Some officials ushered us into a room that belonged in a palace, not a tournament waiting area. At least a hundred people clustered in expensive-looking groups, chatting on luxurious sofas or standing near runic compositors. Every few seconds, someone would drop a coin and retrieve gourmet food or exotic drinks.

  Officials roamed between the groups with practiced ease, clearly accustomed to managing the wealthy and powerful.

  We passed around a wash-kit, each of us scrubbing away multiple fights' worth of blood, dirt, and monster goo. My ribs ached like hell, and the spots where those feathers had pierced were itchy despite the healing potion's work.

  Thea met us near the entrance with Darla nowhere in sight.

  "Fucking wow," she said, eyes bright with excitement. "You took down a Class-D monster in under a minute. I'm putting more coins down on you next match."

  Cass beamed like she'd just won the lottery. "It's easy when the monster only wants to eat Ben."

  I grimaced. "It's Valor. It just knows how to piss off monsters, apparently."

  "That tracks," Cass said with authority. "Chas has the same problem. Says it helps him get stronger or some horseshit like that. But Red?" She patted his head with genuine admiration. "What a legend. I've never seen a Spirited Beast fight like that."

  "Great," I muttered. "So I get the shit kicked out of me while you, Malcolm, and Red get to have all the fun."

  "Yeah, pretty much," Malcolm said with zero sympathy.

  Even Red shot me a goofy look that somehow conveyed the same sentiment.

  I hadn't told them about my Paladin revelation yet, but Valor forcing monsters to pay attention to me was making disturbing sense.

  "Since when do we have to do meet-and-greets?" Malcolm asked Thea.

  "Yeah, it's a real pain in the ass. Bunch of fucking nobles and even some Legionnaires paid through the nose to set this up the moment the early start was announced. Not just you three—they wanted face time with several teams."

  "Whoa, Ben!" a familiar voice called across the room.

  A sharply dressed group of Gaians parted as Felix stepped forward in crisp Sylvarus robes, practically glowing with excitement.

  "It's incredible to see you! That match was something else. You three may have actually set a tournament record, man."

  "Hey Felix!" I grinned despite my aching ribs. "It didn't feel like it. I got tossed around like a rag doll."

  He laughed, eyes bright. "Damn, look at you though. Is that phantom brass armor? And I heard you formed a Seal already. That was lightning fast. I’m thinking I was right about you. And a familiar!"

  "Yeah," I shrugged, trying for modesty. "I had a lot of help. Cass formed hers too. She even outperformed Erik at Registration."

  Felix blinked, visibly stunned, then shook his head with delighted laughter.

  "Oh yeah! I'm sorry Cassie, congratulations! I saw you out there and... wow. Just wow. And Malcolm..." His expression shifted to curious. "Wait. Aren't you supposed to be an asshole?"

  "Aren't you supposed to be a spoiled brat?" Malcolm shot back without missing a beat.

  Felix chuckled, completely unbothered. "Guilty as charged! Hey Cass, Erik's around here somewhere. He wanted to congratulate you personally."

  Cass's grin turned predatory as she wandered off, clearly planning to gloat her ass off. She'd more than earned it.

  "He's competing with Ferris and me in the Adept brackets," Felix continued. "I pushed through to Adept pretty fast. Not much competition without Alexander's teams, so we've got a real shot at winning the exhibitions."

  I blinked at that revelation. Wasn't Adept supposed to take months? Learning techniques, maximizing physical mana storage, perfecting seal mastery? I felt like it would take me years to get there.

  "Wow, congrats Felix. That's going to be a powerhouse team," I said genuinely. "I watched Ferris obliterate an Arbortrux with a single lightning bolt. Hope we get to watch you guys compete."

  Felix's smile flickered slightly. "Yeah... he told me about that. Said he wished he could've done more to help. But I heard that's when you found your Seal candidate. What incredible luck. We'll be studying together in no time."

  I moved to the compositor and dropped a few red coins, mana tugging gently as I visualized cold beer. Several frosted mugs materialized on the surface. I turned, holding one out for Felix, only to find Ferris standing directly behind me.

  I hadn't sensed him at all—must've written him off as another wandering guest.

  "Ferris!" I said, offering him a mug. He accepted it as if I'd handed him liquid gold.

  "Amituofo, Ben. Or should I say, Revered One? This humble scholar is pleased to see you once more." He took a long drink and sighed with pure contentment.

  "Yeah, what's with that title?" I asked. "All the Sentarians have been saying it since I met Arryava."

