Erik dusted his leather books off with a firm hand before placing it back on the shelf. He lit the candle of his dorm room slowly before taking a seat. He stilled his jittery hands as he became more mindful of knocking any more books down. He grabbed the quill nearby before penning a letter to Khal. It had already been close to a year since he came to the capital. Although he was a student of the academy, he was still restricted from entering the inner section of the capital. The King's guards were diligent in their duties, paid enough to scoff at any bribe.

Erik had continued to send Khal letters after letters without receiving a response. It was unusual, Khal was unlikely to miss the first year of school without saying a word. He knew Khal had to be alive at least. His grandfather would oppose even the King for his sake. At least that's what his grandfather led him to believe. Erik had paid close attention to any news from the North, but nothing was forthcoming. Erik finished the letter before sealing it neatly like he had so many times before. Tomorrow he would deliver it, provided he got a lead on his parents soon.

Erik then exited his dorm before making his way toward the courtyard. Although his room was dark, it was still bright out and the combat classes were about to begin. Erik loved the combat classes. Although he had only learned the basics of cladding, he had managed to reach the initiate level. He knew Khal was already at 3rd class but he was too abnormal. Majority of the first-year nobles were unable to even clad, to begin with.

Erik made his way towards the field in front of Wyatt. He was one of the older nobles that hailed from the capital. He was medium built with a few stubbles on his chin. Although the age for acceptance to Skystead Academy was 12 years old, Count Slugmore had forbidden Wyatt from entering until his 16th birthday. Erik thought it was unfortunate that Wyatt's head was already balding, but it served him right for his challenge today.

The instructor placed his hands behind his back before nodding towards Erik. "You both know the rules, taking it too far warrants a suspension. Now, begin!"

Erik entered a fighting pose, much like he had done with Khal so many times before. Just as he had readied himself, Wyatt charged at him head on. Twisting his body quickly, Erik dodged a blow aimed at his temple before sending his own fist towards Wyatt's stomach. He felt his fist connect as Wyatt had the wind knocked out of him. Erik glanced at angry stares from the crowd, he knew if he were to win his troubles would never end.

He waited for Wyatt to catch his breath before continuing. Erik swung his right fist, slow enough for Wyatt to see it coming but the man barely managed to evade. Sighing, Erik stood still until Wyatt's punch came at him, a little off center. Erik tilted his body, allowing it to crash directly into his jaw, sending him reeling backward. Erik spat blood on the floor, giving Wyatt enough time to follow up with a knee to his face. Erik lost his balance, falling flat on the floor before Wyatt jumped on him, pounding relentlessly on his face.

"Ok that's enough!" barked the instructor before pulling Wyatt off Erik.

"Next time stay out of my way country bumpkin!" Wyatt sneered as he stood up. The crowd laughed hysterically as they carried Wyatt towards the infirmary.

"Why didn't you fight back?" the instructor asked as he stared at Erik in annoyance.

"Sometimes losing has its merits," Erik responded as he stood up, dusting himself off. Although Wyatt lacked strength or knowledge, Erik knew better than to make an enemy out of the most influential man in his class. He knew Khal would never agree but Khal was too hot-headed. Erik knew what made Wyatt tick and it was his social standing. If he was to be humiliated here today, Erik would see no end to his troubles. There was little his grandfather could do to protect him. The nobles in the capital were seen as the elites. Barons here, although they possessed limited land, were more powerful since they occupied the court.

"Maybe you really are a country bumpkin," the instructor said as he stormed off.

Erik smiled bitterly as he turned towards his dorm. The academy had opened his eyes to so much. Maybe if he didn't know Khal then he would have felt proud of his accomplishments so far. Erik sat cross-legged on his bed after cleaning himself up. It was far easier to heal himself now that he could control world energy.

---

Erik waited until it was dark out before leaving his dorm again. This time he was wearing a black hood and his leather armor below. He hurriedly made his way out of the academy, sneaking past the guards without any trouble. He briskly ran down the brick road towards the back alleys like he had done many nights before. He covertly looked behind him a few times before reassuring himself that no one was following him.

Erik swiftly headed down a side street towards the tavern, Broken Bottles. There, he instantly found a seat at the far end with his back facing the wall. He signaled to the waitress before placing an order for meat and wine before massaging the short sword he had hidden under his hood. He tried his best to curb his nervousness without drawing too many stares. He had only heard rumors about this information broker, but he needed more information before he could ever hope to catch his parents' killers.

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The tavern door creaked loudly even as the music played. Slowly, an off-duty guard entered the tavern lazily as he strolled towards the bartender. Giving Erik no more than a brief stare, the guard sat on the stool and whispered his order. It didn't take long before a large bottle of wine was handed to the guard, allowing him to unwind after a long day.

Erik watched the guard with interest. It wasn't often a guard had enough money to afford an entire bottle of wine. Furthermore, the guard's heightened awareness as he entered was troubling. Erik shook his head and paid it no mind as he waited for the broker. He had a bad habit of noticing the oddities that never concerned him. He was just glad he at least had gotten over writing everything in his little book.

