"Has the family settled in well?" Elspeth asked Maria. The two Antistitae were having dinner together. Though one was noticeably in chains.

Maria glanced at her with a sneer. "I could be asking you the same, Exile."

Rolling her eyes, Elspeth downed an entire wine flask. "I fucking hate it."

"Hate it? You've always hated it," Maria snarled. "And you are weak for that reason."

Elspeth cracked her neck. "The record stands in my favor — I rather not embarrass you with the specifics in front of your servants."

"Hmph, I will never understand why the people love such a drunkard like you."

"Because we're all fucking drunk," she said wryly. "Shouldn't we worry more about the Church? It can't be that we're all suddenly on good terms with them."

Tensing up, Maria poured herself a cup of tea. "It's been several years since you've left. We must not struggle for power when the High Lord is in such a condition."

"Isn't that the best time for the Triumvirate to fight?" Elspeth frowned.

"Fine, I'll tell you. If only because I rather not have you do anything unnecessary. In recent years, there has been a series of murders. The prime suspects are from the royal family and of the upper elites."

"And we have reached a truce, a true peace, with the Church because of that?"

"We can drastically weaken the royal family if we do."

"Or the Church is using us to ruin not just the royal family but the Convent as well. But tell me more about the murders."

"Well, the victims do not exclude members of prominent positions."

"Fucking hell, how nice," Elspeth laughed bitterly. She sighed. "And people wonder why I'm an alcoholic."

"You've been drinking since you were a child."

"Exactly my point."

"You know who is next, no?"

"Land is land, even if it is potentially exhaustive land. And I doubt I am allowed to help."

"No. There has not been a murder in some time. This could be a chance to uncover the base of operation."

"Well, I'm fucking done with dinner." Elspeth announced.

"And life too?" Maria asked, causing the other Antistita to glare at her. Then Maria signalled for the guards to escort Elspeth to her room. Left alone, she finished dinner silently.

A masquerade party took place the same time as the two Antistitae's conversation. However, rather than bright colors and bright lights and bright people, the decrepit mansion, long abandoned yet unclaimed for this exact purpose, featured somber black robes and white masks. The people gathered in the main halls.

"Now, we know why we are here. As customary before the Hunt, we must celebrate! For this, this grand affair, is the only time we are alive! Free of every restraint known!" A tall man calling himself the Thin White Duke proclaimed joyfully. The crowd cheered. With theatrics, the Thin White Duke signalled for a line of slaves to be brought down from the winding stairs. Neither terrified nor sullen, the slaves simply accepted their fate with already dead eyes.

Observing from above, were two figures shrouded in shadows.

"Why do we kill for these people? These sick bastards, bored of life and scared of death." One asked.

"To relieve the suffering of our brethren. If these monsters want to slaughter their own, so be it."

"And of the innocents who live with the target?"

"We are already too soaked in blood to ask that question. Though that is unavoidable to achieve our great cause. Let us pray to the gods that those innocent will not wander into our sin. That is all we can do."

"It's just — lately, I feel like we are no closer to the revolution we wish for. The dead screams for me, you know."

"Brandish that weight into your craft. We have come too far to stop; we cannot stop."

"...when do we start?"

"No, you can go back to the others, Felicia. I will handle this assignment on my own in the following days. You deserve to rest."

Without waiting for Felicia's response, the other shadow slinked away and out the door. Felicia turned her attention back to the "celebration". How can the elites be so primitive? Having seen the "celebration" numerous times, even the sight of the guts pouring from the dead body of a child no longer scared her. Though she did close her eyes and began to hum quietly. The crowd above overheard but the song eluded them, so they no longer cared.

"Boo, take good care of Mari?" Anise said at the doorsteps.

Bolverk chuckled lifelessly, "As long as that shitstain prodigal sin never come back, everything will be fine."

Anise smiled, "You swear?"

Bolverk scowled, "That fat bastard's the only one who deserves it. You will come visit?"

"Yes, on the weekends."

"Aye, go raise hell, Lady Anise," Bolverk smiled and exaggerated the pomp regarding her title.

"Stop being so sarcastic," Anise replied with a fake pout. Then, she frowned. "Please make sure Mari is safe."

"The House of Yam will forever serve the Tan'ae," Bolverk promised her. "I'll even take Lady Tan'ae out with me when job hunting — who knows, maybe she will get offered to be a mascot or poster girl.

