Professor Vale returo the front of the room, his hands csped behind his bace more. “Now, are there any other questions before we move on?”
A hand rose from a studehe front. “Professor Vale, what happens if someone disregards etiquette entirely? Refuses to py the game, so to speak?”
The professor’s lips quirked into a faint, humorless smile. “Ah, the idealist’s question. Those who refuse to py the game are not exempt from its rules. They simply bee pawns for those who do. In the Empire, ignorance is not bliss — it is vulnerability.” His gaze swept the room. “Remember this: power flows through the els of etiquette and protocol. If you ot trol the flow, you will be swept away by it.”
Krion couldn’t help but nod to himself. The professor’s words, though a bit heavy-handed, resonated with his own thoughts since he had been thinking about the tent of the css. The rules might seem arbitrary, but they were the framework upon which the Empire — and its nobility — funed. Without them, the possibility of flict within the Empire would increase expoially. Given what he knew about the important empires of Earth’s past, when the leaders of such polities desded into infighting, that was when enemies beyond their borders struck. With how long the Empire he was noart of seemed to have existed, Krion could guess that refusing to learn the rules of etiquette for nobility would not just be reckless, it would be suicidal.
“Now, as you all have undoubtedly noticed, the differences between ranks of nobility are not enforced among the students on campus,” Professor Vale tinued. “That decision was made long before any of us were born and with good reason. This Academy is not merely a pce of learning. It is a crucible. Here, you are tested not just on your knowledge or skills but on your ability to adapt and thrive in a system where your title alone will not shield you.” For a brief moment, Krion thought that the professaze nded on him. “The distin between a s from an Archducal House and a Knight’s House is irrelevant here. You are all students first and foremost.”
Krion had noticed what the professor mentioned, and given the ck of surprise from the ss sitting near him, it appeared the majority of the first-years had noticed as well. Yes, the rigid hierarchy of rank bei aside helped expin some of what he had noticed since he had arrived on campus, but he could not hazard a guess as to why the Academy set it up that way in the first pce. Thankfully it looked like the professor was about to crify the reasons.
“The answer is tied to the campus itself: this enviro is your st opportunity to prove yourselves before emerging onto the stage of the Empire. The Academy, and everything that happens within it, is watched closely by professors, administrators, and in some rare cases, representatives of the Imperial gover itself. Here, your performance — not your rank — determines your future. Those who excel may find themselves rewarded upon graduation. Some may even receive extra years of study, granting them access to advaraining and the ce to be gifted greater support iablishing your own fiefdom once you do graduate.”
That caught Krion’s attention. A ce to receive greater support? He gnced around the room and saw that he wasn’t the only origued. Several nearby ss leaned forward, their expressions a mixture of eagerness aermination.
“But let me be clear: this opportunity is not given lightly. It is earned. And one of the most signifit tests of your worth this year will e at the end of this course. The final assessment in my css,” Professor Vale said, turning back to the chalkboard to write on it, “will take the form of an eborate event, attended by visiting dignitaries from among the affiliated nobility within this sector of the Empire. Each of these individuals will e from territories currently in the process of iion into the Empire. They will observe, critique, and i with you directly.” He turned back to the css, setting the chalk down. “Your task will be to navigate this event with poise, grace, and intelligence. You will demonstrate your mastery of what you have learned of etiquette and courtly manners by engaging with your assigned dignitary as a representative of the Empire. Your behavior will refleot only on yourselves but on your Houses and the Academy as a whole.”
A murmur rippled through the room. Krion could hear a number of whispered versations near him, some expressiement at the exam, but the majority seemed to be filled with dread. For his own part, he pced himself closer to the sed group. The idea of being judged by essentially fn nobility when he did not yet uand, well, anything really about being a noble himself was daunting. With the professor’s heavy hint on how important this exam would be for receiving additional help from the Empire upon graduation, however, Krion resolved that he would approach this course with the same diligehat he devoted to his other csses. Even though he still wasn’t looking forward to memorizing all the pomp and ceremoiquette and Courtly Manners would entail.
