Krion adjusted the high colr of his new uniform as he followed Alecto dowaircase to the front of the shop. Behind him, the Sentinel desded in silence.
“The first uniform is free,” Alecto said as they reached the floor. He turo g Krion. “You will likely o purchase more and varied outfits in the months ahead. I hope you will sider our services.”
Given the magical precision of the tail he had just witnessed and the quality of the clothing that he now wore as a result, Krion knew he would want additional sets of clothing from Alecto’s shop iure but for ohing.
“Given the quality of your work,” Krion said sincerely, “I do hope to be able to purchase some more clothing from you iure. It might be a while, however, since I will o figure out how to make some moo pay you.”
Alecto chuckled. “Young lord, I must say, I don’t often hear alk about earning their .” He gave a slight bow, a smile still on his face. “But given your pliments, I want you to know that you are always wele in my shop.”
Nodding once more in thanks, Krion made to leave the shop, but as he made his way towards the door, the faint sounds of activity he back of the shop ceased. Hoping that the sudden silence had nothing to do with him, Krion simply kept walking.
“Lord Bcksword!”
Well, there went that hope.
Turning to face the voice, Krion saw the young noble who had mocked him earlier standing awkwardly, the rest of the nobility in the room behind him, clearly trying to avoid attention. His face ale as he stared at Krion, or more aptly, at Krion’s shoulder where the mark of his House was depicted. The longer Krion stood there without answering, the more panic began to twist the young lord’s features.
Not knowing what to do, Krion looked to the Sehat had been esc him, a silent plea for help in his expression.
“Lord, the son of a Baro is seeking permission to approach,” the Sentinel said.
Oh, was that what he was waiting for?
Krion awkwardly beed the young noble forward.
“L-lord Bcksword,” the young man stammered as he rushed over, only to duto a low bow so quickly that he nearly lost his bance. In trembling hands, he held a velvet pouch, which he thrust at Krion. “P-lease accept this humble gift as an apology for my earlier… foolishness at nnizing you.”
Krion bli the young man, his brow furrowing. What? “A gift?”
“Yes, Lord Bcksword,” the young man said, his voice still quaking. “A token of resped, uh, goodwill. Yes, goodwill. I meant no offense earlier. It was a misuanding on my part.”
While the words he had said earlier had bothered Krion, even upset him, he also had not felt the o do something to the young noble in revenge. But then again, he might be atypical in that regard. Every iion with the upper csses for Krion so far had carried with it a heavy focus on the importance of rank. He did not yet kly how important House Bcksword was in this portion of the Empire, but given how everyohrowing themselves at his feet ohey found out what noble family he was ected to, it was likely higher than he expected. Just how many Archduoble houses were there in the Empire?
Kriht his attention back to the young noble, who now was tearing up in fear. No, that question would be something he worries about ter. He shook his head. “I don’t need yift.”
The young noble’s jaw fell sck. “B-but—”
“It is fine. Keep your pouch,” Krion stated firmly. “Just be better.”
The expression on the young noble’s face began to shift to fusion as Krion turned away to leave the shop. The st he saw of the young man, he was still holding the pouch outthrust and unopened in still slightly trembling hands. The murmuring of the others in the shop began to pick up as Krion stepped outside, the Sentinel falling into step beside him, though stepping slightly faster to take the lead. Few people were around for some reason, and truthfully he was thankful for that.
As he followed the Sentinel along the cobbled street, Krioually broke the silence. “Are most nobles like that?”
The Seilted her head slightly, the white mask agairaying ion but kept walking. “Most,” she said after a moment. “Porivilege often breed arrogahe weaker ones g to status symbols to mask their insecurities.”
After a moment to digest what the Sentinel had said, Krion spoke again. “My family did ly prepare me for what to expect here. Could you tell me about the different ranks of the nobility? I think that might help me… fit ier.”
The Seurned her head slightly to him. “You weren’t told about the tiers of nobility?” her voice was tinged with fusion.
Krion almost blurted out that he hadn’t even known he was a il an Imperial Pathfinder had found him oh a few weeks ago, but held his tongue just in time. It had been the advice of Alesin and Rolfun to keep that secret as close to his chest as possible for now. He trusted them to have his best is in mind.
“No, I guess my family had other priorities in teag me, I suppose,” he said instead.
There was a brief pause before the Sentinel nodded. “Very well. It is more than unon that someone of your station not know these things, but as this information is not something that the faculty here would be expected to teach, I will expin.”
She gestured that they take a sidestreet, perhaps for discretion, then spoke in a calm yet instructive voice. It had the air of being memorized. “The nobility of the Empire is divided into three primary tiers: the low nobility, the middle nobility, and the high nobility. Though there is some nuance, each tier has its own roles, responsibilities, and expectations within the Empire.”
