So at some point I completely forgot that I'm supposed to be posting the chapters here, now I did lose access to my computer(was out of town) so I could hardly help that. Anyway posting the next five in quick succession.

Chapter 7

After our meeting with the king yesterday we've received news that the crown wants to hold proper ceremonies for the priest's arrival in the capital.

“Kadimae, stay still.” Ethel is trying to fit me into one of Tyrell's less fancy outfits, since after all outdressing royalty is a bad idea. “Now young master, you must remain calm and polite at the event. You aren't noble yourself and shouldn't rely on the priest's standing as if it's your own.” She is strangely knowledgeable about the subject, probably comes with serving royalty.

“The time of year for the royal academy of magic’s new year as well as the capital's other institutes is nigh, meaning many noble-born are gathered with their own children in the capital. Many will also be upperclassmen or even researchers, not just Lords and other nobles.” Ethel gets more and more aggressive with her speech as she continues, looking in the mirror at my outfit. Some kind of surcoat mostly black with dark red trimming, along with my red hair make me strangely opposing for my age.

It's something some kind of knight would wear, not an apprentice mage or a peasant. What was going on in Tyrell's head lending me this. In the end I'm unconcerned of what kind of image he's trying to evoke, I want no part in it. I don't exactly have anything else to attend in though and a chance to meet future classmates. After what has happened today some conversation would be nice.

My entire morning has been chaotic, I was taken from my bed and thrown in the bathes. Before being man-handled by Juliet because for some reason they don't trust me to wash myself. I might have been an orphan but I don't think I am that dirty. That isn't what annoyed me, after throwing me in she joins me in the bath to wash us both. This leads to me sitting holding my knees to my chest while she scrubs. Even being male I can't help but be intimidated by her mature body despite constantly reminding myself she's old enough to be my mother.

My mother was supposedly far far older than that… But at the time it was beside the point. Even now walking downstairs to the rest of our party the blush is still fresh on my cheeks, with Raul and Diedrich at the front and Juliet now dressed and carrying Zan I take my spot beside Tyrell.

Staying near the back of the group we start to leave and enter the carriages, Tyrell hangs back with me and makes smalltalk. “So Kadimae, she had her way with you too?” It takes a moment for me to figure out what he meant.

Don't even make a joke about that damn you.

My sour expression must look funny because he started snickering before regaining his composure. There were two carriages to lead us to the palace, Raul and Diedrich take one with Juliet tending them while we take Ethel. The remaining servants see us off and our rather short journey begins.

“It's going to be dull you know.” Tyrell says to me, slouching in his seat. “A complicated recital from the lords of the land, each trying to curry favour. All the gifts as well, as if there's something he can't obtain.” He stresses the word gift. I think he just wants in on the presents. Although I don't voice my thoughts on that matter.

“Anyone to look out for?” I ask Tyrell sitting across from me. “My sister wanted to pet Zan, I don't know if he can handle it.” Tyrell laughs at little at the little lizards impending misfortune before continuing. “Really however? There are six major ducal families. With mine, the technical seventh holding the crown.” Tyrell becomes really serious in his expressions as he explains this.

“The Arncourt are famously reclusive, they train their own heirs and rarely visit the city. They are the only family we don't have to worry about. In case you do, don't make eye contact. Father told me their mysteries concern the mind and border on illegal.”

Illegal? What kind of magic is made illegal?

“What could they do that's so illegal?” After saying that the sunken eyes Tyrell had on our first meeting appear. “Messing with the soul. About thirty years ago there was a war, things were looking bad but out of nowhere an army of corpses appeared. They came and went. My teachers, they called them hollows.”

“We know the Arncourt made them but in light of that… we ignore their experiments.”

A shiver creeps up my spine at the implications. Things like pain and emotion, to research those kinds of mysteries probably entails torture.

Don't think about it. Don't think about it. Don't think about it.

“Anyway, the most prominent family are the Edelban family. A large interconnected clan of multiple lineages spread from an ancestor long ago. They have enough members that the low ranked are little more than peasants but the main family probably have it better than me.”

Talk about entrenched… they probably have half the noble families indebted to them somehow.

