“Momma wouldn’t buy a word of it if I spilled about House Mars. The characters I've come to know, to endure. Vin, the medic—or as Ed dubbed him, the Hospitaler. Isaac, our flyboy and wrench jockey. Arthur, straight out of a fairy tale. Joseph, another frontier soul. And August, or Fleeboy as I've been warned never to call him. First week of classes was a bore, no doubt. As for a major, well, that's a bridge to cross when I'm damn well ready. Maybe I'll bring it up with Eddy. Classes themselves? A breeze. But it's like spitting in the wind. People, they don't want to see me. Used to think it was the emperor's thumb pressing down. Turns out, it's just the same old judging gaze they'd throw at someone from another house. Ridiculous, really. Uniform colors dictating our pals and lovers? Joseph reckons it won't stop him from chasing after what he calls "a big girl" from Mercury. Ed's warning about steering clear of Mags and Jose, well, I'll happily take a rain check on being his buddy. But I'll be damned if I don't keep it polite with Mags. Momma didn't raise me to make needless enemies. Been putting on my best show of getting along with the lot of 'em, but... there's this itch in my gut. Like they're hoarding secrets. Hear it in the way they chatter when the talk takes a twist. The gestures, the glances they trade among themselves. Do they see me as some greenhorn? Not one of their own? Is all of Ed's talk about teamwork and brotherhood just hogwash? Swear I glimpsed something last night, grabbing a swig from the kitchen. Maybe it was just my eyes pulling tricks on me. Like someone darting out of sight. A stark reminder of my ignorance, and the stark truth of how truly alone I am here. Miss you, Momma.” – The Journal of Henryk J. Brown, Red Templar of Mars.

----------------------------------------

"You wanted a word, spill it, princess. I've got places to be." Eliza of House Venus stood amidst the trees. Midday at the academy, classes done for the day. But here she was, dragged into the woods by Hannah, Jace's younger sister.

They ventured beyond the bounds of House territory, finding refuge in a serene nook nestled amidst the woods. Towering oaks enveloped them, save for a majestic waterfall cascading into a tranquil lake, its tendrils meandering through various corners of the campus.

Hannah reclined against a tree, her ebony locks gathered in a modest ponytail. The princess of Jupiter wore a slight pout, her purple gaze meeting another pair of equally vibrant eyes.

A heavy sigh escaped Hannah's lips. "Jace, my brother. I need to talk about him."

Eliza's eyes widened, a complex smirk dancing upon her lips. "Realized your brother's a few sandwiches short of a picnic, huh?"

Rolling her eyes, Hannah continued, "Jace has always been a puzzle... I'm two years his junior. Our mother passed when we were kids, illness snatching her away. Dad took off after that, and Jace... he was never the same."

Eliza's smirk faded, replaced by a somber expression. This was more than casual banter.

"Elizabeth," Hannah addressed her by her full name. "Where do your loyalties lie? With Venus... or your coven?"

Eliza's eyes widened. "What kind of question is that?" She sighed, shrugging. "Is it the imperial stigma blinding you?"

"What are you talking about?" Hannah asked, confused.

"We're not a pack of mutts," Eliza retorted, pausing for emphasis. "Sure, I've got my own interests... we all do. But my loyalty lies with my planet, not Jupiter."

Hannah shrugged. "Wizards and witches of Venus... born and bred there. Must've been a tough gig growing up."

Eliza let out a derisive snort. "Beats being raised in one of those tubes back on Jupiter," she muttered to herself, her scoff morphing into a glare. "What's your game, Hannah? Trying to cozy up to me or something?"

Hannah's gaze dropped. "Jace met this girl before the party... and I know how he was back on Venus." She chuckled bitterly. "The Royal Prince, sent packing for playing the rake at court."

"Sounds like your brother needs a reality check," Eliza remarked bluntly. "What he was trying to pull with Sirine was..."

Hannah fell silent. "He's the prince, and princes can do as they damn well please." Just as Eliza bristled, Hannah hurried on. "That's his creed."

Eliza was left speechless.