  Ferris nodded with solemn reverence. "The Sentarian recognize your Vajra and the hand that wields it. The Vajra chooses its bearer, not the other way around. Thus, you are Revered."

  "Okay, so that doesn't actually explain anything..." I said. "Want to help carry these?"

  He nodded and grabbed two mugs while I collected the rest. We headed back to the group, distributing beer like we were hosting a casual party.

  "Wait a minute," Thea said, staring at her mug in amazement. "You know how to brew beer?"

  I nodded. "I know how to make a lot of things."

  "He's also about as modest as a fireworks display at a fucking funeral," Ted cut in, materializing beside me.

  Of course he was here—there was alcohol involved.

  I didn't dignify the comment, just handed him a mug, which he snatched and downed in one impressive pull before belching loud enough to rattle glasses on a platter nearby.

  Shaking my head, I handed mugs to Thea and Felix, then took a sip myself. Perfect—malty, cold, with a faint citrus edge that hit exactly right.

  "Whoa, this is crazy good," Thea said, clutching the mug with two small hands. It was so cute, but I’d never say it to Thea’s face.

  "Terrans are absolute barbarians," said a voice to my left.

  I turned to see a man in a crimson high-collared jacket with a golden sash pinned with an elaborate bird-shaped brooch. The outfit looked almost Egyptian—strangely familiar yet foreign. Three soldiers flanked him in segmented brass armor, red capes, and plated kilts that screamed Roman legion. They looked far more battle-hardened than anyone I'd encountered so far.

  Except maybe Richard.

  "I must admit, though," the man continued with a sharp accent—something between Diana's refinement and a news anchor's precision—"you can certainly take a hit."

  "Uh, thanks?" I said without thinking.

  "Thanks, your highness," one soldier barked, making the correction loud and unmistakably clear.

  This guy radiated nobility like a neon sign. I glanced at Cass, who looked equally lost, but Malcolm's entire posture shifted into something cold and formal.

  "Prince Lucian Crow," Malcolm said, bowing slightly with ice in his voice. "How wonderful to see you again."

  "I wasn't talking to you, child," Lucian replied without even looking at him. "You are no one without your mother. Crimson Prince no longer."

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  "Wow, this guy's a real fucking peach," Ted muttered beside me.

  I winced, but Lucian didn't bristle. Instead, his eyes widened with genuine delight.

  "Wonderful! I'd heard about the Spirit Guardian." He clapped like he'd discovered a rare treasure. Word traveled fast in magical circles, apparently.

  Ted just stared him down with predatory intensity. Lucian looked young despite his neatly trimmed beard—something youthful glittered in his eyes. Did Gaians age the same as humans?

  "Yeah, that's Ted," I said awkwardly. "Bit of a pain in the ass. Sorry for what he said."

  "Not at all! I expected as much when I paid for this gala," Lucian said, still smiling. "Terrans are savages—clearly, you're no exception."

  Ah, so it was him funding this meet-and-greet.

  "Now then," he continued with businesslike precision, "how many gold mana coins for that staff of yours? It should be in the hands of someone worthy."

  Goosebumps prickled up my arms like ice water. He wanted Winchester? And he'd brought soldiers as backup.

  I felt the shift around me—Thea stepped closer, subtly positioning herself between us, clearly ready for violence.

  For the second time since arriving in Sylvarus, genuine anger flared in my chest. Something about this place seemed designed to get under my skin.

  Noble? Sure. So were Cass and Malcolm. Even Astrid and Richard had titles. They were

  nobles, not this bullshit. Meanwhile, I'd been fighting tooth and nail just to stay in this world, with genuine uncertainty about whether I'd even be here in a few days.

  And this entitled prick thought he was more worthy of Winchester?

  Valor flared in my mind, and to everyone's horror, I casually tossed Winchester at him.

  He caught it barely, fumbling with the grip while staring at me in shock.

  "Well then, I..." he began.

  Just like that, Winchester was back in my hand, and Lucian froze like someone had turned him to stone.

  I shrugged, glanced at Ted, and then at my friends. "Look at that. Guess he isn't worthy after all."

  Ted erupted into delighted laughter, and muffled snickers rippled through the entire room like wildfire.

  Lucian's face turned deep crimson, and the sneer that followed stripped away every trace of noble composure.

  "How dare you!" he spat like a petulant child. "Do you know who I am?"

  My face broke into a smile that probably looked dangerous. "I'm just a savage. Why would a barbarian know that?"

