Soul of the Warrior

Oryin relaxed back into the exquisite leather seat. The leather was furnished from the Tier 5 region where the Wispan empire had a foothold. Oryin’s family was old enough and well-enough connected to have a couple of elders exploring the Region. Even though it was impossible for them to establish a firm, permanent foothold in the Tier 5 Region, there was still a significant operation in the Region. Generations upon generations ensured there was a safe way for the elders retiring from public life in Wispan had an easy entry into the higher-Tier zone.

Oryin sipped from his tea and let out a contented sigh. He only had to wait for the good news of his machinations coming to fruition. Some of his family’s servants had spotted that trash, Reivyn, emerging from the teleport circle, finally, and he was about to suffer the consequences of going against him.

How dare a mere peasant get in between me and my beloved! He fumed. He quickly calmed himself down, though, with the thoughts of the soon-to-be-heard good news. Just like a country bumpkin from a lesser Region. I doubt he knows any of the laws governing our empire, and once Kefira sees his incompetence in defending himself and my masterful stroke in putting him against the wall, she’ll naturally come back to me.

Oryin was secure in his delusions. He swirled the tea in his glass as he listened to the chatter of his brothers and cousins seated about the room. His uncle who had helped orchestrate the finishing move against his foe was laughing and joking with his father.

Everyone in their family was on good terms. Oryin’s father was the firstborn of his generation, so he naturally inherited the title. He was only an unlanded Count, but it was a hereditary title granted to their family several generations ago. His uncle didn’t fight for power or position within the family, but he had instead elected to continue to secure power for the family by pursuing other avenues of power outside of it.

Like his uncle, Oryin was not the firstborn of his generation. Also like his uncle, he had pursued power outside of the family to assist his elder brother.

Well, initially…

Oryin had been found to be extremely proficient in magic, and his hard work and dedication - plus a little nepotism, he begrudgingly admitted - had landed him the position as the direct disciple of the Court Magus. His position as an apprentice didn’t afford him his own noble title, yet, but it promised future power far surpassing that of an unlanded noble. The biggest difference would be that it wouldn’t be hereditary.

Oryin was fine with that. He was all for helping the family, but the taste of personal prestige had awoken a hunger in him that he hadn’t previously been allowed to cultivate. He had known all his life his position in the world, but finding himself along a different avenue had awoken his long-dormant ambition.

Oryin looked across the room at the smiling faces. His elder brother sat next to his older cousin, a stern-faced young lady, and they bantered back and forth. She had cultivated the appearance of a judge under the influence of her father, but she could jest and jape with the best of them. A startling juxtaposition for anyone who didn’t know her.

His younger brother was locked in a heated debate with his other cousin. They were fanatics about the Strikers, and they were discussing their favored Champions. Oryin had no interest in such a mundane activity. There was no magic involved. Literally.

His father and uncle were a bit more tame in their conversation, though they laughed just as loud as the rest of them on occasion. They were discussing the boring topic of politics. It was something Oryin didn’t have much interest in, but he understood he would need to enter the depths and learn soon if he was to further his ambition. Currently, pursuing his magical talents was the best thing he could do both in terms of personal and political power.

He still stewed over how helpless he had felt in front of Reivyn when he had been dragged out of his saddle on the road. He had to consciously concentrate to ease the grip on his glass of tea.

That little punk caught me by surprise, is all, Oryin mentally defended himself. Plus it wouldn’t have done anyone any good to display my magical might and put him in his place in that very specific situation.

Oryin had conveniently forgotten about how he had immediately fled in the face of the enemy elites while Reivyn had stood firm against them. Even if he had remembered, he would have justified it somehow. He had previously tried to convince himself he was in cahoots with the enemy, but that was too far even for him to believe for more than a few minutes.

His brothers and cousins occasionally tried to include him in their conversations, but he simply smiled and declined to join. He was too preoccupied waiting for the good news to spare any mental capacity trying to keep up with a conversation at the moment.

