"I'd like to talk to my granddaughter and Robert in private if that's not too much of a bother, professor Actus," Titania said.

"Of course," Noah said as he stood up. "Ms. Winters, would you like to visit Robert's monsters and get acquainted with them?"

Caroline seemed confused but she stood up and left with Noah. She wasn't that clueless. Once the door closed, Titania broke down laughing. Robert did nothing and said nothing. Amanda grinned, happy that her granny was having such a good time.

Titania wiped an eye. "Mr. Blaze. For the entertainment and advertisement provided, along with winning the tournament for Samson, you can ask any reward you want for me, except my granddaughter's chastity."

"Granny!" Amanda protested. That wasn't a prize to be given away and if Robert wanted... never mind. She shook her head to dislodge the dirty thoughts.

Robert didn't reply or react. He treated Titania as he would the Empress and waited to be prompted. Any reaction right now, positive or negative, could spell his doom. Much better to rely on the poker face and save his ass.

Titania chuckled. "That's to say, is there anything short of a unique item or Ether construct that you desire? Though you can't get Amanda's Chas—"

"GRANNY!" Amanda shouted, slinking down her chair in an attempt to vanish under the table.

"—tity, I can give it as a package deal in marriage. So, what do you say," Titania wiggled her eyebrows and cackled like a witch. "Wanna become the prince consort to the kingdom I built?

Amanda wheezed imperceptibly.

"Before I answer, let me ask two questions, without any consequences."

"Fair enough," Titania grinned. "Ask away."

"Is this marriage offer sincere?"

"Of course it is," She roared and grunted and scoffed as if she was offended by his doubt. As if she hadn't been in a teasing mood ever since the Empress left the room. "Next."

"Why me?"

"You are a two-star, right?" She asked rhetorically. Robert nodded. "And you kicked a four-star that many thought to be invincible. You fired those spells so fast he couldn't even react, with all the pain he was feeling."

"Fair enough. Where does this lead?"

"Amanda's husband needs to be someone who can bear the burden. What burden? Someone strong and powerful enough to make her feel safe. Back in the old world, when I was an airheaded lass – I never said that – that meant money and status. In this new world? Money is easy enough to come by. Your teacher sold your Prime Vestiges and has more than half a year of Amanda's allowance for each of you. Nothing stops you from going to the interspace tomorrow," she laughed, "Except for the appointment with the Empress."

"You and your five—"

"Six," Amanda corrected but it didn't seem she was home as she spoke. Robert suspected foul play for comical effect.

"—six affinities, is a monster. And Amanda fancies you already. You might have shielded your mind from my probe but she's an open book," Titania puckered her lips and mocked-kissed the air once.

"GRANNY!" Amanda shouted, whimpered, sputtered, and slammed her forehead against the table, denting the wood, and groaning like an idling motorcycle.

"Ma'am, with all due respect—"

"That's what they say when they'll be borderline disrespectful. But go on."

"You are making things worse."

"Fair. But since we are being so candid, Mr. Blaze, tell me. What's the biggest reason you won't just take the heart that's offered to you? Don't bullshit me with chemistry, compatibility, and anything. I can see you have all that."

Robert crossed his arms and stared. "You."

Titania stared back. She didn't use her four-star pressure, though.

"Of course, that's not everything. I won't say anything else on the matter. My reasons are my own and I'm sure Amanda understands me better than you would even if I invited you to my mind palace. You may be my employer but that doesn't give you the right to meddle with my private life. I won't say anything on matters of family since they're between the both of you."

Titania released her tension and let her body relax. She deflated and went from a menacing witch ready to throw Robert in the cauldron to an old and tired grandmother.

"Since you didn't manifest yourself regarding the reward you want, I'm going to say what I'm doing. I'm giving you a stage four artificial essence satellite core. Do you think you can handle it? We can trade it for a stage three and you pocket the difference."

Amanda startled and sat straight on her chair. "Granny, are you sure?"

"I am, child. His biometrics and essence channeling capacity are well into third-star territory. He can handle that and even if it is a bit too much, I trust he won't burn his soul by being stupid. And I think you aren't that far from ascending again, are you?"

"Very far. Years away." Robert replied. "I accept your gift. The fourth stage core."

"Good, good. Here you go. Do not draw from it for a week if you can help it. Give it time to settle."

Titania passed him a glass box like the ones used to contain Prime Vestiges. This one had a crystalline star, like one of those really expensive Christmas decorations, with dozens of points. Robert reminded me what the spatial solid was called from a geometry book he read. A great grand stellated polydodecahedron. Its center pulsated white like a powerful (and slow) strobe lightbulb but the points caught the light and diffracted it, causing the points to have tiny rainbows inside them. It was a magnificent work of art but its value was in the power it would grant him.

