Emperor's Shadow (Elite Book 1)

by Yi Zhu

  Lucia kissed him on the forehead. “You have the power now.”

  Vince clenched his fists and recalled the moments before the Fye had rushed into his body.

  For you, Lucia, I will reforge the world.

  PART TWO

  Seasons came and went, but the glorious empire thus far proved eternal. Down in the South, Sawyn remained with the Mother, isolated from the rest of the world. Up in the North, the children braved the challenges of the Academy, and went through metamorphosis of both body and mind.

  Thirteen years went by in a flash, and brought change to all, especially the young. All over the empire, unrest stirred, and the tension between the classes threatened to tear the nation asunder once again.

  Change was coming.

  Chapter 1: Ascendancy

  “The Emperor shelters all.

  Atop the marble steps and the metallic throne.

  The Academy guides all.

  Atop the towering spire that pierces the heavens.

  The Shadow watches all.

  Atop the mound of remains from those who doubt.”

  I have resisted the doctrine thus far, but WHY do I still refuse it?

  -Diary of Academic recruit V41, Year 11, entry 71.

  On this day, tens of thousands of visitors flooded into the Capital, to bear witness to the beginning of a new era. Only two weeks prior, Emperor Triton had succumbed to an illness under circumstances few were privy to. Had people only seen the horrific damages Triton’s aging body had endured for so many years, the news of his passing wouldn’t have come as a shock. For those in the emperor’s inner circle, his tenacity in staying alive after the events of Zone S1 attested to both his fortitude and love for his son, Darius.

  Gray flags hung freely from every rooftop in the Capital, and soldiers littered the streets. With the sudden influx of people, security quickly became the number one concern. Prince Darius stood alone on top of the Academy spires and looked over the entire city. His city. For Darius, the breathtaking view from the height of the structure had lost its novelty years ago, and occasionally, as passing clouds obstructed the view, he found himself cursing the inconvenience.

  So many people, all gathered here for me, the prince noted with satisfaction, and cupped a hand over his chest protectively. The cold sensation of the Ivy Sigil against his hand provided him with comfort as his heart wept for his father’s passing. No matter what people said about him, he was a great emperor. Darius flourished his cape as he turned, and descended from the unfurnished observation deck.

  The spiral staircase used to annoy Darius to no end, especially because the uppermost levels of the spire housed the most comprehensive collection of books and schematics in the world. Directly under the library, research labs responsible for the most cutting-edge innovations were housed. During his first year at the Academy, Darius sometimes made unlucky advisors carry him up the tremendous height. When the martial instructors found out, they had disciplined him severely for his laziness. Even now, every time Darius walked these steps, the memories of Fist Master Faima’s cane kept him tiptoeing and scanning for his sneaky teachers.

  Eventually, he would have to make his way down, and get to the palace in time for the main event. Then, the great burden of rule would fall on his young shoulders, despite all of the doubt still roiling around inside him.

  Aware that there were four hours until the coronation, Darius took a small detour into the Instructors' quarters. The large room was the definition of opulence, with gigantic glass chandeliers illuminating the space completely, a stark contrast from the deck he had left mere minutes ago. Darius scanned the room and nodded in satisfaction. A large wooden dining table rested in the very center, with several Rudium castings of prototypes displayed along its length. On the other side of the table sat a man in his early fifties, yet still in top physical condition. Unlike most people in the empire, this man didn’t hurry to acknowledge the prince’s presence, but instead chose to finish his reading at a casual pace.

  Respectfully, Darius kept his distance and simply watched. After several minutes, the elder man set down his reading material and stretched. The prince walked up close and smiled. “Uncle.”

  Manus acknowledged his nephew with a nod. “Hey, kiddo.”

  Darius rolled his eyes. That nickname always made him feel awkward, but it was still somewhat endearing, even though Darius was in his early twenties and technically his uncle’s liege.

