Shackled Exalted

Emil

A giant boulder, roughly the size of a caravan, descended upon the rear of the House Nacht estate. Molten flames engulfed the earthen mass, and the night skies lit up from its looming brilliance. The projectile smashed into the backyard of the main mansion. Burning shrapnel exploded outwards, spreading the blaze amongst the flower beds, hedges, and gardens. All of the flora in the courtyard garden became tinder to further fuel the fire's growth.

Emil watched the spectacle in awe. He was perched atop of a tree in the grove just outside of the Nacht estate. Petra was beside him. Both of them were silent as they stared at the burning ruins in disbelief.

Damn.

Emil looked down at his shaking hands. Vestiges of mana buzzed on his palms. Ever since he accidentally activated Blaze and Bulwark simultaneously during Aoife's rescue, he had been training in secret to perfect the combination. The result of his efforts was the devastating attack still ongoing before his eyes.

He named it Pyroclast, referencing the flaming rocks ejected during a volcanic eruption.

"…I think you might have overdone it," Petra muttered. The backyard of the Nacht estate was drenched in a sea of flames. Screams from Nacht estate echoed over the cackling conflagrations.

"There wasn't anyone in the area, right?" Emil asked.

"Yes, I made sure of it. The backyard was empty. Despite how destructive your attack was, there shouldn't be any casualties, unless the fires start spreading to the main mansion." Petra narrowed her eyes. "Which looks like it's exactly what's going to happen."

"It's fine. We need—"

Emil suddenly felt his head tremble. His heart skipped a beat. Shockwaves rippled through the inside of his body. He gasped for air, heaving as if he had been bulldozed through the chest.

"Emil?"

He raised his hand to signal that he was okay. His body's reaction was backlash from excessive mana use. Activating Blaze and Bulwark at the same time consumed an exceptional amount of mana in an instant. His Azurite pendant was nearly depleted from just a single evocation.

I have to improve the mana consumption before this becomes useful.

Emil wiped his face clean as his body steadied from the violent backlash. "Like I said, we need to give the impression that another Vigil-level threat is targeting the nobles at the masquerade. House Nacht will be forced to keep most of their Exalted rooted for protection while they wait for reinforcements. This will give the Lionhearts justification to enter the estate. And then we leave everything to Aoife."

Petra shook her head. "Never thought I'd end up playing the role of a villain."

He scoffed. "House Nacht doesn't deserve any sympathy. They've committed a heinous crime punishable by death. If this was outside of Azure City, I would have stormed in myself." He took off his Azurite pendant and reached towards his senior. "Swap with me."

Petra nodded. "Mine is at seventy percent capacity. Do you need more stimulants?"

"No. Anymore and my senses will become distorted," he said as he descended from his perch. Once he was on land, he stretched out the muscles in his body. A dull tingle lingered in his limbs—it was the pain of his injuries being suppressed by the painkillers. The monster in his head continued to squeal with delight.

"I'm heading out as we planned. Stall any attempts to put out the flames to buy time for the Lionhearts to find Mia. Flash a signal if you need my help."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that. But who knows? With your insane plans, anything could happen," Petra said dryly. She had a crossbow in her hand, already loaded and ready to shoot.

Emil dashed off.

After creating a bit of separation from Petra, he activated Blaze.

"Incinerate."

Mana coalesced into flames, latching onto his body as the medium for its growth. With a wave of his hands, the fires spread like malevolent tendrils as they stormed towards the trees and undergrowth. In seconds, the beautiful grove of the Nacht estate was marred in smoke and inferno.

Aoife

The party room was a mess. The nobles descended into panic, screaming and floundering like hapless chicks once knowledge of what happened had spread.

"What was that?!"

"We're under attack!"

"The entire backyard is on fire!"

Vigil's merciless assault on the Clash of Dawn banquet was still fresh on everyone's mind. In particular, there were those in attendance who witnessed Vigil's savagery as they selected individuals to butcher before the hostages. The nightmare of that day quickly began to proliferate like a plague.

"Is it Vigil again?!"

"Someone inform the Sentinels!"

Glasses and plates were shattered. People were knocked over. Some fainted on the spot in fear. Others were bawling like children. Masks and costumes came off, revealing pallid faces caked in powder and panic.

Aoife watched the spectacle in disbelief. This is the ruling class of Ardair? She had been kidnapped by Melody when Vigil attacked, so she never witnessed what unfolded within the banquet hall. The nobles in front of her, the supposed authorities of this kingdom, were writhing uselessly during a crisis. It was a disgraceful sight. No composure. Their pride and dignity had vanished. The veneer of power was ripped away, exposing nothing but a group of cowardly fools.

