Shackled Exalted

Emil

"And stop!"

Professor Harold's thunderous voice snapped everyone out of their concentration. Quills dropped onto the table. Frustrated groans and sighs of relief echoed throughout the classroom. The professor's assistants immediately began shuffling down the columns of tables to collect everyone's exam papers.

Emil leaned back against his chair. He closed his eyes and massaged his forehead as a dull headache pulsated from the top of his skull.

It's finally over.

The Academy's written examinations lasted for an entire week. For five days straight, they were subjected to a brutal series of exams from the morning till evening. Aside from a single one-hour break at lunchtime, the students were confined in a classroom until the day was over. And then they would do it all over again the next day.

Whoever came up with this system must have been a sadistic bastard.

Emil scanned the room after recovering a bit of his energy. Most of his classmates either had their heads buried into the table or slumped in their chairs about to pass out. This grueling schedule was tough on the body even with an Exalted's constitution.

Well, almost everyone.

"So, how did you do?"

Emil blinked, turning his head towards the smiling visage of his friend. Anna wore a proud look. Somehow, she seemed energetic. A stark contrast against her usual languid demeanor.

"Good enough to continue studying here, I hope," Emil muttered. Frankly, he was a bit worried. The infiltration of the Sixth Hidden Laboratory and the situation with Mia left him little time to study. After some last-minute cramming and help from Anna, he believed he managed a passable performance.

"And you?" Emil asked despite already knowing the answer. The wide grin plastered on Anna's face told him everything he needed to know.

"I'm confident I'll score high in the top tens. Maybe good enough to be top three," Anna revealed, puffing out her chest.

"Prince Rory was ranked second before, right? With him gone, you have less competition than before," he said with a mischievous grin, "Therefore, you should thank me. I expect compensation for the stab I took to the back."

Anna rolled her eyes in disbelief. "Oh please, imagine trying to take credit for my hard work. Especially after begging me to help you study. There has to be a limit to how shameless you can be."

Emil smirked. "I've no such limitations."

***

He retreated to his room after grabbing a quick meal with Anna. Kai, Charlotte, and Aoife weren't around to join them, much to Emil's relief.

Truthfully, he found it difficult to speak to those three right now. His confrontation with Kai and Charlotte during the raid on House Nacht weighed heavily on his mind. It was unavoidable. He had to buy time for the Lionhearts to find Mia, and he would not allow anyone to impede that goal. Even so, he was scared that facing those two might give away his secret identity. As for Aoife, Emil felt guilty about his underhanded move. While he didn't regret his actions, he still exploited their friendship to force her to move on his behalf.

I'll have to speak with her later.

He sighed, shelving the matter to the back of his head. Flopping onto his bed, he stared at his hands, deep in thought. Mia's condition was stable after being rescued by the Lionhearts. She suffered from a few broken ribs and bone bruises, but was otherwise fine after receiving healing from Diana. Petra had apparently gave her a long scolding when they reunited in tears.

If it's for Mia, I can do anything, .

The harrowing statement resounded in his head as he recollected the actions he took after discovering her capture.

But surely, there's a limit to how far I can go.

As he spent more time at the Academy, the closer he got to his classmates. Meanwhile, Ardair was becoming increasingly unstable.

If, one day, he was ever forced to choose between Mia and Raz and the friends he's made at the Academy, Emil wondered if he could remain as resolute.

…What a useless thought.

He got up from the bed, ready to put on his night gear for another round of patrols. Petra had suggested that he take it easy after exams were over, but Emil wanted nothing less than be cramped up in his dorm alone with his noisy thoughts.

Just as he was about to leave, there was a faint tap on his window.

***

Emil arrived at the location marked on the note in his hand. It had been discreetly delivered by a messenger pigeon. He didn't miss the imprint on the pigeon's talons, which indicated it as belonging to Steiger.

