At the Arcane Lyceum's Dormitory
Lord Edric led Marquess Rue through the long hallway, finally stopping in front of a modest wooden door.
"This will be your room while you're staying at the Lyceum," Edric said, gesturing to the door. "Sir Conrad's room is just across the hall."
"Thank you for your help," Rue replied. His gaze lingered on the swelling on Edric's left cheek. He pointed. "Are you alright?"
Edric touched the spot and chuckled. "Oh, this? Don't worry. I'll live. She's a lot stronger than I expected," he said, referring to the usher's sister who had slapped him.
"I'd also like to congratulate and welcome you, roommate," Edric added, extending his hand. "I know this whole arrangement is part of a deal between you and my father, but I'd like it if we could actually be friends."
Rue smiled and accepted the handshake. "The pleasure's mine."
Edric pulled a folded letter and a small lacquered box from the inner pocket of his coat.
"The Headmaster asked to see us once we were settled."
Rue tilted his head. "And the box?"
"My father's peace offering," Edric replied with a grin. "The Headmaster is famously strict, so her agreeing to let the two of you in is unexpected."
He knocked on the large wooden door. The usher opened it, stepping aside to let them in.
Inside, the Headmaster was seated at her desk, surrounded by piles of scrolls and books. She didn't look up right away, her quill moving swiftly across parchment.
"Greetings, Headmaster."
Edric bowed politely as he stepped into the office.
"Thank you for accepting our request. My father also prepared a gift as a sign of gratitude." He placed a sealed letter and a small ornate box on her desk.
The Headmaster glanced at him before taking the letter, breaking the seal with a flick of her nail and scanning its contents.
"And here's a small gift from Father," Edric added, nudging the box forward. "He heard you're interested in these kinds of things."
The Headmaster opened the box. Her eyes widened ever so slightly.
"Why didn't you say you wanted an emerald?" Edric said with a chuckle. "We could've easily given you one. Father was actually wondering what's so special about this-"
"Where did you get this?" the Headmaster interrupted, her voice suddenly sharp and cold.
The others can't help but get curious at what Edric gave to the Headmaster.
"A shard?" Sir Conrad thought as he caught a glance of the box.
"A merchant was selling it on the street," Edric explained, puzzled. "They said they couldn't cut it. They said it was harder than any kind of stone."
"And where is the Marquess?" she asked abruptly.
Edric stepped aside. Rue and Sir Conrad moved forward, both bowing.
"Greetings, Headmaster," Rue said respectfully. "I am Marquess Rue Mallory. Thank you for allowing us entry."
The Headmaster's expression froze. For a moment, she simply stared at him.
It can't be… Why is he here? she thought, her chest tightening as a flood of memories surfaced.
"Headmaster?" the usher's voice brought her back.
She blinked, masking her surprise. "Apologies. You looked like someone I once knew."
Her eyes swept across the others. "I'd like to speak with the Marquess in private."
The others exchanged glances, then quietly filed out. Once the door closed, Rue followed her to the table.
"I'd like to hear the reason why you decided to come here despite the charges against you. I'd like to hear it in full detail," she said, tone serious.
Rue nodded and began recounting everything, how he was framed for the emperor's death, their narrow escape, and why they fled to Kouzlo seeking asylum at the Lyceum.
When he finished, the Headmaster leaned back, arms crossed.
"You do understand that by coming here, you've placed the entire Lyceum at risk?"
Rue bowed his head. "Yes. I do."
There was a long silence.
"But," she finally said, her voice softening, "you're a student now. That means you're under my protection."
Rue's head lifted, a breath of relief escaping his lips. "Thank you. I won't forget your kindness."
The Headmaster stared at him.
"Is something wrong?" Rue asked, sensing her lingering gaze.
She shook her head. "No. Go on, you should head to class now."
Rue bowed and exited the room.
Once he was gone, the Headmaster stood and walked in front of the mirror, and entered the hidden chamber beyond it.
