Valdre leaned forward, resting his elbows oable. “There’s been… movement.”

  “Movement?” Krion echoed, while Hatsune’s ears perked up as she straightened in her chair.

  “Yes,” Valdre said, his tone clipped. “Someone has been making moves behind the ses. Someone, roup of someones, is up to something, but we haven’t been able to figure it out. Yet.”

  “That’s a bit cryptic, Valdre,” Krion responded after a moment. “How do you know something is going on?”

  Valdre ched his hands on top of the table, his expression now filled with frustration. “How do I know?” he repeated. “Because the few ss I’ve made acquaintah beyond those at this table have been talkihan usual, and in pces where they usually ’t shut up. The kind of silehat reeks of fear or plicity with something currently happening.”

  He leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. “tacts that used to share gossip about the Archducal Ss suddenly have nothing to say. The usual rumors about sdals or intrigue are drying up, and even the workers on campus are keeping their mouths shut. That doesn’t happen unless something is in the process of happening.” Valdre’s eyes narrowed as he added, “Whatever it is, I think it’s coordinated. I practically feel it in the air, Krion. The tensiht before the storm.”

  The half-frost elf tapped the table with one finger, in a slow and deliberate rhythm. “Something is going to happen. And the only reason I’m not fully in the dark is that I’ve survived enough schemes alongside my family before io know when someone is trying to pull the rug out. The only problem is, I still have no idea who — or why.”

  Krion frowned, drumming his fingers on the edge of the table. He hated feeling like a pawn on someone else’s game board. House intrigue, politics, secret plots — they were all part of a world he’d been thrust into without any real preparation by Alesin and Rolfun. He realized bitterly that, despite bearing the name Bcksword, he had not really received anything beyond limited, outdated information about the current state of the House he was now associated with. In fact, despite what Franz had inally told him, his arrival at the Academy had bee with eerie silence from House Bcksword. ers, no tao support. Without those, he was left in ignorance about so much. Indeed, ignorance was his greatest weakness right now. His eyes dropped down to the book about House Bcksword.

  He was going to stay up all night reading if he had to.

  Krion turned his attention back to Valdre and Redrek, who were still watg him, waiting for him to respond. He straightened in his chair, resolve hardening in his chest. If Valdre was right — and Krion suspected he was — then something dangerous was on the horizon. And Krion couldn’t afford to be caught unaware. But did it really matter right now? After all, he had only just survived an assassination attempt. Surely Chadwick, Hector, and their supporters among his cssmates were the more immediate threat?

  “I believe you, but is this more important than what just happeo us in the Duhe ht? Surely that is the more immediate—”

  “I bring it up,” Valdre said, interrupting him, “because if it is Caspian Bright that is making moves, that means his allies are, too.”

  “Chadwick Copperhand being one of the more important ones,” Redrek added right after Valdre finished speaking.

  Krion’s tapping oable paused as his fingers curled into fists. First, trying to take Hatsuhen the part he pyed in trying to get him killed. The thought of him pying a role in whatever scheming Caspian was capable of was enough to make his blood boil.

  “Alright,” Krion said finally. “I’m listening.”

  Valdre nodded, rexing now that he khey had his attention, but before they could delve further into the versation, the sound of footsteps signaled Ordran’s return, a round of drinks for the newers in hand. He set them down, only for them to be quickly snatched up by their recipients. Even Valdre was drinking tonight it seemed.

  “Meals’ll be out shortly,” Ordran said with a wink before returning to the kit.

  The tension at the side of the table that held Valdre and Redrek lightened as they ehe drinks that the veteran dwarf had brought them. After a long, slow drink, Valdre sat his mug down. He wiped his face, theurned his attention to Krion while Redrek tinued drinking.

  “Before I get to my specution, I want to hear from you about the Dungeon. Garraiohat I should talk with you, but he didn’t go into much detail. What exactly happened?”

  “Before I tell you,” Krion said, setting his own mug down, “I first want to hear about what you have heard.”

  “Hmm.” Valdre stared at him a moment before nodding. “I’ve heard some rumors. Strange ones.”

  Krion tilted his head slightly. “Rumors? What kind of rumors?”

  Before Valdre could respond, Redrek set his own mug down with a low chuckle, his sharp hobgobliures lighting up with mischief. “Oh, you know. The usual for Academy gossip. Except this time, it seems someone in the first year attempted the Dungeon known as The Pit.”

