Adrian knew he couldn't simply declare himself the new leader. While the major power players were all gone, other influential forces remained, and they wouldn't accept an unknown figure usurping power so easily.
The Academy, in particular, was a formidable entity. It had remained largely untouched by the war, as its staff and students shielded from being drafted.
The instructors, many of them powerful mages and knights, were all present and at full strength. Their allegiance was still with the old regime, and Adrian understood he needed their cooperation, not their opposition.
He knew his first move had to be a delicate one. An outright display of force would only lead to a hostile standoff.
He needed to build trust, and he needed an ally on the inside. Someone who the Academy respected, and more importantly, someone who respected him.
There was only one person who fit the bill perfectly: Master Von, his former combat and homeroom instructor.