  "I am a Sunspire Prince, heir to the North Shores! My father could have you—"

  I tuned him out, anger fizzling into plain irritation made worse by my throbbing ribs. Reaching down, I scratched Red behind his ears. The simple motion helped dissolve what remained of my fury.

  Time to channel my inner Canadian.

  "Look, bud," I said with deliberate calm, "are you planning to yell at me until I give a shit? Because that's not a good plan."

  The surrounding murmurs got louder. Even Cass stared at me in pure confusion.

  "Insolence!" Lucian was practically shrieking now.

  That's when Thea finally stepped in.

  "I think that's enough," she said with dangerous calm. "This meeting is over."

  "It's over when I say it's over!" Lucian snapped.

  Thea looked up at him with a wicked grin that promised violence. "If you'd like to dispute me, we can ask Dara to bring in the Oathbound for mediation."

  Lucian's fire cooled instantly, though the hatred in his glare could've melted steel.

  "Yeah, that's what I fucking thought," Thea muttered. "Now, like I said, this shit's over. Let's go."

  She practically dragged me toward the exit, but I still had unfinished business.

  I turned back. "Hey Lucian, are you competing in this tournament?"

  He sneered with pure disdain. "I would never lower myself into the dirt with those like you."

  "Yeah, that figures," I said, flashing him another grin just as Thea forced me out of the room.

  "What the fuck was that all about?" Thea demanded the second we stepped into our suite.

  She'd been fuming the entire walk back, and yeah—I knew I'd screwed up. But I didn't regret it. The guy deserved to be put in his place, noble or not. That I could feel Valor nudging me down the path didn't bother me either.

  I shrugged. "He said I wasn't worthy of Winchester. Had to show him otherwise."

  "Ben," Malcolm said, his voice tight with genuine concern, "Lucian Crow is first in line for the North Shore. He's basically the next Emperor of the Sunspire Archipelago. His father, Amon Crow, commands the Legion—one of the largest Runebinder forces on the planet."

  "Guy's still a prick," Cass muttered with venom. "A pumped-up Dorian with a more punchable face."

  "Shit-baskets," Thea groaned. "You three... I hate politics, and now I'm neck-deep in the worst kind. You don't think maybe you could've handled that with a little more fucking subtlety?"

  I gave her a blank look. "When we met this afternoon, you blew up your own lab."

  "Damn right I did," she chuckled.

  "No one in this room knows anything about tact. Except..." I glanced at Malcolm.

  He raised an eyebrow expectantly.

  "Except maybe Red," I said, petting the dog without breaking eye contact.

  Malcolm threw up his hands in exasperation.

  "Look," I continued, "he's a prince. Where I come from, royalty's supposed to act like it. If his father has a problem with someone telling his asshole son to shut up, then we'd probably be at odds either way. Best to get it out in the open early."

  Thea opened her mouth to argue, then stopped. Thought about it. Then sighed.

  "There's a lot going on here," she muttered. "Way more than I signed up for. And fuckin’ Lana being involved makes everything infinitely more complicated."

  "Things have been complicated since minute one," Cass said with authority. "The moment Ben steps out of a kitchen, shit goes sideways."

  We all collapsed onto the couches, and I'd just let out a long breath when sharp knocking hit the door—followed immediately by it swinging open without invitation.

  Diana strode in, flanked by several people I didn't recognize. Each wore distinctly different outfits, like they'd traveled here from entirely different corners of the world.

  "The Godsdamned Problem is right," Diana said. "Congratulations on a very impressive first event, darlings. But did you really have to tell off Lucian Crow in front of half his rivals and political enemies? It’s a fuck—"

  She caught herself and cleared her throat, throwing a look over her shoulder at her diverse entourage.

  "It's a madhouse out there," she corrected diplomatically. "You've officially got more fans than Stanley, and Maris is absolutely fuming. Clearly another setup on her part."

  We exchanged uneasy looks.

  "Wait, what happened?" Thea asked, confusion clear.

  A newcomer stepped forward—a Carmintree woman in flowing azure silks styled like a toga, her vibrant red skin offset by black jewelry that gleamed under the lights.

  "It has been a long time since someone publicly challenged one of the Crow heirs," she said, her accent smooth and aristocratic. "You've rekindled something of a populist movement among the people of Sunspire and surrounding territories. The meeting was broadcast to many viewing tables."

  Thea and Malcolm groaned in perfect unison.