  Krion frowned, his grip tightening on his mug. He had expected the events of the previous night to spread, but he hadn’t anticipated the story being distorted into something so… vague. He g Hatsune, who returned his look with a slight narrowing of her eyes.

  “And, I’m guessing even before Hatsune spoke to Garran and Kael, that you both thought it was me,” Krion said evenly, turning his attention back to Valdre and Redrek.

  “Of course we thought it was you,” Redrek said, leaning ba his chair with a smirk. “Even though you hadn’t tried to, you’ve been making waves since you first got here, Krion.”

  Valdre held up a hand, cutting off the hobgoblin’s teasing. “Yes, but I for one would like to hear the truth the rumors are based on,” he said seriously. “Garran and Kael” — he gestured briefly to their respective bodyguards, who still stood silently behind them — “mentiohat we should hear from you the rest of the story. Something about an… i?”

  Krion exhaled slowly, gng down at the table for a moment to gather his thoughts. He wao make sure he left nothing out. As he stared down, he could feel the weight of their stares, the unspoken demand for answers. After he had everything straight in his mind, he looked back up, meeting first Redrek’s eyes then Valdre’s.

  “You’re right, there is more to the story,” Krion said. “I was the ohe rumors are alluding to. But I wasn’t trying my lu the Dungeon. I am not that foolish.” He shook his head. “No, what really happened was an attempted assassination by Dungeon.”

  The words hung in the air like a bde suspended over the table. Redrek’s smirk disappeared instantly, repced by a look of sharp i. Valdre’s expression hardened, and even though Garran and Kael knew a bit of what he was saying already, they still exged brief, wary gnces.

  “An assassination?” Valdre echoed, his voice a mix of disbelief and . “Are you certain?”

  “As certain as I be,” Krion replied. “Hector lured Hatsune ao the building that surrouhe Dungeon under false pretenses. Ohey had us where they wanted us, Hatsune was cast down into The Pit, and after more ss aligned with Chadwick showed up I was given a choice: jump in willingly or be thrown in by them.”

  Hatsune, who had been silent until this point, crossed her arms and leaned over the table. “He’s not exaggerating what happened,” she said, her voice cold. “Chadwid Hector set up the visit to the Duo get Krion into a positiohe Pit could do their dirty work. It was only luck we were able to fight our way out.”

  The table was silent, the gravity of the situatioling over them. Finally, Redrek broke the sileh a low whistle. “Damn,” he said, shaking his head. “That’s… bold for a first-year. Especially this early in the year.”

  Valdre’s brows furrowed as he leaned ba his chair. “And you think the threats against you aren’t over?”

  “I don’t think,” Krion said grimly. “I know. Chadwie as much after Etiquette and Courtly Manners was over. He said, one way or another, I would be gone from the Academy before the end of the year. With how he said that, I think they will try harder ime.”

  “Beyond Chadwid Hector, do you have any idea who else was involved?” Valdre asked.

  “I remember the faces of the ss who had been there, but I don’t know their names or Houses.” Krion gnced over at Hatsune who fidgeted a little under his intense look. “I was worried about my bodyguard who had just been forced into The Pit during the time wheher ss arrived.”

  “That’s a dangerous position to be in,” Valdre said. “Without names and the Houses they belong to, you ’t act. And without a, you will remain vulnerable.”

  “I know,” Krion said, his voice tight as he turned back to the half-frost elf. “That’s why I need your help.”

  Redrek raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “I know we have all e to an arra regarding supp one another in unlog their csses. But what you’re suggesting is somethiirely different.”

  “Redrek is right,” Valdre agreed looking from the hobgoblin back to Krion. “If you are asking for our help specifically to ter those that engaged in your attempted assassination, we will be fully on your side from now until graduation, and likely beyond.”

  “I know,” Krion agreed. He drew in a steadying breath, aware that the weight of what he was asking would ge things between them forever. He already sidered them friends, and they had agreed to help each other unlock the csses they wanted, but this was something far more dangerous. What he was asking for went well beyond what they had previously agreed — this was about his survival.

