rushing to the ceremony didn¡¯t afford her any time to change.

    Whatever, she sighed. Her original plan was to keep a low profile until the Clash of Dawn tournament later this month, but that idea immediately got derailed. At least she had some infamy now. Whoever was actually behind all of her harassment this morning will probably stop after she¡¯s shown her willingness to get violent.

    On the topic of violence, Anna glanced down on her hands, frowning as she recalled this morning¡¯s confrontation. Emil Milligan. As hard as she thought, she couldn¡¯t recall seeing his name amongst the top thirty students from the admission scores.

    ¡­I got stopped by a non-ranker? Heat flared in her chest. She grinded her teeth, her hands suddenly balled into fists. She didn¡¯t hesitate in that brief exchange against Emil¡ªshe attacked with all her might, fully intent to strike him down. Despite that, her attack was stopped.

    The realization drove her mad. Her plans to make a name for herself at the Academy was in serious jeopardy if she couldn¡¯t even overpower someone of his caliber. Suddenly, her goals seemed unreachable.

    This is unacceptable!

    She severed relationships. She gave up opportunities. She pushed herself to brink of insanity¡ªjust so she could attend this academy to have a chance to choose for a future for herself.

    The opening ceremony came to an end. Anna glared at the podium, immersed in her despair, to the background of thunderous applause.

 Chapter 26 - Scarlet-haired Seibert (2)

    Anna

    Anna¡¯s foul mood lingered till lunch.

    She arrived at the cafeteria late due to the complexity of the campus layout and definitely not because of her abysmal sense of direction.

    There were a variety of food stations positioned neatly in a line. Hastily, she walked down the column, filling her tray with a modest assortment of dishes¡ªenough to last her until dinner, but not an egregious amount that would send her into a food-induced coma for the rest of the afternoon. She planned to train after orientation was over. She needed something to make herself forget this chaotic mess of a day.

    Because she was late, the cafeteria was completely packed. Anna moved along the rows, trying to find an empty seat amongst the array of tables. It didn¡¯t take long before people recognized her. Heads turned. Unruly fingers pointed in her direction. Eyes of scrutiny climbed up and down her body as nearby whispers wormed into her ears.

    ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wow, it¡¯s the crazy girl.¡±

    Anna grimaced at the scathing remarks. If you¡¯re going to whisper, at least do it properly so I don¡¯t have to hear you!

    Finally, she found an unoccupied table by the corner of the hall. Eager to eat and get the hell out of public eye, she rushed towards the seat.

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    Someone apparently had the same idea. Someone who she unfortunately already knew.

    Great, the last person that I wanted to see.

    Anna clicked her tongue, finding herself once again face-to-face with Emil. The boy had a dumb expression plastered on his face as if in disbelief at this sheer coincidence.

    ¡°Uh, I can find a different seat,¡± he offered. Both of them scanned the premise, before quickly realizing that there wasn¡¯t another empty seat in sight.

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s fine.¡± Anna propped down her tray and angrily took one of the two chairs.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll¡ª¡±

    ¡°Just sit dammit!¡± she insisted in a voice that was just a tad too loud for the merry conversations happening around them. The cafeteria suddenly fell silent. Anna wanted to bury her face in her hands.

    Emil sat down meekly, also visibly uncomfortable with the incessant eyes on their table. Trying to ignore all the unwanted attention, he dug into his food.

    ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t that the guy she got into a fight with?¡±

    ¡°Wow, I can¡¯t believe they¡¯re sitting together.¡±

    ¡°Am I witnessing a real-life enemies-to-lovers development?!¡±

    I swear I¡¯m going to murder all of them, Anna cursed. It took her nastiest glare and the threat of an electric blast to shake most of the eyes away. The two of them then ate in silence. Emil was devouring his food with an impressive voracity as if this was the first meal he¡¯s had in ages. Anna munched on a slice of bread, quietly observing the boy responsible for her disaster of a morning.

    Jet-black hair, neatly trimmed, covered his head. If she overlooked the nasty scars decorating his jaws, he had a surprisingly boyish face. Traces of femininity lined his facial structure. Not enough to look androgenous, but enough to give him a soft, tender appearance.

    Emil suddenly looked up after demolishing his main course. Their eyes met.

    ¡°What?¡± Anna hissed, not bothering to hide her terrible mood.

    The boy sheepishly scratched the side of his face. ¡°Again, I¡¯m sorry for what happened this morning. Is there anything I could do to make it up to you?¡±

    She narrowed her eyes with suspicion. Emil feigned a cough.

    ¡°¡­Like for example, if any of your belongings broke, I was thinking I could perhaps buy you a replacement.¡±

    Anna scoffed, reaching for an item inside of her leather pouch. ¡°Feel free to find something to replace this.¡± It was an old pocket watch. The glass enclosure covering the face was cracked, and the hands that should have been ticking was frozen still. The inscription of ¡°Seibert¡± was engraved in tiny letters at the bottom.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    ¡°But unless you have a Gift that lets you travel back two centuries in time, I wouldn¡¯t bother.¡± Her answer caused Emil to wince. Anna smirked at his discomfort. That¡¯s right, suffer for a bit for making a mess out of things.

    ¡°Did this mean a lot to you?¡± he asked.

    ¡°It was just a family heirloom. My family owns the Seibert Merchant Company. I''m sure you''ve heard of it¡ªit''s quite famous. Anyways, my parents gave this pocket watch to me on my tenth birthday to celebrate my inauguration as a merchant''s apprentice. I had just negotiated my first deal and made my first sale to a major customer. They¡­¡± she suddenly trailed off. Unpleasant memories rose to the surface. Words that she never wanted to hear again blared in her head. ¡°They had a lot of expectations for me. I guess they hoped that I would be the one to carry on the family business. This was their way of expressing that hope.¡±

    She winced, realizing that she had said too much. Why the hell am I telling him all this? She raised her head, ready to give Emil an angry scolding for prying into her life.

    The incendiary words hanged on her tongue. The guy was suddenly a mess. The corner of his eyes trembled as his face looked tortured by guilt.

    Anna clicked her tongue, suddenly irritated, ¡°Just for the record, I¡¯m not trying to guilt trip you. You asked for the story, you got the story. That¡¯s the end of that.¡±

    She picked up her tray and stormed out of the cafeteria, ignoring all the curious eyes still trailing behind her. As she rounded the corner out of the crowd¡¯s scrutiny, she let out a long sigh.

    The old, broken pocket watch remained in her hands. She distinctively remembered the day when she received it¡ªthe pure joy and elation that swelled in her chest when her parents placed it in her hands. To her, this pocket watch was more than just a simple reward. It was a recognition of her accomplishment. A reward for all the hard work she put in. A symbol of her parents'' belief in her. She felt like she could fly.

    Then just several years later, everything changed. One day, she would be confronted by her mother¡¯s cold, contemptuous scowl and the terrifying eyes of her father, brimmed with hatred and hostility. Expressions that parents should have never directed at their daughter.

    ¡°Get the fuck out of my sight!¡±

    Her father¡¯s voice boomed in her head. She winced, still able to feel the foul spittle splattering against the side of her cheeks. The side of her head throbbed, a scar hidden beneath her hair flared¡ªa distinct reminder of that wretched day. Ever since then, she lost her prodigious standing amongst her family. Her parents never looked at her warmly again.

    Shortly after, Anna discovered that she was being shopped around as a marriage asset. Her parents planned to wed her to an old, decrepit noble for the sake of elevating the Seibert Merchant Company''s standing.

    That sent her over the edge.

    ¡°Fuck this.¡± She shoved the broken pocket watch into the nearest trash can. She had no idea why she still held onto it. After all, the warm feelings engraved in that heirloom were long gone.

    ***

    Anna spent the rest of her afternoon training. She pushed herself to her absolute limits until she was too tired to remember the shame and humiliation that plagued her the entire day. Then she retreated into her dorm where she promptly collapsed.

    The next day arrived. The sun peeked out over the horizon. It was the first official day of classes. Anna reluctantly dragged her sore body out of bed. The corners of her eyes were red and puffy.

    Still sleep deprived, she made her way onto campus and into the room of her first lecture. Somehow, most of the seats were already occupied. Excited conversation was already taking place between the students in the lecture hall.

    How the hell is everyone so energetic? She felt like the only sane person in this room, surrounded by a bunch of noisy freaks who could somehow function properly at this ungodly hour of the day. She winced as she pulled herself up the row of seats. The loud chatters pounded her exhausted brain. She tried to ignore the probing eyes staring at her back.

    Anna limped to the only available seat at the back of the room.

    ¡°Good morning.¡±

    She turned, narrowing her eyes as she once again spotted a familiar person.

    ¡°You again?¡± she groaned. Why can¡¯t I get rid of him? It was Emil. The boy gave her a strained smile.

    ¡°You look¡­tired.¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah? What gave it away?¡± she retorted harshly. Anna took her seat, bemoaning of her fate of continuously being stuck with the person that had turned her into an unwanted celebrity. An uncomfortable silence soon settled in.

    Alright, maybe it¡¯s time I stop being a rude bitch. It could have been worse. She could have been stuck with one of those arrogant nobles whose head was stuck up their own ass. At least Emil was courteous and made an effort to make amends with her.

    ¡°¡­Here.¡± Emil suddenly pushed something towards her. Anna shot him a confused look, before unravelling the cloth covering the mysterious item.

    ¡°Um, excuse me? What''s this?¡± Inside the cloth was a pocket watch. Its glassy surface had been polished, glimmering, absent of blemishes.

    ¡°I found it in the trash can yesterday. I thought it was yours, so I fixed it.¡±

    Anna¡¯s jaws dropped. ¡°You what?¡±

    ¡°It seems like the technology behind a pocket watch hasn¡¯t changed much in the last two centuries. The clock''s inner mechanics were very similar to today¡¯s versions. I just had to replace the glass and a few of small broken parts that were already rusted,¡± Emil replied with a proud look.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Anna said, staring at the pocket watch. The faint inscription of the Seibert family was engraved in tiny letters at the bottom of the face, indicating that it was indeed her family heirloom. The hands of the clock ticked faintly with a steady cadence.

    A vague smile crossed her face.

    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t believe you,¡± she said, grabbing the watch and placing it in her bag.

    ¡°Huh? Wait, I¡¯m serious. I really did fix it,¡± Emil protested.

    ¡°A delinquent like you, fixing a pocket watch? Next, you¡¯re going to tell me cats can fly,¡± Anna said, sticking out her tongue, her eyes dancing with mischief.

    For the first time since she arrived in Azure City, her heart swelled with a semblance of warmth.

 Chapter 27 - Uncanny discovery

    Emil

    The next few days passed in a blink of an eye. Emil suddenly found himself near the end of the first week of classes. Like routine, he stepped into the unusually rambunctious classroom for his morning lectures.

    Today was the first day where he wasn¡¯t immediately assaulted by a plethora of probing eyes stalking his every steps. It seemed the incident between him and Anna was finally beginning to lose its novelty.

    Good grief.

    He let out an exasperated sigh. Becoming the hottest topic on the first day of the semester was not how he planned to operate as an undercover student at the Academy. The amount of attention and scrutiny he received made it difficult to make any progress in his investigations. The constant fear of getting his cover blown also gnawed at the back of his head, turning his mind into a frazzled mess.

    ¡°Why the long sigh?¡± Anna asked as he took his unofficial seat at the back of the class. It took a few days, longer than he expected, but the fierce girl had finally softened a bit around him.

    ¡°Tired,¡± he replied, deliberately stretching out his yawn. The incident on the opening day had already bestowed him the reputation of an unserious delinquent. Emil decided to lean into it as his cover.

    Even then, he didn¡¯t need to do much pretending. Exalted Academy¡¯s schedule was rigorous. Every student spent six hours of each day in lectures, followed by two hours of gruesome practical training to hone their Gifts. The few hours left in the day were spent eating, tackling homework assignments, and preparing for the next day.

    Anna flashed him a smirk. ¡°Glad to know I¡¯m not the only sane person in this classroom of freaks. Seriously, where the hell do they get all their energy in the morning?¡±

    ¡°Probably hardcore drugs,¡± Emil said dryly. His seatmate was apparently a fan of dark humor.

    ¡°You think they¡¯ll give me any if I ask them kindly?¡±

    ¡°I doubt it. Most of our classmates still won¡¯t look at us in the eyes. You¡¯d think we have horns sticking out of our heads or something.¡±

    Anna gave him the side-eye. ¡°And whose fault do you think that is?¡±

    Dammit, I walked into that one. Emil winced, unable to think of a comeback. Luckily for him, Professor Callum soon entered the class, giving him an excuse to cut their banter short.

    ***

    ¡°You might have noticed that an Exalted¡¯s Gift varies greatly from individual to individual,¡± Professor Callum lectured with a clear, authoritative voice, ¡°The mechanisms behind how a Gift manifests during Awakening is currently not well understood. Some theories suggest that its form is malleable¡ªshaped by an Exalted¡¯s most vivid experiences. Other believe that Gifts are fixed upon birth, serving as a reflection of the soul.¡±

    Are any of these theories even possible to prove? Emil frowned as he jotted down the notes. The first one might be possible if someone figured out a way to induce a natural Awakening on demand. And hopefully, the method didn''t involve cutting someone apart. Those are quite painful. Emil knew firsthand.

    His mind lingered as Professor Callum went to erase the chalkboard. He glanced to the side. Anna was leaning back against her seat, arms crossed, staring blankly ahead with a bored expression. Her notebook was firmly shut and her bag rested on the table as if she was prepared to leave at a moment¡¯s notice. Emil turned to the clock. There were still twenty minutes left before this class was done.

    ¡­You¡¯re telling me this is a top ten honors student?

    ¡°In order to quantify an Exalted¡¯s potential, we instead measure their affinity with mana. One such metric is an Exalted¡¯s Sensitivity.¡±

    A faint azure glow suddenly bloomed from Professor Callum¡¯s wrist.

    ¡°Not bad. I noticed a number of you were able to detect my Azurite activating. Some of your eyes flickered. Some of your nose furrowed. Others might have heard a sharp buzz in their ears. Sensitivity measures how perceptive you are towards mana,¡± he said with a smile, ¡°For most Exalted, their perception is instinctual. Just like how we can feel that the air is damp or light, Exalted can also feel the concentration and fluctuance of mana. But those with stronger Sensitivities may see mana visually, hear its resonance, or even smell its presence. Whichever sense is stimulated varies on the person.¡±

    Emil leaned towards Anna and whispered, ¡°Which one are you?¡±

    ¡°None of your damn business,¡± she replied, not even sparing him a single glance.

    Hm, I guess she¡¯s in a sour mood? Emil thought as he noticed her index fingers were tapping fiercely against the side of her arm. If it¡¯s one thing he learned about Anna over the past few days, it was that she was unsurprisingly temperamental.

    ¡°For the last few minutes of class, I would like you all to form groups of three for your upcoming assignment.¡±

    Emil slowly tilted his head towards his partner-in-crime. Anna had her eyes closed, grimacing like she was fighting some sort of intense battle inside her head. Then finally, after a minute of silence, she sighed as if resigned to her fate.

    ¡°Looking forward to working with you,¡± Emil said, wearing a cheeky smile as he held out his hand.

    ¡°Oh, screw off.¡± She slapped his hand away, visibly irate. ¡°I hope you have someone in mind to be our third.¡±

    They both scanned the room. Most of the class seemed to be in full groups already.

    ¡°Ummm, he-helloo¡­¡±

    Emil nearly jumped out of his seat, startled by the soft voice that crept behind his back. He spun around. A weary girl with disheveled hair was eyeing the floor in front of him. How did I not notice her? He narrowed his eyes, perplexed.

    The new girl stood there with her hands hidden behind her back, slightly trembling. She had droopy eyes, decorated by dark bags pooled beneath the eyelids. Her skin had an unhealthy complexion. A mole was nested on both of her cheeks.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°¡­Ellen, was it?¡± Emil asked, not yet confident with his names. Thankfully, the girl glanced up and nodded; her face glowed with a pleasant surprise.

    ¡°I¡¯m Emil. This is Anna. Although I¡¯m pretty sure you know that already,¡± he said, scratching his head, trying to ignore the scathing look from Anna¡¯s direction, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°U-Um, h-here!¡± Ellen suddenly offered him a cloth pouch. A sweet, warm fragrance leaked from within. Curious, Emil took a peek inside. There were cookies. Freshly baked.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m wondering if there¡¯s still a spot left in your group,¡± Ellen whimpered softly.

    ¡­Is she trying to bribe us with food? Emil fought the urge to smile. ¡°There is, but you didn¡¯t have to¡ª¡±

    Anna suddenly snatched the bag out of his hands.

    ¡°Yes! Of course, there is! Welcome!¡± she declared with a feral glint in her eyes. Her hands immediately reached inside the bag and shoved a piece in her mouth. ¡°Ellen! This is amazing!¡± Anna muttered in between bites as she ravenously devoured the pastries one by one.

    Emil didn¡¯t know how to respond. He shot a glance at Ellen, who was smiling delightfully while watching the red-haired monster feast on her offerings.

    ¡°Okay¡­I guess you have the monster¡¯s approval, but are you sure you want to join a group of two delinquents?¡± he asked.

    ¡°A-Anna is an honors student, so it should be fine¡­academically,¡± Ellen mumbled, before her head suddenly dropped low, ¡°W-Well, t-truthfully, everyone else seems to already know each other so¡­¡±

    Ah, she got left out.

    ¡°Alright then!¡± Emil clapped, trying to uplift the mood. ¡°If you¡¯ll have us, then welcome to the group of misfits!¡±

    ¡°Hey! Who¡¯s a misfit?! Speak for yourself, dammit!¡± Anna protested, her mouth still in the midst of chewing. Apparently, the presence of sweets in her blood consumed all of the girl¡¯s rationality. She continued to complain, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t been an idiot on the first day, then my life would have been so much easier!"

    Suddenly, she was sulking, wrapping herself in a gloomy veil that seemed nigh impenetrable. Ellen calmly scrolled up to her and lightly patted her shoulders, seemingly unfazed by her stormy mood, before producing another bag of pastries hidden somewhere on her uniform. Anna accepted it without question and continued her feast in silence.

    Emil stared blankly at the bizarre sight, flabbergasted.

    ¡­I have no idea what is going on, but I think they just became best friends.

    ***

    Night fell on Azure City.

    Emil crept along the rooftop of a building with a cat-like agility, careful not to make any unnatural sounds that would alert the residents beneath. An ebon cloak draped over his body. The lower half of his face covered by black cloth.

    It was his standard night gear for an investigative outing.

    Once he approached the edge of the rooftop, he broke into a sprint and jumped. A sense of weightlessness enveloped his body as he soared through the air. He enjoyed the brief sensation of flight before gravity promptly dragged him down.

    ¡°Oooof!¡± He groaned, his arms barely managing to grapple onto the edge of the next rooftop. With some difficulty, he finally managed to pull himself on top.

    Shit, did I gain weight? This sort of maneuver never posed a problem for him before. He pinched the bottom of his stomach¡ªindeed, where there used to be hard muscles had now softened into a lump of fat.

    I need to submit a formal complaint to the cafeteria to make the food less tasty.

    He crouched down, recollecting on the past week at the Academy while catching his breath. The first few days were nerve-wrecking. The endless scrutiny was already bad enough, but Emil also had to fight to suppress his combative instincts. Being in the constant presence of other Exalted drove him insane.

    In the end, he found a way to cope by leaning into his image as a delinquent. He based his behavior on the most frivolous person that he knew¡ªVan.

    The mask worked. His flippant attitude dropped people¡¯s guards and gave him a fa?ade to hide his anxiousness. Gradually, the amount of interest in his actions dwindled. People began to dismiss him¡ªat a prestigious Academy filled with serious and ambitious aspirants, no one wanted to be involved with a delinquent.

    I understand now why Van acts like an idiot. He smirked. He had a ton of fun making Anna irritated with his frivolous behavior. Van must felt the same way. Gradually, Emil found himself beginning to enjoy his days at the Academy.

    He suddenly remembered the human subject that the witch showed him.

    A shiver shot down his spine, rattled by the disturbing memory as it crawled out from his subconscious. Emil winced, feeling his stomach stir with revulsion. He was reminded of the grotesque tumors, pulsating madly across the victim''s face, along with the various mutilations smeared across their body.

    You''re not here to have fun. You''re here to do a job.

    Find evidence of Azure City¡¯s heinous experiments. It was only for that reason why he was allowed to be here. Emil leaned over the edge of the rooftop¡ªthe smile on his face vanished as he focused.

    Small specks of lamplight glowed from the ever-present darkness. He was currently within the main district of Azure City¡¯s Second Sector. With Exalted Academy at its center, the city was divided into ring-shaped sections orbiting the campus. The First Sector, closest to the campus, housed nobles and influential elites of the Academy. The Second Sector was the most densely populated, filled with Ordinaries and the occasional lower ranked Academy affiliate. This area of the city was further divided into smaller neighborhood districts. Lastly, there was the Third Sector¡ªthe outer ring of the city which was mostly unpopulated, consisting of sporadic settlements, slums, and wilderness.

    ¡°I suggest patrolling the boundaries of the Second and Third Sectors to start,¡± the witch¡¯s words echoed in his head, ¡°Look for specific personnel of interests. Researchers. Scholars. Academy staff members. People that shouldn¡¯t be roaming around in the dead of night. You can usually tell by how jittery or anxious they look while alone. If you¡¯re unsure, just go for it. No savory character should be venturing into the Third Sector anyways.¡±

    With those words in mind, Emil perched atop of the rooftop, watching the streets. The main district of the Second Sector was covered in towering buildings, filled with apartments to accommodate the large population. Using the slight difference in heights, he hid beneath the shadows of the moonlight.

    The occasional patrol would pass by below. Sentinels. Affiliates of Exalted Academy who served to maintain order in the city. They were distinguished by their dark blue uniforms that mimicked the radiance of Azurite. Each of them was an Exalted with exceptional mana sensitivity.

    I should be fine as long as I don¡¯t use my Gift. Emil continued his observation, unfazed, remaining as still as a scarecrow.

    Boooong!

    The low blare of the midnight tolled from the distance. Like Dannan, Azure City also had an enormous clocktower that served as the universal measure of time within the city. Emil went prone. It was during this one moment at midnight where the Sentinels were likely to glance skyward.

    In the corner of his yes, he noticed a figure trekking brisky into the Third Sector. Underneath the moonlight, he could just barely make out the person¡¯s physique. Fairly tall. Masculine body. Walking with a slight trot. Their head was on a constant swivel.

    Looks anxious enough to me.

    Emil followed the man as he turned the corner into a narrow alleyway. The alignment of the buildings blocked his line sight. Not wanting to lose his only lead, he leapt off from his vantage point. Like a feline, he jumped from surface to surface in complete silence, rapidly descending the height of the building.

    Thud!

    He landed safely on the ground. Emil quickly scanned his surroundings. Once he confirmed there was no Sentinels nearby, he sprinted towards the alleyway where the man was last spotted.

    Darkness engulfed the space. He advanced with caution. Narrow walls flanked his sides closely, offering no more than two shoulder lengths width of space.

    Did I lose him? Emil strained his eyes, trying to see beyond the veil of darkness. It was futile. Not without the aid of the moonlight. It was eerily silent as well¡ªno audible signs of footsteps against the asphalt ground. He briefly considered circulating his Azurite pendant to generate light, before quickly dismissing the idea.

    Instead, he continued to advance slowly, curious as to why his lead decided to venture down this particular alley.

    Suddenly, the air was suffused with a foul stench. The smell was rancid, reeking of a familiar ferric undertone. He immediately pinched his nose and looked down.

    What the fuck?

    There was a corpse was slumped on its side. Its face unrecognizable. Bones protruded from the rotting flesh. As he glanced closer, Emil found distinct scratches and incisions that couldn¡¯t have come from a human.

    Someone was killed. And it looked like they had been eaten alive.

 Chapter 28 - This has to be a sick joke

    Emil

    Loud chatters chimed merrily in the background. It was a new day on campus. Emil once again found himself in the cafeteria after finishing his daily set of grueling morning lectures. Anna sat across from him as usual. But joining them for the first time was Ellen.

    ¡°Anna, I¡¯ve been wondering! How do you get your hair to be this silky?!¡± Ellen suddenly asked, her eyes shining with a childlike curiosity. The girl who was shy during their first meeting seemed to have already broken out of her shell after getting acquainted with Anna.

    ¡°Eh? I don¡¯t think I do anything special. Just shampoo. Brush. Dry,¡± Anna mumbled.

    ¡°You should come to my dorm later! Teach me! My hair is always so messy, it drives me nuts!¡± Ellen pleaded as she leaned in close, hands clasped, eyes flickering with a puppy-like expression.

    Anna retreated backwards¡ªher face visibly flustered by Ellen¡¯s cute assault. ¡°Y-Yeah? Sure. I don¡¯t mind.¡±

    Note to self¡ªAnna is weak to compliments and being relied on. Emil made the mental observation as he picked at his food. After struggling last night, he decided to make a conscious effort to control his food intake.

    The girl talk continued in the background as Emil went over the results of his investigation.

    I think I saw something that I shouldn¡¯t have.

    A festering corpse, rotting, with distinct signs of being teared apart, hidden in a sketchy alleyway. The victim obviously wasn¡¯t the person that he was originally tailing.

    Those injuries didn¡¯t come from a human weapon.

    There were large glaring fang marks embedded in the victim¡¯s shoulders and arms. Their torso was mauled by long, deep scratches¡ªpresumably from the claws of a beast, or perhaps am Exalted with the ability to shapeshift into something bestial.

    And what about the person that I was tailing?

    Assuming they kept moving down the alleyway, there was no chance they could have missed the corpse. The rancid stench in the air was unmistakable, and the narrowness of the path ensured that the carcass was visible even under the darkness of the night. Despite that, Emil didn¡¯t hear a single sign of the person. No startled footsteps. No screams. Nothing to acknowledge the horrific sight. Even a seasoned Cleaner like himself had winced at the discovery.

    Did they know that the corpse would be there then? Emil frowned. He needed more information. His investigation into the corpse had been cut short. Sentinels had entered the area shortly after, forcing him to leave. He would have to return tonight and¡ª

    Plat!

    Emil winced. Someone suddenly tapped him on the back of the head. Startled, he immediately rose from his seat, hands raised, ready to defend himself from his assailant.

    ¡°What? You want to fight?¡± It was Anna. Her eyes were furrowed, visibly confused by his reaction. ¡°We¡¯ve been trying to get your attention, but you weren¡¯t responding.¡±

    Oh. Emil realized he was still in the cafeteria. Fuck. Inadvertently, thoughts of the investigation placed him back into the mentality of a Cleaner. He took a deep breath to cool his head and quell his combative instincts before settling back into his chair. Luckily, his overreaction didn¡¯t seem to have draw any attention.

    Ellen was staring at him, eyes wide, slightly trembling as she leaned back in her seat. Emil gave her an apologetic smile.

    ¡°Sorry, I zoned out. Lack of sleep. Looks like I¡¯m still adjusting to living on campus,¡± he said, deliberately letting out a yawn before flashing a flippant smile at Anna, ¡°But please, don¡¯t hit me in the back of the head again. It¡¯s my sensitive area.¡±

    ¡°Sensitive area?¡± Anna asked, raising an eye.

    Emil sent back a wink. ¡°Erogenous zone.¡±

    Electricity immediately cackled in Anna¡¯s vicinity. ¡°¡­Should I report you for sexual harassment or do you prefer getting zapped instead?¡±

    He instantly raised his hands to surrender. Okay, maybe I went overboard there. He had to be careful with his delinquent fa?ade before he seriously turned into a second version of Van.

    ***

    Somehow, he managed to pacify an angry Anna. All it took was surrendering the dessert that he was eagerly awaiting as a post-lunch snack. Emil eyed his sacrificed pudding with dismay before asking, ¡°So, what did you want to tell me?¡±

    ¡°Ellen was wondering if you finished your assignment,¡± Anna said in between mouthfuls of the creamy pudding.

    ¡°¡­Assignment?¡± he muttered. Oh, right. The realization struck him like thunder. I had homework. Due this afternoon. He had completely forgotten because of the investigation.

    Emil immediately spun towards Anna and put on his best impression of a heart-throbbing debonair. ¡°Anna, is it me or do you look even more charming than usual today?¡±

    Unfortunately, his frivolous behavior only earned him a flick on the forehead.

    ¡°First of all, gross. Second of all, you forgot do it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Anna stared at him like she was looking at a piece of trash.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Unfazed that his initial attempt was thwarted, Emil reached into his pockets and pushed a silver coin across the table. The implications were obvious.

    ¡°By the way, in case you forgot, I¡¯m a former merchant''s apprentice. My family owns a merchant company. I¡¯m rich,¡± she casually said, pretending not to see anything.

    Emil immediately slid the coin back into his pocket. He was forced to his last resort¡ªbegging. Mimicking Ellen¡¯s earlier gestures, he leaned into Anna with his best pleading gaze. ¡°Anna! Would you please help me?¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡± He was shot down without hesitation. Anna made no effort to hide the nasty smirk on her face. Dammit! Was I wrong? I thought she was weak to compliments and being relied on! Or did that only apply to cute bubbly girls like Ellen?!

    ¡°I-Is that any way to treat a dear friend?¡±

    ¡°A friend? You mean a squirming leech that ruined all my plans to have a fulfilling student life?¡±

    Emil grimaced, exaggeratedly clenching his wounded heart. ¡°I-I see you haven¡¯t gotten over that yet.¡±

    Anna shrugged, smiling in delight. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±

    He ran out of cards to play. Well, whatever. He dropped the frivolous fa?ade. I¡¯ll just have to rush something together and pray that it¡¯s enough to pass. Just as he was about to accept his fate, a surprise heroine appeared at his side.

    ¡°Um, Emil? You use my answers as a reference if you like,¡± Ellen suddenly offered. He turned around, his eyes beaming with gratitude.

    ¡°My savior!¡± he reached out and grabbed Ellen¡¯s hands like a broken man who¡¯s found salvation. She let out a surprised gasp. Hmm? Her tiny fingers were unexpectedly layered in calluses and blemishes.

    ¡°Ellen! Don¡¯t spoil him like that!¡± Anna protested, ¡°How can he learn to do better next time if he doesn¡¯t suffer the consequences of his actions?!¡±

    What are you, my mother? Emil stuck his tongue out at Anna.

    Ellen giggled, ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. We all have our own troubles that we¡¯re dealing with, right? I don¡¯t mind helping out, as long as this doesn¡¯t become a constant thing.¡±

    ¡°Ellen, has anyone ever called you an angel before?¡± Emil asked.

    ¡°No,¡± she replied with a radiant smile, ¡°You would be the first!¡±

    ***

    The rest of the day at the Academy passed by like normal. Night soon arrived as the student¡¯s curfews began. Emil put on his night gear, ready to resume his investigations.

    Sneaking out of the Academy campus was surprisingly effortless once he understood the patrol schedule of the Sentinels on duty. There weren¡¯t many of them, especially for a vast campus that rivaled the size of Lower Dannan¡¯s industrial district. After he left the perimeter of the boy¡¯s dormitory, it was smooth sailing.

    I guess the threat of being caught past curfew probably weeds out most of the delinquents.

    As a boarding school, Exalted Academy provided all the facilities needed for a student¡¯s daily needs. There were various stores scattered on campus that offered goods, such as food, toiletry, books, school supplies, amongst other miscellaneous items. Purchasing these goods could only be done using the Academy¡¯s own proprietary currency¡ªcredits.

    Every month, a set number of credits was allocated to each student. Students can gain more credits with achievements, such as performing well at school events and scoring well on exams.

    More credits meant more luxuries. One of the main punishments for being out past curfew was a permanent reduction to the monthly credits that a student was entitled to. For a significant portion of the student body who was raised in a noble household, a reduction to their spending credits was akin to a death sentence.

    Of course, students weren¡¯t allowed to bring items in from outside campus nor could they exchange Ardairan currency for credits. This was, in effect, another way for the Academy to enforce control over its student population.

    Emil was already beginning to feel the squeeze on his wallet. That damn girl. Anna had guilt-tripped him into treating her and Ellen to some luxurious desserts in exchange for helping him complete his assignment on time. Seeing Anna¡¯s smug grin while she shamelessly swiped his credits clean was heart-breaking.

    Whatever, I¡¯ve already decided to eat less to get my weight down. He thought, frowning as he rapidly ascended the closest building in the First Sector. Shutting off all the frivolous thoughts of his academy life, he ran¡ªleaping from rooftop to rooftop of the multi-story buildings in obscured silence.

    ***

    An hour later, Emil was near the area of last night¡¯s investigation. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and pulled open his mask, letting the chilly night breeze swipe away the festering heat beneath his night gear. He was perched atop of the multistory building across from the narrow alleyway.

    I don¡¯t see any Sentinels nearby.

    Emil dropped down from his perch and entered the alleyway. It was eerily quiet. The moon glowed ominously. As he walked down the path, the rancid stench of rotting flesh soon appeared. The smell, however, was noticeably fainter.

    Confused at the discrepancy, he channeled mana into his Azurite pendant. The dim azure light shone on the walls of the alleyway.

    The body was gone.

    Someone disposed of it. He noted the blots of blood smeared along the walls. And did a rather sloppy job. As he pointed his pendant on the ground, he found a trail of decayed flesh further down the path. The corpse must have been falling apart as it was being transported.

    The trail led him to the other end of the meandering path. Emil soon found himself at the boundary of an uninhabited wilderness in the Third Sector. Dark woods loomed before him. There were distinct footprints in the soil, leading to a line of grass that had been freshly trampled over.

    This is on the edge of District 7. He noted his surroundings first before venturing forward. Just as he took a step¡ª

    A muffled scream. Distant. It came from the woods. Under the stillness of the night, the shrill sound was unmistakable.

    Emil broke into a sprint towards the direction of the scream. Someone¡¯s life might be in danger. He brandished the knife hidden on his body as he entered the woods. The forest undergrowth was remarkably dense. He channeled mana, strengthening the blade of the knife as he hacked away at the branches and shrubbery obstructing his path. After some effort, he finally arrived at a clearing.

    The first thing he noticed was a black silhouette darting back into the undergrowth at the other side of the clearing. Emil flashed his pendant.

    Nothing. He was too slow to catch a glimpse of whatever escaped back into the forest. The sound of his approach must have alerted it.

    Wary, Emil stepped out into the clearing. The area was terribly lit. The dense forest canopy allowed only a small vestige of moonlight to leak through.

    There was a shovel discarded on the ground. A partially dug hole. A familiar rotting corpse had been dumped beside it. So that¡¯s where the body went. It was in the midst of being buried. But where was the grave digger?

    ¡°H-Help¡­¡± a garbled voice mumbled close by. Emil spun to his left. A person was lying on their back. His pendant revealed a grisly pool of blood soaking the earth.

    Shit. Emil rushed over. The victim had an enormous gash on their neck. A chunk of flesh had been ripped out. Blood was seeping uncontrollably.

    It was useless. Before he could even do anything, the victim¡¯s head tilted to the side. Limp. Emil pressed his fingers against their wrist.

    No pulse. Dead.

    Emil closed his eyes. Suddenly, he was exhausted as if an enormous weight had been pressed on his shoulders.

    I was late.

    For a moment, he stood there, silently berating himself for being too slow. After the guilt passed, he let out a long sigh to compose himself. The part he detested the most awaited.

    He shone the light on the victim¡¯s face.

    ¡°¡­Fuck me.¡±

    His blood ran cold. His heart thundered, threatening to erupt out of his chest. A sickening revulsion gathered at the depths of his stomach. Emil pressed his hand to his mouth, fighting the urge to throw up.

    This has to be a sick joke.

    The victim had long disheveled hair. A petite and plain face. An unhealthy complexion. A pair of distinct moles beneath their lifeless eyes.

    Ellen.

    He was staring at Ellen.

 Chapter 29 - This reeks of a conspiracy

    Emil

    Please tell me I¡¯m hallucinating.

    Emil rubbed his eyes and smacked the side of his head¡ªrefusing to accept what he was seeing. But no matter what he did, reality would not change. The lifeless body on the ground was undoubtedly Ellen.

    I just spent the afternoon with her and Anna!

    The side of his face was suddenly wet. Questions swarmed his head, trying to make sense of what just happened. Who attacked Ellen? Why was she here? Why was she burying the corpse?

    In the midst of his disbelief, heavy shuffling echoed from the beyond the clearing. Footsteps thundered through the dense foliage. Close. They were coming this way.

    Emil ceased the light from his pendant and scrambled towards the other end of the clearing. He sank into the dark undergrowth, his night gear perfectly blending in with the surroundings.

    Three figures soon emerged. A blue light diffused into the clearing. Azurite. At least one of three was an Exalted. The light was dim enough where Emil couldn¡¯t discern the faces of the interlopers. He could only see the vague vestiges of their silhouettes as they crowded around Ellen¡¯s body.

    ¡°Oh hells, for fuck¡¯s sake,¡± one of the figures cursed as they crouched beside Ellen, ¡°I tell her to do one damn thing and then she goes and gets herself killed!¡± The voice sounded muffled from the foliage surrounding Emil, but he could tell it was unmistakably male.

    ¡°Sir, what should we¡ª¡±

    ¡°Respectfully, shut the fuck up,¡± the original voice snapped. It seemed like he was the one in charge. ¡°There are vestiges of mana on her neck. Judging by the shape of her wounds, she was probably attacked by one of the specimens that got loose.¡± The person let out a heavy sigh. ¡°¡­Cremate her body near the lab. Keep the Sentinels out of this. I don¡¯t want them anywhere close to the grove.¡±

    Lab? Emil noted the word.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t she a student at the Academy?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. She¡¯s an orphan with no living relatives. And it¡¯s only been a few days since the new semester started. We¡¯ll stick to the usual procedures. In a week, she¡¯ll be gone from everyone¡¯s minds.¡±

    They¡¯re planning to cover-up her death?! Emil clenched his fist. His throat grew hot as he wanted to scream. Another orphan, used and discarded like a piece of trash. He gritted his teeth, biting on the side of his lips. A ferric taste poured into his mouth. The searing pain was only thing that kept him silent amidst his fury.

    He remained still, watching as they picked up Ellen¡¯s body. The three men prodded the edges of the clearing before disappearing into the undergrowth.

    ***

    Anna

    A new day.

    Anna let out a distasteful yawn. She tossed her head back, leaning against the wooden seat, trying to ward off the strong desire to crawl back to bed. Someone had been rudely making noises at the break of dawn today within the girl¡¯s dormitory.

    Damn pricks.

    She wiped the grim out of her eyes. The unladylike gesture might have gotten her a scolding back home, but not here. Not in the back row of the morning lecture hall where ¡®misfits¡¯ like her resided.

    Earning the reputation of a delinquent was not how she planned to start her life at the Academy, but she couldn¡¯t deny its advantages. With her image already in the dumps, not having to pretend that she was a well-behaved honors student was liberating.

    In front of her, chatters filled the room as her classmates talked merrily about their group projects.

    Ugh honestly, how do these freaks have so much energy in the morning?

    Footsteps echoed behind her as she contemplated this mystery. Still with her head tossed back, Anna watched as Emil¡¯s upside-down figure crossed her sight.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± she greeted him with a smug grin, relishing in the memory of the expensive dessert that he paid for yesterday.

    ¡°Morning,¡± he responded flatly, devoid of his usual frivolousness as he dragged himself into his seat. Anna frowned. His expression was ghastly.

    ¡°Um, you alright?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Tired,¡± Emil replied. His eyes were dull, glazing off into the distance, not fully present. Anna couldn¡¯t tell if he was deep in thought or zoning out from the lack of sleep.

    Did I go overboard by making him pay for the desserts yesterday?

    Before she could get an answer, Professor Callum had entered the hall. He announced his presence in his usual, energetic voice that was incessantly loud for the early mornings. The professor was in the midst of writing something down on the blackboard when Anna noticed that Ellen wasn¡¯t in her seat.

    She scanned the rest of the classroom. Ellen never had much of a presence, so Anna searched with diligence. Nothing. She wasn¡¯t here. That¡¯s weird. The first week of the semester wasn¡¯t even over yet¡ªit was a bit early to be absent from class.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Ellen¡¯s not here today. What¡¯s up with that?¡± she whispered to Emil.

    It was faint. But Anna didn¡¯t miss it. A torrent of emotions flickered across his lifeless face for the briefest of seconds. Then instantly, it was gone, vanished as if her eyes were playing tricks on her.

    ¡°Ellen?¡± Emil asked as if the question was bizarre. He scanned the room just like she did, before replying, ¡°Weird. I have no idea.¡±

    She caught the slightest of quiver in his voice.

    ***

    Anna struggled to focus the entire day.

    Why did he react that way?

    Emil¡¯s strange reaction burned inside her head. On the surface, he seemed like his usual self, but Anna could tell that some of his frivolous acts were half-hearted. Occasionally, he would fall silent, gazing off into the distance in deep thought. Something was bothering him.

    Did something happen to Ellen?

    The question gnawed at her subconscious, growing stronger as the day passed. Ellen was still nowhere to be found. Desperate to get this load off her mind, Anna rushed to the girl¡¯s dormitories once classes concluded.

    The dorms were separated into three sections. The main area of the building was where amenities such as baths, training facilities, and study lounges were located. The student rooms were on the two wings directly adjacent to the main area, each comprising of three floors.

    Anna and Ellen were in the east wing. Ellen¡¯s room was on the uppermost level by the far end of the corridor across from the stairway.

    The halls were silent as Anna stomped down the corridor. Most of the students would still be out¡ªeither grabbing food or busy honing their Gifts and studying. Anna scanned each room as she passed, noting the nameplates engraved on each door. Finally, she arrived at the end of the corridor.

    ...What?!

    The room that should have been Ellen¡¯s didn¡¯t have a nameplate, suggesting that the room was currently unoccupied. Anna twisted the door handle. It wouldn¡¯t budge. Locked.

    ¡°Ellen?!¡± she shouted out of desperation.

    Silence.

    Anna felt like she was going mad.

    There¡¯s no way. I literally escorted her here after we had desserts yesterday. I couldn¡¯t have made a mistake!

    She spun around and sprinted down the corridor, double checking the names of every room just in case. Ellen¡¯s name was nowhere to be found.

    The dorm prefect should know something.

    She ran downstairs to the main office. The dorm prefect was a bespectacled lady in late twenties. She was at the front desk, reading a book when Anna nearly pounced on her.

    ¡°Wow! Ms. Seibert, aren¡¯t you energetic today?¡± the prefect exclaimed, her eyes wide with concern. Anna was heaving, trying to gather her breath as she pushed aside the dangling hairs blocking her eyes. She must have looked savage.

    ¡°Ellen! Where is she?¡± she spat out in between raspy gasps for air.

    The prefect leaned back, keeping her head at a cautious distance as if she was trying to stay away from a feral animal. ¡°Oh, were you not aware?¡± she asked, shooting her a perplexed look, ¡°Ellen withdrew her enrolment from the Academy. She¡¯s apparently going back to her hometown. Her stuff was moved out of the dorms early this morning.¡±

    ¡°¡­What?!¡± Anna shouted. The statement was so ridiculous that she half-expected the prefect to burst into laughter and tell her that it was all a prank. The dorm prefect, however, remained stone-faced.

    ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡±

    ¡°Um, yes. Very.¡±

    ¡°No way. This has to be a joke! I was literally with her yesterday and she didn¡¯t say a single thing about this!¡± Anna protested.

    The prefect shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know what else to tell you, Ms. Seibert. This is what the Academy staff conveyed to me this morning. Raise the issue with the administrative office if you have a problem.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Shit!¡± Anna kicked the side of the road. She bent over¡ªexhausted from running ragged all over campus. Salt lingered on the tip of her tongue. Her uniform clung uncomfortably to her back, drenched in sweat from the evening sun.

    The staff at the admin¡¯s office gave her the same answers. When she tried to pry more details about Ellen¡¯s situation, she was immediately stone-walled and brushed off.

    Something isn¡¯t right.

    There was always the possibility the dorm prefect and the Academy admins were telling the truth, but Anna wasn¡¯t convinced. Ellen showed no inclination of leaving. The abruptness of her supposed departure reeked of a conspiracy.

    That bastard is nowhere to be found either. Anna grimaced, recalling Emil¡¯s strange behavior throughout the day. He must have known something. And he kept it from me! She clenched her fist, shaking, squeezing until the insides of her palms burned red.

    The pain soothed her anger. She took a deep breath.

    Think, Anna.

    Indignation guided her thoughts as she revised everything she knew.

    I was with Ellen right before curfew last night. Her stuff was moved out of the dorm in the morning according to the prefect.

    She vaguely recalled being woken up at the break of dawn because of loud noises by the stairway. Based on what she learned, that was likely the staff members moving Ellen¡¯s stuff out of her room.

    Then, on the premise that Ellen didn¡¯t just randomly decide to leave the Academy, something must have happened to her between evening and dawn.

    Whatever happened must have been severe enough for the Academy to intervene and cover it up. Despite the Academy''s prestigious reputation, Azure City itself was not exactly a virtuous place. Anna heard plenty of rumors of nefarious events happening in the shadows of the city during her time as a merchant''s apprentice.

    If her assumptions were correct, however, then Ellen was likely in danger. Anna winced at the implications. Doubt crept into her mind.

    Or am I overthinking this? What if Ellen really did make the decision to leave the Academy?

    Truth be told, she wasn¡¯t confident. She only knew the girl for two days at most. The short time that they spent together was hardly enough for them to understand each other.

    No. I don¡¯t buy it.

    She shook her head. Her instincts refused to allow her to accept such a convenient truth. But regardless of her suspicions, what could she possibly do in this situation?

    Bong!

    The twilight bell rang. The Academy curfew was now in effect.

    ***

    She snuck out.

    It was astonishingly easy to do. After the prefect made the rounds to make sure everyone was in their rooms, Anna waited for darkness to fall while observing the patrol route of the few Sentinels on premise. Then, once she was sure that she found a gap in the timing, she opened her windows and climbed out.

    Thankfully my room is on the first floor.

    She pushed close the windows of her room, erasing the signs of her leaving¡ªsomewhat expecting to be discovered and swarmed by the Sentinels on duty.

    Instead, she was greeted by silence.

    Am I seriously doing this?

    The logical side of her mind screamed at her idiocy. She came to this Academy to earn the right to control her future. She came here to escape the fate of becoming a marriage asset to be used at the whims of her parents. This impulsive escapade may just jeopardize her entire plan. And for all she knows, this could just be a misunderstanding and an overreaction from a crazy girl¡¯s deranged imagination.

    Oh, shut the hell up!

    Anna clicked her tongue and delivered a solid smack on her cheeks to silence the nagging thoughts. The last time she hesitated like this, she regretted everything that she didn¡¯t do. She would not make the same mistake again.

    Besides, everyone already sees me as a delinquent. This is just me embracing that image.

    The campus at night was eerily silent. It felt strange, creeping around the areas where she used to walk without concern, devoid of the usual chatters and excitement that filled the air. Anna pulled the hood of her cloak over her head, taking extra care to hide her distinct scarlet hair. She then tied a black cloth over the lower half of her face.

    She took one final deep breath to resolve herself, before venturing off into Azure City.

 Chapter 30 - A dangerous decision (1)

    Anna

    I need information and a lead.

    With a clear objective, Anna entered the Second Sector of Azure City. In contrast to the stillness of the campus, the main district of the Second Sector was like a festival. Ordinaries filled the streets beneath the somber illuminations of the street lamps¡ªlaughing, screaming vulgar obscenities fueled by alcohol, and dancing wildly to the cacophony that might have resembled music.

    She glanced skyward at the massive Azure City clocktower towering amongst the multistoried buildings. Three hours before midnight. It would be another hour before the Sentinels began hounding everyone off the streets.

    Anna walked down the busy streets, dodging drunk folks stumbling in the way as she examined the various storefronts on display. Prior to the start of the school year, one of her merchant connections had informed her of a place in Azure City to get discrepant information that can¡¯t be found in books and records.

    All she needed was enough coins to make them talk.

    As she rounded the bend, she found a quaint rustic tavern hiding in the corner of the street. Compared to the other shops in the area with their bright vivid storefronts and noisy patrons, this place was distinctly dilapidated. A quiet d¨¦cor, almost blending into the night as if it didn¡¯t want to stand out amongst the neighboring businesses on the strip.

    I think this is it.

    Anna walked up to the tavern. The storefront, built on a rotting fragment of oak, read ¡°Azure¡¯s Ale.¡±

    The inside was lit by a dim amber light. Narrow. A small group of patrons were seated by a set of tables in the left corner. A few feet in front of her was the bar, manned by a single bartender in the midst of mixing a drink. Aside from the occasional clink of a spoon against glass, the tavern was silent. Solemn.

    Anna approached the bar counter. Her hands, hidden beneath the folds of her cloak, clenched tightly onto the Azurite pendant around her neck, ready to unleash mayhem if anyone dared to get touchy with her. To her surprise, none of the patrons gave her more than a single glance.

    Interesting. She was expecting a more uncivilized reaction. With her petite stature, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess that there was a woman hiding underneath the cloak. Still wary, she took a seat by the counter.

    ¡°Hello, how may I serve you on this fine evening?¡± the bartender asked. His eloquent mannerisms gave the impression of a well-read man who might have once served the nobility.

    ¡°I heard this place sells information,¡± Anna whispered, just loud enough for the bartender¡¯s ears. The man paused at the inquiry. Noting his hesitation, Anna slid a silver coin across the table.

    The bartender nodded. ¡°This way,¡± he said, beckoning towards one of the rooms deeper into the establishment. Anna followed his lead. Doubt crawled up her spine as the bartender closed the door behind her.

    As a merchant, she wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with these sorts of shady conversations that took place in the shadows. Her past endeavors, however, were always conducted while being accompanied by mercenaries. And if things ever got bad, she could always rely on the Seibert name to bail her out of tricky situations.

    But not this time. She was alone, and her presence here had to remain a secret.

    ¡°You can call me Lugner.¡± The bartender bowed as he offered her a seat. The room they were in had a single table in the center, flanked by two chairs, furnished with a single candle atop.

    ¡°This room is soundproofed, so rest assured that any information exchanged here will remain solely between us two,¡± Lugner continued, ¡°So young miss, how may I be of assistance?¡±

    ¡°Your patrons are surprisingly docile,¡± Anna began, trying to hide her discomfort by seizing the initiative of conversation, ¡°I¡¯m used to a more vulgar response when someone like me stumbles into these sorts of establishments.¡±

    ¡°I apologize if you were disappointed, miss. But alas, this is Azure City,¡± Lugner said with a professional smile, ¡°The folks here tend to be a bit more reserved when the person they¡¯re harassing might just be an Exalted.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Anna sighed, realizing that she just outed herself as a newcomer, ¡°I have a few questions.¡±

    All I know is that Ellen might have gotten caught up in something last night. Whatever it was, it necessitated an immediate cover-up from the Academy. That means there¡¯s a high chance that the Sentinels must have known about it.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    ¡°First, yesterday, between evening till dawn of the following day, was there anything unusual that happened?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll need to be more specific, young miss. You are speaking to an information broker. I cannot give you everything that easily.¡±

    She frowned. I don¡¯t want to expose myself as an Academy student, even if he might already be suspecting it. There¡¯s no reason to trust this conversation will actually remain off-the-records.

    ¡°Let¡¯s say an accident. An incident. A confrontation. Something atypical. Maybe the Sentinels were alerted to something,¡± Anna said, probing Lugner¡¯s reaction. The broker suddenly went silent as he stared at her with a still gaze.

    Realizing his intent, she clicked her tongue. Fucking money grubber. She took out of one of her money pouches and carelessly tossed on the table. A mountain of silver coins poured out.

    ¡°Don¡¯t waste my time,¡± she snapped. She didn¡¯t miss the flicker of surprise across Lugner¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°¡­My apologies. I didn¡¯t realize I was speaking to an esteemed client.¡± Lugner feigned a cough, trying to hide his greedy grin. ¡°Very well, young miss. Your requirements are still quite vague, but I¡¯ll try to provide as much as I can.¡±

    He opened his arms and moved a couple of coins onto his side of the table.

    ¡°Last night, around midnight, a group of Sentinels were called to investigate the reports of a scream in the western quarter near District 7, close to the Third Sector. However, they were immediately rebuffed when trying to reach the area.¡±

    A scream? Anna narrowed her eyes, alarmed by the information. ¡°Do you know who stopped them from investigating?¡±

    Lugner shook his head as he retrieved another coin from the pile. ¡°There were no direct reports, but we can make an educated guess. The Sentinels are responsible for maintaining order of Azure City. There are only a handful of people that could stop them from doing their jobs. For example, a member of the Council of Mana or maybe a high-ranking staff of the Academy.¡±

    Anna pushed the pouch of silver coins towards his side. ¡°Tell me everything you know about this incident and what¡¯s in the area.¡±

    A sinister smile crept across Lugner¡¯s face. ¡°Of course, as you wish, young miss.¡±

    ***

    By the time Anna exited the tavern, an hour had passed. She slowly opened the tavern door and clung against the shadows along the bend of the road.

    The festivities were over. Sentinels roamed the area, hounding any people still lingering on the streets to go home. The few unruly drunks that tried to protest were immediately surrounded and knocked unconscious with wooden batons before being promptly dragged away.

    Anna winced at the violence. Lugner¡¯s words echoed in her head, ¡°The folks here tend to be a bit more reserved when the person beside them might just be an Exalted.¡±

    Evidently, that didn¡¯t apply to the Sentinels. If anything, they were extremely aggressive and unafraid to use violence to demand obedience.

    She could understand it to an extent. In this city proliferated by Exalted, the Sentinel¡¯s attack-first, ask-questions later policy might have been logical. After all, there was a high chance that a person that they were dealing could be hiding a Gift¡ªone that could be used to retaliate against the Sentinel¡¯s attempts to maintain order. The aggression was a means to protect the city¡¯s guards. But on the other hand, it meant unnecessary cruelty towards the Ordinaries.

    The streets gradually emptied. The bulk of the Sentinels moved to another block of the Second Sector to continue enforcing the city¡¯s curfew. Anna threaded along the edges of the street sidewalk, hiding in the shadows of the street lamps, trying to evade the remaining patrols stationed in the area. For once in her life, she was thankful for her diminutive stature.

    Her destination was the western quarters, district 7, by the Third Sector.

    That bastard better not have lied to me. Anna clenched her teeth. Her coin pouch felt uncomfortably light. The transaction left a bitter taste in her mouth, especially given her background as a merchant.

    I didn¡¯t do a good job of hiding my desperation. Her merchant side reprimanded herself for too emotional and impatient.

    Anna clicked her tongue, shaking her head to silence the nagging thoughts. Oh, shut the hell up. Money could always be earned again. The same couldn¡¯t be said for a person¡¯s life.

    ***

    The dense array of buildings gradually grew sparse. The amount of street lamps illuminating the area steadily decreased. Anna soon found herself at the edge of the Second Sector.

    The Third Sector was a stark contrast to the rest of Azure City. The well-maintained roads paved in cement suddenly tapered off, giving way to grassy ruins in the midst of being reconquered by nature. The transition was abrupt and jarring¡ªlike an unfinished painting that had stopped arbitrarily.

    The grass softly crunched under the weight of her steps as she advanced. Her destination was the woods just up ahead. Last night¡¯s scream allegedly emerged around this area. Lugner advised her not to investigate alone¡ªapparently there was a number of people near the area that have gone missing in the past few months.

    She swallowed nervously as she entered the woods. Thick leaves and branches brushed against the edge of her cloak. She pushed past the dense undergrowth, cutting away at the foliage with a knife. It was absurdly dark.