…These are the people whispering and denouncing my name?

She let out a derisive snort, realizing just how ignorant she had been. There was nothing 'noble' about this crowd in front of her.

The sound of flames entered her ears. She turned away from the inside of the party room and faced at the rear of the Nacht mansion. A giant flaming boulder was buried in the center of the stone-paved grounds. The gardens were on fire. Beyond the walls of the Nacht courtyard, the Nacht's infamous grove was also bathed in flames. Skeletal silhouettes of trees and branches desperately clung to their forms as they were consumed by the inferno. Aoife found herself mesmerized by the haunting sight.

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Emil, this is too much, don't you think?

She smiled with unease. She was happy to be depended on by someone who she considered a friend. At the same time, however, she couldn't help but be troubled by the optics of the situation. If House Nacht's crimes were exposed by the Lionhearts during this incident, then wouldn't it appear that this attack was planned by the royal family?

The conspiracies would only continue to build.

The screams and cries from the inside of the party room began to die down. Instead, now arguments and obscenities were being thrown around as the nobles debated how to handle this crisis. The ugliness of the aristocracy was on full display.

Why do I even care about what they have to say?

Aoife shook her head. The nobles that she was once so scared to offend now seemed like nothing but clowns.

"I guess I'll ask brother Aidan for forgiveness later," she muttered to herself. She glanced around once more to make sure no one was near the balcony before clapping her hands.

"You called, my liege?"

A low, sullen voice echoed from behind her head. Aoife didn't bother turning around. She could feel the Ebon Guard's presence perched on the arched rooftop of the balcony.

"Have you read the note by Miles?"

"Yes. The location he's marked does exist."

"How about the other accusation levied against House Nacht?" Aoife said, being vague on the off-chance that someone was listening in undetected.

"Unconfirmed. But there are rumors circulating about House Nacht's unnatural rise."

"Do you think they're true?"

The Ebon Guard fell quiet. Aoife took his silence as a refusal to answer. The Ebon Guard's jurisdiction was strictly protective in nature. They weren't supposed to be advising the royal family on anything besides safety. Instead, she tried to frame her question differently.

"What does my brother think about House Nacht?"

"He would say that they're a thorn."

Aoife sneered.

Just how much do I still not know? She cursed her ignorance. She suddenly understood the real reason why Aidan, the crown prince, had asked her to attend this masquerade.

"When the Lionhearts arrive, take half of them to maintain order. The other half will investigate Miles's claims. They are not to interfere with Miles's actions in the grove."

"What about the Sentinels and House Nacht's Exalted?"

Aoife thought for a moment. "Miles can take care of himself, so let them do as they wish. But if they interfere with the Lionheart's investigations, tell them it's on the orders of the royal family. Make up some excuse about maintaining the safety and integrity of the estate."

"As you wish."

The Ebon Guard's presence vanished. A minute later, Aoife spotted the vanguard of the Lionhearts storming the gates of the Nacht estate.

Mia

Nearly ten minutes had passed since the distressing sounds down the hall finally ceased. Mia heard the iron barred doors creak open. The mountainous man making the rounds earlier stomped into the corridor with his heavy lumbering strides.

Surely, he's had enough?

Mud still clung onto her face. The rotting smell was unpleasant and her face was beginning to itch, but anything was tolerable if it meant avoiding the savagery of a brute in the heat. She felt a pang of guilt. She didn't want to imagine what happened to the girl who had suffered in her place.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Mia clenched onto the rope hidden in her pockets. The rope had been used to bound her limbs while she was kidnapped. After being cut loose and thrown inside the cell, her captors had carelessly left the strands on the floor. While no one was watching, she had tied the torn strands together to make a longer, tougher cord.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The placement of her cell only allowed her to see the stone walls in front of her. There was a single torch resting on an iron holder. The flames were flickering. There was an unnatural violence to their movements. Mia glanced up. Sand and dust were being stirred loose from the cracks in the ceiling. Assuming she was underground, something must have been happening above.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The footsteps were getting louder. Closer. The mountainous man was coming this way again. Mia hoped that he was just passing by.

Thud.

The man stomped into view. The ogre-like face, marred with scars, turned to stare at her. Mia shuddered. The lustful gaze in his eyes still haven't faded.