Professor Vale raised a hand, signaling for silence. “Let me warn those of you who are already sidering sg off in this css. To do badly in this assessment is to fail the course, but uhe other csses you are taking this first year, the sequences of doiremely badly in my css will invite sequences far beyond simple academic failure. You have been warned.”
If it ossible, the grew even more still. Even the most arrogant ss seemed cowed by the professor’s words. Krion unsciously ched his jaw as he saw Hector raise his hand to ask a question.
“Yes, S Draven?”
“Could you crify examples of these sequences, Professor?”
Professor Vale nodded. “There are dignitaries who take insults, iional or not, as personal affronts,” he expined. “For example, should you blunder so catastrophically that they feel their honor has been slighted, they may ihe right to a duel.”
A loud thud came from a table o Krion, everyone in the css, including the professor, turo look at the young dwarven s of a Knight’s House struggling tht his chair. If his face were any redder, it would likely have caught fire. Once ba his seat, the dwarf stared down at the table at which he sat, almost as if he hoped that ign the gazes of the rest of the css would end his humiliation sooner.
“This is not a warni to scare you,” Professor Vale said oentiouro him. His voice was softer but no less serious. “It is simply meant to be a reminder of the world you are preparing to enter. As ss of noble Houses, your words and as carry weight. A single misstep have far-reag sequences, so it is better to prepare now than sck off in this css. Now, let me go over this course’s expectations and we will be finished for the day.”
Professor Vale stepped back to the chalkboard, erasing the circles he had drawn earlier, then writing out a long list of information that could easily fill several pages of notes. Acc to the professor, everyone in his css was to spend the ing months immersing themselves in the s and protocols of both the Empire and several of the more important affiliated territories in the nearby sector of the Empire. As the lines on the brew ever longer, Krion struggled to prevent his eyes from gzing over. Reading assigs would cover everything from prreetings to the intricacies of seating arras at formal events. Practical exercises would include motrodus, staged disputes, and even role-pying sarios to simute iions with fn dignitaries of simir backgrounds to those who would be participating in the final exam. There was even a short list of skills that Professor Vale expected all students to unlock by the end of the course, without which additional tut would be required, as without them the s would not be able to take certain required courses in the sed year.
“You will also be expected to practice regurly,” Professor Vale added, setting the chalk back dowiquette is not something you master through theory and reading alo requires repetition, observation, and feedback. Use your peers, your bodyguards, and even your household staff if necessary. The more you practice, the more natural it will bee.”
The professaze swept the room o time. “I will say this once more: your performan this course is not just about yrade. It is about your future. Take this seriously, or you will regret it. Now, are there any final questions?”
The room remained silent, a number of ss looking around the room to see if anyone was about to ask another question. When no one raised a hand, Professor Vale cpped once, bringing everyone’s attention ba at the front.
“Very well, you are all dismissed. Make sure you are on time for the session for the beginning of practig prreetings to those of various ranks and positions.” He fixed his eyes on Krion as he said this. Thankfully the professor’s attention shifted away quickly. “Have a good day and I will see you all week.”
With the lecture ing to an end, the majority of his fellow ss rushed to gather their things to leave. Krion, however, gathered his things slowly, iionally gging behind the others to avoid unnecessary iions. Yet, he could sense several heavy stares lingering on him. Slowing still further, he gnced around the room to see atg him. Chadwid Hector lingered by the wall he door, looking in his dire, clearly waiting for him to leave. Looks like he wasn’t able to avoid a frontation after all. He stood with a grunt. Better to just get this over with.
As Krion made his way toward the door, Chadwick stepped away from the wall with a deliberate stride, Hector just behind him. The young human s’s lips curled into a sneer as he stopped just short of bumping into Krion. If he had been hoping to intimidate Krion, he had pletely failed. Chadwick was a lot smaller than the Dungeon Boss after all.