    An unsettling weight dropped in the pits of her stomach. Darkness loomed around her, shrouding her vicinity. The absence of vision exaggerated every one of her other senses. Any faint rustles of sound made her jump. Any unusual sensations made her skin crawl. Was there something nearby? Or was it her paranoia?

    Her heart raced in her ears, growing incessantly loud and frantic. Lugner¡¯s warning echoed in her head. The dangers in his words gnawed at her sanity. Suddenly, she was regretting her impulse to come here.

    Maybe I should go ba¡ª

    Her blood went cold. Her instincts shrieked, warning her of impeding danger.

    A step.

    Behind her.

    Anna tried to spin around. A hand suddenly covered her mouth. She squirmed, trying to shake herself free, until something cold and sharp grazed the nape of her neck.

    She froze. A scalding burn pricked at her skin. A knife was pressed against her throat.

 Chapter 31 - A dangerous decision (2)

    Anna

    The interloper pushed the knife close. The danger of cold steel clung to her neck. Just a single flick of their wrist and Anna would be drenched in a puddle of her own blood.

    Did something like this happen to Ellen? The possibility silenced the fear in her head.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± her assailant¡¯s voice boomed in her head, ¡°I have a few questions¡ª¡±

    Anna didn¡¯t hesitate. Mana surged from her Azurite pendant¡ªthe surroundings cackled with violence as electricity discharged from her body. Her assailant had no chance. Blasted by the point-blank shock, their hands went limp. Anna immediately shook herself free and drove her elbow into their chest.

    Thud!

    They collapsed past the dense undergrowth. Anna pursued. She suddenly found herself amidst a clearing in the woods. Faint vestiges of moonlight streamed through the canopy, providing some semblance of light. Her assailant was on the ground, writhing from the electricity rampaging through their body.

    Anna stomped ahead. She grabbed them by the collars and ripped off the mask concealing their face.

    ***

    Emil

    Emil stared helplessly as the interloper pried off his mask. The muscles in his arms and legs continued to convulse uncontrollably. Stars and vivid colors spun in his periphery. A sharp, numbing pain hummed through the layers beneath his skin. No matter how much he willed his body to move, his limbs refused to comply.

    ¡°¡­Emil?¡±

    He froze at the sound of his own name. They know who I am?! Panic shot down his back¡ªuntil the interloper pulled down their own mask and hood.

    A bundle of bright scarlet hair dropped onto their shoulders, accompanying a face that he had grown used to seeing the past several days. It was Anna.

    Huh? What the hell is she doing here?!

    Emil¡¯s mind spiraled into chaos¡ªpartly from the earlier attack and partly from disbelief. He had been on standby, perched atop of his previous observation point, hoping to catch another straggler visiting the area where Ellen was murdered last night.

    The incident left many unanswered questions. What was Ellen doing before her death? What killed her? Who were those people that dealt with her body? He was searching for a lead when he spotted a suspicious figure encroaching onto the Third Sector.

    Wait, could Anna be involved? Before he could consider the possibility, Anna suddenly slapped him across the face. He winced, his head spinning from the throbbing pain.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you all day!¡± she growled, ¡°Ellen. I visited her room after class. It was emptied and her nameplate was removed. When I questioned the staff, they told me she had withdrawn her enrolment from the Academy.¡±

    Emil¡¯s eyes widened at the revelation. Damn, they already removed her records?

    ¡°I call bullshit!¡± Anna spat, her voice quivering with desperation, ¡°Something must have happened to her, and the Academy is trying to cover it up. You know something, don¡¯t you, Emil? Tell me!¡±

    Her eyes were savage as she frantically shook his collars, begging him to speak.

    Emil gulped. Bitterness danced on his tongue. His throat felt strained, as if a dozen invisible threads were sealed around his windpipe, steadily tightening like a noose. Murderous energy filled the air. He was no stranger to being on the receiving end of someone¡¯s bloodthirsty rage, but this one hurt.

    Although their time together was brief, Emil thought he had built some semblance of trust between him and Anna. Enough to not be treated like a villain.

    She¡¯s not in her right mind. Desperation somehow led her near the site of Ellen¡¯s death. Emil couldn¡¯t guess how she even got this information. He feared what happened if she discovered the truth.

    ¡°Spit it out!¡± Anna screamed into his face. Menacing sparks snapped in the air. She was a powder keg, begging to explode. Emil clenched his teeth¡ªnervous at the murderous pressure. He had to pacify her.

    And so, he lied.

    ¡°She was kidnapped.¡±

    His words hung in the air. The surroundings seemed to freeze in time as if it was holding its breath at his deception. Anna was still, eyes bloodshot, seemingly in shock.

    ¡°I knew it,¡± she suddenly declared. The suffocating pressure around her lightened as the murderous energy dissipated. Emil let out a sigh.

    His relief was short-lived.

    ¡°Get up!¡± she suddenly pulled him to his feet. Despite her small size, Anna was surprisingly strong. Emil¡¯s legs wobbled, struggling to stay upright. Most of his muscles were still paralyzed from Anna¡¯s earlier attack.

    ¡°You¡¯re coming with me. Ellen¡¯s in danger. We have to go save her!¡± she proclaimed. Emil tried to shake her off. It was useless¡ªhis arms couldn¡¯t exert any strength.

    ¡°Where?! We don¡¯t have any information on where she is!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s an abandoned ruin somewhere north from here. If you saw her kidnapped in this area, then probably they¡ª¡±

    ¡°And how did you get this information?¡±

    ¡°An information broker in the Second Sector!¡± she hissed, flashing him a chilling glare. Her patience was wearing thin.

    This is ridiculous.

    Emil pressed his hand to his head, suddenly feeling nauseous.

    ¡°Are they trustworthy? Could you vouch for the validity of his information? And did he tell you anything else? Like how to get to these ruins?¡± Emil asked, trying to make her realize how reckless her approach was, ¡°If you haven¡¯t noticed, we¡¯re deep in the middle of nowhere. It¡¯s pitch-black. There are no roads, no landmarks, nothing to discern where we are and where we¡¯re headed. Were you just planning to stumble your way to this mythical ruin?¡±

    ¡°This is the only lead I have!¡± she snarled. Tears suddenly cascaded down the side of her face. Her eyes trembled with a glint of madness. The hands clasping onto his arm began to dug into his skin. ¡°Or do you have a better idea?!¡±

    Fuck, should I have just told her the truth? Anna¡¯s recklessness stemmed from her belief that Ellen was still alive. It was heart-breaking to watch her desperation.

    No, I can¡¯t let her continue like this. She¡¯s going to get herself killed. Whatever that murdered Ellen might still be lingering in these woods.

    ¡°¡­Just give me a second, please. I can¡¯t move yet,¡± he said, trying to buy time as he sunk back onto the forest floor. Anna¡¯s bloodshot eyes remained fixated on him, unmoving. Her hands were twitching for action.Stolen story; please report.

    He thought back to the situation last night. There were three silhouettes that came for Ellen¡¯s body. They seemed to know her, and they mentioned that she was likely killed by some sort of specimen that got loose.

    ¡°Cremate her near the lab.¡±

    Emil recalled distinctively overhearing those words before the three mysterious figures ventured deeper into the woods. This seems to align with Anna¡¯s information. Now he had a solid hypothesis that a laboratory was hidden in this region of the Third Sector, presumably by a set of abandoned ruins. Finally, he had a lead for his overarching objective in Azure City. Unfortunately, it came at the cost of a friend¡¯s life.

    He shook his head, silencing the guilt that was threatening to swell up. Assuming these assumptions are correct, how would those people from last night navigate to the lab? Everywhere around him looked the same¡ªfilled with the same patterned foliage and stifling darkness.

    Suddenly, he recalled the words of the person who examined Ellen¡¯s body.

    ¡°There are faint vestiges of mana on her neck.¡±

    The statement boomed in his head. Of course, they were Exalted. And at least one of them could see mana. Emil glanced up at Anna. ¡°Let me check something,¡± he said, limping to the edge of the clearing. Some semblance of control had returned to his hands as he pried open a section of the dense undergrowth.

    He squinted into the abyssal darkness. Slowly, his eyes began to adjust to the absence of light. Then, near the ground, about five feet away, the faintest of blue specks flickered in his view. They were absurdly tiny¡ªnearly indistinguishable if he hadn¡¯t been looking for him. He crawled close to the first one. Soon, more and more specks revealed themselves. Like an endless stream of distant stars on a clear night, the blue specks formed a trail.

    A hidden path. Created by fragments of Azurite.

    ¡°Do you see that, Anna?¡± he asked.

    ¡°¡­No? What am I supposed to see?¡± she said, confounded as she crept close beside him. Emil picked up the closest speck. Indeed, it was a shard of Azurite, barely bigger than a small quartz of sand.

    What a devious plan. A path that only a subset of Exalted could find.

    He dropped the Azurite shard in Anna¡¯s hands.

    ¡°You¡¯ll need to trust me on this, but there¡¯s a hidden trail marked by these fragments of Azurite,¡± Emil explained, ¡°That¡¯s probably where we need to go.¡±

    ***

    Slash!

    Emil cut down a layer of dense vegetation blocking their way. As the foliage fell, another glimpse of the Azurite trail was revealed. He followed the crumbs as it led them deeper into the wilderness of the Third Sector. Anna was behind him, her hands clenched tightly onto the hems of his cloak. To her, the forest must have been pitch-black.

    ¡°How did you found out Ellen was kidnapped?¡± Anna suddenly broke the silence. She must have calmed down a bit if she finally has the clarity to ask. Thankfully, Emil had enough time to concoct a story.

    ¡°I saw her by chance outside of the campus last night. She was being carried away. I lost her trail by the edge of this forest,¡± he said, picking his words deliberately. Some of it were half-truths, purposefully kept vague in case he said something to contradict his earlier lie.

    ¡°Did you see who kidnapped her?¡±

    ¡°No. But they were definitely Exalted, especially if they were using this Azurite path to navigate the woods. I was hoping to capture one of them tonight to interrogate Ellen¡¯s location. But I found you instead.¡±

    His response was met with silence. Not wanting to give Anna the chance to dwell on his words and pick apart his flimsy story, he immediately followed up with a question.

    ¡°What were you doing here anyways?¡± he asked, ¡°You snuck out of campus, went to an information broker, and somehow stumbled your way here. You did all that based on what? A faint chance that Ellen might have been in trouble?¡±

    ¡°Yeah? What of it?¡± Anna retorted, clearly irritated. Emil couldn¡¯t help but smirk on her belligerence.

    ¡°It¡¯s reckless. What if the Academy wasn¡¯t lying about her withdrawing her enrolment?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t believe them from the beginning. But if I was wrong, then so be it. I get caught and I get punished. A trivial loss. But if I was right and I didn¡¯t act¡­¡± Anna suddenly trailed off, ¡°¡­Ellen is my friend. She might be in danger. Did I really need any more reasons to act?¡±

    The crunch of leaves behind him suddenly grew louder. She¡¯s getting angry again.

    ¡°I suppose not. But why act on your alone? The Sentinels were an option.¡±

    Anna¡¯s grip on his cloak steeled. ¡°Are you stupid? You think the Sentinels would listen to me over the words of the Academy? One inquiry and they would have learned that Ellen supposedly moved out. And that would have been the end of their investigations.¡±

    ¡°Fair point.¡±

    ¡°Besides, since we¡¯re both here in this damn forest, you seemed to have arrived at the same conclusion as I did. So, should you really be criticizing me about recklessness?¡±

    Emil scoffed, raising his hands to signal his surrender. While this incident fell under the scope of his Steiger objectives, he would be lying to claim that he wasn¡¯t at all motivated by his brief friendship with Ellen. Guilt ate at his heart. The sight of her dying moments was seared in his head. If he had been faster last night, could he have prevented her death?

    His solemn thoughts were cut short by the distant ring of the Azure City clocktower. Midnight. They¡¯ve been on this path for awhile now. His arms were sore from constantly hacking away at the dense undergrowth. At least his body seemed to have recovered from paralysis.

    The trail of Azurite on the forest floor suddenly vanished. As he swung to break another branch blocking his path, Emil saw a faint glimpse of moonlight trickling in from the canopy.

    ¡°I think we¡¯re at the end of the path. I¡¯m going to take a peek,¡± he whispered. Indeed, the undergrowth thinned significantly. Emil gently pried apart the shrubbery in front of him, careful not to make any loud noises.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s clear,¡± he said after probing the vicinity. He stepped out into the open, wincing at the noise of his body brushing by the densely packed undergrowth. He shifted to the side, hugging the shadows of the forest¡¯s edge to make room for Anna to follow.

    Now that he was out in the open, it was significantly easier to see. Moonlight illuminated the surroundings. They were at the edge of a large glade. Man-made structures built out of stone were sprawled out along the treeless flat land. Greenery sprouted in the gaps of the paved stone.

    Ahead, various statues carved out of marble were scattered across the ruins. They were worn down by age, lacking the luster and majesty at their inception. Most of the statues were either decapitated or had the upper torso broken off. The few statues that still possessed heads had their faces smeared, unrecognizable.

    ¡°¡­Did your information broker say anything about these ruins?¡± Emil asked, trying to hide his discomfort at the ominous sight.

    ¡°No, just that they existed.¡±

    ¡°From what I can tell, this looks like a former site of worship. These statues were likely depicting deities, dating back to before Ardair¡¯s founding.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t know you were a scholar. How about putting that head of yours towards doing homework instead?¡± Anna said as she crept towards the dilapidated structures farther into the glade.

    Emil took the hint and followed. Upon closer inspection, there were obvious signs that this sacred site was being used. Fresh footprints coated in mud smeared along the paved stone. Broken crates and barrels littered the premise.

    ¡°People have clearly been here,¡± Anna suddenly said, ¡°I don¡¯t see Ellen anywhere though.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s see if she¡¯s inside,¡± Emil replied, wincing. Eventually, he would have to unveil the truth.

    They were at the foot of the dilapidated buildings, which turned out to be a small temple. Broken pillars were scattered before the entrance. Withered vines and moss covered the surfaces of the decrepit structure. The entrance was open.

    Anna motioned for him to enter first. Emil rolled his eyes, but complied.

    As he stepped in, his nose was immediately assaulted by a pungent smell. It was the familiar ferric musk of decayed flesh.

    Something was dead. Alarms rose in his head. Emil immediately dropped to a fighting stance, ready to react to anything.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Anna asked, worried at his sudden reaction.

    Moonlight crept in from a circular hole on the ceiling. Old paintings drew in oil and linen tapestries decorated the walls of the temple. They would have been majestic¡ªhad they not been stained in blood.

    What the hell is this?!

    The inside of the temple was filled with steel cages. Inside were carcasses of various animals. Torn limbs and body parts dangled from iron chains affixed to the ceilings. At the edge of the room were workbenches filled with scalpels, knives, cleavers, and other sharp items that Emil couldn¡¯t describe. Beside that were shelves filled with jars of translucent liquid and unidentifiable blobs¡ªpresumably containing organs and other internal body parts that needed to be preserved.

    He stumbled backwards. The madness before him was too revolting to bear.

    ¡°Emil?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t come in!¡± he replied in a harsh whisper. Anna doesn¡¯t need to see this. In fact, the disgusting scene might give her the wrong ideas. In the midst of his shock, however, he forgot the type of person she was. Ignoring his warning, she immediately pushed past him without hesitation.

    ¡°What is¡ª¡± Anna froze. Her eyes went wide. Her face twitched as she processed the hellish horrors in the room, writhing with disgust that quickly morphed into terror. Suddenly, she dropped to her knees.

    ¡°Emil¡­you don¡¯t think that Ellen¡ª¡±

    ¡°No. Probably not,¡± he cut her off and stepped in front of her to block her view. It was obvious what she feared. ¡°All these¡­parts look like they came from animals. As far as I can tell, none of them belonged to a person.¡±

    Well, I guess this confirms that vile experiments were being conducted here. Emil grimaced at the blatant cruelty on display. He couldn¡¯t fathom what sorts of madmen operated this facility¡ªand why exactly Ellen was involved. Feeling nauseous, he walked towards the workbench along the side of the temple. Anna trailed behind him, not wanting to be left alone in this disturbing laboratory.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked hesitantly.

    Emil scanned the surface, careful not to touch any of the bloodied parts laid out in the open. ¡°Looking for documents. Notes. Something that could explain what they were doing here.¡±

    ¡°Who cares about that right now? We have to find Ellen!¡± Anna tried to pry him away from the workbench.

    Dammit, do I have to tell her the truth here?

    He was going to push back, until something pricked the side of his ears.

    Footsteps. They came from just outside the temple.

 Chapter 32 - Cold, unflinching reality

    Emil

    Emil pushed Anna up against the nearest wall.

    ¡°Hey! What the fuck?!¡±

    He pressed a finger close to her mouth, beckoning her to be silent. The footsteps outside the temple resounded loudly against the stone ruins. Shortly after, two men entered in the midst of conversation.

    ¡°Any luck with locating the specimen?¡± one of them asked.

    ¡°No, but apparently there was another victim found on the edge of the Third Sector tonight,¡± the other replied with clear resignation in his voice, ¡°Not good. If these incidents continue, the Sentinels will start pushing back against our demands to keep this contained. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they launched a formal complaint to the Council soon.¡±

    Emil and Anna were glued to the wall, concealed behind one of the two pillars that flanked the entrance of the temple. Their positions were barely masked by the pillar¡¯s shadows¡ªjust mere inches beyond the edge of the moonlight streaming in from the ceiling opening. Emil held his breath. His heart was pounding in his ears.

    Please.

    He prayed that they wouldn¡¯t be spotted. The two men who just entered was almost certainly Exalted.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see the problem. The Council turns a blind eye to these incidents all the time. I don¡¯t see why we would be treated any differently.¡±

    Their footsteps echoed across the stone floor. Emil froze. The two men came into view¡ªjust an arm¡¯s length away from their hiding spots. He suddenly felt Anna squirm.

    You idiot! He grabbed her hand as silently as possible and gave it a firm squeeze. She froze. Emil immediately traced a message on the back of her hand with his finger, begging her to stay put.

    Luckily, the two men didn¡¯t notice as they passed by.

    ¡°They¡¯ll turn a blind eye only if we have results to show for it! And right now, we have nothing! The ¡®result¡¯ that we need to showcase is currently rampaging out of control somewhere in the Third Sector!¡± the downtrodden man suddenly yelled. His exasperated voice rang across the spacious chamber of the temple.

    ¡°Then we just have to repeat the results again. We succeeded once already,¡± his companion replied as he approached the workbench.

    ¡°That was the first success out of hundreds of trials!¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. If our only success was just a stroke of luck, then we were doomed to fail from the beginning. The Council has no interest in projects with results that aren¡¯t reproducible.¡±

    ¡°Tell that to the boss then. See how friendly he gets if the Council cuts his funding.¡±

    Once they arrived at the workbench, the two researchers immediately began sifting through the various documents and notebooks sprawled on the table.

    With their backs turned, Emil took the opportunity to move. He gave Anna¡¯s arm a gentle tug. In silence, the two of them crept towards the entrance.

    ***

    Once they left the immediate vicinity of the temple, they sprinted into the forest. After several minutes of continuous running, Emil finally stopped amidst a small grove. The canopy here was conveniently thin, allowing some semblance of moonlight to leak through.

    Anna was already slumped on the ground, heaving in haggard breaths.

    Emil sucked in the chilly air to soothe his burning lungs. His head spun as he tried to make sense of what he just overheard.

    Those researchers are probably two of three people that found Ellen last night. Inside the temple, they were conducting experiments to create some sort of specimen. That specimen escaped and is now killing people near the Third Sector. Likely, this is the same being that murdered Ellen.

    There was also the damning mention of the ¡°Council¡±. The only notable entity that this could have been referring to was the Council of Mana¡ªthe ruling authority of Azure City. Emil clenched his teeth, recalling the grotesque sight of the survivor that the witch showed him prior to the start of this mission.

    The implications were abhorrent.

    Then, according to those researchers, the Council of Mana is likely responsible for the vile experiments using humans as test subjects.

    Dread crawled up his spine. What Steiger initially thought was just the work of a few rogue researchers might end up being a bigger conspiracy led by the authorities of Azure City itself. Emil¡¯s stomach twisted with unease. Suddenly, he regretted his decision to bring Mia and Raz into the city.

    If I¡¯m not misunderstanding anything, then the witch needs to be informed of this immediately.

    As he contemplated what to do next, Anna suddenly rose to her feet.

    ¡°Why?¡± she blurted out. Her eyes narrowed into a vicious glare. ¡°Why did you stop me?! We didn¡¯t find Ellen yet! Those were her kidnappers, were they not?¡±

    Emil sighed. I had a feeling she wanted to fight.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand!¡± Anna growled like a wounded animal, ¡°That was our perfect chance to ambush those men and get information out of them!¡±

    Emil closed his eyes, dreading the words that he was about to speak.

    ¡°Anna¡ª¡± he began. The edge of his voice quivered with uncertainty.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    ***

    Anna

    ¡°¡ªEllen is dead.¡±

    Anna blinked. She closed her eyes and shook her head, thinking that her ears might have been playing a trick on her.

    ¡°E-Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s dead. Ellen is dead, Anna,¡± Emil repeated, his solemn words resonating across the dark grove, ¡°I saw it unfold in front of my eyes.¡± His eyes were somber and his tone genuine, lacking none of the usual frivolousness that she had grown to expect from him. But his seriousness only caused more confusion.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand, but you said¡ª¡±

    ¡°I lied,¡± he declared. Anna flinched. She felt like she had just been slapped across the face. ¡°Ellen is dead,¡± Emil said again as if to reinforce this irrefutable fact.

    She didn¡¯t miss the quiver of remorse dangling at the edge of his voice. Silently, she stared at him, observing his facial expressions, hoping that at any moment he would break into a despicable smile, goad at her despair, and then tell her that this was all part of a sick prank that he concocted to get a reaction out of her.

    Her hands balled into fists. Her throat grew hot¡ªready to explode the moment Emil exposed his nasty ruse

    What she wished for never came.

    Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake. He¡¯s not joking.

    The next thing she knew she was sprinting back towards the sacred temple.

    ¡°Stop!¡±

    Emil¡¯s arms suddenly coiled around her waist.

    ¡°Let go of me!¡± she screamed, flailing about in desperation. Her eyes were dense with tears.

    ¡°Calm down! Listen to me!¡± he yelled, trying to hold her down.

    ¡°No! How can I trust you?! You¡¯ve been lying to me this entire time, you damn bastard!¡± Anna flung her head backwards. The back of her skull struck something soft. Emil let out a pained grunt, but his grip remained strong.

    ¡°I was trying to keep you alive, you idiot! Look at yourself! You¡¯re out of control! This isn¡¯t some issue you can resolve by just lashing out at the first thing you see! You¡¯re going to get yourself killed!¡±

    ¡°Shut up! You have no right to tell me anything!¡± Anna yelled. Agony pulsated with every heartbeat. Bitterness coated the edge of her tongue and her chest was aching like it was about to explode. Ellen¡¯s dead. She didn¡¯t want to accept it. But the possibility always gnawed in her subconscious.

    Her sudden disappearance. The Academy staff moving her stuff out without warning. The admins shutting down her efforts to understand why Ellen would suddenly withdraw her enrolment. The Sentinels being suppressed last night when they were trying to investigate an incident.

    If she accepted the premise that Ellen was dead, then all the pieces of the puzzle suddenly fell into place.

    In truth, she had a feeling that Emil hadn¡¯t been entirely honest. His statements sounded too convenient, at times too vague, and sometimes suspiciously contradictory. Still, she suppressed the rational side of her mind that wanted to scrutinize everything. She wanted to believe in his lie. She wanted to believe in the hope that Ellen still lived.

    She¡¯s dead.

    The irrefutable fact echoed in her head, reminding her of the cold, unflinching reality.

    She¡¯s really dead.

    The desperation that drove her forward suddenly had no legs to run. Anna slumped against Emil¡¯s chest¡ªexhausted as her will to fight vanished.

    The two of them remained still in silence. Eventually, she let out a weary sigh. The frosty night air clinging to her face was becoming unbearable.

    Heat gathered at the tips of her ears as she realized Emil was still holding onto her. She could feel the warmth of his arms seeping into her body in a tight embrace. Suddenly feeling self-conscious, she squirmed, trying to pry herself free.

    ¡°Hey, let go already.¡±

    ¡°Are you going to run off again?¡± Emil asked immediately.

    ¡°No. Now let me¡ª¡±

    She froze. Her mouth agape, words refusing to escape her throat. The air suddenly felt dense, thick with the stench of the danger. In the corner of her eyes, Anna caught a glimpse of movement by the edge of the undergrowth.

    Something soared through the dimly lit grove.

    Anna felt her body being dragged back. Emil was suddenly in front of her¡ªhis left hand outstretched as a massive creature sunk its jaws into his forearm.

    ***

    Emil

    ¡°Emil?!¡± Anna¡¯s voice boomed in his head.

    ¡°I¡¯m okay!¡± Emil replied as he bashed his free hand into the throat of the creature. The creature growled, twisting its jaws, seemingly unfazed as it continued to chomp down.

    He grimaced. He had channeled Bulwark at the last second to surround his left arm in a layer of stone. Still, the force of the creature¡¯s bite was enormous. He could feel his arm slowly being crushed under the immense pressure. Even the stone armament was beginning to fracture.

    Emil reached for the dagger hidden beneath his cloak. With his right hand strengthened by mana, he plunged the blade into the creature¡¯s side. A short whimper escaped its mouth. Emil suddenly felt the ironclad grip on his arm slack. Seizing the chance, he immediately evicted his arm from the creature¡¯s jaws.

    A puddle of dark blood splattered on the ground. The creature backed up a few steps. Its bloodshot pupils glared under the faint moonlight. Despite its injuries, it hadn¡¯t retreated. Drool dangled from the bridges of its jaws as if it were salivating at the sight of its next meal.

    ¡°Get ready to fight!¡± Emil called out. Immediately, he felt several pairs of eyes watching them from the veil of the undergrowth.

    The creature that just attacked kept its distance. Its body was lowered, prancing sideways. Its hindlegs bent, ready to pounce. It resembled a wolf.

    But the key difference was its size. This creature was much larger, standing over five feet tall while on all fours. Its goliath fangs were sharp and jagged, protruding menacingly out of its jaws and coated in spittle. Its face was locked in an aggressive snarl, while its eyes and snout seemed contorted out of place relative to its skull.

    Its macabre appearance aside, what alarmed Emil the most, however, was the faint blue glow near the top of his head.

    Is that a fragment of Azurite?

    As he narrowed his eyes, he could see a thin layer of mana running along the creature¡¯s body.

    I knew it. A monster.

    Monsters were non-sapient living beings that have been enhanced by mana. As far as Emil was aware, their existence was rare in nature. The most common way monsters emerged was from an Exalted¡¯s Gift.

    But I don¡¯t sense any Exalted nearby. If there was, Emil should have been able to detect a faint vestige of mana tethered between the Exalted and the monster. Instead, it seemed this monster was purely supplied by the Azurite fragment embedded in its skull.

    He thought back to the sacred temple, recalling the various animal carcasses, chopped-up body parts, and the mention of a man-killing creature roaming in the Third Sector. This must be the specimen that the researchers were looking for.

    The monster suddenly shrieked.

    The foliage around them shook in response. Several shadows spontaneously bolted out of the dark undergrowth.

    Emil stomped the ground. An array of stone spikes erupted from the forest floor. Like spears, they thrusted towards new pack of monsters. With a shocking speed, the monsters jerked their bodies to the side. His spears stabbed the air as the monsters continued their assault.

    Dammit! I¡¯m still too slow with Bulwark!

    The monsters at the vanguard lunged, claws bared, jaws open, eager to gouge upon its human prey. Emil stepped back and conjured a stone shield in his off-hand. The first monster slammed against his sloppy defense.

    ¡°Ngh!¡±

    Emil winced as he was pushed back, his feet digging into the ground as he barely managed to contain the monster¡¯s attack. His body rattled as if he had been hit by a horse. The rest of the monsters loomed close behind.

    Do I have to use Blaze? The thought came to mind as Emil slashed with his dagger. His possession of two Gifts was supposed to be a closely guarded secret to allow him to function as a Steiger agent in Azure City. Exposing it to Anna could jeopardize his mission.

    Am I seriously weighing someone¡¯s life against the witch¡¯s orders?! He clenched his teeth, admonishing himself for hesitating. One person had already died because he was too indecisive.

    ¡°Bolt!¡± Anna suddenly cried before he could manifest Blaze. Lightning in the color of azure flashed across the grove for a split second before the air thundered with a shrill shriek.

    The monsters around them were immediately stunned¡ªparalyzed from the wide area discharge. Emil wasted no time and rushed in, swinging his dagger to deliver the killing blows. Once he pierced the final monster¡¯s throat, he grabbed Anna¡¯s arm and dragged her into motion.

    ¡°We have to move! Now!¡±

    They were only a few minutes away from the temple. Against the dead of night, he was certain their fight had been heard.

 Chapter 33 - A pair of righteous eyes

    Emil

    Emil poked his head over the corner and scanned the area. They were back at the edge of the Second and Third Sectors, hiding in a narrow alleyway between two buildings.

    No one seems to be following us. I don¡¯t see any Sentinels on patrol either.

    ¡°We should be fine here,¡± he finally said, slumping against the dilapidated wall as he pried off the sweat-soaked mask glued to his face. The frigid night air immediately chilled his skin. Soothing. A much-needed relief after the insanity that just unfolded.

    ¡°Emil, you¡¯re bleeding,¡± Anna said. Her eyes were narrowed with concern as she gestured at the glaring red fang marks on the side of his forearms.

    Surprised, Emil tilted his arm to examine the wound. The mark appeared shallow¡ªthe blood that had seeped out had mostly dried. It must have come from the first monster that ambushed them.

    Damn, it bit through the stone armament? He frowned, in awe of the monster¡¯s strength. There was a chance that the creature was infected. Steiger training made his body immune to most poisons and infectious agents, but there was no reason not to be cautious. He made the mental note to get it checked out later.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he eventually said, ignoring the dull pain.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Anna asked.

    Emil nodded, fighting the urge to break out into a smile. I think this might be the first time she¡¯s been worried about me. I¡¯ve only seen her angry, annoyed, or acting smug. His natural inclination was to tease her for being soft on him, but he quickly killed that thought. Rare moments like this had to be savored.

    ¡°Well, if you say so,¡± she frowned, leaning back against the wall. Her tender gaze vanished as her face suddenly hardened. ¡°Any ideas about what we just fought in those woods?¡±

    So much for savoring a rare moment, Emil lamented silently. Next time I¡¯m not playing it cool.

    ¡°They were monsters. Wolves enhanced by mana. There was a fragment of Azurite embedded in each of their skulls.¡±

    Anna raised an eye. ¡°But I didn¡¯t sense any Exalted nearby. And monsters don¡¯t just spawn in those numbers in nature,¡± she said, arriving at the natural conclusion, ¡°Then, could those be the specimens that the researchers were looking for?¡±

    ¡°I think so. It lines up with what we saw inside the temple. That place is being used to create artificial monsters,¡± Emil affirmed her suspicions. He took in a deep breath, dreading the next words he was about to say. ¡°Those monsters are probably what also killed Ellen.¡±

    He began sharing his recollection of what happened to Ellen and his hypothesis that she might have been involved with those researchers in some capacity. He made sure to omit any incriminating details that might expose his cover in Azure City.

    Anna listened to his account in silence. When Emil was finally finished, she stared at the ground, still as a picture, solemnly absorbing every detail that he divulged.

    ¡°¡­You¡¯re not lying this time, right?¡± she asked. Her voice trembled with uncertainty.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not just saying this so that I won¡¯t do something stupid like seek revenge for Ellen¡¯s death, right?¡±

    ¡°Everything I said just now was true.¡±

    ¡°Swear it to me. Look at me in the eyes when you say it,¡± she demanded.

    Emil obliged, gazing into the pair of ebon eyes that gleamed with burning resolve, yet trembled at the corners. ¡°I swear to you that I¡¯m telling the truth.¡±

    ¡°¡­Can I trust you?¡± she asked once more in a tiny whisper.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he said from the bottom of his heart¡ªnot as Emil Milligan, but simply as Emil. No masks. No fa?ade. No ulterior motives. Just a genuine desire to tell his friend the cold, callous truth.

    ¡°I see,¡± Anna whimpered. She winced, squinching her face, trying to fight back the waterworks. It was a futile effort. The tears poured from her eyes. Quietly, she sobbed.

    Emil watched her in silence. His eyes grazed over, dull¡ªnearly on the verge of collapse. He had been awake for nearly two days straight. Fatigue finally caught up to him. Even then, he refused to let himself drift off. Not yet. Not when his friend was mourning.

    Together in silence, the two them sat in the shadows of the moonlight, grieving for a dear departed friend.

    ***

    Time passed with cruel indifference.

    Dawn arrived. As usual, Emil dragged himself onto the campus for the merciless morning lectures. As much as he wanted to sleep in, skipping class wasn¡¯t an option. Exalted Academy was rigorously strict about attendance, and missing a lecture would only earn him only more scrutiny from the staff on campus. The last thing he needed was more eyes monitoring his every step after the fiasco between him and Anna.

    He entered the lecture room. His ears were immediately assaulted by the cheerful conversations. Emil winced¡ªeach blare of obnoxious laughter only intensified his headaches caused by the lack of sleep. Unsurprisingly, Anna wasn¡¯t here yet.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    As he took his seat, his eyes naturally drifted towards the spot near the front of the lecture room. It belonged to Ellen. Now it was unoccupied.

    He closed his eyes, pushing down on the cauldron of emotions that was threatening to swell. There was no point dwelling on an unchangeable past.

    What¡¯s my next step?

    He uncovered the truth of Ellen¡¯s death. He confirmed that there were wicked experiments happening in secrecy in the Third Sector of Azure City. He had a lead that the Council of Mana might be the perpetrator sanctioning and funding all these projects.

    The Academy wasn¡¯t innocent either. The admin office was directly involved in covering up Ellen¡¯s death. Furthermore, the institution itself also boasted the highest number of academic researchers in the kingdom. It wasn¡¯t unreasonable to think that some of the researchers here might also be complicit.

    I need physical evidence. The witch would want irrefutable proof that these experiments are happening. And something tangible that implicates the Academy or the Council of Mana.

    Emil shook his head, flabbergasted at the mountain of work ahead of him. The seat beside him suddenly creaked. Anna arrived. Her scarlet hair was in disarray, dangling in a disheveled mess around her face. Dark bags clouded beneath her swollen eyes, exaggerated due to her naturally fair complexion.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± Emil said, ¡°You look terr¡ª"

    ¡°Don¡¯t you fucking say it,¡± Anna hissed.

    He went quiet, which apparently only made things worse. His silence was met with a nasty glare¡ªthe intimidation factor only amplified by her sleep-deprived eyes.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say shut up. At least lie or something, you jackass,¡± she snapped as she unloaded her bag.

    Perhaps this wasn¡¯t a good time to act flippant.

    Their short exchange came to an end as Professor Callum entered the room. Unlike his usual energetic self, he was noticeably more downtrodden today. His haggard appearance earned him a few questions from the rowdy students by the front of the class.

    Guess we weren¡¯t the only ones who had a rough night, Emil mused as the lecture began.

    ***

    ¡°We need to talk later,¡± a menacing voice boomed in his head the moment Professor Callum finished.

    Emil nearly jumped out his seat¡ªstopped only by a heavy hand clasping his shoulder. Chills slithered down his neck as the steel grip slowly tightened. He turned his head slowly, dreading the horrific sight that awaited him.

    It was¡­Anna? Yes. Yes, it was Anna. A thick ghastly aura shrouded her vicinity. Her sleep-deprived eyes turned feral and bloodshot, fixated on him with dangerous sharpness. Her taut face, thinned by stress, and her grisly complexion only amplified the appearance of a haunted banshee.

    ¡°Y-Yes? I¡¯m here,¡± Emil whimpered, slightly terrified. His body instinctively tensed up, reminded of when he took a blast of electricity from her Gift last night. Sometimes he couldn¡¯t reconcile how a girl with a pretty face like hers could exude such a frightening aura.

    Anna¡¯s nails were beginning to dig into his skin. ¡°You better not disappear again,¡± she muttered.

    Again? Emil narrowed his eyes. Then he was struck with a moment of clarity. Ah. She was looking for me all of yesterday afternoon. He had snuck out of campus early to get a lead on Ellen¡¯s location. Anna apparently discovered Ellen¡¯s removal from the Academy around the same time.

    ¡°Or else,¡± she said ominously before departing for her next class.

    Or else? Or else what? What the hell is she planning to do? Emil swallowed nervously as his imagination ran wild. He was no stranger to Anna¡¯s ferocity at this point. Never mind, let¡¯s just not find out.

    ***

    Later arrived.

    Emil took his seat across from Anna at a small table in the corner of the cafeteria. Sometime in between their lectures, she had somehow found the time to fix her disheveled hair. Unfortunately, contrary to what she might have hoped, it did little to alleviate the terrifying aura that she carried.

    Feeling threatened, Emil pushed his mango pudding towards her. An offering. He felt a slight prang of regret as he did so, but he quickly reminded himself that this was a necessary sacrifice. Anna accepted it without a word.

    Damn you, honors student. He cursed silently. Whatever, at least I brought two. He was about to open his spare pudding when Anna suddenly stopped him.

    ¡°Um, yes?¡±

    Silently, she beckoned at the backup pudding in his hands. The side of her mouth was smeared with remains of the sacrifice that he had just offered. She had devoured it in an instant.

    Emil was about to refuse, until Anna suddenly clenched her fist in his face. He could have sworn he saw a flicker of electricity dance around her wrist.

    Forget delinquent, she should just join the syndicates dammit! She¡¯ll fit right in! Reluctantly, he gave up his only source of joy.

    Anna¡¯s complexion noticeably improved after extorting accepting two of Emil¡¯s puddings.

    ¡°I forgive you,¡± she said in a haughty voice.

    Huh?! ¡°For what?¡± Emil asked, flabbergasted at her audacity.

    She held up three fingers. ¡°One, for lying to me about Ellen. Two, for pressing a knife against my throat. Three, for rudely acknowledging my flawed appearance this morning. You committed three offenses, while I only took two of your puddings. You should be thanking for my magnanimity.¡±

    Uh-huh, I¡¯m soooo thankful. He poked at the rest of his meal in silent protest, refusing to engage with Anna¡¯s tyranny. As he ate, he caught a faint grin emerge on her face.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough messing around,¡± she said, dropping the haughty fa?ade and falling into a somber gaze, ¡°Emil, what are you planning on doing now?¡±

    She¡¯s talking about the laboratory and the experiments. Emil chewed, pondering his response. He had plans to return to the sacred grove to retrieve evidence for Steiger, but it seemed like Anna also had ideas of her own.

    ¡°¡­I haven¡¯t decided. But if you¡¯re thinking about revenge somehow¡ª¡± he cut his whisper short as he glanced around. The cafeteria was loud with conversation. No one was paying attention to them in their little corner.

    ¡°¡ªthen I suggest you give up. Based on what we learned last night, those researchers have connections to the Council and the Academy. They have enough backing to suppress the Sentinel¡¯s activities. No matter how cruel, their actions are implicitly sanctioned by the Council. Here, in Azure City, they¡¯re untouchable.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all the more reason why we should do something,¡± Anna countered.

    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious.¡±

    ¡°I am! We killed those specimens, but we already know they¡¯re trying to create more of them. What they¡¯re doing is pure hubris. They¡¯ll create more monsters. More of them will be unleashed into the Third Sector. More deaths like Ellen will occur. I want to put a stop to it before more innocents die. I want to burn down that research facility and destroy all the fruits of their research.¡±

    Emil shook his head. ¡°You realize how dangerous this is, right? Our opponents are Exalted, and they have no qualms sacrificing human lives to advance their research. And if the Council or the Academy learns of our involvement¡ª"

    ¡°Even so!¡± she whispered harshly, her eyes radiating a vicious glint, ¡°How can I live with myself, knowing that someone died because I was too scared to act? I can¡¯t! I can¡¯t, Emil. I¡¯m not powerless. I¡¯m not ignorant. Nor do I have dependents and duties that keep me bound. I have no excuses.¡±

    Emil fell back into his chair in disbelief. Just where is this righteous sense of justice coming from? Something about Anna was broken. Her recklessness, her desperation, her compulsion felt unnatural. It was as if she was being driven by some sort of primal obsession. This wasn¡¯t normal. He knew this because he understood exactly how she felt. But while he was twisted and duty-bound to Steiger, she was supposed to be just a normal student.

    ¡°So, Emil,¡± Anna said, staring at him with a pair of righteous eyes steeled with conviction, ¡°Will you help me?¡±

 Chapter 34 - Everything goes awry

    Emil

    Emil gazed down from his perch. The roads at the boundaries between the Second and Third Sectors were surprisingly empty, absent of Sentinel patrols. The frigid night air clung to his skin, seeping in from the fabric of his cloak and the gaps in his leather armor.

    The moon was out in full bloom tonight. Its ethereal presence was striking against the backdrop of the ominous night sky. Dark clouds still lingered, periodically blotting out the celestial object. The result was a flickering eerie glow cast upon the city.

    Emil was not a believer of omens, but the haunting glare of the moon was daunting. Especially since they were about to do something insane.

    He spotted Anna clinging to the shadows of the buildings on the streets below, cautiously creeping forward towards the forested area of the Third Sector. She was in her night outfit. A leather satchel draped over her back, presumably containing the various items she needed to burn the temple down.

    I guess I was being foolish for hoping that she¡¯ll back out of this.

    While he was still beneath the moon¡¯s gaze, he checked the weapons hidden on his body. Two daggers and a set throwing knives were strapped to his thigh. His Azurite pendant dangled snuggly below his neck.

    Satisfied, he descended from his perch, scaling down the height of the building, while wondering how he ended up becoming an accomplice to arson.

    Objectively speaking, he had plenty of reasons to help Anna out.

    One, their goals were aligned. He had always planned to return to the sacred grove to retrieve tangible evidence of the nefarious research being conducted there.

    Two, he agreed that the lab should be destroyed. He couldn¡¯t rest easy knowing that there were man-eating monsters prowling Azure City. Innocent civilians aside, there was also Mia and Raz to consider. If she ever ended up as a victim¡ª

    Stop it. He shook his head to ward off the heart-wrenching thought. He didn¡¯t even want to consider the possibility.

    Lastly, there was guilt towards Ellen. Over and over again, he wondered if he could have prevented her death. If he ran just a bit faster. If he was a little less hesitant. If he was a bit bolder in his pursuit. Then perhaps, he could have arrived in time before the monster gouged her throat.

    Rather, Emil¡¯s reluctance to get Anna involved was because of her status as a civilian. He couldn¡¯t, in good conscious, let someone like her venture into a dangerous situation because of some misplaced vigilantism.

    But, in the end, he couldn¡¯t convince Anna to stand down. Knowing her, she would have gone forward with her plan regardless of his participation.

    Emil already failed to prevent a friend¡¯s death once. He refused to let the same thing happen again.

    Thud!

    He stuck the landing, plopping down just a block ahead of Anna¡¯s position. He walked down to meet her in the middle.

    ¡°Good evening,¡± he said, pulling down his mask as Anna came into view under the somber moonlight. There was a distinct lack of streetlamps in this area due to their proximity to the uninhabited Third Sector.

    ¡°I was afraid you might have disappeared on me again,¡± Anna said, casting a suspicious glance as she looked around, ¡°Where did you come from anyways? I swear I would have seen you even if you went ahead of me.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± Emil quickly motioned towards the satchel on her back. ¡°Tell me what you¡¯ve got in there and what your plan is.¡±

    She opened the bag. ¡°Nothing too complicated. A flint and steel for starting a fire. And these,¡± she said, taking out a canteen containing a black liquid. Emil furrowed his nostrils¡ªimmediately wincing at the wave of pungent fumes coming from the bottle. The odor was obnoxiously thick and suffused with an intoxicating sweetness.

    ¡°What the hell is that?¡±

    ¡°Naphtha. Our ignition source.¡± Anna smirked, apparently proud of her choice of fuel. ¡°We¡¯ll smear this along any flammable items inside the temple. The furniture. The walls with oil paints. Documents. Any exposed wooden structures plopping up the ancient building. This thing burns fast and it should grow hot enough to crack the stones making up the temple. If not, the destruction of the wooden supports should at least cause it to collapse.¡±

    ¡°And why exactly are you so confident at planning an arson?¡±

    The question earned him a dirty look. ¡°Do you really want to know?¡± she retorted. Emil gulped at the implications. His instincts warned him not to pry.

    ¡°¡­Never mind then.¡± He turned his attention to the canteens. ¡°How about the naphtha then? I wasn¡¯t aware this is something you can get this easily.¡±

    Anna snorted. ¡°You can get almost anything in this country with enough money, Emil.¡±

    Right. This girl comes from a merchant family.

    ¡°In any case, naphtha isn¡¯t particularly difficult to buy. The mines in Nordica often find deposits of it by accident during their search for Azurite. My information broker referred me to a supplier from black markets.¡±

    I feel like I shouldn¡¯t be hearing this. Emil held his forehead, suddenly feeling nauseous. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was from the residual fumes of the naphtha or the influx of scandalous information pouring out of Anna¡¯s mouth. The ease at which this girl skirted the laws made his head spin.

    ***

    ¡°I¡¯m only going to say this once,¡± Emil began as they neared the entrance of the Third Sector wilderness, ¡°On the off chance that we¡¯re discovered, listen to my direction. I¡¯ll make the decision whether to run or fight. Also, try not to use your Gift unless you feel your life is at risk. There¡¯s probably not many Exalted in this city that could command electricity like you.¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright, I got it.¡±

    ¡°One more thing.¡± He turned around and stared at Anna in the eyes. ¡°Resolve yourself. In the worse case scenario, we might have to kill those researchers to cover our tracks. Under no circumstances can we allow them to suspect us of being the perpetrators.¡±

    Anna¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°But that¡¯s¡ª¡±The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°A very real possibility,¡± he stressed, ¡°We¡¯re already aware of what the Council and the Academy are willing to do to protect its image and keep their projects going. Just imagine the lengths they¡¯ll go to punish dissidents.¡±

    Silence choked the air. Anna eventually nodded in agreement.

    I really hope it doesn¡¯t come to that. Ideally, they would enter the temple, set it aflame, and make a clean escape before anyone arrives. Based on his observations over the past two days, the researchers were usually active around midnight. The plan was to finish everything and cover up their tracks before the midnight bell.

    With that in mind, Emil led the way into the forest, following the hidden Azurite trail back to the sacred grove.

    ***

    It felt like an eternity had passed before he finally saw a glimpse of moonlight under the dark woods. They were near the end of the Azurite path. Emil pulled his mask back over his mouth and motioned for Anna to stop.

    ¡°Take a five-minute break. We¡¯re at the edge of the grove. Check the satchel to make sure everything is still okay,¡± he said before poking his head out of the dense undergrowth.

    Moonlight shone over the sacred grove. The pale ethereal light bounced off the decapitated statues sprawled along the grove, casting an unsettling tone over the area. Emil glanced around. No movements. No sounds. Just the faint crickets of nocturnal creatures lingering in the woods. The path to temple seemed clear. He looked up, roughly discerning the relative location of the moon.

    Another hour or so before midnight.

    ¡®Ready?¡± he turned back and asked. Under the shadows of the moonlight, he saw Anna nodding. ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡±

    He grabbed the satchel from Anna and stepped out into the opening. This time the two of them rushed towards the temple in silence. Much of the grove was the same as before, except¡ª

    Blood. The foul stench proliferated the air. The ruined grounds just before the temple was bathed in puddles of crimson. The corpses of the monster wolves that they encountered last night were sprawled across the surface. Flies buzzed in the vicinity, poking at the rotting flesh with glee.

    That¡¯s fast. They already found the corpses and moved them over. Emil had a bad premonition. ¡°We should hurry.¡±

    As they reached the temple entrance, he pressed his ears against the stone walls, listening for any signs of activity. Silence. Emil slowly entered, clinging to the edge of the moonlight¡¯s shadows as he scanned the interior.

    Thankfully, it was empty.

    ¡°I think we¡¯re clear.¡±

    ¡°Then give me a few canteens of naphtha and the flint and steel,¡± she said, pinching her nose at stench of rot, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be here any second longer.¡±

    Both of them went to work immediately. Emil tried to ignore the grotesque sights around him. It was impossible not to notice, however. Dismembered animal parts dangled from the ceilings. Mutilated carcasses tossed haphazardly onto the floor. The endless patches of wet and dried blood smeared against the walls and ground.

    Everywhere he looked was something out of a nightmare. His stomach stirred uncomfortably. It was a visceral revulsion towards the madness in front of him. Suddenly, he understood Anna¡¯s drive to burn this place down. Something like this laboratory shouldn¡¯t have never existed, much less on the grounds of a sacred grove. It was blasphemous.

    Emil uncorked the canteen of naphtha. The pungent smell intermingled with the ferric stench made him light-headed. He poured, letting the black liquid drench any flammable parts around him. They weren¡¯t difficult to find. The dilapidated temple was poorly maintained despite being used as a laboratory. Wooden components poked out from the ruins of the stone walls. Oil paintings on the walls defiled by blood. The myriads of workbenches, chairs, and shelves built with wood.

    Soon, he emptied all of his bottles. Anna was still working on the deeper sections of the temple. While she was busy, Emil moved towards the workbenches that he intentionally left unblemished. He sifted through the mess of documents and notebooks sprawled on the desk, skimming through the writings, numbers, and diagrams listed within.

    This should work.

    He packed a few that described the experiments in detail into Anna¡¯s satchel. These would serve as evidence to prove that these amoral projects were taking in Azure City under the Council of Mana¡¯s discretion.

    Now I need to come with an excuse for this to Anna without exposing my connection to Steiger. He frowned, mulling over his options. Absent-mindedly, his eyes lingered onto the puddle of black naphtha on the floor, slowly mixing with blood.

    The puddle suddenly stirred.

    Emil raised an eye. Am I imagining it? He wiped his sweaty face with his sleeves, trying to clear the moisture dangling over his eyelids. He blinked. It happened again. It was unmistakeable¡ªthere was a faint wave rippling across the puddle.

    Something¡¯s outside.

    He rushed to the entrance of the temple. Immediately, he overheard sounds of activity leaking through the thin walls.

    ¡°¡­I think that¡¯s last of the specimens.¡± It was a familiar disgruntled voice, belonging to one of the researchers they encountered last night.

    Why are they here already?! Emil clenched his teeth. There was at least half an hour left before midnight.

    ¡°The boss won¡¯t be happy about that they¡¯re dead.¡±

    ¡°What else can we do? At least we got them back. There¡¯s probably something we can scavenge and learn from their corpses,¡± another research replied, ¡°I¡¯ll go prepare the laboratory before his arrival.¡±

    Shit, he¡¯s coming!

    ¡°Anna!¡± Emil whispered with as much urgency as he could muster, ¡°Anna!¡±

    Silence. No response. She was too far deep inside to hear him. There was no time to move and get her.

    Thud. Thud. Thud.

    The researcher was by the entrance.

    Emil threw himself against the wall, hiding behind the same pillar flanking the entrance that saved them last night. The researcher¡¯s footsteps echoed against the spacious chambers of the temple interior. Emil could see his shadow stretched outwards on the other side of the pillar.

    The man suddenly stopped.

    Emil held his breath. His heart raged. Why did he stop? He stretched his eyes to the edges of his periphery, trying to discern what was going on. He caught a glimpse of the researcher turning his head, seemingly stupefied at whatever had his attention.

    The man suddenly took a loud whiff.

    The naphtha!

    In the midst of his panic, Emil forgot about the pungent scent of the black liquid. Undoubtedly, the distinct sweet scent permeated most of the temple.

    ¡°Erik?¡± the researcher called out hesitantly while stepping back towards the entrance, ¡°I think we¡ª¡±

    Emil lunged.

    Mana enhanced the power of his legs as he tackled the researcher to the ground. He immediately pinned him down as his left hand moved to cover the man¡¯s mouth with cloth. His right hand reached for one of the daggers concealed on his body.

    The right side of his shoulder suddenly exploded in pain. In the corner of his eyes, he saw a razor-sharp vine stab into his shoulder blades. The researcher was already attacking with his Gift.

    Emil resolved to kill. He plunged the dagger downwards. He was mid-swing when he suddenly lost his footing. Something grappled onto his ankles, dragging him backwards as he flopped to the ground.

    Squelch!

    His dagger still struck. Blood stained the end of the blade, but Emil instinctively knew the slash was shallow. He immediately cut himself loose from the tendril around his foot. Before he could resume his assault, a forest of vines sprouted from the temple floor between him and the researcher. The vines immediately snapped at him like whips.

    Emil dove to the ground. He pressed his hands against the surface. A stone wall surged before him. The vines struck the hastily made construct¡ªeach swing cleaving off a chunk of rock.

    ¡°Erik!¡± the researcher screamed after spitting out his gag, ¡°Intruders!¡±

    The ground suddenly rumbled.

    Thud! Thud! Thud!

    Heavy footsteps thundered from outside of the temple. The wall closest to the temple suddenly broke apart. A monstrosity burst from the wreckage. The goliath stood nearly eight feet tall, towering just beneath the ceiling of the temple. Its pupils were bloodshot. Jaws elongated. Its enormous frame bulged with unnatural muscle mass.

    Emil gawked at the creature. It took him a second to realize this monstrosity was probably Erik, the disgruntled researcher from last night¡ªnow morphed into an ogre.

    Is that his Gift?!

    He narrowed his eyes. Mana spiraled violently around the ogre, confirming his suspicions. Erik was a shapeshifter. An Exalted that could transform their body into another form.

    Can I even fight this?

    His instincts screamed at him to flee from the terrible beast before him. Emil bit into his lips, silencing the thought. He couldn¡¯t run. Not when Anna was still somewhere deep inside the temple.

    The other researcher was now also on his feet. His hands were pressed against his neck where Emil had cut him earlier. The vines he controlled swayed capriciously in front of him, threatening to run amok at a moment¡¯s notice.

    The ogre stomped towards him.

    Well, this is fucking terrible. Emil smirked nervously as he slowly backed away. His head went into overdrive as his eyes darted about for ideas out of this mess.

    ¡°Stop!¡± Anna¡¯s voice suddenly rang over the chaos.

    She was standing in the middle of the laboratory, illuminated beneath the ominous moonlight streaming in from the ceiling. In her outstretched hands was the flint and steel.

 Chapter 35 - Pure, unrestrained violence

    Anna

    Anna was at the back of the temple when the walls suddenly trembled. Dust and stone flaked off the ceiling of ancient building. The onset of a commotion thundered in the background. Remembering that Emil was at the front, she immediately sprinted back towards the temple entrance.

    Oh fuck.

    She froze as she returned to the center of the cavernous chamber. Under the radiant moonlight streaming in from ceiling opening, she saw an eight-foot monstrosity towering amidst the rubble. A hole had been blasted through the walls of the temple entrance. Behind the monstrosity was a researcher situated by an array of nasty, macabre vines. Emil was across from them near the workbench area. Alone. Blood was seeping from his right shoulder.

    ¡°Stop!¡± she screamed.

    All eyes in the room were suddenly fixated on her. She squirmed, overwhelmed by the immediate weight of the murderous eyes. Bloodlust dangled in the air. Anna realized her outstretched arms were trembling. Sweat cascaded down the side of her neck. She gulped, trying to suppress the knot in her stomach.

    What the hell do I do now?

    She had yelled out of instinct, trying to divert their enemies¡¯ attention from Emil. Now that she had it, she wasn¡¯t sure if this was the best idea. The ensuing silence was suffocating. The situation was like a powder keg¡ªone sudden move and all hell would break lose.

    Anna glanced at Emil out of the corner of her eyes. Her friend was staring at her intently. But there were no instructions. No attempts to communicate anything. If he was trying to express something, it was impossible to read.

