The carriage wheels rattled steadily over the packed stone road as the escort from the Zu estate formed up around them. Inside, the space was just big enough to fit all four of them comfortably.
They left Goryeong behind, the road winding through the streets of Josun city before opening onto the quiet green fields of Haoku village. Farmers working the terraced rice paddies paused to watch the imperial banner pass by, tilting their straw hats back against the morning sun.
A couple of hours later, the open countryside gave way to a skyline dominated by sheer gray stone.
Oden Fortress didn't just rise up from the ground — it loomed over everything around it. Its outer walls stood twice as tall as Goryeong's, built from smooth, pale blocks fitted together tightly. At first glance the defenses looked almost sparse: just four tall watchtowers reaching into the clouds and a pair of wooden barricades on either side of the massive iron-banded gates.
Then Kei looked a little closer.
His eyes narrowed as he traced the horizontal bands running along the stone. "What exactly are they hiding in Oden that needs this many archers on standby?"
Vincent leaned toward the small window and let out a low whistle. "Where? I don't— oh. Wow." Tucked behind narrow, recessed slits running along the top of the wall, dozens of crossbowmen stood in shadowed rows.
"Man, if Eralsa had defenses like this, those southern warships wouldn't have gotten within a mile of the beach," Vincent said.
"Oden has received massive investment in its fortifications over the last few decades," Yul said, resting his right hand on the scabbard across his lap. "Though it still falls just short of Lingwen Fortress in total defense spending."
Vincent turned his head. "Lingwen? Why? Isn't the Fortress of Oden the capital of the empire?"
"That's true," Yejin said, folding her hands neatly over her skirt. "Lingwen isn't the capital of Iona, but it's easily the wealthiest fortress in the empire. Its trading hubs handle most of our foreign commerce, and its merchant guilds basically set the market prices for grain and iron across the country. On top of that, the Faith of Yeoljin funnels a large share of its tithes straight into Lingwen's regional government."
"I thought Yeoljin's grand cathedral was in Oden?" Kei asked.
"The head seat is here in Oden, yes," Yejin replied. "Archpriest Yohan Grale keeps his chambers here so he can sit on the imperial council. But most of the actual worshippers live in Lingwen. Here in the capital, people have traditionally leaned toward the Hwadosen Faith instead."
Vincent rubbed his chin, mulling it over. "So Lingwen has all the money and Oden has the crown. Where does that leave Goryeong? Bottom of the list?"
Yejin laughed softly and shook her head. "Not at all. Every fortress serves its own purpose, Vincent. Goryeong is the beating heart of our military — over forty percent of all hwa-samurai train and swear their oaths on Goryeong soil. If Oden is the head and Lingwen holds the money, Goryeong is the blade. And then there's Tiangnan Fortress up in the northwest — that place gets more visitors and festival travelers in a single spring than Oden and Goryeong put together." She paused and glanced at the quiet woman beside her. "Haein, didn't you say you're originally from Tiangnan yourself?"
Haein looked away from the passing trees. Her dark eyes stayed calm, though something quiet and heavy passed briefly over her face. "I am."
"Do you ever think about visiting again?" Yejin asked gently.
Haein let out a slow breath. "Not really. I don't have many good memories of that place, I'm afraid. It's actually the reason I crossed the sea to Elion in the first place. My younger sister was taken by some crazed cult, and my parents were foolish enough to believe their promises."
Yejin's expression tightened. "A cult? What kind of cult?"
"They never had a formal name," Haein said. "Their rituals had been outlawed under imperial law for decades, but they kept operating in secret. They believed that sacrificing second-born children would purify their bloodline, and that Amaterasu herself would bless the family for it. My sister was one of their victims."
"That's horrifying," Yul said, his brow tightening with real anger. "What if they're still out there somewhere?"
"Do you think they might still exist?" Yejin asked.
Haein looked back out the window. A faint, cold smile touched the corner of her mouth. "I doubt it. I'm fairly confident their underground chambers have been silent for a few years now."
No one pushed her to explain further.
The carriage rolled to a stop at the outer barbican. The checkpoint went quickly — the guards barely glanced twice at the paperwork once they spotted Yejin's imperial seal and Yul's family crest, and waved them through the heavy portcullis with deep, formal bows.
Once past the gates, Oden felt completely different from Goryeong. Goryeong had been built for soldiers — practical stone corridors, wide training grounds, plain barracks. Oden felt old and full of history. Timber-framed buildings rose two and three stories high, their tiled roofs worn smooth by centuries of rain. Stone statues of multi-tailed foxes sat on pedestals outside nearly every doorway, and the stone bridge crossing the central canal was lined with carved figures that had wide feathered wings and long, sharp noses.
Vincent stared openly out the window. "Goryeong carved dragons into their roofs and door frames. Why does Oden have foxes and winged men instead?"
"The foxes are kitsune," Yul said, leaning forward to point at a carved pair guarding a red gate. "They're considered sacred messengers who once served Amaterasu when she walked on Zeon in its ancient days. People light incense at kitsune shrines to pray for good harvests and healthy families. You'll find shrines like these in Haoku village too."
Yejin leaned back with a teasing grin. "I'm glad we brought Yul along. He's our resident scholar — point at any rock in this province and he'll give you the full history."
Haein blinked, mildly surprised. "Really? I assumed Yul was more the quiet, brooding type."
"He plays that role around strangers," Yejin laughed. "But get him talking to people he likes, or bring up imperial history, and he won't stop talking until the sun goes down."
Yul's ears turned pink. He cleared his throat into his fist, trying to look composed. "I could argue with that, Lady Yejin, but arguing would only prove your point. So — please, continue."