She froze. Her mind blanked for a moment until she forced herself to think. The next seconds were important. She scanned the man's body for weakness. A machete was holstered on his right leg. He wasn't wearing body armor. He towered over six feet tall. He walked with a slight limp. His strides were stiff. He didn't like to put pressure on his left foot. Gout? Or maybe an injury?

The man unlocked the cell and pried the barred doors open. He was holding a bucket. Without warning, he tossed its contents at Mia. She winced, suddenly splashed with freezing water. She was completely drenched. The mud on her face was rinsed off.

"A petty trick," the man growled as he gazed at Mia's face.

She cowered and backed into the rear wall of the cell.

"Look meek. Make your opponent underestimate you. Then wait for the opportunity when they think they have you cornered."

Emil's words echoed in her head. She pretended to shiver. She let her eyelids quiver with fear. It wasn't difficult to sell her discomfort. Her heart was thundering inside her chest. The man tossed the bucket aside and stomped closer. He had an animalistic look—wide-eyed and smiling with sadistic delight.

"I knew you were hiding a pretty face. I think I'll have some fun. Just enough to not ruin your value."

His voice trailed off with malice. Mia sensed danger. On instinct, she pushed off against the wall. At the same time, the man lunged forward with an outstretched hand.

"If you have to fight, then do it without restraint. Knees. Groin. And if you can reach them—throat and eyes. Go all out. If you think you're hitting too hard, then hit even harder."

The man grabbed nothing but air. Not expecting resistance, he was slow to react as Mia slithered beneath his attempt. In the midst of the man's confusion, Mia seized the chance to strike. Without mercy, she winded back her fist and rammed it upwards at his groin.

The man howled in pain.

Mia dashed behind him and jumped on his back. She strung the rope around the brute's neck and pulled as hard as she can. Despite her frail appearance, Mia wasn't weak by Ordinary standards. Years of working manual labor in the taverns of Lower Dannan had given her above average strength for a girl her age. She had grit from her childhood in the slums. And Emil had helped her train whenever he had spare time in self-defense.

The man floundered. Nasty gurgles escaped his mouth as he gasped for air. Mia continued to pull. The rope began to rip into her palms as she wrung the cord tighter around his windpipe. The brute thrashed in panic to shake Mia off. He tried to reach for her, but his arms were too large and inflexible to wrap around his head. Instead, he clawed at the rope, trying to keep it from closing any further.

Please! Just go down already!

Desperate, the man lunged backwards.

"Gah!"

Mia grunted in pain as the man's momentum slammed her against the wall of the cell. Air was knocked out of her lungs. Her back throbbed from the impact. A piercing pain rippled from her chest. Likely a broken rib. Unable to hold onto the brute's back, she landed hard against the stone floor.

Her head was spinning. Stars filled her vision. The man was in front of her, slumped on the floor, clenching onto his throat and chest. He was wheezing and struggling to intake air.

Get up.

Emil's voice.

Finish the job!

As if possessed, she somehow found the strength to climb to her feet. Everything was a blur. The vague image of the man loomed in her sight. She ran towards him, ignoring the unsteadiness of her steps.

His machete was still holstered on his right leg. She grabbed it while he remained incapacitated. Effortlessly, she raised the weapon above her head. It was alarming how light it felt.

And how easily she swung it down.

Squelch!

She flinched at the red splatter. The man gurgled noisily before collapsing onto the floor. A puddle of blood quickly leaked from the gaping slit at the side of his neck.

"Sorry," she muttered as she dropped the bloody machete. She slumped to the floor, holding onto her head. "But you brought this upon yourself."

The justification sounded hollow. But she wasn't wrong. The brute was going to do unspeakable things to her. This was self-defense. This was the only way she could keep herself safe.

Mia stared at the man's corpse. Her first kill. It felt weird to acknowledge given her miscreant background. This was something she should have been used to already. The slums of Lower Dannan were mired in violence, but Emil and Raz had deliberately kept her hands clean. Was she blessed, or was she simply coddled? Maybe being coddled in the slums alone was a blessing in itself.

I need to get moving.

Reality suddenly sunk in. She had just killed one of the people operating this dungeon. Her captors were not going to be pleased to find one of their associates dead. Mia pulled herself up and reached for the man's trousers. The key to her cell was somewhere. Hopefully not on the side facing the ground.

Shit.

A door slammed open from up the corridor. The deafening noise traveled down the length of the corridor. Mia froze. Footsteps rumbled down.