  “I know what I’m asking,” Krion began. “And I know it’s not small. We’ve agreed to work together to researd help unlock the csses we want, and that is invaluable to each of us. But someoried to kill me. Is trying to kill me.” He looked from Valdre to Redrek. “I know I won’t be able to deal with this alone, not based on how strong I am now. I have some ideas to even the pying field, but before I y them out, I o know: I t on your help?”

  Though the attention of Garran and Kael remained mostly fixed on the surrounding tables and the door to The Hearth & Ember, each shot g their ss. Valdre and Redrek exged a long, weighted gno words passiwee first. Krion got the sehat, despite them being very different people from even more different backgrounds, they had more in on with each other than would be apparent at a casual gnce. Hopefully, one of those things included an i in helping someone being targeted by half the first-year ss.

  “He’s got guts,” Redrek muttered, his attention shifting back to Krion.

  “He does,” Valdre agreed, a thoughtful expression on his face as he did the same as the hobgoblin. “Reckless, perhaps. But then again, most iing decisions at the Academy would tend to be.”

  Without blinking, Redrek gave Krion a short, satisfied nod. “Been itg for a way to strike back against the bigots of our year anyway. Being the unending target of red skin and monster jokes gets old fast.”

  Valdre looked hard at Krion’s face, trag every shift in his expression. “Now, I’ll say it again: if we say yes to this, we aren’t just your research partners anymore. We’re tying our fates to yours. That’s no small thing in the Academy, especially if those targeting yht now decide to act directly against us as well. What you’re asking is a two-way street.”

  Krion nodded, his resolve still firm. “I know. And I won’t fet it.” He extended his hand across the table. “You want a two-way street? You have it. With everything that entails. I might not have much to offer now, but I will. I’ll do everything in my power to support you in turn, whether that means standing with you against your own enemies or helping you achieve yoals here at the Academy. Whatever it takes.”

  Redrek snorted, and before Valdre could respond, he reached across the table to grab Krion’s outhrust hand. “Well, when you put it like that, how I say no?”

  Valdre shook his head, but his expression said he was, if anything, amused. “I must be as reckless as you. Fine. I’m in too.”

  Krio out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Relief mixed with gratitude flooded through him. “Thank you,” he said. “From here on out, we watch each other’s backs.”

  Agreement reached, Valdre pushed his amusement aside to focus oopic at hand. “Alright, assassination attempts tend to suggest that someone, roup of someones, view you as a threat,” he said coolly. “And threats either rise above the game at hand et snuffed out. So. What ideas do you have?”

  “To be ho, I don’t have any es or resources at the moment. For some reason, I have received no tact from House Bcksword after arriving here, despite being told that I was bei here on their behalf,” Krion grimaced, but tinued on anyway. Ahing to look into. “Anyway, until I find out what is going on with House Bcksword, I ’t rely ohat much is clear to me. So, with that being the case, every idea I have is based on building up my own base of support.”

  Redrek’s lips twisted into a wry grin. “So you’re thinking about making your own House, for all is and purposes, then? Building your own power base from scratch?”

  “Not quite that extreme, but something like that, yes,” Krion admitted. “But to do that right, I need allies I trust. Even with you both onboard, we’ll need more support.”

  The weight of his words settled oable like a heavy shroud. Valdre returo tapping with his fingers, gaze locked on the middle distance as if pting what to say . Redrek leaned back, lips pursed in thought, before letting out a growl that turned into a groan. When everyone surrounding the table looked at him, he let it die off.

  “Look. Since we’re ying everything ok, I might as well tell you,” Redrek said relutly after Kael him. “Things havely been easy for us here. Beyond the politics of the Archducal Houses, and the fact that there is some movements happening in the background, there are other fas, too. The worst being The Ivory Bahey’ve been making things particurly… difficult.”

  Valdre gave a sharp, bitter ugh. “Difficult is putting it lightly. They’ve been far more active among the first-years that my family warned me they would been. They have been a pain in the ass since I arrived.”

  Krion straightehe Ivory Banner wasn’t something Rolfun or Alesin had told him about, and this was the first time hearing the name sining to the Academy. “The Ivory Banner? Who are they?”

  “They are many things, but their core purpose is the fight for human supremacy,” Valdre practically spat before freezing, looking at Krion to see how he would react. When he simply motioned for the half-frost elf to tinue, he rexed and said, “They’ve been subtle about it, for now. Whispers in the halls, baded ents, and minor inveniehat just happen to impact the non-humans in our year. What few of us there are. Nothing btant enough to call them out publicly — at least, nothing they ’t deny or spin. And everything falls far short of needing to get the Sentinels involved.”