Krion stepped around a puddle, steps keeping pace with the Sentinel as he listened ily to what she was saying. He didn’t want to miss anything given his expectation that this information would not only help him adapt to life here but also better avoid trouble.
“The low nobility,” the Sentinel began, “forms the foundation of the Empire’s feudal structure. Knights, Baros, Barons, and Vists fall into this category. Knights are the most basioble title — often granted for exceptional service, though not always hereditary. Baros hold a simir rank but often also oversee small parcels of nd or estates. Barons and Vists are a step above, responsible for administering rger regions or serving as key advisors to the middle nobility. Their power is localized, often limited to single worlds, and they are generally more ed with maintaining stability withierritories.”
“So, they are like local governors or military leaders?”
“In a way,” the Sentinel replied. “Their focus on their local region also expins why most generally try to steer clear of the higher politics of the Empire. Such as what the young empted to do iailor’s shop once he learned of your true background.”
“So that was an in hopes that I might leave him and his family alone?”
“Indeed,” the Sentinel responded. “The fact that you let him off with a simple admonishment and deed his as well will likely have him praying to his aors in thanks of your mercy for weeks to e.”
“Well, it didn’t feel right to take it,” he said with a shrug. “After all, he just said some stupid insults. No harm done.”
The Sentinel was silent in response. When it was clear that she was not going to tialking, Krion paused ireet. “Do you disagree with me?”
The Seurned, her mask fixed on him. “Yes, I disagree. As would most any other noble s in this Empire, especially those of your rank. Words have power. Within the realms of the nobles, an insult or word of praise lead to the damnation or salvation of entire worlds. To be so casual about the potential harm they might bring on the speaker, or the target, is to tempt fate.”
Krion’s brows furrowed as he sidered the Sentinel’s words. “I suppose I uand what you mean,” he admitted, his tohoughtful. “But where I grew up, people toss around insults all the time, usually without much seque’s how you prove you’re tough enough t them off. I guess it is hard for me to see how mere words could cause so much… devastation.”
The Sentinel remained motionless, her mask obsg aion to his response. “Your experiences may have insuted you from the intricacies of noble society, but make no mistake — words in these circles are not spoken lightly. An insult from a s of an Archducal House is not a small matter. It cast doubt on the reputation, alliances, or even the legitimacy of those targeted. ”
Krion’s gaze dropped to the cobblestones of the street. “Then maybe I should have taken his . But it still feels wrong. I don’t want to be someone who twists every word into a on.”
“Your ideals may serve you well, Lord Bcksword, but tread carefully,” the Sentinel’s voice softehough it remained firm. “The Imperial Academy will not always reward restraint or kindness.”
Point made, the Sentinel tinued walking in the dire she had been leading him. As soon as Krion moved to follow, she began speaking about the tiers of nobility again.
“The middle nobility is where true pins to accumute. ts, Marquises, and Dukes hold signifit influence as well as trol over members of the low nobility. ts oversee sizable regions that often enpass multiple baronies. Marquises are simir but typically govern border territories and are charged with defending the Empire’s frontiers. Dukes are the highest ranks within the middle nobility, often anding vast regions aultiple worlds or more. As a result of their influend reach, they also often serve as intermediaries between the low and high nobility.”
Krion’s brows furrowed. “So they act as a bridge betweewo?”
“Precisely,” the Sentinel firmed. “Occasionally, they might wield enough power to challenge members of the high nobility, though such as are rare and… inadvisable.”
As she fialking about the middle nobility, the Sentinel led him bato a main street. Much like the previous streets they had walked, very few people were in sight. But he only heir general passing, as his eyes were immediately drawn to the t structure that the Sentinel was leading him towards. It could only be the Amphitheater of Indu he had been told about.
It was structed from gleaming white marble veined with threads of shimmering gold; he could evehis as far away as he was. The structure itself was circur, with massive arches carved into its side, each adorned with what he assumed to be bas-reliefs. Pilrs fhese entraheir surfaces etched with ruhat pulsed faintly with a soft light. A small line of people waited to enter while Sentinels had taken up station around the perimeter.
“And then there is the high nobility — the pinnacle of the Empire’s hierarchy but for the Imperial household, the Seven Imperial Princes, and the Emperor himself. Archdukes, Princes, and Kings prise this tier. Archdukes are sed only to royalty, g dozens of worlds or more, their loyalty to those few above them and the Emperor alohe differeween them and the Princes and Kings is that the tter two possess more territory and by extension power. All, however, are still subject to the Emperor.”
