I expected fallout from Aetheric magic class, but it never came. I wasn't sure if people were just accepting my presence here, or if Arun and Valda hated Aeloria so much that they'd go the opposite way just to spite her. Even if it meant continuing to ignore me.

The next unavoidable moment of interaction came predictably in Unarmed Combat. It was the lesson that everything changed.

As the whole year was split into two classes, there was a lopsided merging and sundering of the classes.

Arun, Erale, Aeloria, and myself remained with Master Yoshun. We were joined by Ellaazi, and three other Archons: Geran who was as tall as Arun, if not as wide; Olise, a much shorter Archon woman, barely over six feet tall and as slender as Ressa; and Edar, a heavily muscled Archon, only a little taller than Aeloria, but he carried himself like a fighter and looked dangerous. The eight of us now made up the entirety of our class.

Master Yoshun clapped his hand to silence us. "Welcome. You will no doubt understand that this class is now for the elite fighters among the year. There is still room for movement in and out of this class, depending on performance.

"For those joining into my class, I have heard only good things about you. Ellaazi Stormhold, I am particularly interested to see what you have to offer in our sparring bouts. Though, I am slightly disheartened that our best unarmed fighters are not Archons this year. Thankfully, with weapons, our people still excel."

I wasn't sure how I felt about the casual racism, but after a moment's thought, I decided I didn't care. It was part of Archon culture to be prideful, boastful assholes, and I wasn't here to fix that.

But what really got me curious was that he still ranked me above Aeloria despite her beating me. I'd expected her or Arun to say something, but nothing was said. Something was going on above my head, and that made me feel deeply uneasy.

"Nonetheless," Yoshun continued, "we are here for unarmed combat. How this will work is we will train and we will fight. Two fights a cycle until everyone has faced each other. Should you lose to everyone present, you will be transferred to Master Salo's class, with their top-ranked fighter moving the other direction. Do you all understand?"

As one, we nodded. I wondered if I should lose and be demoted to extricate myself from whatever was going on. Would they let me? Would it cause more issues?

Just as I was chewing over the path I should choose, a voice shouted from the entrance to the hall.

"Master Yoshun! Please let Adam Henshaw be excused for the rest of the lesson. His presence has been requested on urgent business at the Dean's office."

Yoshun frowned, but nodded and gestured for me to leave. I met Ellaazi's questioning eyes with a shrug as I passed and felt all the eyes in the hall on me as I marched across the lacquered wooden floor like it was hot coals.

The woman escorting me turned out to be a receptionist, just one I'd never met before having no reason to walk past the desk once I had my uniform.

She walked in complete silence, not giving anything away about why I'd been summoned. I felt like a naughty school kid being hauled in front of the headmaster, but I couldn't for the life of me think what I'd done, short of Ressa's plan being let out of the bag somehow. Or perhaps Aeloria had managed to cause trouble for me somehow.

After allowing thoughts to tumble through my head without hope of an answer, I pulled myself up. I found it easy to overthink, but I never found it did any good.

Instead, I took measured breaths, controlling my breathing. Then I tried to be mindful of my surroundings. The clip of our feet echoing from the walls, the view from the windows as insects buzzed around the flowers of the Academy gardens.

I smiled at people we passed, though they were all Archons, and not one of them smiled back. When I arrived at the door to the Dean's office, I felt calm and ready for anything.

The receptionist knocked, then poked her head through the door. "I have Adam Henshaw here for you.

"Thank you kindly, Esla, please show him in."

I stepped through the door, focusing on keeping a clear mind which was a paradox in itself, until I saw the two Archons standing in front of the Dean's desk.

Warden Anso bobbed his head in greeting. Augur Stanis just stared at me, expressionless and hate-filled all at once, just like he always did.

"Thank you, Dean. We will have him returned to you next Loh to resume his lessons, and rest assured, while he is with us, he will only advance in preparation for the tournament. Prime Garazal is taking a keen interest in this year's event, and particularly Adam's role in it."

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The Dean nodded, a shadow of irritation on her face at Anso's words. I wondered what was passing between them that I couldn't read. What history and grievances were being played out with each sentence.

As I considered the larger game being played here, Stanis opened up a portal, and Anso came alongside me, gesturing for us to enter.

The familiar wave of nausea rocked me as we stepped through. Though the difference between the first time I went through one of the Augur's portals and this time was the difference between getting showered in Niagara falls or a faulty shower in a shitty motel.

I didn't miss a beat as we arrived in a huge courtyard, paved with golden colored slabs that still shone despite being outside and clearly well-traveled.

In front of us were two of the largest doors I'd ever seen in my life. They were also entirely gold and covered in swirling patterns and runes of inlaid onyx.

As I gawped, Anso gestured in front of us. "Welcome to Prime Garazal's summer home."

