We stepped off the platform in front of the gate. It seemed that Vasa hadn’t brought me to the central entrance, which meant someone wanted my visit to go unnoticed. That was already intriguing and alarming. We walked the white gravel paths for quite a while—almost half an hour—before finally reaching a small summer house in the middle of a dense garden.

  “Go ahead, they’re waiting for you.”

  She stayed outside. I pushed the door and entered. The interior had a pleasant design with light wood, matching furniture, and countless soft, colorful pillows scattered across benches and sofas. In the far corner, in a deep wicker chair, sat a young man I had indeed already met at the Matan auction.

  “Come in, Aney.” He gestured toward the chairs next to a wide table.

  “Good day, Your Highness.” I grabbed one of the chairs by the back and dragged it across the floor closer to the prince. “To what do I owe your hospitality?”

  The prince winced at the sound of the chair legs scraping the wooden floor.

  “How do you like the capital? Are you enjoying your time here?”

  Well, it likely wouldn’t be a pleasant conversation if he was starting from such a distance.

  “The city is truly impressive, Your Highness. For someone coming from a remote province, the whirl of events around me is sometimes even frightening.”

  “I heard you were recently involved in a very unpleasant incident with several citizens dying. I’m truly sorry that happened to you, and I assume it may have colored your impression of the capital in a rather negative light.”

  “You are surprisingly well-informed, Your Highness. But I consider it unnecessary to draw your attention to my person, so I sincerely thank you for your concern, but there’s no need to worry about me further.”

  The prince scrutinized me, as if expecting me to say more. I was wondering why the hell he even knew about that incident.

  “Ha-ha-ha, how could I not be concerned… Aney, what do you actually know about the Imperial Court?”

  Damn, where is this even going?

  “Your Highness, I’ve never been interested in it, so forgive me, but nothing at all.”

  “Aney, the Imperial Court is both the strength and weakness of the Empire. When all imperial subjects follow the will of the Emperor and uphold imperial law, that is its strength. But there come moments of weakness—specifically during the succession ceremony. Unfortunately, that will soon happen again in our realm… Perhaps you haven’t heard, but my father, the Emperor, is already very old, and the healers won’t be able to extend his life more than a year and a half. So, in just a few months, the main battle between the heirs to the throne will begin…”

  He rose from his chair and began pacing the room.

  “Aney, during this time, the heirs must gather as many strong individuals as they can into their camps to increase their chances. Everyone understands that these people will go on to serve the Empire and strengthen it, and so the strength of the heirs’ camps becomes decisive. Sadly, not long ago, you deprived me of the strongest figure in my camp by tearing off the fingers of his right hand and maiming it. The damage to his health is so great that even the Healers’ Guild can’t help him. So, he can no longer be a true God of War.”

  The prince stopped in front of me and looked me in the eye.

  “Aney, you deprived me of my most valuable asset!”

  “Your Highness, don’t call that maniac an asset. Someone like him isn’t even a liability—he’s a destructive element. In my opinion, I did your future reign as Emperor a favor.”

  The prince’s eyes narrowed to slits at my words.

  “We clearly have a difference in assessment, Aney!”

  He resumed circling around my chair.

  “I restrained myself from reacting to such a great loss, but I want compensation, naturally. I even made arrangements with the Church of the White Twins to receive it.”

  “I don’t quite follow you, Your Highness.”

  Of course I understood—just wanted that bastard to confirm it with his own mouth.

  “I have a proposal. Replace Grim in my team, serve me, and become the strength of the Northern Empire!”

  “And what would I get from that, Your Highness?”

  “Excuse me—get?”

  “Your Highness, you proposed that I serve you. That would, in essence, mean a lifetime contract under the Eye of the Judge. So what can you offer me in return?”

  “Your service to the Empire will be your reward!”

  “Forgive me, Your Highness, but you’d have to be out of your mind to agree to such a proposal. I choose freedom and independence.”

  “So you’ve decided to refuse and become my enemy? Aren’t you a bit too confident? Only I am holding the Church back from destroying you right now!”

  “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. But I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself—no need to worry.”

  The prince returned to his chair and sat down again. He clearly still didn’t believe he’d just been refused.

  “If that’s all…”

  “I haven’t allowed you to leave yet, Aney! Even if you refused to serve me, you must compensate me for the loss of Grim!”