A servant in their family’s livery entered the room and quickly walked to his father to whisper something in his ear. He wasn’t rushing, just moving briskly, but Oryin perked up nonetheless. His father nodded, and the servant turned and headed back whence he had come.

A few short moments later, the Constable who worked directly under his uncle entered the sitting room. As an experienced lawman who had gained his position from the ground up, he subconsciously scanned the entire room as he made his way to his father and uncle.

He’s only a commoner, but he has a decent head on his shoulders, Oryin thought as anticipation filled him. He’s smart enough to hitch his fortune to another, and he was shrewd enough to choose my uncle to follow.

“Lord Fowleu,” The Constable dipped his head to his father briefly before turning toward his uncle. “Lord Magistrate.” He held out a rolled up scroll for my uncle to take.

“It’s done, then?” Oryin’s Uncle, Magistrate Olifr Fowleu, asked as he accepted the scroll.

Oryin wanted to leap up and interrogate the man himself, but he held himself in check. The man didn’t even know that Oryin was the one who had orchestrated the whole thing, informing his uncle of Reivyn’s crimes. His position didn’t allow him to interfere in the matter at all, despite not truly being a bystander.

That will change, soon, Oryin thought to himself. Not only is my apprenticeship coming to an end, but I’ll soon have the hand of one of the Imperial Princesses. I’ll be one of the most powerful people in the entire empire by that point. Nobody would dare scold me for interjecting myself into the arrest of a mere Adventurer, then.

Oryin almost burst out laughing at the thought of his future prospects, but he reigned himself in. Instead, he simply sat forward to listen intently to what the Constable had to say.

“Yes, Lord Magistrate, it is done,” The Constable nodded. “He had quite a few loyal compatriots, too. Normally I would applaud their loyalty, but to back a criminal…” The Constable shook his head and clucked his tongue. “They need to choose better companions.

“Hopefully this little lesson will teach them,” The Constable cracked a smile.

Oryin felt the pit of his stomach drop with a terrible premonition.

“Oh?” His uncle asked, quirking an eyebrow. “What happened?”

“Nothing to concern yourself with, sir,” The Constable waved it away. “His friends simply tried to interfere with my lawful duty, so I locked them up with their friend. They didn’t actually interfere in my duties, though, so it’s more of a scare tactic to put them on the straight and narrow in the future. They’ll come before you in a couple of days, I’m sure.”

“Excellent work,” his Uncle smiled. Oryin was beginning to sweat, waiting for the ax to drop. “I’ll be able to boost my reputation by upholding justice in letting them go with a stern warning.”

“And the one girl seems like she was a noble,” The Constable continued. “With how she was going on and on about how her father would intervene, I’m sure you’ll be able to squeeze out a favor from one of the other nobles by being lenient with her.”

“It won’t be the first time,” Olifr chuckled. “Most of the nobles understand what’s really going on. The competent ones do, at least, and yet, they still have to give me face as if I had actually done them a huge favor. It wouldn’t do to have an ungrateful reputation.”

“Excuse me,” Oryin could no longer sit still. He tentatively raised his hand to get the attention of the Constable and his uncle. His uncle frowned at the interruption, but he quickly replaced it with a smile and nodded for him to continue.

The Constable turned to face him with an inquisitive look on his face.

“How may I help you, young sir?” He asked.

Oryin’s reputation was well-known, especially among those who were close to his family. He might not have personal power now, but he had potential.

“Did you say you arrested all of the criminal’s friends?” Oryin inquired.

“I sure did,” The Constable nodded. “It’s not that big of a deal for his companions, all things considered. They’ll get a slap on the wrist, the girl’s father will owe your uncle a minor favor…” The Constable shrugged his shoulders. “Normal, everyday occurrence.”

“Just to clarify,” Oryin continued, sweat dripping down his brow, “the young noble lady, did she have ruby red eyes?”

The Constable frowned as he sensed something amiss, but he nodded his head.

“She did. Do you know her?”

“Know her?!” Oryin pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath to calm himself down. “That was the Imperial Princess, Kefira, you BUFFOON!” Oryin leapt to his feet. He wasn’t as calm as he had thought. “And you ARRESTED her!”