  Redrek scoffed, a frown f on his face. “Tell him straight, Valdre. This isn’t just whispers and baded ents. It’s about sending a message, making sure we know our pce. Whoever is bag them has influence, Krion — es that go higher than the first-years.” Valdre grimly nodded, but let the hobgoblin tihey don’t like us because we’re not human. But it isn’t just us. I’ve already seen a couple of my non-human cssmates start skipping csses, despite how important this first year is. I’ve even heard rumors that a wood elf s has returned home already. Rumors that explicitly mention the influence of The Ivory Banner.”

  Krio a fre of anger sparking in his chest. A how his friends were being treated, but also at the fact that there was yet another potential threat he might have to deal with at the Academy. “But they haven’t done anything ht dangerous?”

  “Not yet,” Valdre said. “But it feels like it’s only a matter of time. Garran and Kael have been on edge for days now. They’re vihat things are going to escate further before the year is over.”

  Krion looked over the other ss, seeking firmation from their bodyguards. One of the dwarves at a nearby table sputtered curses as his neighbor tipped his full mug into his p as a prank. No o their table turned, instead waiting for the bodyguards to speak.

  Kael nodded, his expression unreadable but his body was still clearly tense, “I ’t firm it, but I think we have been followed by someone, roup, itently over the past few days.”

  Garran crossed his arms and added to what his fellow bodyguard said, “The Academy might have rules, but rules only work if people follow them. And from the fact that an assassination attempt has already been made on an Archducal s, I’d say that it looks like there are plenty of ss here who think the rules don’t apply to them.”

  “All the more reason to move quickly, then. The way I see it, the most important thing we o figure out is who our enemies are,” Krion said, havihinking about what steps he could take with their support.

  “Agreed,” said Valdre. “Specifically, the ones who orchestrated the assassination attempt on you, but also the ones ected to The Ivory Bahough, I have a feeling there might be some overp.”

  “But how do we find them?” Hatsune chimed in, a mix of apprehension aermination in her voice as she spoke. Looking at her, Krion could tell the seriousness of the versation was getting to her, and though she clearly still seemed to want to stay silent, had voiced the question he was thinking about himself.

  Krion saw how Valdre’s eyes flicked toward Hatsune as she asked her question. The half-frost elf’s lips parted, apparently ready to deliver a firm admonishment for speaking when he caught Krion’s expression — an unmistakable warning on his face. Valdre hesitated, residering what he was going to say. He exhaled softly through his nose, a hint of tension dissipating from his posture. Instead of snapping at her, he shifted his focus back to Krion.

  “That’s where we e in,” Valdre said smoothly, already fetting what he had been going to say to the Leporine. “Redrek and I both have some tacts — people who hear things, even in pces we ’t reach. We’ll start there. Garran and Kael also help by keeping their eyes and ears open around other bodyguards and the staff of the Academy.”

  Redrek chimed in, his sharp griurning. “And if we o do some digging in pces we’re not supposed to? Well, I’ve got a knack for that sort of thing.”

  Krion was curious as to what the hobgobli but decided not to ask for details. He had a feeling he didn’t want to know.

  “We also help you rebuild the House Bcksword fa here on campus,” Valdre tinued as if the hobgoblin hadn’t interrupted him. “Given those beginning to make moves against the non-humans in the first year, and the possibility that supporters of House Bright have already associated us with you, keeping you alive will help keep us alive as well. While I expect you will eventually receive some degree of support from House Bcksword, that might not be enough. That means our involvement in recruiting other ss to our side, as well as gathering supporters and assets. Prestige and po hand in hand at the Academy, and without them, we’ll always be on the back foot.”

  “Will there really be that many other ss open to aligning with us?” Krion asked. “I’ve got to assume many of those in our year are already a part of one of the other Archducal fas.”

  “True,” Valdre aowledged. “But not all of them. Especially among the non-human ss. We just o find them and offer them something they ’t get elsewhere.”

  “Like what?” Krion asked.

  “Safety, for one,” Redrek answered. “And opportunity. Not everyone is here to py politics — some just want to get stronger or make es that will be them after they graduate. If we offer that, we’ll have a ce.”