With that, the young lady stepped away and walked toward the center of the city. Arriving at the Academy, she was ushered in quickly by a Djinn consisting of only glass shards. The Djinn led her past the citadels to the corners of the campus where a quarter of the dorms, more of barracks, were located, some ten minutes from the gates. Anise followed the Djinn's instructions and found herself in front of a dorm building labeled Ultimus [Latin meaning lowest, but also most beyond, farthest, extremest].

"Why the hell are you practicing how to breathe," Usha asked, annoyed. "You're not a fish. Nor are you dead."

"I'm just calming my nerves."

"Don't worry, I won't kill anyone. Well, rather, I will make sure you don't kill anyone."

"Very funny," Anise remarked sarcastically. She entered the room. There were five other people in the room.

One was a portly lethargic fellow sleeping on his bed. Another was a little girl possessing of white hair tied up in a long braid. Staring out the window, the girl casted a single glance at Anise, then returned to window watching. A third was a beautiful golden-haired angel. Smiling, this blue-eyed angel was cutting herself with a knife; she conjured an orb of light over her wounds and healed them. The strange lady greeted Anise and returned to her "hobby". The two remaining members were playing a game of chess. One was a black man in his mid-20s with his left arm amputated. The other was a man the same age as Anise having the same dark inky eyes as Aunt Elspeth.

As no one really greeted her, though they acknowledged her existence, she made her way to an empty bed and settled the little personal items she owned. Since it was her first day, the administration decided she will not have to attend the first class in favor of her dorm-mates showing her the buildings. Dawdling, the young lady waited for someone to say something.

"Check," the inky-eyed young man announced with a definitive plop of his rook.

The one-armed man chuckled. "But is it checkmate, my lad? Oh. Hmm, perhaps it is. Oh well, I will see this to the end."

He moved his white queen to take the black rook. The inky-eyed man moved his pawn to take that queen.

Smirking, the young man announced, "Garth, I believe that's checkmate."

"I can see that without you telling me, Horatio. One of these days, I'll take one off you."

The young man got up and stretched. "Old man, I hope one of these days you will. It would be embarrassing for you to die without ever winning against someone you taught the game!"

"Aye, aye, only time will tell. More importantly, it seems she's the new girl."

"I'm sixteen," Anise interrupted.

"And I'm older, so you are still a child in my eyes — and inexperienced as well." Garth smiled kindly.

"What's your name?" Horatio asked as he collected the pieces into a bag and collapsed the board.

"Anise Tan'ae."

"Never heard of your house. Logically, that can only mean you're from either Ardin or from the slums." Horatio inferred.

"Both, actually," Anise answered dryly. "And Ardin is actually a very fine place."

"A fine place, only with fae wanting to kill any humans near them and also demons patrolling the entire province. And I do believe a perpetual cloud of ash to be fitting with the meaning of 'fine'." 

Horatio chuckled and then smiled at Anise.

"Horatio, how about we just continue onto the introductions." Garth interrupted and quelled the verbal scuffle with his lone hand. "And Miss Tan'ae, please don't mind Horatio. He is a rather belligerent person by nature — though he is absolutely terrified of spiders."

Horatio turned an amusing shade of pink and rolled his eyes. Smacking his lips, he clapped his hands. "Attention!"

Rather than snapping right into action, the other three members moved at their own pace. The blond angel healed her wounds and skipped over to shake Anise's hand.

"Tanya Riel, residential healer and poster girl."

"A true healer? Blessed by Denana herself?" Anise exclaimed.

"Yes. I was exercising my gift. Do not let my odd habits bother you," Tanya replied with a blush. "I rather not let my special gift define me."

"Still, I thought those blessed by Denana are exempt from mandatory attendance at the Academy?"

"First rule of Ultimus, do not pry into the history of others. And if you have not caught on yet, everyone placed in this dorm — in this squad — has a past. Also, we are rather unstable and 'bad students'. Though I think we are just interesting people living life to the fullest," Horatio chimed in with a slight grin.

Tanya nodded and returned to her bed. Singing softly to herself, the blessed angel returned to her little exercise.

"She's a powerful healer," Usha told Anise. "That's dangerous if she undergoes the Darkening."

"How powerful would she be then?"

Laughing to herself, Usha responded, "There will not be a drop of blood left in this room."

"Scary."

Then the little girl left her bed by the window and plodded her way to Horatio. Climbing onto the man's back, she whispered into his ear.