The Constable’s frown deepend, and another frown accompanied his on his uncle’s face.

“Wait, why would an Imperial Princess be in the company of a mere Adventurer?” Olifr asked. “Are you keeping something from me?”

The Constable’s head snapped in the Magistrate’s direction.

“What do you mean, Lord Magistrate?” He asked.

Olifr waved his concern away and answered without looking at him.

“My nephew is the reporting victim,” he said.

“Your nephew was the victim? And he came to you?” The Constable asked.

Olifr broke his gaze from Oryin and leveled a glare at the Constable.

“Calm yourself, Constable,” he said.

The Constable’s lips formed a line.

“I am… uncomfortable… with this information.”

“Noted.” Olifr turned his gaze back to Oryin. “Explain.”

Oryin gulped at his uncle’s gaze.

“Well, I told you Reivyn was the Adventurer commander of that Adventuring Mercenary Company, right?” Olifr nodded and motioned for him to continue. “Well, technically, the mercenary company belongs to Kefira.”

“Princess Kefira,” his father interjected for the first time with a stern voice.

Oryin glanced at his father and licked his lips.

“Junior Sister, Kefira,” he amended. His father rolled his eyes but let it slide.

“So they had a prior relationship, or he wouldn’t have been put in charge,” Olifr extrapolated. “And you were planning on telling me this… when?”

“I had already implied it, uncle,” Oryin defended himself. “It’s not a secret that the mercenary company is actually headed by the princess. I figured you would understand.”

“Don’t quibble with me!” Olifr shouted. “This was important information! How were you planning on exacting justice against the criminal with such a powerful background supporting him?!” Olifr glanced at the Constable. “You’re still here? Quickly! Go and escort the princess home!”

The Constable nodded his head and rushed to the entrance as quickly as he could.

“As far as I know, Reivyn doesn’t have any actual support from the Imperial Family,” Oryin explained. “Junior Sister is just temporarily muddled by his exotic nature as a foreigner from outside the empire, and she doesn’t have an official post.

“She would need to beg her parents to intervene, and while they’re occupied with that, we can secure our jurisdiction over the matter.”

“Yes, but now, instead of gaining a favor, I’m going to have to call in a few,” Olifr grit his teeth. “And for what? Punishing a mere Adventurer?”

“An Adventurer with the Princess’s ear,” Oryin pointed out. “It will lower his prestige in the eyes of the public and the princess, and we’ll be rid of an annoying competitor.”

“We?” His father once again interjected. “Or you?”

“Both,” Oryin didn’t dare lie at this point. “I’ll be rid of a romantic rival, and the family will be one step closer to a better relationship with the Imperial Family.”

“You think Princess Kefira will appreciate you doing this?” His father asked.

“She would have, if that idiot hadn’t screwed everything up,” Oryin said with a frown. “I’ve known Junior Sister Kefira for years. She’s not one to let emotions cloud her judgment. This move will wake her up, and she’ll eventually come around to see what a masterful stroke it was.”

His father and uncle shared a look.

“You don’t know women, son,” his father said. “We’re going to have to come up with a fall guy to take the blame, or she’ll resent you forever.”

Oryin bared his teeth in what resembled a smile.

“Already taken care of,” he answered. “As the victim, of course my name has to be on the document, but I wasn’t the one to actually bring the initial complaint.”

His uncle’s eyes lit up in recognition.

“Of course! That’s why you had your friend, Riddin Horace, do all the talking.”

“Yes, uncle,” Oryin nodded.

Riddin’s older brother, Remfort, had a grudge against Reivyn. Oryin had learned of it early on, and he had simply manipulated the young man’s feelings to his benefit.

Over the course of several days, Oryin had lamented that there was nothing that could be done against the cur Reivyn who had trampled on his honor. A few reminders of his uncle being a Magistrate later, and he simply had to follow the young man to his uncle’s office where he lodged the complaint for him.

“Other than the debacle with the Constable arresting the princess, this is feasible,” his uncle nodded, finally calming down. “We can lay the blame at the feet of the Constable in front of the emperor and make it up to him at a later date.”