    You liar! You told me to wait for your instructions back in the grove!

    Realizing that she had to do something before her distraction lost its effect, Anna decided to buy time.

    Pretend this is a negotiation.

    ¡°I have smeared the entirety of this lab in naphtha!¡± she suddenly proclaimed, putting on her most confident and authoritative voice.

    Help them understand the severity of the situation.

    ¡°It¡¯s a black liquid. It¡¯s the source of this sweet, pungent odor proliferating in the area.¡±

    Make them aware what¡¯s at stake.

    ¡°Its key characteristic is that it burns.¡±

    She let the last word dangle, forcing herself to sneer, pretending to wear the visage of a madman.

    ¡°You bastard!¡± the researcher yelled. The monstrosity followed with a guttural roar. The deafening cry shook the air, amplified by the cavernous temple. Anna bared her teeth, widening her smile to hide her grimace. Her heart was threatening to leap out of her chest.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move a single step!¡± she screamed to conceal her trembling voice, ¡°In my hands is a flint and steel!¡±

    The monstrosity and the researcher immediately froze.

    I brought the fire starter as a precaution. I don¡¯t need it. I have my Gift. But they don¡¯t know that.

    ¡°Follow my demands! Or else I¡¯ll set this entire place ablaze!¡± she proclaimed with a mad cackle. In the midst of her theatrics, she shot another glance at Emil.

    This time the boy sent her a nod and mouthed a single word. Under the dim illumination of the moonlight, Anna struggled to make out what he said.

    ¡®Fight?¡¯ Did he say fight?!

    ¡°What do you want?!¡± the researcher yelled back. Anna pried her eyes away from Emil. Their enemies were waiting. The macabre vines before her swayed violently. The monstrosity¡¯s eyes and shoulders twitched with bloodlust. She didn¡¯t know how much longer she could keep up this farce.

    I really hope I didn¡¯t misunderstand him.

    Her heart pounded with uncertainty. The knots in her stomach cramped tight. Anna was no stranger to throwing punches, but this was different. The fights she got into were only scuffles. This was going to end in someone dying.

    She forced herself to grin at the ridiculousness of the situation. Someone needed to start the fight. The flint and steel suddenly felt unnaturally light.

    ¡°I want you¡ª¡± she spun towards Emil mid-sentence, ¡°¡ªto protect me!¡±

    Anna tossed the flint and steel into the air.

    Time slowed.

    The researcher screamed. Vines that he controlled snapped back and surged towards the falling flint and steel. The monstrosity stomped towards her. The temple ground shook under the weight of each step.

    Around her feet, a wall of stone rose from the floor. Emil¡¯s Gift. Anna pointed her outstretched hands at a puddle of naphtha near her foes. Mana tingled at the tip of her fingers. Her ears heard the familiar buzz of static.

    ¡°Shock.¡±

    A line of static charges beamed at the surface coated in naphtha. A distinct pop crackled over the temple. The air seemed to flicker, stirring with indecision. Anna immediately closed her eyes and crouched under the covers of Emil¡¯s stone barricade.

    The temple then burst into flames.

    ***

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Emil

    Emil saw a flash of red before he slammed his eyes shut. He dove to the ground, just as a massive heat wave swarmed the space. A high-pitch ring buzzed in his ears. The entirety of the temple rumbled from the explosion of naphtha.

    When the shaking finally slowed, he glanced up. Flames raged everywhere. The hellish scene before him was terrifying familiar. Fear clawed up his throat. He caught himself heaving¡ªon the verge of a panic attack. Desperate, he grabbed his chest and chomped down on the side of his lips.

    Get a grip, dammit!

    He winced at the pain. His head trembled, still dazed by the concussive shock of the spontaneous ignition. Evidently, Anna had underestimated the dangers of the naphtha. The black liquid had exploded into a maelstrom of flames the moment her Gift made contact.

    Where the hell is she?!

    The tempestuous flames were unrelenting. Emil couldn¡¯t see anything beyond several feet ahead of him. The center of the temple where Anna had stood was shrouded in black fumes and cackling inferno.

    In his periphery, a colossal silhouette loomed beyond the blaze.

    It was the ogre. The left of its torso was scorched red and black, but the monstrosity seemed unfazed. There were no hindrances to its movement. Its hideous face stayed unblemished as it scanned the burning ruins.

    Emil cursed his luck. Guess it would have been too convenient if they just died. The ogre¡¯s blood-shot pupils suddenly landed on him. Emil shuddered¡ªstartled by the monstrosity¡¯s bloodthirsty gaze.

    The ogre bellowed. Guttural rage accompanied its feral cry. Emil¡¯s blood ran cold. For a moment, his mind blanked, overwhelmed by the intense urge to flee.

    No! Not when Anna is still here!

    The ogre charged. The walls of the temple shook under its immense weight. The monstrosity stomped through the inferno with ease, undaunted by the flames clinging onto its body.

    Emil lowered his stance, pressing his feet into the ground as he channeled mana into the earth.

    ¡°Pierce!¡±

    A trifecta of stone projections erupted from the temple floor. Sharpened like spears, they soared at the ogre¡¯s torso.

    To his surprise, the ogre swung with his right hand. The bulging mass of muscles smashed into the path of the stone projections, swatting the constructs apart like gnats. Stone fragments sprayed as the spears were easily shattered.

    Shit!

    Emil narrowed his eyes, noticing a thick shroud of mana enveloping the ogre. A product of the shapeshifter¡¯s Gift; it was likely granting the monstrosity a protective veil. His proficiency with Bulwark lacked power to penetrate.

    The ogre suddenly lunged to close the distance. It lashed with a vicious swipe. Caught off guard by its speed, Emil had no time dodge. With no other options, he raised his arms to cover his vitals. Mana flashed, generating a layer of hastily made stone armor as his only source of protection.

    Crunch!

    The clumsy stone armor fractured with minimal resistance against the ogre¡¯s strength. The bones in his arms creaked in protest¡ªthe flesh throbbing in agony from the shocking force. Before Emil could even scream, he felt his body flung airborne.

    ¡°Ngh!¡±

    He smashed into the burning temple wall. Flames seared his back, devouring the flesh with ravenous glee. Emil¡¯s head spun as he landed onto his knees. Something foreign threatened to claw out of his throat. He forced himself to resist, until the compulsion grew too strong to hold back.

    He puked. Dark blood pooled beneath his chin. The puddle of crimson shook with the ground as the ogre continued its relentless pursuit.

    What the hell am I doing?

    The sight of his own blood stirred the question. Emil didn¡¯t fear death, but he feared what happened after he died. Namely, the fate that would await Mia and Raz in his absence. He let out a derisive laugh.

    Since when did I care so much about defending?

    He wasn¡¯t fighting like his usual self. There was too much overthinking, too much doubt, and not enough reliance on his instincts and training. As a result, his movements were slow and sluggish.

    I must be getting conceited. This is a life-and-death situation. And here I am, trying to play around my new Gift.

    The ogre cocked back its fist for another attack. The shadows of its fists loomed above, descending, aimed to crush his head.

    ¡°If you ever find yourself terrified in the middle of a fight, then just go wild.¡± The witch¡¯s conniving voice slithered into his mind. ¡°It¡¯s savage and barbaric, but pure, unrestrained violence will always get you results.¡±

    Emil discarded all thoughts and let his combative instincts take over. He ducked, lunging past the ogre¡¯s reach. The monstrosity smashed into the stone crevices of the temple. The ground shook. The ogre was slow, clumsily trying to pry its hands out of the walls.

    An opening. Emil seized the chance. A pair of stone gauntlets enveloped his hands as he drove his fists into the ogre¡¯s torso.

    Squelch!

    The grotesque crunch of flesh being tenderized blasted into his ears. Blood splattered; his face wet. Emil narrowed his eyes¡ªshielding his pupils from the fragments of rock and flesh sprayed into the air.

    Squelch!

    He launched another hook into the ogre¡¯s side. The monstrosity staggered. Groans of pain escaped its deformed jaws as it tried to retaliate with its off-hand. Emil twisted his body, squeezing into the tiny crevice of airspace available to evade the counter. The ogre¡¯s fist smashed into the ground. Shockwaves rippled through the earth, turning the floor of the temple into a turbulent sea. Unfazed, Emil stepped to the side, light on his feet, almost as if he was in the midst of a waltz.

    Squelch!

    Another blow pulverized the ogre¡¯s chest. The satisfying recoil sent a rush through Emil¡¯s body.

    ¡°Ha!¡± he screamed, relentless. The ogre was now a bloodied mess. Still, the monstrosity refused to back down. Finally, it managed to pull its right arm free from the temple walls. With both arms raised skyward, it brought them down like a hammer.

    Emil dove into the space between the ogre¡¯s legs. As he slid across the earth, he unleashed a vicious jab against the ogre¡¯s right knee. The monstrosity roared. It spun around awkwardly; its injured leg struggled to maintain its colossal mass.

    With a bit of distance between them, Emil concentrated on his vision. The veil of mana surrounding the ogre had thinned. But despite his violent beatdown, the monstrosity appeared unfazed. The wounds from its mangled body were already beginning to heal.

    His Gift must allow him to regenerate his wounds with mana.

    Emil glanced down. His stone gauntlets were breaking apart from the excessive force. His arms were also bloody from the recoil of his savage attack.

    I don¡¯t see an Azurite accessory anywhere. Then, I¡¯ll have to crush its head. Destroy the Exalted¡¯s brain that¡¯s maintaining the flow of mana.

    He also considered another alternative¡ªuse Blaze. Anna was somewhere beyond the wall of flames. Visibility was poor due to the harsh smoke. Even if she saw him, he had plausible deniability from the inferno rampaging in the surroundings.

    No, I don¡¯t need to risk exposing myself just yet.

    The veil of mana around the ogre suddenly shifted. The torrent of azure gathered at the ogre¡¯s arms. It¡¯s about to attack again! Emil reacted first, predicting the ogre¡¯s next move. The flow of mana gave him a hint. However¡ª

    Huh?

    Something clung onto his left foot. Emil looked down. A small tendril of vine had sprouted through the cracks of the temple floor. It wrapped around his ankles with an ironclad grip, pinning him to the ground. The shadow of the ogre loomed close.

    There was no time to free himself. He couldn¡¯t evade. Bulwark¡¯s stone projections were too weak to stop the ogre. Taking the blow head-on was a guaranteed death. Desperate, Emil¡¯s eyes flew to the ogre¡¯s injured right leg. An idea came to mind.

    He stomped the ground. Mana poured from his Azurite pendant into the earth. Suddenly, the floor beneath the ogre¡¯s right foot caved in. The sudden emergence of the crevice knocked the monstrosity off-balance. Without a stable foundation, the ogre collapsed to the side.

    Emil spun around. A surge of bloodlust. It was the researcher. His face was smeared in red, part of the skin on his cheeks drooping, mauled by the flames. His clothes had been charred to rags. Blood leaked from the nasty wounds revealed from the gaps of his outfit. Without warning, he raised his arms.

    A torrent of mana exploded at the ground. The temple floor before Emil suddenly split apart. A forest of macabre vines sprung forth. Like spears, they flew at him with the intent to kill.

    I don¡¯t have a choice!

    Emil prepared to channel Blaze, desperate to burn off the vines holding him down.

 Chapter 36 - Is your resolve that weak?

    Anna

    Anna shoved aside the charred stones blocking her way. Remnants of Emil¡¯s stone wall laid by her feet as she crawled out of the burning wreckage. She coughed, her lungs itched, irritated by the intake of the arid smoke drowning her airspace. Her head was ringing.

    Did I get knocked out?

    She touched the side of her head. Her fingers, blacked with soot, felt the warm, sticky trail of blood cascading around her ears. A minor wound, she hoped.

    Anna glanced around. The entirety of the temple was submerged in a raging inferno. In hindsight, the potency of the naphtha was greater than she anticipated. If Emil hadn¡¯t reacted instantly to her call, then she probably would have been devoured by the ensuing firestorm.

    Where is he?!

    She climbed over the crumbled stones. Flames danced dangerously around her, cackling ravenously as they feasted on the materials within the temple. She winced at the scathing heat, choosing to rip off the ebon cloak still clinging onto her back. It was a nuisance. There was no need for it. Amidst this blaze, it would only serve as tinder to fuel the conflagrations.

    Still, no signs of Emil.

    I swear to the Goddess¡ªhe better not be dead! Guilt clamped her heart. Panic rippled through her mind as she searched frantically through the flames. She had dragged him into this mess of a plan, and now they were paying the price for her recklessness. She would never forgive herself if he died.

    As she got closer towards the entrance of the temple, the sound of combat raged over the flames. Anna strained her eyes, peeking through the gaps in the inferno. She found Emil. The boy was sandwiched between the abomination and the researcher.

    The ground before Emil suddenly split open as a torrent of green tendrils erupted from the fissure. The macabre vines swarmed at Emil, like a heinous monster threatening to swallow him whole. Emil, however, made no efforts to evade.

    Why isn¡¯t he moving?!

    Emil was trying¡ªhis legs appeared to be bound by vines protruding from the floor.

    Realizing his dilemma, Anna moved on instinct. Mana popped at the soles of her feet. Electricity pulsated across her body, stimulating the muscles and nerves, strengthening her limbs beyond human limits.

    She launched herself through the wall of flames. With her arms open, her shoulders clashed into Emil¡¯s torso, knocking him out of the path of the vines. One of the tendrils grazed her waist, drawing blood. She clenched her teeth¡ªno time to dwell on the pain as the two of them tumbled to the ground.

    A painful groan escaped Emil¡¯s mouth. Anna ignored him, spinning around immediately to keep their enemies occupied.

    ¡°Shock!¡±

    Electricity surged from her outstretched hands, beckoning towards the researcher like a whip. The forest of vines moved immediately, reforming their shape into a massive wall. Anna¡¯s attack fizzled out the moment the electric whip made contact with the nonconductive vines.

    ¡°Anna, move!¡± Emil¡¯s voice suddenly boomed in her head. Huh?! Her first impulse was to retort at his ungratefulness. Realizing there wasn¡¯t the time for arguments, she immediately climbed to her feet.

    ¡°Can you fight?¡± he asked. Anna shuddered as their eyes met. The boy¡¯s gaze was barbaric. Blood and soot were smeared across his savage expression. His pale blue eyes were unbelievably cold.

    ¡°Y-Yeah,¡± she answered, slightly aghast.

    ¡°Then you take the ogre,¡± Emil spat, ¡°Your Gift should be a better matchup against the shapeshifter. I¡¯ll take the vine freak.¡±

    Anna spun around towards the ogre. The abomination was collapsed on its side, struggling to get up as its right leg was stuck in the crevice in the ground.

    ¡°Y-You sure?¡±

    ¡°You said you¡¯ll listen to me, right? Then trust my direction,¡± he hissed. The intensity in his gaze was chilling. ¡°And whatever you do, do not turn around unless I say so.¡±

    Anna raised an eye at the last statement. Before she could voice her concerns, Emil had already rushed into the fray. Stone projectiles and vines swarmed at each other, filling the airspace with a fierce exchange of phenomenon as the two of them fought for dominion. A startling bellow from the ogre forced Anna to face her opponent.

    Dammit all! You really want me to fight this thing?!

    Now that she was closer, the eight-foot monstrosity looked even more grotesque. The beast was like a creature straight out of the folktales¡ªthe nasty, macabre beings that parents used to scare children. Only except this wasn¡¯t a bedtime story, but a nightmare brought into reality.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    The ogre stomped forward, shattering the earth as it pried its leg free from the fissure. The entire floor shook under its weight. Startled, Anna was nearly knocked off-balance. Danger danced on her skin. In the corner of her eyes, she saw the ogre pick up a chunk of stone from the ruins of the temple.

    Anna dove left¡ªright as the ogre threw at the rock at her original position. Fragments exploded as the stone crashed into the floor. She winced, covering her face as her arms were pelted by the shards.

    ¡°Anna! What the fuck are you doing?!¡± Emil screamed over the chaos. Anna realized her hands were trembling out of control. The ogre roared once more; its foot dug into the ground, ready to charge.

    ¡°You can beat him! Just think of him as a huge pile of moving meat!¡±

    What the hell are you saying?! Anna let out an exasperated snort¡ªthe absurd mental imagery temporarily made her forget her fear. As she observed the monstrosity, she noticed the plethora of wounds littered across its body. Blotches of blood leaked from the various injuries along its torso. Its flesh, thoroughly tenderized, were beginning to purple.

    Was this all Emil?!

    The realization made her grimace with anger. Suddenly, she couldn¡¯t stand the thought of her cowering before an opponent that he was able to face.

    The ogre charged. Debris and flames splattered with every rumbling step.

    Anna stood her ground. Sparks began to flicker along the length of her body. Indignation burned in her throat at her pathetic self. She slammed her knuckles together, silencing the wailing terror in the back of her mind.

    Electricity stormed out of her. The air shrieked with a high-pitch ring, not dissimilar to the chirp of songbirds. As the monstrosity got into striking range, the energy streamed out like an expanding web. Sparks charged with potential combed through the airspace, desperate to land on something to offload the excessive current. It made contact with the ogre¡¯s skin.

    The monstrosity screamed in pain. The electric discharge torn through its pulsating mass, ravaging its interiors, and overloading the nerves that powered its colossal form. Paralyzed, the ogre collapsed with an emphatic thud.

    Anna didn¡¯t relent. She ran forward, aiming another blast at the ogre¡¯s cranium. The monstrosity convulsed under the merciless attack before flopping onto the floor, seemingly unconscious.

    ¡­Is it over?

    Cautiously, she approached, completely alert, sensitive to any sudden twitches or movements.

    Her mind suddenly trembled. Anna grimaced. The side of her skull throbbed with a needle-like pain¡ªas if some sort of foreign matter had wormed into her head. Once she became aware of the alarming reaction, the rest of her body also started protesting. Intense shivers crawled down her back. Her guts churned with discomfort. Instincts took over. Without warning, Anna slumped to the floor as the contents of her stomach pried itself out. A putrid mixture of partially digested food and bile splattered in front of her.

    Her throat burned from the painful experience, but the rest of her body began to normalize. She wiped her mouth with the sleeves of her leather armor. Her arms were still shaking. The tips of her fingers were glowing in a faint blue.

    Panic seized her as she stared at the discoloration. A symptom of Overclock, occurring when an Exalted was overdosed on mana. Mana had a toxic effect on living beings in high concentrations, and Anna had just circulated an exorbitant amount from the previous attacks. Now she was paying the price for abusing her body.

    It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s just the onset. She clenched her teeth through the pain. Her body felt like it was about to fall apart. My head is still working. I¡¯m not seeing illusions or hallucinations. And there¡¯s no one talking to me inside my mind.

    Steam suddenly rose from the fallen monstrosity. Anna jumped back. Beneath the smoky veil, she saw the ogre¡¯s anatomy rapidly shrink¡ªuntil it eventually took the form of a normal human.

    It took Anna a moment to realize that the monstrosity was the product of this researcher¡¯s Gift.

    As the steam thinned, she realized the researcher was still conscious. He was on the floor, motionless, but his eyes were bloodshot, glaring at her with a murderous gleam.

    What now?

    As if her mind had been read, a metallic cling echoed below her. She looked down¡ªfinding a dagger, roughly twice the size of her hands embedded by her feet.

    ¡°Kill him!¡± Emil yelled from behind, ¡°Remember what I said!¡±

    ¡°If we¡¯re caught, then we have to fight to kill.¡± The chilling voice blared in her mind. Anna gulped. Reluctantly, she picked up the dagger. Light from the raging flames bounced off the blade. Sharp. She walked up to the paralyzed researcher, squeezing the handle, feeling the grip, weighing it in her hands. The dagger was light. Unnaturally so.

    Emil¡¯s right. They won¡¯t just let us go after destroying their research. They¡¯re pursue us for revenge.

    She crept behind the researcher. She crouched down. The bare neck of her enemy was just in front of her. Her heart pounded. Her vision flickered in and out of focus. The sound of the flames cackling in the background suddenly grew outrageously loud. In her head, she sworn she heard voices¡ªscreeching.

    KillhimKillhimKillhimKillhim!

    Anna raised the dagger. No matter how tight she squeezed the handle, her hands refused to stop shaking.

    It¡¯s the logical thing to do. If you don¡¯t kill him, he¡¯ll come for you. Kill or be killed. Survive or die. This is what you signed up for, right? These people were responsible for Ellen¡¯s death. They¡¯re not innocent.

    All she had to do was plunge the dagger down. Close her eyes. Listen to the blistering flames. Ignore the squelch of blood and the ensuing scream. Simple. Better yet, commit to the attack so that the researcher had no time to react before death¡¯s embrace. It would be the humane thing to do.

    ¡°Dammit¡­¡± she cursed softly. Her hands were sticky with sweat. Tears welled up in her eyes.

    She couldn¡¯t do it. She can¡¯t. There was no way. How can she take another life? The idea of it was so revolting that she didn¡¯t want to entertain it any longer. But then¡ª

    Ellen¡¯s smiling face came to mind. It was a beautiful sight that she would never see again.

    Is your resolve that weak?

    That broke her.

    Anna screamed.

    The incessant thoughts in her head vanished.

    A caustic burn drenched her throat.

    She brought the dagger down.

    She was ready to accept her blood-stained hands.

    An intense blue light suddenly radiated from the researcher¡¯s body. Anna squinted her eyes, undaunted by the surprise.

    Squelch!

    Her dagger sliced into the person¡¯s neck. Blood gushed from the nasty wound. The cerulean blue light, however, refused to cease.

    The researcher¡¯s body began to grow rapidly. Anna stumbled backwards in shock. In a matter of seconds, she was once again staring at a colossal monstrosity.

    Her mind blanked. Incoherent words dangled at the tips of her tongue. The static around her body spluttered pathetically, unable to generate a proper discharge due to the effects of Overclock.

    Death beckoned.

 Chapter 37 - Youre a burden!

    Emil

    Emil tossed his head back. Tendrils slashed the air where his neck had been just a second earlier¡ªflying past with a dangerous hiss before slamming into the nearby wall. A deep incision was engraved in the stone structures. He winced. The side of his face suddenly flared with pain. The warmth of viscous blood drenched his neck. A nasty cut above his jaws, likely from getting grazed by the vines.

    Similar injuries were littered all over his body.

    I can¡¯t break through.

    The vines were absurdly dangerous¡ªtaking a swipe head-on guaranteed dismemberment or losing a chunk of his body. His proficiency with Bulwark was still too lacking to keep up with his opponent¡¯s speed and control.

    I don¡¯t think I can hold back anymore.

    Despite the witch¡¯s rules, he didn¡¯t have a choice but to resort to Blaze. Anna might realize that he has two Gifts, but he¡¯ll just have to come with a convincing lie later. There was no point holding onto a secret in the afterlife.

    A terrible roar engulfed the air.

    The sound was so harrowing and unhuman that Emil was forced to turn around.

    Anna was on the floor. A deformed version of the ogre towered above her. Her opponent managed to transform again¡ªthis time, however, the result looked more like a grotesque abomination of flesh than an actual creature. Any semblance of a living being was gone, except for the pulsating, lumps of meat jotting out of its main body that Emil assumed were limbs.

    Emil¡¯s mind blanked at the hellish sight. Suddenly, his heart throbbed with a frenetic pace. His hands unsteady as he clenched his chest. He was terrified. But why? He didn¡¯t understand his own reaction, until he noticed patches of bluish skin spreading along with the monstrosity¡¯s body.

    He¡¯s being consumed by his Gift.

    The irreversible stage of Overclock. It occurred when an Exalted no longer had control over their Gifts and becomes a mindless beast. The last time Emil encountered this phenomenon was when his home in the Lower Dannan slums was destroyed. Once again, he revisited the disturbing scene of his friends being devoured by flames.

    The same thing was going to happen again.

    No!

    He ran towards Anna. Tried to. Vines engulfed his vicinity. One tendril grappled onto his ankles. Another bound his arm. A pair dug into his shoulders, seizing the opening granted by his desperation.

    Anna wasn¡¯t moving. The abomination leaned in.

    ¡°Let me go!¡±

    His chest blazed red¡ªthe only visible warning before his entire body burst into flames. The heat immediately burned off the tendril shackles restricting his limbs. Emil wailed like a wounded beast. The agony of being burned alive was unbearable, but the pain only furthered the voracity of his flames. The temperature around him soared, climbing above even the surrounding flames from the burning naphtha.

    With a swipe of his hands, he directed a portion of blaze towards the abomination.

    The monstrosity squealed. Its harrowing bellow shook the air. The lumps of meat that were its limbs flailed helplessly as Emil¡¯s flames feasted with delight. The nauseating stench of oil and fat suffused the area. With one last squeal, the abomination collapsed.

    But the battle wasn¡¯t over.

    Emil¡¯s back itched with danger. He dove to the ground. Vines thrashed at his position. More and more of them erupted from the ground. Within a few seconds, his entire surroundings were swarmed by vines. The remaining researcher was clearly desperate¡ªno longer holding back his attacks after his partner fell.

    ¡°Burn!¡±

    The flames engulfing his body cackled as if it possessed a mind of its own, seemingly ecstatic that it had a new prey to devour. The inferno lunged at the oncoming vines, expanding voraciously, intent to swallowed every inch of the tendrils in a single gulp. The vines withered immediately upon contact with the flames¡ªshrinking until dried into shrivelled crisps before crumbling to ash.

    Emil commanded the flames to storm past the disintegrated the vines. Soon, they latched onto the panicked researcher. In a flash, the flames blossomed, engulfing his body. The vines reacted immediately, flailing, desperately trying to bat the flames away. The conflagrations, however, would not relent. Like a frenzied hound, they burned ever more ravenously, gouging themselves on the flesh and panic of their dying foe.

    In a few seconds, the researcher dropped into a pile of char.

    ¡°Ngh!¡±

    Emil fell to his knees. Pain rampaged through every inch of his body. His enemies were dead. But his self-immolation continued. The flames cackled with glee, refusing to end their feast.

    It¡¯s over!

    He grabbed his chest, trying to quell the incessant beating of his frenzied heart.

    It¡¯s done, dammit! They¡¯re all dead!

    Still, his panic-stricken body refused to believe his rational mind.

    Are you trying to die?!

    The thunderous thought immediately snuffed out the flames. Gone. As if they had never existed. The suddenness was startling¡ªalmost enough to make Emil believe that he had been hallucinating.

    No. I was really about to lose control.

    He took in a deep breath. The gulp of air was scorching hot from his Gift and the burning naphtha, but even the discomfort brought a semblance of relief. Anything was better than being burned alive.

    Fucking hell!

    He shook off the agony and struggled onto his feet. Anna. Dread crept up his back as he rushed to his friend¡¯s side. She was slumped against the ruins of the temple floor. Her eyes were blank. The lump of meat that used to be the abomination was off to the side, still burning.

    ¡°Anna! Are you alright?¡±

    She inexplicably screamed. It was a shriek of visceral terror. Her eyes grew wild, quivering with madness as she batted away his hands. Then she cowered, hugging her head, squirming like a child hiding in fear.

    There was a bluish tint glowing around her fingertips. Overclock. One of the common symptoms was mania and delusions.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    The blue patch is still faint. Her symptoms aren¡¯t severe yet.

    Emil grabbed one of the throwing knives strapped on his leg. Silently, he approached her, trying not to trigger another panic episode. Carefully, he reached for the glowing accessory around her neck. With a gentle snip, he cut away the string and removed the Azurite hanging off the end. Severed from her supply of mana, the bluish discoloration around her skin rapidly faded.

    ¡°Anna?¡± Emil gave her a gentle push on the shoulder.

    She whimpered. Her body gradually stopped trembling. Finally, she raised her head. Her eyes scanned the surroundings in confusion as if she had been stirred awake from a deep slumber. She blinked¡ªlife seemed to snap back into her eyes before she groaned in pain.

    Emil offered her hand. She immediately slapped it away.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, grimacing. She covered her mouth upon seeing the burning remnants of the abomination. Tears began to pool from her eyes.

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry, Emil,¡± she whispered. Anna squeezed her face close, contorting her expression, desperate to not let the waterworks fall. ¡°I¡­hesitated. And it nearly killed us both. I¡¯m so pathetic. I¡¯m so sorry.¡±

    Emil let out a soft sigh, relieved that she seemed to be okay. At least she¡¯s self-aware. Conflagration from the naphtha continued to burn. Cracks in the integrity of the temple wall echoed around him. In the distance, the familiar blare of Azure City¡¯s clocktower rumbled. It was now midnight.

    As Emil glanced around, he found Anna¡¯s satchel that he had discarded by a pile of rubble right before the fight. He went to retrieve it. The documents detailing the research conducted inside this laboratory were still inside, unscathed. It was evidence to prove that abhorred things were happening within this wretched city.

    He turned towards Anna and offered her a hand once more. Third time was the charm as she reluctantly accepted it.

    ¡°Can you walk?¡± he asked.

    Anna narrowed her eyes, flabbergasted. ¡°I should be the one asking,¡± she replied, her eyes trembling while she took in his mess of a body, ¡°Hells, how are you still standing? We need to treat you immediately. I should still have medical supplies in the satchel.¡±

    ¡°Out of this disgusting place and back to the Second Sector first,¡± Emil said as one of the pillars holding the temples up was beginning to collapse.

    They didn¡¯t need anymore prodding to leave. Immediately, they climbed out of the opening in the temple walls created by the ogre. The entrance of the temple was still littered in the mutilated corpses of the monsters they had slayed the previous night. Emil briefly considered tossing them into the burning temple to remove all samples of this heinous experiment.

    He quickly dismissed the idea after seeing the intense plumes of smoke rising in the night sky. They had overstayed their welcome. Although the sacred grove was far from the Second Sector, the umbral smoke was striking under the bright pale moon. Undoubtedly, the Sentinels would have taken notice by now.

    The two of them ran across the ruins of the sacred grove. Their footsteps pattered against the stone grounds as the cackling flames from the temple continued to rage behind. As they neared the headless statues, Emil screeched to a halt.

    ¡°What?¡± Anna asked, perplexed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± he whispered harshly. His instincts screamed, warning him not to take another step. Emil narrowed his eyes. He felt it. A familiar itch slithered along his arms and neck. It was faint, but unmistakable.

    Bloodlust.

    ¡°Oh? You noticed? What a surprise,¡± a voice echoed somewhere in front of him. Malice dripped from every word like drops of venom dangling from a snake¡¯s fangs. Emil scanned the statues, trying to discern the interloper¡¯s whereabouts.

    Nothing.

    The person was expertly concealed, hidden somewhere beneath the shadows of the moonlight. The tone and sound of the voice also scratched Emil¡¯s conscious. It was irritatingly familiar.

    I have a bad feeling about this.

    The bloodlust suddenly vanished. Alarmed, Emil narrowed his eyes. Then something stirred in his periphery.

    He grabbed Anna by the arm and dragged her to the right. She let out a panicked yip. Any accompanying protests were immediately silenced by the explosion of stone at their previous position. A small crater the size of a cannonball was left its wake. Emil noted the trajectory of the rock fragments.

    It came from above?

    He glanced up. A glob of mana was hovering in empty space about ten feet in the air. He saw the mana flicker before the air in the vicinity rapidly condensed into a spherical missile.

    ¡°Get back!¡±

    He was already in motion when the missile came down. There was a sharp whizz followed by the immediate crunch of stones being blasted apart.

    I can¡¯t defend against this.

    Bulwark was too slow to even consider against the lightning speed of the air missiles. He only managed to evade so far thanks to his instincts and his vision acuity for mana. The same couldn¡¯t be said for Anna.

    ¡°I¡¯ll buy you time,¡± he said while dumping the satchel and her Azurite necklace into Anna¡¯s hands.

    ¡°Huh?! What do you mean?!¡±

    ¡°Run! You¡¯re a burden right now!¡± he spat out. Anna stared at him, aghast. The pained expression on her face ate at his heart. But there was no time to apologize. More and more of the clumps of mana began to appear. The airspace was soon crowded with them.

    ¡°Go already!¡± He shoved her away. The balls of mana condensed the air into missiles. Emil stared up at the storm of phenomena about to descend upon him. The hair on his skin rose. Tension quivered at his fingertips.

    He waited.

    Mana compressed behind the missiles. Emil watched for the split second before the explosive energy would release. He gathered mana at the soles of his feet.

    Boom!

    The earth beneath Emil¡¯s feet caved as he launched himself ahead. The missiles rained down. Emil weaved and turned, tracking their trajectories in his periphery. The grounds of the sacred grove exploded around him as the bombardment ravaged the ruins. Rock shrapnel dug into his legs and torso, drawing blood.

    No matter.

    If it wasn¡¯t a lethal injury, then it wasn¡¯t worth acknowledging. The missiles continued to unleash in staggered bursts, tracking his position as he rushed towards the array of statues.

    There! He finally spotted mana radiating from behind one of the headless sculptures.

    Emil dove to the ground, hands outstretched as he skidded across the ground. The silhouette of the interloper soon came into view.

    He burst ablaze. Every nerve in his body screeched, protesting the incessant abuse. The second consecutive activation of Blaze in a single day was always the worse.

    I¡¯ll end this quick!

    His flames surged with glee, rushing at the interloper. To Emil¡¯s surprise, his foe remained still under the shadows of the statues, seemingly uninterested in dodging.

    Instead, mana erupted from the interloper¡¯s hands. At the instant before the flames were about to reach him, a wall of air snapped into existence. The makeshift barrier flickered underneath the moonlight, just as the ravenous flames smashed into the barricade. Emil watched in horror as his flames dissipated at the touch of the translucent wall. Something unusual was happening. The moment it made contact, the fires were repelled and then snuffed out.

    His most potent weapon had been tamed.

    If Blaze doesn¡¯t work, then¡ª

    He was already on his feet, giving himself no time to doubt. He rushed in, barreling towards the interloper, desperate to close the distance. The last bits of his flames soon reached the air barrier. Emil hid behind the clash of phenomenon.

    Right as the remnants of his flames fizzled out, he lunged. The interloper was within range. Azure specks danced as stone gauntlets emerged around his hands. This was no need to conceal his unique nature. The interloper had to die.

    Emil didn¡¯t miss the second of hesitation in his foe¡¯s reaction. He tossed out a fast punch. His foe was slow¡ªthrowing themselves onto the ground. Emil¡¯s fist smashed into the base of the headless statue.

    Before he could pursue further, balls of mana suddenly filled the airspace. The missiles were smaller this time; the speed of their formation absurdly fast.

    Like the snap of a bowstring, the missiles fired, soaring directly at Emil. This was no time to dodge. Emil raised his arms over his chest and jumped backwards¡ªa last ditch effort to buy time.

    ¡°Ngh!¡±

    The missiles torn through his body. Each blow had the force of a heavy punch accompanied by the sharpness of a throwing knife. His arms suffered the brunt of the attacks, but the rest of his body did not come out unfazed.

    Emil landed on his feet. His legs buckled. His arms dangled uselessly by his side. He heaved¡ªstruggling for air after his torso was peppered by the missiles. Stone fragments flaked off his body, remnants of the hastily constructed armor using Bulwark.

    I can still fight! None of his vital areas were struck. No lethal injuries¡ªas far as he could tell.

    The interloper was in front of him. The shadows of the moonlight shrouded their face, but Emil could spot the nasty wide smile bared by their teeth.

    He blinked. Blood in his hair dripped over his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, the interloper was gone.

    Huh?!

    His foe suddenly reappeared in his left blind spot. Emil ducked instinctively. A vicious jab grazed the side of his cheeks. He was about to counter when his periphery caught another punch soaring from the right.

    Pain erupted from his jaws. Ferric taste smeared his lips. Emil saw stars. Panic gnawed at his subconscious.

    He wanted to run.

    The interloper suddenly drove their knee into his stomach. Emil slumped over. Agony seared his guts. The blow was so excruciating that he couldn¡¯t move. Tears drenched his blood-soaked face.

    His hair was suddenly pulled up. Pain exploded from his scalp. The interloper dragged his head up, forcing him at eye level.

    Emil¡¯s eyes grew wide, speechless. It was a face he never expected to see within this wretched grove.

 Chapter 38 - Let go of death

    Emil

    His gentle demeanor¡ªgone. His polite disposition vanished. He was not wearing his usual prim and proper Academy uniform, expertly tailored and fitted to his body, absent of blemishes and wrinkles.

    Instead, it was a rough fitted shirt, stained in dirt and mauled by scratches from the long trek through the forest draped hastily over his body. His eyes were maniac, dancing with the glint of insanity. A wide toothed smiled plastered on his face. The edge of his lips trembled, like the shaking lid of a boiling pot barely able to contain the scalding liquids threatening to erupt.

    It was Professor Callum.

    The friendly, enthusiastic face that Emil had grown used to seeing every morning was now showing him a completely different side.

    ¡°What a nasty little rat,¡± Callum spat with a wry grin. He twisted his head towards the remnants of the temples. The raging inferno in the background continued to burn.

    An audible laugh escaped his mouth. Not of joy, but of utter contempt and exasperation.

    ¡°You destroyed my life¡¯s work. Tarnished my reputation amongst the research community within Azure City. And likely killed both of my assistants,¡± he said as his head slowly tilted back towards Emil. His voice was frighteningly calm. The terrifying incongruity only furthered by his wide, distant eyes. They teetered on the brink of madness. ¡°Why?¡±

    The question boomed into Emil¡¯s skull. He froze. Shivers shot through his body despite the specks of ember still lingering on his clothes.

    ¡°Answer me!¡±

    Spittle blasted into his face. Something hard then struck his jaws. Emil¡¯s head shook, forced to the side¡ªthe impact rattling his brain. The agony of the ensuing headaches was quickly overwhelmed by the sharp pain exploding from his scalp as Callum pulled on his hair.

    ¡°Y-You were creating monsters. There were casualties!¡± he blurted out, suddenly indignant as he reminded of Ellen¡¯s death, ¡°Azure City¡¯s streets were unsafe, but the Sentinels refused to do anything!¡±

    ¡°I see. So this was a revenge-filled vigilantism. Intriguing. A logical, irrational decision,¡± Callum said as his hands moved towards Emil¡¯s chin. Emil winced, anticipating another strike, when¡¯s Callum¡¯s fingers grazed the side of his cheeks.

    No!

    Panic swelled in his body as he realized what the professor was trying to do. The lower half of Emil¡¯s face was still covered by a cloth mask. Soot and ash smeared the top. His identity hadn¡¯t been exposed. Yet.

    He thrashed in desperation. His arms, weakened by the earlier surprise attack, dangled uselessly, unable to muster an ounce of strength. Realizing the futility, he stomped the ground, trying to invoke Bulwark.

    Callum instantly reacted. With his free arm, he swung at Emil¡¯s abdomen. An air missile erupted point-blank, drilling into his guts. Emil slumped over, gagging. A profusion of bile and partially digested food was forced out of his mouth. His cloth mask was drenched in vomit as he choked, suffocating on his own puke.

    ¡°Try to behave,¡± Callum¡¯s sinister voice crept into his ears. With the scalding anguish in his guts, Emil was helpless as the professor ripped apart his vomit-soaked mask. A chill breeze emerged from a mana circle on Callum¡¯s palms. The blast of air prickled at his skin like needles, blowing away the foul mixture and the soot smeared on his face.

    Once he was clean, Callum pulled him up by the hair again. There was nothing left to conceal his bare face. Emil didn¡¯t miss the flicker of disbelief across the professor¡¯s face.

    ¡°Emil, what an unpleasant surprise,¡± Callum said. His shock was short-lived. He immediately dropped into a villainous sneer. ¡°Then, your companion must be Anna.¡±

    Emil forced himself to appear indifferent. It was likely a futile effort, but as long as he didn¡¯t confirm anything, he could maybe grant Anna plausible deniability.

    Callum stared at him in silence, the cogs in his head spinning in contemplation. Something seemed to click as his eye raised with renewed clarity.

    ¡°Ah, this is about Ellen, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Emil flinched. The mention of Ellen¡¯s name felt like a slap of the face.

    ¡°I see. I¡¯m not sure how exactly you managed to find out, but nonetheless, what a surprise.¡± Callum¡¯s face seemed to relax. His voice grew solemn. The chilling rage from earlier appeared to have faded. ¡°To think that foolish girl managed to make a couple of friends before her unfortunate death.¡±

    Callum suddenly burst into a cackle. The shrill, macabre laughter echoed across the sacred grove.

    ¡°Yes, a pair of amazing, loyal friends. Friends who would commit arson for you. Kill for you. And even destroy my beloved life¡¯s work¡ª¡±

    Emil cried in pain as Callum yanked him by the roots of his scalp. Then without warning, Callum smashed his face into the ruined earth.

    ¡°All! Just! For! You!¡± the professor screamed as he drove his feet repeatedly into Emil¡¯s side.

    Emil¡¯s head rang. Dazed, his mind pounded with loud, drawn-out reverberations. His face was ablaze in pain. The coarse gravel earth torn into his skin. He couldn¡¯t feel the side of his ribs anymore.

    I¡¯m going to die.

    ¡°She was just an orphan that I picked up dammit!¡±

    Callum¡¯s tirade raged in the background. It sounded distant, but Emil knew the professor was screaming.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    I¡¯m seriously going to die.

    ¡°If she didn¡¯t fucking get herself killed¡ª¡±

    Emil tried to force himself up. It was no use. Like a puppet with its strings cut loose, his body refused to comply.

    I¡¯m¡ª

    The haunting thought continued to echo in his head. Somewhere along the line, the idea of death felt unbearably soothing. He was no longer scared. Death was a means to end this wretched life.

    An end to the pain pulsating through every cell of his broken body.

    An end to the mental anguish of being under control by that despicable witch.

    An end to the nightmares that continued to torment him.

    He wouldn¡¯t have to suffer anymore. If he just let go and drown himself in the dark empty abyss, then everything would be over. The idea was horribly comforting.

    Emil felt his fingers slack. His grip over the precipice of life weakened. He indulged in the finality of it all.

    But what about Mia and Raz?

    The thought struck him like thunder. His mind shuddered at the possibilities. Images of Mia flashed in his head, solemnly cleaning the tabletop counter of the old tavern, her pale pristine hands blemished by cuts and calluses. Raz, lying on the bed, still as a corpse, stirred awake¡ªscreaming from the nightmares that locked his rationality.

    They were his sins. His burdens. His shackles.

    They were the only ones he still considered family.

    What would happen if he was gone? This fragile, tranquil peace that he had painstaking created for them would shatter in an instant. Emil was certain of it. Such was this wretched place known as Ardair.

    No!

    I won¡¯t allow it!

    Emil grabbed. Clawed. Gnawed. Spat. Teared. With every ounce of his willpower, he pried himself back over the edge of life and death. An incessant boom throbbed in his ears. It was his heart¡ªthumping frantically to keep him alive.

    If it was for Mia and Raz, he¡¯ll do anything.

    He¡¯ll even let go of death.

    ***

    Callum

    How intriguing.

    Callum¡¯s eyes glimmered with desire. He watched with abated breaths as Emil picked himself up once more. Mana poured out of the boy¡¯s Azurite pendant, coalescing into long, thin strands. Like the strings of a puppet master, they latched onto the boy¡¯s damaged arms and ravaged torso. With the support of the mana strings, Emil was on his feet again.

    What fascinating tenacity. And he has knowledge and command of Mana Arts. He definitely isn¡¯t a normal student.

    He broke into a smile. The more he saw of his student, the more he was convinced of the possibilities.

    I can use him for research.

    The thought sent ecstasy through his body. His research lab might have been destroyed. His assistants might have been killed. But as long as he still had the knowledge inside his head, he could always re-create the experiments.

    He already succeeded once in his pursuit of a method that could create monsters¡ªhe just needed to do it again. The Council of Mana always stressed repeatability above all else, regardless of the significance of the discoveries. If the results couldn¡¯t be achieved again, they were useless.

    The only real loss were the equipment and laboratory space. Callum lacked the funds to rebuild what he had lost. But Emil¡¯s appearance might just be the blessing to turn his fortunes around.

    An anomaly appeared before me.

    His eyes danced with greed. Since the discovery of Azurite and the emergence of Exalted in Ardair, one golden rule has always remained true.

    An Exalted can only possess one Gift.

    And yet, standing right before him was a living human being who had manifested two. Flames raged from his body, while his will commanded the earth. Callum was convinced of it. His eyes did not lie. The mana in Emil¡¯s vicinity resonated differently depending on the phenomenon he controlled.

    If Callum could hook him up onto a machine, then he can prove it empirically.

    If he could pry him apart with scalpels and knives, then he could uncover the secrets of Emil¡¯s body.

    If he could observe the insides of his skull, then he might be able to understand how the brain controls mana.

    There were endless possibilities. Endless discoveries. Endless secrets to unearth from a one-of-a-kind experiment subject. Azure City¡¯s research on the Exalted has stagnated recently. He could be the person to usher the Academy into a new era of understanding.

    Callum¡¯s mind trembled. His indulgent fantasies nearly led him astray. The vicious bloodlust clawing at his neck stirred him awake from his illusions of grandeur. It was Emil. The boy charged at him again. His teeth gnashed, baring at him like a wounded hound desperate to make its final stand.

    I¡¯ll have to pacify him nicely.

    The blood-stained injuries already smeared across Emil¡¯s body was regrettable. Callum needed to be careful not to kill his golden ticket. If he played his cards right, this discovery might earn him a path directly to the Council of Mana.

    I¡¯ll fix him up. I¡¯ll tame him. Then I¡¯ll slowly break his mind and will until his ego becomes solely mine!

    Callum raised his hands. An array of air missiles phased into existence. He delicately tuned the power and speed, taking his time to make sure the attack wouldn¡¯t further deteriorate Emil¡¯s weakened body. He just needed to land a few concussive blows on the boy¡¯s head to knock him unconscious.

    Emil was nearly within an arm¡¯s reach when Callum finally unleashed the missiles. The boy instantly dove to the ground as if anticipating the trajectory. The missiles whizzed by his head. Still, his bold maneuver left him full of openings. Callum instinctively prepared his next attack, before consciously pulling himself back.

    No, I almost tried to kill him there.

    He winced at his own bloodlust. It was difficult to shake off years of combat experience drilled into his body.

    Emil suddenly pressed his hands on the ground. The earth to the side of Callum suddenly stirred. Stone projections exploded from the surface. Like appendages, they reached for his body, eager to grasp a chunk of his torso. Callum jumped back. The projections blasted past his original position, smashing into the statue on his left.

    The headless sculpture wobbled¡ªcreaking as its foundation was shaken loose from the chaotic exchange. The colossal stone depiction, nearly seven feet tall, began to descend upon him.

    Emil stomped the ground. Callum was about to jump out of the way of the falling statue when the earth beneath his left foot suddenly caved in.

    It was Emil¡¯s Gift.

    What a cheeky move.

    Off-balanced, he staggered¡ªtemporarily immobilized by the unexpected maneuver. He raised his hands instead, readying a blast of air to break apart the falling statue. Emil seized the opportunity to rush in.

    Not bad. Callum smirked. The boy was clever, clearly experienced in combat. But it¡¯s not enough to¡ª

    His instincts suddenly flared. Something gnawed at the back of his subconscious, warning him of an impending danger. Callum widened his eyes. His head swiveled back as he noticed a tiny presence looming at his flank.

    ¡°Shock!¡±

    Mana bloomed from behind. Then, the world suddenly went white. Callum¡¯s mind blanked for a split second before agony overloaded his senses. His limbs convulsed, twitching incessantly as electricity ravaged his body. His muscles screeched under the unrelenting current threatening to tear apart his nerves.

    Squelch!

    Emil was suddenly in front of him. Something in his right hands glistened under the brilliant moonlight. It took a moment for Callum to realize the searing pain burning from his neck. He glanced down. A dagger was in the boy¡¯s hands, stained with dark scarlet.

    Callum¡¯s body went limp. He was falling¡ªfixated on the uncomfortable sensation of choking on his own blood. He tried to lift his hands to seal the wound, but his limbs would not respond from the paralysis. The ground loomed before him as he inched closer. He could hear death¡¯s door creak open.

    No!

    Indignation swelled in his chest. Mana raged at his fingertips. He refused to be the only one to go down. His pride would not allow it.

    In the midst of his hysteria, he felt a hand on his head. A bundle of scarlet hair filled his field of view. An incoherent word resonated distantly in his ears before a torrent of pain blasted into his skull.

    Callum saw black. The last thing he felt was the coarse gravel etched into his face.

 Chapter 39 - Whats to come

    Anna

    Anna dropped to her knees. Her entire body was trembling from the unrelentless shivers shuddering through her veins. Spectral voices echoed in her head, bringing her to the edge of madness. She heaved¡ªeach dry, raspy gasp for air was met with needle-like pains jabbing into her lungs.

    She unclenched her left hand, releasing the fragment of Azurite that used to dangle on the end of her necklace. Instantly, the shivers stopped. The pains lessened. The patches of blue tinting her fingertips began to dissipate. The symptoms of Overclock began to cede. She took a long, drawn-out breath, trying to quell her frazzled nerves and silence the incessant voices fighting for her sanity.

    Once she had calmed from Overclock, she glanced down at the aftermath of the confrontation. The deceased body of Professor Callum laid pitifully amidst the ruins of the sacred grove.

    Anna covered her mouth with her hands, fighting down the swelling nausea. She crouched down, weak with discomfort. Her stomach twisted in knots at the sickening realization.

    I just killed an Academy professor.

    Her mind blanked. If she was ever discovered¡ª

    The sound of crumbling stone jolted her out of her thoughts. She turned around. The burning temple had finally fell. The ancient structure collapsed inwards, burying the remnants of the mad laboratory under ashes and rubble. Anna looked away from the bright conflagrations. The rest of the sacred grove was also smeared in destruction. The battle between professor and Emil had torn apart the old foundations.

    Emil was staring vacantly at the professor¡¯s corpses. His hands clenched onto the bloody dagger. Without warning, the weapon dropped. Emil suddenly went limp.

    ¡°Whoa!¡± Anna gasped, barely managing to stop his fall. The boy was heavy. Before her weak legs would give in, she let him down gently on the stone floor.

    Anna grimaced. Emil¡¯s body was a mangled mess of burns, bruises, and nasty lacerations. His unconscious face was heart-wrenching to stare at. Concerned, she pressed her fingers against the side of his neck.

    Thump. Thump. Thump.

    His heart raged with a steady cadence. No abnormalities.

    Looks like he¡¯ll live for now.

    She let out a sigh of relief. Her heart throbbed with guilt. She was the one who dragged him into this mess. Was it worth it? She wanted to destroy the lab out of a sense of justice for Ellen, but the aftermath was another one of her friends nearly dying.

    Seriously, what the hell am I doing?

    This was hardly the first time her impulsiveness placed her and her companions into serious trouble. She winced¡ªrecounting the past incidents where her emotions got the best of her. This time, however, she couldn¡¯t even fathom the consequences that awaited her.

    An Academy professor and his assistants were dead.

    A laboratory and experiment sanctioned by the Council of Mana were destroyed.

    The facts settled in. Clarity struck her like frigid waters as she shuddered at the uncertainty of what¡¯s to come. Her stomach churned with unease. This entire incident had blown up more than she had planned.

    As long as we¡¯re not caught. The only people that knew of our involvement are dead.

    She bit on her nails, smirking nervously¡ªsuddenly conscious of how villainous her thoughts were. Her descent into a delinquent might have been more severe than she realized.

    We need to get out of here.

    Too much time had passed since the temple started burning. The possibility of the Sentinels arriving on the scene increased with every passing second.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± she whispered as she grabbed onto Emil¡¯s ankles. Her own body was mauled by exhaustion. She felt bad, but she was going to have to drag Emil across the ground.

    ¡°Wait.¡±

    ¡°Ahhh!¡± Anna jumped, startled by his voice. ¡°You were awake?!¡±

    ¡°I am now,¡± Emil muttered weakly. His voice sounded coarse.

    ¡°Can you move?¡± Anna asked, cringing. The question sounded incredibly stupid at the sight of Emil¡¯s ravaged body. ¡°We should get back into the woods at least before Sentinels arrive.¡±

    ¡°¡­Give me a second. In case it wasn¡¯t clear, I kind of got fucked up back there by our dear departed professor,¡± Emil said dryly, before raising a question, ¡°Why did you come back anyways? I thought I told you to run.¡±

    Anna was about to explode until she noticed the wry grin plastered on Emil¡¯s face. This guy is unbelievable. She resisted the urge to clobber him on the head.

    ¡°I believe the proper way to show gratitude is thank you Anna for saving my life!¡±

    ¡°Thank. You. Anna. For. Not. Listening.¡± Emil mumbled monotonously. Anna crouched down beside him and delivered a gentle flicker to his head. Emil let out a painful groan, exaggerated of course, while complaining about the amorality of striking an injured person. She couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    ¡°Did you seriously think I was going to leave you behind?¡± she asked.

    Emil fell quiet.

    What an asshole.

    She had been hiding beneath the shadows of the grove¡¯s edge, watching nervously as the battle between Emil and Professor Callum unfolded, waiting for the symptoms of Overclock to fade enough for her to help. Her heart screamed several times, especially when she thought the professor had knocked him into submission. She didn¡¯t know what she would have done if she had to witness his death right before her eyes.

    ¡°¡­You¡¯re not a regular student, are you?¡± Anna asked. Despite the symptoms of Overclock, she didn¡¯t believe her eyes had been deceived. ¡°I saw you use two¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop,¡± Emil said. Goosebumps rushed down Anna¡¯s skin, prickled by the sudden bloodlust. Despite Emil¡¯s pathetic state, she somehow felt threatened by the single word. ¡°You saw nothing. Do not speak of this again. Or else I¡¯m going to do something I really don¡¯t want to do.¡±

    The implications of those words were haunting. Anna gulped.

    ¡°...Alright. Merchants can keep a secret.¡±

    Silence lingered between the two. The remnants of the naphtha flames burned quietly in the background.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Emil muttered to cut the tension. His eyes were staring at the night sky. He seemed oddly at ease, content to bask in the pale moonlight. ¡°All you need to know is that I was devastated by Ellen¡¯s death. I might have had a chance to save her. But I squandered it. So whatever guilt you¡¯re feeling, just know that I chose to come with you.¡±

    ¡°¡­Who said I was feeling guilty?¡± Anna lied, frowning.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    I can¡¯t get a read on him.

    The more she interacted with him, the more enigmatic the boy seemed. He acted frivolous at the Academy, and yet during their investigations into Ellen, he was fiercely competent. She had so many questions spiraling in her head, but she promised to keep them unsaid.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Emil suddenly mumbled, ¡°What do we do about classes tomorrow?¡±

    Anna stared at him blankly. The ridiculous question caused her to burst into laughter.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± she wiped the tears from her eyes, ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s the weekend.¡±

    ***

    Ivar

    The warm, astringent scent danced beneath his nostrils. The headmaster of Exalted Academy took a slow and steady whiff of the fragrance. The steaming moisture of the hot beverage lingered towards the ceiling. Tea. Boiled to perfection.

    Satisfied with his work, Ivar leaned back into his chair. He was in his office within the Academy on a weekend evening. Despite being the headmaster of the most prestigious Academy in Ardair, his office was surprisingly modest. A single wooden desk lied in the center. A wooden chair, cushioned. A shelf¡ªfilled with books and documents that were neatly labeled and organized with symmetrical precision. A small plant in the corner of his office space, adding viridescence to the otherwise gloomy room. A single candle burned steadily, illuminating the humble abode against the solemn evening.

    Ivar closed his eyes, indulging in the quiet silence. It was a rare moment of tranquility for the man who was at the center of Azure City. He let his mind wander. He was curious what sorts of dissonance would emerge. Like a spectator of his own subconscious, he observed, intrigued at the revelations that might surface when he loosened his control over his thoughts.