That core, when absorbed into his soul, would give him an extra 4% essence reservoir he could use to pay the cost of his ongoing spells or any other effect. Tempering, one-shot spells, anything. Unlike his void heart reservoir, this tiny one (in comparison) would refill on its own every second.

"Take it into your soul. It's the same as the Prime Vestige but you don't need to say anything."

He opened the box. The core floated out of it, drawn to his hand by an unseen force. Robert pulled his hand closer to his chest. The core lazily followed. Then it started to dissolve into bright white mist, covering his body and sinking into it. Moments later, he looked at his Ethercosm. The satellite core orbited his two stars in the distance, further away from his shells. Despite appearing so tiny, its light was the same as his two stars.

"There. It's done," Titania said, then looked at Amanda. She could read signs of envy in the young woman. "Patience, girl. If anything, use this as a motivator to push yourself further."

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

*

*

Two days passed. The conspiracy that brought about the premature end of the tournament was all that people talked about. The Shayver family suffered the most. With their patriarch killed by Titania Samson, they were powerless to stop what came next. The family holdings were raided by the Imperial knights and their illegal performance-enhancing drug operation was dismantled, along with all of their possessions.

The Imperial Knights took him to rehearse the award ceremony. Though it was supposed to be a spontaneous thing, it was far from that. The Empress's image needed to be impeccable and losing one's own life was not enough punishment for a faux pas before Her Imperial Majesty. They also had mandatory dance lessons with a Knight of the opposite gender until their footwork proficiency reached acceptable levels.

The usual delving party of three plus Caroline raided the Minotaur Dungeon again. Caroline claimed a Steel and Fire deviant Minotaur for herself, a thirteen-foot-tall monstrosity with hexagonal metal plates instead of scales over its demonic body. The minotaurs' talent, dubbed Heavy Metal by them, increased or decreased the mass and resilience of any metallic object worn or wielded whenever it was convenient. The minotaur's ax swings could split stone like it was wet cardboard, and the scales on his body absorbed impacts like metals worth a thousand times the steel they were made of.

The reward this time was three vials with a potion that increased one stage 0 spell (not a tempering technique) Ether shell crystallization by 75% at random. All three students kept theirs for later.

Robert spent his time healing his arm stumps and regrowing his hands, watching his soul adapt to his artificial core. Whatever shit the headmaster did to him, they didn't want to grow back. He had to resort to using Life essence to grow new hands over the stump instead of regenerating.

As Titania spoiled, Noah finished disposing of the Prime Vestiges they harvested. Either by selling or handing them over to the Imperial Knights for disposal, he gathered a respectable sum. He kept nothing for himself and handed the money over to Amanda and Robert.

*

*

Amanda hadn't approached him to talk about what Titania did in that meeting room and neither did he. She was apart, estranged. Robert decided to give her the distance and space she needed, instead of trying to talk it out and reach some sort of agreement as to where they stood.

Most of what Titania said was true but the old busybody had no right meddling with their relationship. She had perhaps ruined it forever. And Robert shuddered when he thought it might be her intentions all along. The old mentalist was inscrutable, though. Either theory was valid and had its reinforcing arguments.

But he had no reason to try and figure her out. If anything, he started to hate her. The fear slowly peeled off to reveal something darker behind it. All that Robert could do right now was to stop this budding hatred for Titania Samsom from tainting what he felt for Amanda. But he feared it was too late.

In the end, he thought that he'd partially lied to Titania. The biggest roadblock on the path that might lead to a romantic relationship with Amanda wasn't just Titania. Was the entire burden that Samson Corporation meant. But unless he ascended to four stars and finally earned the right to give the middle finger to every faction save for the Empress, he had to safeguard himself first.

*

*

He sighed and lamented. The hands he regrew had several small defects. He would need another couple of days to hammer those out and make them perfect with direct applications of Life essence. Damn, that headmaster.

But he didn't have the time right now. Because it was time for the awards ceremony. And he, as the tournament winner, had to look his best. Fortunately, formal wear and underwear were one and the same for him, with his symbiote suit. He looked at himself in the mirror, adjusted his necktie, and teleported to the stadium via liminal void.

Robert climbed the ramp flanked by two Imperial Knights. It was both an honor guard and an escort since he'd pissed half of the Academy and many factions. As he reached the tunnel's mouth, bright light and the loud cheer of the crowded stadium assaulted his ears. A raised stage occupied the center of the stadium, with a throne on a high dais, occupied by the Empress. She smiled when their eyes met. Amanda and Caroline were already kneeling on the stage, having gone through similar rites in reverse order of ranking.

He focused his eyes at the foot of the stairs leading to the throne dais. This way, he avoided any awkward eye contact and made himself seem respectful. He reached his spot in the middle of the two young women and knelt.