"This is Sofie. She has no last name. Apparently, she is a genius entrusted to this run-down dorm. Though she is a witch, she is unfettered to the Convent nor the Church. If you have any fun gadgets, bring it to this little girl."

"Though I suggest you do not. That girl is a diabolical trickster. I gave her my bow for tuning once...I ended up with cuts in my face, long story short." Garth said with that angry smile.

Sofie scuttled back to her bed. This time she wrapped her blanket around her small frame, as if to shield herself from the piercing stare of Garth.

"What do you think of her?" Anise asked. "I think she's adorable."

"Hmph, girl, that witch is trouble. Honestly, I am thinking the boy's words to be true: so far everyone is as unstable as you," Usha muttered. "Witches are inherently a rare and eventful group — an accidental development in all honesty."

"I thought you divines don't make mistakes."

"We don't. Accidents are not our fault; mistakes imply we can fix it because it is of our own fault." Usha scowled.

"Is Belford ever going to wake?" Garth asked as he fiddled with his empty sleeve. Contorting his bearded face in exasperation, he sighed. "Well, name's Garth Fel. Call me Old Man Garth if you want. Even One-armed Fel suits me. I'm the scout on this team. But I am definitely not the conventional archer or ranger, so I apologize in advance. However, I am skilled in traps and this style of long ranged archery."

Garth nudged Horatio. The inky-eyed boy cracked his shoulders. "I'm Horatio Twist. You see my eyes; it's obvious what my role is in this squad. I'm the self-proclaimed leader."

"Emphasis on self-proclaimed," Garth said with a wink.

"Anyhow, since Belford is not waking, you go wake him. That oaf will show you the various important parts of the buildings as he introduce himself. We will meet at the second lesson before noon — in case Belford forgets, today's a special lecture: A Study on Diplomatic Treaties Concerning the Royal Family. And in case that oaf tries to run, drag him to the fifth floor of the Royal Citadel."

Anise woke Belford from his dreams. The portly fellow seeing a new face smiled.

"My, what a pretty angel," he slurred his words. Anise dodged his charging embrace with a sidestep.

"My name's Anise Tan'ae. I'm the new girl. You're supposed to show me around the Academy."

"Oh. Alright," he smiled at Anise. The young lady noticed how one of his front teeth was cracked. 

The oaf extended his hand to her. He waited until Anise accepted it. Hand in hand, Belford led Anise first around their own dorm building: the bath, the kitchen, so on.

"What do you think of Garth and Horatio?" Anise asked Usha.

"Hmm, the boy's a bit difficult to judge. Rather than that Aunt Elspeth of yours, I cannot accurately judge his comprehension of the Script. Though, judging by the inky fathoms of his eyes, he certainly has a large reserve of power," Usha answered. "And of that man named Garth, I do not sense any magical potential in him. Yet, judging by the scars on his right hand, he has been in more fights than anyone else in that room. Whether he is truly an archer, who knows but time. Though I am surprised you take interest in my analysis? Finally accepting of becoming my vessel, girl?"

"As if," Anise rolled her eyes. "Being placed with this dorm confirmed my expectations. I will absolutely be expelled if I am unable to keep up. I rather not make myself dead weight."

"You seem happy. No? Just a little bit, come on; girl, admit it."

"Oh fine, I guess I am a bit happy." Anise smiled.

"Uh, Anise, we're going to go to the other buildings now." Belford informed her.

"You can just call me Ane."

"Ok, Ane." Belford giggled. "Uh, my name's Belford Deen."

"What do you do?" Anise talked comfortably with Belford. He reminded Anise of Mari.

"I'm the wall!" Belford told Anise cheerfully. "I shield everyone and make sure no one gets hurt."

Leaving it at that, Belford began to hum to himself as he and Anise made the 10 minutes walk toward the center of the Academy.

"The boy's an idiot," Usha remarked.

"I like him. He reminds me of a loyal pet," Anise retorted.

"A pet is no better than being an idiot. Though the idiot will not mind."

"Anything special about him?"

"Not that I can sense. It could be a power as ancient and primal as me. Perhaps of a lineage long forgotten or made taboo."

Anise nodded to herself. She looked at Belford and squinted. Tilting her head, she can't seem to figure out anything strange about the bloke. Anise concluded he was simply a very endearing fellow.