Petra would have just told me to come to her place, so then—

He found himself on the edges of the Third Sector again. The surroundings were quiet and desolate except for the faint presence of nocturnal animals hiding in the dense undergrowth. The wilderness loomed before him; the vastness of the uninhabited territory seemed to swallow him whole as he peered the vicinity for hints. He hadn't seen any signs of who he was supposed to meet or why he was called here.

Emil narrowed his eyes.

With a sullen breath, he focused.

His vision flickered for an instant, becoming sensitive towards mana. Emil scanned the area, searching for traces of the ethereal energy. As he eyed the floor, he saw it. Faint glowing orbs of blue light were scattered along the tall grass, forming a small trail. Emil felt a nasty sense of déjà vu.

How distasteful. He grimaced, following the trail marked by tiny fragments of Azurite. Eventually, he was led to a clearing amidst the dense foliage.

"You're late."

The harsh voice sent shivers down his spine. Emil instinctively tensed up. His head turned on a swivel, trying to discern the direction of the voice.

Suddenly, he felt a swell of mana to his right.

He turned and raised his arms to block, only to receive a powerful blow to the stomach. Reeling, he dug his heel into the ground to anchor his body. The blow was shockingly powerful as he only skidded to the stop once he reached the center of the clearing. His assailant stepped into view, letting the moonlight from the canopy illuminate their face.

"Not bad. Just two months ago, you would have been rolling on the floor from that attack. Looks like my decision to send you to the Academy wasn't wrong."

It was the witch.

Hortensia had a strange smile on her face as she took a good look at Emil for the first time since his enrolment at the Academy. Emil shuddered under her gaze. Once again, he felt like a prey under the scrutinizing watch of a snake.

"…Last time I remembered the proper way to greet someone wasn't a surprise attack to the stomach," he hissed.

Hortensia shrugged. "You were late."

"You didn't specify a time!"

"Even so, a misbehaving dog must be punished," Hortensia declared before suddenly disappearing from sight. Emil narrowed his eyes. He didn't want to admit it, but a large part of the reason why he was able to hold back Kai, Charlotte, and the Nacht Exalted was because of his experience sparring with Hortensia. The familiar sensation of dread clawed down his back. He channeled Bulwark to form gauntlets while wrapping himself in a thin layer of stone armor. He then waited, reading the fluctuations of mana in the air.

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There!

He spun to his left blind spot, just as Hortensia phased into existence. The witch lashed out with a vicious jab, which Emil parried brilliantly with a right cross. He was about to retaliate, but the witch vanished right away. This time she reappeared instantly. Without giving him time to anticipate her position, the witch struck.

"Ngh!"

Emil's head spun as agony overloaded his jaws. His eyes blurred. His senses were thrown into disarray, veering on concussion. Refusing to go down, he stood his ground and activated Blaze. His flames barely spluttered into existence before he took another blow to the head. Disoriented, he could do nothing but grunt in pain. Hortensia gave him no time to breathe. After another hit, he was sent to the floor.

"Your reaction time has improved a lot. But you still have a lot to work on. You're too stubborn. Too stationary. The proper way to fight against someone like me is to keep moving so you can control where you fight. Your proficiency with Bulwark might have caused you to forget that simple concept," Hortensia said before delivering a kick to Emil's stomach.

He groaned as he puked out the day's meal. The pain seared in his guts. He wanted to set this damn witch aflame. But he couldn't. Not only would that just worsen his punishment, but Hortensia had justification for her actions this time.

"Do you know why I'm dishing out discipline?" she asked as if scolding an unruly child.

"…House Nacht."

"Mhmmm," Hortensia nodded, "You have some nerve operating this recklessly. Not only did you drag Petra into your personal affairs, but you also involved Her Highness as well. Need I remind you that it's the royal family who we serve and not the other way around?"

"No," Emil blurted out, "I'm well-aware that I overstepped my boundaries. But I don't regret it."

Hortensia scoffed. "And that's why you're getting a beating." She suddenly dragged him to the base of a tree and tossed him against the trunk. "Well, I would have been harsher on you, but I can't deny what you've accomplished. The evidence you've collected from the Sixth Hidden Laboratory is damning enough that the royal family is considering punitive action. We'll see what comes out of that. On the other hand, exposing House Nacht's human trafficking business gave the royal family justification to take down one of the thorns prodding at their backs."