“He’s just a commoner, uncle,” Oryin said. “He should be happy to take the blame. It was his own actions under his own judgment, after all.”

“And here I thought you were a natural when it came to politics,” his father shook his head. “Even though it was his own error, it was bred from lack of information from us. This will lead to resentment.

“Even if it wasn’t, as a subordinate, we should always make at least a minimum effort to have his back in a difficult time. Support isn’t a one-way street. If we offered nothing in return but indifference, it wouldn’t be long before we can’t recruit anyone to our side.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Olifr said. “I’ll have him take credit for breaking some cases in line with the hard-nosed reputation he’s sure to get from this incident. It will turn this black mark into an amusing anecdote of someone a bit too eager and inexperienced. In the long run, it might actually help his career.”

His father nodded and looked Oryin in the eyes.

“See there, son? Minimal effort for maximum benefit. We move some hands and feet in the background, the Constable gets rewarded, and nobody else but us knows.”

“I see, father,” Oryin nodded. “Thank you for the lesson.”

“It’s fine. You’re still young, and you have much to learn. Your magical apprenticeship is about to come to an end, but you still have your political apprenticeship under the Court Magus. Keep your head up and observe everything around you. With your own observations, the instruction of your Master, my perspective, and your uncle’s work in the judiciary, you’re set up to be a powerful icon in the future.”

“Yes, father,” Oryin smiled.

A powerful icon? Oryin internally scoffed. That’s a given. If I play my cards right, though, I can be so much more. Maybe even one day… the emperor.

Oryin’s eyes flashed with ambition.

—

“This has gone on long enough,” Kefira said. She stared unwaveringly in her mother’s eyes.

“He said he would handle it, no?” Silfa calmly asked, setting her teacup down.

Kefira was meeting with her parents in a private setting. She had only spent a few minutes in the jail, but word of her incarceration had already reached her parents’ ears long before she arrived home.

Her father had been in the process of summoning the entire Imperial Guard to storm the jail and put the fear of the Heavens in the law enforcers. Her abrupt arrival had dispelled most of her father’s ire, and she had been whisked away to the back sitting room with her parents.

Serilla had been snatched up by her grandfather, and Teilon and Kimberly had been escorted to Refix and Ameliyn’s courtyard.

“That’s not the point,” Kefira said. She wasn’t backing down. “It’s your laissez faire attitude and refusal to acknowledge our relationship publicly that has let this happen in the first place. I’m tired of it.”

“He has passed all of our little tests,” Gennet said to his wife. “I don’t have any other questions about his competency or morals.”

“Hmm, yes,” Silfa said, nodding her head. “Then, we’ll consider this the last test.” Silfa held up her hand to stop Kefira from interrupting. “He’s already said he would handle it, and I believe he will. If he can come out of this completely unscathed without any support from us, I’ll call an end to the games.”

“I’m glad you at least admit it,” Kefira muttered.

“Admit what?” Silfa tilted her head.

“That these ‘tests’ were nothing more than games.”

Silfa smiled.

“Of course they were,” Silfa said. “I’ve never actually cared about Reivyn’s performance in any of his tests. I was just giving the two of you the time you needed to be completely sure of your feelings for one another.

“Adrenaline and other chemicals from living through the events you and he did together could cloud your judgment. I was just giving your body time to flush all of those external emotions from your system so you could judge him with clear eyes.

“It’s always been about what you wanted. If your love wasn’t true, you would have realized by now, and you would be the one calling the relationship off.”

Kefira stared at her mother with an open mouth for several seconds. She had never even considered the possibility that her mother was in fact testing her. It was hard to remain upset with her mother after the revelation, but she still frowned.

“Then this last test?” She asked.

“It wouldn’t be appropriate to make an announcement until he’s navigated himself out of these muddy waters,” Silfa explained. “And he, himself, is the one who set the conditions. Now we just have to sit back and enjoy the show of this final game.”

Silfa smiled sweetly at her daughter.