“They enjoy the status quo but they're free spirits. They use nobility to further their own desires rather than for power itself. I'm friends with Karina Edelban, and they only safe family to associate with.”

The second family seem far better than the first, should try to meet a couple.

“Incidentally Karina is attending and also hates me.”

“What did you do?” I ask puzzled, they seem like good people from his description.

“Arranged marriage.” Tyrell says a word I should really expect but am still surprised by. He gulps at the end of the word, as if it's some taboo. “It's strange but her family suggested it. They want to show real solidarity with the crown, her family haven't done arranged marriages for generations. I'm the right age… so my brothers say I have to dive on this one. Whatever they mean.” He continues saying that by 'the right age' Karina is fourteen and he is twelve. Far close than his mid twenties brothers, while nobles tend to marry older men to younger women that's one area Edelban aren't going to conform.

Still, the depth of Tyrell's knowledge amazes me. I guess it's his world but to know so much.

“After them are Helkan, military background nearly all of them. Aritana their domain draws the largest retinues of all the seven dukedoms, the Duke of Aritana is formidable himself. While every noble family has some ties with Edelban it's pretty weak. The Helkan and Varden families are known for their extensive intermarriage.”

“The Varden family controls the most territory of any duke, the most arable land too. Since they are the breadbasket of the kingdom even I have to be respectful. Dalin city is just a mound of dirt the Varden rule…” Tyrell becomes tense as he continues talking about the family. “... anyway, holding the army and the food supply of a good portion of the kingdom is making them both very bold. Not in a good way.”

“The fifth family are Northfayre, they cover the sea and keep an eye out for raiders. Ascended recently to nobility so they aren't popular with most of us. Their main resource is vast wealth, no beyond vast. They control all east to west trade on this side of the land bridge while having a monopoly on the northern gold mines. Just stay in good standing with them.”

The carriage comes to an abrupt stop and the door swings open. “Your highness and young master, please make your way out.” Ethel who had been sitting almost unnoticed in the carriage has us leave so that the carriage can move on. Juliet comes to me and passes Zan into my arms before pointing to Raul's back.

As I take my place behind the priest I realize I left the carriage into a very crowded street, both sides full of an assortment of characters. From pauper to trader to noble, all together on both sides. Shouts of 'long live his holiness‘ and  'long live the king as well as an indiscernible murmur of the crowd. A long road leads straight to the citadel, the royal palace.

Standing centre forward is the crown prince, we weren't introduced but the family resemblance is remarkable. Taller broader and without even hearing him speak I can feel he's far more charismatic. The other brothers have no chance against him for the crown.

Three each side of him stand with their back to the crowd, with a long line of guards as well of course. The Edelban, Arncourt and Helkan dukes are easy to determine. Edelban reminds me more of the tales of adventurers or heroes, dressed not like a lord but a common mercenary yet still looking illustrious. A quirk no one had mentioned is that he has red hair like mine. I guess his family really is prolific.

Arncourt wears a sullen expression and with his pale face looks similar to a walking corpse. Long black robes with dark purple trim adorn an aged frame, contrasting with whitened hair. He might just be old but he looks like the classic evil magician.

Across from those two, standing the other side is the giant man I assume to be Duke Helkan. Carrying a great sword I'm sure he can use one-handed with ease, a wide grin and jovial expression is about him. Waving to the crowds and singing the priests praises as well as any.

A contrast to the great and powerful figures, beside the giant duke she could almost be overlooked. A young girl dressed more like a rogue than a lady, covering her face with cloth and bearing no dignified manner like the others about her. She stood firm however, almost ignorant of the crowd bearing down upon everyone. I try to steal another glimpse but Raul turns to face me. “Stay behind me and do only as instructed. Say nothing.” Gone is his usual grandfather like aura, replaced by a cold precision.

The dragon priest turns forward and walks toward the palace, slowly at a leisurely pace. The crowd goes quiet, one could even hear a pin drop in the still air. Each footstep shook the crowd like the sky had fallen on them, Raul exudes an aura from him. Unnatural and uncaring, cold and vicious. Specks of mana in the air begin to gather and coalesce into a phantom serpent, if I knew no better I would call it a snake.