  "Oh, shit," I muttered, the sudden realization hitting like a brick. I might have just sparked a revolution on a world I'd inhabited for exactly two weeks.

  "Don't worry so much," Diana said, flashing a reassuring smile. "Let's put it this way—you now have more public support on Sunspire than Lucian does. And the Emperor? He'll do nothing. He believes heirs should fend for themselves."

  She gave a small shrug. "Though I'll admit Maris may have scored a political win with this one. Lucian might not be much of a Runebinder, but he's unfathomably wealthy. And half the Adepts currently in the Academy are from the Legion."

  "You need not worry about Lucian during the tournament," the Carmintree woman interjected with quiet authority. "I shall see to it. But afterwards... if you intend to remain on Ark, we will need to discuss your options for dealing with him."

  "I'm sorry," I started, but she raised a graceful hand.

  "No need," she said with a soft smile. "I am Selena Carmintree—Head Mistress of the Sunspire Tower and adviser to Emperor Amon Crow."

  "Oh," I said, suddenly feeling like I'd stepped in something much deeper than expected. Was the Sunspire Tower the main one everyone talked about? "I'm Ben Crawford."

  "I know," she said warmly. "Please do us all a favor and place well in this tournament. It would be a shame to waste your newly gained fame. Especially since you intend to petition the Runelords."

  With that diplomatic bombshell, everyone finally retreated from our suite. The door slammed shut behind them, leaving us in shell-shocked silence.

  Red coughed loudly, then let out a sudden sneeze that echoed off the walls.

  And then, somehow, Henrik was just... sitting next to me.

  I nearly launched off the couch. "What the fuck, Henrik!"

  He grinned as if this were the funniest thing in the world.

  "Have you been there the whole time?"

  Cass stood and approached the dresser she'd moved earlier, clearly planning to hurl it at him.

  "Whoa, whoa!" Henrik held up defensive hands. "I just got here, I swear! I didn't think Nana would show up with that whole Archon entourage—figured they'd spot me immediately."

  "Where's Katie?" I asked, heart still settling.

  "She wanted to watch the next round," he said. "Said she'd meet me here. I did some digging while I waited—checked out your next event."

  I glanced down at the cuff still locked around my wrist.

  "Guess we're keeping the tethers," I muttered.

  Henrik nodded. "Yep! Tomorrow morning, you're heading into the Spire. Felix, Ferris, and Erik are doing the first round of Adept events before you. We'll get to watch them fight."

  "Oh, that I definitely want to see," I said.

  Cass's grin turned vicious. "Fuck yes, let's watch Erik get his ass kicked."

  Another knock sounded, and half a dozen officials filed in with carts full of food and drinks. They moved like clockwork, stocking cupboards in efficient silence while we sat watching, amazed by their sheer professionalism.

  "Thanks!" I called out just before they left. One of the Aldertree men smiled and nodded, expertly sidestepping as Katie barreled through the entrance at full sprint.

  "Ben!" she gasped, completely out of breath. "Did you actually tell off a Prince? Everyone's talking about it!"

  We all cracked up.

  "Sure did," I said.

  She lit up like I'd just told her we'd won the lottery.

  "I'm sorry!" she blurted, barely containing her excitement. "You won! You completed the event and everyone around me was saying it was faster than anything they've seen in years!"

  "Yeah," I said, looking at Cass and Malcolm with genuine pride. "We make a pretty good team."

  They gave me matching nods of approval.

  "Just need to keep it up, and I'm not going anywhere."

  Katie shot me a smile that was half proud, half thrilled, and completely heart-stopping.

  Thea slapped her knee like she'd just remembered something important. "Well. Time to get some eats and rest."

  She stood, grabbed a handful of provisions, and headed off without ceremony. Cass and Malcolm exchanged a glance, then followed. The packed room emptied to just Katie, Red, and me within a minute.

  I swapped out of my armor, changing back into comfortable linen clothes as every ache in my body made itself known. Everything hurt just a little more now that the adrenaline had faded.

  Katie stepped forward and pulled me into a tight hug. I hugged her back—ribs protesting, but completely worth it.

  "Katie... I need to know I'm staying before—"

  She interrupted me with another kiss. "I know," she said, then hugged me even tighter.

  The moment couldn't last. Red shoved himself between us with a pointed look.

  he seemed to say.

  I laughed. "There's always room for you, buddy."

  Katie broke into a brilliant smile and knelt down, scratching behind his ears and ruffling his fur as Red enthusiastically licked her face.