"My lady, it is time for your final match. Do you intend to withdraw?" The official asked.

"No." Euryale said affecting a pained voice.

"I will fight if it's the last thing I do."

Sorin with his mask back on moved to her side and allowed her to take his arm in the respectable escort position.

They walked to the arena she would find in. She saw some smug looking man in white with black accents. Some nobles son she didn't know from one of the many other classes.

She walked with Sorin to the center when called for by the official who looked worried at Euryale, but didn't say anything to risk offending the duke's daughter.

"You have heard the instructions. This is both of your final match. Seconds, ensure protection from lethal blows. Please return to your starting points." The official said. Euryale and Sorin made their way back where Sorin gave over her khopesh blades and walked to his circle on the outside. She slowly turned and looked at her smug opponent on the far other side bouncing from from to foot.

"Begin!" Euryale dropped the act charging multiple fire blasts and sent them to the show-boating air head whose eyes went wide.

"What the he-"

*Boom! Boom! Boom!

The explosions went off as a barrier snapped up in front of the ducking noble.

"The match is over! Use of second protection!

Euryale turned and casually walked away to her assigned waiting area to wait for word of the next phase of the exam.

- meanwhile -

"Impossible!!" Aeon screamed at the top of his lungs and flicked his hand sending a steal line out decapitating the healer before him in rage. The man's body slumped to the floor.

There is no possible way that woman should have been able to pass this exam. Her leg channels were nearly destroyed and she was nearly tapped out of aether from her last match it didn't make sense. He had to take action of he was dead.

Aeok steeled himself. He would have to take matters into his own hand and deal with the bitch himself. He wanted to court her through her own foolish bet with him, but she couldn't he allowed to live or he would die at the hands of his father.

He watched the bitch walk to her waiting area with her remaining conscript. He didn't fear her little tier 2 or low tier 3. He was peak tier 3 and would crush them.

He got to his feet and strapped on his rapier and began to move down to where he knew she would be.

- Sorin -

Sorin, Reeger, and Euryale sat in their waiting room as the final matches came to a close with Price Amaru crushing his last opponent in a casual manner that was to be expected by royalty of the Serpent Empire forged by war.

Sorin opened the waiting notification.

Congratulations

You have learned the skill

Spirit Artificer(a) - You have an understanding of aether and can mend, adjust, and build channels and cores of other beings recognized by the system who have cores.

Sorin knew this was good and had a LOT of potential for experimentation and growth not just in himself, but others.

The door opened. "Lady Aegis, the award ceremony will begin soon. Your presence is requested beforehand for practice for the ceremony."

Euryale nodded getting up. The official left the room as Reeger and Sorin got to their feet.

Reeger left the room first blocking the way forward and tunnel where the lady could he ambushed. He then moved ahead of her as Sorin took the back and they escorted Euryale to the gathering point.

She had reached the gathering when a shout came over everyone causing them to turn.

Aeon came rushing in. Sorin saw something in his hand and a craziness about him that felt off. He moved in front of the nobody who was reaching out.

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Sorin grabbed his arm, pushed it inward and shoved him away from Euryale.

"You dare lay hands on me conscript!" Aeon said drawing his rapier and charging his aether. Sorin had his senses expanded and saw the silver aether gathering.

Without thinking Soring ringed his hand with flames and slammed it into Aeons core and ripped used Aether Reaver. The shock and agony was written all over Aeon's face as his aether was forcefully ripped from his body.

Sorin absorbed the metal aether.

*bleep*

Aeon fell backwards and dropped to his knees.

"What....What have you done, he said blood pouring from his mouth and stomach. He pulled his rapier, and lunged toward Sorin who pulled his weapon.

"No!!" Came the cry from Euryale, but it was too late.

A single swing of the blade bisected Aeon. He fell to the ground his top half falling away from his bottom with blood pooling over the ground.

"Seize him!" Came the command. Before Sorin could even think to react he was on his face disarmed and a collar slammed around his throat.

"Bring him to me." The same voice commanded.

Sorin was lifted up and dragged over to a man between 18-24 years old who had an obvious authority.

"This is an official proceeding!" He shouted.

Sorin was confused as everyone in the stadium bowed. Even Euryale bowed. A strike to the back of his knees placed Sorin in his knees before the man and his mask ripped off and crushed.

"I take it, you do not know who I am." The man said reaching out. A file was placed into his hand with a bow from an elderly man. "Thank you headmaster." The man said.