    Thud, thud, thud.

    Someone was at his door. Ivar winced at the sudden knocking as his attention was forcefully pried away from his inner mind.

    ¡°¡­Come in,¡± he said, not bothering to hide his displeasure.

    The door creaked open. A tall, slender man walked in. Not a single sound emitted from his steps against the hard wooden floor. His face was somber and expressionless¡ªsomehow lacking a semblance of humanity.

    ¡°Master Ivar, I bring news,¡± the man said, taking a slow and measured bow. Ivar narrowed his eyes. The man¡¯s name was Licht. He was one of the few assistants under his command that he trusted without fail.

    ¡°Speak,¡± Ivar commanded. His frown grew deeper as he folded his hands. Licht¡¯s presence was never pleasant. His trusty assistant only appeared whenever there was trouble.

    ¡°Last night, the Sentinels found the burning ruins of an abandoned sacred grove in the Third Sector. There were casualties. Autopsies are in progress to confirm their identities,¡± Licht suddenly paused, ¡°But it¡¯s highly probable that one of the deceased is Callum.¡±

    Callum died? Ivar straightened his back at the news. He opened his desk drawer and fetched one of the papers belonging to the late professor.

    ¡°On the creation of monsters through organic Azurite implantation¡± was imprinted on the front page. It was Callum¡¯s research proposal.

    ¡°¡­I recalled he had issues keeping his specimens under control,¡± Ivar said, ¡°Was his death an experimental accident?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Licht declared, ¡°If I may offer my humble opinion, I believe it was murder. His corpse had a long laceration across the throat caused by a dagger or short sword.¡±

    ¡°Any lingering traces of mana on his body?¡± Ivar asked, despite already knowing the answer.

    ¡°Aside from his own Azurite pendant, no,¡± Licht reported flatly, ¡°The Sentinels only found him in the morning. Depending on the time of his death, any traces of mana used by an Exalted would have long dissipated.¡±

    Ivar clicked his tongue. Callum was an average researcher, but a talented combatant. The fact that he was murdered spells trouble. Ivar could count on one hand the number of people in this Azure City that easily overwhelm Callum in single combat.

    ¡°Investigate the activities of the other research groups. I highly doubt it, but verify that his murder wasn¡¯t caused by some fool trying to silence their competition. While you¡¯re at it, change the Sentinel¡¯s patrol to better monitor the Hidden Laboratories,¡± Ivar ordered. His teeth were clenched, chattering nosily as he spoke. ¡°There¡¯s a possibility that a rat might be scurrying around in the city.¡±

    ***

    Kleine

    Somewhere in the vast Third Sector of Azure City.

    What a nostalgic feeling.

    Kleine thought as he scanned the vicinity. He was at the ruins of an abandoned mausoleum. In its heyday, it would have looked majestic and radiant¡ªa marble construct situated in the midst of a small glade, beneath the opening of the canopy, illuminated by sun and moonlight. The former pristine marble structure was now blemished and grayed, desecrated by the passage of time. Branches and moss smeared its surface as nature began its reclamation of man¡¯s constructions.

    Kleine sat cross legged on the paved stone. Moonlight streaked in from the opening in the canopy. His long white hair glistened under the pale lunar rays. His blood-stained eyes gentle as he basked in the silence of the night. With his beautiful androgenous appearance, he possessed the semblance of an angelic being.

    Footsteps echoed against the paved stone. Kleine raised his head slowly, unfazed by the sudden noise. It came from the direction of the mausoleum. Soon, the two figures emerged from its interior.

    ¡°Kleine, you¡¯re here,¡± one of them said. It was a petite woman with fair and dark skin. A native Gharian, indigenous people of the desert Saar, located in the south of Ardair. Beside her was a tall man adorned in vivid chainmail. In his hands was a long and thin scabbard. His features were unmistakably Eastern. His hair was tied back in a short ponytail and his chin was decorated by a neatly-trimmed goatee.

    ¡°Karni. Nagi,¡± Kleine nodded at both of his companions, ¡°Any updates?¡±

    Karni closed her eyes. Kleine felt the slightest perturbation of mana radiate from her small body. In the distance, his ears picked up the faint scurrying of rats.

    After a minute of silence, Karni¡¯s eye re-opened.

    ¡°The Sentinels are moving. They seem to have adopted a new patrol pattern,¡± Karni said, facing Nagi, ¡°Bring out the map.¡±

    The Eastern swordsman obliged without question. He retrieved a parchment bound by rope from his satchel. His fingers, mangled with injuries and filled with calluses, slowly unwound the rope. Nagi kneeled down and then carefully spread the map along the paved stone.

    It was a crudely drawn map of Azure City. A large, detailed circle was placed in the center of the page, denoting the campus of Exalted Academy. A wider circle surrounding it signified the Second Sector, and it was dotted with arrays of buildings and districts. Finally, beyond that to the edges of the map was the vast, largely unoccupied Third Sector.

    Karni pointed her fingers at six locations situated near the borders of the Second and Third Sectors.

    ¡°The Sentinels are congregating near these areas. Security in the Second Sector has laxed significantly as a result.¡±

    Kleine raised an eye, ¡°Those are near the Hidden Laboratories, are they not?¡±

    Karni nodded.

    How curious. A wry grin emerged on his face as he tried to deduce a reason for this sudden change.

    ¡°If I may ask,¡± Nagi suddenly spoke, ¡°What are these Hidden Laboratories?¡±

    Kleine smirked, ¡°They¡¯re a series of labs created by the Council of Mana to conduct research. The reason you haven¡¯t heard of them is because they¡¯re technically not suppose to exist,¡± Kleine said as he turned towards Nagi, ¡°You¡¯ve been to Azure City a couple of times now. Did it ever occur to you why the Third Sector even exists? Outside of the three major roads that lead to Nordica, Rosales, and Gharia, the rest of this region is just vast vegetation and ruins.¡±

    Nagi nodded, ¡°I did think it was strange.¡±

    ¡°The purpose of the Third Sector is to obfuscate the labs¡¯ existence,¡± Kleine said with a knowing glance, ¡°The natural follow-up question is, why? Why go through the trouble? What could they be possibly researching that demands this level of secrecy?¡±

    Kleine rose up on his feet and began prancing around. His eyes were wide and crazed¡ªgleaming with an excitement that bordered on madness. Nagi followed Kleine with his gaze, while Karni stifled a yawn, seemingly indifferent to these theatrics.

    ¡°Nagi, if you wanted to know more about mana and Gifts, what would you do?¡± Kleine asked.

    ¡°¡­I would ask other Exalted.¡±

    ¡°Right, a perfectly logical response. But if they also don¡¯t know? What if none of their acquaintances also know? Perhaps, you could consult literature. The Academy has published and archived plenty of research on Gifts. But,¡± Kleine¡¯s voice suddenly turned sinister, ¡°What if there was no literature either?¡±

    Nagi fell silent.

    The smile on Kleine¡¯s face twisted into a painful snarl, ¡°You would have to find out yourself. By conducting experiments on the only creature in this world that could use Gifts. Humans.¡±

    Nagi¡¯s eyes shook at the revelation, ¡°But t-that¡¯s¡ª¡±

    ¡°Revolting? Sickening? Disgusting? Yes. You¡¯re absolutely right,¡± Kleine giggled, ¡°And yet, there are people in this kingdom that bear the souls of monsters.¡± Kleine¡¯s eyes suddenly grew distant. His voice became increasingly shrill. Madness dripped from every word, raising with each syllable like notes in a crescendo. ¡°They won¡¯t even bat an eye as they pry you apart. Piece by piece. Bit by bit¡ª¡±

    ¡°Kleine,¡± Karni interjected. Kleine silenced, seemingly cut off from his trance.

    ¡°¡­Do you understand why now it¡¯s called the Hidden Laboratory?¡±

    Nagi could only nod as Kleine stared him down intensely. It was only after he looked away that Nagi could wipe the sweat cascading down his neck.

    Kleine faced Karni, ¡°Last time I remembered, there were seven labs in total. You only marked six.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t make a mistake, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re implying.¡±

    Kleine stared at the map, eyeing the spot where the uncounted laboratory was supposed to be. Did one of them get decommissioned? His eyes flickered at another possibility. Or, was it perhaps destroyed? If it was the latter, then the movements of the Sentinels suddenly made sense. It aligns. That despicable man would do anything to protect his precious assets.

    Kleine quickly explained his hypothesis.

    ¡°If you¡¯re right, then this works to our benefit,¡± Karni said, ¡°The Council of Mana have their attention drawn elsewhere. The Sentinel¡¯s new patrol pattern is full of gaps and blind spots.¡±

    Kleine smiled, ¡°It¡¯s perfect. The stars are aligning for our little intrusion.¡±

 Chapter 40 - A distant reverie

    Emil

    ¡°Em!¡±

    Emil¡¯s heart stirred at the sound of his nickname. How long has it been since he last heard someone address him by this name?

    He spun around, a joyous smile carved on his face that only grew wider at the sight of the two individuals standing by the door of his room. His two favorite people in the world. Emil ran in and dove his head into their arms.

    ¡°Mom! Dad!¡±

    His voice sounded strange¡ªa few octaves higher than he remembered. His parents¡¯ faces¡ªblurry and unfocused, like a cloud of fog shrouding their appearances. The passage of time was cruel. He could no longer remember what they looked like.

    ¡°Em, what book were you reading?¡± His mother¡¯s gentle voice echoed in his head.

    Emil glanced down at the book in his hands. It was an untitled encyclopedia. Thin. The cover was gray with a depiction of a clock drawn in black ink. The insides were pages detailing the mechanisms behind the various contraception and gadgets developed by mankind.

    He described the book with a childlike wonder. Word for word, paragraph by paragraph¡ªa near perfect recital of the contents that he had read. His parents listened. He couldn¡¯t see their faces, but he assumed they would be smiling.

    They had to be.

    ***

    Emil¡¯s vision was blurry when his eyes finally opened. The side of his face was wet. Unfallen tears pooled at the bottom of his eyelids from the cruel dream.

    A distant reverie. A fleeting glimpse of an unreachable past. A reminder of the tranquil times of his childhood, before his parents passed and left him to face this cruel world alone.

    Emil laid there in silence¡ªsoaking in the wretched feelings stuck in his chest. The torment felt unbearable, like a lump of stone that had been etched inside his lungs.

    Gradually, the nasty feelings passed. Slowly, they faded till they were unrecognizable, just like the fleeting memories that caused them in the first place. He let out a raspy breath. His shoulders and chest instantly loosened as the tension escaped his body. He raised his arms to wipe his face clean. The natural movement was accompanied by a throbbing pain.

    I don¡¯t recognize this ceiling.

    He finally realized he was in an unfamiliar room. The painful buzz rippling through his body had jolted him out of his dreary stupor.

    Right, Anna and I killed the professor and his assistants after burning down the lab.

    He remembered limping out of the woods of the Third Sector with Anna. His recollections after that were vague. Blood loss and fatigue must have caused him to collapse at some point.

    Emil glanced down at his arms. They were covered in bandages. The handiwork was expertly done¡ªtight enough to adhere against his skin, yet not so much to cause pain and discomfort. Whoever did this was experienced.

    He turned to the side¡ª

    And found an unfamiliar face staring at him.

    Emil nearly jumped out of the bed.

    ¡°Calm down.¡±

    It was a woman in her early twenties. Dark brunette hair dangled to her chin. A look of displeasure smeared across her plain face.

    I didn¡¯t sense her presence at all. How long has she been there?

    ¡°I was waiting till you stopped crying,¡± the woman said as if reading his mind. She reached for an item inside her breast pocket. It was a brass coin inscribed with the fangs of a hound.

    Steiger¡¯s insignia.

    ¡°¡­You¡¯re a Cleaner?¡±

    ¡°A Fixer. I¡¯m Petra,¡± the woman introduced herself in a lethargic manner, ¡°I¡¯m the owner of this residence. Your two little friends are staying with me.¡±

    Mia and Raz are here?

    Emil widened his eyes. Memories of last night began to pour in. He and Anna had split off after returning to the Second Sector. Anna went back to campus while he decided to seek out Mia for assistance with his injuries. With the severity of his wounds, he would have left a bloody mess in his dorms, which would have taken a herculean effort to explain.

    The witch did not tell me that they would be staying with another Steiger agent.

    The pits of his stomach burned. He had been so busy with establishing his cover and investigating Ellen¡¯s whereabouts that he didn¡¯t have the chance to visit their new place in Azure City yet. This discovery was deeply upsetting.

    ¡°Your bloodlust is becoming unpleasant,¡± Petra said tiredly, ¡°Whatever nonsense you¡¯re imagining isn¡¯t happening. I¡¯m the landlord. Your friends are staying here free of charge, thanks to the director¡¯s insistence. In exchange, Mia¡¯s helping me out.¡±

    ¡°What are you making her do?¡± Emil spat. The woman was silent. Finally, after a tense silence of glaring at each other, she let out an annoyed sigh.

    ¡°She¡¯s helping me with some paperwork as part of my Fixer duties,¡± she explained, shaking her head, ¡°But most of her work is just taking care of the residence. Cleaning, cooking, keeping my workspace tidy and organized. I also help her nurse Raz.¡±

    ¡°Nurse Raz?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a trained medic. Who do you think did your bandages? That¡¯s my handiwork.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­thanks,¡± Emil muttered, recognizing the diligence and effort that went into his medical care. His body cooled as the indignation worn off.

    A part of him was still miffed that the witch went against his wishes. Since the beginning of their accursed partnership, he stressed that Mia and Raz were to never get involved with Steiger affairs. Part of it was the inherent danger associated with this line of work. Another reason was that he simply did not trust the witch. He experienced firsthand the cruelty that she was capable of. Under no circumstances did he want to subject Mia and Raz through the same ordeals.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°About time that I get some lip service,¡± Petra complained as she crossed her legs. Her lethargic demeanor suddenly disappeared. ¡°Now, you,¡± she pointed at him with an outstretched hand.

    Emil flinched at the abrupt change in energy.

    ¡°First order of business, what do I call you? Emil? Miles? Or did you adopt another name?¡±

    ¡°Emil is fine.¡±

    ¡°Okay, Emil,¡± Petra said with the sass of an angry school teacher, ¡°Please, do tell me why you ended up on my doorsteps half dead this morning?¡±

    Emil quickly recounted what happened since the beginning of the school year. Petra listened closely; her annoyed expression grew increasingly foul as he neared the end of his report.

    When he was done, Petra immediately rose to her feet. Without warning, she leaned in and delivered a vicious flick to his forehead.

    ¡°Ow?!¡±

    The explosive pain nearly brought him to tears.

    ¡°Do you have a death wish? You fought a professor of the Academy?! And killed him?!¡± Petra whispered harshly.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t have a choice!¡±

    She groaned, massaging her temples with a grimace. ¡°¡­Here¡¯s some advice that you¡¯re probably going to ignore¡ªstay away from this Anna girl.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°You, have a savior complex. She, sounds like she has no sense of self-preservation. This is a combination begging for disaster.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you could become an expert in someone who you just met a few minutes ago,¡± Emil retorted.

    ¡°Then why did you go with her despite knowing the risks? You want me to believe that the rising star of Steiger got dragged along by a single freshmen student of the Academy?¡±

    Emil spun around. The satchel from last night was lying on the top of a bedside table. He grabbed the documents and shoved it in Petra¡¯s face.

    ¡°I was getting evidence. To prove that the witch¡¯s assumptions were correct.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Petra¡¯s voice suddenly grew dangerous, ¡°Did you say the witch?¡±

    Her irritated gaze turned cold, instantly sharpened with the glint of steel. Emil swallowed nervously. His eyes fell on the woman¡¯s hands. Already, they were in position to deliver another nasty forehead flick.

    ¡°I-I mean, Hortensia,¡± he stammered, not wanting to experience another ounce of pain.

    Petra¡¯s bloodlust ceased at his concession. She grabbed the documents and combed through the pages with fervent efficiency. As she neared the end, she let out a long sigh.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t damning enough. You need something more concrete. Something irrefutable that shows the Council of Mana is sanctioning experiments involving human lives. Otherwise, Hortensia won¡¯t be able to make a move,¡± Petra said as she carefully organized the documents into a neat pile, ¡°Luckily for you, I happen to have some leads.¡±

    ¡°You do?¡± Emil asked, surprised. Finding leads for his investigations was the biggest hurdle preventing him from making progress.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Petra replied with a haughty tone. She took out a sealed envelope from a nearby drawer. ¡°In case you were, for some reason, unaware, I¡¯m supposed to be your liaison during your enrolment at the Academy. You, were supposed to meet up with me before you entered the Academy, so I could get you started with the intel you need.¡±

    ¡°O-Oh¡­¡±

    R-right, the witch did mention something like that.

    More specifically, she said he had the option of consulting a Steiger implant inside Azure City if he ever got stuck in his investigations. Emil ignored it, of course. One, he preferred to work alone. Two, he preferred not to get himself any more involved in the Steiger organization. Van and the witch were plenty.

    ¡°This is why I hate working with lone wolves. They always think they can do everything by themselves,¡± Petra sighed, lamenting, ¡°And yet, they¡¯re the ones who cause the most trouble for everyone else who end having to clean after them. Like me.¡±

    The venom dripping from her words made it sound like she was drawing from a past experience.

    Emil tried to ignore the scalding words that were prickling his conscious while he reached for the envelope dangling in front of Petra¡¯s hands.

    ¡°No,¡± she suddenly pulled her hand back. Without warning, she reopened the drawer and tossed the envelope in before locking the drawer shut.

    ¡°Until I clear you medically, you¡¯re not allowed to see the contents of that envelope.¡± Petra dangled the key in his face as she walked towards the door. ¡°And as much as I couldn¡¯t care less about your wellbeing, you are an important person to my dear little one, Mia. Therefore, I have a duty to make sure you stay put and not make my beloved little one cry.¡±

    Petra shut the door behind her.

    Emil stared, dumbfounded.

    ***

    Mia

    Mia was waiting in the hallway when Petra finally stepped out of Emil¡¯s room. She looked exhausted.

    Petra had been inside that room since the crack of dawn when Emil suddenly appeared on their doorsteps. Mia¡¯s heart clenched at the memory. He had blood caked across his face and body. His clothes were torn to rags. Nasty burns ravaged his torso. She nearly screamed at the wretched state of his body.

    ¡°U-um, h-how is he?¡± She worked up the courage to ask. A lump rested in her throat. She wasn¡¯t sure if she was ready to receive an answer.

    Petra leaned against the wall with her arms crossed. Dread clawed up Mia¡¯s spine as she waited for a response. After a few grueling seconds, Petra finally spoke.

    ¡°He¡¯s tenacious. Unnaturally so. Those injuries of his should have incapacitated him for a few days. Yet somehow, he¡¯s awake. That tenacity is probably why he feels no hesitation abusing his body,¡± Petra sighed, turning to face Mia. A weak smile opened on her weary face, ¡°But, he¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    Mia nearly dropped to her knees. The news released all the pent-up tensions in her body as if her strings had been cut loose.

    Petra tilted her head towards the door. ¡°You should go see him. I¡¯ve already gave him a nice scolding.¡±

    Mia nodded, cleaning her face of her tears.

    ¡°Thanks Petra.¡±

    ¡°Any time, little one.¡±

    ***

    She gently pushed on the door. The dull creak of the wood echoed in her ears as the door inched open. Mia peeked through the slowly widening gap, not wanting to disturb Emil if he already fallen asleep. Patients needed plenty of rest. His words, from a distant time when they were still children struggling to survive in the slums.

    ¡­Huh?

    Through the tiny gap, she saw Emil crouched on the floor, facing the drawer. There was a knife in his right hand¡ªmetal softly screeching as the knife handle twisted back and forth in a rhythmic cadence.

    Is he¡­picking the lock?

    Mia wiped her eyes clear just in case the tears were messing with her sight. When she realized she wasn¡¯t wrong, she groaned. She suddenly felt stupid for being concerned.

    Thud!

    She stepped into the room and slammed the door close behind her.

    Emil nearly jumped. Mia remained silent, feeling mischievous. She watched as Emil slowly turned his head around. She saw the fear on his face loosen ever so slightly when they made eye contact.

    ¡°M-Mia?¡±

    ¡°I thought patients needed plenty of rest,¡± she said in an unusually sweet tone. Emil immediately hopped back onto the bed without protest.

    Seriously, this guy.

    She covered her mouth, trying not to break into a smile. She wanted to stay mad at him for a bit longer.

    ¡°I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t see that,¡± Mia said as she took a seat by the bedside, ¡°In exchange, I like to hear about your stories from your first week at the Academy.¡±

    Emil made a face. ¡°Do I have to?¡±

    ¡°It would make me very happy. But if my happiness is not a priority of yours and if you insist on refusing,¡± Mia shot him a conniving glance, ¡°I¡¯ll have no choice but to report your misdeeds to Petra.¡±

    Emil¡¯s face paled. Mia giggled at his belligerent reaction.

    ¡°You don¡¯t like her very much, do you?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± Emil replied, scratching his head. His face squinched up, wearing a difficult expression, seemingly embroidered with inner conflict. For the first time in awhile, Mia thought he finally looked his age.

    ¡°How much did she tell you about our jobs?¡± he eventually asked.

    ¡°She said the two of you work for an organization called Steiger. It¡¯s a secret organization that works for the royal family,¡± Mia recited the words Petra told her, ¡°And¡­you do a lot of dangerous things.¡±

    When she first heard the explanation from Petra, things finally clicked in her head. It explained why Emil would often be gone for weeks, and why he would always come home exhausted and littered with injuries. It also made sense why he refused to divulge any details about his line of work.

    ¡°Yeah, I was afraid of that,¡± Emil groaned, ¡°Steiger does a lot of shady things. Things that I rather not get you and Raz involved in.¡±

    But you endure it anyways for me and Raz, right? Mia filled in the words that Emil left unsaid. She was no stranger to the torment that his job has subjected him through. She remembered vividly the moments when he would scream at night from the nightmares that would torture him in his sleep.

    ¡°Well, as for me, I¡¯m happy to not be left in the dark anymore,¡± Mia said with a faint smile, ¡°And Petra, despite being part of this shady organization, has only treated Raz and I with kindness.¡±

    ¡°¡­So it seems,¡± Emil grumbled. Mia grinned. It was rare to see Emil pout. Finally, he has someone who can scold him. Someone who can make him act like his age.

    ¡°Now then, go on,¡± Mia beckoned, ¡°You have your end of the bargain to fulfill in exchange of my silence.¡±

    Emil reluctantly began recounting his time on campus. Mia listened with a curious smile. A tinge of envy slowly crept into her heart.

 Chapter 41 - Reckless paranoia

    Emil

    Time relentlessly advanced. Despite Emil¡¯s reluctance, the weekend ended and classes returned. At the crack of dawn, he dragged himself off of the guest bed at Petra¡¯s residence and limped towards the Academy campus.

    He spent the last two days confined to the bed¡ªpartly due to his debilitating injuries and partly because of Petra¡¯s draconian monitoring. But even with her efforts and the resilience of an Exalted¡¯s physique, Emil still found himself in agony as the week began.

    A pair of Sentinels were at the gates of the campus¡¯ southern entrance. The sight of the guards in their azure-colored uniforms instantly sent dread down his spine. Emil hid his trembling hands in his pockets, clenching tightly to his thighs to stop the incessant shaking.

    Calm down. We eliminated everyone that saw our faces. I made sure to remove traces of our Gifts at the sacred grove. There should be nothing that connects us to Professor Callum¡¯s death.

    Still, he couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious.

    Petra had kept him up-to-date with rumors circulating Azure City over the weekend. There was no mention of the professor¡¯s death. Emil had doubts, however, that Callum¡¯s body hadn¡¯t been found.

    They¡¯re likely keeping the news to themselves.

    Just like with Ellen¡¯s murder, this incident would likely be swept under the rug with some vague explanation. After all, there was no benefit for the Academy to announce the murder of one of its staff members.

    ¡°Your student card, please,¡± one of the Sentinels said as he arrived in front of the gates. Emil handed over his identification. It took an absurd amount of willpower to steady his trembling hands.

    ¡°Leaving campus at the first chance you get, eh?¡± the other Sentinel said while Emil¡¯s student card was being verified. Apparently, students were allowed to leave campus on the first weekend of every semester. For most students that came from the upper echelons of Ardairan society, this would be their first experience being away from their luxurious homes by themselves. The policy was the Academy¡¯s way of giving those privileged students some time to adjust to the boarding school lifestyle. Emil had completely forgotten about this.

    ¡°Yeah, I heard it was going to get hectic soon. Might as well see the city while I can," he said, wearing a boyish smile that he thought was typical for his age.

    ¡°For sure. Just be careful, yeah?¡± the Sentinel gave him a heavy pat on the shoulder, ¡°This city is pretty safe, but it can get rambunctious at times.¡±

    Emil fought the urge to squirm under the man¡¯s touch. His combative instincts nearly compelled him to retaliate.

    ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± he said, putting on a cheery fa?ade as he received his card back. The Sentinel pair opened the gates for him with bright smiles.

    He stepped in, once again back on the prestigious campus of Exalted Academy. He let out an exhausted gasp of air. His heart was pounding out of control. Emil reached for a cloth in his breast pocket and then lightly dabbed at the front of his forehead.

    Despite the chilly morning, his face was already soaked with sweat.

    This is going to be a long day.

    ***

    Morning lectures arrived.

    Emil took his seat, relieved that his shaky legs finally had something to rest on. The lecture room was filled with the usual cacophony of his classmates¡¯ loud chattering. For once, he was thankful to hear their noisy ramblings.

    Everything seems normal so far.

    No one had pulled him aside yet. No scrutinizing gazes, aside from the normal curiosity and wariness from his status as a delinquent. There was nothing had been communicated to them to suggest that Professor Callum¡¯s classes were going to be cancelled. Nor did the rest of his classmates seemed to be aware of their professor¡¯s untimely death.

    Did they find a replacement for him already? It would explain why classes were still scheduled. But if so, then it effectively confirmed that the Academy had already found his body.

    ¡°Morning.¡±

    Emil turned to the arrival of his accomplice.

    ¡°Morning,¡± he replied.

    Anna looked relatively normal. She had her usual set of dark bags crowding beneath her doe-like eyes. Expected. Sleep must have been hard to come by with a guilty conscious. Surprisingly, her hair had been straightened and her face appeared to be freed of blemishes despite the gruesome battle within the temple¡ªlikely the work of some clever make-up.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be in class today,¡± Anna whispered as she took her seat. Her face was mired with concern. ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I could be better.¡± He pulled back his sleeves, exposing the fresh bandages that were wrapped around his arms beneath the wrist.

    Anna narrowed her eyes. ¡°You should be in bed, dammit. How are you even moving?¡±

    ¡°The Academy will start poking its head around if I¡¯m absent,¡± Emil said, trying not to wince. As much as he hated to admit it, Anna had every right to be concerned. His injuries had barely started to heal. Even now, pain inundated every inch of his body. ¡°Besides, this is hardly something that I can¡¯t handle.¡±

    ¡°Classic male pig-headed behavior. Just say something if you need my help, alright?¡± she offered, shooting him a pitiful look. Their short conversation came to an abrupt end.

    The doors to the lecture hall closed. The chatters immediately stopped. Footsteps echoed from the front of the class from heavy soles striking against hardwood.

    That¡¯s a new face.

    Unlike Professor Callum, this new professor was noticeably larger in frame. He had broad shoulders and a stout physique, reminiscent of a warrior. With his gray hair and a face rugged with age, he gave off the impression of a strong, grizzled veteran.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    Whispers of curiosity eventually spread as the new professor took his spot at the podium.

    ¡°Greetings,¡± his deep brass voice reverberated through the lecture hall with powerful authority, ¡°You may call me Professor Harold. You may be wondering why your usual teacher isn¡¯t here today. As far as I¡¯m aware, Professor Callum has decided to take an indefinite leave of absence due to extenuating circumstances. As a result, I will be filling in on his behalf for the foreseeable future.¡±

    Confusion rippled across the lecture room. Emil frowned. Indefinite leave of absence. That¡¯s one way to say that someone will never be seen again.

    He was starting to see a pattern in how the Academy likes to operate.

    ***

    ¡°Last time Professor Callum covered one of the four parameters of mana used to measure an Exalted¡¯s competence¡ªSensitivity. Today, I¡¯ll cover another one¡ªProcessing.¡±

    Professor Harold began to inscribe a diagram on the blackboard. The speed and precision of his drawings were enthralling to watch.

    ¡°Mana in its raw form is ethereal energy. It is formless. Think light from the sun or heat from a fire pit. Mana needs to be weaved by an Exalted to manifest their Gifts and produce phenomena. The speed and complexity of that phenomena is what Processing measures. You can broadly qualify Processing into four categories.¡±

    Professor Harold suddenly faced the class with an outstretched arm pointed towards the door. Emil saw the surge of mana radiating from the Azurite ring from his index finger.

    ¡°My Gift is called Hydrargyrum. It manifests mercury in liquid state and gives me the ability to morph it to my desire. I suggest the front row of the class move back a row for precaution¡¯s sake.¡±

    Immediately, the first three rows of the class jumped out of their seats. Once everyone cleared the space, he began his demonstration. Mana poured from his Azurite ring. A few seconds later, a blob of silver liquid gradually emerged, hovering just a few inches in front of his face.

    ¡°Low speed. Low complexity.¡±

    Harold dismissed his Gift. The blob of mercury vanished. Then, he tried again. This time the liquid silver manifested immediately, snapping into existence in the blink of an eye.

    ¡°High speed. Low complexity.¡±

    Harold lowered his hands, commanding the blob of mercury to drop onto the ground. Slowly, the amorphous blob began to transform, meticulously agglomerating into a shape resembling a small bestial creature.

    ¡°Low speed. High complexity.¡±

    The professor allowed the mercury to collapse back into an amorphous blob. He snapped his fingers. This time the blob instantly blossomed into an array of swords and spears. Excited gasps spread through the lecture hall at the dazzling depiction of the swords and spears in the form of liquid silver. Even from the back of the class, Emil could appreciate the intricate details, such as the beautiful emblem inscribed on the hilt.

    ¡°High speed. High complexity.¡±

    The glow of Azurite ceased. The display of mercury weapons vanished, much to the students'' disappointment.

    ¡°That concludes the demo. Those are the four main categories to measure Processing. There is one more parameter I want to quickly cover before we end today¡¯s class.¡±

    Professor Harold began writing on the blackboard again.

    ¡°Interference range. Despite its complicated name, what it describes is actually very simple. It¡¯s the maximum distance that an Exalted can manifest phenomena. Another way of thinking about it is how far mana can be extended away from an Exalted¡¯s body before their control over the ethereal energy vanishes.¡±

    Professor Harold turned to face the class.

    ¡°Unlike Sensitivity and Capacity, which are somewhat constrained by an Exalted¡¯s innate ability, Processing and Interference range are parameters that can be fine-tuned and trained. Keep this in mind during your evaluations today.¡±

    ***

    The first half of the day¡¯s lectures came to an end.

    Emil and Anna walked together towards the cafeteria for lunch in silence. A heavy mood lingered over the two as their eyes discreetly darted about¡ªsensitive to any abrupt movements, especially from professors and Academy staff.

    Tension crawled along his skin as they moved through the campus hallways. Anna was apparently no different. The girl had been fidgety the entire morning. Even now, her eyes were furrowed in a nasty glare. The students that they passed by immediately jumped out of the way once they noticed Anna¡¯s foul mood.

    She¡¯s probably going to explode after we start eating. Emil thought as they arrived at the food stations. He grabbed two extra sets of pudding just in case.

    They found a table for two at the corner of the cafeteria¡ªaway from the rambunctious excitement that was taking place. Emil found it nauseating. The cheerful ignorance of the student body was a dark contrast against the horrors they had experienced just two days ago. It left a bitter taste in his mouth, knowing that just sort of evil was happening behind the scenes. No doubt Anna felt the same.

    ¡°I can¡¯t take this anymore,¡± she whispered before Emil could take his first spoonful.

    Never mind, I overestimated her.

    He put his spoon down. Anna had a haunted look on her face. Her hands were buried deep into her scarlet hair, now messy after being tampered with.

    ¡°The paranoia is killing me, Emil. Every time I look at a professor or a staff member, I get this nasty feeling that they know what we did," she whimpered, glancing up, "Please tell me I¡¯m not alone.¡±

    Emil raised his hands in front of Anna¡¯s face. Without any prompting, his arms began to shake with incessant fervor, stirred by his frantic heart. He was just as nervous.

    ¡°To be fair, I doubt the Academy would leave us be if they had even the slightest suspicion that we were involved,¡± Emil said with a pained smile, ¡°If it¡¯s one thing that we learned, it¡¯s that the Academy is not known for its subtlety.¡±

    ¡°Do you think they found his body?¡± Anna asked in a soft whisper.

    Emil nodded, ¡°Undoubtedly. Otherwise, they would not have replaced him already.¡± He turned his head slowly, eyeing a group of students who passed by in his periphery.

    ¡°Let¡¯s change the topic. I think we¡¯re in the clear for now,¡± he said, taking a spoonful of his food before Anna could go on another tangent. The sweet, savory bite popped in his mouth. His nerves calmed a bit at the comfort of food.

    ¡°Then, what do you think of Professor Harold?¡±

    ¡°Serious. Strict. Probably used to serve in the military given his perfect posture and physique. Seems competent,¡± Emil said in between mouthfuls.

    ¡°How about the likelihood that he¡¯s also involved in some nefarious experiments?¡±

    Emil slammed his spoon down on the table. Heat rose to his throat.

    ¡°Anna, drop it,¡± he warned.

    ¡°What?! It¡¯s a legitimate question!¡± Anna¡¯s voice rose to a dangerous volume.

    ¡°Save it for later. We don¡¯t have to talk about this right here.¡± Emil tried to get his point across, noticing a familiar figure approaching in his periphery. Unfortunately, the honors student was too indignant to listen.

    ¡°Excuse me? Don¡¯t tell me what to do!¡± Anna said.

    ¡°Did I come at a bad time?¡± A deep brass voice reverberated behind her.

    Anna immediately froze. Her eyes went wide¡ªthe edges quivering with fear. Emil put his most convincing smile as he turned to new arrival, trying to hide his discomfort, slightly relieved that Anna didn¡¯t say anything stupid. He took the chance to compose himself, putting on the mask of a polite student.

    ¡°Not at all, Professor,¡± he said. It was Professor Harold who joined them, towering over the side of their table. A perplexed expression was drawn across his rugged face.

    ¡°This is just our usual banter,¡± Emil added.

    Professor Harold broke into a smile. ¡°I see, the two of you get along quite well then. It¡¯s a rather surprising turn of events after what happened on the opening day.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, you¡¯ve heard about that too?¡± Emil asked sheepishly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a single staff member on campus who hasn¡¯t,¡± Professor Harold let out a hearty laugh, ¡°Anyways, I¡¯ll keep this brief. I know Professor Callum¡¯s sudden absence might come as a bit of shock. While I can¡¯t replace him, I will do my best to provide lessons in his place. Please feel free to come to me anytime if you have questions.¡±

    Professor Harold made himself sparse afterwards. Emil watched until he began speaking with a couple of their other classmates who were also eating in the cafeteria.

    He didn¡¯t single us out. It was only then that he leaned back into his chair, letting the tension flush out of his shoulders. I didn¡¯t notice any hint of bloodlust or malice. Everything he said seemed to be genuine.

    He sighed, turning back to his food. Anna remained silent, seemingly still shaken over Professor Harold¡¯s sudden appearance. That could have been a close call. Emil reflected. Petra¡¯s warnings about Anna blared in his head. His throat felt hot again.

    ¡°I¡¯m only going to say this once. Don¡¯t bring this up again, especially on campus,¡± he hissed, not bothering to bottle up his anger, ¡°I hope I don¡¯t need to explain why.¡±

 Chapter 42 - Its not good enough!

    Emil

    The afternoon was occupied by mana evaluations. Every first-year student was gathered in the auditorium, waiting for their turn to be called onto the stage. A group of examiners composed of Academy staff and professors were available to measure their competency in the four mana parameters that had been discussed in class¡ªCapacity, Sensitivity, Processing, and Interference range.

    Capacity was the only parameter that Emil¡¯s cohort hadn¡¯t covered yet. The measurement itself was self-explanatory, describing the amount of mana that an Exalted can use without suffering from the onset of Overclock.

    Emil was standing near the center of the auditorium observing the first set of students that were called. One by one, they passed down a station of examiners responsible for measuring a particular parameter. The examiners would vocalize a set of instructions and then student would comply¡ªusually by invoking their Gifts and demonstrating their ability to control mana. The examiners would then note down their observations and pass the student down to the next station.

    There were no measurement machines. No tools. No equipment used to ensure accuracy and precision. Just a simple eye-test from each examiners¡ªdevoid of any semblance of objectivity.

    The methods are surprisingly archaic.

    Ardair wasn¡¯t the most technologically advanced kingdom on the continent, but it certainly wasn¡¯t some backwater country. It had plenty of state-of-the-art tools and machinery built by artisans and skilled workers within the kingdom for mining and metallurgy.

    I guess even the most prestigious Exalted institution in the kingdom hasn¡¯t figured out a way to reliably measure and detect mana yet.

    There was still a lot of fundamental knowledge lacking when it came to their understanding on the mechanisms of mana. The secrets of the ethereal energy remained elusive largely because of two main factors.

    One, humans were the only living beings known to be able to perceive and manipulate mana. Two, Azurite was the only substance known to be able to store and conduct mana at will. The stone, however, was non-malleable and difficult to shape with traditional metallurgy methods, making it nearly impossible to fashion Azurite into meaningful objects aside from simple accessories. These two limitations made studying mana excruciatingly difficult.

    Emil decided to find a seat. The boredom of waiting for his turn made it impossible to ignore the lingering pains ravaging his body. In the midst of his search, he found Anna by herself off to the side of the auditorium.

    It''s kind of obvious she¡¯s avoiding me. Was I being too harsh back there?

    Once Professor Harold left, the two of them ate in silence. Things got considerably tense and awkward after their little spat.

    I don¡¯t think I was in the wrong though. Anna¡¯s alarming lack of caution towards secrecy placed both of them in danger. He needed to be firm and forceful¡ªotherwise, her rebellious personality would never have allowed her to listen.

    ¡°Emil Milligan!¡±

    He rose from his seat. In his periphery, he saw another classmate approach Anna. The two of them instantly began chatting. Emil walked towards the stage, somehow unable to shake the bitter feelings spiraling in his chest.

    ***

    The results of his evaluation came back.

    Capacity: A-

    Sensitivity: A

    Interference Range: B-

    Processing: C-

    The Academy used the standard A to D letter system to evaluate the mana proficiencies, with A+ being the highest and F being the lowest.

    Emil clicked his tongue, grimacing as he stared at the letter grades. The battles at the sacred grove already gave him an inkling that he needed to work on improving his skills with Bulwark. Seeing the evaluations firsthand, however, revealed just how lacking he currently was. His Processing, in particular, was abysmal.

    Would I have scored better if I used Blaze instead?

    ¡­

    No. It¡¯ll be worse, actually.

    His mastery over both Gifts left much to be desired, but each one suffered from opposing issues. If Blaze was a rampaging bull that he struggled to control, then Bulwark was a sloth that took too long to get going.

    The only silver lining was that his innate parameters were high. His Capacity and Sensitivity had always been strong, likely due to the tampering Steiger did with his body using forbidden knowledge from the Bestowed Project. The Awakening that he experienced while fighting Decim only strengthened those attributes further.

    Still, Emil clenched his fists, furious with himself.

    It¡¯s not good enough!

    Against most adversaries, he had been able to make up for his weaknesses with his combat experience, tenacity, and Blaze¡¯s innate destructive capabilities. If he were to evaluate himself objectively, however, most of his victories against other Exalted were because he was able to catch his opponents off guard.

    If he wasn¡¯t able to end a fight after shortly activating Blaze, his chances of victory plummeted.

    He got lucky against Decim due to his Awakening of Bulwark.

    He survived Professor Callum due to a series of miraculous coincidences.

    As he replayed the fight in the sacred grove in his head, he arrived at an irrefutable conclusion.

    I should have died that night.

    If Anna hadn¡¯t returned to help him in time. If Professor Callum had been serious about killing him. If the headless statue hadn¡¯t collapsed at a fortunate timing to buy him time.

    So many things had to go right for him to be standing right here alive.

    A scalding pain flared in his palms. Emil hadn¡¯t realized it but his nails were dug deep into his skin. His jaws were clenched, teeth bared, eyeing at his evaluation. His throat burned with shame.

    I have to get stronger.Stolen story; please report.

    ***

    ¡°Ha!¡±

    His Azurite pendant shone a brilliant blue as he stomped the ground. Mana traveled down the length of his body, using it as a conduit to reach the earth. Soon, a section of the ground before him rumbled as an array of stone projections shot into the air.

    Immediately, Emil followed up by slamming his fist into his palm. The ground stirred in response, shaking until cracks emerged. As the fissure grew wider, the ground eventually caved, forming a small crater.

    Dammit!

    Emil cursed silently as he slumped against the bench. He took in a gulp of air¡ªhis breaths haggard as his burning lungs were finally able to relax. He grabbed his water pouch lying on the side and drank without a care for dignity.

    He was using one of the training grounds available on campus. It was an outdoor facility near the student¡¯s dorms composed of a flat field that had been divided into segments for individual use. Emil occupied one of the segments by the corners. A group of students passed by, shooting him curious glances. He tried to ignore the probing eyes. It seemed like his celebrity status on campus still hadn¡¯t faded yet.

    It¡¯s too slow.

    He sighed, staring at his hands. His clothes, soaked in sweat, clung uncomfortably to his skin. He would have taken them off by now, but showing off his bandages and the nasty scars on his body would only draw more unnecessary attention.

    You¡¯re getting distracted. Focus.

    He let a solemn breath and squeezed with his left hand. Mana flickered. In a fraction of a second, a gauntlet of stone emerged over his hands. Then, he eyed a spot on the ground. The earth in the vicinity rumbled before a stone projection erupted outwards about two seconds later.

    Yeah, it¡¯s magnitudes slower.

    Taking two seconds to manifest his stone projections was a death sentence against competent Exalted. This was unacceptable. It was effectively unused unless he setting up an ambush.

    But I don¡¯t understand. What¡¯s the difference between creating a gauntlet and a stone projection?

    The inconsistency confounded him. Blaze had always manifested instantaneously on his command. The difference in speed with Bulwark was the first time Emil had encountered this problem. In theory, a stone gauntlet around his hands should have been slower to manifest. The phenomenon was more complex¡ªEmil had to consider the thickness, weight, and shape of the stone structure such that it would fit his hands properly while also allowing freedom of motion. With a stone projection, he simply had to choose a spot on the ground and decide on the power of the attack.

    If complexity of phenomenon is not the limiting factor, then what?

    Absent-mindedly, he eyed another spot on the earth and channeled Bulwark. This time the stone projection shot out noticeably quicker.

    Hm? That was half a second faster. Emil raised an eye. But I didn¡¯t do anything different.

    He stared at two projections he created, confused. Wait. An idea came to mind. To confirm his suspicions, he focused on another place on the ground.

    Crack!

    The earth split immediately as a column of stone erupted skyward with vicious force. Emil flinched, nearly startled by the speed of his own Gift. The processing speed was near instantaneous. Intrigued, he tried a few more times just to confirm his suspicions.

    Huh, interesting.

    His heart raced, swelling with elation at the discovery. The projections closest to him were the ones that manifested the fastest.

    It was the proximity of the phenomenon in relation to his body that determined how fast it could be created.

    It checks out. It would explain why creating a stone gauntlet around my hands would be faster than conjuring a stone projection a meter away from me.

    Suddenly, it was obvious. The same principles also coincided with his usage of Blaze. Each time he invoked the Gift the flames would always erupt from his torso. While the flames would move and spread on his behalf, the origin of manifestation was always himself.

    I doubt this is some groundbreaking discovery. But it¡¯s strange that I haven¡¯t heard about this before. Even Steiger¡¯s Exalted training regime never mentioned this behavior.

    Likely, there were Exalted who were aware of this concept on an instinctual level. But with how diverse each Exalted¡¯s Gifts were and the massive variations between their mana parameters, it was probably difficult to formalize a conclusive observation. This sort of insight was only possible from someone like him who possessed two Gifts and could use one as a precise frame of reference for the other.

    Emil leaned back against the bench. He closed his eyes, basking in the glow of accomplishment, until his mind began to complain.

    Well, that¡¯s good and all, but how do I use this knowledge to improve?

    ¡°Yo!¡±

    Someone suddenly called out to him before he could think of a solution. Emil turned, finding himself eye-to-eye with a tall male student on the outskirts of the training grounds.

    ¡­Do I know him?

    He squinted, trying to recall if he was acquainted with a dark-skinned male on campus. After two seconds of contemplation, he gave up.

    ¡°Emil, right?¡± the male student approached him nonchalantly with a conniving smile. ¡°It¡¯s rare to see you alone without your red-haired girlfriend by your side. Tell me, did something happen? A disagreement? A verbal spat? Another little brawl to commemorate what happened during the opening ceremony?¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Who the hell is this person?

    ¡°Oh sorry, was I not supposed to pry?¡± the male student smirked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°My apologies. I must have gotten overly excited from the chance to meet the infamous Emil Milligan. Don¡¯t you know? You and Anna are the talk of the campus right now. Everyone¡¯s very curious about your actual relationship, especially after the two of you got into that kerfuffle on the opening day. Tell me, what¡¯s your secret? How exactly did you go from enemies to lovers?¡±

    Emil narrowed his eyes, still unsure why this bizarre conversation was taking place. ¡°¡­We¡¯re not dating.¡±

    ¡°Now that¡¯s a surprise. The name¡¯s Kai, by the way.¡±

    Kai extended a hand, which Emil reluctantly accepted.

    ¡°If you¡¯re not dating Anna, then mind if I shoot my shot?¡± he asked with a nasty smile.

    Emil gave Kai a quick scan. He had a conventionally handsome face with short, curly hair. He was tall, almost half a head higher than himself, without any noticeable deformities on his body. Physically, he was a looker. His attitude, however, reeked of someone who enjoyed playing around.

    ¡°¡­Be my guest.¡± Despite his own reservations, he didn¡¯t want to overstep his boundaries. Whoever Anna chose to date was none of his business.

    ¡°Oh?¡± Kai¡¯s tone suddenly turned sinister, ¡°You¡¯re just going to let me do what I want?¡±

    His right arm suddenly lashed out, knocking Emil¡¯s water pouch onto the ground. Some of it splashed against Emil¡¯s leg, leaving his shoes drenched. Kai didn¡¯t take his eyes off of him the entire time.

    ¡°How awfully nice of you.¡±

    Okay, now everything makes sense. He¡¯s trying to pick a fight. Emil sighed. I guess this is the one downside of being viewed as a delinquent. There are always idiots who want to challenge you for notoriety.

    The arrogant smirk on Kai¡¯s face was beginning to wear on his patience. But he didn¡¯t want to act too rashly. There was a number of curious eyes glancing in his direction. He was already treading thin waters with the Academy after the opening day and he did not want to attract anymore attention to himself.

    Still, he wasn¡¯t about to let someone who disrespected him so openly off the hook.

    Emil crouched down to pick his fallen water pouch. The witch¡¯s voice echoed in his head.

    If you ever get in the mood to pick a fight, find a dark-skinned man and ask if he¡¯s Gharian. Nine out of ten, it¡¯ll escalate into a brawl.

    ¡°You¡¯re a Gharian, aren¡¯t you?¡± he sneered as he made the snide remark. Kai¡¯s eyes instantly turned cold. The smile on his face disappeared.

    ¡°Half, actually,¡± Kai replied, baring his teeth. Emil noticed that his hands had balled up into fists.

    ¡°Interesting. Then I wonder¡­¡± Emil rose, casually dusting off the sand that had clung onto his water pouch. He approached Kai with an eerie nonchalance. He stopped right as their faces were mere inches away from each other.

    ¡°¡­which half of you is the barbaric side?¡± he whispered, deliberately stretching out each word, coating each syllable with venom.

    Bloodlust flashed in the air. Kai¡¯s eyes narrowed into a vengeful glare. His teeth were clenched, rattling, barely clinging onto his composure. Emil¡¯s smile widened at his growing hostility.

    ¡°Go on. Hit me. Strike me down. Make me take back those words,¡± he taunted as his eyes danced with madness, ¡°This is what you wanted, wasn¡¯t it? A fight against the number one delinquent on campus in front of a bunch of spectators.¡± He tilted his face, tapping his cheeks. ¡°Come on. Right here. One solid punch. Show me just how angry you are.¡±

    Kai stared at him¡ªangered but taken aback, slightly startled by the shift in his attitude. Emil noted more spectators stopping by to stare at a potential fight.

    ¡°¡­Not bad,¡± Kai finally said. He backed off a step. He forced himself to grin, the side of his mouth quivering with difficulty. ¡°Not bad at all, Emil,¡± he said once more as he spun around and stomped away. The crowd that had gathered groaned with disappointment.

    Emil watched as Kai faded from his sight. The spectators in the vicinity quickly dispersed to go about their day once it was clear that nothing was going to happen. As his head cooled, he was only left with confusion.

    Okay, seriously, what the hell was that all about?

    He had an inkling that Kai was either trying to get his attention or evaluate him in some capacity, but what for?

    Drawing a blank, he sighed, suddenly thirsty. He raised his water pouch to his mouth¡ªonly to find the container empty. He glanced at the ground, realizing that most of the water had been spilled earlier from Kai¡¯s provocation.

    ¡­Damn, bastard. Now I really wished he had hit me.

 Chapter 43 - Searching for the Hidden Laboratories

    Emil

    Classes for the day finally came to an end. Like clockwork, Emil immediately snuck out of campus once night descended. As he reached the Second Sector, he climbed towards the top of the multistoried buildings like normal, using the narrow corridors of an alleyway as footholds to ascend.

    With some difficulty, he reached the rooftops, wincing as his body protested with painful backlash. It was his punishment for attempting his usual routine while his injuries hadn¡¯t fully healed.

    Petra is going to chew me out for this.

    Objectively speaking, he probably shouldn¡¯t have been moving. But Emil felt restless. The inside of his campus dorm felt cramped, especially after he had been confined to a bed under Petra¡¯s watchful eyes over the weekend. Unable to take action, his head spiraled with anxious thoughts. The experience was immensely torturous.

    The contents of Petra¡¯s intel also gnawed at the back of his mind. The Hidden Laboratories. A codename for a set of secret labs built by the Council of Mana littered throughout the vast Third Sector. Their purpose wasn¡¯t officially known, but it wasn¡¯t difficult to guess given the context. Likely, they were the sites of amoral experiments that produced the grotesque survivor under the witch''s custody. The temple in the sacred grove that he and Anna destroyed was apparently one of seven in existence. It was labeled the ¡°Fifth¡± in Petra¡¯s intel.

    Emil let out a gulp of air, watching the condensation of his breath under the frosty night as he contemplated his next moves. What he needed now was to find evidence of human experimentation amongst the remaining six labs.

    He closed his eyes, visualizing the map of Azure City and the six marked spots in Petra¡¯s intel. He was currently in the northern side of the Second Sector. Somewhere west of his current spot was the location of another Hidden Laboratory.

    With his path clear, he sprung into action. As he neared the edge of the building top, he jumped. Mana flickered at the soles of his feet for a fraction of a second, granting him a slight boost in strength. The breeze of cold air caressed his body before he silently landed onto an adjacent building. Bit by bit, Emil inched towards his destination.

    ***

    He eventually reached the outer edge of the Second Sector. He stopped, taking a moment to gather his bearings and steady his breaths. His hands traced the edges of his limbs and torso. Damp.

    Ugh, I¡¯ll have to replace the bandages when I get back to the dorm.

    He walked towards the ledge of the building rooftop. As usual, only the moon offered its ominous radiance in this part of the city. Emil peered down as his noise caught a faint whiff of mud and rot permeating the area.

    The Hidden Laboratory closest here was labelled the ¡°Second.¡± The geography of the northwestern region of the Third Sector was apparently mired in wetlands and swamps. The stench lingering in the vicinity seemed to align with this fact.

    To his shock, the entrance to the Third Sector appeared occupied. Sporadic wisps of torchlight flickered in the darkness past the last line of buildings. Emil squinted. The moonlight was too dim, however, to get a clear view of what was going on.

    I need to get closer.

    He descended from his perch, climbing down at a moderate pace to mask the sound of his movements and not to aggravate his wounds. He landed in the alleyway between the last lines of buildings in the Second Sector.

    Immediately, his ears picked up footsteps rustling behind him.

    Shit!

    Emil spun around. The alleyway was narrow, barely wide enough for four men to stand shoulder-to-shoulder.

    There was nowhere to hide. The footsteps got louder. In a panic, he tucked into one of the small corners along the walls of the buildings.

    How the hell did I miss them?!

    Luckily for him, the footsteps loomed closer with no sense of urgency. Emil clung against the corner, trying to make himself as small as possible. His night disguise blended well into the darkness. The dim moonlight was blocked by the flaps of the rooftop. As long as the interlopers looked straight and didn¡¯t turn their heads, he should remain unseen.

    The sounds of conversation reached his ears.

    ¡°Any ideas why they suddenly moved our patrols here?¡±

    ¡°No damn clue. The higher-ups made the call. I¡¯m just following orders.¡±

    ¡°Apparently, there was an incident in the western quarter of the Third Sector a few days ago. Maybe it¡¯s related to that?¡±

    Three male voices. Emil winced as the darkness beside him suddenly lit up from torchlight. The footsteps were just around the corner.

    "Maybe. It''s pretty damn sudden though. Whatever happened must got the higher-ups spooked."

    ¡°If I knew we were going to be ordered around like dogs, I would have signed my life away to a noble house instead!¡±

    ¡°Eric, we all know that none of the nobles were interested in you. You were damn near the bottom of your class. Just be glad that the Sentinels took pity on someone of your caliber.¡±

    Two rambunctious laughter and an exasperated complaint followed. Emil¡¯s heart was about to explode as he saw the glowing outlines of three men. The sound pounding in his head was so loud that he could have sworn that his heartbeat was audible.

    Fortunately, they passed by him without noticing, too engaged in their merry banter.

    Emil saw their backs slowly fade as the Sentinels moved further down the alleyway. Suddenly, their torches stopped.

    ¡°Eric?¡±

    ¡°Ahhh, one second. I think I drank too much earlier. Let me take care of business first.¡±

    ¡°You want some light?¡±

    ¡°No thank you! And don¡¯t any of you dare look back!¡±

    ¡°Whatever man, I bet it¡¯s small like anyways!¡±

    Grotesque laughter echoed from up the alleyway. A set of footsteps quickly shuffled towards Emil.

    You¡¯ve got to be kidding me.

    In his periphery, the faint silhouette of the person named Eric quickly approached, oblivious that there was someone who had been listening in on their conversation. Please pick the other side at least, Emil begged.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Unfortunately, his pleads remained unheard. He watched as Eric¡¯s torso turned towards his corner.

    Their eyes met.

    Horror flashed across Eric¡¯s face. Emil lunged. He mercilessly shoved his hand into the man¡¯s mouth to silence any attempts to warn the others. The poor man had no chance¡ªhis hands were stuck on his trousers, mid-way through removing his belt.

    Emil immediately delivered a knee into his guts. Eric reeled over, gagging as he struggled to make a noise. Emil followed up with a vicious chop on the back of his head.

    Eric¡¯s body went limp. The man fell forward. Emil was ready to catch his body, but the man was heavier than he looked. The weight of his unconscious body caught Emil off guard as his limp legs grazed a pile of trash close by.

    The sound of the pile collapsing resounded across the quiet alleyway.

    ¡°Eric?¡± His two companions called out.