It didn't take long before a short man in his forties entered the tavern. Erik watched as the man surveyed the building before making his way towards him. "Are you him?" the man asked in a raspy voice. Erik continued to eat his meat as he stared at the man. He was unsure whether he should answer him so openly, "Depends on who's asking," Erik finally said.

"Hmm, did you bring the coins?" the man asked as he took a seat opposite Erik.

Shaking the coin purse in his shirt pocket, Erik nodded his head.

"Good, the information you need is written in this letter," the broker said as he dropped a letter next to the plate of meat. Erik removed the binding on his coin purse before dropping 10 gold coins on the counter.

"10 yellow ladies, just like you asked," Erik said purposefully as he grabbed the letter. "I trust that everything I need is here?"

"Coins paid for service rendered, correct?" the broker said before he dismissed any more questions Erik might have. "It was difficult getting this particular information, I should have raised the fee," the man scuffed before grabbing the coins on the table and shoving it in his pocket. "Don't contact me again!" he dismissed before getting up and storming outside. Erik grabbed the letter and added it to his shirt pocket before finishing his meat. It would be a waste to leave good meat after all. It was the only thing the capital was good for as far as he was concerned.

Finishing up, Erik made his way outside the tavern before hurriedly taking off towards the brick road. He knew he couldn't take the same route this time so instead, he circled back by taking a few more side streets. It wasn't until he made his way towards the alleyway that he realized that something was strange. The sounds of rats moving through the alley or the cats that usually chased after them were nowhere to be found. Erik stopped momentarily and strained his ears. It took a few seconds, but he could hear shifting sounds behind him.

Erik drew his short sword in a flash before blocking a dagger aimed at his back. Sparks flew as the attack ricocheted off his weapon before somehow landing in his attacker's hand. "Great reflexes youngster!" the man said as he walked out of the shadows and into the moonlight. "Not many rodents such as you are capable of it, that broker certainly wasn't," he sneered just as Erik saw his face. It was the off-duty guard that he saw enter the tavern.

"Who sent you?" Erik asked as he observed his opponent's movements.

"I guess it doesn't matter whether I tell you or not, since you're going to die anyway. Baron Morales don't take kindly to those sniffing around his businesses. He paid me a considerable coin to keep it that way you see," ended the guard before he threw his dagger towards Erik again. Erik blocked the attack with the flat of his sword, but the force pushed him back two steps. He could feel the vibration of his sword as he struggled to hold on to the hilt.

Erik knew that Baron Morales would know where to find him if he ran away but killing a guard was an offense he was not willing to burden. Erik's hands began to sweat as he thought of the consequences. What would Khal do? He asked himself promptly as he thought about his options. Erik lamented to himself before smiling. Who was he kidding? He knew it was too late to turn back now. He had already made up his mind when he decided to visit the capital. He tightened his hold on the sword before he dashed towards the guard. He waited until he was just a meter away from the guard before he cladded his sword and slashed diagonally.

The guard opened his eyes in shock as he evaded the attack. He forcefully withdrew a second dagger that didn't escape Erik's eyes. The guard quickly let loose a torrent of blows, forcing Erik to defend himself again. Erik maneuvered between the daggers, barely managing to anticipate their trajectory. Before he could catch his balance, he saw the daggers mysteriously turned, before coming at him again.

Erik kicked off the wall, using his cladding to jump, allowing the daggers to miss him by a hair's breadth. "Fascinating! Just who are you?" the guard barked. Erik ignored the man. Instead, he stared at the rings the man wore on his fingers. Although the guard hadn't cladded the daggers, Erik knew there had to be some way he was controlling the weapons.

He attacked again, staring at the rings on the guard's fingers. He waited until the man threw the daggers before dodging them again, paying close attention to the rings. Erik was stunned to see the threads reeling out of the ring as the guard tugged on them. Focusing, Erik dodged one of the daggers before he felt a sharp pain on his flank. Staggering forward, Erik hummed at the pain before applying pressure. "Oh, how lucky. If I had known you were this feisty I would have coated both daggers with poison," the guard sneered as he threw both daggers again.

Erik cladded his feet before charging towards the guard, dodging the daggers more comfortably this time despite his wound. He then gripped the sword tightly before slashing out at the threads, cutting them cleanly. With the daggers no longer making its way back to the guard, Erik finally saw panic in his eyes for the first time as he finally withdrew his sword. Unfortunately, Erik's cold steel sunk into his exposed chest before his sword could even make its way out of the sheath.

Watching the man's eyes become lifeless as he turned the blade, Erik trembled with fear at his first kill. He dropped his sword swiftly as his brain made too many calculations for any to make sense to him. It took him a few minutes before he was calm enough to think straight. He grabbed the rings off the guard before stealing all the money he had on him. He then found the daggers nearby before impaling the guard with both.

Leaving the body in the alleyway, Erik made his way back to the academy, as quietly as he left.