  “Sorry, but your idea of compensation just isn’t for me…”

  “There is another way. If you don’t want to strengthen my team, then you must weaken the team of my younger brother. To keep things fair.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “My brother’s camp has a team of six Battle Ancestors who fight in the capital’s arena every Friday. Register for the fights and kill them! Only by completing this task will you not be an enemy of the Imperial Court! But I won’t be able to restrain the church – that’ll be your problem.”

  The damn bastard was seriously getting on my nerves. Barely restraining myself from smashing his stupid head into wet dust, I replied:

  “Your Highness, don’t you think your offer doesn’t just stink—it reeks. I’m no saint, but even I feel sick from that. If that’s all, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it and leave.”

  I stood up and headed for the door.

  “You can’t leave until you provide compensation for the losses you caused, Aney!”

  “Ever heard the saying, ‘if you didn’t get full, you won’t lick the plate’? Sorry, but today that’s about you. I won’t lift a finger for you—not today, not ever!”

  “Remember this, Aney. Today, you’ve chosen to become an enemy of the Imperial Court! And the consequences will be entirely your fault!”

  Fucking bastard, he was clearly trying to piss me off to madness with those threats.

  “Consequences?” I turned back from the door to him. “Let me tell you about consequences, Your Highness! If I so much as catch a glimpse of aggression toward me from the Imperial Court, I’ll destroy every damn dungeon in this empire and its vassal kingdoms! I see you already know I’m suspected of destroying one—that should make things clear!”

  “You think I can’t stop you before that?!”

  “Stop me? Then try! And in a few months, I’ll be watching an emperor ruling over ruins without monster cores! Oh, how the glorious capital will flourish without all those magical devices it depends on!”

  I walked out, slamming the door. The damn bastard had really gotten to me. Passing by Vasa sitting on the stairs, I headed for the Imperial Court’s exit. After a while, I heard her catching up.

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  “You went too far with him.”

  “You heard it all, dear Vasa?”

  “Yeah.”

  “So you understand why I refused?”

  “No.”

  I just waved my hand and picked up the pace.

  “Aney, want me to crush those Ancestors instead?”

  Damn, I even stopped in my tracks. What kind of morality do they even have here?!

  “Dear Vasa, please don’t. Better tell me— is your palace still safe for me and my friends?”

  She said nothing. Very eloquently said nothing.

  “I understand, dear Vasa. Thank you for everything.”

  I declined to return with her, saying I had more business in the city. Truthfully, I just wanted to be alone and think about what to do next, because I was really in a bad spot. Walking the wide streets, I stopped paying attention to where I was going and eventually sat down on a bench near a lake in some park. Time to sum things up.

  So, all of this is happening to me because life on this continent is designed to prevent the emergence of uncontrollable forces. That’s its alpha and omega, as dictated by the gods themselves—the White Twins. Because of that:

  First, the church wants me dead. That’s clear—either I get them, or they get me. And for now, the balance of power isn’t in my favor.

  Second, the Imperial Court. A hidden enemy who’ll stab me in the ribs the moment they get the chance.

  Third, the mage guild. Also an enemy—not as openly as the church for now, but everything will flip as soon as the competition begins.

  Fourth, the adventurers’ guild. After killing more than a hundred of those bastards in the dungeon, they’re not about to pat me on the head—so they’re enemies too.

  Fifth. All the other guilds are situationally neutral, but only until the church gives them an order. So let’s toss them into the pile of potential enemies.

  Sixth, can’t forget that bastard Grim. Such a sneaky creature will definitely want revenge. And he surely hasn’t severed ties with the prince. I was certain of that.

  Damn! One man against the whole world—because of those damned gods! As for allies… I could count only my teacher, wherever he was now. There was a small chance he had secretly returned to Matan and was waiting for me there. However small, it had to be checked. So, what were my options at this point?

  First, quietly leave the capital. The church will still pursue me, but the others would likely wait and see. I was sure of that. Grim might be an exception.

  Second, also sneak away from the capital and hide in the lower levels of the dungeons until everyone forgets me. But that option didn’t appeal to me much. Two and a half years in Vangan’s dungeon were enough—I’d become the second Rom in no time.