The witch threw him a vial of restorative medicine, seemingly content with her punishment. Emil uncorked the top with unsteady hands and drank greedily. To his relief, it contained none of the addictive substances that his mind craved.

"House Nacht will be made an example of to keep the elites in check. After we've verified their wrongdoings, all of their assets will be seized and sold while their leaders and Exalted will be sent to Thanatos."

Emil widened his eyes at the drastic measures. Thanatos was a maximum-security prison located within the capital city of the Rosales province. It was the only facility in the kingdom capable of imprisoning Exalted. Desperados and political enemies of the state were kept there in perpetuity.

The witch continued, "Your friend, Kai, was nearly taken as well. After some debate, I successfully argued that his affiliation with House Nacht hadn't been formalized yet, and so there was no way he could have known who he was supporting."

Emil let out a sigh of relief. Kai's affiliation with House Nacht was news to him, but in hindsight, it made sense given their confrontation on Nacht estate. Despite their rivalry and complicated relationship, Emil considered Kai a friend. He would have not wished a gruesome fate in Thanatos for him.

It looks like royal family is finally starting to fight back against the elite's growing influence. He grimaced. It hadn't been his intention, but it seemed like the moves he made to save Mia had inadvertently spurred Steiger and the royal family into action. Only time will tell how the elites react to House Nacht's punishment.

"While your reckless actions did lead to results, you might have gone a bit overboard this time," the witch said with a sigh.

Emil gulped nervously. "Please explain."

"The name Flame Weaver is spreading throughout Azure City. That's the Council's moniker for the criminal who's been going around messing with the Hidden Laboratories. They weren't sure if this person truly existed before, but with your actions at House Nacht, they now have confirmation that there's an Exalted arsonist hiding in the city," Hortensia explained, "I think there's still value in keeping you at the Academy, but we need to keep you off the suspect list."

"Am I being investigated?" Emil asked, uncomfortable at the thought, "There's no way that they suspect a student at the Academy. Especially when everyone already knows I have Bulwark."

"You're probably in the clear for now, but what about once you go on Praxis? If the Flame Weaver's activities vanish at the same time that the first-years are off campus, then someone might start connecting the dots," the witch said, "You will soon receive an invitation from House Belle to visit their estate in Rosales during your downtime before Praxis. I want you to accept. While you're out of town, I will prepare for an alibi for you within Azure City. Think of this as a small vacation."

Emil wasn't sure which piece of information to be more shocked by—the fact that Steiger has spies within one of the most powerful noble house in the kingdom or that he was receiving an invitation from them.

He suddenly recalled his conversation with Liesel during the Clash of Dawn banquet.

Right, I nearly forgot. She had asked me if I wanted to join House Belle right before she announced her annulment with Rory.

He didn't outright refuse her then—instead, offering the impression that he was considering all of his options. Now it seemed his time had run out.

Emil sighed, lamenting what's to come. Suddenly, the journey to Rosales didn't sound like a vacation at all.

Kai

After Kai had finished his grueling exams, he received an unexpected invitation. He then found himself in one of the private meeting rooms on campus, often used by elites to negotiate deals with prospective students. But instead of a snobby noble or an arrogant businessman, the elite in question was a face that he had grown well acquainted with over this past month.

Aoife sat across from him by the table. She beckoned him towards the open seat. Her posture was straight, and her mannerisms immaculate. A dignified air befitting of a royal princess shrouded her vessel. And instead of her Academy uniform, she was in a gallant purple dress laced with gold. The crest of the royal family was embroidered on her shoulder, aptly placed in full display.

The message was clear—she was before him not as his classmate, but as the princess of Ardair.

Kai bowed respectfully and then took his seat across from the table at her invitation. A cup of steaming tea had already been prepared for him.