    Emil¡¯s blood went cold. His mind blanked, unsure what to do.

    ¡°Eric? You alright?¡±

    The torchlight began to move. The rest of Eric''s companions were coming. Emil did the only thing he could think of.

    ¡°Y-Yeah!¡± he said after he pressed down on the bottom of his throat, trying to mimic Eric¡¯s intonation from the little bits of conversation that he overheard.

    ¡°Something wrong?¡±

    ¡°Just, uhhhh, wet myself. I might have to get a new pair of trousers,¡± Emil replied. He grimaced, fearing that he was prattling too much.

    ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want some light?¡± The torches continued to loom closer. Emil was dangerously close to the light.

    ¡°No! I got my cock out, dammit!¡± he cursed, unable to hide his panic and desperation. The lights suddenly stopped.

    The silence was agonizing. Each second felt like an eternity. Emil¡¯s heart pounded with uncertainty. Did they realize something is wrong? He debated whether or not he should say something¡ªanything to kill the suffocating silence.

    Finally, he caught a faint snicker. Then a pair of boisterous laughter erupted from beyond the alleyway.

    ¡°Alright, alright! My bad, Eric! I¡¯m sorry for not knowing just how badly you want to hide that secret weapon of yours!¡±

    ¡°Gahahahaha!¡±

    Their vulgar guffawing continued. Emil took the chance to gently lean Eric¡¯s unconscious body against the wall. Under the cover of the boisterous laughter, he ran away from the alleyway.

    ***

    He finally stopped once his lungs burned.

    Emil tucked himself into the shadows of a narrow passageway in the western quarter. He was about ten minutes away from the entrance of the woods that led to the sacred temple.

    Those were Sentinels. He realized as he tried to calm his ragged breathing. From what he could deduce from their conversation, the Council of Mana had ordered the Sentinels to relocate by the sites of the Hidden Laboratories.

    Based on that assumption, this area should be relatively safe.

    The Fifth Laboratory no longer existed thanks to him and Anna¡¯s efforts, and as such, there should have been no reason to station Sentinels in this area.

    Emil leaned against the wall. The frigid surface bit into his back, offering much needed relief for his throbbing injuries.

    What do I do now?

    He didn¡¯t expect the Council of Mana to react this fast in response to the destruction of the temple. Investigating the remaining Hidden Laboratories suddenly became impossible with the Sentinel¡¯s increased presence.

    Emil immediately thought of two alternatives. One, he could try to get invited as a research associate into one of the projects managed by the Hidden Laboratories. Two, he could cause some sort of incident that would demand the Sentinel¡¯s attention and weaken their presence around the sites.

    Neither of the two options were particularly attractive. The first had too much uncertainties. He would need to somehow identify professors and staff members that were affiliated with the Hidden Laboratories and then build up his reputation as a trusted and competent researcher. The time investment was enormous.

    The second option posed too much risks and required more personnel. There was Petra, but Emil was reluctant to get her involved in something this dangerous. Her participation indirectly implicated Mia and Raz, and Emil did not want them to be suspects in case things went awry.

    He clicked his tongue in frustration. The witch really gave me a nasty mission this time.

    He was brooding other possibilities when his ears picked on a series of footsteps grating against the coarse road. Am I being followed? He clung onto the wall, making himself as thin as possible. There was only a single set of steps this time. Gradually, they came closer¡ªthe gait slow and wary. Suddenly, a figure turned into his alleyway.

    Emil was about to attack¡ªuntil he caught a glimpse of the figure¡¯s hair peeking out of their hood. Scarlet red. Their outfit and petite stature were strikingly familiar.

    ¡°Anna? He asked, perplexed.

    The question earned him a startled shriek and a blast of lightning.

    ***

    Emil rubbed the elbow of his right arm. His hand was still shaking¡ªa symptom of the electric shock that connected with his limbs. The culprit was seated across from him on the ground, wearing a difficult expression.

    ¡°¡­You can¡¯t blame me for that.¡±

    ¡°What? Nearly blasting my arms off?¡± he retorted, wincing from the pain.

    ¡°You came out of nowhere and scared me! Of course I was going to attack!¡± Anna protested, ¡°And this isn¡¯t the first time you ambushed me either! I still remember what you did the first night when we¡ª¡±

    Emil held up his working left hand. ¡°Stop. You don¡¯t know who might be listening,¡± he warned.

    Anna promptly closed her mouth and looked away. It seemed the awkwardness from their spat at lunch still lingered. ¡°What are you doing here anyways?¡± he eventually asked, tired of the suffocating silence.

    ¡°¡­That should be my question. You, of all people, should be in bed nursing your injuries.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m taking a midnight stroll.¡±

    ¡°Oh? What a coincidence. I happen to be doing the same.¡±

    Emil stared at Anna¡¯s belligerent face in disbelief. The girl had her arms folded¡ªvisibly irate with this absurd situation. Neither of them thought they would run into each other tonight.

    ¡°Anna, I¡¯m serious. What the fuck are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°And who do you think you are, speaking to me like that?¡±

    Emil saw red, feeling an inexplicable rage climb his throat. ¡°We did everything you wanted! We destroyed that despicable place, got out alive without any major consequences, and even avenged Ellen¡¯s death! What more could you possibly want to be roaming near the Third Sector?!¡±

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s none of your damn business. Someone who''s injured and still roaming about has no right to lecture me!¡± Anna fired back, noticeably less energetic than before. Still, the fiery glint in her eyes suggested that she wasn¡¯t about to relent anytime soon.

    Emil groaned. The girl before him was incessantly stubborn. She probably won¡¯t give in unless he revealed his reasons first. Petra¡¯s words echoed in his head.

    ¡°Stay away from that Anna girl¡­she has no sense of self-preservation.¡±

    He hated to admit it but she was right. From the perspective of his undercover mission, his relationship with Anna was quickly becoming a liability and a detriment. She was too reckless and she knew too much. Once Emil revealed his unique nature of having two Gifts, he should have severed their ties and silenced her. It was the proper procedure to ensure that his cover would remain safe.

    This is why I hate going undercover.

    He hated hiding behind masks and facades. He hated the lies, the smokes and mirrors, and the fragile trust that he seized from those around him. He hated forming these relationships built on false pretenses¡ªonly to heartlessly discard them later once his objectives were complete.

    Steiger¡¯s shackles demanded cold rationality¡ªthe mission must be prioritized above all else. Completing his assignments gave him value. It turned him from an orphaned miscreant into someone who was useful. And being useful allowed him to keep Mia and Raz off the streets.

    But nonetheless, Emil couldn¡¯t help but rebel against these heartless rules that allowed him to live. Even if it placed his mission at stake.

    ¡°¡­I¡¯m looking for something in Azure City,¡± he finally said after brooding over his options. He was already overstepping his bounds. Anna didn¡¯t need to know more than she already did. Still, he kept his words vague to give her plausible deniability. ¡°It¡¯s something important to me, enough that I¡¯m willing to risk my life to find it.¡±

    ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Anna asked.

    He shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s a secret. All you need to know is that this is the reason for my enrolment at the Academy,¡± he declared. None of what he said was technically false. Just a bunch of half-truths. ¡°Now you know why I¡¯m sneaking out at night despite my injuries. So, what¡¯s your reason, Anna?¡±

    She shrank. The edge of her teeth sank into her lips. Her posture grew stiff¡ªthe folds of her sleeves creased as her hands¡¯ grip tightened. It was obvious she felt cornered.

    Emil decided to bail her out. ¡°You¡¯re the daughter of a successful merchant family. The Seibert Company is famed in Ardair. And yet, here you are, attending Exalted Academy. You must have a compelling reason for being here.¡±

    ¡°¡­I do,¡± she replied.

    ¡°Does it involve sneaking out of the campus at night? Does it involve taking revenge for a classmate who you barely knew?¡± Emil asked. His voice suddenly grew loud. His heart raged. The incessant thumps pounded wildly in his ears. A strange despair welled up to his throat. ¡°Does it require you to endanger your life and reputation?¡±

    ¡°...No. No, it doesn''t, but what do you¡ª¡±

    ¡°Then abandon it.¡±

    Azure City wasn¡¯t a safe place. It was ripe with corruption and malicious agents. The Sentinels were in cahoots with the reigning authorities. Anna knew this¡ªthey witnessed it together firsthand. And yet, despite being aware of these risks, she continued to thread dangerous waters.

    Emil couldn¡¯t bear to see someone throw their life away. Not when they had a choice to walk away.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted with things that don¡¯t matter, Anna. Focus on what you¡¯re trying to achieve here,¡± he hissed, his voice trembling with emotion.

    ¡­Or else die with regrets.

 Chapter 44 - The next objective

    Emil

    His words hung in the air.

    Anna stepped on back on her heels¡ªher face aghast, lips quivering, seemingly unable to find the words to respond.

    It took Emil a moment to realize the pain of his nails digging into his palms. His jaws were locked, steeled with a visceral fury. He didn¡¯t even notice how heated he was getting.

    A tense silence lingered between the two under the ominous moonlight.

    He forced himself to unclench his fists. The awareness of his own intensity was like being doused with cold water. He sighed, suddenly regretting his impassioned words.

    ¡­Did I overstep my boundaries again?

    Before he could properly defuse the situation, the night skies suddenly blared with the resonance of a familiar brass tone. It was the Azure City clocktower¡¯s midnight toll. The reverberations droned through the air, shaking the two out of their intense standoff.

    ¡°Just¡­give it some thought,¡± Emil finally said once the clocktower stopped its ring. He beckoned towards the end of the alleyway. ¡°Let¡¯s head back. It¡¯s getting late.¡±

    Thankfully, Anna nodded without protest. The two began their wary trek back towards campus. This was their third time embarking on this route together. The roads felt intimately familiar as they walked in silence.

    Moonlight slowly became enveloped by the dim, orange glow of the incandescent street lamps. Emil and Anna hugged the edges of their shadows. Now that they were no longer by the boundaries of the Third Sector, they had to be cautious of Sentinel patrols as they passed down the main roads.

    The western quarter of the Second Sector, however, appeared quieter than normal. Normally, Sentinels would still be monitoring the main streets at this hour. Emil and Anna were ready to dart into the nearby alleyways and hide until they passed.

    But tonight, there was nothing. The roads were eerily empty. Not a single presence could be seen or heard. Only their rhythmic footsteps along the paved stone echoed over the silent night.

    The lack of Sentinels patrolling the streets was undoubtedly another symptom of the Council of Mana¡¯s orders to fortify security around the Hidden Laboratories.

    Just how important are these sites to them? Emil narrowed his eyes. If the destruction of a single lab prompted this much of a reaction from the Council¡ª

    He shuddered, not wanting to imagine the horrors that the Council was trying to hide. In the midst of his drifting thoughts, Emil felt an itch claw down his neck.

    ¡°Emil,¡± Anna suddenly whispered. She felt it too?

    ¡°I know. Pretend you didn¡¯t notice.¡±

    They continued as if oblivious to the thick stench of bloodlust suddenly permeating the vicinity. In the meanwhile, Emil scanned his peripheries.

    Three? Maybe four?

    There were a series of hostile eyes probing their location. Several lingered in the darkness of the alleyways across the street. There was another presence on the rooftops southwest of their position.

    ¡°¡­Emil?!¡± Anna whispered again.

    He felt the hairs on his back rise. More eyes suddenly emerged around them¡ªtheir locations uncertain. In the corner of his eyes, he caught a flash of silver under the illuminations of a nearby streetlamp. Whoever was cornering them was armed.

    If they wanted to ambush us, they would have done so already. But instead, they¡¯re openly projecting their hostility. It¡¯s too obvious. It almost feels intentional.

    ¡°¡­It¡¯s fine. I think they¡¯re just trying to scare us away,¡± he said, sounding much more confident that he looked. I hope so anyways. His hands hovered over the dagger strapped to his side. His senses were on full alert, sensitive to any abrupt movements.

    They were out in the open. There were too many blind spots and elevations to keep track of. Too many angles where they could be ambushed. A fight breaking out here would have been disastrous, even if their enemies were just Ordinaries.

    Emil grabbed Anna¡¯s arm and sped up. Eventually, they rounded the corner off the main street. The suffocating tension in the air instantly dissipated. He clung to the walls as he peered back over his shoulders.

    The eyes were gone.

    ¡°What the hell was that?!¡± Anna asked in between panicked breaths. Her fingers were twitching with anticipation, ready for a potential fight.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡±

    This was the first time he experienced such blatant hostility in the western quarter of Azure City.

    And it just happened to be on the exact same day that the Sentinel¡¯s patrol patterns changed.

    The timing seemed too convenient to be a coincidence.

    ***

    Emil took a detour after making sure Anna safely snuck back onto the campus. He backtracked towards one of the side streets branching off from the main route to the Academy gates. After passing by several neighborhood blocks within the First Sector, he arrived at a familiar street sign.

    ¡°12<sup>th</sup> Avenue¡± was inscribed on a metallic plate attached to one of the street lamps. He turned onto the road, eventually stopping before a modest 2-floor residence located on the far end of the street. Beside the front door was a house plaque marked with the number, ¡°500.¡±

    He strolled up to the entrance and gave the door a few solid knocks. Hopefully she¡¯s still awake. Emil stood by the front, waiting in silence. As far as he could tell, there were no lights lit from the interior of the house. Seconds turned into minutes as his patience waned. He raised his knuckles and tried again.

    ¡°It¡¯s Emil,¡± he added in case someone was listening from the inside.

    The door immediately creaked open at the sound of his voice. Emil let out a sigh of relief. He was afraid he would have to return to campus empty-handed. As the door swung open, however, he was suddenly greeted by a metallic glint.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    Danger flashed across his eyes.

    He took a step back, startled¡ªbefore realizing that it was Petra. The woman was dressed in her night gown, a tired and wary expression behind a pair of specs over her eyes. In her right hand was a disturbingly large knife; the shape of the blade closer to the size and form of a cleaver than something that belonged in a kitchen. Emil had a feeling that this knife wasn¡¯t used for cooking.

    ¡°Oh, it really is you,¡± she squinted, adjusting her specs. The alarmingly large knife, however, remained raised.

    ¡°Umm, yes? It¡¯s me, Emil,¡± he said, eyes locked on the threatening weapon in her right hand, ¡°Can you please put that down?¡±

    Petra turned towards her right hand as if unaware of her own actions. ¡°¡­Why should I?¡± she asked, facing him with a blank stare.

    ¡°Huh? Because it¡¯s dangerous! I¡¯m scared you¡¯re going to cut me!¡± Emil exclaimed, flabbergasted.

    Her languid face broke into a snide grin. ¡°Relax, I¡¯m kidding.¡± She obliged this time without protest, tucking the knife behind her back.

    The gesture was hardly reassuring.

    ¡­Yeah, somehow that¡¯s even worse. Now you just look like a thug trying to sneak an attack on me.

    Regardless, he stepped into her residence, not wanting to dawdle any longer. Thankfully, Petra returned the menacing knife back onto the kitchen counter.

    ¡°Was the weapon really necessary?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely. Do you have any idea what time it is? I would be foolish to expect friendly visitors knocking on my door at this time of the hour,¡± Petra said, pointing at him, ¡°Besides, do you have any idea how suspicious you look? Imagine a man dressed in all black with his face covered showing up at your front doors after midnight. You¡¯re lucky that I didn¡¯t swing first.¡±

    Oh. Emil glanced down at his outfit. He was in full night gear. I guess she has a point. In hindsight, perhaps he should have at least removed his mask first.

    ¡°¡­Sorry.¡±

    ¡°As long as you¡¯re aware,¡± Petra said while tying her long brunette hair into a ponytail. It seemed like she just got out of bed. Emil suddenly felt guilty for intruding. ¡°So, what do you want? Your two friends are asleep. But I doubt you came here just to see them.¡±

    ¡°I have some stuff to share,¡± Emil said as he took off his cloak. His mouth curved into a sheepish grin, ¡°But first, can you please replace my bandages?¡±

    ***

    Emil winced as Petra peeled off the bandages around his chest. The white gauze was stained in a mixture of scarlet with patches of mucus yellow permeating the edges. The ferric stench was unpleasant. Still, as a Cleaner, this wasn¡¯t an unfamiliar experience for him.

    What evoked his sense of discomfort, however, was the nasty glare on Petra¡¯s face. Along with the frightening pair of metal scissors tightly clasped in her hands.

    Why does everything sharp in her hands look so damn scary?!

    ¡°¡­Do you have a death wish?¡± she asked with a low growl. The scissors inched closer towards his chest. Emil looked away.

    ¡°N-No¡­¡± Snip. A set of bandages fell off his chest.

    ¡°Really?¡± Petra stared him down, tilting her head sideways. Her eyes widened with a wrathful glint. ¡°Then explain why all your bandages are soaked in blood! You went out to investigate, didn¡¯t you? Who said you could do that? You¡¯re a patient. I don¡¯t remember prescribing exercise to someone who nearly died three days ago!¡±

    He squirmed as Petra ripped off another set of bandages. Patches of dried blood adhered tightly to his skin, prying away strands of hair along with it. The scalding pain singed the surface of his skin. Petra scowled at the nasty wounds hidden beneath the gauze. Flakes of red skin intermingled with deep incisions glared back.

    ¡°When was the last time you got an injection?¡±

    ¡°Before the semester started,¡± Emil replied, frowning. It seemed like Petra was aware of his circumstances. He didn¡¯t like the idea of his condition being known to more people, but it couldn¡¯t be helped if she was his Fixer.

    ¡°Then you should be fine for awhile then.¡±

    She grabbed a bottle of ointment and began smearing the oily substance on his chest. Her touch was surprisingly soft despite her visible ire. Emil let out a relaxed breath. The soothing sensation of the ointment against his wound was blissfully pleasant.

    ¡°¡­You saw my intel, didn¡¯t you?¡± she suddenly accused. For some reason, her hand flickered towards the nasty scissors on the table.

    ¡°Y-Yes,¡± Emil admitted with a nervous gulp. He had a premonition that lying would only land him in greater terrors.

    Petra sighed, ¡°My mistake, I suppose. I should have known that a reckless delinquent like you wouldn¡¯t be able to sit still.¡± Her voice suddenly grew solemn. ¡°So, what did you found out?¡±

    Emil recounted his investigation, including the changes to Sentinel¡¯s patrol and his encounter with a hostile group in the Second Sector¡¯s western quarters.

    Petra leaned back against her chair, absorbing the details. Emil noticed her fingers were furiously tapping the side of her arms as she listened.

    ¡°The timing of this hostile group is suspiciously convenient,¡± he added, ¡°I¡¯m hesitant to call it a coincidence. Someone may be trying to take advantage of the Sentinel¡¯s absence.¡±

    ¡°It might be related to the Clash of Dawn happening in two weeks.¡±

    Emil shot her a perplexed look.

    ¡°¡­You¡¯ve never heard of it?¡± Petra asked, raising an eye, ¡°You really are a delinquent. The Clash of Dawn is an annual tournament hosted by the Academy to show off their new batch of freshmen. Participation is voluntary, but most students do it to get their names out there. The audience is always packed with important people from all across Ardair. Nobles. Wealthy businessmen. Authorities of various institutions. The Academy turns it into an entire spectacle that ends with a massive banquet celebration.¡±

    Ah, so that¡¯s why there¡¯s always a bunch of elites traveling around this time.

    ¡°But why? It¡¯s just a bunch of kids fighting.¡±

    Aside from a few standout talents and the honor students, Emil didn¡¯t rate most of his classmates too highly.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been trained by Steiger and you have actual combat experience. Your standards are warped. For the rest of Ardair, the freshmen class is a place to scout the next generation of Exalted talents. Remember, the Exalted are a symbol of power. The more Exalted you control, the more influence and authority you can wield. Think of it as trying to negotiate with a deal with a strongman who¡¯s holding a giant sword over his shoulders. He probably won¡¯t swing it at you, but the threat of the possibility naturally makes you more meek and wary.¡±

    Yeah. I¡¯m aware of how that feels. He glanced at Petra¡¯s frightening large knife which was still resting on the kitchen counter.

    ¡°Okay, what the hell is the Council is doing? A bunch of important people are gathering in Azure City in a few weeks. Meanwhile, the Sentinels have been relocated to guard the Hidden Laboratories. The Second Sector is now heavily undermanned, which makes it a perfect time for malicious actors to move.¡±

    Petra clicked her tongue. ¡°Truthfully, I have no idea what they¡¯re thinking. But leave investigating that hostile group to me. Your focus should be preparing for the Clash of Dawn."

    ¡°Huh, why?¡±

    Why the hell would I enter a tournament?

    ¡°There are several reasons. One, security around the Hidden Laboratories has been strengthened. There¡¯s not much you can investigate right now with Sentinels in the area. Two, you¡¯re injured. I need you to spend time actually recuperating,¡± she said as she wrapped another fresh layer of bandages around Emil¡¯s body. ¡°And lastly, if you end up as a finalist of the tournament, you¡¯re granted permission to enter the Academy¡¯s Consortium.¡±

    Emil¡¯s eyes widened. While the Academy gained its prestige as the most reputable place to hone Exalted talents, it was also infamous for being a vast institution of knowledge. One of its most impressive facilities was the Consortium¡ªa colossal library, several floors deep and tall, composed of records, research documents, and books across the continent.

    It was an archive that hoarded the entirety of Ardair¡¯s knowledge, including the numerous secrets revolved around the Exalted.

    Due to its importance, access to the Consortium was highly restrictive and heavily guarded. Only individuals with explicit approval from the Council of Mana were permitted the enter. This privilege alone suddenly made the Clash of Dawn a highly enticing event.

    ¡°No one in Steiger has ever been able to step foot into the Consortium since the Council forbids our existence in Azure City. Director Hortensia wants you to be the first.¡±

    ¡°Do you think documents related to the Hidden Laboratories are stored there?¡±

    Petra nodded. ¡°Without a doubt. It might be tucked away and obfuscated, or even locked away in specific sections of the Consortium. But there¡¯s nowhere safer to store research and knowledge gained from those monstrous experiments.¡±

    Emil leaned back against his chair, soaking in the information while Petra did the finishing touches on his bandages. He let out an exhausted breath of air. The next step of his mission was clear.

    ¡°Alright, I guess I¡¯ll have to go win a tournament then. Not exactly my idea of going undercover, but circumstances have already made me quite infamous on campus. What¡¯s another few eyes from Ardair¡¯s bigwigs?¡±

    Petra scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re going to get thrashed if you think it¡¯s going to be that easy. You¡¯re going to have to win using just Bulwark. Even without this handicap, there are a few students amongst the freshmen class that will give you trouble. And finally, there¡¯s one person in particular who you have little chance of winning against in your current state.¡±

    Emil narrowed his eyes at the scalding words. ¡°And who is that?¡±

    ¡°The Exalted who currently holds the title of Prodigy. The Ice Maiden, Liesel von Belle, is in your year.¡±

 Chapter 45 - My annoying rival

    Anna

    ¡°¡­What the hell are you doing?¡±

    It was lunchtime after the conclusion of their morning classes. As usual, Anna found herself seated at a two-person table in the corners of the cafeteria. Tired. Sleepy. Paranoid. A typical day. No deviations to her schedule. Nothing out of the ordinary.

    Except she was currently the center of everyone¡¯s attention.

    Students in the cafeteria were staring at her shamelessly with curious eyes and abated breaths¡ªeagerly waiting to see what would happen next. Anna even caught several staff members peering from the perimeter of the cafeteria in her periphery.

    The situation was, frankly, ridiculous.

    ¡°S-Speak, dammit! What the hell are you doing?!¡± she yelled, the edge of her ears burning red.

    The source of her distress, as usual, was Emil.

    For some reason, he was prostrating on the floor before her. In front of his hands was two cups of pudding resting in his palms, placed as if he was presenting a sacrificial offering to the Goddess herself.

    ¡°¡­Ms. Seibert, may I please have the privilege of speaking?¡± Emil asked in a bizarrely formal intonation.

    ¡°Y-Yes?! But why are you speaking like that?! Stop it! It¡¯s gross!¡± The redness had spread to her face. Did he hit his head on something last night after we separated?!

    ¡°Then, please allow this humble one to ask for a favor.¡±

    Emil raised his head ever so slightly. His eyes poked out from the ground. In a hush whisper that only she could hear, he asked,

    ¡°¡­Can I please copy your homework?¡±

    Huh?

    Anna blinked. Her mind blanked. The question didn¡¯t register for some reason. She was sure she misheard. Her ears must have been malfunctioning. It was likely since she couldn¡¯t sleep properly last night after they had returned from the Second Sector. The senses were known to be affected from an abundance of stress and a lack of rest.

    Yes, that must be it. Because there was no way this fool would embarrass her publicly in front of all of their classmates just for this stupid request, right? Right?!

    She asked Emil to repeat himself just in case.

    ¡°¡­C-Can I please copy your homework?¡±

    The next thing she knew, her foot soared at Emil¡¯s face. Without any hesitation, she launched a vicious kick against his chin. Emil recoiled, flung backwards with a painful groan. The eager crowd exploded¡ªscreaming, hollering, and laughing at the spectacle.

    T-This bastard! I swear I¡¯m going to kill him!

    ***

    Needless to say, she, in fact, did not kill him.

    Instead, Anna was angrily shoving spoonfuls of pudding into her mouth. She was already on the second cup. The sweet, fluffy texture of the dessert melted on her tongue, blooming with bubbles of flavor each time she chewed. It was simply divine.

    She was not oblivious to the fact that she was effectively being bribed and pacified with food. She hated it. It was humiliating that she could be tamed in such a primitive way. At the same time, the visceral joy produced by the cafeteria dessert was a delight that she couldn¡¯t deny.

    I¡¯ll get him back for this. I swear on it.

    Emil was sitting across from her, rubbing the side of his chin with his left while writing on parchment with his right. His eyes flickered back and forth as he furiously scribbled down the answers from Anna¡¯s worksheet.

    ¡°Don¡¯t copy it word for word, you idiot. Unless you want to get caught.¡±

    ¡°I know, I know. Not my first rodeo,¡± he replied nonchalantly.

    Then why not just do yourself, you idiot? Anna clicked her tongue.

    ¡°¡­Did you have to embarrass me with that spectacle just for this nonsense?¡±

    ¡°It was necessary. We both know you wouldn¡¯t have agreed otherwise,¡± Emil said, still focused on copying the worksheet, ¡°I can just imagine you looking down at me with that smug face of yours while cackling at my misfortunate like a witch.¡±

    ¡°I-I wouldn¡¯t do that?! This is slander!¡± The retort came out of her mouth instinctively, but she immediately realized how wrong she was. She would totally do that. In fact, it sounded extremely in character for her¡ªso much so that she felt a little repulsed by how well Emil knew her.

    ¡°¡­Wait? Misfortune?! Don¡¯t you dare make yourself sound like the victim here!¡±

    ¡°I am a victim,¡± Emil said, pointing at the glaring red mark on his chin.

    The gesture made Anna¡¯s blood boil. She swore she felt a blood vessel pop. ¡°A victim, eh?¡± She gritted her teeth. Her vision went red. ¡°I¡¯ll show you what a real victim looks like!¡±

    She lunged at Emil. Her hand extended, grabbing onto his collars. Emil writhed, trying to escape her ironclad grasp. But it was too late. Anna cocked back her fist, ready to unleash the pent-up anger building inside her chest.

    ¡°Eeeek!¡±

    ¡°Umm, Anna?¡±

    A third voice suddenly intruded. Anna turned at the sound of her name. A taller girl with brown hair was standing a few feet away from their table. A worrisome expression was drawn over her freckled cheeks. A pair of specs covered her doting eyes.

    It was a pleasant face that Anna had gotten acquainted with yesterday during the mana evaluations.

    ¡°Was this¡­¡± the girl asked with some reservation, ¡°¡­a bad time?¡±

    ***

    ¡°Hello! My name is Charlotte von Braun! I¡¯m the humble daughter of a small baron family in Nordica. You can call me Charlotte or Charl!¡± the girl introduced herself to Emil. She was also a freshman at the Academy, but in a different cohort.

    ¡°Emil Milligan. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Charlotte.¡±

    Emil returned the pleasantries with a surprisingly gentlemanlike composure. His frivolous and shameful behavior from earlier had somehow vanished without a trace¡ªas if he hadn¡¯t prostrated himself in a front of a girl begging to copy her homework just ten minutes ago.

    Honestly, what the hell is this guy?

    Anna frowned while Charlotte and Emil continued to get acquainted. She was suddenly reminded of Emil¡¯s words from last night. The painful look on his face as he told her not to stray from her goals was seared in her subconscious. She was disturbed by how wretched he looked as if every word spoken out of his mouth was slowly tearing him apart. In the end, she couldn¡¯t even find the words to respond to him.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    He gets all gloomy and solemn last night and then today he decides to embarrass me in front of the entire cafeteria!

    The two opposite sides of this strange boy were difficult for her to reconcile. So much so that she struggled to figure out how she should act around him sometimes.

    ¡°Anna, are you okay? You suddenly turned quiet all of a sudden,¡± Charlotte asked. The maternal gaze in her eyes was pleasantly soothing.

    ¡°Nothing. Just tired.¡± She fought off a yawn as she decided to finish her pudding.

    ¡°You should sleep more then.¡± Charlotte patted the side of her shoulders. The bespectacled girl¡¯s sweet, gentle voice caressed her ears. ¡°Being an honor student must be a lot of pressure.¡±

    ¡°Hardly. It¡¯s this guy that¡¯s been the cause of all my troubles!¡± Anna narrowed her eyes, glaring at Emil.

    ¡°Charlotte, don¡¯t drop your guard around him,¡± she warned, ¡°Once he gets comfortable around you, say goodbye to your peaceful school life!¡±

    Emil put up his hands and surrendered without protest.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Charlotte¡¯s eyes gleamed with mischief. ¡°That sounds rather exciting. It¡¯s only been a week, but I¡¯m already growing tired of this dreary academic life.¡±

    ¡°Trust me,¡± Anna said as she covered Charlotte¡¯s eyes, ¡°It really isn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°But the spectacle from the two of you earlier was so delightfully amusing!¡± she giggled with a joyous clap.

    Anna winced, feeling the side of her cheeks grow hot. Seeing her embarrassment drew a big smile across Charlotte¡¯s face. The girl immediately pulled her into a gentle embrace. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry, Anna. It¡¯s just so much fun to tease you!¡±

    ¡°¡­Whatever,¡± she grumbled, indulging in Charlotte¡¯s soft arms. You¡¯re just lucky that you give nice hugs.

    ¡°This might be a bit abrupt, but I wanted to ask,¡± Charlotte suddenly said as she let Anna free, ¡°Are the two of you planning to participate in the Clash of Dawn?¡±

    The Clash of Dawn. A prestigious event organized by the Academy annually to show off the next generation of talented Exalted. It was one of the few events held by the Academy where influential elites from across Ardair made an effort to attend.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Anna replied immediately. The Clash of Dawn was a rare opportunity to build her reputation and raise her demand amongst the elites. Having a good showing was paramount to her goals at the Academy. If possible, she wanted to make the finals and gain access to the Consortium.

    Last year¡¯s winner, Melody Lain, apparently made ample usage of the Consortium¡¯s knowledge to make massive strides in her progression as an Exalted. If it weren¡¯t for the emergence of the Ice Maiden, Liesel von Belle, it might have been Melody instead to seize the title of Prodigy.

    ¡°How about you, Charlotte?¡±

    Charlotte gave a pained smile. ¡°I must because of my family. My parents would become the laughingstock amongst the nobles if I abstained. Realistically though, I don¡¯t have much of a chance at getting out of the preliminaries. I¡¯ll count it as a win if I don¡¯t embarrass himself.¡± She trailed off, turning towards Emil. ¡°And how about you?¡±

    ¡°I plan to make the finals,¡± Emil suddenly declared.

    Anna flinched, taken aback as the bold proclamation thundered in her ears. Inexplicably, she shuddered. Emil was strangely resolved. There was none of his usual frivolousness. His eyes were steeled. Just like how they were back in the sacred grove.

    ¡°Wow. You sound very confident.¡±

    As he should be.

    Anna grimaced as the battles within the sacred grove replayed in her head. She would be lying if she didn¡¯t admit that Emil was a skilled combatant. His skillset and mentality were well-suited for the Clash of Dawn, which traditionally emphasized an Exalted¡¯s combat ability.

    She narrowed her eyes. Her arms naturally folded over her chest as her fingers tapped the side of her wrist. A gnawing itch scratched her subconscious. The atmosphere of the table grew tense.

    Suddenly, she realized that there was a formidable opponent right in front of her¡ªone that stood directly in the way of her goals.

    She couldn¡¯t help but feel threatened.

    ***

    Anna wasted no time and rushed to the training field once classes ended. She glanced down at her hands. The skin on her palms were smooth and supple¡ªabsent of blemishes and calluses.

    I¡¯m lacking.

    Her mind spiraled with cacophonous thoughts. She recounted her fight against the ogre, bitterly recalling her fatal hesitation when tasked with ending the Exalted¡¯s life. She shuddered¡ªreliving the visceral panic that gripped her mind when the Exalted suddenly re-transformed before her. Her body had given up. Her lack of resolve had killed her. If it weren¡¯t for Emil¡¯s quick response, she would not be standing here lamenting her weakness.

    And then there was the mana evaluations yesterday. The results didn¡¯t surprise her. Anna was not ignorant of her own shortcomings as an Exalted. But seeing her flaws laid out so meticulously was both eye-opening and humiliating.

    Capacity: A

    Sensitivity: C

    Interference Range: C-

    Processing: A

    She squeezed her hands. Her nails dug into the folds of her palms. Her throat grew hot. Sparks of static snapped around her¡ªthe buzz accompanied by a high-pitch wail. She let out a visceral cry. Electricity exploded in a short radius in her proximity. The bolts were like spears as they blasted into the walls and ground, tossing rock and earth into the air.

    The aftermath of her outburst was a ruined training ground, littered in cuts and deep gnashes. Residual sparks popped near her body. She hunched over, heaving, suffering the aftermaths of carelessly using her Gift.

    When did I grow complacent?

    Did scoring in the top tens amongst this year¡¯s freshmen make her delusional? Did it convince her that she was somehow worth something? Anna wasn¡¯t sure of her own feelings, but if she did let her placements get to her head¡ª

    I accomplished nothing so far.

    The thought burned in her mind. It hurt realizing that her current status as an honors student was nothing more than a superficial title. It was meaningless beyond the confines of this Academy. She experienced that cruel indifference firsthand beside Emil. She loathed to admit it, but the boy who she thought was a foolish delinquent was far more capable than herself.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted. Focus on what you¡¯re trying to achieve here, Anna.¡±

    Emil¡¯s words.

    He¡¯s right.

    She glared at the floor.

    Beyond a distance of five meters from her position, the training field was spotless, devoid of the ruined destruction in her immediate proximity. This had always been her weakness¡ªher embarrassingly low Interference Range.

    Her Gift, Volt, was indiscriminately powerful in melee. However, if her opponents could remain outside of her range, she could do nothing but flounder while awaiting her imminent defeat. That harsh reality was shoved in her face against Professor Callum. Against the late professor¡¯s ranged barrages, Anna was helpless. Her terrible mana perception kept her ignorant of where attacks were coming from, and the limitations of her Gift prevented her from contributing to the fight.

    The panicked gaze that Emil shot her when he demanded her to leave was firmly seared in her mind. The sound of him calling her a burden haunted her like a ghost. Never did she felt more powerless and humiliated in that moment.

    Never again!

    She refused to experience that despair of helplessness. She never wanted to be a liability again. With that solemn vow in place, Anna began to think of ways to improve her Gift for the Clash of Dawn. The tournament was scheduled in two weeks.

    The first thing I have to address is my limited range.

    In the past, she always relied on closing the distance between her opponents by enhancing her body¡¯s speed with Volt. It wasn¡¯t a bad approach since it emphasized the strength of her Gift in melee, but it left her predictable and one-dimensional. In a battle against competent Exalted, she needed more options.

    I need a way to put up a fight at range. Something that could threatened her foes at a distance. Another weapon that could keep them occupied and give her more options.

    Sparks danced in her hands. The faint pops of static flickered between her palms. The rough, distilling sensation tingled from the bits of repulsive force pushing back against her skin. The distinct feeling gave her idea¡ªwhat if she used this force to fling something?

    Perhaps, I could¡ª

    ¡°I see you¡¯re training hard.¡±

    The voice knocked out of her contemplation. Anna rolled her eyes, slightly irate at being distracted. Still, she couldn¡¯t ignore the bearer of those words.

    Speak of the damn devil.

    It was Emil. He had a wry smile on his face as he strolled up towards her.

    ¡°I came here as soon as classes ended. How in the world did you get here before me?¡±

    ¡°I ran,¡± Anna said curtly.

    ¡°Really? Were you that eager to train? You always seemed so disinterested in class,¡± Emil teased.

    Anna¡¯s hands suddenly itched. Her chest flared with heat.

    ¡°You¡¯re a burden right now!¡±

    Emil¡¯s scalding words from the night at the temple blared in her ears. After hearing his proclamation at lunch, she was inexplicably compelled by this burning urge to crush him in the Clash of Dawn. I see. Something clicked inside her head.

    ¡°Anna? You okay? You¡¯re kind of scaring me right now.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I was just thinking about what you said to me last night.¡± She smiled, suddenly overcome with a strange elation.

    I finally understand what it is that I feel towards him.

    ¡°You were completely right about needing to focus,¡± she said, her mind brimmed with clarity.

    I want him to be strong.

    ¡°I came to this Academy to make a name for myself. To show the elites that I¡¯m an Exalted that can¡¯t be ignored. And once I¡¯ve gained notoriety, I planned to use that as leverage to demand what¡¯s rightfully mine.¡±

    I want him to be recognized for the skills and talents that he possesses.

    ¡°The Clash of Dawn will be my first stepping stone towards that goal.¡±

    And then, once he¡¯s at the apex of his popularity¡ª

    ¡°Here¡¯s some information for you. There are four amongst the honors student most likely considered to the win the Clash of Dawn. Liesel von Belle, Rory von Astrea, Niall von Ulster, and lastly¡ª¡± She pointed at herself, sparks dancing in her vicinity. ¡°¡ªme, Anna Seibert.¡±

    ¡ªI¡¯ll crush him and take his spotlight.

    ¡°You want to make the finals? You¡¯re likely have to go through them. Go through me.¡±

    I¡¯ll prove that you were wrong.

    ¡°Let¡¯s settle that fight of ours on the opening day. The one that never had a conclusion,¡± she declared as she stomped the ground, unleashing a barrage of lightning across the training field.

    I¡¯ll make you take back those humiliating words.

    ¡°Face me in the Clash of Dawn! And don¡¯t you dare lose before then!¡±

    My annoying rival, Emil.

 Chapter 46 - Past encounter, future endeavor

    Emil

    The two weeks leading up to the Clash of Dawn passed in a blink of an eye. Following Petra¡¯s suggestion, Emil spent most of his time recuperating his injuries and sharpening Bulwark into a more refined weapon. There wasn¡¯t enough time to experiment with new ways of using his Gift, so instead, he focused on reducing the delay required to invoke Bulwark at longer ranges.

    The work was tedious and uninspiring. Over and over again, he conjured stone projections at incremental distances away from himself, until he finally began to notice a tangible improvement in his cast speed.

    The process was not unlike strengthening a muscle¡ªthe more he repeated a phenomenon, the more proficient his Gift grew at conjuring it.

    Emil continued this arduous effort all the way until the second last day.

    I¡¯ve had enough.

    He let out a heavy gasp of air and leaned back against the bench within his section of the training grounds. Sweat clung uncomfortably to his back. His chest burned. His arms were shaking, buzzing with adrenaline as his body worked overdrive to restore itself from the incessant exposure to mana.

    Anymore and I might go into Overclock.

    He reached for his water pouch and doused his face. The sensation of tepid water against his heated skin was soothing. The salty sweat coalescing on his skin washed away onto the ruined earth. His portion of the training ground was littered in stone projections and crevices of various sizes¡ªa testament of the diligence and rigor of his training.

    Emil wasn¡¯t alone, however. A similar sight could be seen all around him as sounds of training echoed across the field. The training facility was composed entirely of freshmen like himself who were desperately trying to hone their Gifts and perfect their tactics before the Clash of Dawn.

    He watched while taking his break, observing the people that he would likely have to contend against in a few days. His bold proclamation to Anna and Charlotte from two weeks ago suddenly echoed in his head.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to make the finals.¡±

    He smirked uneasily at his own words. His objective hasn¡¯t changed¡ªmake the finals and gain access to the Consortium. It was the only lead that he had to further his Steiger investigations after the Sentinels elevated the security around the Hidden Laboratories. Still, after observing his fellow freshmen train for the past two weeks, he wondered if his confidence was misplaced

    Maybe I was too arrogant.

    Emil was beginning to realize why the Academy had the reputation it possessed. The level of talent here was beyond anything he had seen. He thought he had an advantage with his Steiger training and combat experience. But over the past two weeks, it quickly became clear that the Desperados he fought in the Lower Dannan slums could not compare to the Exalted attending this Academy.

    Hmm?

    The clamors of training suddenly quieted. A couple of freshmen in his vicinity stopped abruptly. Each one of them paused to stare at the entrance of the training field. Their eyes were immediately tense with anticipation.

    Emil followed their gaze. There was a lone person who approached the training grounds, strutting forward with a poised and confident stride. Their posture was immaculate. A sharp glint danced in their eyes. Even from a distance, Emil could feel a subtle pressure radiating from their presence. Their composure instantly reminded him of the legendary heroes described in his childhood fantasy stories. They had the aura of a warrior born into high class society.

    This must be Liesel von Belle. Ranked first amongst this year¡¯s freshmen. And the current Prodigy.

    He found himself enthralled. The noble girl had sleek black hair, dark as night, trimmed neatly right above her shoulders. Her face, slightly androgynous, had the perfect blend of femininity and ferocity. She was beautiful¡ªin the same way that a tigress could be considered majestic.

    An uneasy silence lingered. The frantic atmosphere of the training field quickly cooled as more people noticed her arrival. Liesel stopped a few feet before the training grounds, taking in all the eyes drawn by her magnetic pull. Her lips were curled in an arrogant smile.

    She took a step forward. Mana rippled outwards with the ferocity of a tidal wave. A sheet of ice emerged at her foot. The ice spread, expanding rapidly, like a storm hungry to devour everything in its path. As it grew, the ice climbed in height, ascending laterally to form sporadic, intricate patterns. Like flowers, they bloomed and blossomed¡ªeach petal sprouted more, proliferating with exponential growth. Eventually, the complex ice structure towered to the skies.

    Thud!

    Liesel snapped her fingers¡ªthe sound seemed to resonate directly in everyone¡¯s ears. The ice structure suddenly glowed a brilliant hue before it exploded into a gentle flurry of snow. Slowly, the snow flakes descended, swaying in the soft wind, until they vanished into misty vapors.

    The jaw-dropping spectacle was over.

    The entire training field was left speechless. A sullen gasp of air echoed from some of the onlookers as they finally had an opportunity to let go of their abated breaths. Emil watched in awe, reveling in the display of complex and precise mana control. It was unlike anything that he had seen before¡ªeven amongst the elites of Steiger.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    So this is the skill of the infamous Prodigy.

    Liesel''s talents were infamous in Ardair. Emil heard of her name many times over the years in hush whispers and private conversations between his Steiger colleagues. She was the scion of the Belle family, rulers of the Rosales province. At a tender pre-pubescent age, she earned herself a moniker just one year after her Awakening¡ªthe Ice Maiden.

    What an unfitting name. There¡¯s absolutely nothing maidenly about her.

    Emil smirked. Unlike some of the people in the area, he wasn¡¯t oblivious to her intent. The enchanting spectacle that she just drew up wasn¡¯t some sort of welcoming ceremony for her fellow classmates.

    It was a display of power.

    It was a premonition of what awaited her competitors in two days.

    It was a full-blown declaration of war.

    How interesting.

    His body grew hot, ignited by the outrageous and impertinent display. This arrogant behavior of declaring war to an entire group of competitors was only conceivable by someone who was convinced of their own superiority.

    Emil noticed Liesel scanning the field. Their eyes suddenly met. The hairs on his skin stood up. His heart thumped with excitement. The sharpness in her gaze was dangerous. Immediately, he could tell that she was on another level compared to the rest of their classmates.

    But at the end of the day, you¡¯re just a girl from a rich family.

    He sneered in return¡ªundaunted by her fighting spirit. Liesel raise an eye. The side of her mouth curved up, likely amused at his belligerence. Then, without warning, she spun around, seemingly satisfied with whatever she sought to achieve here.

    Life in the training field gradually returned in her absence. Emil stood up from his seat, suddenly fired up from the encounter. My mana exposure is still too high, so I¡¯ll train my body instead.

    He was getting ready to take off his sweat-stained shirt when someone decided to interrupt.

    ¡°Whoa there, time and place, my man. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re getting all hot and bothered after seeing the Ice Maiden in person.¡±

    He instantly recognized the conniving voice. Emil turned around, seeing Kai stroll up to him with an unscrupulous grin.

    ¡°That was you who she was staring at, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°¡­What are you, a fan of mine?¡± Emil retorted, slightly creeped out. There were at least thirty other students on the training field, yet somehow, he still ended up being the one receiving the most scrutiny.

    ¡°I knew it. There is something special about you. I¡¯m sure of it now, especially since you managed to grab the Ice Maiden¡¯s attention.¡±

    What the hell is he blabbing about?

    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize the two of us were on friendly terms,¡± Emil said warily, ¡°Last time we talked, you stormed off.¡±

    ¡°Oh please, don¡¯t be so uptight. I was just doing what she was doing,¡± Kai said, beckoning on the trailing figure of Liesel, ¡°My methods just aren¡¯t as overt and flashy as hers.¡±

    I see, so he was sizing me up in our first meeting for the Clash of Dawn.

    ¡°Well, then, the tournament is in two days. I don¡¯t have the luxury of chatting, so if you don¡¯t mind¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hold on. Don''t be so hasty.¡± Kai stopped him. ¡°I came here to make a proposal.¡± The half-Gharian¡¯s eyes suddenly gleamed with mischief. ¡°Why don¡¯t we make a bet, Emil Milligan? Something to make this Clash of Dawn a little more exciting.¡±

    ***

    The last day before the Clash of Dawn arrived. To give ample time for participants to prepare, all lectures were cancelled for the day. Instead, the freshmen cohort were herded into the auditorium for a pre-event address.

    Emil stood in the middle of the crowd. The ambiance of the auditorium was surprisingly tense. Even the students of his class known for their loud, joyous chatters were silent.

    The lights of the auditorium suddenly dimmed. A few softer lights flicked on again, this time directed at the podium resting atop of the stage. Footsteps soon resonated along the quiet auditorium.

    The Headmaster, Ivar von Tuatha, entered the stage. A short, roundish man with a plump stature, he walked up to the podium. Despite the slight hunchback plaguing his gait, he wore an air of dignity. A pair of specs covered his gentle face as he opened his address.

    ¡°The 75<sup>th</sup> class of Exalted Academy. I greet you once again as your Headmaster!¡±

    Contrast to his diminutive appearance, Ivar¡¯s voice rang across the auditorium with unmistakable authority.

    ¡°I¡¯m here today to inaugurate you into one of the most prestigious events of our Academy.

    It¡¯s a tournament reserved solely for you to demonstrate your skills, your talents, and your determination.

    It¡¯s a spectacle attended by thousands of influential elites who are desperate to meet the next generation of Exalted.

    It¡¯s a place for you to seize glory and take the first steps to establishing your name as someone who cannot be forgotten in annals of history.

    It¡¯s the Clash of Dawn!¡±

    The impassioned speech sent the crowd into a feverish excitement. As the students eventually calmed, Ivar began explaining the basic format of the Clash of Dawn.

    The event began with an initial preliminary round where all contestants will participate. The top eight scorers in the preliminary stage will advance into the main tournament bracket where they will face opponents in one-on-one combat. The exact details of the preliminary stage won¡¯t be revealed until minutes before the start of the event.

    ¡°Like every year, the two finalists of the Clash of Dawn will be granted access to the Consortium in addition to a multitude of other benefits. Do not fret, however, if you do not qualify through the preliminaries. As long as you try your best and demonstrate the full extent of your abilities, you will be presented with opportunities,¡± Ivar exclaimed, ¡°Now! We have a guest speech from a surprise visitor. Please welcome Her Highness, Princess Aoife!¡±

    A ripple of surprise crested through the students as they clapped with thunderous applause. Princess Aoife? Emil raised an eye.

    Ardair¡¯s royal family currently consisted of the King and his children¡ªthe Crown Prince Aidan von Astrea, the Second Prince Rory von Astrea, and Princess Aoife von Astrea.

    The Crown Prince was currently being set up to inherit the throne while the Second Prince was also attending the Academy this year. In contrast, the princess was considered to be a black sheep. For one, she was the only Ordinary in a family of Exalted. Second, she was the King¡¯s bastard child who was only recently legitimized. Allegedly, it was done out of necessity to provide the royal family with a daughter that could be married off to strengthen allegiances.

    As a result, she had rarely showed her face in public or in the royal court. Today must have been one of her first public appearances.

    I guess she is at the age now where marriage talks will become serious soon. In other words, the royal family was ready to shop her around for willing suitors. Emil winced, disturbed by the girl¡¯s fate.

    The crowd suddenly grew quiet. Emil glanced up at the stage. A girl around his age strolled onto the podium. Her steps were careful and precise. She had blonde hair¡ªtypical of the royal family, done up with modest curls. Her face was petite and cute with skin as pale as snow. With a surprising composure, she arrived at the podium and looked at the audience. Her sullen eyes were astoundingly sharp, lacking the fragility that Emil expected from the black sheep of the royal family. They glistened with a familiar verdant green.

    Wait, that¡¯s¡ª

    Their eyes seemed to meet. There was an instant. A fraction of second. The briefest of distortions. But Emil swore he caught of a flicker of recognition across the princess¡¯ face.

    Then, like it never happened, Princess Aoife began her speech.

 Chapter 47 - Prelude to dawn

    Emil

    I didn¡¯t imagine it.

    Emil was deep in thought, trying to reconcile the bizarre interaction with enigmatic Princess Aoife in his head. He thought she looked familiar at first glance. He might have doubted himself more¡ªhad he not noticed the briefest flash of recognition when their eyes met.

    That was Lisha.

    The noble girl who he met by chance in Lower Dannan. She was the one who nursed his injuries following his battle against a Desperado from Aois Nua. Later, they met again right before his move to Azure City.

    Princess Aoife is Lisha.

    The statement sounded ridiculous in his head even after everything that he just saw. He pinched his cheeks and scratched his wrist, making sure that he wasn''t hallucinating or having a particularly lucid dream. After all, what could possibly possess the princess of Ardair to be wandering around in the slums of Lower Dannan? It was an absurd scenario that didn¡¯t seem based in reality. And yet, that¡¯s precisely what happened.

    Emil grimaced, suddenly remembering his crass and blunt attitude towards her. There was also that time where he accidentally threatened her life because she was trailing him. Chills crawled down his spine. She wouldn¡¯t prosecute me for that, right? I didn¡¯t know it was her at the time. I also gave her advice. I treated her to a meal as I promised. I¡ª

    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±

    Anna¡¯s voice knocked him out of his trance. Emil was taken aback, having almost forgotten that he was currently in the cafeteria for lunch. His usual meal and pudding were still untouched.

    ¡­Whatever, this isn¡¯t important right now. If she¡¯s here for the Clash of Dawn, then we might have an opportunity to speak later.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± he replied as he picked up his utensils, ready to devour his meal.

    ¡°Liar. You were being distracted by something, weren¡¯t you? A glutton like you not touching their food? I don¡¯t believe it,¡± Anna said, narrowing her eyes with suspicion.

    Emil tossed a chunk of steak into his mouth. ¡°I swear, it¡¯s nothing.¡± He waved her off before sinking his teeth into the juicy meat, eager to experience the explosion of flavors.

    ¡°Nope. I think you¡¯re in love.¡±

    The accusation was so out of the left field that Emil choked on his food. He writhed, slamming the table, struggling to dislodge the piece stuck in his throat. It took a minute of coughing and intaking water in between breaths before he could finally regain some semblance of composure.

    ¡°Um, what?¡± he hissed at her, annoyed that he had been robbed of enjoying his first bite.

    ¡°It¡¯s the princess, isn¡¯t it? I get it. She¡¯s pretty. She¡¯s refined. She¡¯s charming. She¡¯s¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop.¡± He cut her off. ¡°First of all, no. She''s a princess. I''m a commoner. I¡¯m not delusional. Second of all, are you jealous?¡± He tossed the accusation right back at her.

    Anna scoffed. ¡°Oh please, you think too highly of yourself. Don¡¯t let it get to your head just because I choose to eat lunch with you everyday. It''s not because I want to. It''s out of pity.¡± She leaned forward onto the table, her expression suddenly serious. ¡°The Clash of Dawn is tomorrow, Emil.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m aware of that.¡±

    ¡°Then focus,¡± she said with a wry smile, shooting his own words right back at him, ¡°I won¡¯t forgive you if you flop out of the preliminaries.¡±

    Emil shook his head, slightly exasperated. Why is everyone on my case about this tournament?

    ¡°I know. You don¡¯t have to worry. I don''t know what I''ll do with myself if I don¡¯t reach the finals.¡±

    ***

    Unfortunately for Emil, things weren¡¯t so carefree such that he could focus the entirety of his attention on the Clash of Dawn. Once night descended, he snuck out of campus for the first time in two weeks. His intentions were simple¡ªget an update from Petra about the status of the city.

    The event starts tomorrow at noon. There will likely be an influx of people entering the city a few hours after daybreak.

    The relocation of the Sentinels to the Hidden Laboratories and the coincidental appearance of the hostile group rested heavily on his subconscious. He wanted some semblance of assurance that the city wasn¡¯t going to descend into chaos during the Clash of Dawn.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    He arrived at the front doors at Petra¡¯s residence. Recalling his previous visit, he made sure to remove the mask concealing his face before he knocked. The last thing he wanted was to have that disturbing knife flashed in his face again.

    The door squeaked open. Petra peeked out from the tiny gap in the door. Her large scrutinizing eyes shone in the darkness of the Azure City night.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you,¡± she said.

    Thankfully, there was no knife this time. Petra, however, made no attempt to open the door any wider to welcome him in. Emil stood there, slowly swirling into a whirlpool of confusion.

    ¡°Um¡­can I come in?¡± he asked hesitantly. I swear, what¡¯s with this woman? First it was the psychotically large knives and now¡­this. He had a feeling that he was being subtly hazed as her junior in the Steiger organization.

    ¡°I thought I told you to focus on the tournament. You better give me a good reason to let you in.¡±

    ¡°I need a report on what¡¯s going on in the city. The tournament is tomorrow and I need to know if I should be ready for trouble.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I say to leave that to me?¡± Petra asked with a blank stare, ¡°Do you not trust me as your senior? Or do you think reaching the finals of the Clash of Dawn is so trivial that you can afford to slack off the day before? I guarantee you¡¯ll be in for a rude awakening.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not slacking off!¡± Emil said, his face suddenly flushed with heat. Petra¡¯s incessant scolding was starting to wear on him.

    ¡°Is that Emil?¡± He overheard an excited voice from inside the house. It was Mia. A patter of footsteps quickly grew closer to the entrance. Petra sighed with a resigned look as the door swung open.

    ¡°Emil! Come in!¡± Mia greeted him with a bright smile.

    Suddenly, he found himself at the dinner table. He glanced at the clock ticking away inside the living room.

    So they usually eat around 7 o¡¯clock.

    He had always been a patient, never a guest whenever he visited Petra¡¯s home. The last time he came here it was already late into the night. And the only time before that, he had been confined to a bed to rest from his deplorable injuries.