Belford showed Anise as any excited child would. He marveled at how tall and big the citadels were, almost falling on his butt in his lofty aspirations. He shuddered and pointed at the central administration building with anxious fear. He explained the citadels simply as well.

The Royal Citadel taught "boring stuff" consisting of history, diplomacy, economics, and the stratagems. The Holy Citadel taught "more boring stuff but also magic" consisting of theology, bestiary courses, practical applications of herbs, and geography. And the Black Citadel taught "really awesome stuff" consisting of arts and music, languages, the sciences, and engineering.

Anise listened attentively to Belford as he explained the finer details of the Academy. The regulations about the campus green, what meals are served by the staff, how the citadels are connected, and class rotations.

"Ane, do we have to go to the class," Belford cried. "I really hate boring stuff."

"Bel, it's going to be fine," Anise told the portly fellow. Calming the guy down, Anise led him to their next destination.

As the two were going up the old cobblestone stairs to the fifth floor, the bell hung on the top of all three citadels rung. The clanging cacophony signalled the transition of classes and a flood of students came pouring through the spacious halls. Pushing their way against the wave, the two made their way to their lecture. Horatio and the others were already seated in the back. The professor was not present yet. A pair of bulky stragglers leaned against the doorway.

"What's your name, pretty girl?" One of them asked and leaned close.

"Who cares about her name, brother," the other one grunted. Flaring his nostrils, the brute growled, 

"Just hand over your money and we won't have an issue."

"Of course, pretty girl, if you have no money," the first brute smiled lecherously, "we can arrange something later."

"Miss Tan'ae, simply give them enough for them to buy lunch," Garth advised her.

Belford nodded with a petrified face and pulled on Anise's arm. "Ane, just give them the money. Big Brother Horatio says not to cause trouble."

"If Bel says so," Anise smiled. She glared at the two brothers as she handed over a few copper coins. Pushing the girl into the classroom, the two turned their attention toward Belford.

Taking a seat next to Horatio, Anise asked him, "Will Bel be fine?"

"Probably," the inky-eyed man answered as he arranged his chess pieces on his desk. "Care for a game?"

Before the young lady could reply, she saw the two brothers punch Belford. Standing up, Anise was the image of wrath.

"Miss Tan'ae, though it shames me to say this, you must let it be," Garth said and pulled on her. 

"The Fierro Brothers does this all the time. Belford will be fine."

"Second rule of Ultimus, do not chase after trouble." Horatio looked at Anise and blackness flowed from his eyes to change into a spear. Positioning the point on Anise's neck, Horatio signalled for her to sit down. "Unless trouble finds you first, don't get involved."

Furrowing her brows, Anise shoved the spear off her neck.

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Seeing Anise walk toward him, Belford waved his hands, "Ane, no need to come here. We're just playing; I'm not hurt."

"Brother, the pretty girl is coming toward us," the perverted brother laughed and pointed.

"Usha, make sure I don't kill them. Then I can go all out without freezing," Anise told the fallen goddess.

"Will you let my power consume you?" Usha asked with glee.

"I'm not so weak," Anise told the goddess.

"Pretty girl —", the perverted brother began before getting punched in the nose by Anise. Stumbling backwards with his nose bleeding, the pervert screamed. "Bitch! Whore! Motherfucker!"

The other brother stopped punching Belford — who was neither bleeding nor even remotely in pain — and faced Anise.

"You've got a good punch," he said with a feral grin. He raised his hands. "No need to be so aggressive. I respect a good punch." Then he frowned. "But I don't respect my little brother getting his nose broken. What's your name? No, don't tell me. I'll find out no matter what. So be prepared. You've made a big mistake today, stupid girl. If not for my brother in need of treatment -- his face is his only good point -- I would kill you right now."

Helping his crying brother up, the Fierro Brothers left the room.

"Ane, are you hurt?" Belford rushed forward with worry.

"I'm fine," Anise replied. "Are you fine?"

Belford grew fearful. "Ane, why did you punch Riera?"

Anise frowned. "Because they were hurting you."

"I wasn't hurt or anything," Belford told Anise. "Now we're going to be in big trouble!"

"Miss Tan'ae, what Belford said is right," Garth sighed. He shook his head with a wry smile. "And now you've got Horatio mad."

With a flick of his wrist, Horatio sent his spear diving at Anise. Stopping merely an ant's width before her face, the spear hovered erratically. Horatio got up from his seat and walked over toward Anise.

