The Void Sword Division's captain leaned closer, his voice low as he glanced at the man seated beside him.
"Do you know why the Patriarch summoned all the division captains to the audience chamber?"
The Black Blade Division's captain shook his head, eyes fixed on the dais at the front.
"How would I know? But I did hear that Sir Richel spoke with him earlier. If that's true, then it must be something important."
The vast chamber was filled to the brim—every military officer of House Kael had been called, their murmurs buzzing like restless bees beneath the vaulted ceiling.
The Void Sword captain exhaled sharply.
"Hmph. It has to be serious. After all, that incident shook our territory, and Sir Rikel's death… it still doesn't feel real."
The Black Blade captain's voice dropped lower, almost conspiratorial.
"And don't forget—the letter about the demon turned out to be a forgery. The demon did appear, yes, but it wasn't what we were told. It was a high-ranking one. And worse, the letter wasn't from the Elders' Council at all."
The Void Sword Division captain narrowed his eyes, lowering his voice to a near whisper as he scanned the chamber.
"I think whoever orchestrated this mess is also behind Sir Rikel's death—and the demon's summoning."
The Black Blade captain's gaze sharpened.
"Now that you mention it… you may not be entirely wrong. Whoever it is, they clearly know more about the Elders' Council than either of us."
The Void Sword captain gave a short nod.
"Perhaps. But no matter how carefully they covered their tracks, some evidence must remain. Sooner or later, the truth will surface."
Their words faded into the low murmur of the hall. Suddenly, the massive gates of the audience chamber groaned open, their creaking echo silencing the gathered captains. A moment later, the deep voice of the gatekeeper rang out:
"Head of House Kael, and the Third Elder of the Elders' Council—entering!"
Every officer straightened at once. Then, in unison, the captains dropped to one knee, their voices resounding:
"We greet the Head of House and the Third Elder of the Elders' Council!"
With solemn grace, Vitra Kael and Richel Kael strode into the chamber, each step carrying the weight of authority. Their presence seemed to fill the vast hall, commanding silence and reverence from all who watched.
Vitra and Richel ascended the steps leading to the throne. Yet, when they reached the top, Vitra did not take his seat of power. Instead, he halted at the final step, standing tall beside his father Richel, his presence commanding silence.
"Rise."
At his word, the division captains straightened, their postures stiff with discipline.
"I have summoned you here for specific reasons," Vitra began, his voice solemn. The vast chamber was silent; not a single murmur dared break the weight of his tone.
"As you all know… my brother, Rikel Kael, fell in battle against a high-ranking demon." His voice trembled with both pride and grief, the loss still etched deeply in his heart.
But then his expression hardened.
"Yet this tragedy was not fate—it was planned. Someone orchestrated the demon's appearance. Someone who may very well be among us… even listening now."
Gasps rippled through the chamber until one voice broke through.
"What? How can this be, Patriarch?" The Void Sword Division's captain asked, confusion painted on his face.
The Black Blade captain followed, his voice grim.
"My lord… are you suggesting there are spies within our ranks?"
Vitra's gaze swept across the hall, sharp as a blade.
"Not only among you—I suspect everyone in House Kael. Family, servants, even knights. While spies may not yet be confirmed, we will scour every corner until we find the one responsible."
At that moment, Richel stepped forward, his tone heavy with authority.
"And the Elders' Council will not be exempt. I will commission a formal hearing to root out any who conspire in shadow."
Vitra continued, his voice ironclad.
"For this task, I will entrust the lead to my younger brother, William Kael. You will cooperate with him fully. Is that understood?"
"Yes!" the captains thundered in unison.
"Good." His gaze sharpened. "And remember—this investigation is not limited to you. Every man, woman, and child of this estate will be subject to scrutiny. Announce it across all halls and quarters: the search for spies begins."
"Yes, my lord!" they answered together.
