by Yi Zhu
As soon as the head instructors were out of sight, the new recruits broke rank and chattered amongst themselves. A hand tapped Vince on the shoulder, and he turned. Much to his surprise, the person he saw was not Zed, but a girl with crimson hair. Behind her hovered a huge posse, but instead of approaching, they kept a respectful distance and gave the two some privacy.
“I am Katherine,” she introduced herself.
Ah, of course, the person who placed the bet. Might as well play nice.
Vince extended a hand to shake, but Katherine simply regarded his gesture with a raised eyebrow. Several of the children nearby snickered with derision.
“Very interesting. And eww,” Katherine said and took her leave.
Vince watched as the posse followed their leader toward the Academy towers.
What the hell was that all about?
From the corner of his eyes, Vince saw Zed approaching. He almost didn’t recognize the Southerner at first, as Zed had donned a perfectly pressed uniform and sported well-groomed hair. It wasn’t until this moment that Vince realized how wrinkled his own outfit was.
“Self-conscious?” Zed asked, his tone teasing.
“Just surprised.”
“Why?”
The two exchanged smiles, and Vince shrugged. “I am smart enough to know that talking to me is social suicide.”
“Smart? I don’t know about that; you were too dumb to act afraid earlier.”
Does he not realize why I stood my ground? Vince wondered.
Zed took Vince by the arm, and the two started walking toward the dormitory. “We have to survive this place for twelve years, so sometimes feigning weakness is the way to go,” Zed lectured seriously.
Chapter 3: Mother
“They never stopped watching me. I do have to admire their diligence. They told me you left the orphanage, and I wonder why? Where are you now?
No matter where you are, I hope you are safe. I will show you this letter one day when we see each other again, to prove I’ve been missing you the whole time.”
-Evidence #11, a sealed letter retrieved from the locker of recruit Z14.
Sawyn dangled upside down from an ancient branch at the very top of an elder tree deep in the Forbidden Zone. Though this process had become a daily ritual, suspending herself in this position continued to prove exhausting. Unfortunately for Sawyn, being so close to the Rift meant that there was absolutely no Fye to augment her strength.
At any moment, her training session would begin. In an open, vulnerable position like this, it was impractical to guard against every direction. Sight was a reliable sense, but it couldn’t be counted on in this particular scenario. As Mother had instructed, Sawyn closed her eyes, and instead, relied on her hearing.
A subtle sound of physical exertion from the foliage betrayed the danger. Sawyn’s eyes shot open as she released her leg hold on the branch. Using her feet to push against the wood, she twisted sharply toward her right and felt several projectiles zip past, exactly where she had been merely milliseconds before. She landed against the trunk and immediately dodged left, just in time to avoid a second volley. With a fluid motion, Sawyn made a rapid descent down the gigantic tree. The moment her feet impacted the dirt, her legs relaxed to help absorb the impact. At that precise instant, a metallic disc crashed against her chest and knocked Sawyn backward. Had the projectile been sharp, it would have easily been lethal, but even with blunt edges, the pain still proved excruciating.
“Not bad.” A middle-aged woman wearing farmer’s garments came forth from the foliage. “Are you all right, Saw?” The Mother’s face wrinkled with concern as she knelt down next to Sawyn.
Sawyn rubbed her injury and felt nothing broken. The disc had knocked most of the air from her lungs, however, and she allowed herself several moments to recover. She was going to feel sore for a few days, but the body would heal fast; it always did. “I’m fine.” With that, Sawyn picked herself up and shook off the dirt.
“Clean yourself up, dear, and get packed. It is time for you to go to the Capital.”
“What’s changed?” Sawyn asked in surprise. For years, Sawyn had pleaded for Mother’s permission to head north, but the woman always denied her requests.
“You are still a wanted woman, but no one will be able to recognize you now, not after thirteen years. Besides, you are ready.”
Sawyn looked down at the metallic disc, then back up.