    ¡°Sit!¡± Mia tapped the seat beside her. Petra silently took her spot across the table. The belligerent energy she had earlier vanished the moment Mia appeared.

    Is she doting on her? Emil couldn¡¯t help but wonder as he sat down beside Mia. The girl happily filled his bowl with a spoonful of every dish on the table.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if this could live up to the meals at the Academy, but please enjoy nevertheless!¡±

    ¡°When have I ever complained about your cooking?¡±

    Mia gleefully chuckled. Emil shoved a spoonful of the vegetable and meat into his mouth. The simple, yet hearty flavors danced on his tongue as he chewed. The familiar warmth of the meal made his heart light.

    The Academy meals are great. He thought as he scooped up another bite. But there¡¯s nothing in the world that could beat this.

    ***

    Emil placed the spoon down. He leaned back into his seat, all smiles as he indulged in the afterglow of a satisfying meal.

    ¡°Okay, shall we talk business now?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make myself sparse then,¡± Mia said as she removed the plates and bowls off the table.

    Suddenly, it was just him and Petra. The woman was staring at him in silence, seemingly brooding over something. The clock ticked loudly in the background as the uncomfortable silence continued. Emil began to feel self-conscious. She didn¡¯t say much all dinner.

    ¡°¡­Did I do something wrong?¡± he asked. One of his eyes landed at the menacing knife on the kitchen counter. Thankfully, it was a fair distance from where Petra sat. If it came down to it, he can probably reach it first before she can.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she hissed. The languid expression on her face instantly warped into fury. ¡°You ruined my precious mealtime! I was looking forward to Mia¡¯s cooking, but you ate almost half of everything yourself!¡±

    Ah. Emil scratched the side of his head. He might have been a bit too overzealous after being deprived of Mia¡¯s meals. Might.

    ¡°¡­Sorry. I¡¯ll make it up to you. Somehow.¡±

    ¡°Whatever, it¡¯s fine,¡± Petra sighed, untying her hair and letting the bundle loose on her shoulders, ¡°I just wanted to throw a tantrum. Even adults get exhausted from trying to remain composed and mature all the time. So, you wanted to know about the city?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Did you know the princess was at the Academy? She, out of all people, made an appearance in the auditorium today,¡± Emil said, shaking his head, ¡°It¡¯s just sank in how important this event is going to be.¡±

    ¡°For what¡¯s worth, the Sentinels have been shuffled around a bit. The bulk of them are still guarding the Hidden Laboratories, but there are a few more back in the Second Sector now. Most of the elites in attendance will also be bringing in a handful of powerful Exalted within their own groups. They won''t be lacking protection.¡±

    Emil raised an eye. ¡°That¡¯s surprising.¡± The idea that a bunch of Exalted from different factions would be gathering under a single location sounded like a recipe for disaster.

    ¡°The Clash of Dawn is not just an event for scouting promising talents. It¡¯s also an occasion to flaunt your prowess and influence by showing off the Exalted in your retinue,¡± Petra said with a derisive snort, ¡°Ardair is a nation built on appearances and soft power. Remember that, Emil.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind. And how about those hostiles that I encountered two weeks ago?¡±

    ¡°There is something happening in the background of the Second Sector. I¡¯ve heard small, sporadic incidents and rumors being reported here and there, but nothing concrete so far,¡± she said, ¡°I haven¡¯t discerned if their activities are related to the Clash of Dawn yet, but it seems like for the moment they¡¯re laying low.¡±

    Emil folded his arms, his lips pulsed in thought, ¡°I¡¯m not sure whether to be relieved or annoyed.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why I told you not to worry about it. This will only distract you,¡± Petra said, shaking her head as she glanced at the clock, ¡°It¡¯s getting late. I¡¯ve told you everything there¡¯s to know. You should return to the Academy. You have a big day ahead of you after all.¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright, I got it. I¡¯ll get out of your sight.¡±

    Petra followed him to the entrance, ¡°Get an early rest. Leave this investigation to me. Focus on securing access to Consortium.¡±

    ¡°Is Emil leaving?¡± Mia asked as her footsteps raced down from the second floor. She saw him by the doors and immediately ran over to hug him in a parting embrace.

    Emil couldn¡¯t help but smile. She¡¯s gotten a lot livelier since she moved here. Recently, she¡¯s reminded him more and more of how she used to be before the incident that destroyed their livelihoods in the Lower Dannan slums.

    ¡°Good luck,¡± she whispered, ¡°Do your best, Emil. I''ll be rooting for you.¡±

    Well then, I guess I can¡¯t lose now.

    ¡°Thanks, Mia.¡±

 Chapter 48 - Its just you

    Emil

    The day of the Clash of Dawn finally arrived.

    Emil opened his eyes to a bright, dazzling morning. His body felt astonishingly light. His mind was clear. Refreshed. For the first time in ages, he had a long, restful sleep without being tortured by aches and throbbing pains. After a careful stretch to warm up his limbs, he put on his Azurite pendant and readied himself to depart for the event.

    The student dorms were buzzing with a feverish energy as he passed through the hallways. Most of the students residing on this floor were also freshmen from commoner backgrounds. For most of them, the Clash of Dawn was an opportunity of lifetime¡ªa fleeting chance to make their names and faces known to the elites of Ardair. For Emil, however, this was just the first step towards achieving one of his mission objectives.

    I kind of wished I had their excitement.

    Soon, he stepped out of the dorms and made his way towards the venue.

    The vast Academy campus was divided into four quadrants. He was currently in the northeastern section dedicated towards student needs. The dorms, training facilities, study spaces, stores, and other amenities to streamline the boarding school lifestyle were all found here.

    The southeastern quadrant contained lecture halls, libraries, and administrative offices. Following that was the southwestern quadrant built primarily for faculty staff members and academic research. It was also the site of the infamous Consortium.

    And lastly, there was the northwestern quadrant which was the premise for all events held by the Academy.

    Despite the early hours of the morning, a trail of staff members was already present to guide participants into the venue. Emil followed down the path while politely acknowledging their words of acknowledgement.

    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± An exhausted groan echoed beside him.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± Emil said, turning towards Anna who joined him on the path. To his surprise, she kept her scarlet hair unkempt. Her shoulders were drooped with exhaustion. Her eyes, heavy with bags, were devoid of life as they stared tiredly at the ground. She walked with a slouched posture, dragging her unwilling body forward. Shockingly, she was the same as always as if this was a regular school day filled with their usual morning classes.

    I¡¯m kind of impressed by her consistency.

    ¡°You look dead.¡±

    ¡°I feel dead,¡± Anna grumbled, wiping the grime out of her eyes while suppressing the urge to yawn, ¡°I couldn¡¯t fall asleep. I kept thinking about the event and what insanity the Academy could possibly be planning for the preliminaries.¡±

    ¡°Understandable. But are you sure you should be leaving your hair like that? I thought you wanted to make an impression.¡±

    ¡°I never said I¡¯ll be making a good impression,¡± she retorted before letting out a depressed sigh, ¡°But no, you¡¯re right. I was going to straighten it once we reach the venue. There¡¯s time. I just need to make it neat. There¡¯s no point doing something fancy with it when we¡¯re likely going to be sweating and running all over the place.¡±

    ¡°Fair point.¡±

    Anna suddenly pointed her fingers at his face. ¡°If anything, why the hell do you look so cheery and full of energy?!¡±

    Emil gave her his brightest smile. ¡°Waking up early isn¡¯t an issue for me if I get enough sleep. And I decided to retire early last night.¡±

    ¡°¡­Traitor. You¡¯re supposed to be sleep deprived with me. I refuse to be the only person who suffers from our classmates¡¯ noisy ramblings in the early mornings!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll wreck my sleep schedule for you once this event is over,¡± he said, shooting her a wink.

    Anna snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself. This is a four-day event. You won¡¯t last if you get too excited and burn yourself out.¡±

    ¡°Got it, Miss Honors Student.¡±

    They continued their light-hearted banter until they entered the northwestern quadrant. The venue of the Clash of Dawn came into sight.

    It was a colossal, elliptical colosseum named the Nautilus. Towering to the skies, it boasted a maximum operating capacity of fifty thousand spectators. While its interiors were reinforced with steel and bricks, its outer walls were built using travertine limestone. The whitish rock adorned the colosseum with a white, cream-colored glow that glistened brilliantly under the radiant sun. It looked more like a massive sculpture than a venue for events.

    Despite passing by the place multiple times during his brief stay at the Academy, Emil always found himself in awe when staring at the building.

    I wonder how it¡¯ll feel to fight on its stage.

    The Nautilus was one of the few monumental feats of engineering in Ardair. There was no other structure quite like it in the kingdom¡ªnot even in the province of Rosales which was known for its splendid culture of aesthetics and performative arts.

    Directly adjacent to the Nautilus was the Academy banquet hall. After the final day of the Clash of Dawn, an opulent party was scheduled to be held there.

    Let¡¯s think about the food later.

    Before he even reached the rear of the Nautilus, he could already hear the excited clamors from spectators funneling into the entrance at the front. Once he arrived at the backdoors with Anna, they were immediately led by the staff to a set of stairs that took them to the basement.

    They found themselves in a bland subterranean chamber with several other contestants who arrived early. It was uncomfortably quiet. They weren¡¯t given any instructions besides to wait. A suspenseful unease soon permeated the air. It was obvious that everyone was nervous.

    Emil frowned, suddenly overwhelmed by a strange tension. His eyes darted around discretely, trying to confirm his suspicions. Indeed, his senses didn¡¯t deceive him¡ªthere were a lot of wary eyes focused on him in the periphery.

    ¡°¡­Is it just me, or are there a lot of people staring at us weirdly?¡± he whispered to Anna.

    ¡°It¡¯s just you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, good.¡±

    ¡°No, as in, they¡¯re just looking at you.¡±

    Emil blinked, perplexed. ¡°Huh? Why?¡±

    ¡°I guess you haven¡¯t been paying attention.¡± Anna smirked. ¡°One, you already have some infamy as a delinquent who got into a fight on the opening day of the Academy. But more importantly, there¡¯s been a rumor spreading since yesterday about you catching the eye of the Ice Maiden. When asked by a confidant, Liesel didn¡¯t deny her interest.¡±Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    Those rumors must have been from Kai. Emil groaned. He wasn¡¯t na?ve to think that the half-Gharian would have sat still after he denied his bet for the Clash of Dawn. But spreading rumors? That left a sour taste in his mouth.

    ¡°Compared to the big fishes like the Second Prince Rory von Astrea and Liesel von Belle, you¡¯re an unknown commodity. And yet, for some reason, there¡¯s a lot of eyes and interest on you,¡± Anna continued while straightening her messy hair, ¡°So naturally, you¡¯ve become a target. If they could take down the mysterious Emil Milligan who¡¯s been monopolizing all of the attention amongst the first years¡ª¡± Anna shot him a menacing gaze. ¡°¡ªthey¡¯ll be able to steal a glimmer of the spotlight for themselves.¡±

    Emil rolled his eyes. Great. Now I got a bounty on my head. His goal to get through the preliminaries relatively safely was now in jeopardy.

    As he was lamenting his luck, the doors to the subterranean chamber suddenly slammed shut. The dim lights went off. A wave of panicked gasps rippled across the participants as they were suddenly left in pitch-black darkness.

    ¡°Don¡¯t fret,¡± a gentle voice reverberated through the room. Emil recognized the low-brass timbre as Professor Harold. ¡°We¡¯re transporting you to the Nautilus main stage. Don¡¯t be alarmed if you feel movement beneath your feet. Stay still and listen. There will be an announcer explaining the rules of the preliminaries. Pay careful attention. It will not be repeated again. The preliminaries will start immediately after.¡±

    We¡¯re literally finding out the rules at the same time as the audience? Emil grinned. An uneasy feeling settled in his stomach. The Academy certainly knows how to keep us on our toes.

    The subterranean chamber fell silent again. There were the occasional fidgets and coughs, but for the most part, everyone waited with abated breaths.

    Suddenly, the floor began to vibrate. A dull, steady hum of grinding gears and metal made its way to his ears. Emil felt the ground beneath his foot push upwards. They were ascending. He narrowed his eyes, trying to look for signs of mana. Nothing. No blue specks or wisps lingered in the vicinity. Whatever powered the ascension of this platform must have been purely mechanical.

    I¡¯d imagine it¡¯s using the same principles as the elevators between Lower and Upper Dannan.

    They continued to climb. Emil suddenly could hear faint sounds echoing from beyond the darkness of the subterranean chamber. The volume of the noises continuously rose¡ªeventually turning into crescendo of discordance.

    Are those the spectators?

    Soon, he was able to make out the excited cheers and chatters. They blared from every direction. And then¡ª

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the 75<sup>th</sup> rendition of the Clash of Dawn!¡± a female voice resounded from somewhere above, ¡°I¡¯m your host for this event, Melody Lain! For those unfamiliar with me, I¡¯m a second year at Exalted Academy and the champion of the previous Clash of Dawn. Thanks to the Academy¡¯s benevolent decision, I¡¯ve been granted the honor of commentating this prestigious event!¡±

    The previous winner is doing commentary work?

    Emil was intrigued. Most of the second-years were currently off-campus in the midst of what the Academy called Praxis¡ªa series of temporary placements at various institutions where students could network and explore the paths they could take as an Exalted in Ardair. As a result, their exposure to the second-years were limited to select few who were doing their Praxis at the Academy.

    ¡°Now then, allow me to explain the rules of this preliminary stage! First-years, listen well! This will be only time you¡¯ll be hearing these instructions!¡± Melody yelled, ¡°In a few minutes, you¡¯ll find yourself alone in a vast field. But don¡¯t worry! Your fellow contestants are likely just a few meters away.

    Your objective is to survive and collect as many points as possible. Each of you begins with one point assigned to your name. Gathering more points is simple¡ªyou take it by eliminating other contestants! Force them to yield or render them unconscious! Contestants that have been eliminated will instantly forfeit all of their accumulated points to the person that eliminated them.

    The preliminary will last no more than sixty minutes or until there are only eight contestants remaining! These eight will advance to the tournament knockout stage. But if the preliminary ends with more than eight contestants still standing, the top eight scorers will advance instead!

    Every ten minutes, I¡¯ll also be announcing the current top eight scorers. That is all! I hope you got all of that, because the preliminaries will begin in exactly sixty seconds!¡±

    The end of Melody¡¯s explanation was accompanied by fervor cheers raging across the Nautilus. The noise was so loud that Emil could feel the platform beneath his feet vibrating from the cacophony.

    So, it¡¯s a battle royale. Emil shook his head. He expected nothing less from the Academy.

    The first initial minutes will probably be the most chaotic. Lots of eliminations will happen quickly as people try to rack up points. There¡¯s also a caveat. There¡¯s no way of knowing how many points an opponent has after the few initial minutes. Unless you¡¯re in one of the top eight when Melody makes her periodic updates.

    In other words, being in the top eight too early will place an enormous target on your back.

    Emil frowned, pondering his strategy. He was confident that he could take on most individuals amongst the first years. According to Petra, the only person he should try to avoid in a direct one-on-one confrontation was Liesel. There was also the Second Prince Rory and Niall von Ulster based on Anna¡¯s warnings.

    I should also add Anna to that list.

    He had been on the receiving of her Gift far more times than he liked¡ªenough to be aware of the dangers of her debilitating shocks. And frankly, he also did not want to be the one to eliminate her if the situation necessitated it.

    For now, I¡¯ll try my best to avoid the initial chaos.

    A loud tremor caught his attention. Emil glanced up. The darkness inside the subterranean chamber was gradually vanquished by the blinding light streaking in from above. A dull metallic groan resounded through the space as the canopy of the chamber opened up. The sound was eventually overpowered by the growing excitement of the crowd. Thunderous claps and screams blared in his ears. Even his skin and bones seemed to be shaking. Emil¡¯s mind blanked¡ªoverwhelmed by the intense energy.

    As his eyes grew accustomed to the blinding light, he realized that his surroundings had changed significantly. When he first entered the subterranean chamber, it was merely a small empty room with a flat floor and high-arching ceiling.

    Now, he found himself amidst a vast stadium that had been terraformed into a battlefield.

    Anna isn¡¯t beside me anymore. Did she get moved somehow?

    ¡°Contestants! You may have noticed that your surroundings look different! We have built a custom battlefield just for you to showcase your Gifts to fullest! The field of the Nautilus is now split into four quadrants, each with a different geography.

    To the northwest is a forested area! To southwest, a desert domain resembling the sands of The Saar! To the southeast, wetlands! And to the northeast grassy plains! Your starting locations have been shuffled at random. Feel free to move to a more favorable spot for your Gift. Don''t stray too far though as moving out of bounds will lead to an immediate disqualification!¡±

    Emil glanced down. Beneath his foot was a detachable metallic plate. As the subterranean chamber ascended, they must have slowly shifted them to their current spots while they were distracted by Melody¡¯s explanation.

    Looking around, it was clear that he was in the desert section of the field. Sand and rocks, arching and winding in innumerable hills and troughs, filled his field of view.

    His starting spot was at the bottom of sand dune.

    Not the most ideal place to begin.

    The crest and troughs of the sandy terrain made it difficult to discern the positions of nearby contestants. The constant breaks in line of sight created ample hiding spots for ambushes. And if there are people above the sand dune, he was effectively a sitting duck with no cover.

    I¡¯ll make my way to the top of the sand dune first.

    ¡°Alright, enough talk! The Clash of Dawn will begin in¡ª5, 4, 3, 2, 1¡­START!¡±

    Thunderous cheers filled the entire stadium as Melody gave the signal to begin.

    Emil immediately sprinted towards the apex of the sand dune. His foot sank into the soft sand¡ªdampening the strength of his footsteps. The sensation was bizarre, an extreme contrast against what he known his entire life of stepping on solid ground.

    I have to get used to this footing fast.

    He grimaced, lamenting his rotten luck in being placed in a terrain that he had no experience fighting in.

    First, I need to get my bearings¡ª

    His instincts screamed. Emil instantly threw himself to the ground. A chunk of foreign matter whizzed through the air where his head used to be a second ago. There was a solid splash as the projectile landed.

    Emil spun towards the attack. A dark green liquid splattered against the sand a few inches away from him. The liquid began to bubble and burn, letting off an eerie smoke as it ate away at the grains of sand beneath it.

    Is that¡­acid?!

    He turned away, finding a male contestant poking his head over the edge of a nearby trench fifty meters away from him. Before Emil could move, a shadow suddenly loomed above.

    Another contestant emerged from the top of the sand dune. A nasty, arrogant sneer was plastered across his face as he smacked his lips, seemingly delighted at this encounter.

    Lastly, Emil¡¯s ears perked at another set of shuffling to his right. In his periphery, he saw a female student stepped out into the open.

    Barely a minute had passed and Emil already found himself surrounded.

    Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake.

 Chapter 49 - Discard this useless pride

    Emil

    There goes my plan to avoid the initial chaos.

    Emil smiled uneasily at his predicament. There were three contestants in his direct vicinity, each one of them positioned in a troublesome spot. With the sandy terrain slowing him down, breaking through was going to be a difficult task. Meanwhile, he was at the bottom of the sand dune, out in the open, without any cover against his opponents¡¯ attacks.

    The situation was exacerbated by the fact that all of three of their bloodthirsty eyes were only directed at him.

    So much for a battle royale. This is more like a planned ambush.

    He shot a quick glance behind him, hoping for a path to retreat, until he realized that he was at the edge of the stage. Going out of bounds would immediately get him disqualified. In other words, he had no choice but to fight his way out.

    Amazing.

    Accepting his bitter reality, Emil noted his opponents¡¯ positions. The male student with the Gift that shot acid was camped out in a trench to the left about fifty meters away. Another male student was situated on top of the sand dune, staring down at him with a condescending expression. Finally, there was a girl to his right, observing from the top of a sloped ridge that led to the apex of the sand dune.

    Who do I take out first?

    ¡°Oh! The Goddess smiles upon me!¡± A shrill voice suddenly echoed across the area before Emil could arrive at a decision. He glanced up, realizing the student atop of the sand dune was orating.

    ¡°Emil Milligan! The dastardly delinquent that seized the heart of the beautiful Anna Seibert and the eyes of the distinguished Ice Maiden! What great pleasure it is to be able to test my meddle against such a foe!¡±

    ¡­Um, what the fuck? Emil shuddered with discomfort. The hairs on his arms shot up as if crawlies had slithered up the length of his back. Slightly disgusted, he grimaced at the male student.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize I had a secret admirer!¡± he yelled back.

    ¡°Oh, what feisty words! A clever retort despite your lowborn status! How marvelous!¡±

    The student clapped his hands in feigned admiration. His shrill, flamboyant voice suddenly lowered to a threatening cadence, dripping with obvious distain.

    ¡°Nevertheless, a lower born remains a lower born even if adorned in gold. And it is my job to make sure that they know their place in this world.¡±

    I see, so he¡¯s a snotty noble. The contemptuous glare in the noble student¡¯s eyes turned malicious.

    ¡°And therefore, I, Louis von Langford, will bestow you the honor of being my first prey!¡± he proclaimed. With an over-the-top gesture, Louis opened his arms and snapped his fingers.

    A flash of azure immediately surged in Emil¡¯s periphery. A pocket of air beside his right ear suddenly began vibrating with a violent cadence. Alarmed, Emil tossed his head back.

    Boom!

    The air spontaneously ignited. The thunderous cackle screeched in his ears. Emil winced, recoiling from the stabbing pain. The blast of heat seared the side of his neck. His skull rattled. The concussive explosion nearly knocked him to his feet. His ears shrieked with a high-pitch ring.

    Is he detonating the air?!

    Another snap resounded. Emil narrowed his eyes, focusing his shaky vision to focus. This time he found an agglomeration of mana gathering directly in front of him.

    He leaned back and tapped his chest. A plate of stone emerged over his torso right as another pocket of air detonated at the site of the concentrated mana. The shockwave rocked him onto his heels, but Emil managed to remain upright. Fragments stone fell as the hastily made chest plate crumbled from the explosion.

    In the corner of his eyes, the male student by the trenches also began to move.

    Emil pre-emptively stomped the ground. A stone wall shot up in the path of another acid blast. The surface of his wall, however, was too small to completely block against the attack.

    Small bits of the acid landed on the side of his leg. Emil clenched his teeth, his leg immediately weak from the scalding pain. He glanced down, aghast. The caustic fluid already ate through a hole through his trousers, leaving behind a dark smear along his calves.

    Shameless prick!

    Encasing his hand in stone, he immediately wiped the remaining acid away. Another explosion from Louis forced him to jump back.

    I have to make a move. Staying on the defensive does nothing to improve my situation.

    The male student who conjured acid had already ducked his head beneath the trenches, concealing his position in case of a counterattack. The girl hadn¡¯t made a move yet, seemingly content to observe for now. Louis was atop of the sand dune, readying his next attack.

    His Gift is the most dangerous. His position is also the most advantageous.

    It was an obvious decision.

    Emil dug his foot into the sand and charged towards the sand dune. Explosions and acid were simultaneously flung in his direction. He twisted his body as heat grazed his hand and acid stained his shoulder.

    Shit!

    He should have been able to get out unscathed. The sandy terrain, however, dulled his speed significantly. Watching his careless advance, Louis let out a deranged cackle.

    ¡°Ahahaha! Good! Come to me, Emil! Face your demise!¡± Louis yelled with a wave of his hands.

    Emil¡¯s eyes went wide. He was at the foot of the sand dune when an array of a dozen trembling air pockets manifested above him.

    ¡°Bastion!¡±

    He pulled back his arm, mana surging from the edge of his fingertips. A platform of stone suddenly rushed out laterally from the sand dune. There was a distinct pop. The ambient temperature jumped as the air pockets spontaneously combust.

    Hastily made, the stone platform immediately shattered against the violent shockwave. Blasted into tiny grains, the fragmented crumbles began to fell. Shadows loomed over Emil as the remnants of the platform blotted out the sky.

    For a moment, the line of sight between him and Louis was cut off.

    Realizing he had an opportunity, Emil channeled mana into his soles. A stone column erupted at the bottom of his feet, propelling him skyward. Emil closed his eyes as he felt the stone shrapnel scratch his skin. With the descending stone fragments acting as a veil, he rapidly ascended the height of the sand dune uninterrupted.

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    As the feeling of coarse fragments against his skin disappeared, he reopened his eyes. His stone column had carried him above the top of the sand dune. Louis was below him. A dumbfounded look was plastered on the noble¡¯s face. His arrogant expression vanished, quickly transforming into rabid indignation.

    ¡°Blast!¡±

    The air below him exploded. The stone projection propelling him upwards suddenly burst into pieces. Emil felt a momentary sense of weightlessness as he was separated from his foothold. With only empty air beneath his feet, gravity dragged him down.

    He compressed his body into a ball while covering his exposed areas in stone armor. Heat engulfed his body as he descended. Another concussive blast had detonated to the left of his torso.

    Thud!

    He landed atop of the sand dune, launching a barrage of sand into the air. Louis was just inches away from him. The noble extended his hands¡ªmana blooming at the edge of his palms. Emil dug his foot into the sand and kicked.

    ¡°Gahhh!¡±

    Louis reeled from the wave of sand flung in his face. His explosive attack went wide, missing Emil completely. Momentarily blinded, he was unable to respond as Emil closed the gap.

    Pop!

    Mana buzzed as Emil slammed his knuckles together. Stone gauntlets morphed over his hands. Without mercy, he rammed his fist into Louis¡¯s guts. The noble instantly folded from the vicious blow, gasping for air.

    Another desperate explosion detonated directly in front of Emil. He barely managed to cover his body with his arms in time, clenching his teeth against the violent shockwave and surging heat.

    Not bad.

    The tenacity of the noble was admirable. Feeling petty from his earlier provocations, Emil grabbed Louis¡¯s head and slammed his face into the earth. The student squirmed against the weight of his grip.

    ¡°Goodbye, Louis.¡±

    Emil cocked back his fist and hammered down against Louis¡¯s head. The resistance disappeared. Louis¡¯s body went limp.

    He should just be unconscious.

    Slightly concerned by his own brutality, Emil pressed his fingers against the noble student¡¯s neck. A raging, but steady pulse rippled against his skin.

    Whew.

    ¡°What an insane reversal!¡± Melody¡¯s voice suddenly echoed across the Nautilus. Emil flinched, knocked out of his fighting trance. Violent cheers of the crowd screeched in his ears.

    ¡°In the desert quadrant, Emil Milligan takes down Louis von Langford after being stuck in an impossible situation! Ladies and gentlemen, we already have the first elimination of the Clash of Dawn preliminaries! But it¡¯s too early to celebrate! Emil is not out of danger just yet!¡±

    The ominous warning from the excited announcer jolted him out of his confusion. Emil spun around. The girl who was standby at the right bank of the sand dune was suddenly charging straight at him. The soft sands masked her approach. She was just twenty meters away when he finally noticed her presence.

    He clicked his tongue, cursing himself for letting his guard down. This was a battle royale¡ªeliminating a single person didn¡¯t mean he could rest.

    Emil channeled mana to his feet. Stone protrusions suddenly erupted in front of him. Like a wall of spears, they rushed at his oncoming foe. The girl didn¡¯t slow down, however. To his surprise, she lunged straight at the array of spears. Mana engulfed her body as the spears loomed close. Emil¡¯s jaws dropped as the girl¡¯s head morphed in a lion¡¯s mane.

    Another shapeshifter!

    Bitter memories of his battle against the ogre flashed in his head momentarily. The girl completed her transformation, right as the stone protrusions made contact with her body. Covered in a translucent veil of mana, the stone spears shattered like brittle sticks as they smashed against her strengthened body.

    The shapeshifter let out a deafening roar.

    Emil winced, involuntarily taking a step back. He froze at the monstrous cry. Goosebumps shot up along the length of his back. He tried to maintain his composure, but the primal instincts engraved in his body shuddered at the sound of the massive predator. Towering over six feet on all fours, the girl had morphed into a terrifying lion.

    The beast pounced. Emil instinctively raised his arms, still encased in stone. The claws of the predator bored into his gauntlets. He felt the integrity of the armor crack as the force of the lion¡¯s front legs slammed against his elbows.

    Paralysis jolted the length of his arms. Suddenly, they felt stiff, heavy, unresponsive to will. Strength slacked. Unable to mount a proper resistance, Emil¡¯s legs buckled as the lion¡¯s weight pressed down on his body. His back slammed against the harsh sand. The beast immediately swooped in.

    Emil¡¯s mind blanked. Time seemed to slow. The lion¡¯s colossal figure loomed overhead¡ªthe heat from its bated breaths inched closer with very passing second. Its dark crimson eyes beamed with a bloodthirsty glint. Its razor-sharp claws flared, eager to break through the stone protections and tear into his flesh. Its jaws stretched wide and fangs bared, ready to gouge on his neck.

    His heart screamed. He could already imagine the lion ripping him into pieces. He shrank, trembling¡ªuntil a cold, callous voice boomed in his head.

    What are you so afraid of?

    It was the condescending sound of the witch¡¯s voice. Fear turned into fury. Emil¡¯s face instantly contorted as the thought thundered, silencing the terror that gripped his mind.

    It¡¯s just a big cat. His mind¡¯s projection of the witch snorted. Was your resolve that weak?

    ¡°No!¡±

    Indignant, Emil slammed his hands into the ground. The force propelled him upwards. Mana coalesced around his head, creating a makeshift helmet. He cocked back his head and swung it forward like a hammer.

    Crunch!

    A low guttural squeal escaped the lion¡¯s jaws. Emil felt warm blood trickle down his head as his stone helmet cracked from the blunt impact. Still, despite the devastating blow, the lion¡¯s momentum carried its body forward. Emil winced as its claws dragged a line through his shoulders.

    ¡°Ha!¡±

    Stone columns rose from the earth. The lion, concussed from the earlier collision, was slow to react. The columns rammed into the beast¡¯s side. Knocked airborne, the lion flopped onto its back with a loud thud as it crashed into the sand. Emil pressed his advantage. Stone projections immediately shackled the lion¡¯s limbs, pinning the beast down. He rushed in, fists raised, ready to deliver the finishing blow.

    The lion¡¯s body suddenly shrank. Mana poured out of its vessel, shrouding its body in pale blue light. Rapidly, its mane and elongated jaws reverted back into the shape of a girl lying on her back. Her large, doe-like eyes trembled at the edges, staring at him in fear.

    Emil froze. His rage vanished as if his head had been doused in frigid waters. The realization that he was fighting a shapeshifter and not a man-eating beast suddenly made him pause.

    ¡°Ngh!¡±

    Searing pain suddenly exploded from his flank. His back was drenched in a burning fluid. He felt his skin bubble from the caustic sensation. Emil¡¯s eyes watered from the agony. He glanced back. The male student who was camped out in the trenches appeared above the sand dunes.

    Fucking vulture!

    ¡°Gotcha!¡±

    A pair of hands suddenly wrapped around his neck in a chokehold. It was girl who had somehow broken free of her stone shackles.

    Shit! I thought she was incapacitated!

    Emil grabbed onto her arms, frantically trying to pry her ironclad grip apart. He cursed his naivety¡ªreprimanding himself for holding back. The girl sneered at his desperation. Mana surged around her causing her limbs to suddenly expand with dense muscle mass. The strength of her grip suddenly increased exponentially.

    Emil choked, gasping for air. His mind blurred. The girl continued to squeeze. The suffocating pressure on his windpipe steadily increased.

    What the hell am I doing?

    This was the Clash of Dawn. This was the stage dreamt of by every Exalted. It was the place where they could announce their names to the world. Elites across the kingdom were watching closely, giving their rare and undivided attention. For many, this event could change the entire trajectory of their lives.

    Did I underestimate their resolve?

    He didn¡¯t want to admit it, but he couldn¡¯t deny it. Petra was right. He was arrogant. He believed he was overwhelmingly superior thanks to his training under Steiger. He thought he could hold back, leveraging his combat experience alone.

    Emil discarded his useless pride.

    ¡°H-Huh?!¡± the girl stammered as her arms were suddenly being forced apart. Emil¡¯s hands glowed a brilliant blue. Mana from his Azurite pendant cackled as it coursed through his veins, supplying his muscles with an unnatural strength. The vice grip around his neck finally loosened. Air reached his screaming lungs.

    He stomped the ground. A crevice opened beneath the girl¡¯s right foot. Suddenly off-balance, she stumbled. With her lower body staggering in disarray, the strength in her arms slacked. Emil immediately seized the opening. He lashed out, delivering a vicious kick into the girl¡¯s knees. Her legs instantly buckled. Still grabbing onto her arms, Emil dragged her body to the left.

    ¡°Argghhhh!¡± she screamed as she took a direct hit from a splash of acid. Emil used her as a shield against the oncoming attack from the male students still camping by the sidelines.

    ¡°You asshole! I¡¯ll¡ª¡±

    He silenced her instantly with a blow to the forehead. The girl¡¯s head dropped¡ªunconscious. Emil let her down gently on the sand. When he looked back up, the male student was already running away in full sprint.

    Emil frowned, rubbing his neck from the burns left by the girl¡¯s chokehold. His face soon twisted into a savage grin.

    You better get ready, you cowardly bastard.

    He snapped his finger, creating a path of tiny stone protrusions along the ground that led towards the retreating male student. Using the protrusions as a foothold, he gave chase. Pain from the residual acidic sludge on his back continued to flare.

    In exchange for this pain, I¡¯m going to give your face a damn make-over.

 Chapter 50 - Are you the real deal?

    Anna

    Anna was moving through the woodland quadrant of the Nautilus when she suddenly felt the ambient temperature surge.

    Alarmed, she quickly jumped back on instinct. A maelstrom of fires showered on her original position a second later, igniting the area in an ardent blaze. The fiery aftermath cackled menacingly as the firestorm left a trail of scorched earth upon the formerly grassy fields.

    Finally, an opponent!

    Deprived of action and tired of meandering through the dense woods, Anna¡¯s eyes gleamed at the chance encounter. Her opponent was a male student standing about fifty meters away out in the open. He wore a cocky grin. Large orbs of flame danced in his proximity, circling his body as they flickered intently in rapid pulses.

    Anna snorted. A pathetic trick. It was nothing more than a blatant attempt to intimidate her.

    Sorry, but I¡¯ve already seen flames far more threatening than that!

    She bent her knees. Sparks buzzed from her thigh, running down the length of her leg with a cacophonous shriek. Once she felt the sharp tingle reach her ankles, Anna lunged. Her movements were a blur as she charged ahead with an inhuman speed. A trail of electricity hissed with every step.

    Using Volt, she stimulated her nerves and muscles with electric pulses to enhance her speed beyond Ordinary limits.

    Her foe reacted immediately. The orbs of flame barreled at her like missiles. Unfazed, Anna continued her reckless charge. As she felt the temperatures climb, she leaned back and threw her body into a slide. Skidding across the grassy field, the scalding projectiles singed the air over her head as she ducked beneath the flame orbs¡¯ trajectory.

    The male student had a dumbfounded look on his face when Anna came to a stop beside him.

    ¡°Shock!¡±

    A field of electricity snapped into existence in a short radius around her body. Like branches of a spider web, they spread with lightning spontaneity. The shrill wails of energy screamed with a haunting cry of a banshee.

    Her opponent was helpless. Electricity ravaged his body as he was caught directly in the midst of the paralyzing web.

    The attack lasted for just a few seconds. The male student¡¯s eyes rolled backwards, seemingly lost consciousness while on his feet as he fell onto the grassy field. Foam churned at the side of his mouth while his body convulsed from the residual shocks.

    That¡¯s one.

    Anna gave a small fist pump to celebrate her easy victory. She let the male student be. An Academy staff member monitoring the battle was already on their way to retrieve his body. Any eliminated students were immediately pulled off the field once the battle finished.

    What now?

    A part of her was disappointed that her first encounter ended so soon. She barely got to show off her skills. The lack of attention from the commentator about her fight spoke volumes about the audience¡¯s current interest in her. On the other hand¡ª

    ¡°He¡¯s done it! Emil Milligan successful hunts down Castric! What a stunning performance! Against all odds, Emil manages to overcome a 1-against-3 encounter! Just who is this mysterious student?! Emil now tops the scoreboard with three eliminations!¡±

    Melody¡¯s commentary was accompanied by an eruption of cheers from the crowd. Emil¡¯s name was suddenly being chanted amongst the audience. Anna scoffed with envy as the announcer continued to rave about his scintillating performance.

    Look at you, stealing the spotlight again.

    ¡°I have Professor Harold, a lecturer at the Academy, with me today as a guest! Professor, could you explain exactly what happened between Emil and Celestine? In my eyes, it looked as if Emil had suddenly found a surge of hidden power to free himself from Celestine¡¯s chokehold!¡±

    Professor Harold¡¯s low voice echoed from the stands, ¡°I¡¯m quite surprised myself. What Emil demonstrated was an Exalted technique called Mana Arts. As you probably know, Exalted weave mana into phenomenon. The form and characteristics of this phenomenon is what we define as an Exalted¡¯s Gift. However, mana could actually be used as is without any weaving and processing.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Sounds intriguing! Can you please explain more about Mana Arts to the audience?¡± Melody asked, feigning ignorance to give the professor an opportunity to speak.

    ¡°Haha, of course. Mana is just ethereal energy. In its natural form, it actually has an enhancing effect on the physique of living beings. By channeling pure, unprocessed mana directly through their limbs, an Exalted can temporarily enhance their physical abilities beyond Ordinary limits. That¡¯s exactly what Emil just did. There are obviously other ways to use pure mana, but that¡¯s another discussion,¡± Professor Harold explained, ¡°What I want to caution instead is the trade-offs that Emil is making. Using mana this way is extremely inefficient and overexposes the body to its toxic effects. As a result, using Mana Art excessively puts an Exalted at increased risk of Overclock. It also rapidly depletes the mana available in their Azurite accessories. Therefore, it is a technique that shouldn¡¯t be used without careful consideration and training.¡±

    A wave of shocked gasps rippled through the crowd.

    ¡°There you have it, ladies and gentlemen! Mana Arts! A double-edged sword! Will Emil be able to sustain his warpath with this risky technique? Or will he succumb to the grueling encounters of this battle royale? Let¡¯s keep watching! Contestants near the desert quadrant keep your eyes peeled for the man of the hour!¡±

    Thunderous applause followed Melody¡¯s commentary. Anna frowned at the startling revelation.

    The commentator has a significant influence on this preliminary.

    The contestants of this preliminary had a severe information gap. Students had no easy way of discerning the locations of other contestants unless they possessed a Gift that allowed them to scout. There was also no way of knowing exactly how much points they had since the number of points earned from eliminating an opponent was obfuscated. And if you weren¡¯t amongst the top eight, you had no idea of knowing where you were currently ranked.

    There were two implications of this¡ªone, it heavily incentivized continuous fighting until you seize a top eight placement. Two, the announcer was a vital source of information. The latter also implied that the announcer had immense power in controlling the flow of the preliminaries.

    More students will probably flock towards the desert quadrant now.

    After all, Melody had just revealed that there was an exhausted contestant with three eliminations to his name. Despite his celebrity status on campus, Emil was still an unknown commodity. He didn¡¯t possess the same notoriety as someone like the Ice Maiden or the Second Prince, Rory von Astrea. As a result, most contestants likely perceived his name as a delicious prize waiting to claimed.

    What a nasty system. Anna grimaced as she walked along the grassy field. A forest of trees towered to her right, hiding her in the shadows of the dense canopy.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    Should I head to the desert quadrant too?

    The desert area was south from here. From the commentator¡¯s prodding, it seemed like it was about to become a hot bed of activity.

    Or should I wait until later?

    More eliminated contestants were starting to be announced. Anna listened closely for any names that she recognized.

    In the midst of her concentration, she suddenly heard a sharp hum growing louder to her left. She instinctively tossed her head back. An invisible blade of air shot past her face¡ªtaking away strands of her red hair and slicing off a nearby branch.

    She immediately dove into cover behind a nearby tree trunk. Her heart raced to her ears. She got lucky. If the attack had been more precise, she would have likely been bleeding from her shoulders.

    Where did that come from?

    Her eyes darted about, scanning the area. She found nothing in her immediate proximity. All she could see were trees and undergrowth.

    The wind blade suddenly came again. She ducked¡ªjust as the attack cleaved into the trunk above her. A deep gash was etched into the ancient bark. Anna changed positions while glancing at the characteristics of the incision. A vertical slash. It was noticeably deeper and wider at the top than the bottom.

    Somewhere above me?

    She glanced up. The dense foliage of the canopy prevented any light from leaking through. The dark undergrowth was difficult to read. Anna bit into her lips, cursing her weak mana perception.

    I have to take a risk.

    If she couldn¡¯t find them, she¡¯ll force them to reveal themselves.

    She dove into the open and sprinted across the field. The attacks immediately rained down after her. The invisible blades slashed into the earth near her with a resounding thud. She winced. Dirt and debris were flung into her face from the explosive bursts. Cuts grazed parts of her body from shrapnel, drawing blood onto her uniform. She was reminded of their encounter against Professor Callum.

    How helpless she was at the professor¡¯s attacks. How she was told that she was a burden. The wretched memory invoked a bitter indignation.

    I¡¯ll prove that I¡¯m not the same as back then!

    She clenched her teeth as another blade cleaved into the space beside her. She watched the trajectory of the dirt as it flew, tracing back the direction to a tree twenty meters away. She raised her head. Underneath the glare of the sun, she caught a silhouette hiding amongst the foliage.

    Found you!

    Anna activated Volt. Sparks danced around her limbs. Empowered by her Gift, she dashed towards the tree at a lightning speed. Her opponent was perched atop of a large branch. Within seconds, Anna was at the foot of the tree. She jumped¡ªher foot latched onto the crevices of the trunk as she rapidly ascended.

    Once she got closer, she saw her opponent. A slim girl with a plain face was staring at her with her mouth agape. Anna caught her hands move.

    Another attack is coming.

    She pushed off against the side of the tree and lunged. The wind blade sliced the space beneath her as it blasted into the trunk. The entire tree rattled precariously. Anna soared. With an outstretched arm, she grabbed onto the branch where her opponent stood.

    Finally, she was in range.

    ¡°Shock!¡±

    Electricity ruptured from her body. But her opponent was already on the move. The girl had immediately leaped off the branch without hesitation. Anna¡¯s attack razed the empty airspace¡ªnarrowly missing the girl. Her opponent fell, until she suddenly propelled herself upwards with a blast of air to escape to an adjacent tree.

    Anna clicked her tongue.

    I didn¡¯t want to use this yet.

    Still dangling from the branch, she reached inside her pockets and retrieved a copper coin. She carried a handful of them with her by chance, but the rules of the preliminary didn¡¯t explicitly forbid her from using it. She channeled electricity after resting the coin between her thumb and index finger. She took aim. Her opponent was still in the midst of retreat, oblivious of what¡¯s to come.

    Anna flicked. Electric discharge followed, amplifying her move. The electromagnetic force of Volt propelled the coin in a straight line at a breathtaking speed. Like an arrow, it flew, landing directly on the back of her opponent¡¯s head.

    Instantly, the girl went limp.

    Strengthening her body, Anna immediately pushed off against the tree towards her falling foe. She managed to grab the girl in mid-air before landing onto the ground with a solid thud.

    Whew. She placed the unconscious girl down and let out a breath of relief. The encounter was over. Anna stared at her hands, admiring the effectiveness of her new attack.

    It worked!

    The ranged attack that she had been experimenting with worked better than she expected. She surprised herself with how powerful it was. Knocking out an Exalted with a solid blow at range wasn¡¯t an easy feat. If she could reduce the wind-up time required to charge the coin¡ª

    Then I¡¯ll finally have a formidable ranged weapon!

    Her heart pounded with anticipation.

    Melody¡¯s voice suddenly echoed over the Nautilus again. Anna listened closely, expecting to hear praises showered in her name. But instead¡ª

    ¡°He¡¯s insane! Emil does it again! The enigmatic first-year is unstoppable as he takes down another contestant aiming for his points!¡±

    The mention of Emil instantly doused her excitement. Suddenly furious, Anna glared towards the desert quadrant.

    Damn you Emil, you really have a talent for monopolizing attention, don¡¯t you?

    Her elated expression had instantly twisted in a vicious snarl, miffed by the lack of attention on her feats. Her entire reason for attending the Academy was to build up her reputation amongst the elites. The Clash of Dawn was supposed to be her moment to demonstrate her talents to the world. And yet instead, all the eyes on the stadium were focused on her rival. The nauseating thought drove her insane.

    Anna rose to her feet and sprinted towards the desert quadrant.

    Fine, you bastard. Looks like I¡¯ll just have to pay you a visit then!

    ***

    Liesel

    Liesel stared keenly at the male student floundering amidst the muddy waters of the wetland quadrant. Tension and fear smeared his face. He tried to put himself up from the quagmire, but the dense bog made it difficult to move.

    ¡°Are you¡¯re running away?¡± she asked in haughty tone. A tinge of disappointment accompanied every word. ¡°Even though you haven¡¯t shown me what you¡¯re capable of yet?¡±

    She brushed aside the strands of her ebon hair blocking her view as she calmly approached the fumbling male student. With every step she took, a thin, fleeting layer of ice emerged between her soles and the bog. Despite having started in the wetland quadrant, her uniform somehow remained unsullied from the muck and sludge.

    The male student finally managed to regain his balance inside the quagmire. Without hesitation, he spun around and tried to make a swift getaway. His legs, however, suddenly refused to budge. Confused, he glanced back. A shackle of ice clung onto his ankles, preventing his escape.

    Liesel continued her slow approach, unbothered by the student¡¯s desperate attempts to free himself. Like a predator stalking its prey, she advanced¡ªa sadistic smile crept onto her ferocious face. All around her were the immobile bodies of other students. Each of their fates were similar.

    Encased in frost and ice. Horror engraved on their frozen, unconscious expressions.

    ¡°Seriously, why did you even join this competition if you were just going to run? The whole point of this event was to show off our skills and talents to our beloved audience,¡± she said, tilting her head in disbelief, ¡°Don¡¯t you hear their cheers and thunderous applause? They¡¯re waiting to be entertained.¡±

    Suddenly, her eyes grew intense.

    ¡°So, come on! Show me what you can do! Fight! Struggle! Prove your worth before the Ice Maiden of Belle!¡±

    Her passionate speech was met with a mere whimper. The male student fell backwards. His entire body was in disarray. His eyes trembled, lacking composure and clarity¡ªclouded with fear.

    Liesel clicked her tongue. Her face dropped with disappointment.

    ¡°Freeze,¡± she said dismissively, losing all interest.

    A wave of frost washed over the student¡¯s body. The frigid air clung onto his uniform and skin. The frost expanded until the entirety of his body was encased in a sheet of ice.

    Liesel let out a long sigh. She quickly scanned the area. Seven eliminations. She narrowed her eyes, not bothering to hide her disappointment. She faced seven contestants so far, and yet none managed to stir her appetite for battle. Most of them couldn¡¯t even muster the courage to put up a valiant effort. Just the mere sight of her presence vanquished their will to fight.

    This is seriously disappointing. Is this supposed to be level of the most prestigious institution for Exalted?

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen! It¡¯s been ten minutes since the start of the Clash of Dawn!¡± Melody¡¯s voice rang over the Nautilus, ¡°Here¡¯s the first update of your current top eight scorers!¡±

    Liesel listened as Melody began with number eight. The names were all familiar to her. None of the students mentioned came as a surprise.

    ¡°And in second place¡ªoh? What a surprise! It¡¯s Liesel von Belle, the Ice Maiden and the current Prodigy of Ardair!¡±

    I¡¯m in second¡­?! The shock of not being first place made her glance up towards the direction of the commentator booth.

    ¡°And finally, in first place¡ªperhaps, not a surprise if you¡¯ve been listening closely, it¡¯s Emil Milligan! With nine eliminations to his name!¡±

    It¡¯s that student at the training field. Liesel recalled his undaunted expression in the face of her majestic display. Out of everyone there that day, he was the only one who wasn¡¯t intimidated nor dazzled by her declaration of war.

    Now I¡¯m curious.

    Her eyes gleamed with excitement. She gradually sped up, soon breaking into a brisk run. There was a skip in her steps as she sprinted towards the desert quadrant.

    Will you disappoint me like the rest?

    Her heart raced with anticipation.

    Or, are you the real deal, Emil?

 Chapter 51 - Seize the spotlight

    Emil

    Emil crouched behind a set of craggy outcrops by the edge of the desert quadrant. He was lurking atop of an elevated ridge. The sloped rock formation was layered with jagged and serrated surfaces, providing him with ample pockets of space that served as excellent hiding spots. The mountainous terrain was a pain to traverse, but the solid earth was a much-needed reprieve from crawling through the soft and treacherous sands.

    He grimaced as he leaned against the rough surfaces. In the background, beneath the stony ridge, the sounds of combat continued to rage. The desert quadrant had suddenly become a hotbed of activity as contestants from across the Nautilus were converging into the area.

    That damn commentator.

    The reason, of course, was due to Melody¡¯s obnoxious commentary of his performance.

    Inadvertently, he somehow became the center of attention for the preliminaries. In this event, students usurped the points of the opponents that they eliminated. Emil, being the current number one ranked contestant with twenty eliminations, had suddenly found himself with a huge bounty on his head. Not only did he monopolize the spotlight, but his point allocation alone was an attractive incentive for someone who wanted to steal a spot into the top eight. Melody¡¯s insistence on announcing his ¡°exhaustion¡± and ¡°fatigue¡± only added to the fuel.

    It was a self-perpetrating cycle. As news of his feats continued to echo across the Nautilus, more and more contestants arrived to fight him. The more opponents he eliminated, the more attention he received, and the more contestants became compelled to join the fray.

    Thankfully, as the battles in the desert quadrant grew more chaotic, Emil managed to find an opportunity to slip away.

    How much time is left?

    He glanced skyward at the giant clock overseeing the Nautilus. Forty minutes had passed since the beginning of the preliminaries. There was another twenty minutes to go.

    I really wished I could speed up time somehow.

    He let out an exhausted sigh, relieved that his burning lungs finally had a chance to rest after being relentlessly pursued. His entire body was mauled with injuries. The skin on his back was smeared with acid burns from Castric¡ªthe first male student he encountered at the start. His chest and limbs were littered in cuts and bruises. The left side of his arm especially suffered from a nasty gash. Blood still dripped. The adrenaline rushing through his veins ensured that he felt no more that a dull, pulsating buzz. Still, the gruesome sight made him wince.

    Emil tore off a chunk of his dusty uniform and wrapped it around the open wound. He pulled the makeshift bandage tight with the front of his teeth. The fabric instantly stained red.

    Now what?

    He peeked over the outcrop. Sporadic battles continued below by the sand dunes. It would be nice if he could spend the remainder of the preliminaries hiding up here. His spot in the top eight was effectively guaranteed at this point. The number of contestants still standing had diminished significantly.

    But I highly doubt Melody would give me that luxury¡ª

    His thought was cut short. Emil rose to his feet. It was faint, but he heard it. A single step echoed to his left by a set of troughs near the edge of the ridge. It was unmistakable.

    ¡°Who is it?!¡± he yelled, trying to bait his opponent into revealing themselves. His eyes jumped around while his ears remained alert for any semblance of movement.

    Soon enough, a figure sheepishly emerged from the trenches in front of him.

    ¡­Charlotte?

    The bespectacled brunette crawled to the surface with a wary expression. Emil frowned, unsure how to respond. Charlotte was his friend thanks to Anna¡¯s introduction, but they weren¡¯t exactly friendly enough to overlooking each other in the preliminaries. Still, Emil was not lacking points right now. If she wasn¡¯t willing to fight¡ª

    Wait.

    He narrowed his eyes. His instincts screamed that something was off. The girl¡¯s movements seemed unnatural. He couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint his discomfort, but an uncanny feeling crawled up his spine as he watched her approach. It was strange how she hasn¡¯t spoken a single word either.

    Without warning, ¡°Charlotte¡± suddenly melted into an effusion of water. Emil froze, his mind hesitated as he struggled to comprehend the disturbing sight. He was slow to react when the outpour of water exploded into a forest of needles.

    ¡°Bastion!¡±

    A stone wall shot up between him and exploding projectiles. The water needles pelted the construct with violent patters, leaving behind vicious marks etched in the stone.

    Emil suddenly felt a presence behind him.

    ¡°Ngh!¡±

    His right shoulder flared with agony before he could even move out of the way. Blood poured from his flank as he felt a deep slash cleaved into his back. There was no time to dwell on the pain. He tossed himself to the side, trying to create some distance between his assailant. The student pursued, not willing to yield a single ounce of space. Not given a chance to breathe, Emil was forced on the defensive.

    Water in the form of knives and shivs rained down upon him with all directions. He ducked and weaved, delegating the non-vital areas of his body take the hits. His body was immediately decorated in a fresh layer of cuts and grazes. The wounds were swallow, but the injuries rapidly piled. Mists of blood sprayed into the air from every strike that landed.

    I have to create an opening!

    Crossing his arms above his chest, he allowed the oncoming shivs to tear into his limbs. He clenched his teeth, enduring the pain as he used the opportunity to manifest gauntlets around his hands. With his fists fortified, he began to swat away at the watery projectiles. His resistance seemed to work¡ªbit by bit, the momentum of the fight began to shift.

    ¡°Ha!¡±

    Emil stomped the ground, creating a hole in the earth beneath his opponent¡¯s feet. His foe staggered, caught off guard by the sudden dip in elevation. Emil wasted no time. He lashed out with a quick empowered hook. To his surprise, his opponent reacted by bending backwards. With their unnatural flexibility, they leaned below his attack. Carrying their momentum, his opponent flipped backwards to create separation. Emil tried to pursue, but his advance was instantly halted by another barrage of water needles.

    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    A mad giggle escaped his opponent¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°Good grief, I swear I ambushed you perfectly and yet you still refuse to go down.¡± They shook their head with visible exasperation. ¡°Honestly, what kind of monster are you?¡±

    Emil realized his assailant was Kai. The half-Gharian wore his characteristic sneer. A pair of water shivs hovered by his waist, bopping up and down with a hypnotic cadence.

    ¡°Hello, Emil. Are you enjoying your time in preliminaries? Don¡¯t tell me you thought I would let you go just because you refused my proposal.¡±

    ¡°Not at all. I should thank you for spreading rumors to build my infamy before the event. Want a job as my publicist after I win the Clash of Dawn?¡±

    ¡°Hahaha! There¡¯ll be no need for that!¡± Kai exclaimed with joy. His scheming eyes suddenly turned murderous. ¡°All I¡¯ve been hearing for the past thirty minutes is how amazing you are. Tell me, aren¡¯t you tired yet? Don¡¯t you want to take a break? You¡¯ve proved your point¡ªyou¡¯ve shown our audience exactly what you¡¯re capable of. You¡¯ve exceeded expectations. Just think about all the elites that¡¯ll be waiting in line to speak to you. Why continue this vain struggle? Vanity? Pride?¡±

    Emil wiped the blood leaking from his lips. He¡¯s trying to buy time to let the injuries he dealt earlier take effect. He was starting to feel it now¡ªthe dull buzz across his body began to burn with a light scald. Blood flowed down the length of his arms over the folds of his ragged uniform. His head was beginning to feel faint as the adrenaline from the ambush wore off.

    What a cunning snake.

    He smirked, slightly impressed by his opponent¡¯s schemes. After his ambush failed, Kai elected to take this fight slowly, letting Emil gradually weakened from blood loss. As long as he guaranteed Emil¡¯s elimination, he could secure himself a top place in the knockout rounds of the Clash of Dawn.

    It was a despicable strategy, but Emil didn¡¯t hate it. Frankly, it was well thought out. Everything from his illusion of Charlotte and his backup strategy if his ambush didn¡¯t work was planned out meticulously. It would have worked too¡ªif Emil wasn¡¯t trained excessively in close combat.