"What about the winged guys on the bridge, Professor?" Vincent asked, grinning.
Yejin and Haein traded matching smirks, watching Yul squirm.
Yul sighed. "Those are tengu — legendary guardians of sacred places, known for their mastery of ancient martial arts. Craftsmen carve them onto bridge posts to ward off harm and bad luck from travelers."
Vincent clapped his hands together, genuinely impressed. "You're seriously smart, Yul. I mean it. If I put in a good word with our director, think you'd ever consider joining the Fabled Class?"
Kei glanced past them toward the shops lining the canal. Small, round ceramic statues of pot-bellied raccoon dogs sat outside nearly every doorway, some wearing tiny straw hats and holding little sake jugs. "And those are what? Are they mountain guardians too?"
"Those are tanuki," Yul answered, clearly relieved to get an easy question. "They're not fighting spirits — just symbols of good luck, cleverness, and prosperity. Shopkeepers put them out front to draw in customers."
Kei studied the little statues as the carriage rolled past. "This place has a beautiful culture."
The road began climbing a series of terraced stone platforms until they reached the inner gates of the Imperial Palace. The noise of the merchant district faded away completely, replaced by the quiet rustle of trimmed red maples and raked gravel courtyards.
When the carriage doors opened, a group of imperial heralds in ceremonial white-and-gold robes was already waiting. They led the group through tall double doors trimmed in polished brass and into the grand audience hall.
The hall was enormous, held up by rows of thick red cedar pillars that rose toward painted ceiling beams showing the sun rising over Mount Iona. At the far end, raised on a three-tiered platform of black lacquer and gold leaf, sat the throne.
Emperor Suzaku Ryuta leaned back against the tall seat, dressed in dark imperial silk embroidered with soaring cranes. To his right stood Crown Princess Akira in a high-collared white gown. The moment the group entered, her eyes went straight to Yul. When she saw his empty, pinned-up sleeve, her breath caught for just a second — but she kept her chin up, her eyes softening with quiet relief.
On either side of the throne stood the pillars of the empire. Shogun Choi Seojun stood broad-shouldered in heavy ceremonial armor, arms crossed like a wall of iron. Beside him, Dae-Ryeong Choi Eunjoo stood at ease in his spotless dark blue robes, a faint, proud smile in his eyes as he looked at his sister. Across from them stood Grand Admiral Shibata Takashi. Behind them all were the soldiers who attended the ceremony.
Yejin stepped forward first, leading the group to the base of the platform before dropping to one knee. Kei, Vincent, Haein, and Yul followed right behind her, bowing low before the throne.
"Rise," Emperor Ryuta said.
The group stood back up, straightening their posture.
The Emperor leaned forward, his weathered face warm with real admiration. "We've received the full reports from Saeho Isle and the southern beaches of Eralsa. When the Southern Alliance sent their Great Battalion crashing against our shores, many believed our line would break. Yet all of you held firm."
His gaze moved to Vincent, then to Yul, who kept his chin lifted proudly despite his injury. "You two faced down Third Commander Garoda, ended his reign of terror, and denied the South their opening victory. And when First Commander Scorpio came down like a falling star to crush what remained of our forces, Lady Yejin and this young man, Kei, held the line against odds that should have been impossible."
Shogun Seojun stepped forward. "The empire does not forget those who bleed for its soil. By decree of the throne and High Command, your courage is formally recognized."
Two attendants stepped forward carrying velvet-lined trays. On them sat four heavy silver military badges shaped like blooming plum blossoms, ringed in polished gold wire, along with four heavy silk pouches that clinked with the weight of coin inside.
"For your service at Eralsa," Emperor Ryuta announced, smiling warmly, "each of you is awarded the Order of the Silver Blossom, along with a reward of one thousand kyeols from the imperial treasury. Wear this crest with pride — any fortress, garrison, or harbor within the borders of Sunhonghin will open its gates to those who carry this mark."
The attendants presented the trays. Yul took his badge with his right hand and bowed low. Vincent grinned wide as he hefted his purse, clearly enjoying the weight of the gold. Kei accepted his badge with a quiet, respectful nod.
The Emperor's gaze then settled on Kei, Vincent, and Haein together. The warmth in his expression shifted into something more serious and deliberate.
"There is more," Emperor Ryuta continued, raising his right hand to address the whole court. "We recognize that the dangers facing this continent do not begin or end at our southern border. The sky itself is fracturing. The Gates of Abaddon are widening. Our people's peace cannot rest on cold iron alone."
He glanced toward Grand Admiral Takashi and Shogun Seojun, both of whom bowed their heads in silent agreement.
"Let this be recorded in the imperial annals," the Emperor declared. "From this day forward, the Sunhonghin Imperial Kingdom officially declares an open alliance with the order known as the Fabled Class. Our storehouses, our regional maps, and our supply lines are open to every member of your league. Wherever the dark gates tear open, Sunhonghin and the Fabled Class will stand together as brothers in arms."
Crown Princess Akira dipped her head in respectful approval, while Eunjoo gave Kei a clear, approving nod from beside the dais.
"Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty," Vincent said, speaking for all three of them as he bowed from the waist. "We'll make sure Director Deikher receives your word. The Fabled Class will not fail your people."
"Please, invite them here some other time, and we will gladly welcome them as our own," the Emperor replied, settling his hand back onto the arm of the throne. "Rest well in the capital, champions. You've earned it."
As the court bowed and the ceremony came to a close, Yejin caught Kei's eye with a small, confident smirk. The badges were pinned, the gold was secured, and the imperial decree was sealed.
Yet the true objective remained locked behind the gates of Lingwen — where neither gold nor an Emperor's decree held sway over Mistress Sheng Lizhan.