Mother shook her head. “Not even Neruby ever succeeded in dodging the last throw, not without Fye. Believe me, Saw, you are ready. Once you cross the Great Divide, you will become faster and stronger. The rebels have waited decades for this chance, and we need you to deliver the first blow.”
“What’s changed?” Sawyn repeated. The change in her appearance couldn’t be the only reason.
“Triton passed away,” Mother replied finally.
The sorrow in Mother’s voice caught Sawyn by surprise. “I thought you would be happy.”
“He was the enemy, true. But Triton wasn’t a bad man.”
“He gave the order to wipe out thousands of innocent people!” Sawyn screamed out in protest. The massacre of Zone S1 was a particularly touchy subject for Sawyn. It was during that fateful day that her adoptive brother had lost his parents. A fresh surge of anger swelled up as Sawyn remembered her brother, but when she saw the pain on Mother’s face, some of the anger faded away. “What do you want me to do?”
“What I failed to do. Kill the royal family and the Shadow. As soon as the Elites begin fighting for the throne, the rebels will strike. I was so close last time, but I’m not like you. I’m not Riftborn.”
Kill them… While Sawyn wasn’t surprised by the order, the thought of taking a life still made her shudder. Mother had spent years training her to be an assassin, yet had never forced her to take a life. Am I capable of actually taking a life? “You want me to kill the prince and Manus?”
At the mention of Manus’s name, Mother’s face turned a shade paler. Her face froze as she shuddered visibly. “No,” Mother said. “My sources told me that during today’s coronation, a new Shadow will be named.”
A new Shadow? Who could possibly replace Manus? Whoever it was, Sawyn was glad. This would undoubtedly make her job easier.
Mother paused for a moment, debating whether to continue. Then, with a sigh, she went on. “Prince Darius plans on naming the Lowborn Elite, Vince. But remember, Saw, they must fall together.”
Without bothering to reply, Sawyn turned and began heading back to the hideout. As she passed by the ancient tree, she slammed her fist into the trunk. Blood dripped down her hand, and pain shot up her arm, but this outburst helped to release some of her rage.
Vince… That is one life I will be happy to take.
Chapter 4: Shadow
Inside the throne room, surrounded by the High Council and countless Royal Guards, the young prince fought hard to keep his temper in check.
“My decision stands,” Darius declared, his voice leaving no room for debate. For the past hour, the High Council had pestered him with one objection after another. “I hear your concerns, and I have a solution.” Slowly, the prince rose from the throne and addressed the congregation that stood by the bottom of the steps. Aside from his Uncle Manus, Katherine, who stood in for her mother, and the three Academy masters, there were also ten other council members present.
What made the entire meeting especially awkward was the fact that Vince was also in attendance as the councilmen ruthlessly questioned his loyalty and competence. To the Lowborn Alchemist’s credit, Vince maintained a calm demeanor, and even managed to keep a straight face as he looked his pundits in the eyes.
The prince cleared his throat and began his decree. “I stand by my decision to name Vince the new Shadow. My uncle’s envoy is on retainer for the next two months as his successor proves his mettle. But to put people’s mind at ease, Vince’s authority will be checked, as there will be no alchemists under his command.”
As soon as Darius finished talking, the whole room exploded into a frenzy of activity as the chatters began flying around. He turned to look at Vince and found his new Shadow standing straight, completely unfazed by the announcement. But when he shifted his attention to Manus, Darius found his uncle looking back with a disapproving frown.
While there was likely no love lost between the two Shadows, Darius understood Manus’s concern. Considering the extreme danger associated with the post, Darius’s special restriction ran the risk of completely crippling Vince’s ability to perform the perilous tasks required of him.
A special force full of Elites such as Manus’s envoy was integral to maintaining the stability of the nation. Such an expansive gathering of talents not only served to strike fear into the heart of even the most powerful, but the Elite statuses granted each member complete legal immunity to unsanctioned retaliations. To most people in attendance, it seemed Darius might have just signed Vince’s death warrant.