"Didn't I say not to interfere?"

"And didn't you say you were the 'self-proclaimed leader'? And if you are the leader, how could you let Bel get bullied like that?"

"Belford was fine. All you did was make more trouble for us." Horatio growled.

"Anise, I'm on Hori's side," spoke Tanya with a slight frown. Sofie nodded as well.

"Now, now, lads and ladies, let us calm down." Garth stepped in between the two.

He pulled the spear away from Anise's face. "How about you explain the ideology of Ultimus to Miss Tan'ae first."

Sighing, Horatio went back to his seat. The others followed. Belford played with Anise's hair as Horatio began his explanation.

"We are the lowest of the low. Dead last. And that is a good thing," Horatio nodded to himself. "We are still a member of the Academy — and since we're always at risk of getting expelled, being last is fine. And not being a prominent part of the Academy is very good. We will actually survive the five years to graduate. We aren't the ones picked to go on campaigns as fodder, nor are we the elites burdened by our 'duty and honor'."

Anise frowned. "That's stupid."

Usha laughed, "Is it because they remind you of yourself that you are so mad?"

Anise ignored the goddess. "You guys are strong. Why do you guys let trash push you around?"

Tanya laughed nervously as she doodled on her arm by carving into the flesh. "The Fierro Brothers aren't just those two. At the top of their group is Gerald Fierro. He commands the Gregarious squad. Not only does it consist of maybe 25 members, each member is very strong. You've angered someone that you really shouldn't have. I can only heal people who are alive."

"Do you understand now?" Horatio sighed and twirled his king around.

"I know that each of you are probably strong enough to win alone against them," Anise asserted by moving a pawn forward on the board.

Horatio raised his eyebrow. "Are we playing chess now?" He settled his king down and moved his knight forward. "And that's a laugh. Have you truly realized who your squad members are? We have a cripple, a healer, a little girl, a naive fool, and someone who can only summon a single spear! Ridiculous."

Anise studied the board and frowned. She moved her rook using the opening left by her pawn. "You guys remind me of myself. In all honesty, you guys are strong right? So strong that you're afraid of what you can do. Or so unstable, that you're afraid of killing them?"

Sofie grew angry and kicked at Anise's chair. She then whispered into Horatio's ear. Garth and 

Tanya spoke on how tardy the professor was.

"Sofie says that a newcomer shouldn't make so many judgements. And I agree," Horatio interpreted and moved a pawn. "Rather hilarious you think we are strong. That we even think we have the power to kill."

"Have you guys been in real fights?" Anise asked. She moved her rook again.

"We consistently rank last. And again, rule number one of Ultimus, do not chase after other members' history." He moved his bishop next.

"I was once employed with the Crimson Corps. Been on some campaigns to the savage lands," Garth answered, looking at the stump on his left side.

"Then how do you know you won't actually win?" Anise half-yelled as she moved her knight.

"Because we don't want to win. We don't want glory. We just want to graduate from the Academy with fancy credentials. Personally, I just want to use my credentials to become a royal tutor of some sort." Horatio scowled and moved another pawn.

"How long have you guys been here?" Anise asked. She moved her rook one space up. Veins popped on Horatio's face as if that move was insulting to him.

"Didn't I just tell you rule number 1 of Ultimus?" Horatio moved his pawn forward one space.

"Don't ask about their history. But this is more of the present, isn't it?" Anise retorted and moved another pawn.

"I've been here three years; Horatio one year; Sofie one year; Belford two years; and Miss Riel longer than I, yet somehow still here." Garth listed with a smile. Anise nodded thanks.

"Hmph," Horatio slammed his queen forward.

"You know, my lad, even if Miss Tan'ae did wrong, she did it for Belford. And what we must do now is formulate a plan against the Gregarious dorm." Garth told Horatio.

"Let's make a bet," Anise suggested. She moved her other knight. "If I win, you will temporarily hand over the dorm leadership to me."

"Why should I hand over my team to you, someone who is completely new, if you by some miracle win?" Horatio roared as he shoved his rook forward. "And even if you lose, no punishment would actually quell the Fierro Brothers' anger!"

Anise thought for a spell, looking at the board. "Because I'm selfish." She moved her knight in front of her rook.

"Selfish! The hell you talking about! How is that even an acceptable answer at all?" Horatio screamed. In a fit of rage, he moved his bishop to take Anise's rook.