    ¡°I feel alright actually.¡±

    It was refreshing. It¡¯s been a while since he faced a despicable opponent that used their heads.

    ¡°Really? You sure you¡¯re not just putting up a show?¡±

    ¡°No. I¡¯m a little disappointed actually.¡± Emil put on his most conniving smile. ¡°It seemed the rumors were wrong. I thought Gharians hit harder than this.¡±

    Kai¡¯s composure vanished.

    ¡°Oh wait, right. You¡¯re a half.¡± Emil sneered. ¡°Ah. Now it makes sense.¡±

    He twisted his body to the side. A water shiv whizzed by his face. Kai was glaring at him, absolutely livid. His eyes were bloodshot.

    ¡°¡­I changed my mind,¡± he hissed, his shrill voice lowered to a guttural range, ¡°Watching you bleed out slowly isn¡¯t enough. I¡¯m going to kill you! Right now!¡±

    Water spilled from his earlier attacks suddenly surged, merging to create an array of shivs spiraling around him.

    Emil scoffed, raising a stone wall as the shivs stabbed into the obstacle in vicious clanks. He suddenly felt the air pressure change as he noticed a massive stream of mana gather near Kai. His palms glowed a brilliant blue, illuminating the craggy outcrops with an ominous glare.

    ¡°Torrent!¡± Kai roared with visceral fury.

    Sensing danger, Emil immediately dove out of the way. The stone wall he created earlier was instantly tore apart by a huge volume of water. Condensed into a large beam, the high-pressured torrent effortlessly smashed through any rock constructs that stood in its way. Emil stared at the aftermath in disbelief. A massive hole, about eight inches in diameter, was etched in the rock formations behind them. Anything that was in the path of the attack had been seemingly erased.

    ¡­Was he serious about trying to kill me?

    It felt like the intent was there. Not that the Academy will do anything about it¡ªnot in the preliminaries at least. The Clash of Dawn was apparently no stranger to the occasional casualty every year. It became common enough that there were even unofficial bets happening amongst the elites about the number of deaths that they might see.

    Emil winced. The witch¡¯s words echoed in his head, ¡°Most Exalted have a few screws in their heads loose. You¡¯ll fit right in.¡± He didn¡¯t believe her at the time, but now he was starting to think that she understated their insanity.

    Kai¡¯s assault didn¡¯t stop there. The aftermath of the attack left the grounds of the ridge drenched in water. With a lift of his hands, the water rose, agglomerating into the form of colossal tendrils. Emil groaned at the sight, regretting his decision to taunt the half-Gharian.

    ¡°Strike!¡±

    The tendrils swung downwards. Emil narrowed his eyes to trace the trajectory of the swings. He hopped to the side as one of the water tendrils slammed into the earth beside him. The ground beneath his feet rattled from the heavy impact. Stone and debris were flung into the air. A horrifying incision was left in the spot where he had been just a second ago.

    Seriously?! Who the hell is this guy?!

    Kai¡¯s name wasn¡¯t in any of the Academy rankings nor were there rumors of his talents. And yet, the skills he displayed with his Gift was nothing short of astonishing.

    Emil activated Bulwark. The stone fragments flung into air from Kai¡¯s attack suddenly changed trajectories. Bent to his will, they shot straight at the water construct. Loud splashes echoed as the stone projectiles ripped through the watery tendrils. But given their liquid nature, the tendrils immediately regained their original forms.

    Not good. Those things are bad news and I have no easy way of removing them. I¡¯m also severely outmatched at range.

    He needed to bring the fight back into melee somehow. An idea came to mind as Emil replayed his encounter against Louis von Langford during the beginning of the preliminaries.

    ¡°Rise!¡±

    He slammed his palms against the ground. An array of stone protrusions burst from the ground towards Kai¡¯s general direction.

    ***

    Kai

    Is that all?

    Kai snorted at Emil¡¯s pathetic attempt of a counterattack. He narrowed his eyes, scanning the vicinity for any surprise assaults. None. His acute sensitivity to mana found nothing out of the ordinary.

    I¡¯m disappointed.

    He reprimanded himself for getting worked up over Emil¡¯s obvious provocations. Part of it was his own excitement. He was ecstatic at the prospect of a challenging fight against the enigmatic Emil Milligan. The delinquent student who became a sudden celebrity due to his clash with Anna Seibert on the opening day. A student who later caught the attention of the Ice Maiden.

    Leveraging that fact, Kai spread rumors to build up the hype and infamy around Emil. To his surprise, Emil rose to that occasion perfectly to become the protagonist of the Clash of Dawn. The attention on him, the demand for his appearance, and the spotlight¡ªall of it had grew far greater than Kai could have anticipated. Emil had transformed into a golden fruit waiting to be harvested.

    In his head, Kai pictured himself battered after a grueling battle, towering over the unconscious body of Emil who held everyone¡¯s attention. His hard-earned victory over the protagonist of the Clash of Dawn preliminaries would allow him to steal the spotlight blazing down on his delinquent classmate. The ensuing spectacle would elevate his name to new heights.

    Everything had been building up to a perfect climax.

    Instead, he found his opponent weaker than expected. His excitement had risen to a feverish pitch when his initial ambush had failed. Emil passed his first test spectacularly. But everything went downhill once Kai decided to get serious.

    I suppose it¡¯s my fault for getting provoked.

    Emil lost his interest when he couldn¡¯t put up a compelling fight. The encounter lacked the suspense. It didn¡¯t have the tension he desired. Kai didn¡¯t feel threatened at all.

    He wanted to be the villain who took down the hero in a jaw-dropping twist.

    I guess I¡¯ll have to settle for a dominating victory instead.

    He could already feel the languidness of the crowd growing. Kai waved his hand. The watery tendrils moved in accompaniment, lashing out against the array of stone protrusions with unmatched brutality. Emil¡¯s stone constructs fractured without resistance, shattering into innumerable fragments.

    Kai shook his head in disappointment. Even the stone protrusions didn¡¯t pose a single threat. He decided to end the fight before it dragged any longer.

    Hmm?

    He realized he suddenly couldn¡¯t see Emil. A dense veil of sand and debris lingered in the space between the two from the aftermath of their exchange, cutting off their line of sight. Kai narrowed his eyes, trying to search for signs of mana use. He found nothing.

    ¡­Did he run away?!

    He didn¡¯t want to believe it, but it wasn¡¯t impossible¡ªEmil technically had no reason to fight him since he was guaranteed a spot in the top eight with his current rank. In hindsight, the stone protrusions that Emil shot at him had been broken far too easily.

    Damn coward! He played me!

    Kai let out a frustrated cry.

    Just as he was about to pursue, he overheard a faint clattering of footsteps. Out of the dense veil of sand, Emil suddenly burst forth.

 Chapter 52 - I demand a conclusion!

    Kai

    Emil erupted out of the veil of sand. His movements were a blur as he sprinted across the watery terrain of the outcrops. His speed was blazing fast¡ªfar beyond the capabilities of an average Exalted. It took a glimpse of the faint blue aura surrounding his body for Kai to realize what was happening.

    He¡¯s using Mana Arts!

    Within seconds, Emil had nearly closed the gap. Panicked by his sudden reappearance, instincts took over as Kai did the first thing he could think of.

    ¡°Sever!¡± he shouted as he desperately swiped with his arms. A blade of water swelled into existence at the apex of his swing. Shaped in a wide crescent, the blade sliced through the air at Emil¡¯s approach.

    Kai immediately realized his mistake.

    Shit! I didn¡¯t control the power!

    Casualties at the Clash of Dawn weren¡¯t rare. Despite that, Kai had no intention to become a murderer just to make a name for himself. Even the ¡°lethal¡± attack that he demonstrated earlier against Emil was unleashed in a controlled manner¡ªhe deliberately slowed his cast time to give ample opportunities for Emil to evade. The attack was never meant to hit, but instead to terrify his opponent for daring to provoke him by tarnishing his background.

    This water blade, however, was unrestrained. Kai¡¯s composure had slipped at the sight of Emil¡¯s relentless advance. His instincts compelled him to retaliate from lethal force. The sharpness of the blade was made to behead.

    Emil inexplicably sped up. The trajectory of the water blade loomed¡ªjust inches of making contact with his neck. Kai wanted to scream. Terror gripped his heart as he imagined Emil¡¯s head severed by his attack.

    At the last second, Emil dipped his head to the left. Blood sprayed into the air. The water blade cleaved into the edge of his shoulder, ripping off a chunk of flesh. A nasty incision was left in the aftermath.

    Oh!

    Somehow, he managed to evade a lethal hit. Kai¡¯s relief was short-lived, however. He expected Emil to collapse from the deadly attack, but the male student continued his advance unimpeded. His movements hardly slowed. He barely reacted¡ªnot even a protest or cry of pain. For a moment, Kai questioned if he was hallucinating. As Emil loomed closer, Kai caught a sinister smile crept along his face. Emil¡¯s eyes radiated the glint of a savage beast as if he was almost invigorated by the attack.

    What the hell? Chills rushed down Kai¡¯s spine.

    ¡°Infusion!¡±

    He conjured a ring of water around his body as Emil crossed into range. Stone gauntlets emerged around his fists as the male student lashed out with a right hook. Kai read the trajectory and ducked. A blast of air from the narrowly missed punch thundered in his ears.

    Holy shit!

    He had no time to be impressed. Emil immediately followed up with a quick jab from his left. Kai stepped back, tossing out his arm. The ring of water moved as if guided by the motion of his hands. A portion of the ring lashed out in the form of a whip¡ªswiping to deflect the oncoming jab.

    Emil¡¯s fist was flung back by the elastic power of the water whip. But he remained unbothered, stepping immediately into the next strike to press his advantage. He continued his relentless assault like a famished beast desperate for prey. Kai grimaced, struggling to keep up. The pressure mounted. The speed and intensity of Emil¡¯s strikes steadily increased as the exchange went on.

    ¡­He¡¯s reading my movements!

    Kai was aghast. Emil offered no openings and gaps to exploit as he began to anticipate what Kai was going to do next. Slowly, he was getting pushed back.

    I can¡¯t win like this!

    Finally, Emil¡¯s punch slipped past his water ring¡¯s defenses. Danger slithered up Kai¡¯s skin as Emil¡¯s fist entered his view. At the last second, he tried to toss his head back.

    Crunch!

    Pain exploded from the right side of his jaws. He was too slow. His teethed rattled, almost shaken loose by the blow. Blood flooded his mouth. The insides throbbed. A ferric taste submerged his tongue. His head spun¡ªstars clouded his vision as he was concussed from the devastating punch. Still, he refused to go down without a fight.

    As he was sent backwards from the attack, Kai channeled mana into the ground. A geyser suddenly erupted beneath Emil¡¯s feet. The scalding water surged, dousing his body in a jet of blistering heat.

    Kai was expecting to hear a squeal of pain.

    ¡°Was that supposed to hurt?¡±

    To his disbelief, Emil stomped past the heated waters unfazed¡ªa chilling sneer etched on his face. Without warning, his hands lashed out like a snake, latching onto Kai¡¯s neck. Suddenly, he was lifted off into the air. Before he could pry himself free, Emil slammed him onto the ground.

    ¡°Ngh!¡±

    Kai gasped. His back screamed with agony. The air was knocked out of his lungs as he struggled to regain his composure.

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    How did this happen?

    The question resounded in his trembling head. He held the advantage for most of the fight. His opponent was struggling. Kai had him on the ropes. And yet, somehow in the span of a single minute, he suddenly found himself on the precipice of defeat.

    Emil¡¯s shadows loomed above. His mouth widened to a heinous grin as he raised his hands above Kai¡¯s head. The sight of his face drove Kai insane.

    This wasn¡¯t supposed to be the plan.

    He wasn¡¯t supposed to be the one falling here. He was supposed to steal the undeserving spotlight shining over this bastard. He was meant to be the one standing atop of the stage, bowing to a thunderous applause.

    He was supposed to be the hunter. Instead, he ended up becoming the prey.

    If I can¡¯t have the spotlight, then no one can!

    Kai let out a guttural scream. Mana swelled from his body. The massive water tendrils he conjured earlier stirred with activity. He had been reluctant to use them due to Emil¡¯s proximity, which would have placed himself in the line of attack. Now, he didn¡¯t care. If he was going to be eliminated regardless, then he would rather drag the main character down with him.

    ¡°Slam!¡±

    The water tendrils responded to his call. The construct ascended skyward before swinging down with vicious force. Kai watched as Emil spun around in horror. Seizing the chance, Kai sprung up from his spot, intent on grabbing Emil to pin him in place.

    ¡°¡­Not bad, Kai. You have my respect,¡± Emil muttered over the chaos.

    Kai groaned as the student suddenly delivered a powerful kick. The attack threw him to the side, flinging his body off the stony outcrops¡ªjust as the water tendril smashed into the earth. A cloud of sand and stone was blasted into the air. Kai landed past the outcrops onto the slopes of a nearby sand dune. He coughed, gasping for air, his guts burning from Emil¡¯s final attack.

    Why did he do that?!

    His head was still ringing as he strained his ears to listen to the commentator. There was nothing about Emil being eliminated. He definitely had enough time to jump out of the tendril¡¯s descent. Kai¡¯s confusion gradually wore off as he understood Emil¡¯s intent.

    ¡­No fucking way, did he try to spare me from being eliminated?!

    Emil was nowhere to be found. He didn¡¯t pursue Kai despite having plenty of opportunities to knock him out of the competition.

    What a fucking prick!

    He didn¡¯t like it. Heat swelled to his throat at the thought of being spared by his opponent. Kai was ready to accept his elimination. He lost despite using everything at his disposal. He felt no shame in that. But being pitied by his opponent with a second chance was beyond humiliating. Even as his body was on the verge of collapse, he wanted to sprint back up the rocky outcrop and demand a rematch.

    I swear I¡¯m going to bash his head in this time!

    Kai pulled himself up. As his vision steadied, he suddenly locked eyes with another contestant stalking the area. A fight looked inevitable.

    That¡¯s great.

    He spat out a mouthful of blood. The bitter taste lingered on his tongue. Kai cracked his neck and stretched his arms, ready to pounce. He found the perfect outlet for his rage.

    ***

    Emil

    Emil took a deep breath as he sat down against a flat rock formation. The conclusion of his battle against Kai had transformed the craggy outcrop into a ruined mess. Puddles of water pooled along the crevices of the mountainous terrain. The rocky surface was mauled by deep gashes and incisions from the force of the water tendrils.

    He was drenched from head to toe. Hot water clung uncomfortably in the airgaps between his skin and the unfolds of his uniform. It was from the aftermath of taking the brunt Kai¡¯s geyser attack head-on. For most people, the scalding temperatures would have left them with intense burns. For Emil, the temperatures induced a mild discomfort¡ªhardly something that he couldn¡¯t handle. The heat of the geyser was nothing compared to the ravenous flames of Blaze.

    What an interesting guy.

    He smirked, recounting the finer details of their confrontation. Kai¡¯s final desperate attempt to eliminate them both earned his respect. The guy was a bit of a bastard, but Emil admired his tenacity and resolve to win.

    He¡¯s definitely going to be a problem in the future.

    Kai¡¯s skill with his Gift was undeniable. The only reason Emil managed to squeeze out a win was because of Kai¡¯s inexperience in combat. He was slow to identify his opponent¡¯s weaknesses and exploit his own advantages. In contrast, Emil had immediately recognized the gap between their prowess in melee during Kai¡¯s ambush and relentlessly sought to make use of his edge.

    He was also too scared to take a hit. Emil thought as the wound on his right shoulder began to throb. When they were locked in melee, Kai had remained on the defensive for far too long. Sometimes the only way to create an opening is to concede and swallow a punch.

    Emil turned towards the clock overseeing the Nautilus. There were fifteen minutes left before the conclusion of the preliminaries. The battles in the vicinity had died down. There probably weren¡¯t many contestants left now. Even so, the Nautilus was strangely quiet.

    Melody isn¡¯t commentating.

    Even the crowd had grown silent. No cheers. No screams. Not even faint murmurs or coughs of boredom echoed from the stadium. Emil looked upwards at the audience. Suddenly, he was conscious of the innumerable eyes peering at him intently.

    It was as if they were waiting for something.

    Something is wrong.

    Wary, he perked his ears.

    There was a faint shuffle of rocks directly to his left. He rose to his feet¡ªjust as the air cackled with a shrill pop.

    Emil tossed himself to the ground. Something small shot passed him with a lightning speed, splintering off a piece of the rock formation that he was lying against. Sparks suddenly danced across the puddles in his vicinity, flickering dangerously with electricity.

    ¡°Hello, Emil.¡±

    Oh, come on! I just want a moment to breathe!

    Dread crawled up his spine as the familiar voice reached his ears. Emil turned to see Anna climb over the craggy outcrop. She landed onto the drenched earth with a solid splash.

    ¡°Seems like you¡¯ve been busy. Mind if I join in the fun?¡± she asked with a bloodthirsty smirk.

    ¡°Look at that! The highly anticipated matchup that we¡¯ve all been waiting for!¡± Melody¡¯s voice suddenly blared over the Nautilus, ¡°The Academy¡¯s baddest delinquent against the honors student from the Seibert Company! The two have a history, being the first pair to cause a ruckus on the day of the opening ceremony. Since then, they¡¯ve been on the hottest topic of discussion on campus. Who will finally emerged victorious from that inconclusive encounter?!¡±

    The silent crowd roared back into life, screaming with a voracious fervor.

    This is ridiculous. Emil frowned, shaking his head at the insane commentary. They knew she was coming. Anna seemed pleased, her eyes dancing with delight at the feverish excitement rippling through the stadium.

    I rather not fight her here.

    The craggy outcrop was soaked in water, making it the perfect environment for Anna¡¯s Volt.

    Nor do I want to be the one to take her out of the preliminaries.

    Those were his genuine thoughts, but to be honest, he wasn¡¯t exactly confident about his odds against Anna using only Bulwark. He didn¡¯t have a choice, however, if she refused to back down.

    ¡°Hey, Anna. The preliminaries are almost over, so let¡¯s just¡ª¡±

    His words were cut short by the violent shriek of electricity.

    ¡°Over?¡± Anna tilted her head. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean by that.¡± A ferocious grin emerged on her face. ¡°I¡¯m just getting started here!¡±

    Emil cursed his luck as he dropped into a fighting stance.

 Chapter 53 - Frenetic battle

    Emil

    ¡°Solidify!¡± Emil yelled as he lunged backwards.

    He tried to seize the initiative right away, not wanting to give Anna any time to control the flow of the battle. The ground atop of the outcrop trembled as a series of stone protrusions rose to cut off the space between him and Anna. His first goal was to create separation and limit Anna¡¯s movements.

    Bzzzt!

    The air cackled with a sharp wail. A flash of static shrieked across the space. A chunk of the stone barricades that he conjured were immediately decimated into thin slices of earth.

    Anna advanced, attacking continuously with electric discharges as she moved to close the gap. The bursts of electricity were highly condensed, blasting into his stone structures with the sharpness of ultra-fine blades. Emil winced as his fortifications were instantly cut down like paper.

    She improved this much in two weeks?!

    During their intrusion on the Hidden Laboratory in the sacred grove, she was only capable of unleashing electricity in a wide radius. Now she possessed enough control to condense the discharge into fine streams. The result was a faster, more precise, and dangerous attack.

    Emil flinched as the last vestiges of his stone barricades were blasted into smithereens. A loud buzz crackled at his foot. He stepped back, narrowly dodging a surge of electricity crawling along the ground. All the water soaking the outcrops was extending the spread of her attacks, artificially enhancing her Interference Range beyond her normal limits.

    I should retreat.

    There was no reason for him to get involved in a disadvantaged fight. Time was ticking down towards the conclusion of the preliminaries. He had already secured his spot onto the next stage. And honestly, Anna was a terrible matchup for him.

    Emil¡¯s incredible performance in the preliminaries so far was built not on his ability to create phenomenon with Bulwark, but by exploiting his overwhelming advantage fighting in close range.

    However, against Anna, his strengths were nullified. The unfair nature of her Gift was its paralysis effects. Getting hit once was a death sentence for someone who relied on hand-to-hand combat. Emil experienced it firsthand. The instant electricity made contact with his body, his limbs and muscles ceased to function.

    For a close-ranged combatant, Anna¡¯s Volt was unbearably oppressive.

    He made up his mind as he conjured another wall of earth. Once his line of sight with Anna was cut, Emil wasted no time and sprinted away from the craggy outcrops.

    I made them brittle this time.

    It was the same tactic that he used again Kai¡ªmake the walls fragile so that they would disintegrate into a cloud of sand when broken. The sandy veil would hopefully obfuscate his position long enough to give him time to run.

    He overheard the wall shatter as he jumped off the ledge. Emil channeled Bulwark to create a thin stone disc beneath his feet. After adjusting his balance, he applied pressure. The sharpness of the sand dune carried him forward as he glided down the slope.

    ¡°Emil!¡± Anna¡¯s voice thundered overhead, ¡°You damn coward! How dare you run away from me?!¡±

    Bloodlust echoed from her furious scream. A horrifying crackle of electricity shrieked in the air. Emil couldn¡¯t help but look back, catching a glimpse of Anna as she leaped off the stony ridge.

    Shit, she already caught on.

    A trail of azure sparks flared behind her as she landed with a loud thud. She dug her foot into the sand dune and immediately pushed off into a mad dash. Electricity wrapped around her body like a cloak.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me.¡±

    Despite the terrain being unfavorable for running, Anna sped down the sand dune without problems. She quickly began to close the gap as her speed exceeded human limits.

    She must be using Volt to augment her physical abilities.

    Emil shuddered at the sight of Anna bulldozing towards him. Her bloodshot eyes were gleaming for blood. He didn¡¯t want to imagine what she would do if she caught him.

    ¡°Why are you running Emil?! Are you scared?!¡± Anna¡¯s vicious mockery echoed in his ears. ¡°All I¡¯ve been hearing this whole time is how amazing you are! How you¡¯ve been kicking everyone¡¯s ass and bashing their faces in! Where the hell is all that spunk now?! Huh?!¡±

    Why is she so pissed off?!

    Emil had no idea what he did to deserve this ire, but surely him running away from a fight wasn¡¯t the source of her anger. This felt much more personal.

    A bolt of electricity suddenly whizzed by his ears. He tossed his head to the side the instant he felt a surge of static. The attack just barely missed, burning the edge of his ears. A faint buzz bit into his skin.

    ¡°Bastion!¡±

    He aimed his hands at the ground. An array of stone columns spontaneously rose along the slope of the sand dunes as he continued his descent. Based on the attack earlier, he was already at the edge of Anna¡¯s Interference Range. He had to slow her down.

    A loud pop burst behind him.

    Suddenly, Emil felt himself airborne. A brief sense of weightlessness enveloped his body. He glanced down. The rear portion of his stone disc had been blasted off. Momentum of his descent carried him through the air.

    The ground suddenly loomed close. Gravity dragged him down. Emil realized that he was going to fall face-first into the sand. At the last second, he twisted his body around and fortified his back in a layer of stone.

    Thud!

    He crashed. A painful groan escaped his mouth¡ªhis chest burned as the air was forcefully expelled out of his lungs. His body skidded down the sand dune until it gradually slowed to a stop. Emil bit the side of his gums and pulled himself up, trying to use the sharp pain to snap him out of the concussive effects of the impact. His vision had barely steadied when Anna swooped in.

    A blast of electricity flew at him. The trajectory of the discharge was too fast for his eyes to track. In desperation, Emil tossed his arms in front of his chest. Stone manifested across his arms just in time as the electric discharge bounced off the non-conductive surface.

    Anna rushed in with a right hook. Emil tossed his head back. The air in front of him burned with an astringent smell from the burst of energy. He stomped the ground. A stone protrusion shot up and coiled around Anna¡¯s left arm.

    ¡°Shackle!¡±

    More protrusions emerged spontaneously, grappling onto Anna¡¯s limbs to keep her in place. Seeing Anna struggle to free herself, Emil took a step back to continue his retreat.

    ¡°Emil!¡± Anna let out a visceral scream.

    Mana engulfed her body as a flood of electricity stormed. The stone protrusions keeping her confined were blown apart by the explosive energy. Emil winced, shielding his face from the sand and shrapnel. As the dust settled, Anna stomped towards him. Sparks flickered around her.

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    ¡°Fight me, you bastard! Take me seriously! Am I not someone worthy of your respect?! Do you think so little of me?!¡± she screamed. Sand clouded her face, but it did little to diminish the savage glint in her eyes. ¡°Call me a burden again! I dare you! I¡¯ll make you take back those damn words!¡±

    Burden? What is she¡ª A memory came to mind. The scene prior to their battle against Professor Callum flashed in his head. While trying to convince her to retreat and hide, he had called her a burden.

    ¡­Is that what this is about?

    Emil frowned. The words he said to her back then was out of panic and duress. She was on the verge of Overclock. She didn¡¯t have the Sensitivity to perceive the professor¡¯s attacks. He was desperate to get her to safety so he can fight against the professor without worry. She should have understood his intent, and yet here she was, desperately clamoring for a fight.

    Sorry Anna, but I¡¯m not risking my mission just to massage your pride.

    A glint of azure entered his periphery. The ground beneath him suddenly began to transform. Emil hoped to the side. An array of ice pillars erupted from the ground where he was just a second ago. Anna experienced the same attack. Instead of retreating, she stomped the ground, firing back a stream of lightning to cut off the ice column¡¯s formation.

    An ominous set of footsteps echoed. Emil spun to the left. A palpable dread crawled up his spine.

    Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake. Not you too.

    ¡°I came here looking for a fight,¡± the haughty voice resounded with a tingle of amusement, ¡°But it seems like I might be intruding on a lover¡¯s quarrel instead?¡±

    It was Liesel. The noble girl approached with a confident air of dignity. She walked with perfect posture¡ªa calm and elegant gait devoid of faults. A flower of ice bloomed beneath her feet before every step she took, as if dirtying her shoes in the sand was an unthinkable sin. Her face and uniform were spotless, somehow unblemished at this stage of the preliminaries compared to the smear of sand and dirt across Emil and Anna¡¯s outfits.

    ¡°I usually have an appetite watching drama unfold, but my hands have itching for a satisfying fight,¡± Liesel said as she stopped just a few meters from Emil and Anna. The corners of her lips curved up into a slight smile. ¡°So, mind if I join in on this little scuffle of yours?¡±

    ¡°Get the fuck out of here, wench,¡± Anna immediately hissed, teeth bared, sparks dancing around her body, ¡°There¡¯s no spot for you in this fight.¡±

    ¡°Oh my, such vulgar words from such an adorable person,¡± Liesel giggled. Her eyes suddenly grew vicious. An icy mist slowly permeated her vicinity. ¡°But surely you realize that was a rhetorical question?¡±

    Suddenly, they were locked in a 3-way battle. Silence lingered across the sand dunes. Emil could hear his heart pounding. Even the audience and commentator held their breaths, suppressing their frenetic excitement as they waited for a trigger to begin the fight.

    Sweat cascaded down Emil¡¯s neck. His hands trembled with anticipation. Tension suffocated the hostile air. His eyes darted about, trying to discern his opponent¡¯s intentions while making sure not to miss a single detail. A slight twitch. A minor step. A spark of azure. Something small was all it took for this powder keg to erupt.

    Still, despite Liesel¡¯s provocations and Anna¡¯s bloodthirst, none of them seemed willing to make the first move. There was too much risk to be on the receiving end of a two-prong attack.

    This might work to my advantage.

    Liesel¡¯s appearance complicated the situation. There was a real chance that he could wind up in another disadvantaged situation. But the reverse was also true. If he could muddy the fight, there might be an opportunity where he could slip away in the ensuing chaos.

    I need to make sure Anna won¡¯t attack me first.

    He shot a glance at her. Their eyes met for the briefest of seconds. Emil tilted his head discretely towards Liesel. In the corner of his eyes, he caught a faint nod.

    Good to know that she doesn¡¯t completely hate me.

    He stomped the ground.

    Anna and Liesel instantly snapped into action. The area was immediately dyed in brilliant blue. Mana surged with violence before rapidly condensing into phenomena.

    A ring of stone protrusions erupted around Liesel. They swarmed her like spears, crowding the airspace, threatening to maul from all directions. Meanwhile, Anna barreled towards the noble, electricity screeching in a field centered on her body.

    ¡°So predictable!¡± Liesel cackled.

    In a radius around her, a maelstrom of ice exploded outwards. The ice structure¡¯s emergence tore through Emil¡¯s ring of stone protrusions. Liesel immediately waved her hand, tossing an array of icicles in Anna¡¯s direction.

    The red-haired girl struck her knuckles together. The electric field following her suddenly oscillated. Like high-frequency blades, the electric current hissed with a metallic hum. The icicles were shredded into pieces the moment they entered the field.

    ¡°Hahaha! Not bad!¡± Liesel exclaimed.

    She swept the ground with her legs. A sharp wave of frost rippled along the earth.

    Anna jumped. Sparks trailed her movements. With her physique enhanced by Volt, she cleared the wave of frost effortlessly. She soared towards Liesel, electricity flickering around her dangerously. Liesel smirked with savage glee. An agglomeration of mana bloomed at her fingertips, already in the midst of condensing into ice.

    Now!

    Emil snapped his fingers. The airspace above the two girls suddenly popped. The stone fragments that were flung towards the sky by Liesel¡¯s ice structures spontaneously disintegrated into fine grains. Sand rained down, shrouding the surroundings in a thick veil.

    He spun around and conjured an array of stone footholds along the ground. Using them as a makeshift path, he broke into a full sprint.

    That should buy me enough time.

    He ran with reckless abandon, trying to create as much distance as possible. The sandy veil should have been disorienting enough to buy him a few extra seconds. Anna might have immediately caught onto his ruse, but he hoped that Liesel¡¯s lust for battle would keep her occupied.

    What Emil forgot to account for, however, was the watchful eyes of the audience.

    ¡°What a surprise! Emil Milligan rejects the three-way battle and retreats! But will Anna and Liesel simply let him escape?!¡± Melody¡¯s voice rang over the Nautilus.

    He felt an explosion of mana behind him. He glanced back. Liesel burst out from the veil of sand. A long, winding surface of ice spontaneously emerged into the air, creating a sloped passage down the sand dune. Liesel landed on top of the ice path. With a push of her foot, she slid down the slippery plane at a blazing speed.

    Emil couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. This fucking commentator! He tossed out a block of stone into the path of the ice. The ice passage wobbled as the stone smashed apart a portion of the structure. Liesel instantly responded, conjuring a column of ice to preserve the passage¡¯s integrity.

    ¡°Come on, darling!¡± Liesel yelled over the chaos.

    The Ice Maiden was quickly gaining on him. A flash of azure blinded his periphery. Emil tilted his head to the side. A storm of icicles rained down on his location. He ducked and weaved as the projectiles shattered around him like glass.

    An ice column suddenly erupted before his feet. Emil was forced to stop as the protrusion nearly stabbed his body.

    I¡¯m already in her Interference Range?!

    Liesel¡¯s condescending voice rang overhead, ¡°What a capricious man! You got two beautiful ladies vying for your attention, and yet all you do is run?!¡±

    Emil turned around. Liesel was on his right, nearing the end of the ice passage. Anna was on his left, storming down the slope, leaving behind a vicious stream of sand. Her eyes were wide, red with fury. Emil¡¯s blood ran cold as their eyes met.

    Oh, fuck.

    Anna lunged. Lightning snapped. The air was instantly abuzz with static.

    Emil stepped back, shielding himself in a layer of stone armor. The blast of lightning collided against his arms¡ªthe electromagnetic force knocked him backwards as his stone gauntlets fractured in an instant. It¡¯s fine. He just needed to buy time. Suddenly, he pushed into the ground. A fissure emerged beneath Anna¡¯s feet. She stumbled; her legs dropped into the sudden opening on the ground.

    ¡°Cage!¡±

    He pressed his hands together. Earth closed around Anna, trapping her lower body beneath the sand.

    ¡°Damn you, Emil!¡± she protested, desperate to pry herself free.

    He turned to face the other threat. Shadows loomed above. Liesel jumped off the passage of ice, accompanied by a storm of icicles. There was no time to defend.

    Desperate, he launched his body backwards as the ice storm stabbed into the sand. One of them carved into his left thigh. Blood sprayed. Pain exploded. The scalding burn of the ice was debilitating.

    Liesel landed. She wasted no time and swung with her bare hands. A sword of ice spontaneously manifested in her grasp. Emil¡¯s reaction was slow. The initial confusion froze him in place. His wounded leg also dragged him down.

    Squelch!

    Liesel¡¯s sword cleaved into his right shoulder.

    This is bad!

    The Ice Maiden was relentless. Without rest, she withdrew her sword and aimed for another strike.

    Clank!

    ¡°Huh?¡± Liesel¡¯s eyes went wide.

    Emil stood there, arms outstretched, somehow stopping her blade with his bare palms. Upon closer inspection, there was a thin layer of stone encased around his palms.

    In her split second of hesitation, Emil kicked the ground. A wave of sand blasted into Liesel¡¯s face. The Ice Maiden grimaced, retreating, eyes closed, while frantically trying to brush herself free from her momentarily blindness.

    Emil pounced, desperate to deliver a finishing blow.

    In the corner of his eyes, he caught a silhouette barreling towards him. It was Anna. Shit! Emil contorted his body in a last second attempt to dodge. Anna¡¯s fist loomed close, energy cackling with inevitability.

    I have to take the hit. He gritted his teeth and braced himself for the devastating blow.

    Bong!

    The bell of the Nautilus suddenly blared with a deafening bellow.

    Emil flinched. Sparks flared in front of his face. But the punch never arrived.

    Cautiously, he opened his eyes. Anna was glaring at him, laboring with heavy breaths. Tears of frustration cascaded down her cheeks. Her fist was outstretched¡ªjust a few inches from making contact with his face.

    She was a second too slow.

    The Clash of Dawn preliminary stage was over.

    Emil let out a sigh of relief. The crowd screamed with excitement.

 Chapter 54 - Eventful encounters

    Kai

    The long, drawn-out sound of the Nautilus bell was soon accompanied by Melody¡¯s enthusiastic call.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen! What a riveting conclusion to the Clash of Dawn! Outnumbered once again, Emil fends off Liesel¡¯s onslaught with a devious tactic! But before he can capitalize, Anna suddenly rushed back into the fray! Her unexpected and explosive return caught our protagonist off guard! And just as he was about to suffer a devastating punch, the Clash of Dawn comes to an abrupt end!¡±

    The frenzied cheers of the crowd filled the Nautilus¡ªtheir frenetic excitement seemed to shake the very foundations of the colosseum.

    Kai listened to their cries as he loomed over his unconscious opponent. A ring of water surrounded his torso while his hands held a pair of liquid shivs. The water construct glinted with an ominous red tint.

    Blood. From the male student that he had just eliminated. Nasty cuts and lacerations decorated the body of his felled opponent.

    He let out a heavy sigh. His shoulders dropped. The Azurite on his earrings no longer glowed as the shiv and ring of water lost their form, promptly collapsing into a puddle on the arid sand.

    He was normally not this brutal and vicious with his attacks. The shame of being saved from elimination by Emil, however, left him enraged.

    ¡°Kai Kiyeng takes the last elimination! By his actions, only eight contestants now remain standing in the Nautilus. As per the rules, the Clash of Dawn preliminary stage comes to an end!¡±

    With Melody¡¯s announcement, Academy staff members on standby began streaming out of their hiding spots. They ran towards the unconscious participants still lying on the field, administered first aid, and promptly carried them off the stage.

    A firm hand suddenly grabbed Kai by the chin. He was about to protest until he met the stern gaze of a professor. They gave him a quick assessment¡ªsqueezing, tilting, and stretching his cheeks like a doll while scrutinizing every inch of his face.

    ¡°¡­No signs of concussion or brain damage,¡± the professor muttered with a satisfied nod, ¡°Come to the medic bay after you¡¯ve calmed down. We need to get you ready for tomorrow¡¯s knockout rounds immediately.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Kai responded languidly. Fatigue ate into his limbs and bones. The side of his jaw suddenly throbbed. He grimaced as the pain was accompanied by bitter memories of a humiliating defeat.

    Damn you, Emil.

    Somehow, the delinquent had managed to hold onto the spotlight until the very end¡ªeven surviving the combined assault of Liesel and Anna. Kai was sick of hearing his name ring across the Nautilus. Eyeing the rocky outcrops where the two of fought, he sneered as he limped his way off the battlefield.

    Aren¡¯t you glad that I eliminated the last person just in time, Emil? You can thank me later. In exchange, you better not lose before we meet in the knockout rounds.

    Emil

    ¡°Take a seat.¡±

    The familiar, astringent scent of antiseptics filled the air. Emil did as he told, sitting down on the sole bed available in the spacious room. He was in a private area within the medical bay of the Nautilus. The person attending to him was a woman in her early 30s. Professor Raine¡ªone of the chief medical staff overseeing this facility. Her demeanor was calm and gentle. She carried herself with a maternal air, reminiscent of a mature woman who was competent in all facets of life.

    ¡°Take off your top,¡± she said, walking over with salve and cloth. Emil reluctantly obliged. As he stripped off his ragged uniform, he caught the faintest of surprise flash across Raine¡¯s face. His mouth curved into a self-deprecating smirk.

    Sorry that you have to see this hideous body.

    His limbs and torso were mauled by burns and injuries accumulated during his time with Steiger. The skin on his body was like patchwork, a grotesque pattern of scarred tissue from different missions. Emil was no stranger to the disturbing state of his body. Yet, surprisingly, Professor Raine didn¡¯t ask him any questions. Not a single comment. Nor did she let out a single utterance of shock or disgust.

    As if this was just another day of work, she gently pressed her hand against his back.

    ¡°Mend,¡± she chanted.

    Her voice seemed to resonate in the enclosed space. Emil felt a soothing sensation wash over his shoulders that slowly cascaded down the length of his body. It was a relieving chill that assuage his inflamed muscles and throbbing wounds. Just cold enough to not make him wince with discomfort.

    He closed his eyes, letting himself indulge in this rare moment of tranquility.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± he mumbled as the soothing sensation faded.

    ¡°Just doing my job,¡± Professor Raine replied with a smile as she worked to uncork the bottle of ointment, ¡°I halted the inflammatory response of your damaged tissues and accelerated your healing factors with my Gift. You should feel better in a bit. This ointment I have here will further promote healing. You might feel your wounds get itchy overnight. Try not to scratch. Instead, soothe the affected areas with ice.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    Emil sat still as Professor Raine began applying the ointment. As he waited in silence, he could hear the shrieks of a student crying in pain outside in the corridor. Concerned, he turned to Raine. The professor continued her work nonchalantly¡ªcompletely unfazed by the disturbing noises.

    ¡°¡­Should you really be working on me?¡±

    ¡°They have plenty of time to heal. You, on the other hand, have to be ready to fight again tomorrow.¡±

    Emil grimaced at the thought. The Clash of Dawn schedule really is brutal. He didn¡¯t think much of it at first, but after narrowly surviving the insanity of the preliminaries, he was starting to have doubts about his performance.

    I really underestimated the students here.

    ¡°And if I may add,¡± Professor Raine continued, ¡°Frankly speaking, you¡¯re actually the one who has the worst injuries. Cuts, lacerations, bruises, acid burns, shocks, and then there¡¯s even the gruesome slash that the Ice Maiden landed on you.¡± She shook her head, a mixture of disbelief and confoundment. ¡°If I may be honest, I¡¯m a bit in awe of your tenacity. I think most students would have collapsed from these injuries long before the conclusion of the preliminaries.¡±

    Emil shrugged. They can do it too if they train under Steiger for two years.

    Someone knocked on the door.

    ¡°Professor Raine? It¡¯s me.¡±

    The muffled voice outside the room sounded vaguely familiar.

    Raine let out a sigh before rising to get the door. ¡°Sorry about this,¡± she said, visibly displeased as if she was expecting the guest. The door opened to a young lady in Academy uniform. Emil narrowed his eyes. He was sure he had memorized all of the freshmen student¡¯s faces, but this young lady eluded him.

    Her eyes were large, widened with a curious glint. A bundle of gray hair was trimmed messily to her shoulders. The girl strolled into the medical room with a childlike energy. In the meantime, Professor Raine discreetly exited the room without any explanation.

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    What¡¯s going on?

    The female student pulled a chair close to the bed and sat down with an energetic plop! Not saying a single word, she simply stared at him in silence¡ªher face locked with a bright smile like a doll. Needless to say, it quickly got uncomfortable.

    ¡°¡­Um? Hi?¡±

    ¡°Hmmm, I think I can make this work¡­¡± she muttered something incomprehensible, presumably to herself.

    Emil raised an eye. For some reason that prompted a reaction as the young lady suddenly sat up straight with a loud clap.

    ¡°Emil Milligan! Do you know who I am?¡±

    Um, no? Actually, wait. The timbre of her voice suddenly jogged the gears in his head. The cadence and tone were unmistakable. He had been hearing her voice over and over in the past hour. So much so that it became nauseatingly familiar.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡ª¡±

    ¡°Melody Lain! A second-year at Exalted Academy. Champion of the previous Clash of Dawn,¡± she said, suddenly leaning in, eyes shining with reverence, ¡°And now, your biggest fan!¡±

    Emil leaned his head back to keep his distance, slightly off-put by the bizarre introduction. Without warning, Melody¡¯s hands shot out, latching onto his chin with a solid gasp. Stunned by the sudden move, Emil was speechless as Melody pulled him closer.

    ¡°Mm! Your face has potential. It¡¯s still a bit boyish, but given a year or two, I bet you¡¯ll blossom into quite the looker. What a shame that the timing didn¡¯t perfectly match,¡± Melody sighed before breaking out into a smile filled with desire, ¡°It¡¯s not surprising why the preliminaries ended up revolving around you as the protagonist¡ªoh?!¡±

    She gasped as Emil pried her hands off his chin. The shock of Melody¡¯s complete lack of respect for personal space finally wore off.

    I swear everyone in this Academy must be clinically insane.

    ¡°First of all, don¡¯t just touch me,¡± Emil hissed, tossing her hand away as he shot her an accusatory glance, ¡°Second of all, the reason why I became the focus of the preliminaries was because of you!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Melody said, sticking out her tongue cheekily.

    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend to be ignorant. You know damn well that the commentator has a significant impact on how the preliminary unfolds. While the audience can see the entire stadium, the contestants only have their eyes and your ramblings to discern the state of the field,¡± Emil snapped. His eyes flashed with fury. ¡°You deliberately painted a target on my back. It¡¯s almost as if you were trying to get me eliminated.¡±

    Melody quickly acquiesced, ¡°Okay, okay, fine. I might have fanned the flames a little bit.¡± Her eyes suddenly gleamed like a snake¡¯s. ¡°But honestly, what did you expect? The Clash of Dawn is a spectacle. It¡¯s entertainment. It¡¯s drama. What¡¯s a drama without a hero to play the main character?¡±

    ¡°But why me?¡± Emil growled.

    ¡°It didn¡¯t have to be you. Before the preliminaries started, the person that everyone wanted to see the most was the Ice Maiden. My original plan was to observe her warpath to take the number one spot. But then you appeared,¡± Melody exclaimed, dangling a finger towards his face, ¡°You immediately overcame a three-on-one disadvantage with Louis von Langford on the helm. He was predicted to be a top eight contender, you know? You, a nobody, suddenly took out a promising dark horse while outnumbered. And then continued to do so. Again. And again. And again.¡±

    Melody giggled.

    ¡°Am I supposed to just ignore your fascinating performance? That would be a dereliction of my duties as the official Clash of Dawn commentator! If there¡¯s anything to blame, it¡¯s your own competence.¡±

    Emil clenched his teeth in frustration. He wanted to protest, but there was nothing with what Melody said that he could refute. When viewed from her perspective, it was a no-brainer¡ªhe was an unknown commodity who suddenly seized the event by a storm. At the end of the day, the Clash of Dawn was entertainment for the elites, intent to draw eyes and build excitement towards the new talents of Exalted Academy.

    The battle royale format of the preliminaries also enabled this. There were no rules against teaming up against one contestant. Now that he thought about it, the rules had been built for a single person to seize the spotlight.

    Melody smirked. ¡°But really, you should be thanking me. You now have the attention of Ardair¡¯s elites. Scoring above Ice Maiden was impressive enough, but managing subdue her in combat while outnumbered? Now that¡¯s something worthy of discussion. Think about it. You, who was a nobody, suddenly possess real value. If you play your cards correctly, the opportunities you have after graduating are endless.¡±

    I would be thrilled if I wasn¡¯t already shackled to Steiger.

    ¡°Now then! The demand for Emil Milligan is currently at an all-time high. To ride this momentum, I like to ask you a few personal questions,¡± Melody exclaimed as she suddenly produced a parchment of paper and ink, ¡°First, what¡¯s your favorite pastime?¡±

    Emil blinked, frozen with disbelief by the whiplash of Melody¡¯s fervor pace. This bizarre conversation had suddenly devolved into an interview.

    ***

    Good grief.

    Emil sighed as he limped out of the medical room. His mind had melted into mush after putting up with Melody¡¯s incessant questions. Somehow, he felt more exhausted here than during the preliminaries.

    I should get some rest.

    Professor Raine¡¯s treatment had worked wonders to soothe his pains, but it was now up to his body¡¯s natural healing to make sure that he could move properly the next day.

    The quarter-final matches were tomorrow. For the remaining top eight contenders, the frenetic schedule of the Clash of Dawn gave them little time for respite.

    Before he retreated for the day, Emil decided to check up on the standings and the matchups of the knockout rounds. He found the information he was looking for posted on a bulletin board within the medical bay corridors.

    Standings:

    <ol>

    <li> Emil Milligan</li>

    <li> Liesel von Belle</li>

    <li> Niall von Ulster </li>

    <li> Rory von Astrea</li>

    <li> Lira von Castille</li>

    <li> Anna Seibert</li>

    <li> Kai Kiyeng</li>

    <li> Gaius von Ragnar</li>

    </ol>

    His first matchup was against a male student named Gaius. Emil frowned, trying to recall any details about his opponent. Yeah, I got nothing. In fact, most of the contenders on his side of brackets were all unfamiliar to him. Liesel, Anna, and Kai were all on the other side. He wouldn¡¯t have a chance to face them until the finals.

    Avoiding Liesel and Anna until the finals is good, but I need information on the rest of my opponents.

    Not knowing what his opponents were capable of placed him at a severe disadvantage. Meanwhile, thanks to Melody¡¯s focus on him during the preliminaries, the details of his fighting style and Gift were probably well-known to the remaining participants.

    As he debated where to get intel, someone¡¯s footsteps echoed from behind the bend of the corridor. Emil raised his head. His mouth curved into an uneasy smile as his eyes fell upon a familiar face.

    ¡°Hello, Anna.¡±

    Anna grimaced as their eyes met. A section of her cheeks was covered in a gauze affixed by plaster. Otherwise, she looked relatively unscathed aside from the traces of sand and dirt stuck in her hair.

    Emil waited for her reply, but it never came. Anna remained still with a tense expression on her face as if she was battling some inner turmoil. The final three-way confrontation between the two of them and Liesel replayed in his head. Anna was within seconds of landing of devastating punch on him. He was only saved thanks to Kai¡¯s timely elimination.

    I guess she¡¯s feeling guilty about that.

    ¡°¡­Please don¡¯t hit me,¡± he joked to break the silence while raising his hands to feign a surrender, ¡°I already have enough injuries to deal with.¡±

    ¡°A-As if I was going to! What the hell do you think I am? A barbarian?!¡± she immediately retorted.

    Emil scratched his neck. As much as he wanted to continue teasing her, he suddenly recalled the demonic expression on her face while she was desperately hunting him down during the preliminaries. The mere memory sent shivers down his spine.

    Yeah, I rather not see that again.

    ¡°You¡¯re thinking about something rude again, aren¡¯t you?¡± Anna frowned as she strolled up to the bulletin board beside him. As she scanned the results and the tournament bracket, a whisper escaped her mouth, ¡°We¡¯re on opposite side of the bracket¡­¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that great? We won¡¯t have to see each other until the finals.¡±

    She was silent, unresponsive¡ªher eyes still glaring at the bulletin board as if in deep thought. He was reminded of her desperate pleads for him to fight her seriously.

    ¡°Anna,¡± he gave her a small tap on the shoulder. She flinched, spinning towards him confused, seemingly knocked out of her daze.

    ¡°¡­What?¡±

    Suddenly feeling awkward, Emil hesitated. Whatever, I¡¯ll just say it. ¡°About what you said during the preliminaries. About calling you a burden before.¡± The pained expression on her face during that moment flashed in his head. ¡°Sorry. I didn¡¯t mean it like that. It was the heat of the moment and¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop.¡± Anna clicked her tongue, visibly frustrated. She glanced to the side sheepishly, the edge of her eyes shaking with discomfort, ¡°Dammit, why do you always speak your mind so quickly?¡± she muttered to herself, irritated, before lowering her head with a sigh.

    ¡°I should be the one apologizing. There was no need for me to go after you in the preliminaries. I already secured enough points. It was entirely selfish and egoistical on my part. I¡­¡± she groaned, ¡°I dragged you into that mess and then made you suffer most of the consequences. I was angry and ashamed with myself when I couldn¡¯t help you. And then I unfairly took that out on you.¡±

    Anna raised her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Emil. I didn¡¯t even thank you for going through that with me, and yet I¡ª¡±

    Her eyes grew wide as Emil gently patted the top of her head.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright. I don¡¯t hold it against you,¡± he said happily with a light smile.

    The tender atmosphere of their reconciliation, however, had already vanished.

    ¡°¡­What are you doing?¡±

    Anna¡¯s apologetic tone suddenly disappeared. Emil glanced down. Her teeth were clenched and her eyes were narrowed with a dangerous glint.

    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know. This seemed fitting given the mood.¡±

    ¡°What mood, you idiot?! Who said you can touch me so casually!¡± Anna slapped his hand away, ¡°And don¡¯t just brush off my apology that easily! I struggled so hard coming up with the right words to say! You don¡¯t get to just say everything is fine!¡±

    Emil smirked. ¡°Then I¡¯ll consider it water under the bridge if you let me tease you without consequence.¡±

    ¡°Y-You¡­¡± Anna stomped the floor in frustration, her face glowing a brilliant red. ¡°Damn you, Emil. You better make it to the final round like you promised! I won¡¯t forgive you otherwise!¡±

 Chapter 55 - Looking for clarity

    Emil

    After their eventful reconciliation, Emil and Anna left the medical bay of the Nautilus, ready to retreat back to their dorms to prepare for tomorrow¡¯s matches. Before they could take a single step out of the facility, however, they were immediately swarmed by a group of Academy staff members.

    Suddenly encircled, Emil and Anna eyed each other in confusion.

    ¡°Ummm, did we do something?¡± he asked sheepishly.

    ¡°Take them away.¡±

    What the hell?!

    Alarmed, Emil tried to protest until the futility of his resistance sunk in. They were flanked on all sides by powerful Exalted. He and Anna quickly surrendered and obliged with the staff¡¯s demands. Still confused at what was going on, Emil racked his mind for answers as they were escorted away.

    ¡­Is this about the incident with Ellen and Professor Callum?

    The thought sent shivers down his spine. Anna seemed to have arrived at the same conclusion as she shot him a horrified glance.

    No. It can¡¯t be. There¡¯s nothing connecting the two of us to that incident. I made sure of it. But then why?

    He was still trying to convince himself that he was overthinking when they arrived at a gated mansion. The grand building was secluded in the far corner of the campus¡¯ northwestern quadrant. It was fenced off and guarded by a mixture of Sentinels and Academy staff.

    This doesn¡¯t seem like a place where they would interrogate students.

    ¡°You¡¯ll be staying here for the duration of the Clash of Dawn. You won¡¯t be permitted to leave the premise unless it¡¯s for a match. But worry not, all of your needs will be taken care of. There are training facilities, chefs, medical staff, along a myriad of other specialized personnel available for you on demand. If there¡¯s something that¡¯s unavailable, please speak to one of the staff on premise. They¡¯ll do their best to meet your request.¡±

    Emil blinked, taken aback by the unexpected twist of events. The whiplash of confusion to dread to relief was overwhelming. He shot a look at Anna. The girl simply shrugged.

    ¡°Then¡­I like to have some of the pudding that¡¯s served regularly in the cafeteria,¡± he requested out of sheer curiosity to see what they would do.

    ¡°Understood,¡± the person in charge turned towards one of the staff members escorting them. Immediately, they sprinted off without a word¡ªapparently gone to grant Emil¡¯s request.

    ¡°Your request will be fulfilled in about thirty minutes. Please look forward to it. Anything else you would like before we show you to your rooms?¡±

    O-Okay?

    Emil shook his head with an uneasy smile. The machine-like behaviour of the Academy staff quickly became unsettling.

    ***

    They were given a tour of the mansion. There were spacious training halls, entertainment areas, luxurious rooms the size of the campus cafeteria with an ensuite spa, dazzling chandeliers dangling from every ceiling, and chefs and staff on demand waiting to attend to their every needs. Even the floor was covered in linen carpets woven with gold threads.

    Emil was exhausted by the end of it.

    The opulence on display made his head spin. The excessive shine and sparkles were something unfathomable for someone who had spent most of his formative years fighting to survive in the slums. He couldn¡¯t help but feel bitter.

    If we just had a tiny fraction of this wealth back then¡­

    He thought back to the kids that lived alongside him in the slums. To them, that cramped, dilapidated compound filled with rot and decay was their paradise. That¡¯s how low their standards were. And that¡¯s all they will ever know.

    ¡°Emil?¡±

    Anna shot him a worried glance.

    ¡°Nothing.¡±

    The staff member in charge led them to the entrance of a common room before finally leaving them be. Emil let out a long sigh.

    ¡°¡­I don¡¯t understand this Academy sometimes. Couldn¡¯t they just have told us about this arrangement instead of ushering us away like criminals?¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯d imagine some of students who came from wealthier backgrounds would take issue to being, essentially, locked up in a fancy jail.¡±

    ¡°Fair. I guess not being allowed to leave the premise under the event is over feels rather draconian,¡± he muttered, making sure that none of the staff members nearby were in hearing range.

    ¡°This is the Academy after all. When have they ever done anything normal?¡± Anna said, ¡°Although even if this is a jail, it¡¯s at least a pretty damn comfortable one.¡±

    ¡°Was this really necessary though¡­?¡±

    ¡°The true purpose of the Clash of Dawn to serve as a marketplace for advertising the Academy¡¯s next up-and-coming talents,¡± Anna explained, ¡°From the Academy¡¯s perspective, we¡¯re products that are being prepared for sale. Obviously, you would want to keep your wares polished and spotless before putting them on display.¡±

    If I had to guess, this rule was put in place after some of the contestants got a little too rambunctious celebrating the end of the preliminaries. These sorts of absurd rules and setups were usually always because of some stupid reason.

    On the other hand, Anna¡¯s analogy made them seem uncomfortably close to slaves being displayed at an auction. Emil winced at the comparison as he pushed open the doors that led to the common room.

    It was a large, lavish space, almost resembling a decorated reception hall for a banquet. Emil would have been in awe by the room¡¯s extravagance¡ªif not for the chilling glares being shot his way.

    There were a group of students resting on the couches to his left. A bunch of faces that Emil didn¡¯t recognize. He reckoned they were likely the contestants of the knockout stage. Their eyes were vicious, staring daggers into Emil¡¯s skulls as if they were eager to pounce on him at a moment¡¯s notice. The glamorous ambiance of the mansion suddenly turned tense.

    ¡°¡­Is it just me, or do they look like they want to murder us?¡± Emil asked Anna quietly.