  “But none of that matters if we don’t get strohe Academy only requires us to take four csses this year, which leaves us with plenty of extra time,” Valdre said looking around the table at each of them. “While we are w to pick a css, aually unlock it, we should use whatever remains wisely — extra studyira training, maybe even hiring tutors.”

  As Valdre and Redrek got swept up in talking about ways to go about maximizing their time to gaier strength and levels, Krion couldn’t help but think over his own schedule.

  “I’ve been meaning to ask,” Krion began, interrupting their talk over the bes of various bat skills. “Do either of you know why there are only four required csses? And three full days off? With so much free time during the week, it seems like the Academy could fit in more.”

  “My father told me it was a test of the Academy,” Redrek said. “As a s, you y around, enjoying the food and pany until you graduate to bee another small cog in the maery of the Empire. But the ones who want to get ahead, to secure themselves and their futures against others, will work to fill those gaps with optional studies, tut, and other pursuits to prepare for the needs of the Empire after graduation.”

  “And more. We ss are the future of the Empire,” Valdre added. “So the Academy provides a foundation for our education, but anything beyond that? That is left up to us to pursue.”

  Redrek leaned forward, propping his elbows oable. “And it’s not just about the week-to-week schedule. The same logic applies to the structure of the year. A sed-year s that I happeo meet told me that after the first four months of csses, we will have one month off before another four months of csses, after which there is a three-month break. It’s desighat way to give us time to visit our families and to gain real-world experience.”

  Krion frowhoughtfully. “Real-world experience? Like what?”

  “I asked that too, and it depends,” Redrek said with a shrug. “Apparently, some ss use that time to work alongside the Legions, honing their bat skills in real battles. Others dive into wild Dungeoher for personal growth or to gather resources for their Houses. Then there are those who focus on goverraveling to their House’s outlyiories to learn how to maheir holdings.”

  “But that is all down the road,” Valdre said, returning the versation to their immediate goals. His eyes gnced over at the books Krion had brought before returning to his face. “I noticed you already purchased a primer on csses. Having an option beyond the Archives to look into csses could be useful, especially with enemies looking over our shoulders. Would you be willing to share it with us?”

  “Of course,” Krion nodded. “I’d be happy to share it with you both. From the table of tents, it only goes up to rare csses, but it could still give us a better idea of what is out there and maybe help us pn our steps.”

  “That would be helpful,” Valdre said with gratitude. “Most ss are uo unlock a rare css, with some settling for unon, and even fewer unlog something rarer. It’s possible that the primer you have there might hold csses that call to each of us.”

  Krioated for a moment, before deg he should returrust they had given. “I might also have a lead on another source of information and support. Someone who could be an invaluable ally. But I’m not ready to reveal who they are just yet — I o make sure I trust them first.”

  Valdre nodded, his expression one of uanding. “Fair enough. Trust isn’t something to give lightly in the Academy.”

  The sound of heavy footsteps approached the table. Ordraurned, bringing with him a rge tray banced effortlessly in his rge hands. The st of roasted vegetables, perfectly seared meats, and rich sauces filled the air as he set their meals down oable.

  “Here ye are,” Ordran said, his deep voice gruff but warm. “Specials for all but the half-elf who gets the vegetarian option.”

  Valdre gave a small smile as the dwarf set a pte piled high with steamed greens, roasted root vegetables, and a savory mushroom dish in front of him. “Thank you, Ordran.”

  They each gave their thanks as the ptes were handed out, Kael and Garran findis as well.

  “Enjoy your meal, and holler if ye want seds,” the dwarf said, turning back to head into the kit.

  The seriousness of the versation dissipated as they all began to eat. For Krion, the rich fvors ay portions were a wele distra from what tomorrow would bring. It was nice just to enjoy the warmth and camaraderie of his friends and allies after a long day.

  So of course that was the moment when the door to The Hearth & Ember smmed open and a group of ss entered with their bodyguards. Eyes jerking to their entrance, Krion saw a familiar face at the front.

  “Where are you, you red-skinned bastard!” cried the wiry woman from the Dungeon, her burly bodyguard with the axe right behind her.

  Looks like there was some overp among the groups of his enemies after all.

  I hope you ehe longer chapter! Stay tuned for more i week!

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