Anise quickly took the bishop with a pawn. "Because that's the only answer I can think of. 

Everything happened because I was selfish in my actions — it seems everything happens because of my selfishness. So I'm asking you to trust in my selfishness because I'm selfishly trusting in your abilities." 

"Except we don't want to earn glory or attention! Do you know that those at the top of the food chain are severely self-conscious? They will send legions after a dark horse, afraid of an uprising!" Horatio, exasperated, moved his other knight.

Anise captured that knight with one of her own. "But the decision is already made. We have to earn glory now. I don't know what is with everyone, but I do want to know you guys — and that would not happen if we don't somehow emerge victorious in our feud against the Gregarious dorm."

"Feud? Now it's a feud!" Horatio cried to the ceiling. He plunged his queen to take the knight. "You, you are a bringer of misfortune!"

"Oh, not far off," Usha chuckled. "Misfortune and decay go hand in hand."

Anise moved her pawn forward. "If we lose the feud, the dorm will be destroyed. People may be crippled. Even though it's my first encounter, it doesn't look like they're nice people."

Horatio moved his knight. "That still doesn't explain why I should hand the group over to you!"

Anise moved her bishop. "Because if you can't win a chess match against me, how can you win a war?"

"Rather getting feisty lately, aren't you, girl?"

"It's better than being undecided. Besides, I don't have to act like a behaved lady anymore." Anise smiled deviously, same as when she exude bloodlust, as she told Usha her feelings.

"Then what if you lose?" Horatio asked as he moved his rook.

"I don't want to die yet, so I'm not going to offer my head in exchange." Anise joked with a smile as she moved her knight to capture a pawn. "Does Gerald frequent the brothels regularly?"

"Do you even need to ask?" Horatio twitched his nose as he moved his rook forward, yet not taking the white bishop.

"Then offer me up as an apology," Anise shrugged. "Tell him, that I'm the wife of the heir to Ardin."

Horatio studied his opponent's face. "You don't think you can lose, do you."

"Of course not. My father taught me this game when I was young, and aristocrats seem to have a fetish for playing this on every major occasion." Anise pouted cutely. She moved her pawn up.

Forced to choose between delaying a turn or losing a knight, Horatio moved a pawn to rescue his last knight.

"Do you think you can win the war then?" Horatio asked.

Anise smiled and moved her bishop to capture Horatio's pawn. Now Horatio was in the dilemma of saving the knight or the queen. Smirking at Horatio, Anise responded, "A dispute between two dorms/teams is settled with three contests. A mock battle, a mock extermination, and a battle of wits, right?"

Horatio chose to move his queen out of the bishop's range. His face grimaced as Anise took his knight, but smiled when he took that bishop with his queen in return.

"We have Belford on our team for that battle of wits, you know."

Anise knocked Horatio on the head. The inky-eyed man blinked in surprise. Making the funniest confused face, he simply stared at Anise.

"Bel is a smart guy!" Anise insisted. She turned to face Bel only to find that he was not behind her anymore. No one else was in the room. Left on the desk next to them, a note read, "Even the professor grew tired of giving this lecture. Besides no one actually attended the first period for his class. He is not coming. Free period."

Giggling, Anise took Horatio's rook at long last. The man gasped at his lack of foresight.

"Did you guys need the credit?" Anise asked.

"What do you think, princess?" Horatio taunted. He moved his queen and called "Check".

"I'm technically a baroness, not princess." Anise responded. She moved her king out of harm's way.

Horatio took Anise's last rook instead. Anise captured Horatio's pawn.

"Hmph, all you do are tricky plays," Horatio complained. Even though he could place Anise in check once more by capturing her bishop with his queen, the immediate turn after would result in his own queen being killed off by Anise's queen. Yet, Anise could declare check on the next turn if he does not do something to stop it — check mate infact!

"I'm winning aren't I?" Anise smiled.

"I didn't think a baroness would be so tricky." Horatio capture the bishop. "It seems you would win in two turns."

"Not necessarily," Anise replied. "And I grew up in Bolsur's slums to begin with, you know. Besides, how are aristocrats suppose to survive if not by trickery?"

"I didn't ask where you grew up." Horatio moved his king diagonally forward.

Anise moved her knight. "Check!"

All Horatio can do was move his king forward by one.

Anise moved her knight again. "Check!

Horatio moved his king forward again.

