She spent another few moments in silence, looking at his faot seeing whatever it was she was looking for, she leaned forward, resting her hands ly oable. Her expression was serious, but Krion got the impression that she was secretly pleased he had pressed her for more answers.

  “You may not be aware of this, but Chadwick Copperhand has close ties to Caspian Bright.” At his cautious nod, she tinued. “What I am certain you don’t know is that my own family, House Veyrith, has its own history with House Bright — ohat has left scars I’m not ined tive.”

  Krion leaned forward slightly, curiosity piqued. “What kind of history?”

  Yona’s amber eyes darkened, a flicker of something colder crossing her face. “Caspian’s older brother, Aldric Bright, is a name I’ll never fet. Years ago, when I was still a child, my family fell victim to one of his schemes. He maniputed trade agreements, undermined key alliances, and orchestrated a financial colpse that nearly destroyed House Veyrith.”

  Krion frowned. “Why? What did he stand to gain from doing all that?”

  “Power,” Yona said simply, though she quickly corrected herself. “And pleasure. Aldrijoys watg others fall. All the better when he has a hand in it. My family recovered eventually, but the damage was done. We lost our standing in the sector’s court, and with it, opportuhat should have been ours. It was a calcuted move to weaken us, and he succeeded.”

  The room fell silent for a moment, Krion taking time to digest her words. Hatsune shifted unfortably at his back but said nothing.

  “And now you’re here, talking with me,” Krion said slowly, pieg it together. “Looking for revenge?”

  Yona’s lips curled bato a faint smile, though this time it cked warmth. “Revenge is a word some might use, yes. But I prefer to think of it as justice. Aldric is beyond my reach for now, but Caspian? He’s within arm’s length, and his downfall would serve my is quite well.”

  Krion leaned back, his arms crossing as he studied her. “And you think helping me will get you there?”

  “I do,” Yona said without hesitation. “Like I said, you have already made an impression with those who are observant like I am. Your rivalry with Chadwick has drawn attention, and only a fool would not see that will lead to a deeper enmity between you and Caspian. You’re in a unique position, Krion. Ohat I believe could be mutually beneficial.”

  Hatsune finally spoke, her voice sharp. “And what do you really gain if my lord succeeds?”

  Yona arched her brow at Krion, not deigning to look at the Leporine. When he gestured for her to answer, she did so, her expression carefully cealing all but a hint of irritation at the interruption by his bodyguard. “Is his success not enough? Damaging House Bright would be poetic justice for what Aldric did to my family and yours. But I won’t insult your intelligence by pretending this is purely altruistic. I gain satisfa as well as advantages elsewhere, but in exge, you will gain an ally who uands the intricacies of Imperial politid the dangers he’s fag at the Academy.”

  Krion tapped his fingers against the table, his thoughts rag. Her mention of Aldric having taken as against House Bcksword sent a jolt through him, stirring questions he knew he o get ao. The weight of not knowing more about his family pressed heavily on him, and he cursed not having been able to read the book before having this meeting with Yona.

  “An ally who could provide me information on those topics sounds wonderful, but what’s to stop you from cutting all ties once I achieve yoal for me? If I agree to this alliance, how you help me beyond this information?”

  Yona’s smile widehis time tinged with genuine amusement. “Fair questions. Let’s start with this: beyond the political knowledge I possess, I know just as much about a range of fields of study and have access to resources that most ss could only dream of.” She idly tapped her fingers oable in the same pattern Krion was tapping, her eyes going to the sed book he had e to the Archives to get. “You’ve started researg csses, have you not? Perhaps even hybrid csses?”

  Krion’s tapping stilled. “How do you know that?”

  “A guess,” Yona said, shrugging. Krion was not sure if he believed her, but she tinued, “And I happen to have some expertise in how to go about unlog higher rarity csses, as well as the role that Essence pys in that process. Unlog a css — especially a higher-ranking hybrid one — requires more than just brute strength or luck. It requires uanding and materials, and I help you with that.”

  Krion’s fusion must have shown on his face because Yona cocked her head and asked, “Has a professor not told you yet?” When he shook his head, she sighed, eyes closing in exacerbation. “No wonder you didn’t immediately jump on what I am you. Alright, I will expin.”

  “The ritual to unlock a css is a stant across the Multiverse, as far as we know,” Yona began. “No matter where you are, the process is identical. However, the ritual is far from simple. The rarity of the css you wish to unlock dictates how plicated — and costly — it bees.”

  She g Krion, gauging his rea. He did his best to keep his expression unreadable, not wanting to give away how excited he was to learn this new information from another s who had already gohrough the process. This alone made meeting with Yona worthwhile, even if the alliance did not end up happening. Still, he noticed that behind him, Hatsune was shifting unfortably, her long ears twitg in clear distrust.