Chadwick’s gaze raked over Krion with open disdain, his voice sharp and mog as he spoke. “I don’t know how you mao crawl out of that Dungeon alive,” the sneering s said, voice dripping with venom. “But don’t think for a moment you’ll be so luext time. House Bcksword is a relic of the past, and it is only a matter of time before you will exist only in the Academy records of those students who suffered a tragic act.” Without waiting for a response, Chadwick turned on his heel and strode out of the room, calling over his shoulder as he did. “t the days Bcksword. I am.”
Krion ched his fists but resisted the urge to call after Chadwick with some parting insult. No, words were useless with someone like him — better to serve his energy to prepare for the battles that truly mattered. He already had a few ideas to remove the threat of that arrogant bastard, but he wouldn’t be taking any steps before he could speak with Valdre and Redrek.
As Krion took a steadying breath, Hector remained lingerihe doorway, hesitating. Unlike Chadwick’s open hostility, Krion was surprised to see Hector’s expression was one of muted flict. He looked at Krion for a long moment before speaking, his voice low and even.
“I won’t threaten you,” Hectan, his tone devoid of the malice that had ced Chadwick’s words. “What I did, I did for my family. I won’t apologize for it, but I won’t cim to feel good about it either.”
Krion’s gaze narrowed, but he held his tongue. He could hear the siy ior’s voice, though it did little to quell the bitterness roiling in his chest. He had thought the s from House Draven could bee a friend, but instead, he had simply used the opening Krion had given him to drive a bde deeper into his back. If Hatsune had died down in the Dungeon, Krion’s hands would already be around his neck.
Hecthed at the rage in Krion’s eyes, then began rubbing the back of his neck as though searg for the right words. “The cards are stacked against you, Bcksword. Whether it’s Chadwick or a certain someone else higher up in the hierarchy of the nobility, they’ll make sure you’re removed from the Academy one way or another. You’re a threat, and people like us don’t let threats linger.”
Krion tio stare into Hector’s eyes, the weight of the unspoken challeween them palpable. For a moment, he sidered saying something — anything — but Hector turned and walked out of the room before Krion could form the words. With his departure, Krion was left alone in the empty .
He smmed a fist down against a nearby table, the loud smack apanied by an arming creaking. Chadwick’s arrogance, Hector’s relut hoy — both had hit nerves he didn’t care to aowledge. Ss like Chadwick saw him as a problem to be eliminated, and even ss like Hector, despite their apparent guilt, would still act against him if it meant seg their House’s p the hierarchy. Whatever was going on with House Bcksword had apparently fueled ambitions to act against him.
But Krion wasn’t about to roll over. He’d already fought too hard to get here, eoo much to let a pack of entitled nobles dictate his fate. If they thought he would be easy to remove, they were in for a rude awakening. Krion wasn’t vicious by nature. He would try to figure out a way to disce what happened in the Dungeon, or simir as by his enemies, from happening again. But if they kept ing, he wouldn’t hesitate to put his enemies in the ground. From what Alesin and Rolfun had said, he had the potential to bee ae amoes within the Empire.
It was time he started ag like it.
posure restored, Kriohe to join the small groups of ss walking up and down the hall. The corridors of the Lecture Hall were alive with the steady hum of versation and ughter, students and bodyguards alike moviween csses or leaving for the day. If Krion hadn’t knower, it would have felt like any number of college campuses ba Earth.
As he made his way down the hall, his thoughts shifted to Hatsune. He had asked her to seek out Garran and Kael, hoping to set up a meeting time with the goal of f some sembnce of a strategy for dealing with the growing web of threats around him. As he navigated the halls, his eyes sed the crowd for any sign of the Leporine woman. Though it had only been a few days, it already felt stra to have her by his side. Hopefully, she’d had better luck with Garrana and Kael than he had with the day so far.