  Part of him toyed with the idea of correcting Manus, but this was not the time. If there was anyone who grieved harder at Triton’s passing than the spoiled son, it had been the loyal brother who risked everything for family. After decades of unwavering devotion from Manus, it would seem foolish to fuss over minute details.

  “Straighten up, my lord; you are going to be the emperor, so you must look the part,” Manus threw out casually, much to Darius’s surprise. Manus had protected the young prince for years, yet the Shadow was always more of an uncle than a guardian. Such a formal request was rather unusual.

  As if to solve his confusion, the door behind Darius slid open, and the supreme general made her entrance. During Darius’s last three years at the Academy, Emelia was invited often to instruct the students in alchemy. Much to the students’ chagrin, she was more of a soldier than a teacher. Aside from some painful hands-on instruction in the art of manipulating Fye, she also drilled discipline into their minds. Reflexively, the prince stiffened into a salute, and earned a smile from the militant woman in return.

  Damn my force of habit, Darius noted with a sigh. The prince fell outside the military chain of command, and if anything, outranked the general. But if he had to be honest, Darius was just a little bit terrified of Emelia.

  “Wow.” Manus met the general's gaze. “Red really is your color, Lia,” he finished with a smile, once again surprising the prince, who had spent his whole life living with the stoic uncle.

  Darius finally allowed his eyes to slip away from the general’s face. Sure enough, the silky red dress hung tightly around Emelia’s toned figure, flattering and elegant, a perfect complement to her well-groomed hair. The lavish outfit concealed a body hardened through hundreds of battles and decades of training. Stop thinking about that! She’s more than twice your age, the prince reminded himself with an embarrassed flush. “Should I go?” He cleared his throat.

  “Nonsense,” Manus insisted. “Today is your big day, and if you hadn’t stumbled over here, we would have gone to you. There is much to discuss before your coronation. You still have yet to approach me about my post as Shadow. Perhaps you are assuming I would remain on this post. While there is great honor in serving the family, I worry that my bones are getting old.”

  Darius nodded. He had known for a long time that Manus longed to leave his work and responsibilities. And I can’t really blame him. Even those who knew his uncle well could only imagine the amount of pain his duty had inflicted upon him.

  Emelia pulled up a chair and settled herself close to Manus. The armrests bumped against one another as she sat down with a disinterested yawn.

  “But in all seriousness, I have an idea who you would likely choose to replace me,” Manus continued, while not reacting to Emelia’s shoulder brushing against his.

  “Uncle.”

  “Don’t worry, I have my sources, and as the new emperor, you have the right to select whomever you deem fit. Maybe now I can finally find some peace and quiet.”

  Really? Darius thought in surprise. I was expecting an argument. Out of all the candidates in the prince’s inner circle, Darius had made the most controversial choice. He turned toward Emelia, curious to gauge her reaction.

  The supreme general shrugged in agreement. “Strong, efficient, and really hard to kill. Surprisingly hard to kill. Pretty much the only criteria for being the Shadow, you just have to be too stubborn to die,” Emelia replied and nudged Manus playfully.

  Damn, am I so predictable?

  “Noted,” Darius acknowledged. Though
he felt happy for the two, the awkward scenario before him made Darius feel like a redundant cog in the machine.

  “Well now, kiddo. Now you just have to convince the high council.” Manus cleared his throat. “They will gather in the throne room to raise their concerns, right before your ceremony. Yes, they are quite adept at ruining a perfectly good day. I know you despise bureaucracy, but this comes with the territory.” His uncle finished with an apologetic shrug.

  Well, this is going to be a long day.

  Vince turned the envelope over in his hand, his heart pounding with anxiety. He always enjoyed sitting in his small estate in the outskirts of the capital city. While his study lacked furnishings, a fireplace kept the temperature at a comfortable level. Aside from the bookshelves lining the walls and a large window looking out toward the countryside, several padded chairs littered the room.