"Good afternoon, Kai. How were your exams?" she asked. Her tone was casual, but Kai found no warmth or friendliness in those words. They were simple platitudes, a structured preamble before the real topic that she wanted to delve into.

"They were fine, Your Highness. I'm certain I'll be able to continue studying at the Academy," he replied, keeping a polite tone.

"That's great to hear."

Aoife trailed off to take a sip of her tea. Silence hung over the room. Kai waited patiently, trying not to let the discomfort rattle him.

Does she really have to take this whole princess thing so seriously?

Kai knew she was intentionally conducting herself this way. It was a simple gesture to establish the hierarchy in the room. A necessary step to formalize their positions. Still, seeing her act so coldly towards him was unsettling. Kai never knew that a familiar face that he saw and conversed with on a daily basis could suddenly feel like a stranger.

"I'm not one for theatrics, so let me get straight to the point," she finally said, putting down her cup, "Kai, I want to employ you as one of my personal knights. The position won't be formalized until your graduation, so you'll be considered a squire for now if you accept. But you'll still receive a salary that reflects your status."

Kai nearly stood up from his seat. The offer was so unexpected than he almost lost his composure.

What the hell?

He forced himself to breathe and think. Being a royal knight was not a possibility that he ever considered, much less someone under direct service of the princess. But Kai wasn't picky. He needed money. After House Nacht's assets were seized, his contract with Isen had been effectively nullified. The advance that he was promised would never come. His failure to secure money for his mother's treatment rested heavily on his mind. He was devastated. It took everything he had to set this incident aside and focus on his exams in the interim.

Now suddenly, he was handed a way to redeem his failures.

Kai couldn't help but feel suspicious.

The timing is too convenient.

He was not oblivious to the rumors circulating about what happened with House Nacht. The estate had come under attack by the Flame Weaver. The Lionhearts arrived to help secure the premise and evacuate the nobles. In the process, they unearthed House Nacht's dirty secret—a human trafficking ring operating beneath the estate.

Tensions between the royal family and the elites of Ardair were well-known at this point, even to an outsider like Kai who had little connections to the aristocracy. With all the pieces of context in place, it wasn't hard to think that the Flame Weaver's attack on the Nacht estate was something planned by the royal family.

"Your Highness, are the rumors true?" he asked plainly, not revealing his inner thoughts on the matter.

Aoife took another sip of her tea as if to demonstrate how unperturbed she was at his probing. Kai suppressed the urge to sigh, tired of this charade.

"No. Rumors are rumors. Even if the royal family were to do something so underhanded, it wouldn't have been so obvious, don't you think?" she replied, "Although, I don't think it really matters for you, does it Kai?"

He smirked, baring his teeth.

"You're right. It doesn't matter."

Kai hadn't known about Isen's involvement with human trafficking when he agreed to be affiliated with House Nacht. But even if he did, he doubted it would have affected his decision. At the end of the day, the only thing he cared about was securing the funds to help his ailing mother.

"I was merely curious about the nature of my new master," Kai said as he bowed in reverence.

Aoife tilted her head inquisitively. "But you and I aren't strangers."

"I am acquainted with my classmate, Aoife," Kai clarified, "But this is my first meeting with Your Highness." He drove the distinction clear.

"…Fair enough," she said after a moment of silence. For a second, Kai caught a crack in her façade.
Aoife rose from her seat and unsheathed a blade resting by the side of the table. The sword was engraved with the emblem of the royal crest. Kai took a knee and lowered his head. Aoife extended the blade and lightly tapped both sides of his shoulder.

"We'll do an official knighting ceremony at later time. For now, this will suffice."

"Yes, Your Highness," Kai replied, amused at this turn of events. He had sold his loyalty to the first bidder, but somehow ended up a knight of the crown.

What a strange twist of fate. He thought as he stared at his new master. Ardair was changing before his eyes. The emergence of Vigil. The increased tension between the royal family and the elites. Amidst all of this, the newly legitimized princess was finally beginning to form a faction of her own.

Maybe I should have given this more thought.