  Third, I could enter the tournament alone, without my team, and take first place. That way I’d draw danger away from them and maybe gain some sympathy from the people, which would make my enemies think twice before trying to take me down.

  Fourth, I could do the same with my team, but that would put them in danger. The mages would do anything to keep us from facing the capital academy’s team. And even if we won the finals, fame split among ten people wouldn’t stop our enemies.

  Fifth, the one thing I absolutely didn’t want to do—cause such problems in the North of the Empire with the church that everyone would forget about me. I had the means: just pull that broken stone slab with the footprint from the vault in the middle of the capital. But… commit genocide just so they’d forget me for a while…

  No. My enemies are the damned White Twins and their rules—not ordinary people. I just have to become so strong that even those little gods are afraid to come near me. But for now, I had no idea how to do that.

  I smiled bitterly. I didn’t have a good choice—boxed in from all sides. Option three seemed the most promising. But I had to talk it over with my team first.

  Well then… I got up and headed to Vasa’s palace. On the way, I envied the passersby who didn’t have my problems.

  “Everyone,” I said to the team, having gathered them on the training ground and raised a barrier, “here’s the situation. Right now, the church wants to kill me, the Imperial Court, the mage guild, the adventurers’ guild, and a bunch of other bastards. On my own, I can still maybe fend them off. But with you guys? Honestly, I don’t stand a chance. I won’t be able to protect you. And you’re too weak to face enemies like that…”

  Murmurs spread through the team—they hadn’t expected a conversation like this.

  “Wait, I’m not finished yet. Here are the options. I leave, and you take part in the competition without me. Maybe you’ll make it into the top ten, but you won’t get any higher—the judging’s already bought off, I found that out from Vist.”

  It seemed the news about rigged judging shook them more than the number of my enemies. Not just shook—outraged them.

  “And the second option,” I continued, “I’ll go in alone, on behalf of our academy, and wipe the floor with them. No judge will be able to do anything. So, what do you say? Whoever supports the second option, raise your hand. But remember, our academy’s ranking in this damned world is more important. If they won’t play fair, why should we just take it?”

  The first to raise their hands were the two Fifth Circle mages. Then Irgen.

  “Teach those bastards a lesson? What could be better?”

  Then Raman raised his hand, even though no one asked him.

  “I’m all for protecting the life and health of my students. Besides, I have no doubt Aney will wipe them out on the field!”

  Then Gras raised his hand. After him, seeing the others, everyone agreed and shouted:

  “Crush them!”

  “Take first place!”

  “Teach those scum a lesson!”

  Everyone tried to cheer me up and wished me victory.

  “And one more thing, Lady Vasa couldn’t guarantee our safety today as guests in her palace. That happened after my conversation with the prince. Maybe you should consider leaving for Lhote immediately. I know you’d like to watch the tournament in person, but the church is full of bastards who won’t shy away from taking hostages. And the mages are not much better… You’ve already felt that yourselves. Rector, your opinion?”

  “Ahem, I agree with Aney. If conflict breaks out, even all of us together won’t be able to stand against a single mage of the ninth circle. And if the honored Goddess of War can’t ensure our safety, then it’s best we leave as soon and as far as possible.”

  Everyone except Irgen nodded in agreement.

  “So then,” said Gras, “shall we pack up and head home?”

  “I’m staying with Aney!” Irgen shouted unexpectedly.

  “No, you’re leaving with everyone else!”

  “Captain, I am your loyal shadow, and no threat can change that!”

  “Aney,” the rector asked, “let us out, and then decide as you will. We’re leaving in twenty minutes.”

  I dropped the barrier to let them go.

  “Irgen, this isn’t the time to mess around. The situation is truly dangerous. You’re leaving with the rest, and I’ll catch up with you after the tournament.”

  “No! That’s exactly why I need to stay—so I can help you!”

  “Fool, you’ll only distract me! You’re too important to me!”

  “You can say whatever you wa—”

  I hit her with my aura at the back of her head and caught her limp body in my arms.

  “Fool, you’re leaving one way or another.”

  I figured she’d come to in a few hours. I didn’t want to argue or put her in danger either.

  Placing the unconscious girl in the gah, where Raman was already sitting on the driver’s seat, I bid the team farewell and warmly saw them off. I also wrote a short letter to Tot, asking him to provide my team with eleven seventh-class puppets, and the second-class potion recipe I had promised earlier. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d get to see them again anytime soon.