Hannah pressed on. "Jace is next in line for the throne of Venus. He'll rule over countless worlds, pilot the ARC of Venus, and his descendants will bask in the glory of the Emperor's ARC spanning the stars once more. That's his birthright. Maybe if he hadn't been born into such luxury, if he'd come up in the academy's dark days... perhaps then his life might've forged him, tempered him in the flames to become a king. But Jace's comfort bred indulgence, greed, and lust. I fear the last one... that's where he's stumbled into his greatest trap."

Eliza's eyes widened, the whites showing. "What do you mean, Hannah?" she demanded.

Sweat beaded on Eliza's brow. He was the heir, the sole male. Venusian succession was a mess, and if Jace had been ensnared, God help them all when the political fallout hit.

"Where is he now?" Eliza asked, her tone sharp.

Hannah blurted out, "He's in his room. Elizabeth, he's holding up... for now. But about a week back, at the party! Just before it all went down, I swung by his digs and found this girl crashed there... didn't think much of it, you know, my brother's always been a bit of a playboy back at the manor. But then a couple days ago..."

She paused, fear flooding her eyes. "She was decked out in Jupiter colors."

Elizabeth's eyes widened. "Witches are bound by celibacy, Hannah. Until they prove their gene superiority, they ain't supposed to be breeding."

Hannah's expression soured. "Why put it like that... makes 'em sound..."

"Like beasts?" Elizabeth scoffed. "That's the only word to describe their lot. Savage, tech-obsessed witches fixated on history and past glories. They built their order by snatching up magic-gifted little girls, molding them into killers... and when those killers offed their captors, the cycle started anew."

Hannah's resolve hardened. "Didn't Emperor Akkadian IV slap them down? I heard rumors they..."

"Don't be naive, princess," spat Eliza. "Magic started with the ladies, then passed to their male kin, and back again post-cataclysm. Magic's clonable... frowned upon, sure, but if you're sneaky about it..."

Hannah fell silent. "So, they're breaking the Imperial Abhorrants?" she realized. "Cloning's forbidden."

"...and yet that witch took a vow and still bedded your brother. Depends on your viewpoint how much oaths matter," Elizabeth lectured.

Hannah's anger flickered but she pushed it down. There were bigger fish to fry. "I've heard tales about what witches can do," she rambled. "With blood, with hair, with... seed."

"A king's seed holds power," Elizabeth confirmed. "Your brother dug his own grave. Their souls are still entwined, and that witch, seed or no, will have some magical leash on him. Right now, they're likely concocting a potion or spell... royal blood's potent stuff."

"He's a prince," Hannah murmured.

Eliza snorted, brushing off the remark entirely. "...we need to start brainstorming spells to shield Jace from their influence. Problem is, we're in the dark about how strong it is... or what brand of magic they'll throw our way."

Hannah hesitated. "Will he... will he be alright?"

Eliza shrugged, her weariness betraying her façade. "Hannah, your brother's in a tight spot. Out of all the folks on campus... he had to go and fall for one of them, like a damn fool, and give her his seed!"

Hannah nodded grimly. "I know it's foolish... if that witch gets pregnant," her breath caught. "That's a succession nightmare waiting to happen. Venus might tolerate bastards, but Father would never accept impure blood spawned by a witch. He wants Jace to marry a proper lady. If this came out, or his..."

"Wait," Eliza interjected. "I thought he got booted from court for his antics."

Hannah paused. "Father shipped him off to avoid the fallout from his actions."

"Ahh, now I get it," Eliza mused. "Jace, he thinks he's untouchable, consequences be damned."

Hannah fell silent. "Your brother's a monster," Eliza spat.

Hannah shot her a glare. "Shut it," she snapped. "You don't know him like I do. He's looked after me for years, been a father when mine wasn't around, fed me, wiped away my tears. That's my Jace, and I won't give up on him."

Eliza huffed, her gaze dropping. Jace and Hannah were kin, and she had to remember that. She had her own folks back home, and for a moment she wondered... could she stand as strong as Hannah if someone she loved started slipping away?