From there, the meeting continued for hours. Vitra laid out further instructions, while Richel occasionally spoke, lending his weight to the commands. When at last the session ended, Vitra's voice rang one final time:
"You may go. The investigation begins two days from now."
The captains bowed deeply before departing in orderly ranks, the echo of their steps fading into the vast chamber.
*****
I let out a deep breath as I halted my swings, sliding Enkris back into its sheath. Glancing at the sun, I guessed it was around mid-morning—perhaps ten, maybe eleven.
"This body is amazing," I muttered under my breath. Exhaustion tugged at me, yet I had been training since dawn. Despite the fatigue, my movements were sharp, fluid—easily ten times faster, stronger, and more precise than anything I had ever managed before.
And my aura… it's doubled in strength. Perhaps I could even hold my ground against a warrior at the 2nd Severance for a while. Once I reach the 3rd, I'll be able to command two elements. Truly, gaining this physique was a stroke of fortune.
As I was lost in thought, a voice broke through.
"Young Master Vern!" The Black Blade Division's captain hurried toward me.
"Hmm?" I tilted my head at him with a faint sound of acknowledgment.
"My apologies, but could you spare me a moment?" he asked.
"I'm listening." I gestured toward the gymnasium doors and began walking. He followed, keeping pace. I wasn't sure what matter brought him here, though I had a vague guess.
"Young Master," he began carefully, "I came under the Patriarch's orders… to request permission to search your quarters."
"Hmm? This is about the spy investigation, isn't it?" I asked, recalling that Vitra had announced a full search of the estate.
"Yes. It would go more smoothly if you cooperated." He gave a stiff nod.
"I'll cooperate. But tell me—will I also be interrogated?"
"No, my lord. That won't be necessary. You've lived here since birth. However, we are required to search every corner for anything suspicious."
"I see. When will you begin?"
"Immediately, if you grant permission. We are prepared to start right away."
"Then begin," I replied, shifting my path toward the Patriarch's office.
"As you command." He bowed low and departed to carry out the order.
Now that I had turned thirteen, it was finally time to enter the Institution. There was much to gain there—knowledge, training, and above all, freedom. Within its walls, suspicion would fade, and I could practice more openly.
The gymnasium here was usually empty, but it was still dangerous. If I pushed too far and the abilities of this physique revealed themselves—if anyone were to catch a glimpse of the horns—then everything would be over. At the Institution, however, I could secure a private training hall with the right amount of coin. There, I would no longer need to hold back.
It wasn't just for me. Charlotte too would benefit; she could broaden her knowledge and sharpen her skills if I enrolled.
The Institution itself stood within the Zenithara estate, a place renowned across the land for its grand teachings. There, one could pursue almost any path imaginable—magic, swordsmanship, spearmanship, alchemy, scholarship. The halls were a forge where countless talents were shaped, and soon, I would step into them.
Knock. Knock.
My knuckles struck the heavy oak door of the patriarch's office twice, the sound echoing faintly in the corridor. I stood still, waiting for the familiar shuffle of the butler's footsteps.
"Come in."
The voice that answered wasn't the butler's. It was Vitra himself.
For a moment, I hesitated, then pushed the door open. The office greeted me with the smell of ink and parchment. Stacks of scrolls and ledgers littered the wide desk where Vitra sat, his posture straight but his movements heavy, as though each word he penned carried the weight of the house upon it.
"I have something to say," I said, my voice even, my face carefully blank.
Vitra stopped writing mid-stroke, the quill pausing in his hand. Slowly, he lifted his chin, his sharp eyes narrowing on me. "What is it you want to talk about?"
I stepped further inside, the silence of the room pressing on me like a hand at my back. "I came here to ask for permission to attend the Nalanda Institute, located within the Zenithara estate." The words left me quickly, before I could second-guess myself.
For a long while, Vitra did not reply. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple as though I had just handed him another burden. His gaze lingered on me—steady, unreadable, weighing me the way a merchant weighs gold.
"So…" His voice was low, deliberate. "You wish to attend the Nalanda Institute."