Krion’s shoulders stiffe the mention of Archdukes, his family’s rank. “And what… what distinguishes them from the others, aside from the scale of their power?”
“The high nobility is defined not just by their territories but by their political influehey help shape Imperial poliegotiate treaties, and oversee entire multiversal regions. Their as ripple through the entire Empire.”
As the Sentinel tinued walking in the dire of the Amphitheatre of Indu, Krion moved to follow. “And I suppose being part of an Archducal House means I’ll be under even more scrutiny.”
“Yes.” Though the Sentinel remained fag ahead as they walked, Krion could see the slight nod of agreement. “It is rare for an Archduke’s s to go unnoticed, even here. Your rank will and both resped expectation. Many will look to you as a leader, whether you wish it or not.”
“That’s what worries me. I came here hoping to keep my head down, to foy studies and training. But it seems like my rank will make that difficult.”
“It will,” the Sentinel agreed bluntly. “But is also may afford you opportuhers only dream of. Your rank opens doors — whether to alliances, resources, or knowledge. How you use that is up to you.”
They resumed walking, Krion’s mind whirling as he thought things through. The thing he was having the hardest time with was how there had been very little discussion about any of these basi his way to Thorn’s Reach. He didn’t think Alesin and Rolfun had done so maliciously, however. Thinking it over, it’s likely their own experiences in the Empire had pushed them to focus on increasing his strength as much as possible to survive initial tact with other members of the nobility, with the expectation knowledge would e ter. Krion did irely agree, but what happened had happened. Better to just take the new knowledge he had gained into at going forward.
“Thank you. For expining all of this. I ’t imagi’s part of your usual duties.”
The Sentinel ined her head slightly. “It is not. But it is clear you are trying to uand, and that effort is worthy of respect.”
Krion offered a small, appreciative smile, though his thoughts remairoubled. The weight of his rank, the attention his scars already drew, and now the plexities of navigating the Imperial Academy made the odds of keeping his head dowy long. If he wao succeed here and grow strong enough that he might be able to help those he cared about ba Earth, he would o find a way to bahe weight of his rank with the person he wao be. He would just have to take it oep at a time.
They approached the entrance of the Amphitheater. Everyone else that had previously been in line had already made their way inside, leaving only him and the various Sentinels around. He turo the ohat had escorted him, “And how many Archduchies have ss attending the Imperial Academy this year?”
“Five,” the Sentinel said. “The Silverwind, the Ironcw, the Oakfrost, the Bright, and, of course, the Bcksword. No houses of higher rank have any ss seeking admission this year.”
Krion nodded slowly, his mind rag to memorize the names. “That’s more than I expected.”
“It is rare for so many Archducal houses to send their ss in the same year. The presence of these five houses in this cohort will likely shape the ing years of your time here.” The Sentinel visibly hesitated, then leaned in closer to Krion to speak in a voice that held a trace of worry. “The ss of the Archduchies are not like the rest of the student body, Lord Bcksword. They represent the pinnaperial nobility here. Whether you seek it or not, your presence will and attention. Behave accly.”
“I ’t say I’m not disappointed.”
“That is also why the Imperial Academy exists — to mold those with the potential into true leaders.”
“I suppose that’s something to strive for.”
The Sentinel did not respond, but the slight nod of her head said enough.
Krion made to head to the entrance, when the Sentinel spoke once more, pulling him up short.
“This is where I leave you,” the Sentinel said, her voice even and her posture rigid. Her bnk, white mask tilted slightly as if she raising the Amphitheater of Indu, or perhaps him. “Only the first-year students are permitted beyond this point.”
Krion nodded, gng at the ornate arches and w what would happen inside. He faced the Sentinel, all at once realizing he had nearly fotten something important. “I feel like I should thank you properly,” he said, hesitating. “But I don’t even know your name.”
The Sentinel shifted, almost as if sidering how to respond. “I am J-65,” she said finally, the clipped nature of her reply suggesting she was unaced to such questions.
“J-65?” Krioed brows furrowed.
“It is my designation,” she crified. “For those of my rank and station, a name would only interfere with our duties. We are traio serve, not to be known.”
He regarded her thoughtfully before nodding. “Well, J-65, thank you. For everything.”
Her mask dipped on aowledgment. “Walk with purpose, Lord Krion. What you faside will set the tone for your time here. Carry yourself as the s you are.”
Krion aking a deep breath, then turo the entrahough he wao, he did not hesitate before stepping towards it. Behind him, J-65 remained a silent, stoic figure, a watchful prese the threshold of his step into an uain future at the Imperial Academy.
It ended up being a bit ter today than I pnned, but I hope you all ehis test chapter. Now for the obligatory!
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