The Banquet

As an event gathering the cream of the Arcadian crop, the banquet stood within the academy proper, in a hall so large that it could easily serve thousands of guests.

To ease transportation, for this unique occasion, the Imperial Academy had teleportation circles ready in all the guests, prospective, and returning students' halls, enabling direct access to the academy's doors. Stepping into the rainbow teleportation circle, Kilian, Lena, and Jezebel, directly landed in the hallway leading to the banquet.

Naturally, they weren't the only ones. With only ten minutes left before the celebration's official start, hundreds of prospective students sprinted as if their lives were on the line, smashing into one another as they raced toward the grand marble white doors. To avoid competing for space with them, Kilian walked at a slow, steady pace his ladies also mirrored—one of the wisest moves of his life.

As the racing nobles neared the door, dazzling white light surged from it, sending them all rolling back to the hallway's entrance. Kilian's group sidestepped to let the nobles run their course and reached the threatening door without casualties. Even before they could stretch their hands toward it, the door opened wide.

Kilian walked in, and his eyes landed on the largest gathering of aristocrats he'd ever witnessed since his arrival on Arcadia. Under bright chandeliers, across a vast expanse of room, thousands of nobles of all ages and various statuses exchanged pleasantries and wine glasses. Some discussed the new coliseum in the Imperial City where slaves and death row commoners wrestled for a slim hope of survival.

Others wondered how and why Duke Klaus and Emperor Niklas simultaneously collapsed in Kars' very castle. Rumors of a love affair between the 160 years old emperor and the 42 years old duke abounded, with others going as far as claiming that assassins used their lovemaking as an opportunity to strike them down.

Naturally, those who dared whisper such words were rash and vain noblemen with too much power, wealth and free time on their hands. Various topics flowed, from magic-centered discussions to mundane gossip. Kilian ignored it all and looked past most of the aristocrats to spot several familiar figures, noble scions he'd met during his six years with Klaus.

Children of marquises, dukes, grand dukes even. On them, Kilian didn't linger more than three seconds, moving on as soon as he recalled their names. This stopped when his eyes landed on a noblewoman around 18 with fascinating sapphire-colored eyes and wavy, ink-like hair matching her von Karsten lineage.

Dressed in a simple black dress, many would have mistaken her for some sort of upstart if not for the circle of noble scions, men and women alike, seeking her attention. But while her beauty spoke for itself, it naturally couldn't cause such a commotion. No, her status handled that.

Anke von Karsten, niece of Klaus von Karsten, sole grandchild of the Grand Duke of Rulweil, and heir of Kars and Rulweil. The Grand Duke of Rulweil wasn't merely the most powerful duke of Arcadia, he also ranked among the nine known Exarchs. In fact, Arcadia didn't have any other Exarch not surnamed von Skoll.

Through skillful marriage deals and Niklas' secret help, Klaus managed to make Anke the old duke's only eligible heir. Initially, he meant to have her wed and support Kilian. Alas, the fehl taint crushed those plans, and even before executing his second son, Klaus made her his new heir.

Cold, reserved, cruel, unforgiving, possessive and opportunistic. Though most remained fooled by the first two, having seen her at her worst, Kilian could name all her "qualities" in a heartbeat. But oddly, as his eyes laid on her, Anke spun, and her eyes crossed hundreds to lock on his. For a second, Kilian shouldered her gaze, then alongside Jezebel and Lena stepped toward their assigned tables.

Both noted the exchange.

"A new addition?" Jezebel asked in a jesting tone, while Lena wondered how to counter a potential harem girl.

"More like someone I will probably have to kill. Though, I first need to figure out what exact role we play in the chessboard of Klaus' Redemption, and how to break it," Kilian replied, stretching both Jezebel and Lena's eyes with clouds of confusion. Clearly, the relationship between those two wasn't that simple.

Past events trotted in Kilian's mind, pictures of his time in Kars, the coldness of the ducal palace, and the alienating warmth of Klaus' devoted teachings. If there were no Viktor, no Alina, no burning of his tribe, no Eye of Fehl, how different would their relationship be?

What kind of man would he now be? He calmly wondered.

At that time, a young man walked in, dressed in the purple-gold wizard robe of the academy's highest ranking students. With imperial blood evident in his traits, he'd not even taken three steps in, that the entirety of the aristocracy turned to face him. If they sat they stood up, whatever their hands held, they dropped, and in tandem, bowed to welcome Ayden's entrance.

"Greetings, your imperial highness!" Hundreds of aristocrats hailed the Crown Prince of Arcadia, but royally ignoring them, Ayden moved toward the three aristocrats most prolific in spreading rumors about the emperor's sexuality.

"Is it fun?" He began, startling the three imperial dukes who didn't understand the words.

"Your highness wh-" one of the three formed the start of an inquiry, but using his right index, Ayden silenced him with a *shush* and flashed a gentle smile.

"I ask again, is it fun? To openly, wantonly mock and spread groundless rumors about your monarch's sexuality, amidst hundreds of Arcadia's most noble, at that. Is it fun?" Ayden reiterated his question with eccentric glee.

Silence dropped, dozens of nobles subconsciously backpedaled, the targeted three broke into cold sweat, and for an instant, even breaths didn't dare leave lips.

"D-don't slander us! Even if you're the Crown Prince of Arcadia, you can't make such ground-" the one directly facing Ayden started a counter, but outpacing him, Ayden summoned a recording mirror that replayed the scene of the three gossiping about Niklas.

Their hearts almost leaped from their chests!

"Don't know how to answer? I will help you. It was fun! Hilarious even, otherwise, how would you dare? No one's that stupid. Haha, it ought to be the funniest joke on the market of how do I laugh to death!" Ayden chortled, and gently tapped the three's cheeks.

Registering the threats in his words, they let their dra explode!

"Although we rank at the bottom of the list, as Imperial Dukes, all three of us are Archons—cornerstones of the Arcadian Empire—leaders of ancient houses! Just because you assumed the regency, you can't threaten us!" Bawled the leader among the three dukes.

Amused, Ayden stepped back and twirled on one foot.

"Right, right! You're absolutely correct, I'm out of line, apologies," Ayden replied, suppressing the anxiety in the three's hearts. Although they all were but the weakest type of Archons, Archons they still were. With the emperor in an uncertain state, a 21 years old prince should show them respect, or so they were starting to think.

"Though, I just remembered one thing. He's the Emperor of Arcadia, the sovereign ruler of three billion! Even if he screwed your fathers you'd have to shut up and take it much less spread the tale!" Ayden had barely reeled off the words that his right hand bent into a knife shape, and swept at the three's necks—lopping their heads off their necks! Their blood erupted like rivulets leaping toward the ceiling, smearing Ayden's divine figure in a thick red.

"AAAAARGH!" Dozens of screams surged from left and right. But his smile unchanged, Ayden spun to face all the aristocrats.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please don't allow me to ruin the festivities. Just remember this one thing. Arcadia only has one ruling family, its name is von Skoll, and it doesn't tolerate any insult to its monarch's dignity.

Have your fun, but do remember the limits, unless of course you're dying to die by my hands—pun intended," without further ado, Ayden turned heels, and walked out of the banquet hall.

As a purple-gold student, his presence indeed wasn't necessary. But while the rest soaked in their stupor, Ayden cast a furtive glance at Kilian, winked with his right eye, and left the scene.