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An imperial dragon forms around Raul, invisible to most but none could ignore it.

The presence of the dragon god, bearing down on proceedings. Staring at the men below. It flies over the crowd, some follow it with their eyes like the prince but most remain unaware. It turns back towards Raul and swoops down extending it's hand as a phantasmal claw brushes against my cheek.

Seteri.

When I asked Maru which he meant, he answered. 'Does it matter?’ in this tense climate it occurs to me. Might I have asked the wrong question? My line of thought is interrupted by the phantasmal dragon becoming mist as we almost reach the citadel. The crown prince begins his speech.

“Your holiness, lord dragon priest I Julius of Elden crown prince of Eldwyre officially welcomes you.” The crown prince falls to one knee and bows to Raul, to which the dukes follow his lead. To the flanks the common men follow, many even placing their foreheads on the ground in prostration.

“You may rise good Julius, honest and faithful. To what do you offer me?” Raul says his lines with an uncharacteristic arrogance, as if his normal mind has been displaced. Is this a priest? Or a dragon?

“I offer you shelter from the storm, a seat at my table and whatever else your gracious self could require. I hope only for good fortune and favour for my people and that you forgive the absence of lord father at your reception.” Julius rises as Raul asks but only him, which I assume is part of this ritual.

“Your offer sincere, your wishes heartfelt. The heavens reflect well on your offering, may the reign of your lord father be long and your kingdom prosperous.” Raul turns and raises his arms high and wide. “Arise in my presence good people. May your lives be long and bountiful.” As a whole, the crowd stands and as if a trance has been broken they are abuzz again.

“Come lord priest, I promise you we have spared no expense.” Julius extends his hand to the priest who accepts. “I look forward to it. That was your first time?” Julius answers, “Why yes it was…”

A hand touches my shoulder, I turn to see my new… friend? Nobles complicate this stuff. Tyrell grabs me and brings me aside, “The girl with the six dukes is duchess Estella of Talguard. The last of her name. According to father half the nobles in this hall either want to take her or kill her, the other half being women would gain nothing from it.” Tyrell looks me dead in the eye, he is trying to word it nicely but she's in dire straits.

“She's someone you should avoid entirely. She's my cousin but helping her is beyond me.” His tone changes entirely and I wonder, the sunken expression and things. Was it all because of her? “My mother was Dianne Talguard, their family was always small but… they were just found dead one day. Killed in their carriage. Estella has lived in the capital ever since, the ghost of the palace.” He discreetly points at her seat on the front table, with the crown prince and Raul in the centre. The dukes to their sides.

“We aren't welcome at the feast until we are adults, even miss Talguard will excuse herself. Let me lead you somewhere.” I accept the offer, if only because this is going to be hours of nobles kissing Raul's ass. I've seen it enough the last couple days.

The halls of the citadel are varying in both length and width on every corridor, we walk down a third unmarked corridor and I already feel lost. “Are you trying to confuse me?” He laughs for what feels like the first time in forever. “No, this place is made to thwart intruders. No one knows all the passages.”  We come up to an an unassuming door with a strangely polished handle.

“It seems the prince has arrived.” Says a young voice as Tyrell pushes the door open. We enter into a large expansive room, with the glass window on the side. Light shines in only a little but still illuminates the room. Over a dozen people sit around the room, the majority around the same table eating lunch. I can only assume that they are the other noble children.

“How was the ceremony? They didn't let us attend.” Asks a different person, stout and tall. Wait is he a Helkan? Despite the pig like face he didn't seem all that bad at all… might just be the older generation?

“Boring. We saw Seteri's ghost though, a big dragon.” The last sentence pulls the attention of the entire room, “He only swooped around a little before touching the little dragon.” He says then pointing at Zan. It probably looked that way to anyone else.

At the scene I stand dumbstruck, “Wait aren't all your families meant to be fighting about something?” Some just shrug and there is a little bit of murmuring. Even the Arncourt boy who I didn't notice before turned his attention. Breaking the awkward silence the Helkan boy spoke up. “Now I might not like working with a pansy prince or a soul eating Arncourt but I'm not about to get bullied by commoners.”