  Every day, he would travel miles to attend to his duties, and part of him rather enjoyed the routine. The streets outside were uncomfortably noisy on account of his acute auditory senses, one of the downsides of his Vigilance training. In order to offset the flood of information, his Focus training actively worked to help sift out the distractions. While most of the academic knowledge he acquired over the years had proven useless in real life, the military disciplines had stood the test of time.

  He looked up out of his window that faced away from the city, and spotted a large band of travelers slowly approaching in the distance. Even from this far, he could tell that the entire group of people wore veils to cover their faces.

  Good, they are finally here. Vince breathed in the Fye, and directed the flow of the chemical with his mind. Effortlessly, he incinerated the now redundant envelope in his hand. All it had said was, “We answer your call. - D.”

  While he could easily toss the letter into the fireplace a mere ten feet away, each act of alchemy brought with it a sense of euphoria. His instructors even encouraged the casual use of Fye, as the repetition helped the body build up tolerance to the poisonous byproducts.

  “Excited to see your old friends?” Zed’s voice flowed forth lazily. The grizzled young man stood by the closed door, having somehow made his way in without getting Vince’s attention. Two distinct Sigils dangled from his chest, and flickered brightly in the fire’s reflection. One of them was in the shape of a cogwheel, while the other resembled a closed fist. “Aren’t you supposed to wear yours at all times?”

  With a sigh, Vince pulled his Ivy Sigil out of his pocket and pinned it on. “I didn’t want to make you feel self-conscious. I knew you would come.”

  “Self-conscious? Clearly, I am superior,” Zed replied with a face full of mischief. “I have two sigils, you have one, so obviously I win.”

  “But—”

  Zed rested a hand on Vince’s shoulder, and both of them turned to look at the group of incoming travelers. “Sarcasm, my friend; you still need to work on that. On that note, you need to smile more.”

  Vince forced a smile.

  Zed clapped his hands. “There you go! How can any woman resist such a charming mug? But I meant at other people. I never see you do that with anyone else. Not even with that redhead.”

  “Stop.”

  “Not even while in bed with her. I’m surprised that any woman can fail to find that off-putting. I don’t know, maybe she’s into that … I am no expert on the opposite gender. Despite my mountain of publications on that topic.” Zed shrugged casually.

  Vince’s cheeks burned in embarrassment. “You … you don’t know.”

  “Oh, but I do, I know everything. It’s my job as a Scholar to be an annoying know-it-all.” Zed pointed to his Cogwheel Sigil. “And you, my friend, are my favorite case study.”

  “Can we talk about something else?”

  “Of course!” Zed clapped Vince’s back good-naturedly. “So I see your army has answered your call.”

  Vince gazed out of the window in thought. Yes, in a way, that was his army to command. Each member of the group had spent years training in secret, all biding their time and waiting for the chance to help him fulfill his dreams. With their help, he had no need for the military, especially once the veiled newcomers finished arming themselves with Vince’s new inventions.

  “Do you trust them?” Zed asked.

  Do I?

  “With my life,” Vince replied seriously.

  Zed burst out in a fit of laughter and, after a few seconds, he wiped the joyous tears from the corner of his eyes. “Yes … Sorry. It’s just that I was just going to make a joke about how ‘your life is in high demand.’ Get it? Like what we learned in ninth year? Demand? Supply Theories? Because there are a lot of people trying to kill you to take your life? Ah, you are no fun.” Zed slapped Vince on the shoulder again. “What are you going to call them? Vince’s Liberation Army?”

  “Shush!” Vince warned out of habit, and looked around to make sure they were alone. “Such talk could get people killed.”

  “Oh, sorry, but you don’t have to whisper for much longer. After today, it will be your right to have a small army. The empire will test you, my friend; they will want to see you kill, to sink to their level.”

  Vince nodded. “I know. I am ready.”

  “They will find ways to sabotage you and rip you apart at any hint of mistake.”

  “Don’t worry, my friend. I will show no mercy, no remorse, no hesitation. There won’t be anything for them to question.”

  Zed turned and look upon Vince sadly. “I know you won’t … that’s what kind of worries me. You really changed.”