  “For ss of the Empire,” Yona tinued, “we are fortuo have access to superior ritual chambers. These chambers don’t just streamlihe process — they amplify the results. A properly equipped ritual chamber mitigate the i risks of attempting to unlock a higher rarity css, and, if you are lucky, even grant you additional stat points during the process. This is an advahat most people in the Empire only dream of, and one no s should squander.”

  Krion’s expression began to crack, uo trol the feeling of curiosity at learning more about the process. Yona must have se because there was a shift in her posture as she grew more intense.

  “Let me put this into perspective for you,” she said, leaning forward slightly. “on csses are the only ohat anyone unlock without materials. That’s why the majority of the Empire’s popution — those outside of military service or the nobility — hold on csses. They simply ’t afford the cost of unlog anything more. For many, even unon csses are a distant dream.”

  Hatsune made a small sound of derision, but Yona ig, keeping her focus on Krion. She must have been able to tell that the weight of her words was hitting him.

  “As the rarity of the css to be unlocked increases,” Yona tinued, “so do the requirements for unlog it. An unon css might require a handful of rare materials, along with an Essence crystal of the appropriate type. A rare css? That might demand a specific artifact reater quantity of rare materials. Beyond that rarity, the resoureeded be extraordinary — costing more than aire Imperial world produces in a year. And the higher you aim, the more precise you must be. A single mistake in preparation could mean failure, or worse, death.”

  She allowed a brief pause, making sure that Krion was keeping up. Despite the newness of the information, he was able to follow her. He nodded for her to tinue.

  “Now,” she said, her tone softening as she came to the point she was trying to make, “as ss of Houses bound to an Empire as rge as our own, we have the luxury of access. Our birthright provides us with the means to aim higher than most. But even for us, the process requires careful pnning. That is what you will be receiving: my assistance.”

  At that point, Hatsune bristled visibly, but Yona did not react. She tinued speaking, ign the Leporine.

  “Not only I provide you with advi what css to pursue, but with my knowledge of the Archives and my uanding of Essence, I help you narrow your options to something that aligns with both your strengths and yoals. And when you’ve made your decision, I assist you in trag dowerials o unlock that css.” She leaned over the table, emphasizing the weight of her offer. “This isn’t a decision to be made lightly, Krion. Choosing a css defines not just your capabilities but your trajectory. A hasty choice could limit you forever. But with the right guidance, you could avoid that risk. That is what I am you.”

  Krion exged a gh Hatsune, who still looked upset with Yona. Her ears twitched, aail swished sharply, betraying her simmering frustration. He coughed, loud and deliberate, cutting through the tension. Hatsune blinked, her eyes snapping to him as her gre softened — though only slightly. Krion arched an eyebrow, a silent question hangiween them. She hesitated, her lips tightening as if tue, but then she gave a sharp nod, relutly signaling her agreement to follow his lead. A knot of tensioween Krion’s shoulders loosened, grateful for her trust despite her clear reservations, aurned his focus back to Yona.

  “That’s an exceedingly generous offer,” he said. “But it still seems almost too good. Why should I trust you?”

  “Because you have little to lose by doing so,” Yona replied without a moment’s hesitation. “And because, whether you like it or not, you’ll need allies to survive the storm that is ing. Houses Copperhand and Bright are not your only enemies, Krion. They’re merely the beginning.” She gestured at the book in his hands with the House Bcksword Crest. “I ence you to read over that. Soon.”

  He held her gaze, unblinking for several long seds. As hard as he tried, he still couldn’t tell if she was being fully truthful or if she was keeping something back. But she wasn’t wrong. And he was worried he was already running out of time.

  “All right,” he said finally. “I’ll agree to a preliminary alliance. But if you’re lying, or this turns out to be a trap — ”

  “It won’t,” Yona interrupted firmly. “You have my word.”

  She extended a delicate but firm hand across the table, her expression calm but expet. Krion looked at it a long moment before reag out, grasping her hand firmly. Her skin was soft, her grip strong but not overp. For a fleeting moment, he thought he saw a faint blush on her dusty bronze cheeks, but it was gone before he could be sure.

  “Done,” he said, releasing her hand. “We’ll see where this goes.”

  Yona ined her head, amber eyes gleaming with what he assumed to be satisfa. “I look forward t with you, Krion.”

  Standing, Yona made her way to the door, her movements as light as a gentle breeze and just as difficult to pin down. Her hulking bodyguard opehe door, but she paused ohreshold, one haing lightly against the frame, and gnced back at him. Her antlers caught the faint light ing in from the Archive, casting elegant, brang shadows across the room.

  “Remember this, Krion,” she said, her voice lilti edged with steel. “Alliances are rarely what they seem. Be careful whom you approach.”

  Krion paused in the process of standing up, staring over at Yona. “Is that a warning, or a threat?”