"Of course your majesty." Came the response.

"I am Prince Amaru, if you didn't know conscript...Sorin." The prince read through his file then tossed it away.

"You have violated imperial law twice over conscript and by that I can take your head without even a royal decree." He said.

He looked around.

"Does anyone speak on behalf of the condemned?" The prince asked as Sorin's blood went cold. He was collared and outmatched by the ones who put this on him before he could even react.

At first Sorin heard nothing and then a voice spoke up.

"Your majesty, I would speak on behalf of the condemned." Euryale said.

The prince looked at the young woman.

"Rise and come speak with me." He said.

Euryale did as commanded. She removed her weapons from her hips and dropped them to the ground. She marched over to sorin kneeling on the ground. Took his sword and slammed it into its sheath and tossed it away from him.

She approached the prince.

"You have corrected one breach in imperial law of no naked weapons outside of sanctioned duels in the presence of royalty, but the act was committed. On top of that, this conscript killed a member of a noble house when apprehension was more than an option with a sundered core. His death is called for twice over Lady Aegis." The prince intoned.

"You are correct your majesty as always. I would seek mercy on his behalf for services rendered to my house. He has saved my path and many of my people through loyalty and perseverance. In spite of not being from our universe this conscript has embodied many of our heroic traits including the two afore mentioned."

The prince tapped his chin thinking.

"This man killed a man from a house that your house has went to war with countless times over thousands of years and you wish for me to spare him. Seems rather...convenient."

"It has been an ongoing issue with the latest event happening just today with the attempts on my life and my path." Euryale said.

"Those are some serious accusations that would shame house Pallas greatly. Evidence? The prince said with a wave of his hand.

"Witnesses, a ferryman coin, and a perpetrator your majesty." She replied.

The prince snapped his fingers and servants brought a chair out where he sat.

"Bring out the first witness then." He commanded.

"Of course your majesty. The first witness is in fact yourself."

The princes eyebrows went up. "How so?"

"On the night of the social in which you attended, Aeon used a duel as a cover to target my conscript beyond what was agreed upon embarrassing all present. The damage done, if not for a healer would have increased my chances of failure." She said.

"Ah yes! I do remember that. I didn't know it was you two. Very well. Accepted as evidence. Continue."

" The second piece of evidence is this." She bowed and opened her hand presenting the ferryman coin.

"The same night that my conscript was severely injured assassins attacked. The conscript condemned before you fought them all and captured one which when interrogated admitted their hiring by Aeon Pallas."

The prince took the coin. "You speak honestly. My royal blood knows when there is a lie coming from the lips of another. Accepted as evidence. Continue. He commanded yet again.

"Next I offer my servant and weapons master Reeger Forlorn. Today he struck down multiple assassins who were targeting me." She said as Reeger stepped forward and bowed.

"Rise and answer. Is what she said the truth and complete truth to the best of your knowledge?" The prince asked.

"Yes your majesty. " The prince nodded.

"Accepted as evidence. continue." The prince commanded.

"The final piece of evidence I offer before your majesty is the healer that attempted to destroy my channels if not murder me." She said and the healer is question was slammed down before the prince with a collar.

"Who ordered you to harm Lady Aegis." The prince asked of the former healer.

"No...nobody your majesty." He stumbled out.

"You would dare lie to your prince?" Came the coldest deadliest reply Sorin had ever heard with his own ears.

"Please forgive me your majesty, it was Aeon Pallas who paid me a massive amount of cores to do it." He said spilling his guts.

The prince waved his hand and the head of the healer hit the floor. A man appeared next to the healer flicking the blood from his sword then re sheathing the sword and vanishing again.

"I have heard enough and will render sentence upon Sorin Ekart." The prince said.

Sorin was lifted to his feet and forced to look upon the prince.

"Recieve my judgement. You will be confined to the mines for a period of 10 years. Once you have completed your term in the mines, you will live out the rest of your days in service to Lady Aegis who now is the sole owner of your contract that from this day forth shall never expire. She may not have this contract taken from her or dissolved. She has saved your life and now you will dedicate it to her and her wishes."

Sorin slumped to the ground.

"Lady Aegis, I have heard your voice and have spared him. See that my judgment is carried out." The prince said rising to his feet.

"I declare this proceeding concluded. Carry on!" The prince said moving on to the front of the line of those awaiting their rewards for graduation.