  I planned to orchestrate quite a massacre in the capital, with the church at its center. The church, and anyone eager to join it in this blood-soaked celebration. Once the gah disappeared beyond the manor gates, I sat on the stairs, waiting for Vasa—it wouldn’t be polite to leave without saying goodbye to my trainer.

  I had to wait quite a while—several hours—before the gates opened again and the Goddess of War jumped down from her platform. She already sensed that none of her guests’ auras remained in the palace except mine.

  “Ran off?”

  Vasa sat down beside me.

  “Not exactly, they just left. They apologized for not saying goodbye. I’m doing it for them now.”

  “And you?”

  “What about me? I’m staying.”

  “Why?”

  “I have to represent my academy in the tournament.”

  “Idiot. Why do you even care? You should be running. Even someone as not-too-bright as me can see that’s the best option.”

  “Running? Lady Vasa, where to? And for how long? Sooner or later, this knot will have to be cut. I plan to do it with flair.”

  “Do you have a plan?”

  “Tell me, Lady Vasa, how many Gods of War need to be gathered in one place to kill me fast enough to avoid unacceptable destruction and collateral casualties in the capital? Because if my team isn’t nearby, can anyone be sure I’ll hold back? Who are these people to me, the citizens of the capital?”

  Vasa sat, nodding her head.

  “You sly bastard! The Imperial Court won’t go for that, and they’ll try to restrain the church too. This isn’t some province; they don’t want a bloodbath in the capital. And they can’t blackmail you either.”

  We sat for a long time in silence, each lost in thought.

  “So, one last training session?” she suggested.

  I hesitated for a moment.

  “Alright, but I’ll be on the field alone. I want to test what I’m capable of as a High-Rank Battle Ancestor without magic, but also without limitations. I want to hear your thoughts afterward.”

  “Deal! I’m curious too.”

  We went to the field, where I raised a barrier, leaving Vasa outside.

  I rose into the air at the center of the arena and drew my spear. Finally, nothing stood in my way. I created a protective sphere and unleashed my bloodlust. The entire space within the barrier filled with crimson-black tongues, intertwining and slamming against the walls, ceiling, and floor, craving freedom and prey.

  In a moment, I drove my aura along the shaft of the spear to its tip, igniting a black-and-white sun in a web of gray lightning. When my entire sphere changed color, I poured my aura into the spear itself, activating the spatial abilities I had left embedded in its remains.

  An incredible explosion thundered over the capital, echoing to its farthest outskirts. The ninth-class barrier evaporated as if it had never existed. I saw the Goddess of War hurled dozens of meters away from me. Not a single window remained intact in her pink palace, not even the golden-tiled roof. As for the garden where the training ground had been—nothing remained but a few lone roots sticking from the ground.

  Well, damn… I thought, descending to the ground.

  “Youuuu! You bloody bastard! Look what you’ve done to my estate!”

  “Lady Vasa!” I raised my hands defensively. “I’ll compensate you! Honestly!”

  “To hell with your compensation! That was an incredible strike! And you didn’t even pass out!”

  And it was true—I felt surprisingly good. Last time, the insane drain on my aura must’ve been caused by the spear created with magic. Munk had been right to suggest trying it with a normal weapon.

  “So then, Lady Vasa, are you satisfied with the final result of your student’s training?”

  “Yes, absolutely! But where the hell am I going to sleep tonight?”

  “Well, I could offer my trainer a hotel…”

  She gave me a light smack on the back of the head.

  “I’m not some loose woman to be running around hotels with youngsters! But…” she looked sorrowfully at the remains of her palace, “a hotel it is…”

  We laughed and walked toward the estate gates.

  “Lady Vasa,” I grew serious, “if and when it all starts, and you and Master Munk receive your orders, please don’t be too quick to follow them. I can’t hold myself back in the bloodshed that’s coming.”

  “I hear you, Aney. But don’t think that after all these years, I still fear death. I’m the Goddess of War, and I will die as a Goddess of War—honorably. I hope you won’t hesitate either, if and when I receive my orders. But,” she added, “I want everyone to always know who trained you. Alright?”

  I nodded. We walked in silence down the night road.