In the center of the room, the massive shard orb hovered, glowing softly. She took the green shard Edric had given her and held it close.As if pulled by an invisible force, the shard floated from her hand and snapped into place on the orb.
Now the orb is almost complete.
The light pulsed brighter than before.
It was nearly complete.
"Too bad. We didn't get to see her today," Greta sighed, disappointed.
"Don't worry. They already said she'll be back tomorrow," Elery replied, trying to cheer her up.
"I'm sure you were also excited to meet your sister's bestfriend."
As they descended the stairs, a sudden sharp pain pierced Elery's head.
"Elery"
A soft voice, almost like a whisper, called her name. Before she could make sense of it, her knees gave out and her vision blurred.
The world tilted.
She was falling.
"Lady Elery!" Greta cried out, reaching for her, but it was too late.
Elery braced herself for the fall but instead of cold stone, she collided with something warm and solid. Strong arms wrapped around her just before the impact.
"Are you alright?" a man's voice asked, laced with concern.
She opened her eyes and found herself pressed against a stranger's chest. His face hovered close, handsome and unfamiliar, brows furrowed in worry.
Realizing their position, Elery quickly stood and adjusted her clothes, cheeks flushed.
"I'm sorry... and thank you," she said, bowing her head slightly.
He didn't answer. He only stared at her as if entranced.
"My Lady, are you hurt?" Greta reached her side, checking her frantically.
"Yes. Let's go now before we get late." She gave one final glance at the young man and offered a grateful smile before leaving with Greta.
At the base of the stairs, the usher glared at Edric.
"Why are you just standing there like a dazed idiot? You're supposed to be guiding them!" she snapped, whacking him on the back with the stack of papers she carried.
Edric didn't flinch. Slowly, he turned around to face her, Rue, and Sir Conrad. His expression was dreamlike.
"I think I'm in love," he declared, staring down at his hands that had just held Elery.
The usher rolled her eyes and whacked him again. "That's exactly what you said about my sister, and you broke up a week later."
"No… this one's real," Edric said, dreamily.
The usher scoffed and turned to Rue and Conrad. "I'll leave you with him. Don't mind his nonsense," she muttered as she walked off.
"Who was it?" Rue asked.
Edric blinked. Reality hit him like a hammer.
"I forgot to ask her name!" he groaned, running his fingers through his hair and pulling at it in frustration.
At the Emperor's chamber, the Empress paced back and forth, her steps quick and agitated. The funeral rites had just concluded. The Emperor was buried and now the Imperial Executer was on his way to verify the seal.
Her heart pounded with each tick of the clock.
Then-
A knock.
She jolted. "Who is it?!" she asked nervously.
"It's me, Duke Vane."
She immediately rushed to open the door.
"Did you find the seal?" she asked, clinging to hope.
"No…" Duke Vane said carefully, raising a hand to calm her before she exploded. "...but we can use this."
He reached behind his cloak and pulled out a small glass vial filled with a blue liquid.
The Empress stared at it, unimpressed. "And what, do you expect me to do with that? Poison the Executer?"
Without answering, Duke Vane scanned the room. His eyes landed on a nearby jewelry box. He strode over, uncorked the vial, and let a single drop fall onto the wood.
"Imago Desiderii"
Before her eyes, the box shimmered and twisted until it was no longer a box, but the Emperor's seal.
The Empress stepped forward slowly, eyes wide with disbelief. She picked up the seal, turning it in her fingers.
"What just happened?"
"An illusion," Duke Vane said, his voice low. "It will hold for two hours. Enough time to convince the Executer. It buys us time to find the real one."
The Empress let out a relieved laugh, eyes gleaming. "Excellent."
Just then, a servant entered and bowed. "Your Majesty, the Imperial Executer has arrived."
"Perfect timing," she said, composing herself.
With the seal in hand and renewed confidence in her stride, she walked toward the parlor where the Executer waited.
They entered the parlor. The Imperial Executer stood with hands clasped behind his back.