There is sounds of agreement coming from those gathered, “Yeah I agree. Red hair, you might not realize but how many people live in this city? Or in this kingdom?” A girl stood up from the table, sixteen I'd reckon making her among the oldest here. “The academy works on merit, with thousands of commoners to every highborn! How can there not be some genius who'll try to bully and extort us.” More murmurs of agreement build.

I feel like I've completely missed the point of Tyrell's talk. We aren't fighting with the other nobles but working with them, something that feels far more dangerous. In the end the people in this room will grow to oppose each other, a cruel yet necessary system. A comrade that will eventually stab your back. Survival of the fittest?

“Everyone this is Kadimae, he's holding Zan. The dragon priest candidate.” The eyes of half the people in this room grow wide, the others already knowing this fact. I'm sure that they can all see the thick veil of death mana surrounding me but are more interested by the little dragon.

“Welcome to the most exclusive magical society in the kingdom.” Says the Helkan in his loud voice, “I am Rantor Helkan, fourth son so I'm no one special.” He looks towards the girl beside him to continue the introductions. “Fifth year, started age eleven.

Beside him is a rather nasty looking women, beautiful but like a poisonous flower looking for a victim. She mutters, “Karina Edelban.” Oh god. I feel that poor Tyrell has no chance at all beside such an oppressive figure. “Fifth year, I started age ten.” Wearing a black dress only makes her more threatening rather than less, she carries a deep scowl directed at Tyrell.

“Hector Edelban, Karina’s twin. Fifth year as well.” Compared to Aritana Hector is far less scary, messy brown hair and a look of drowsiness around him. He doesn't say much else but passes it on to the next.

With nearly two dozen people here I don't really listen to all the introductions, little things like how Ellen Varden really likes cats or that Ikhan Helkan has a really bad lisp are the only things I retain. Until an unexpected joiner begins.

“I am Talon Arncourt, this is Cecilia.” Both of them sitting in the corner, stood up so that they were not otherwise drowned out by the talking. “I start this year, age eleven. Cecilia is younger but she stays with our aunt, who is a professor.” Talon is pale like the old duke and stands timidly before everyone else before returning to his spot. Cecilia doesn't say anything instead hiding behind her brother.

The younger Arncourts seem to be more bookish rather than ominous compared to their duke. It might just be him who gives off that image and the rest of the family is rather tame. I doubt it though.

The absence of any Northfayre members is explained to be their own temperament, loving the sea and their blades more very few elect to become magicians. None in this generation at least.

We are almost finished with the introductions when the door forces itself open and the rogue girl walks in. “Lady Talguard.” Rantor bows mockingly towards the veiled girl. Evoking a “Shut it pig.” From the visibly distressed girl. No one bothers her as she sits down on a sofa to rest.

“You already know Estella.” Tyrell says, I join the table and what little festivities we have start. From all the talking it seems only the members of the seven highest families join this group. That and it's been going for years, enough that their grandparents were members.

The royal academy treats all as equal on its grounds, while killing someone will obviously be punished little else will. Most of the students have lived under the rule of the nobility their entire lives, wishing for any chance for their own little rebellion. In the end the highest born take the brunt of it.

“Hey little lizard.” Zan who had been lazing on the table is picked up by Karina. Who then proceeds to prod and poke him for fun, laughing at his strange reflexes and sounds. Content to leave him to his fate I drown out his cries and return to my drink.

“Kadimae?” Talon had without a whisper stood right beside me, giving me a shock. “Yes?” I answer a little rougher than I had intended, almost sounding angry. “Oh I'm sorry but, the mana. Could I ask what your attributes are?” Talon himself gave out an exotic nature type mana, “Mine are Divine nature, earthly fire, earthly water.”

“Double divine death, divine lightning and spatial.” I answer, although trying to be quiet. My answer makes Talon smile however, “Ah, if you find yourself in need my family pays well for death attribute magicians.” He stutters these words which I'm sure he intended to be a kind offer… but really didn't sound like one.

The festivities went through the day and I left with a few more acquaintances as well as many more questions. In two days the time of the entrance exam comes.