Just as I planned, Darius noted with satisfaction as he watched the corner of Vince’s lips curl up in a subtle smirk.
Slowly, the chatter began to die down, and the prince sat back down. “Does that prove satisfactory to you all?” Technically, as the soon-to-be ruler of the nation, it was Darius’s right to ignore all objections. But it proved unnecessary, as no more protests were voiced.
“Vince?” Darius gestured toward his Shadow, finally granting him permission to speak.
Vince turned to the Royal Guards blocking the door and nodded. The large chamber doors swung open, and the sound of footsteps flooded the throne room as almost a hundred men and women marched in with perfect unison. Each of the newcomers wore matching brown trench coats with a V-shaped insignia on the shoulders and helmets with tinted visors. All hints of individuality were nowhere to be found as each step landed with precision comparable to that of Emelia’s special forces. Aside from the outfit and headgear, all of the soldiers were armed to the teeth with technogear, complete with mobility units and launcher gauntlets.
All three Academy masters smiled toward Vince to display their approval toward their former pupil; Fist Master Faima even beamed with pride. Though usually a terrifying disciplinarian, the woman always seemed to have a soft spot for Vince. Darius used to be jealous of the attention Vince received at school, but as time passed, he had realized how childish such notions were.
With a thunderous clicking sound, the small army snapped to attention, and row by row, they went down on one knee, bowing their heads.
Vince turned to nod toward the councilmen. “Esteemed Elites, I present to you: the Sentinels. Each sworn to forgo all pleasures of life in pursuit of asceticism and martial perfection. Nameless and united in a single purpose, they will be the incorruptible line of defense against all who conspire against the throne.” He concluded with a flourish of his hands.
For almost half a minute, silence filled the room. Then a snicker sliced through the tense atmosphere, and every Elite present turned toward the source of the derision. Highlord of Commerce Gideon cracked his neck loudly and appeared unimpressed, to no one’s surprise.
I’m impressed he still has the energy to be such a dick, considering the man hasn’t stopped complaining for the past hour, Darius noted with amusement.
“And where, pray tell, did you dredge up this sorry mess of Lowborn rubble?” Gideon challenged. “Besides, by tradition, we do not grant Lowborns special privileges outside of the rare few who luck their way into the Academy. What will stop one of us from burning away your precious ‘Sentinels’ where they stand?”
“You might not be aware of this, my dear Highlord, but I have a sister,” Vince said and took a step toward Gideon.
At the mention of Vince’s sister, Darius felt himself tense up.
“So? Why does that matter?” Gideon replied and took a half-step back.
“She stands among the rank of those you consider ‘Lowborn rubble,’ and like any member of my Sentinels, she will lay down her life to protect her fellow patriots without hesitation.” Vince walked up next to Gideon and towered over the Highlord. “My honorable Highlord, are you familiar with the rules within the Founder’s Doctrine regarding families of an Elite? Any harm upon my kin would be considered aggression toward me, and since I represent the emperor’s will, it wouldn’t be a stretch to regard such acts as treason.”
Gideon’s cheeks flushed pink with anger, and the ratty little man shifted uncomfortably.
Vince’s grin grew even wider. “And treason is such an ugly, ugly thing. But, of course, I am sure you are familiar with such laws; you do have quite a wonderful family yourself. I do have to thank you for bringing up such a relevant hypothetical; your concern over the well-being of my people is gratefully noted.” With a casual wave of his hand, Vince dismissed the Sentinels. Once again, with uncanny synchronization, the unit jumped to attention, rotated a perfect 180 degrees, and left the way they came.
The meeting is going rather well, all things considered. Darius wanted to make his point, and Vince certainly had helped him accomplish that. If Gideon’s pride got wounded on the way, it was even better. Personally, Darius thought Vince was a bit overly dramatic with his implied threat, but it was difficult to question the effectiveness. Most people had undoubtedly observed the drops of sweat dripping down the back of Gideon’s head. “Thank you all for voicing your concerns, but please, go see to the festivities; I shall join you all shortly,” Darius announced politely, giving the Highlord an excuse to leave.