Anise moved her knight once more. "Check. Aren't you getting bored?"

"No, it's getting intense." Horatio grinned. He moved his king forward again. "If I'm going to lose, I'm going to lose in my own particular way."

"Sounds fancy for someone who aspires to slack off for four years." Anise smiled. She moved her queen. "Check."

Horatio moved back diagonal to the left. "If you do win, I may not actually give you leadership."

"That's fine. I didn't expect you to in the first place. But my father told me that beating someone at their craft was the best way to gain someone's good faith." She moved her knight. "Check."

Horatio was only able to move his king left one space. "Were you actually going to offer yourself to Gerald if you lost?"

"Nope," Anise smirked and fixed her bangs. She moved her queen. "I'm not crazy."

"Yes, you are," Usha retorted with a shrill laugh.

"I didn't think you would." Horatio laughed. "What would you do if you do lose then?"

"Force you guys to fight." Anise answered honestly. Then she felt the absurdity of her words, and of the entire conversation throughout, and blushed. She turned her reddened face away.

"Fine, you win." Horatio declared. "It's been at an impasse for far too long. I rather start a new game."

"Really?" Anise asked. Though, she immediately began to clear the board.

"Well, now I kind of think otherwise, but you aren't a bad person at the very least. Besides, if you were leading, worst comes to worst, you can become our scapegoat."

Anise shrugged. "Well, I deserve that."

Sharing a smile, the two clasped their hands in a newfound unity.

"You know, I would have checkmated you in around eight more moves."

"Oh, shut your mouth, princess," Horatio rolled his eyes.

Returning home, the sky was dark. Despite not finding a job, there was some reserve and so Bolverk bought Mari a snack for her to chew on as they walked home.

Opening the door, the smell of metal overwhelmed their sense of smell. Recognizing the familiar scent to be of blood, Mari went into a frenzy. However, the stench was so strong that Mari's consciousness could not take it and she fainted. Catching the child-madam in his arms, Bolverk stepped back quickly.

Ching! A flicker of light, a cold blade rested against his neck.

"Go inside the house."

Bolverk swallowed his breath and followed the man's instruction. He heard the door creak to a close behind him.

The baron and his wife were dead.

Two bodies strewn across the floor. Blood scattered on the walls. Their stomachs carved open so that guts would spill like sweet wine.

"Are you going to kill us too?" Bolverk asked. "If you are, can you please spare the child?"

"She's older than I am." The killer placed his blade on Bolverk's neck again.

"You know, that's a very impolite and rude thing to disclose."

"You're treating this situation very calmly."

"We all have to die some day. Besides, I don't think you will kill either of us."

"Oh, how so?"

"Indeed, the killings include both the poor and the rich. But when the elites are killed, their servants are always left alone — even the guards. And when the poor are killed, not a single soul is left alive. You keeping us alive, well, you're not going to kill us," Bolverk concluded confidently and turned around. The blade moved slightly and a thin cut was made in his neck.

"Are you so sure?" The masked man asked.

"Now I'm certain."

"You should go report this crime." The masked man retrieved his blade.

"I wish to partake in your operation."

"Not only are you thin, but you are inexperienced in fighting. And there is a certain bloodlust from you that I cannot stand."

"Base on the series of killings, your operation must be massive. Furthermore, there is no way the people involved are all trained fighters or capable of magic. Yet, they can also kill. Either there is another method to this madness, or you train one to be capable of this madness."

"I still refuse to accept you. Do not make me slay you. Why would someone like you want to partake in this madness anyway?"

"There is someone I need to protect. In that way, you and I are agreeable, no? And, judging by how you know Mari is actually older than you, you must also know of my research."

The masked man's eyes looked at him one last time. Then he disappeared, but he spoke these last words:

"Light scattered across broken shards

Glass-like;

Yet in it drown the darkness and

Sun Devour.

Hung over what remains,

Pale Shadow;

Wistful clouds adrift."

After thinking for a moment, Bolverk smiled. "Meet at the harbors when the night is about to die, right? To kill the baron's son?"

Despite hearing no answer, he nodded to himself.

Looking at the two bodies, Bolverk resisted an urge and left to report the incident. 

Author's Note: I usually put something here. But I can't think of anything, except maybe suggestions on how the baron's son should die? Very open to suggestions; was thinking of death involving his anus and intestines. But that's too plain. As always, thanks for reading.