I was speechless and still confused as to why I was here. The questions swirling in my mind didn't make it to my mouth as Anso started walking again.

"Remember your manners, Adam. Elasin Garazal is a patient man, but his patience has limits."

I nodded grimly as I was whisked through a grand entrance hall and into a much larger space beyond. It was empty, but it had a number of high-backed chairs at the end, and benches in rows that filled the space.

Clearly, it was a throne room, but no one was present. We clipped through at a fair pace, Warden Anso clearly eager to get me to my destination. The sense of dread I'd managed to suppress heading to the Dean's office was back but magnified, and I couldn't shake it. If not for Warden Anso's assertion to the Dean that I'd be back in a few days, then I'd be certain I was brought here to be executed for plotting to escape.

That didn't mean it wasn't going to happen, but it was the only hope I had.

At the back of the throne room, there was a number of doors. We went through the one to the far left, down three stairs, through another door, along a stone tunnel with flickering magical lights that emulated the feel of candles, until we reached another room.

This one was like an office lounge, with dark green leather couches around a fire place. There was a large table with a map laid out on it, dividing the room, and on the other side, in front of a large, arched window was a desk. At it sat an Archon.

He had long, golden blond hair tied back tightly, and he poured over documents with a keen eye. A keen eye that looked up and landed on me.

A slow, sly smile surfaced on his face. "Finally, I meet my prodigious Earther."

He didn't look any older than Anso by his face, and younger than the Dean as he had no white hair, but something in his eyes told me that he was far, far older than either. I checked his stats, and what little confidence I was able to fake melted away.

Name: Elasin Garazal

Title: Archon Prime. Tenth of the Magnate. Head of House of Garazal.

Level: 61

Class: Warrior/Mage/Tradesman

I couldn't get past his level. I knew there had to be higher leveled people out there than the ones I'd seen, but so far, Anso had been the highest and he was a shrimp compared to this guy. I wondered how much damage he could do. How long I'd last if he decided to attack.

When he frowned, I realized I'd not responded. Just stood there staring like an idiot.

"Apologies… Lord… Prime… Garazal." Any desires to give this man a piece of my mind over the last several weeks were forgotten. I took the path of least resistance. "It is an honor to be here."

"Bravo! That's the spirit, Adam. We have high hopes for you." He stood, towering over both Anso and me at close to seven feet tall. "Did you know that there was a time when Archons were considered the pinnacle of evolution in the Union? While that still holds true to a certain extent, we have become much more tolerant of the other races. We see now that many of them have a lot to offer in their differences.

"Take you for example. A rare species among the Union worlds, but it has been intriguing to receive reports of your progress. I began to wonder if there are many other Earthers with your drive and range of abilities. Could Earth supply more Warrior Mages? I even considered having a more permanent access to your world created.

"However, having done my research and assessed a number of other Earthers, I discovered that your race is not especially powerful. We were just incredibly lucky to find you."

He walked around me, looking me up and down. "You're smaller than I expected, but you move like a predator, and that look in your eye speaks volumes to your character."

He returned to his desk chair and sat again, steepling his fingers and resting his chin on them to study me. "In fact, I had all but given up on finding another Earther with your qualities, and then a simple drop-in visit from my Warden to check up on you unearths word of another." He chuckled. "You might be interested to know that we have found Prime Besas' target, and we have done a little research. He is not a Warrior Mage."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"As was I. Yet Besas still made a sizable offer for the man, so we looked a little deeper."

I nodded. "They seemed to be very impressed with him judging by the way Aeloria spoke."

"Yes, indeed. Yet he has refused their offer. I understand this was done against the wishes of his current owners. He would be an interesting study piece if nothing else, and we intend to purchase him."

I nodded, wondering what the hell any of this had to do with me.

"We are sending a delegation to Irala, which brings me to your sudden presence in my halls. I believe you may be able to convince him to accept any offer we make."

I frowned. "Why on Earth would me being there convince him to agree to be bought? What can I say? I was bought as a slave as well."

"You are thinking in small-minded Earther ways, Adam. You have the cosmos at your feet, under my watchful eye of course."

I ground my teeth, but nodded.

"You leave tomorrow morning. The Earther has an arena fight, and I expect to take possession of him—win, lose or draw—after the match. There has been rumors of a strong Siroth presence on the planet. These outlying worlds are the perfect breeding ground for the scum and while we don't expect any trouble, you will go with the 1st Cohort of my household guard."

He leaned back in his chair. "Congratulations. You are now officially a Squire of House Garazal, and I have taken the liberty of having House armor made up for you."

"Armor? For me?"

"Of course. You will require it during your military placement here. Now run along for your fitting. Any necessary adjustments can be made this evening, and it will be ready for you in the morning."

It seemed that the theme of the day would be gawping. The powerful Archon went back to his paperwork while Anso tapped my elbow and gestured for me to follow.

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