"Fine then, count me in," Eliza declared, and Hannah's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "I owe your house my allegiance, and to the thr..."

"Thank you, thank you so much," Hannah choked out, tears streaming as she pulled Eliza into an embrace.

Eliza's hands hovered awkwardly for a moment before tentatively patting the girl's back. "I couldn't tell anyone," Hannah confessed between sobs. "Father would've flipped, Jace would've brushed it off, and I worry about Maxtn and the others. Many in the house are still sore about how Maxtn lost his position."

Eliza sighed heavily. "Hannah, you can't pin that on anyone but yourselves. Maxtn's led us brilliantly for years! Tactical genius, knows how to play people to their strengths. Since he joined, House Mercury's been able to go toe-to-toe with Mars. Venus is shifting, people are just starting to realize the difference."

"What difference?" Hannah demanded.

"The difference between a great leader... and one born to rule by divine right," Eliza explained.

Hannah turned to her, wiping away tears with a newfound grin. "You're right about that. Jace might not make a good leader... maybe he won't be a good king. But I do know one thing,"

She paused, raising her hand to the sky. "Maxtn might be the better leader... but he wasn't born to soar through the skies like my brother, or wield the ARCs of Venus and Neptune."

Eliza's eyes widened. "Two... ARCs?" she scoffed. "That's..."

Hannah let out a chuckle. "My brother and I, we're only half-siblings," she revealed. "Maxtn's a fine leader, no argument there, but I have faith in my brother. When he's backed into a corner, he rises to the challenge. Just give him time."

"So, you're hoping he'll change," Eliza remarked. "Maybe that's your take, but others in the house aren't seeing it that way. I've been hearing whispers all week in my classes about Neptune and Venus roughing up some poor kid from the frontier. About Mercury striking a deal with Henryk, only for your brother to strong-arm them into breaking it. Does Jace have any sense of honor?"

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Hannah sneered. "My brother can be honorable when he has to be."

Eliza fixed her with a hard stare. "This academy's a jungle. I've seen houses fall to pieces here. House Mercury had it particularly rough, eight out of ten men butchered in their own rooms."

Hannah's eyes widened with alarm.

"And you know better than anyone how ruthless it can get," Eliza continued. "People here have agendas, and they'll do whatever it takes to climb the ladder. Jace holds the reins on all of it, but no one's got time for him to learn how to drive the car. We need it to go."

Hannah fell silent, her voice quivering, eyes darting back to the ground. "I know, I know... but he's my brother, and I'll stand by him. So, please, help me out here. Keep this between us, don't breathe a word to anyone."

Eliza sighed heavily. "Fine, we'll keep it between us... no one needs to know that Jace might be under some witch's spell. Who knows what those witches are plotting."

She paused, her expression grave. "He's next in line, they could be trying to puppeteer our politics. Witches are tricky like that, counting on us to be slow on the uptake."

"Okay," Hannah murmured, her tone soft and hesitant.

Eliza flashed a forced smile. "Did you catch that? We've found it, now we just gotta pry it out of him."

With nods exchanged, Eliza and Hannah parted ways, disappearing into the forest's depths. But there was a lingering tension in the air, a crimson hue staining the surroundings. Three to five minutes later, Joseph and Isaac emerged from behind twin trees, their eyes tinged with red.

"What the hell did we just hear, Isaac?" Joseph demanded, his voice tight with disbelief.

Isaac remained silent, mouth agape, gaze fixed on the spot where the two women had been in deep conversation. A joint dangled between his fingers, the smoke swirling around his mop of black hair and freckled face.

Joseph let out an awkward chuckle. "It's a damn miracle they didn't spot us with these red eyes," he muttered.

"And an even bigger miracle they didn't catch a whiff of this weed," Isaac added, a genuine laugh escaping them both.

As they approached the spot where Eliza and Hannah had stood, Isaac's eyes widened with disbelief. "Did we imagine it all?" he wondered aloud. "My mom always warned me about this stuff... and at the academy, I saw someone get flogged for it. Did we just hallucinate?"