  Her lips curved into another faint smile, though this time it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “her. Simply the truth. You’re perceptive, Krion, but trust is a treacherous thing. Guard it well should you seek alliances with others.”

  With that, she turned and stepped out of the room, her bodyguard following closely behind. The door clicked shut behind them, leaving Krion and Hatsune alone in the silence of the study.

  For a long moment, her of them spoke. Krion stared at the closed door, his thoughts jumbled. Yona’s words repyed in his mind, but he still could not tell if she had been pletely upfront with him, had lied throughout their versation, and engaged in a mix of both. She had just been too hard to read. Perhaps it had something to do with her css, whatever it was, or that she was a third-year s.

  “She’s something else,” he murmured finally, breaking the silence.

  Hatsune, who had been standing stiffly by the table, let out an exasperated huff. “That’s one way to put it. I’d call her maniputive and dangerous, but sure, ‘something else’ works too.”

  Krion turo face her, his expression wry. “You don’t trust her.”

  “Of course I don’t trust her,” Hatsune shot back, her ears twitg sharply. “Did you see the way she carried herself? The way she looked at you? She’s pying a game, Krion, and she’s very good at it.”

  “I’m not blind,” Krion said evenly. “I know she has her own agenda.”

  “Then why agree to work with her?” Hatsune demanded, her frustration bubbling over. “You barely know her, and she’s already talking about revenge and alliances like it’s some kind of court intrigue. How do you know she won’t turn on you the moment it suits her?”

  “I don’t,” Krion admitted. “But that’s the risk you take with any alliance among the nobility, isn’t it? If I shut out every potential ally because of the possibility of betrayal, I’ll be standing alone when the real threats e.”

  Hatsune crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. “And what happens when her ‘help’ es with strings attached? What if she drags you into something you’re not prepared for? She is a third-year s!”

  Krion sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m not saying it’s perfect, Hatsune. I’m saying it’s a step. I’m not foolish enough to trust her blindly, but I ’t afford to ighe opportunities she offers either. Knowledge, es, resources — I may be o this game, but even I know that those things matter, especially when you’re up against people like Chadwid Caspian.”

  Hatsune fell silent, her expression a mix of frustration and worry. Krion could see the in her eyes, the way her hands ched at her sides as if she was holding herself back from saying more.

  After a moment, she shook her head. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt, Krion. Or worse.”

  “I know,” he said quietly. “And I appreciate it. Really. But I have to take some risks if I’m going to survive this. You know that as well as I do.”

  Hatsune sighed again, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. “Fine. Just… promise me you’ll be careful. Don’t let her sweet-talk you into something you’ll regret.”

  Krion managed a small smile. “You have my word.”

  Hatsune gave him a skeptical look, but didn’t press the issue further. Instead, she gestured toward the door. “e on. You said you wao get to The Hearth & Ember before Valdre and Redrek, right?”

  “Yeah,” Krion said, grabbing his books and tug them under his arm. “Though with meeting Yona, I don’t think I’ll have as much time as I want to read before they get there.”

  “Likely,” Hatsune replied. “Let’s go before I ge my mind and drag you back to Banor for a lecture.”

  Krion chuckled, following her out of the study. As they left, Krion found himself watg the Leporine as she led him in the dire of the exit of the Archives. She had been so stiff and reserved when they had first met, her words calcuted and her demeanor almost unnervingly professional. But sihen, she had begun to open up, showing a side of herself that he was certain not many had seen. Her sharp wit, fiery temper, and unwavering loyalty had already bee stants in his life despite how hey were. They were f, in their way.

  He couldn’t help but admire the way she voiced her s so openly, especially when they were about him. The other bodyguards he had met so far were more in keeping with what he had expected initially. Silent and subservient to their ss. But everything that Hatsune had been doing and says seems to show that she wasn’t just following orders or proteg him because it was her duty; she genuinely cared. That care shohrough in the way she challenged him, questioning his decisions not out of defiance, but out of for his well-being.

  Krion appreciated that more than he could say. Her being around helped ground him, helped remind him that he wasn’t alone in navigating the treacherous world of ss and rivalries. He was gd he had found her in the Hall of Bonds.

  He g her, her ears twitg as she walked ahead. “Thank you,” he said softly.

  “For what?” she asked, gng back, her tone a mix of curious and suspicious.

  “For being you,” Krion replied with a smile.

  Hatsune huffed, turning away with a flick of her ears, but not so quickly that he didn’t see the faint blush on her face. “Just don’t make me regret it, Krion.”

  He chuckled again, falling in step beside her as they made their way out of the Archives and towards The Hearth & Ember where he would be meeting with Valdre and Redrek over dihen, he would expin what had happened in the Dungeon and do his best to vince his friends to help him against the ss who wanted him dead.

  I hope you all ehis test chapter! I think you will enjoy the feters even more. I certainly had fun writing them.

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