  Vince wanted to turn, but felt no desire to look his friend in the eyes. “Because I had to,” he finished softly.

  Chapter 2: Reflections

  Thirteen Years earlier:

  In a progressive society like the Enlightened Empire, it was ironic how heavily the ruling class seemed to rely on traditions. The Academy stood as the symbol of science, and the students were subjected to various outdated requirements and required to attend various ceremonies.

  That day, the first day of classes, the new recruits all stood at attention in the massive courtyard at the center of the eighty acres of school ground. All new students were separated into three different categories: Martial, Academic, and Alchemical. Each faction stood apart, despite sharing the same dream of mastering all three disciplines and earning the Ivy Sigil.

  Before the new recruits stood the massive Academy tower, and any who beheld the magnificent structure had to marvel at the grandiose design. Aside from the breathtaking height, one side of the tower was constructed from a material that was completely transparent.

  From the higher levels of the tower, the upperclassmen observed the newcomers with varied intentions. Some were choosing their future proteges, others selecting those weak enough to be bullied.

  As required of him, Vince stood two feet in front of his group, an anomaly among the hundreds of people. Supposedly, it was a gesture meant to commend his accomplishments as the Tryout Champion, but he knew the real purpose: To single him out right off the bat. Even without looking up, he could feel the thousands of eyes fixated on him, forming prejudices, and some even plotting his demise.

  No matter, he told himself.

  Loud mechanical noises rang out around the courtyard as floor twelve cracked opened and the giant windows fell away from the frame to quickly become a platform supported by hundreds of thin Rudium wires. Most of the recruits’ mouths dropped open in shock at the transformation; a few even inched away out of the fear that the building might collapse on top of them.

  With a final creak, the large contraption ground to a stop. Three figures walked forth across the transparent platform as the crowd greeted them with a sea of applause. The man on the left looked well into his eighties, with his hair braided and running down all the way to his waist. He held a hand forth and addressed the Academic recruits. Somehow, his voice boomed out with perfect clarity, despite the large distance from the ground. “Welcome. I am your Scholar Mast
er, Clarion. A world of technological enlightenment awaits you.”

  All the way to the right stood a middle-aged woman in incredible shape. An impractical number of medals lined her shoulders and covered the right side of her chest. “I am Major General Faima, Master of the Fist. Prepare to make strength your motto,” she finished with a smile, the large scar across her face twisting with the movement. Faima looked down toward the Martial recruits, and Vince felt her gaze fixate on him. To his surprise, he sensed no malice, but instead, a neutral curiosity.

  Lastly, the woman in the middle stepped forth. Instead of introducing herself, she tilted back and inhaled deeply. With a casual wave of her hand, she projected her will toward the sky. A large block of ice at least a yard in every dimension crystallized hundreds of feet above where Vince stood and plunged downward.

  Though the display of power impressed Vince, the implied threat did not. The boy made no effort to get out of the way, but simply looked up, unafraid. Vince understood the point of the demonstration; with so much power, there was no need for words. This is my first test. I am supposed to fail here.

  Before the block picked up too much momentum, the alchemist opened her palm and unleashed a massive storm of lightning. The powerful currents forked out and struck the falling object with spikes of energy. At the moment of impact, each area hit immediately exploded into vapor. The shockwave of the rapid expansion caused fractures to form, and the entire cube shattered into countless fragments that melted, to fall harmlessly to the ground.

  Behind him, the new recruits started clapping, and when Vince turned to look at them, he was greeted by a mixture of disappointment and respect.

  Of course, I was supposed to cower in fear.

  Unfazed by the exertion, the alchemist stepped forward and planted herself precariously close to the edge. “I am Alchemy Master Alara, Headmistress of the Academy. While you are a student here, my word is your law, your doctrine, your way of life. As the brightest in the empire, you will cast aside weakness, and live up to your potential. Spend the rest of the day exploring the grounds; your training begins tonight,” she declared with a blank tone and turned to leave. The other masters followed her example and exited promptly in her trail.