Finally, he entrance he had arrived through earlier this m, he spotted her. Hatsune was leaning against the wall, her ears twitg as she spoke with a tall, broad-shouldered man in heavy armor that Krion immediately reized as Garran. A moment ter, Krion saw a shadow elf with a lithe frame and sharp features standing nearby. Looks like she had found Kael as well. All three bodyguards carried themselves with quiet fideheir postures rexed but their eyes alert to potential threats.
Hatsuurned as Krion approached, her expression softening into a smile. “You’re doh css already?”
“Yes, though I was right about being worried about it. I’ll fill you in ter,” Krion replied. “Did you already fill them in?”
Hatsune nodded, gesturing toward the other two bodyguards. “Garran and Kael were kind enough to hear me out. They think that both of their ss would be willing to meet over dinner, but they ’t promise without talking to them. Both Valdre and Redrek are still in css.”
“Thank you both for taking the time to listen to Hatsune,” Krion began.
Garran nodded, his deep voice steady. “We’re here to do more than just protect our s’s person. If there’s a threat that might our charges, we o know about it. Hatsune expihe situation clearly. Chadwid his allies overstepped.”
Kael scoffed, a smirk widening on his face. “Overstepped is putting it mildly. Tossing you both into a Dungeon as a way to ‘settle’ things is amateurish and reckless. Dangerous, yes, but it speaks more to their desperation than petence. Makes one wonder what their steps will be, given that you both survived.”
Krion’s expression darkened. “That’s what worries me. Chadwid the others won’t take this lying down. I’d rather be prepared than caught off-guard again. To do so, I would like to talk with Valdre and Redrek about getting their help.”
Garran crossed his arms, armaus king softly. “I respect that approach. Valdre will likely agree. He’s not one for unnecessary risks, and he uands the value of coordinated efforts.”
Kael chimed in, his tone was more casual but no less serious. “Redrek’s no fool either. He doesn’t trust most of the ss in your year as far as he could throw them — which, given his size, isn’t far. If he sees value in w together, he’ll be on board.” The shadow elf chewed his lip for a moment before he tinued, “I’ll obey his ands, but for my part, I hope you both e to an agreement. To be ho, I’m worried how this year will end if he ot find more allies.”
That sounded w. Though he still did not know Redrek that well, the fact that his bodyguard was overtly hinting at some potential threat to his charge to a s he didn’t know very well was ing, to say the least. “Any threat in particur?”
Kael shook his head. “hat I care to speak of. Better that you ask Redrek yourself.”
“Alright, I’ll bring it up ime I see him,” Krion said. “For now, thank you for talking with them about meeting. If they are open to talking about what happened, we’ll meet at The Hearth & Ember tonight for dinner. It’s publiough pce we won’t draw suspi, but private enough we still talk freely.”
Garran ined his head again. “Uood. I’ll do my best to ence Valdre to be there.”
Kael pushed off the wall, giving a casual salute. “Same here. Redrek’s got a soft spot for that dwarf’s cooking, so it shouldn’t take much ving.”
“Excellent, thank you both,” Krion said. That was a load off his mind. Hopefully, they would both e tonight and he could get their help. “Now, in the meahere is something I o take care of. We’ll meet you all at The Hearth & Ember ter.”
With the other bodyguards departing to meet their ss outside their respective s, Krion turo Hatsune eared to want to ask a question.
“Yes?” he asked as he strode over to the entrance of the building.
“Given how important this is, why not go directly to The Hearth & Ember now?” Hatsune asked, following behind him.
“Because this isn’t just about me,” Krion said, gng back at Hatsune. “Valdre and Redrek are stig their necks out by associating with me. They deserve to kly what they’re walking into if they decide to help. So before we talk, I want to go back to the tral Archives and use some of my s of Knowledge to get some information on potential csses we might pursue, and more importantly, exactly what is happening with House Bcksword. I don’t want to go into this blind. I owe them that much at least.”
“Alright,” Hatsune reached past him to open the door and led him outside. “Let’s head to the tral Archives then.”
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