Chapter 363 (2/2)

Valen's sht about this, but it slowly slid from his face Eventually he nodded and said, "Thank you, Professor For listening I won't take up any more of your time"

With a stiff bow, he turned to leave

"You know, Valen," I said to his back, ainst their wishes as you get older If you really want to live your life without regret, it ht be better to disappoint your parents now than later"

He froze, half turning to look back at me, his face inscrutable Finally, with a curious sain

Unwilling and unable to face theup in ain and activated it,the void-space it contained But instead of insulatingat all but my own conflicted mind

I knew that it was unfair in the extre that had happened in Dicathen They were as much a victim of the war as my friends and family back ho rona's subjects, his servants and tools, each one of theainst my mother or my sister

But, more and more, I had detected a hesitancy in the Alacryans to follow their overlord, especially a the students At first, I had assu unique to her—a manifestation of her existence as a Vritra-blooded Alacryan in hiding—but my time at the academy had shown me this wasn't true Aside from Professor Aphelion's poorly hidden disdain for the war, the students' feelings were plain enough on their faces every ti Alacryans had lost everything that day And I don't think all of theh, I stepped out of the keystone and put it away It was clear I wasn't going to get anywhere with it while I was so distracted, or while my mind was full of uncertainty

From the Holloer, Ihts refused to settle and I couldn't focus on anything, so I turned the gravity up by several ti and started to work out h I would have enjoyed a chance to summon the aether blade, I didn't want to explain it to anyone who happened into the classroo

The sound of the door sla down the stairs pulled httoward the ring

Quickly hopping out of the training platforainst her forehead to keep her outstretched ar around ed the e ainst the base of the raised training platfor on her toes as she said, "Yes! It's so crazy Unbelievable! I've just been added to all these high-level Sentry classes, and apparently the odds are so low that Central Acade to waive e stipend to ree to do some one-on-one study with the head of the Sentry depart the look of confusion growing on ot another e an octave in her excite out as a squeek "Two in a row, and at my first two bestowment cereht about pulling me out of this class to focus on Sentry stuff, but the director apparently really wants rin faded, and she looked at ht you'd be proud ofI shouldn't have, Professor?" Suddenly she stepped back and bowed so low her hair brushed the floor "I apologize!"

As she was speaking, my mind had jumped from her to Valen, and then back to Maerin Tohere both Mayla and the boy Belmun—the only two children I'd interacted closely with—received unusually powerful rules I'd suspected before thatto do with it, but there had been no reason to think deeply about the bestowal process I didn't know enough about how the Alacryans allocated uesses, other than an assumption that aether was involved somehow

"Professor?"

My attention snapped back to her, and I realized I had been wearing a deep, thoughtful frown I let …but this is all a big change for you How are you holding up?"

When Mayla had received her original rune, it had been met with conflicted emotions Her sister was unadorned, and would likely spend the rest of her life in Maerin Too euaranteed Mayla would be drawn into a life of adventure and danger If she didn't beco drafted into the war

And the next one won't be fought against Dicathian soldiers, I thought, realizing what the advanced runes ht mean for them

"I was scared, at first," she admitted "I didn't want to leave home, but now that I've been here for a while…" She turned toward the door, where the sound of several sets of quick footsteps and"I've never felt special before I always assumed I'd spend the rest of my life in Maerin Town, like Loreni" Her face fell "Is it wrong that I don't feel guilty?"

"No," I answered, although I wasn't entirely sure if I believedas you haven't left your fa the as that is your intention"

Unspilled tears shone in Mayla's eyes, and she nodded vigorously "I'ht you to Maerin Town, Professor Grey"

I waved her to her seat wordlessly She shuffled, then drew in close I thought about stopping her again before she could wrap her ar with one aris would have made so much fun of me if he were here…

After a couple seconds, I stepped back and turned away to clearin, their energy and excite noise they produced

The students burst into eager explanations of the runes they'd received during the bestowle member of the class had received at least a crest, as it turned out, with a handful of emble enough to brag about his new crest

Sharp footfalls ringing in the outer hallway drew my attention away frorove, Head of the Melee Combat Department, pushed in the door It took a moment for the students to notice, but one by one they hushed suddenly, their attention drawn to the older man He paused at the door, then stepped aside to alloo fanature hair—orange fading out to bright yellow-blonde at the ends—ht in front ofwoman was up to Her hazel eyes met mine defiantly as she descended the shallow steps

Behind Briar was another faer to place her A dark-haired girl, siht and build to Briar Her eyes tracked over the classroo on me, and then I rehter of Elder Cro the bestowrove stopped halfway down the stairs and opened his arms to encompass the class "Melee Enhancement Tactics! Our star class Victoriad competitors as well as the champions of the bestowment ceremony, I must say"

There were a few hoots and a round of applause froood natured smile When the class quieted, he met my eye "Professor Grey, I' for a quick conversation before your class begins for the day?"

I nodded and gestured towardwomen let themselves into the small office, and I followed The moment the door closed behind ain

"I won't keep you, busy as you are preparing for the Victoriad," Rafferty began, his tone businesslike "In fact, that's why I'm here Since you do not have a classroom assistant, the director wanted to ensure you had help A bit of an oversight that it wasn't seen to earlier, honestly…" He cleared his throat and his gaze dropped to the ground for an instant "These two very capable young wo up to and during the Victoriad A couple more sets of eyes—and fists—to keep the students on task, if you understandinto a wry set to the Victoriad after all, huh?"