Joseph shot him a look. "No, we didn't imagine it. We heard it, plain as day."

Isaac's brow furrowed. "Then what the hell was it? What do we do?"

Joseph pondered for a moment. "That was Jace's sister, Hannah. Remember her from the party?"

"The one who claimed Henryk was trying to assault her?" Isaac recalled bluntly.

Isaac shook his head grimly. "Bad business, and I don't buy it for a second. Everyone's just connecting the dots because of the antlered knight, Henryk's departure, and his rescue of Sirine. He couldn't have pulled off all three."

Joseph's gaze drifted downward. "We're in uncharted territory here, outside of Core World Space. Technically, the whole prince and princess protocol from Venus doesn't apply. There should be an investigation, but I sense Jace wants to pin it on the person he despises most."

"Yeah, and Jace was right in the thick of that conversation," Isaac added.

Joseph nodded in agreement. "I can't wrap my head around the fact that those Jupiter witches took his..."

Isaac finished his thought. "...his... essence. It's all shades of messed up if you ask me," he muttered, his eyes locked on the ground.

"Didn't know magic users could pull off something like that," Joseph mused. "Are you saying the Witches of Jupiter want to manipulate Jace?"

Isaac nodded gravely. "It's a shrewd move... control the royal heir and you hold a world of power. Any general eyeing Venus for conquest would kill for that kind of leverage."

"Why?" Joseph inquired.

Isaac chuckled bitterly. "If you can't trust your leader, who can you trust?"

Joseph's eyes widened, a flicker of understanding dawning within him. Isaac mistook it for surprise at his words, but Joseph's gaze held a deeper, more sorrowful comprehension. The time for decisive action was drawing near.

Isaac clapped Joseph on the shoulder, rousing him from his reverie. "Come on, let's get out of here and finish this joint. Classes kicked our asses today, and I could use some stress relief with good old 21st Century Minecraft."

Joseph paused, then grinned. "Couldn't have said it better myself, buddy." And with that, the two set off into the forest, aiming to make their way back to House Mars.

Ty and Henryk strolled together into the heart of Academy City, their frames silhouetted against the towering skyscrapers that kissed the sky. The city bustled around them, a symphony of floating cars and bustling streets, each path leading to its own unique destination—a vibrant shopping district or humble abodes tucked beneath the shadows of towering structures and craggy mountains.

"So, how's the gig at the pizza joint treating you?" Henryk inquired, his voice slicing through the urban cacophony.

Ty shrugged, his furry arms extending from his white sleeves, a silent observer amidst the bustling crowd. "Tips are decent," he replied, his blue eyes scanning the throng. "And the hours are alright. Owner's pretty cool, doesn't give a damn about my... situation."

"I've noticed people aren't as put off by my magic as I thought," Henryk remarked, his tone tinged with bitterness. "Except, of course, within the academy."

A shadow crossed Ty's face at the mention of the academy. "Yeah," he murmured. "August filled me in on your run-in with House Neptune, the second time around."

Ty's expression softened as Henryk's eyes widened in concern.

"It's nothing new," Ty continued, his voice tinged with resignation. "Not the first time I've had to dodge a mob out for mutant blood," he added bitterly, his gaze meeting Henryk's.

Henryk's heart clenched at Ty's words, a wave of empathy washing over him.

"We don't all have the luxury of hiding what we are," Ty scoffed, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air as they paused at a red stop sign, cars whizzing past them in a blur of motion.

"So, music, huh?" Ty said, attempting to shift the mood. "That's quite the ambition."

Henryk shrugged, a hint of uncertainty flickering in his eyes. "It's all I've got," he replied softly. "Maybe I can make something of it."

"It's expensive though," Ty remarked, his blue eyes absorbing the crimson glow of passing cars. "You're gonna have to get a job."

Henryk let out a weary sigh. "Why do you think I've got this?" he said, hoisting his duffel bag. Once a repository for clothes and personal effects, it now carried the weight of resumes and aspirations, courtesy of Ed's late-night guidance.