"Student Blaze," the Empress called. "In this tournament, you have displayed not only power and skill but also a commendable standard of ethics and an unwavering will to fight for what is right and just. Your performance has pleased us."

A pause. Robert was instructed by the Knights that it was his cue to reply with kind and short praise. "Your generosity warms my heart, Your Imperial Majesty."

"We deem you worthy of the laurels in all the virtues this tournament represents. Honor. Sporting spirit. Might. Camaraderie. Fighting spirit. And power. We invite you to request any reward as our favor."

"I wish for an affinity treasure," Robert said after the appropriate pause. "For the Force affinity."

The empress waved her hand. A crystal box with a diamond and gold brooch inside appeared before her, floating and illuminated by an ethereal light. The diamond sat in the middle, with two olive laurels surrounding it, and a wing on either side. Atop the diamond sat the relief of a nimbus and a series of mountain peaks covered the bottom. Inside the diamond, waves of energy swirled and pushed against each other, begging to be released.

A knight climbed the steps, knelt before the throne, and, after earning a nod from the Empress, took the box. He climbed down the steps backward and only turned away from Her after kneeling respectfully. He then brought the box before Robert.

The box opened on its own and the Knight affixed the brooch on Robert's lapel. Robert felt the power seep into his soul. This particular kind of affinity treasure took time to attune its energies with the wearer, like Amanda's octopus amulet.

In fact, now that he saw the real deal and felt its effects, he believed that Noah attempted to do just that. Create an affinity treasure for Amanda. Though it was said to be impossible. Maybe it was just his giddy mind imagining things.

In his soul, his two stars now had a thin wedge of clear white. This wedge would only grow over time, reaching one-seventh of the stars' surface. When it happened, the treasure would become just an inert and powerless piece of jewelry, just like Amanda's octopus amulet.

*

*

"Student Samson," the Empress said, "you have exhibited a diverse array of tactics and demonstrated the virtues of patience and planning. We recognize that the plants you employed were your own creations. Your dedication to your art and craft is both admirable and commendable. We were especially impressed by your feminine approach to combat and your kind heart's concern for your fellow students. Your display of sportsmanship illuminated this event like a shining star."

Amanda sobbed, trying not to weep. Her tears fell on the stage. When she proved incapable of speech after the pause, the Empress continued.

"Were it not for foul play, you might stand as the champion today. We empathize with your feelings, as they resonate with our own heart. Therefore, we understand your true desire. We offer you this reward and hope you accept it along with our sentiments. It is only fair that your reward, after being deprived of the opportunity to fight for supremacy, matches that of the champion."

She produced another box. Inside it floated a blue fruit. Sparks and bolts of Lightning coursed over it.

The same knight repeated the ritual and opened the box, revealing the fruit before Amanda. Though the box blocked the sound, everyone on the stage could hear the buzzing.

"The fruit has no juice," the knight whispered. "you should consume it now."

Amanda took the fruit and bit heavily into it. The powerful Lightning Ether imbued in the treasure paralyzed her jaw and tongue even over her tempering. It would be a terrible experience for anyone else. She used hydraulic flex to move her mouth and chew. Then another bite and the fruit vanished on the third. Not a crumb fell on the stage. She swallowed the last bite and lowered her head.

"Student Winters. I am certain many envious tongues whispered that you had not earned the right to stand here before us. Hear our words: you are worthy. Among all the contestants who faced you, only the champion bested you. Let it be known that you have our blessings. Now, speak of the reward your heart desires."

Caroline sniffled and sobbed as she waited for the proper pause before speaking. "I wish for a mighty creature that I may call a friend. One that can stand tall by my side and help me face the challenges ahead."

"So be it," the Empress said.

A portal opened and a curious object came. It was a small sphere that floated in the air. It was the size of a tennis ball. With a nod from the Empress, it increased in size to one and a half meters in diameter. Its bottom was a bright red and the top was a translucent white. It had a horizontal black band around the middle and a circle with a white button. On the top, one could see the hemisphere was cut in six. One of the divisions had a sleeping creature.

"In this spatial pen, you will find a Pygmy Bog Troll. It possesses affinities for Wind, Water, and Earth, and its talent is Regeneration. Though these trolls are known for their violent and cantankerous nature, we are confident that, given your abilities as a tamer, you will be able to form a bond with it."

Robert stared at the contraption with shock, a minor breach of protocol. A portable device that could hold and care for eight monsters at the same time? Forget the troll, the contraption was the real reward. Especially for a person like Caroline, who could swap powers on the fly if she had her tamed monsters nearby.

The knight took the artifact from the Empress with the proper ceremony and handed it to Caroline. The girl only now shed tears, a big smile on her face as she cradled the ball in its shrunk state.

With the gifting ceremony finished, they conveyed to the convention center that doubled as an event venue for such occasions.