Rafferty glanced between us "It was side Briar of Blood Nadir before She is an excellent student, I assure you—"

I held up , Professor She's welcome to be my assistant" My attention turned to Aphene "I'm more curious about this one"

Aphene lifted her chin, and couldn't help but notice the slight treh her When last we met, I had soundly defeated her and her friend—I couldn't recall his naht sponsorshi+p from the Denoirs for her to attend Central Academy," Rafferty inforerness that she be given a place within our ranks, and Cromley hiranddaughter I heard the story of your duel in Etril Based on that alone—two students fighting an accoree that she would make an excellent assistant"

My eyebrows rose slowly higher as Rafferty talked, and I had to consciously repress a surprised scoff at thewoman had some talent, but if the Denoirs were involved, it seemed very likely she would be asked to spy onhad its own set of disadvantages, however, and seemed more trouble than it orth

I nodded in affirlad to have a couple of babysitters around, while I focus on the important stuff" I bit back a slares "Now, Professor Irongrove, I's to attend to, because I know I do"

The void was eer rippled, and I sensed nothing else—no presence, no energy—inside the keystone with me

Intermittent pulses of aether eh the dark There was no response Eventually, my mind strayed away from the emptiness and back to the real world

The class had responded well to Briar and Aphene's presence Although Briar was only in her second season at the academy, she was older than most of the others—and had benefited fro her final season The two young wo me drill the class on a series of new forht would challenge the up to the Victoriad

It was then, when I let ain: a curtain-in-the-wind h the inky black space

A knock at the door once again interruptedthe aetheric realain, louder and more insistent this time

I withdrew from the keystone and stored it away "Come in," I said irritably

The office door opened and Kayden Aphelion poked his head inside "I', am I?"

"What can I help you with?" I asked, deadpan, not in the e pointless witticis put off by my attitude, the other professor seeh the door and eased down in the seat across fro you not to take h-society —were there masks? I feel like there would be masks And scantily dressed servants Anyhere was I?

"Right," he said, leaning back in the chair and struggling to cross his legs, an act that required him to physically lift one over the other with his hands "Straight to business, then I thought you ht be interested to know that you've drawn just a tiny bit of attention to yourself, Professor Grey"

Still leaning back against aze His eyes were sharp and watchful, not quitethe wry slanced around the office, checking the corners playfully, afor spies "Word of your class's success during the bestowment ceremony has traveled quickly, and far You know Sulla of Blood Drusus, yes? The head of Cargidan's Ascenders association? He's a friend of mine, and apparently has received letters fro about you, where you caed nonchalantly "Like I said e first meant, you seem like a man who prefers to keep his business private And yet, it seehbloods and ascenders from Rosaere to Onaeka no your na to Sul"

"And ould that be?"

Kayden's smirk sharpened "You should knoell as I that every instant of the Victoriad—every appointment, every match, hell, every handshake or lack thereof—is closely watched, because the event itself can change the political face of entire doe of retainer or Scythe can cause bloods to rise and fall…the perfect opportunity for an ascender of unknown blood to h the ranks of power"

His smile fell away as he spoke "But I'm not here for answers, or even to share my conjecture I simply wish to let you know—as your self-proclai watched closely, and froe for the position of retainer of Vechor or not, you have certainly spawned a ind of ruh that burst out ofan uncertain sasping with amusement "Oh, perfect Perfect"

Kayden an to chuckle as well "So you don't intend to challenge to be Dragoth's retainer?"

I shook my head and wiped a tear frohtest"

"Ah well, there goes the bet I planned to ht—"

"It's fine," I said,"I appreciate the infor slowly As he left the office, I said, "Caera mentioned you were in the war We should…trade stories, one of these days"

He pauses, his eyes widening slightly "Sure Maybe invite , and I'll tell you all about it"

I still wasn't entirely convinced that he hadn't seen soht Ceara and I stole the Co it close to his chest It see at all, considering the dark and the rain, and he hadn't brought that chance " had fared

I was still considering his words as I left the building for the day Although any attention was unwanted at this point, at least the nobility had invented their own reasons for rona or his Scythes had caught wind of me yet, they hadn't made the connection between my two identities If they had, I was sure they'd have arrived in force already

Thoughts of conflict with Agrona's forces were interrupted as I caught sight of a familiar head of navy blue hair just a few dozen steps ahead of me I moved more quickly in order to catch up to Caera, but slohen I noticed she was reading a letter as she walked, disregarding the crowd around her After a an to rip the letter to pieces

"More orders to spy onthe ripped pieces of the letter into her fists Her cheeks were quickly turning red "I was joking but…it asn't it?"

She glanced around us at the passing students "Yes and no It was…an invitation to dinner Again I've already refused, but ears in ht back to Kayden's advice about all the highbloods growing curious about ht come after my ti a few seeds for the future

I held out an arlance "I'll need so out my outfit if I'hbloods as Highlord and Lady Denoir"