    ¡°It¡¯s just you.¡±

    ¡°Oh good, I thought I was going crazy¡ª¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve been through this before, Emil,¡± she said with a heavy sigh, ¡°What I meant was, it¡¯s just you that they want to murder.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡±

    Emil scanned their faces. Indeed, each of their expressions darkened with animosity as their eyes met. A vague bloodlust hung in the air.

    Should I be sleeping with one eye open? Emil mused. After surviving the preliminaries, he realized that the students of the Academy were fiercely competitive. Those of noble descent were enormously proud of their ¡®superior¡¯ bloodlines while the commoners were desperate to prove themselves before a life-changing opportunity.

    Hearing Emil¡¯s name resound across the Nautilus over and over again must have made them sick.

    ¡°Sucks to be so popular, don¡¯t you think?¡± Anna said smugly as she strolled towards the dining hall.

    ¡°I think the correct word is notorious,¡± Emil replied, following her, not wanting to left alone in a den of hostile eyes.

    Anna shot him a cheeky gaze. ¡°Not bothered?¡±

    ¡°As if I¡¯m going to be intimidated by a bunch of students,¡± he scoffed.

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    Inside the dining hall, Emil¡¯s puddings were already waiting for him on a table. Without asking, Anna immediately seized one for herself. This girl¡ª Emil was about to complain until he noticed the presence of another contestant.

    Sitting by himself at the rear of the room, a male student was in the midst of finishing up his meal. His posture was immaculate. His hands operated the fork and knife with a practiced and refined elegance as they sunk into the food. There was a regal air to his movements. His hair, dazzling blond, seemed to almost glimmer under the dim chandelier lights. Emil was reminded of Princess Aoife on the day she addressed the first-years.

    He must be the Second Prince.

    Rory von Astrea.

    Emil didn¡¯t know much about the Second Prince of Ardair, except that he was a promising Exalted and betrothed to Liesel.

    I can¡¯t even imagine having the Ice Maiden as a wife. He nearly made a face at the disturbing thought. The vicious personality of Liesel flashed in his head as he recalled their encounter in the preliminaries. His shoulder suddenly throbbed¡ªthe exact area where she had slashed with her ice blade. Eh. Then again, plenty of men are apparently into being dominated. He wasn¡¯t one to judge others for their preferences.

    Obviously, the engagement between Rory and Liesel was likely a political arrangement, but Emil couldn¡¯t help but entertain the possibility that it was out of love.

    Rory raised his head as he finished his meal. Their eyes met. Instantly, the composed glance on his face turned wary. Wow, people really don¡¯t like me here. Without a word, Rory rose from his seat and promptly left the dining hall. The corners of his eyes trailed Emil as he exited.

    ¡°That felt a little personal,¡± Anna teased as she shoved a spoonful of pudding into her mouth.

    ¡°Should I have bowed in reverence and addressed him as His Highness?¡±

    Anna laughed, ¡°No, Rory is pretty amicable usually. But I can understand why it might be hard to remain composed when facing a home wrecker.¡±

    ¡°What? Me?¡± Emil was aghast.

    ¡°Remember those rumors about you catching Liesel¡¯s attention?¡± Anna¡¯s eyes danced with a mischievous glint. ¡°Something about a chance encounter at the training field? And then there was her impassioned attitude towards you during the preliminaries. I¡¯m not surprised that the prince might not be able to hold his composure in front of such a nasty person.¡±

    ¡°Just what the hell have those rumors been saying?!¡±

    A third voice suddenly slithered into their conversation.

    ¡°I happened to be there, and my, oh my, was it a spicy encounter.¡±

    It was Kai. The half-Gharian strolled into the dining hall with an irritating smirk across his face.

    ¡°I almost had to shield my innocent eyes from all the tension in air,¡± he said, pretending to cover his eyes with his fingers.

    ¡°Oooo, do share the details,¡± Anna added.

    Kai covertly snatched up one of Emil¡¯s puddings on the table for himself.

    ¡°What more can I say? It was like I was just a side character in one of those forbidden romances between a princess and a commoner, watching as the two of them conveyed their passionate desire for each other in thoughts and shy glances. It was¡ªow, ow, ow!¡±

    Emil slammed a hand on Kai¡¯s shoulders and squeezed down with an ironclad grip.

    ¡°I appreciate it if you didn¡¯t make up some bizarre fantasy in your head!¡± he warned as he intensified his grip with every word. Kai squirmed, gasping in pain.

    ¡°Okay, okay! I yield! I yield!¡± he squealed.

    ***

    ¡°What do you want?¡±

    Kai was massaging the side of his shoulder. ¡°Good grief, your grip strength is ridiculous,¡± he winced before dropping his arms. The mischievous glint in his gaze vanished as he suddenly grew serious. ¡°I like a moment of your time. Man to man. Alone.¡±

    Emil raised an eye at the sudden change in mood. He and Kai weren¡¯t exactly close¡ªthey were more antagonistic than amicable to each other. But he seems genuine. Emil couldn¡¯t sense any of the usual conniving and scheming aura permeating Kai¡¯s vicinity.

    He shot a glance at Anna, giving her the go-ahead to leave them be. Without another word, she left the dining hall. The sound of the door closing behind her resounded loudly in the silent venue.

    ¡°Well?¡±

    Emil blinked as a flash of azure suddenly gleamed from Kai¡¯s wrist. A shiv of water suddenly emerged in Kai¡¯s hands, pointed to the side of Emil¡¯s throat.

    ¡°Scary,¡± he muttered sarcastically, barely managing to hold his composure. The feigned attack caught him by surprise¡ªmostly because Kai didn¡¯t radiate a single smidgen of bloodlust. This entire act was for show. I hope so, at least. He was in deep trouble if he was wrong.

    ¡°I have an important question. Please answer honestly.¡± Kai¡¯s tone was chilling. The shiv continued to loom dangerously close. ¡°Why did you spare me during the preliminaries?¡±

    ¡°Spare you?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend that it was a mistake. We both know that I would have been eliminated if you didn¡¯t kick me out of my own attack. You could have escaped with ease without doing that,¡± Kai growled, ¡°Was it pity? Was it to humiliate me? Was it to tame me and make me indebted to you? Why?!¡±

    The edge of Kai¡¯s hands was shaking. His teeth bared. A spiral of emotions filled his eyes.

    I see. He¡¯s just like Anna.

    Emil finally understood. The students of this Academy were immensely prideful of their abilities. They despised being looked down upon. They would rather lose pitifully on their own terms than desperately grab onto someone¡¯s hands for a second chance.

    He couldn¡¯t understand that mentality, not as someone who had lost everything and then had to claw his way up from the very bottom of Ardair¡¯s hierarchy. All Emil ever wanted was someone to extend him a helping hand. And yet, these students in front of him rejected that idea completely, wanting to prove themselves with their abilities alone.

    Such a privileged mindset.

    Those were his honest thoughts, but he didn¡¯t necessary hate that naivety either.

    ¡°It was out of respect. I liked your tenacity. Your cunningness and tactics during our fight was impressive. If you didn¡¯t let your guard down after you lost sight of me, you might have won. I wanted to acknowledge that, and so I decided not eliminate you,¡± Emil explained, ¡°It was just a whim. If I offended you because of it, then I apologize.¡±

    Silence filled the air. Emil maintained his unwavering gaze. Finally, he felt Kai retract his Gift.

    ¡°You¡¯re an infuriating guy, you know that?¡± Kai clicked his tongue. Without another word, he disappeared out of the dining hall.

    Emil sighed, tired of all the attention. He gathered the remaining puddings into his arms.

    Maybe I should just retreat into my room before someone else decides to pick a fight with me.

    ***

    Rory

    So that was the infamous Emil Milligan.

    The male delinquent who got into a ruckus on the opening day of the school term. The person who caught Liesel¡¯s interest leading up to the Clash of Dawn. The ranked one student and main character of the preliminaries who eliminated the opposition with his emphatic martial prowess.

    Rory narrowed his eyes as he walked through the corridors of the mansion. Somehow, this mysterious, unknown student suddenly became on the forefront of everyone¡¯s minds. The name Emil Milligan had infamy before the event, and so Rory was expecting to see a rough, rugged person with an imposing physique to match his reputation of being a monstrous close-combatant. Instead, what he saw was a teenager with an average build and a boyish face that had still yet to mature.

    The contrast between his appearance and his reputation was confounding.

    Just who is this guy?

    He was starting to think that the rumors around Emil might have been exaggerated. Still, none of that particularly mattered to him. It was mere curiosity. If there was someone at the Academy who could pry the scrutinizing eyes off of him and Liesel, then he would welcome them with open arms.

    As the Second Prince, Rory was used to living in the shadows of his elder brother.

    Aidan von Astrea¡ªthe Crown Prince and jewel of Ardair. Competent, charismatic, and confident, he possessed all of the qualities needed to be a king.

    Compared to someone as blindingly bright as his elder brother, Rory was just a regular person. A run-of-the-mill member of the royal family, who will one day have his portrait in the far corners of the palace walls. Just a footnote in the history books. A contingency plan that didn¡¯t need to be used.

    Rory was resigned to that fate¡ªto play a supporting role in his elder brother¡¯s legacy. There were much worse ways to live in Ardair.

    He eventually arrived at the place that he was called to visit. He was in front of the room of his betrothal, Liesel.

    He gulped, swallowing down his nerves before giving the door a firm knock.

    ¡°Liesel? It¡¯s Rory.¡±

    After a few agonizing seconds of silence, she responded, ¡°Come in.¡±

    Rory pushed the door open. Immediately, he was assaulted by a wave of frigid air. Liesel was standing in the center of her room, dressed in a loose night gown, her hands outstretched. Mana tenderly caressed her body as they slowly accumulated in her palms. A shard of ice then manifested into existence, woven in an intricate pattern, resembling the petals of a flower in full bloom. Seemingly satisfied with her performance, Liesel let out a quiet exhale as the ice slowly sublimated into air.

    Rory watched in stunned silence. This was an exercise that Liesel did often to train her mana control. Yet, each time he witnessed it, he was left with a jaw-dropping impression.

    A once-in-a-generation talent. Those were the only words fit to describe Liesel¡¯s ability as an Exalted. And such a person was to be his wife.

    ¡°Sorry to make you wait,¡± she said, beckoning towards a chair nearby, ¡°Take a seat.¡±

    He obliged after shutting the door behind him. Liesel pulled another chair close. The two of them sat across from each other. Silence quickly lingered. Rory felt his heart race, watching as his betrothal stare pensively at the floor, seemingly in deep thought.

    This was a rare moment for them. Like most engagements amongst the nobility, theirs was born out of political interests between their families. House Belle were the rulers of the Rosales province, and Liesel was their sole daughter.

    In recent times, the elites of Ardair were growing increasingly powerful, using their immense wealth to amass Exalted talents under their ranks. The royal family had been able to maintains its dominion by strictly controlling the circulation of Azurite. Without the rare mineral, Exalted cannot use their Gifts. By carefully balancing their distribution of this strategic resource, the royal family were able to exert their influence.

    Lately, however, the royal family found its authority beginning to slip amongst the elite factions. This generation of elites was unusually ambitious. Feeling threatened, the royal family had planned to use Rory and Liesel¡¯s reunion to consolidate their power via an alliance between them and House Belle.

    ¡°It¡¯s rare for you to seek me out like this,¡± Rory finally said to cut the silence.

    The only times he could remember speaking with her like this were at banquets, formals, ceremonies, and other public events pertaining to the court. Even then, their times spent together felt like fleeting formalities.

    How did Liesel feel about him? What was lying behind that maiden gaze?

    He had been hoping their time together at the Academy would be able to clarify their relationship.

    ¡°So, what did you want to talk about?¡±

    The silence remained. The awkwardness continued to linger. Rory was growing impatient when Liesel suddenly let out a long sigh.

    ¡°I was trying to think of the best way to approach this, but nothing made sense. It¡¯s times like this where I curse my lack of eloquence. And so, I will just be direct.¡± Liesel raised her head. Their eyes met for the first time. Rory felt a chill ran down his spine. Her gaze was unfathomably cold.

    ¡°Rory, I am going to annul our engagement.¡±

 Chapter 56 - The Ice Maiden of Belle

    Rory

    Liesel¡¯s words struck like thunder.

    ¡°Y-You? What?!¡± Rory stuttered in disbelief. His heart skipped a beat, unable to process the outrageous statement that he just heard. ¡°¡­Is this a joke?¡±

    He immediately regretted his question. Liesel¡¯s frigid expression almost made him feel stupid for asking.

    ¡°No. I am completely serious, Rory.¡±

    ¡°¡­Why?¡± he asked, dismayed¡ªbefore frantically shaking his head, ¡°Actually, no! This was an arrangement decided between our families! You can¡¯t just decide to annul it on a whim!¡±

    ¡°Actually, I can. Father has given me permission,¡± she revealed, ¡°The head of the Belle family said I can do whatever I please. Whether it means following through with our engagement or breaking it off to pursue someone of my own volition, I have been given the rights to control my fate.¡±

    The implications of her words stunned Rory into a daze. Reneging on this arrangement meant that the Belle family was no longer interested in the royal family¡¯s allegiance. Even worse, it implied that they weren¡¯t scared either of the royal family¡¯s possible retaliations or demands. This move would likely spark a potential shift in the status quo of Ardair. But in this moment, however, Rory couldn¡¯t care less about the political considerations of Liesel¡¯s decision.

    ¡°Then, am I not good enough? Am I not worthy of you?!¡±

    Liesel explained with an expressionless face, ¡°I gave a lot of thought into this. This has been brewing for a while now. But after experiencing the preliminaries, I realized I wanted someone who can stand beside me as I ascend to the top of the Exalted world. Are you that person, Rory? Currently, I¡¯m not sure.¡±

    Rory clenched his teeth. His throat suddenly felt hot as his heat fumed to his chest. Shame and humiliation gnawed at his rationality as he searched for something to latch his anger onto.

    ¡°¡­Is this because of Emil Milligan?¡± he randomly blurted out. Unexpectedly, his question earned a grin from Liesel. The sight of her ex-fianc¨¦e¡¯s smile drove him mad. ¡°Answer me!¡±

    Liesel scoffed at his outburst, ¡°Did I fall in love with him? No. Did my confrontation with him help me arrive at this conclusion?¡± Her eyes suddenly gleamed with excitement. ¡°Yes.¡±

    Rory shot up his seat. His hands balled into fists as he smashed the seat of the chair. The wooden structure shattered instantly, crumbling with a nasty crack as his arms tore through the surface. He ripped his hands free, ignoring the lacerations caused by the wooden splinters as he looked for something else to break.

    ¡°Before you destroy more stuff, let me finish. Like you said, our engagement was decided by our parents. But now they¡¯ve given me the freedom to choose. I have no desire to be caged by a loveless marriage dictated by political interests. However¡ª¡± Liesel narrowed her eyes. ¡°If you feel any sorts of genuine affection for me, then prove it. Show me your strength. Court me by demonstrating that you are someone who can stand by my side. Meet me at the finals of the Clash of Dawn and face me with the full extent of your feelings.¡±

    Her gaze suddenly softened. Rory stared at her, embroiled with bitterness. This was an expression that he¡¯s never seen before¡ªnot once since they were engaged.

    ¡°If you can do that, then I¡¯ll happily accept you as my husband.¡±

    ***

    Emil

    Bright lights streaked through the thin, translucent binds. Emil slowly opened his eyes, indulging in the gentle warmth of the morning rays on his cheeks. He was wrapped up in a bundle of cozy blankets¡ªtheir softness molded along his body in a tender caress. For someone who was in perpetual pain due to his endless queue of injuries, this experience was heavenly.

    I don¡¯t want to leave.

    He eventually pried himself off the bed. Expelling himself from paradise took more willpower than he expected. Sitting upright, Emil closed his eyes and recalibrated himself.

    I¡¯m here to reach the finals of the Clash of Dawn. The finals will get me access to the Consortium. The archives of the Consortium might have information that could advance my mission for Steiger. Performing well and reaffirming Steiger of my value lets me keep Mia and Raz off the streets.

    He let out a sullen breath, flushing out the frivolous thoughts clouding his head.

    I must win for Mia and Raz.

    With his goal clear, Emil opened his eyes and began his pre-match preparations.

    ***

    The mansion was quiet when he exited the room. Most of the contestants appeared to have already left.

    After a modest breakfast, he was escorted to the Nautilus by a group of Academy staff. Even from a distance away, Emil could feel the colosseum bustling with energy. The cacophony of excited conversation echoed in the air as he entered the contestant section of the stadium.

    ¡°You¡¯re late.¡±

    It was Anna who was leaning against the walls of the hallway, apparently waiting for his arrival. There was a familiar face beside her.

    ¡°I believe the proper way to greet someone is good morning, how are you doing, Emil?¡± he said, earning himself a nasty eye roll from Anna.

    Emil turned towards the other person beside her.

    ¡°Hey, Charlotte.¡±

    ¡°Good morning, how are you doing, Emil?¡± Charlotte responded with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

    ¡°Thank you, I feel quite good after hearing that.¡± He smiled at her before shooting Anna a glance. ¡°See?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, whatever,¡± Anna brushed him off as she began walking towards the end of the hallway, ¡°Before you ask, she¡¯s here as my guest. Treat her like a gentleman when I¡¯m not here, alright?¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡± Emil and Charlotte followed closely behind. ¡°I¡¯m the final match of the day, by the way.¡±

    ¡°Ah, then you¡¯re the main attraction,¡± Charlotte said, ¡°I suppose it makes sense given how much I heard your name during the preliminaries yesterday. Even my friends amongst the nobility were asking me about you after the event.¡±

    Emil scratched his head awkwardly, unsure how to respond. The thought that he was suddenly under a lot of scrutiny made him uneasy. He was supposed to be undercover. Undoubtedly, with his newfound infamy, there was going to be meddling individuals who would try pry into his background.

    I should be fine. Hopefully. There¡¯s no way the witch planned for me to participate in the Clash of Dawn and didn¡¯t set up the groundwork to misdirect nosy people.

    ¡°Don¡¯t inflate his ego too much, Charlotte,¡± Anna said, ¡°If his massive head balloons any bigger, he might lose his all edge and focus.¡±

    Emil couldn¡¯t help but smile at her banter.

    The end of the hallway took them into the audience section. There was an area guarded by Academy staff specifically reserved for the contestants to provide them unfettered access to watch the matches.

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Emil stepped out into the open. The scintillating morning sun blazed down on the Nautilus. The atmosphere of the colosseum was abuzz with a frenetic itch. The tension of anticipation was palpable. He hovered his hand over his chest, feeling the rise of his heartbeat, stirred by the feverish energy in the air.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the quarter finals of the Clash of Dawn knockout stage! Once again, it¡¯s your previous Clash of Dawn champion and favorite commentator, Melody Lain!¡±

    The crowd ruptured into a frenzy at the sound of Melody¡¯s voice. Emil felt their screams and cheers pound into his skull. He grimaced at the sensation of his bones rattling from the ravenous excitement. This is absolutely insane. It finally settled in just how many people were in attendance to watch them compete.

    ¡°Feeling nervous?¡± Anna asked with a teasing grin.

    ¡°No. Not really. Not at all.¡±

    ¡°Liar. You¡¯re literally shaking right now.¡± Anna smirked, giving him a few solid taps on the chest. ¡°Relax. Listen to yourself. Recall what you¡¯re aiming for. Then, silence the crowd or use it to amp yourself up.¡±

    Emil gently brushed her hands away. ¡°I told you, I¡¯m fine,¡± he exclaimed as Melody continued her opening interlude.

    ¡°The knockout stage is a single elimination tournament! One-on-one! Contestants are permitted to use their Gifts, any mana techniques, and a weapon that¡¯s been pre-approved by the judging committee! The goal is to make your opponent yield, render them unable to fight, or knock them out of the outer ring of the stage! There are no other rules! Just a simple, good-ole fashion beatdown!¡± Melody yelled, ¡°Now, for the first match of the day, in the western wing, please welcome Kai Kiyeng!¡±

    Beneath the contestant section, Kai walked out of the tunnels and onto the field of Nautilus. The half-Gharian had a tense look on his face, devoid of his usual confidence.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s him,¡± Charlotte suddenly said with a hand over her mouth. Emil raised an eye at the suspicious reaction.

    ¡°You sound like you¡¯re acquainted,¡± he pried, slightly curious. Despite his run-ins with Kai, he knew surprisingly little about the guy.

    Charlotte shook her head. ¡°He has¡­a bit of reputation amongst the girls. Well, girls from noble families in particular.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±

    ¡°Well, a few girls have already gotten their hearts broken by him¡­¡± Charlotte muttered sheepishly.

    Somehow, I¡¯m not surprised. Minus his conniving attitude, Kai had a fairly attractive face and physique. It also helped that he was quite tall.

    ¡°Just make sure you don¡¯t end up on that list, Charlotte,¡± Anna added.

    The crowd suddenly roared into life. Startled, Emil glanced down. It didn¡¯t take long for him to discover the reason behind the excitement.

    ¡°And his opponent, coming from the eastern wing! She¡¯s the first member of the new generation to obtain a moniker. A prodigy amongst prodigies. Please welcome everyone, the Ice Maiden, Liesel von Belle!¡±

    Upon the mention of her name, Liesel strolled out of the tunnels of the Nautilus. A calm, dignified aura permeated her vicinity. Seemingly undisturbed by the rampaging crowd, she carried herself with a poise befitting of a veteran warrior.

    Seriously, what a disgusting matchup, Emil shook his head in disbelief.

    Anna groaned, having arrived at the same conclusion, ¡°He got so screwed by the seeding. What an unlucky guy,¡± she muttered, frowning with pity.

    ***

    Kai

    Kai narrowed his eyes. From the stage, the difference in the crowd¡¯s reaction began even more obvious. He was not ignorant of the reasons why.

    The beautiful and ethereal Ice Maiden of Belle versus a no-name first-year student.

    The daughter of one of the most influential noble houses in Ardair versus a half-blooded Gharian.

    Ice versus water.

    Kai was the underdog in every aspect of this fight. Reputation, status, Gift compatibility. To the audience, this match was a foregone conclusion. Watching it play out was just a formality, a spectacle, an entertaining excuse to witness the Ice Maiden in action. Kai was just an accessory¡ªa medium for Liesel to flaunt her powers.

    He sneered, bitter about his misfortune. If he was matched up against anyone else in the tournament, he¡¯d¡ª

    No, I was already lucky enough to be here.

    He should have been watching this match unfold from the stands, mired in resentment. Instead, Emil unexpectedly tossed him a lifeline in the preliminaries. Second chances were rare in this kingdom. He would not squander it.

    Besides, how great would it feel if I turn the odds against the audience¡¯s expectations?! The cards were stacked heavily against his favor. He couldn¡¯t have asked for a better stage to let loose. Kai trembled with anticipation, imagining his unlikely victory.

    The Ice Maiden stood across from him on the other side of the field. He could see her doll-like expressions. Unlike him, she was calm and composed, without a single smear of turbulent emotions across her face. It was as if this event, surrounded by the rabid attention of thousands of nobles and influential elites, was just another regular day in her life.

    The sight of her composure suddenly pissed him off.

    ¡°Contestants, get ready!¡± Melody announced. Silence hushed through the crowd. The audience waited anxiously with abated breaths.

    I¡¯m going to rip that poised look off your pretty face!

    ¡°Fight!¡±

    Kai wasted no time and charged forward. His Azurite earrings glowed a brilliant blue. In a flash, dozens of mana pockets emerged in the airspace around him.

    The knockout stage of the Nautilus used a flat concrete field about one hundred meters in length and width. For any regular fight, this amount of space was excessive. But in a match between Exalted, the field felt claustrophobic.

    Let¡¯s see how strong you really are!

    The mana pockets spontaneously morphed into water needles. Kai spread their initial positions over wide surface area. They flew at the snap of his fingers. The airspace between him and Liesel was instantly crowded by the fine projectiles¡ªeach one almost too thin to distinguish with the naked eye. But together, they looked horrific as hundreds of the sharp needles rained down at their target.

    Liesel was unfazed.

    She hadn¡¯t moved a single step. With her arms folded, she stared calmly into the maelstrom of needles.

    Without warning, she stomped the ground.

    An icy mist emerged and quickly spread along the field. The barrage of water needles stopped abruptly as the wave of cold air passed by.

    Instantly, the projectiles froze and fell, robbed of the kinetic energy that propelled them forward. Like glass, the frozen needles shattered upon collapsing onto the ground, ringing in high-pitch clings and clanks, producing a chimelike medley.

    Kai¡¯s attack had been nullified. But Liesel¡¯s counter was within his expectations.

    Her interference range is about 50 meters. The remaining distance between us is about 60 meters. She froze the ambient air. Her processing speed is near instantaneous. No mana perturbations. No disorder. Her control is almost perfect.

    He was sour with envy. His mouth curved into a wry smirk as he realized the overwhelming differences between their abilities. Liesel was undoubtedly a genius.

    However, my needles didn¡¯t fall immediately when her mist of frost passed by. There¡¯s a slight time delay before my attack is rendered useless.

    He decided to bet on this slight gap to create an opportunity.

    Mana poured out of his Azurite earrings in high quantities, spiraling violently in his proximity. Kai imagined the violent white waters of the stormy seas¡ªthe colossal waves rising, towering to the dark skies, threatening to swallow up everything in its wake before it finally crashed into the rocky outcrops of the shoreline.

    There¡¯s no need to hold back.

    ¡°Tidal wave!¡± he yelled as the image manifested into reality.

    A massive deluge of high-pressured water emerged before him, swelling to enormous heights.

    ¡°Is that¡­a tsunami?! Kai Kiyeng is doing something unimaginable! How will Liesel respond to this?¡± Shocked gasps rippled through the Nautilus as the audience gawked at the emerging phenomenon.

    As the waves reached it apex, Kai sent it crashing forward. He watched the tidal wave barreled towards Liesel unimpeded, reveling in the stunned silence of the crowd.

    ¡°Crystallize.¡±

    A calm utterance resounded across the Nautilus over the surging waves. An array of colossal ice pillars rose before Liesel, forming a gigantic wall against the oncoming deluge. A second later, Kai¡¯s tidal wave crashed into the dense pillars. The bastion of ice buckled, teetering against the force of heavy swell. Cracks began to splinter across the surface of the ice structures, spreading rapidly as it neared the verge of collapse.

    ¡°Freeze.¡±

    The poised chant sent shivers down Kai¡¯s spine. He watched in horror as parts of the tidal wave suddenly began to solidify. The ice expanded rapidly, halting the raging waters and sapping off its energy. Soon enough, the entirety of his attack had been frozen. The swell was transformed into ice, robbed of its destructive potential and transformed into a picturesque painting of a violent tsunami on land.

    ¡°Break.¡±

    The haunting picture shattered on command. The frozen swell collapsed into innumerable fragments as the integrity of the ice structure was dismissed at the Ice Maiden¡¯s whims.

    ¡°Liesel stops the attack! What an insane display of skill by the Ice Maiden!¡± Melody screamed. The crowd broke into a frenzy¡ªmarvelled and charmed by Liesel¡¯s scintillating performance.

    Amidst the hollering and the humiliating nullification of his attack, Kai charged ahead.

    The battle wasn¡¯t over yet. He hadn¡¯t stepped out of bound. He hadn¡¯t surrendered. He hadn¡¯t been forced to submit.

    He rushed in, using the falling ice and screaming crowd to mask his advance. Soon, Liesel was within reach. Shivs of water formed in his hands as he lunged past the ice with reckless abandon.

    The Ice Maiden was staring at him the entire time. A faint smile crossed her lips as she suddenly snapped her fingers.

    Kai immediately felt the ambient temperature around him drop. Frost clung onto his skin, stabbing into his flesh while the frigid air crawled down the length of his body. Ice soon gathered around his limbs, pinning him in place and shackling him to an icy cage.

    He was never going to reach her.

    ¡°Damn you, Liesel!¡± he screamed with a rabid intensity. Refusing to give up, he tossed the frozen shiv before his limbs were fully encased in ice. The sharp watery blade cut through the air. Not expecting the desperate attack, Liesel was slow to react.

    She leaned to the side, just as the shiv grazed the side of her cheeks. A small cut. Blood leaked from the tiny wound, trickling down her face and onto the edge of her chin.

    Gotcha.

    All of his effort just for a single scratch. But for Kai, his final act of defiance was victory in itself. For he was the first to leave a small blemish on the Ice Maiden¡¯s perfect visage.

    ¡°Kai Kiyeng, was it?¡± Liesel suddenly said, lightly tapping the side of her cheeks. A vicious sneer crossed her face as her eyes widened at the blood stains on her fingers. ¡°Your name. I¡¯ll remember it.¡±

    Kai smirked, brimmed with delight.

    In the corner of his eyes, a hammer of ice descended upon his head.

 Chapter 57 - A historic strike

    Emil

    ¡°What an astonishing conclusion! Kai¡¯s last desperate stand was completely thwarted! The Ice Maiden¡¯s frosty domain remains impregnable even if in the face of a formidable opponent! Ladies and gentlemen, Liesel von Belle takes the first match of the Clash of Dawn¡¯s knockout stage!¡±

    Emil watched as Academy staff members immediately swarmed the field to haul off Kai¡¯s unconscious body. Liesel stood in the midst of the roaring crowd, calm and composed as she soaked in the fanfare. Aside from the faint smirk on her face, she looked carefree and nonchalant¡ªa completely different sight compared to the fanatical joy she displayed during the preliminaries.

    ¡°¡­Good grief, just what are you supposed to do against that?¡± Anna groaned, ¡°I don¡¯t remember her being this oppressive during the preliminaries. Was she holding back? And then Kai as well¡ªthe tidal wave that he created was not something a typical first-year should be able to do.¡±

    She tossed Emil a suspicious glance.

    ¡°Seriously, how the hell did you survive against those two?¡±

    Did you already forget you were involved in that fight as well?

    ¡°I don¡¯t know about Kai, but I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if Liesel was deliberately holding back during the preliminaries. What they both just showed now was definitely impressive,¡± Emil admitted, ¡°However, this match was closer to a spectacle than an actual fight.¡±

    ¡°How so?¡± Charlotte asked.

    ¡°It took about seven seconds for Kai to manifest that tidal wave. And then another three seconds passed before his attack was finally unleashed. That¡¯s ten seconds in total where he stood still in one place. That might seem short, but in an actual fight, ten seconds is an absurdly long time. He would never be allowed an opportunity to complete his attack. Maybe if he was using that move in an ambush before the start of a fight, but out in the open where his opponents could see him in plain sight? It would never happen.¡±

    ¡°Fair point. I would have rushed him immediately if given the chance,¡± Anna said.

    ¡°Exactly, but Liesel purposefully allowed him to complete his attack. She knew about her overwhelming advantage due to their Gift¡¯s incompatibilities, and she was likely aware that Kai would need to do something insane to even have a chance of winning. Maybe you can call it an act of mercy, but she turned this into a show match. By stopping Kai¡¯s magnificent attack, she utilized his desperation to magnify her own capabilities.¡±

    ¡°She is quite cunning, isn¡¯t she?¡± Charlotte said.

    Anna clicked her tongue. Her arms were folded, her fingers tapping frantically against the folds of her uniform. It was obvious that she was bothered by that performance. After all, it would be Liesel waiting for her in the semifinals. Suddenly, she turned back towards the corridors of the Nautilus.

    ¡°My match is next after this one. I¡¯m going in to prepare.¡± She shot a glance at Emil. ¡°You better not lose yours.¡±

    ¡°I know. Same to you.¡±

    ¡°Good luck, Anna!¡±

    Emil watched Anna disappear into the Nautilus facilities. A frown crept across his face.

    I was genuine about everything I said just now, but what could I have even done against those two if they decide to unleash those kinds of attacks?

    When compared against those Liesel and Kai, his Gift seemed laughable. At the end of the day, it was still his combat experience and his Steiger training, not his Gift, that was carrying him through these fights. At this rate, once these first-years became more experienced, he would no longer be able to hold onto this tiny advantage.

    I need a breakthrough.

    He winced at the bitter realization.

    There was another observation that he noticed, but he kept silent out of consideration for Anna.

    During her fight against Kai, Liesel didn¡¯t move a single inch from her starting position.

    ***

    Rory

    Rory stood in the tunnels leading to the main stage, waiting on standby to be called onto the field. The sound of his ex-fianc¨¦e¡¯s name clamored through the Nautilus. The feverish anticipation in the air was tantalizing. Ten minutes had passed since her match ended, and the excitement of the crowd still refused to die down.

    Her name echoed over and over again in his ears.

    Each utterance of the Ice Maiden¡¯s name ate away at his spirit, reminding him of that crushing conversation the two of them shared the night before.

    ¡°Rory, I¡¯m going to annul our engagement.¡±

    Rory grabbed his chest, trying to quell his frantic heartbeats. The statement drove him insane as it echoed in his head.

    Why? Was I not good enough?

    He battled himself, looking inwards for answers. Who was he? A prince. A member of the royal family. A talented Exalted. A man who was well-educated in all matters of affairs, ranging from economics to natural sciences, from history to the musical arts. He had a handsome face, not inferior to the beauties of Ardair. He was not hedonistic nor did he possess the common vices that plagued the lives of the self-indulgent elites.

    Objectively speaking, he was, by all metrics, a fine person.

    So why?

    The question resounded in his head. He couldn¡¯t stand the thought of having his annulment announced to the world. The shame and humiliation would tear him apart. He could already imagine it¡ªthe jeers and vicious eyes of the court cackling at him, mocking his impotence for failing to keep his woman.

    But above all of that, what Rory feared the most was the reaction of his elder brother, Aidan.

    He covered his mouth as his gag reflex instinctively kicked in. He shuddered¡ªhis insides burned and body trembled at the mere thought of Aidan finding out.

    I can¡¯t let him know.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    Melody¡¯s voice suddenly rang over his delusions. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen! After that exquisite opening match, let¡¯s move onto the next! We have another exciting matchup! On the eastern wing, please welcome the beautiful Lira von Castille!¡±

    Aidan can¡¯t know about Liesel¡¯s intentions to break off the marriage.

    ¡°And on the western wing, following a long line of excellence is His Highness, the Second Prince of Ardair, Rory von Astrea!¡±

    It was time to move.

    Rory pushed away the nauseous feelings and the hideous thoughts. He held his head high and walked out of the tunnels with a mask of composure. He was assaulted by the blinding sun and the loud, cacophonous cheers of the excited crowd. Normally he would have been elated at the warm reception, but now, he could only hear them as mockery.

    I¡¯ll make so that our conversation never happened.

    His heart raged, pounding incessantly, booming in his head with hard, reverberating thumps. He squeezed his shaking hands, blood drawn as his nails dug into the skin of his palms. Spittle foamed at the edge of his mouth, but Rory was oblivious.

    I¡¯ll make it to the finals.

    Melody¡¯s voice echoed distantly in the background.

    I¡¯ll make her mine again.

    ¡°¡­Begin!¡±

    And I¡¯ll make her regret daring to bring this up!

    Rory raised his hands above his head. Mana flooded out of his Azurite brooch and gathered in his palms. The stream of azure blue quickly changed to an ominous crimson light, spiraling violently in a maelstrom of energy. In his grasp suddenly emerged a colossal sword aimed skyward.

    With a harrowing cry, Rory brought the sword down. The massive blade descended in a wide crescent, cleaving through the desperate resistance of his opponent before smashing into the Nautilus stage.

    The thunderous tremors rippled across the colosseum.

    ***

    Emil

    Dust and debris from the enormous attack gradually settled, unveiling the state of the field. Stunned silence kept the crowd frozen as they stared, jaws dropped, at the unfathomable sight they just witnessed.

    A quarterfinal match-up between the fourth and fifth seeds of the preliminaries had ended up in a single blow.

    ¡°¡­W-Wow! Do my eyes deceive me? What did we just see?! Rory apparently takes down Lira with a single strike! What an insane turn of events!¡± Melody stammered from the commentary booth, clearly flustered at the unprecedented result.

    The silent crowd immediately roared into life at her words as if they were waiting for permission to get excited. Emil clicked his tongue, feeling nauseous at the savage reactions. The audience¡¯s cheers suddenly sounded like the cries of barbarians.

    He stared at the Nautilus stage¡ªnow left with a deep incision split through the center of the concrete floor. The aftermath of Rory¡¯s Gift. A group of Academy staff were already by Lira¡¯s side, monitoring the unconscious girl¡¯s condition. Emil caught one of them give a thumbs-up to the rest as the tensions in their face disappeared.

    ¡°¡­Looks like she¡¯ll be okay.¡±

    ¡°Oh good.¡± Charlotte let out a sigh of relief. Her hands were clasped together in prayer. ¡°I wonder if something happened with Rory. He¡¯s usually much more composed. This¡­passion is unlike him.¡±

    Passion is certainly a way of putting of it.

    There was no doubt. He felt it. A burst of bloodlust when Rory invoked his attack. For a moment, the air was suffused with murderous energy. The Academy staff on the sidelines definitely noticed as well since they reacted immediately once Rory¡¯s sword descended. Whatever caused him to rampage, he must have overcome at the last moment before his sword landed. Otherwise, Lira¡¯s unconscious body would not be so intact right now.

    ¡°For those concerned, I have good news! Lira von Castille is okay! Just a mere scratch!¡± Melody announced, ¡°Now as the Academy restores the field for the next match, I have a rare special guest in the commentator booth to offer her insights. Please welcome the First Princess of Ardair, Aoife von Astrea!¡±

    She¡¯s quite the expert at diverting attention. Emil mused as the crowd immediately stirred at the sound of the unexpected name.

    The First Princess was just recently legitimized into the royal family. Even for most of the elites in attendance, this would the first time they hear her speak.

    And she certainly knows how to make an appearance, Emil thought as he listened with interest. He still hadn¡¯t confirmed if Aoife was the same noble girl that he met in the slums of Lower Dannan.

    ¡°Your Highness, what did you think about that match just now?¡±

    ¡°Well, what can I say? I certainly wasn¡¯t expecting a massive sword to descend from the skies.¡± Aoife¡¯s unexpected statement drew a wave of laughter. ¡°That was Rory¡¯s special move, Excalibur. My brother Rory was always a skilled Exalted, so I fully anticipated his victory. With that being said, Miss Lira is also a formidable talent herself, so having the match end in a single blow definitely came as a shock.¡±

    ¡°I think all of us could agree that we were hoping for a longer exchange. Nonetheless, what Rory showed was historic and it definitely proved he¡¯s worthy of his advancement to the semifinals. Your Highness, this is your first time watching the Clash of Dawn in person. Are there any contestants or matchups that you¡¯re excited for?¡±

    ¡°I think I¡¯m speaking for everyone when I say that I want to see a rematch between Emil Milligan and the Ice Maiden. Their riveting 3-way confrontation with Anna Seibert in the preliminaries ended without a conclusive finish. In a way, I¡¯m glad it did because now we get to see more of these three in the upcoming matches.¡±

    Emil groaned at the sound of his name. Charlotte tossed him a playful glance from the side.

    Below the Nautilus stage, the Academy staff were quickly at work to repair the destruction left by Rory¡¯s attack. Stones and dirt levitated from the ruined earth and were poured into the deep incision. A tectonic force then smoothed out the uneven edges.

    Emil frowned, wondering if he could use any of the techniques on display to further develop Bulwark.

    ¡°Look at you,¡± a familiar voice suddenly echoed from behind, ¡°You didn¡¯t even do your match yet and somehow you already got the princess uttering your name. Attention just seems to follow you for free, doesn¡¯t it? How enviable.¡±

    It was Kai, casually strolling onto the contestant observation deck with a languid look. His forehead was wrapped in thick bandages where Liesel had delivered a destructive blow.

    It would be enviable and amazing if I wasn¡¯t an undercover student.

    ¡°Are you sure you should be out and about? You got hit pretty hard on the head earlier,¡± Emil said.

    ¡°Blah, not like I had a choice. The medical staff tossed me out the moment I was conscious. I got eliminated, which means my usefulness to the Academy ended. Someone who has no more value doesn¡¯t get special treatment,¡± Kai replied, visibly bitter.

    Emil couldn¡¯t help but smirk at his reaction. ¡°Well, I think you put up a wonderful fight against the Ice Maiden. Even when all the odds were stacked against you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, shut up. The last thing I need is consolations from a dude.¡± Kai waved him off before turning his attention towards Charlotte. ¡°So, who¡¯s this pretty face? Don¡¯t tell me you already ditched Anna for a new girl.¡±

    ¡°This is Charlotte von Braun,¡± Emil made the introductions while trying to ignore Kai¡¯s blunt remarks, ¡°She¡¯s Anna and I¡¯s friend. Try not to be rude.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Kai said dismissively as he walked up to Charlotte. Without warning, he kneeled down on one knee and gently grabbed one of her hands. Unprompted, he kissed the back of her hands with a gentleman¡¯s grace.

    ¡°Miss Charlotte von Braun, was it?¡± he said without any of his usual connivance or frivolousness on display, ¡°I¡¯m Kai Kiyeng. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡±

    ¡°O-Oh¡­l-likewise,¡± Charlotte muttered, stunned by the sudden greeting. The edges of her ears glowed a brilliant red.

    Emil¡¯s jaws dropped at Kai¡¯s sudden change. Who the fuck is this guy? It was difficult to reconcile the gentleman in front of him with the conniving bastard in his head. The contrast was disturbing. Knocked out of his daze, he quickly moved in to untangle Kai¡¯s hands from Charlotte¡¯s.

    ¡°What?¡± Kai asked, displeased that Emil swooped in, ¡°You¡¯re staring at me like I¡¯m a villain. What did I do that was so wrong?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s what you have been doing that¡¯s the problem. I guess rumors of you being a heartbreaker were true,¡± Emil accused, wearing a difficult smile, ¡°Sorry, but she¡¯s off limits today. And tomorrow. And likely till the dawn of time.¡±

    Kai shrugged. ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about. I was just merely introducing myself like a gentleman would.¡±

    ¡°Introducing my ass! Your entire character changed the moment I revealed that she¡¯s from a noble family!¡±

    ¡°Now that¡¯s just slander. Weren¡¯t you the one who said not to be rude? Just because you know a different side of me doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m being insincere.¡± Kai suddenly smirked. ¡°Or perhaps, did you also want me to treat you like a gentleman, Emil?¡±

    Emil made a grotesque face. The thought of being on the receiving end of Kai¡¯s gentlemanly fa?ade made him want to puke.

    ¡°Alright, ladies and gentlemen! You¡¯ve waited long enough!¡± Melody¡¯s voice blared out the colosseum, ¡°We¡¯re finally ready for the next match to get underway!¡±

    Emil watched Anna exit the tunnels. Her scarlet hair fluttered under the noon breeze. A confident smile was engraved across her face without a tiny smidgen of nerves and concern.

    Good luck Anna.

 Chapter 58 - Fighting a legend

    Emil

    Emil was at the tunnels of the eastern wing while the Academy staff were busy preparing the stage.

    Anna¡¯s match had ended in a flash. She won with ease. Like Kai versus Liesel, hers was another lopsided battle where one side had an overwhelming advantage due to Gift compatibility. Her opponent, Niall, had a self-enhancement Gift that required him to fight in close quarters.

    Without a proper option to threaten her at range, the male student was helpless before Anna¡¯s devastating electric shocks. Despite being the third seed from the preliminaries, he was eventually incapacitated into submission by the relentless paralyzing blasts.

    It was a horrible matchup. Anna¡¯s Volt ripped Niall to shreds.

    ¡°Anna Seibert immaculately takes down the third seeded Niall von Ulster! Ladies and gentlemen, please applaud for our first upset of the knockout stages!¡±

    The crowd was noticeably more ambivalent this time. It was the second match in a row where the fight had ended shortly after a few exchanges. Displeased murmurs were starting to ripple across the colosseum.

    Melody must have realized the crowd¡¯s languidness as she immediately shifted her focus onto the next match.

    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I know what you¡¯re all thinking! But fret not! We will now be heading into the final match of the day! And it¡¯ll feature everyone¡¯s favorite! The man! The myth! The enigmatic legend that you¡¯ve all been waiting for! Please welcome, Emil Milligan!¡±

    The energy instantly changed. The staff in the tunnel beckoned for Emil to move. He obliged, straightening his shoulders and steeling his posture as he stepped onto the Nautilus main stage.

    The ground beneath his feet shook with the stampede of thousands of rabid cheers. The crowd¡¯s roars blared into his ears accompanied by thunderous claps. It sounded like rain pattering on the ground from a torrential downpour.

    Emil¡¯s head blanked. The stimulus was overwhelming. He couldn¡¯t hear himself think. It suddenly sunk in that, at this moment, he had the sole possession of the audience¡¯s attention. All eyes within the Nautilus were staring at him.

    Cheering. Watching. Waiting.

    Instinctively, he opened his arms and raised them skyward, beckoning for the crowd to cheer louder. They responded to his gesture, flooding the stadium with their feverish energy. Chants of his name suddenly resounded behind him. It quickly spread across the colosseum and rose in volume like a violent crescendo, until the entirety of the Nautilus seemed to be calling his name.

    The emotions blooming in Emil¡¯s chest were indescribable.

    It would be another minute before the excitement began to die down. Melody immediately seized the opportunity to get her remaining introduction in.

    ¡°And his opponent, Gaius von Ragnar!¡±

    From the opposing western wing, a goliath of a man emerged from the tunnels. Emil stared at him in disbelief.

    ¡­Are we even the same species?

    Standing at nearly seven feet tall, the colossal student stomped onto his section of the field. His rugged face was twisted in a menacing scowl, which made him look closer to a war-torn veteran than a teenage freshman at the Academy.

    Emil gulped, suddenly feeling nervous.

    Seriously, just what the hell are they feeding the kids in the Ragnar family?

    Aside from Gaius¡¯s imposing physique, what worried Emil the most was the lack of information he had on Gaius¡¯s Gift. Anna, Kai, and Charlotte didn¡¯t encounter the giant during the preliminaries nor did they hear any commentary describing his feats.

    A man of his size didn¡¯t get any attention during the preliminaries?

    It was possible that he was simply overlooked. Melody did spend most of her time building Emil up as the protagonist of the preliminaries. It¡¯s also possible that he kept a low profile so that he couldn¡¯t be scouted. The latter was bad news. It meant Gaius was strong enough to sneak into the top eight without drawing attention to his Gift.

    Emil decided to take a cautious approach. His Gift¡¯s defensive capabilities and his own combat experience should have allowed him to avoid any instant eliminations.

    The crowd hushed at the sight of the colossal freshman as he stomped into his position. Anticipation rose. The tense excitement suffused the air. A brief silence lulled the massive colosseum. Then, Melody called.

    ¡°Contestants, ready! And go!¡±

    Not a second later, Gaius burst into a sprint. The giant shot across the field at a speed unfathomable for someone of his size.

    ¡°Impede!¡±

    Emil¡¯s immediate response was to conjure a series of stone columns in the giant¡¯s path. Gaius reacted without hesitation, confidently turning and weaving his massive body past the forest of stone projections. In just a few seconds, he was half-way across the field.

    This is ridiculous!

    His skin crawled at the sight of looming giant. Emil pulled his arms back. The stone columns he erected earlier suddenly detached from the ground. Then, like missiles, they rushed at Gaius¡¯s flank. The giant must have sensed the surge of mana as he immediately tilted his head back.

    Without warning, he screamed.

    A deafening roar escaped his mouth. It was a thunderous bellow, sounding monstrous¡ªa noise that a regular human should have not been able to produce. Immediately, his body glowed a radiant blue as his limbs, torso, and head suddenly began to morph.

    Dammit, why am I always being paired against shapeshifters?! Emil cursed his luck.

    As the mana around Gaius dispersed, his new appearance was unveiled. His skin was covered in a layer of black hardened scales. Claws extended outwards where his fingers were. Wings sprouted from his back and a massive tail emerged at his rear. His jaws grew elongated with fangs protruding from the upper mouth. He resembled a fantastical creature from folktales.

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    The stone missiles arrived right as his transformation completed. Gaius spun around. He made no effort to dodge¡ªinstead shielding his head with his arms to take the attacks head-on. The missiles smashed into his body, exploding with a loud crunch as fragments and sand were flung into the air. As the dust settled, he stood there, silent. His narrow, beady eyes glared straight at Emil.

    Oh great, so he can turn into a fucking dragon.

    While Ardairans know dragons to be creatures of mythology, the legendary beast apparently actually existed in some faraway land beyond the kingdom and its surrounding neighbors. Still, Emil doubted that Gaius had actually seen the mythical creatures in person. Likely his transformation was the product of his own imagination.

    And I still have no idea what he¡¯s capable of.

    He scanned Gaius¡¯s body for damage. The stone missiles appeared to have little effect on the draconian. Emil didn¡¯t find a single scar except a mild blemish on the scales where the projectiles struck.

    That new skin must be insanely tough.

    Gaius resumed his pursuit. The ground cracked as his talons dug into the earth. With a burst of energy, he lunged ahead.

    Emil struck his knuckles together, triggering the activation of his stone armaments. Now protected by stone, he swung with a right hook, intent to meet Gaius¡¯s outstretched claws.

    Boom!

    His fingers screamed in pain at the recoil. A concerning crack echoed from his joints. The impact rippled down the length of his arms to his shoulders. The stone gauntlets instantly disintegrated into pieces.

    Gaius appeared unfazed¡ªhis eyes cold and unwavering as he delivered a follow-up jab. Emil twisted his head to the side, weaving under the blow, before countering with a left uppercut. His fist smashed into Gaius¡¯ torso.

    The draconian barely budged.

    Air shot out of his nostrils, the sound vaguely resembling a conceited snort.

    Undaunted, Emil stomped the ground. A stone column spontaneously sprung up, barreling towards Gaius¡¯s jaws. The draconian moved this time. He stepped back and swiped his claws in a cross-section. The stone was immediately shredded into pieces, rendered useless as the fragments splattered to the ground.

    What an infuriating Gift.

    Gaius¡¯ skin seemed to make him impervious to most physical damage. The enhanced physique from his transformation also gave him enough power to exceed the protective limits of Emil¡¯s stone gauntlets.

    Looks like I have to aim for his head. It¡¯s only part of his body that he actually seems to care about protecting.

    Reaching the seven feet tall behemoth, however, wasn¡¯t exactly an easy task.

    The only other option was to drag Gaius down to his level.

    Emil channeled mana. Fragments from his earlier attacks began to stir. With a snap of his fingers, the rocks shot towards Gaius¡¯s head like missiles. As expected, he immediately raised his arms to shield against the oncoming projectiles.

    ¡°Impede!¡±

    Stone in the shape of an arm emerged beneath Gaius¡¯s right leg. It coiled around his knees, locking it the joint in place, before dragging him down. Gaius thrashed about, trying to shake his leg loose from the stone confinement. Emil beckoned at the ground. The space beneath the Gaius¡¯s left foot suddenly cratered into an empty hole right as he shifted his weight.

    The draconian staggered off-balance.

    Emil seized the chance. A segment of stone erupted beneath his feet as he pushed off, springing him upwards. He twisted his body with the momentum of the launch. His right leg was infused with mana as he delivered an explosive kick.

    Crunch!

    He landed a direct hit against the draconian¡¯s jaws. The impact of his devastating blow reverberated across the Nautilus, earning shocked gasps echoing from the stands. Gaius¡¯s head was blasted to the side. Emil pressed his advantage, trying to deliver the knockout blow while his opponent was still reeling from the attack.

    Contrary to his expectations, Gaius immediately spun around.

    Something heavy slammed into Emil¡¯s chest. He felt the air forcefully ripped out of his lungs as the unexpected force blasted him backwards. He crashed into the ground, skidding across the harsh earth of the main stage. Agony seared across his body once he finally rolled to a stop.

    Confused, he glanced down. A portion of his uniform had been torn, like a mark left by a whip. The exposed skin beneath smeared a nasty red.

    A nauseating sensation welled up in his throat. Unable to hold in, Emil threw up a mouthful of blood.

    ¡­Was that from his tail?

    It would have explained how he was suddenly struck from his blind spot.

    Emil wiped his mouth clean as he staggered back onto his feet. His lungs were burning; his breathing still coarse from the nasty retaliation. Gaius was eyeing him with a ferocious sneer, his draconian fangs bared, stained with a coat of red.

    A distance of twenty meters separated them.

    His tenacity is unreal. He took a direct hit from an attack enhanced by Mana Arts and is still well enough to counter. Emil grimaced, suddenly feeling the pressure of his opponent¡¯s monstrous Gift.

    ¡°You have a solid kick. Not bad, rank one,¡± the giant freshman hissed with a serpent-like cadence. His words dripped with the typical arrogance of the highborn nobility.

    Emil narrowed his eyes. ¡°¡­Just how the hell did someone like you end as the eighth seed?¡± he asked, trying to buy time for his breathing to steady.

    ¡°It was intentional. I was top four in the preliminaries when I made the conscious decision to drop to eighth. I wanted this matchup,¡± Gaius said with a condescending smirk, ¡°Did you know? You¡¯re the weakest rank one to come out of the preliminaries in the history of the Academy. Your qualification. Your placement. The attention and fanfare surrounding your name. It¡¯s all manufactured. It¡¯s shallow. Empty. Filled with prattle and meritless hype. You¡¯re only in this spot because the Academy desired it.¡±

    ¡°Yeah? Am I supposed to believe that coming from a lizard?¡± Emil purposefully shouted his retort. His taunt echoed across the Nautilus, earning a wave of guffaws from the crowd.

    Gaius¡¯s scaly face suddenly flared red.

    ¡°¡­You¡¯re going to regret mocking me.¡±

    His voice turned ominous as his claws dug into the earth, flinging a barrage of stones in Emil¡¯s direction.

    Emil raised his hands, imbued with mana, halting the stones in place as the projectiles entered his interference range. In the distance, his ears caught the strange sound of air being displaced. He glanced ahead.

    Huh?

    His opponent was nowhere to be found. The horrific thought that he somehow lost track of the giant draconian sent him into a panic. It wasn¡¯t until a huge shadow suddenly loomed above that Emil looked up.

    ¡­You¡¯ve got to be kidding me.

    Gaius was in the air¡ªthe wings on his back carried him skyward as he rapidly ascended. Emil could only stare in disbelief as his opponent soared above the effective range of his Gift.

    Gaius suddenly opened his jaws.

    Mana gathered at the center of his mouth, cackling as it rapidly condensed into a maelstrom of energy. The draconian bellowed as a massive ball of fire was launched out of his mouth.

    From Emil¡¯s perspective, the sky turned bloody red as the fireball blotted out the sun. His throat suddenly felt dry. His heart raced. The scene was nauseatingly familiar to that treacherous day when all of his friends were massacred by the deranged Desperado.

    He ran.

    The flames rained down. He tracked the trajectory in his periphery. He jumped, right as the fireball smashed into a spot on the field nearby. The searing heat burned off the edge of his uniform. Despite his innate heat resistance offered by Blaze, the temperatures were still scalding hot. The ground beside him was instantly scorched, leaving behind traces of molten earth.

    Gaius didn¡¯t relent. More fireballs came down by the dozens. The speed of their descent and their enormous size gave Emil very little room to evade.

    ¡°Bastion!¡± he called, erecting a dome of stone overheard. Emil continued to add layers to his fortification as the sound of the fiery bombardment loomed close.

    Boom!

    The top of his fortifications shook as the fireball landed. The surface glowed a brilliant red. The ambient temperature rose to a sweltering degree. Emil clawed at his chest, feeling the panic rising to his throat.

    The disturbing sound of the stones cracking from the heat pierced his ears.

    Emil ducked out of the way right as the dome collapsed from another bombardment.

    When is this going to end?!

    The entire Nautilus field was ablaze in the ruins of flames. The scent of ash heavy in the air. Emil glanced up.

    Without warning, Gaius suddenly plunged down.