As the traffic light changed, the duo waded into the surging tide of humanity. "Heading this way," Henryk announced, veering off from Ty's path. "Catch you later, Ty," he called over his shoulder, disappearing into the throng.

Watching his friend vanish amidst the sea of faces, Ty let out a resigned sigh. Gripping the handlebars of his bike, he murmured to himself, "Let's get this shift done and get this bread."

Meanwhile, Henryk navigated the urban labyrinth until he reached a familiar sight—the modest facade of Biancia's. With a tired exhale, he fished out a crumpled flyer from his pocket and scanned its title.

"Biancia's," he muttered, his gaze drawn to the flickering red neon sign. The letter "B" stuttered intermittently, casting an eerie glow on the surrounding darkness. Adjusting his duffel bag, Henryk ran a hand through his unkempt hair, feeling the roughness of his growing beard. Shaving had become a luxury in the absence of House Mars's amenities; communal showers were a nightmare, haunted by whispered rumors of illicit activities.

Clad in well-worn boots and comfortable attire, Henryk approached the dimly lit entrance of Biancia's. Uncertain if the establishment was even open, he gave the door a tentative tug, bracing himself for whatever lay beyond.

The door creaked open, and Henryk stepped into a room suffused with a pleasant aroma. Although most of the lights remained dim, a row of seats encircled the space. Save for a solitary figure—a young boy engrossed in his homework—the store was deserted.

With his backpack still slung over his shoulders and a beanie pulled snug over his head, Henryk offered a hesitant wave. "Hello," he called out.

The boy glanced up, eyeing Henryk with curiosity. "What do you want?" he blurted out, his voice echoing through the empty room. "We ain't open yet, in case you haven't noticed."

Surveying the pristine surroundings, Henryk's brow furrowed. It all seemed too perfect, too... new.

Digging into his pocket, he retrieved the flyer. "Grand opening," he muttered under his breath.

"What was that?" the boy demanded.

Henryk held up the flyer for the boy to see. "I'm here about the job," he explained. "Didn't realize you folks had just opened up shop."

The boy shrugged nonchalantly. "Does it matter?" he retorted, catching Henryk off guard.

"Not really," Henryk admitted.

The boy's expression brightened. "Well, you're about to witness greatness," he declared proudly. "My pa always wanted to name a store after my momma, and now that we've moved here, we're making it happen!"

Henryk listened, his patience waning. "That's all well and good, kid," he said, "but could you fetch your mom for me? I need to talk to her about this job."

"What's your name, s—," the boy began, then hesitated. "You're too young to be a sir," he chuckled.

Henryk let out a frustrated groan. "Henryk... Henryk J. Brown, if you must know."

"Henryk, that's an old Earth name." The voice, a fresh addition to the scene, belonged to a woman with olive skin and deep brown eyes. She wore a light green dress adorned with a white apron, her hands dusted with flour, giving her a ghostly appearance against her tanned skin. Younger than expected, she exuded an aura of spices and warmth, belying her youthful features.

"Emmit, stop talking to the stranger," she chided gently, her hand resting atop her son's head.

"But, Momma, he wants to work here," Emmit protested.

The woman, introduced as Biancia, regarded Henryk with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. "Did you come for the flyer?" she inquired.

Henryk nodded in confirmation.

"We aren't open yet, sorry," Biancia apologized, her gaze sizing him up. "How old are you?"

"Uh, nineteen," Henryk replied, tacking on an extra year to his age.

Biancia snorted in response. "Alright, any experience cooking or handling food?"

Henryk fell into a thoughtful silence. "I can learn," he offered tentatively.

Biancia sighed, a mixture of weariness and resignation in her voice. "You know what? I don't mind giving you a chance," she conceded.

Both Henryk and Emmit exchanged wide-eyed glances, surprised by her decision.

"Don't you want to check my resume?" Henryk inquired, taken aback by the lack of scrutiny.

Biancia shook her head. "You're nineteen, and those bruises on your face..." she trailed off, her gaze lingering on Henryk's features.