With a curt bow toward the prince, Gideon stormed out of the throne room. One by one, all the other nobles paid their respects and left to enjoy the coronation celebrations. Aside from the prince and his Shadow, Katherine was the last to leave. She looked at the men with amusement, then winked at Vince before joining the crowd, her heels clicking against the marble floors.
As the throne room door swung closed, Darius walked up to his Shadow and patted Vince on the back. “They are even more impressive than you described.”
“Thank you. I merely gave them the chance to live up to their potential.”
“I hope they are as competent as you claim. Did my uncle talk to you about this?”
Vince replied with a nod.
“Of course,” Darius said and guided Vince toward the back of the room, away from the guards. Though he trusted their discretion, true privacy felt like luxury for a ruler. “Why do you think he didn’t oppose your placement?”
“His dissatisfaction toward the post is no secret,” Vince said blankly.
Darius didn’t buy it. He had known Vince for a long time; somehow, his friend had always possessed an extraordinary understanding of people. Darius didn’t need a Shadow right now, not on a stressful day like this. What he needed was his friend. “Take longer than a second to answer, Vince. What do you really think?”
“You must focus on the task at hand; your coronation is within the hour,” Vince replied seriously.
“It would help me to focus if I didn’t have that question floating on my mind the whole time,” Darius countered.
Vince conceded with a sigh. He took a deep breath and lowered his voice. “He is in love. Everyone thinks he’s having a fling with Emelia, but they have been in love for a long time.”
While not totally surprised, Darius let out a soft whistle. “His duty did not forbid him from pursuing romance.”
“Love is a weakness the Shadow cannot afford,” Vince said, his voice wavering slightly. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they eloped together.”
The image of Manus sneaking away with the supreme general in the middle of the night made Darius chuckle. He had never known Emelia to do anything subtly, and that was one of the reasons he respected her. “Thank you. I needed that,” Darius said, earnestly. If love is scarce for the Shadow, then laughter was equally rare for the emperor.
“If there is nothing else, I must attend to the security,” Vince said and took a deep bow.
Darius rested a hand on his friend�
�s shoulder. “There’s one more thing.”
Vince turned back.
“You mentioned your sister, but isn’t she dead?” Darius asked. Part of him felt guilty for bringing up such a sad topic, but it was his right to know the truth.
“Yes. But there are no official records of her death. The only reason the government even kept track of us orphans was because some of us were forced into petty crime,” Vince said bitterly.
That made sense to Darius, but the nobles had a lot of resources at their disposal. If any mention was ever recorded, they would find it. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Vince answered with a deep bow, and turned to leave. “We are orphans; we do all we can to survive in this world.” The bitterness was apparent in his voice. “And when we die … no one cares.”
Darius watched his friend leave. He didn’t know what he could do, but what had happened wasn’t his father’s fault. Triton had done his best, but the nobles always fought against change.
For the good of the empire, some deaths are unavoidable, he rationalized. But somehow, much to his chagrin, the guilt didn’t fade away.
Chapter 5: Smile
Vince looked out into the courtyard and cracked his knuckles. He never forgot about Lucia, not for a single moment, but actually talking about her death made him hot with anger. The cruel world had ripped her away, and in exchange, had granted him the gift of alchemy. As a child, there was a point when he would have traded almost anything to become an alchemist, but his sister was never on the list.
Forcibly, he shook Lucia out of his thoughts. There was too much to do for him to simply stand around feeling angry. At any moment, someone could already be plotting Darius’s demise. All of Vince’s Sentinels had scattered to strategic locations around the palace grounds, ready to act upon any danger. Truth be told, with the additional securities in place for the festival, perhaps he could relax a little.