"My apologies for the delay," the Empress said. "Here is the Emperor's seal."
She placed it before him as she sat down.
The Executer took the seal and examined it closely, eyes narrowing as he ran his fingers over its surface.
"It's indeed the Emperor's seal."
The Empress allowed herself a small, victorious smile. "Then we can now proceed with the succession, right?"
"Yes. I will summon my attendants to begin the preparation."
"Of course." She nodded, her composure calm, though her chest brimmed with triumph.
As the Executer left the room, the Empress could no longer contain her joy.
"Finally. All our hard work will be rewarded," she said, turning to Duke Vane.
But the Duke wasn't smiling. His gaze lingered on the door.
"You don't seem happy," she noted.
"Excuse me for a moment," Duke Vane said, already moving toward the exit. "There's something I need to check."
He walked swiftly through the halls and finally found the Executer in an empty chamber. The man stood with his back turned. He was trying to contact someone using a communication crystal ball, and in his other hand was the jewelry box.
"I suppose you figured it out," Duke Vane said as he entered.
The Executer spun around, startled.
"How did you know?" Vane asked, calmly closing the door behind him.
The Executer's face hardened.
"So you're not even denying it." He held the fake seal tightly.
"It was simple. The true Imperial Seal reacts to mana. It shifts shape according to its wielder's needs."
"To think the Empress tried to fool me. I guess she has something to hide. I shall tell this to the elders," the Executer grabbed the communication crystal.
"Soren. Loren."
The twin mages appeared in the shadows. The Executer barely had time to react as they seized his arms.
"What do you think you're doing?!" the Executer shouted.
He used his powers and turned his arms hard as a rock and easily took over the twins, throwing them on the wall.
He lunged at Duke Vane with a stone-armored fist, but just before the punch connected-he froze mid-motion. His arm hung mid-air, inches from the Duke's face.
"What...?!"
Duke Vane stood calm, a cruel smile curling on his lips.
"Soren"
Soren limped forward and handed the Duke a dagger.
"Let me show you a little trick," Duke Vane said, crouching.
The Executer followed him with his eyes. The Duke stepped forward and plunged the dagger into the Executer's shadow cast across the floor.
"Agh!" The Executer cried out, jerking as a sharp pain exploded in his back.
Duke Vane twisted the blade deeper into the shadow. The Executer howled in agony. Another stab, this time in the leg, and his knee buckled in real life. Duke Vane looked up at him then gave a devious smile.
"N-No, stop!" the Executer said, horrified.
But the Duke didn't stop.
He drove the dagger into the shadow again and again. Each stab more vicious than the last, until the Executer's body convulsed in agony before collapsing unconscious to the ground.
CRASH.
The door burst open.
"What was that sound-?!" the Empress froze in the doorway, her eyes falling on the limp body sprawled on the floor.
She rushed forward, kneeling beside the Executer.
"What did you do?!" she asked, horrified as she checked for signs of life.
"I had no choice," Vane said, his voice eerily calm. He gestured toward the table. "He found out about it."
He picked up the jewelry box, now just a simple container once again.
The Empress gritted her teeth. "What now? What are we going to do?!" Panic crept into her voice.
"Don't worry. He's not dead, yet." The Duke's eyes gleamed. "We'll use The Veil of Solas, the one we prepared for the Emperor."
"Fine"
They carried the Executer to his quarters and laid him on the bed. The Duke pulled out the Veil of Solas, a mystical fabric embroidered with forgotten runes, humming with dormant power.
The Duke raised his hand and began the chant.
"Veritatem absconde… Desiderium ostende."
The veil shimmered, then vanished, becoming one with the Executer's body.
"It's done," the Duke said.
The Empress looked at him, her voice tight. "Now what?"
Duke Vane's lips curled into a smirk.
"The plan still continues, it's just that this time the Imperial Executer has been poisoned by one of the Marquess' men and now in coma."
The Empress's eyes widened.
"We've just gained a perfect scapegoat."