Though still tender, the ache in Henryk's face had begun to subside. "I don't get into fights," he reassured her, his voice tinged with a hint of pride. "I train, attend the academy. We're preparing for missions and such."

Biancia fell into a thoughtful silence, her gaze shifting from Henryk to her son, Emmit.

"The academy is a good school," she mused finally, her voice carrying a note of consideration. "As long as you can balance your studies and show up here when I need you, I'll train you."

"But, Momma," Emmit interjected softly, concern etched in his features. "He doesn't seem to have the proper experience—"

Biancia's hand came to rest gently on her son's head, a silent reassurance. "How else is he going to learn?" she countered. "Sure, he might stumble at first, not be as skilled as the others. But should I just turn him away? He's shown commitment by coming here on his own."

Henryk's eyes widened at Biancia's kindness. "Thank you," he murmured, a genuine smile spreading across his face. With this job, he could afford food, clothing, and supplies. Yet, he knew a portion of his earnings would go toward repairing the house and providing for Ed's needs. Ed still had to find a guild that would serve House Mars.

Leaving the store, Henryk felt a newfound sense of purpose. "If only I could tell Mama now," he thought, his mind drifting momentarily to Piper and then to Sirine. What would they think when he told them?

"Italian and pizza," Emmit had mentioned before they left.

"Henryk the Pizzeria man," Henryk chuckled to himself, but his musings were interrupted by a familiar voice in the distance.

"Yo, Henryk, you done already?" It was Ty, approaching with a steaming pizza strapped to his back, now donning a bike helmet. "I didn't know this place did pizza too. Hop on my pegs, I'll drop you close to the academy."

Henryk smirked, grateful for the offer. "Thanks, Ty," he said as he hopped onto the back of the bike. "And yeah, I got the job."

Ty grinned back, revving the bike to life. "That's great news, buddy. Let's roll." And with that, they sped off into the distance, leaving behind the promise of new beginnings and unexpected friendships.

Ty grinned, a glimmer of hope in the midst of turbulent times. "Good for you. A nice ray of good luck in these trying times of the semester," he remarked, his voice laced with a longing for normalcy.

With those words, Ty and Henryk pedaled through the streets of Academy City, the fading sun casting long shadows as evening approached. The crowds thinned, offering a semblance of ease to their journey.

But fate had other plans.

A sudden impact sent them careening into an alley, bike and boys tumbling across the pavement in a chaotic blur.

"What the hell!" Ty's shout rang out, his teeth gritted against the pain. The car's headlights illuminated the scene as its occupants emerged.

"It's you," Ty growled, his gaze fixed on the one-eyed figure stepping forward.

Franklin, eyepatch creased, brandished a bat as his companions closed in.

Dazed, Henryk struggled to his feet, the helmet absorbing the worst of the blow. As Ty readied himself for the fray, the adversaries from House Neptune surged forward.

With a roar, Ty lunged at Franklin, but the larger boy evaded, retaliating with a swing of the bat. Ty's mutated form absorbed the blow, but he countered with a powerful kick that sent Franklin crashing into the wall.

Meanwhile, Henryk found himself confronted by two other assailants, armed with clubs. They must have orchestrated the ambush.

Realization dawned on Ty. "That order, was it from you?" he demanded, his anger palpable. The smirks on their attackers' faces confirmed his suspicions.

"Damn it!" Ty snarled, seizing one of them and hurling him to the ground, his weapon clattering from his grasp.

Yet, another assailant bore down on Henryk, his blue eyes framed by black glasses, his pallor heightened by exertion. He wielded a pipe with both hands, sweat glistening on his skin as he charged forward.

"This is for Piper, Mutant filth." the assailant, Simon, declared, his words a harbinger of the impending onslaught.

The world exploded into chaos as the pipe connected with Henryk's skull, stars dancing before his eyes. Pain radiated through him as he crumpled, gasping for air as the pipe descended upon his abdomen, driving the breath from his lungs.

As darkness encroached, Henryk's gaze flickered to Ty, a blur of brown fur retreating into the shadows, leaving him to the mercy of oblivion.