I bested both Alon and Elwin. It wasn't that they were bad—though Oneus would disagree—but now I was finally up to the academy's lower average, the hard-earned skills I'd developed back on Earth could really breathe.

The class ended before I could fight again, but Master Oneus said I'd be sparring with the top half of the class the following cycle. It was what I wanted. I'd tried so hard not to be noticed prior to going to Velkyn, but with the honor pin and the stories circulating, that just wasn't possible anymore.

Which meant I had to make the most of every opportunity.

The fact that Earl had come through to the Union and was leveling up… deep down I knew that meant one day I'd have to face him.

Maybe in sixty years when the portal to Earth reopened, but a clash was inevitable and I had to be ready for the mad bastard.

Once home, I intended to keep training just as hard as I did here, and with Ressa's help, developing my magic should still be possible.

Command class had been boring so far. A lot of droning on from Master Hertan about the importance of appearances. How the rank and file will look to us as shining examples and we must provide what they need for morale.

Hours talking about correct marching style and posture. Well-polished armor. A commanding voice.

Today's lesson was no different.

At least until the last half an hour when his attention turned to searching the class.

It landed on me and I stifled a groan as he continued to talk.

"Sometimes! Leadership can extend beyond the parameters of appearance and standing. Of confidence and pride!"

Please don't do it, Hertan don't. I begged internally.

"Some of our greatest heroes led from the front! And if the rumors of Xeo incursions are true, and the Siroth presence continues to grow, there will come a time where you all may have to throw caution into the wind and charge into battle to save our precious Union."

Ah shit.

"Just as one of your class mates did during the ferocious Siroth Uprising on the world of Velkyn last Freeday!"

A murmuring built around the auditorium. Heads turned, confused. Some eyes landed on me, but it was clear news hadn't completely filtered down from the faculty to the students yet. Hertan just made sure it would.

Bastard.

"Adam Henshaw! Please come to the front and share your experiences. I'm sure the whole class could learn a thing or two from your bravery."

No, you absolute twat. You're setting me up.

Of all the eyes on me, my roommates were the worst. More because they all knew how I'd feel about this. Sympathy. Bleurgh!

I stood, straightened my shoulders and pointedly ignored everyone as I made my way to the front.

Hertan gestured to his podium for me to stand. It looked like gallows to me. "Start from the beginning, Honored Squire of House Garazal. Leave no stone unturned and tell us how you earned the Pin."

I took a deep breath, unfocused my vision on the center of the crowded room, and reminded myself this was a Command and Leadership class. Lying would be expected.

"I was asked to accompany the 1st Cohort of Garazal's House Guard to a meeting on the world of Velkyn. There were twenty-three of us, and our task was to acquire the services of a strong Earther fighting in the arena tournaments there. "It was hoped that my presence might sway the Earther's interest in joining House Garazal.

"When we arrived, the Siroth had already attacked the Velkyn arena and were causing mayhem on the streets."

The whispering and muttering around the room was getting louder. I doubled down on blocking everything out and kept going.

"The Earther had been kidnapped, so we called for backup and engaged the Siroth forces in an attempt to rescue him.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"They managed to carry him through an illegal portal before we could reach him, and in trying to stop them, we were overwhelmed. "Twenty-three against hundreds. We had to retreat and hold until reinforcements could arrive.

"Unfortunately, Siroth rebels sandwiched us in a narrow street, and we had no choice but to fight through them. "With my fellow House Guard, I attacked, broke their lines, and managed to link up with the arriving reinforcements."

"Don't be modest, Adam!" Hertan practically shouted in my ear. "I have it on good authority that you led the charge and broke their line!"

Keeping my face neutral, I shook my head slightly. "It was so tight, it's hard to say, Master Hertan. But I fought with everything I had and helped House Garazal win the day. In the end, that's all I care about."

I wanted to vomit in my mouth at the lie.

He smiled at me, but it wasn't friendly. "Does anyone have any questions for Adam?"

Multiple hands rose and Hertan gestured to a student a few rows back.

"How many of the evil bastards did you kill?"

I didn't even look at his face, keeping my vision unfocused. "Altogether, I think it was eight. Possibly more."

There was a collective gasp from some corners of the crowd, and I winced internally. Had telling them that been a mistake?

"They must have been weak," a familiar voice said. Arun. No doubt about it. But I ignored the jibe.

It fell to someone else to answer. "No. I heard about it. Augur Stanis was killed, and Warden Anso was injured by an enchanted arrow."

I didn't recognize the voice—a girl somewhere near the back.

"Doesn't mean the ones he killed weren't weak," Arun snapped back, full of venom.

"Except it was his charge that saved Anso. So I've heard it told," she replied just as bitterly.

"Anyone else?" Hertan shouted over Arun's grumbling reply.

"I have a question."

It was Aeloria's voice, and I had no idea which one of her personalities had turned up today. Would she be friend or foe?

"As you well know, Adam Henshaw, House Besas were also interested in this Earther—and from what we've heard, it was a thrust from his spear that killed Augur Stanis. Is that true?"

What was she up to?

"I couldn't say. There was a lot going on at the time. Magic was flying and weapons were swinging."

"You were behind Augur Stanis when he was killed, were you not?"

I thought fast.

"We were in a cluster. There was no front or back. I was close to him, but I didn't see the blow that killed him."

"Ah, well, multiple sources have confirmed that the Earther struck the blow. But that is not what I find most interesting about the whole peculiar affair."

She paused, and while I didn't respond, my focus returned like a searing blade on her. The bitch was smiling.

"His name was also Henshaw. Like yours."

I shrugged. "It's a common enough name on Earth. I'm sure there's more than just one person called Besas or Aeloria in the cosmos."

She scowled. It was such a simple comeback, but she had no clever answer for it.

"So you didn't recognize the man?"

I slapped my hands down on the podium and held her stare. "I hadn't realized this was a trial, Aeloria. And it seems you already know more about the battle I was involved in than I do myself, so if you've got something you want to say, then just say it."

She preened like I'd paid her a compliment, hands on hips, chin high in the air.

"I suspect you knew who he was. Why else would House Garazal take you to the meeting?"

Maybe it was because of how much Earl had shaken me. Maybe it was just PTSD from the fight. More likely, it was a combination of everything, because the words shot from my mouth before I could stop them.

"I suspect I was sent for the same reason you spoke to your father and tried to poach me for House Besas."

The classroom erupted. The kind of gasps and urgent chatter that always follow the reveal of a dirty secret. All eyes were on Aeloria now, and she had turned a deep golden hue of embarrassment or anger. Maybe both.

"Class!" Hertan barked. "Quieten down this instant. That is quite enough of this unseemly behavior. Adam, please retake your seat."

I strode off, head held high, looking straight ahead and nowhere else. I'd potentially just fucked up massively, but it was done, and I couldn't take it back now, so I'd own it.

"Grogir's balls," Torma said as I sat back down next to him. "That was the best entertainment I've had in years. You should public speak more often, Adam."

I ignored the laughing Grunir, and not just because I didn't know what to say, but because Ressa had laid her hand on my thigh and leaned close, speaking in a low whisper.

"There might be comeback from that, Adam, but it was beautiful to watch and I'm glad I was here for it. Her face…" She giggled. "Oh, her face was a picture I'll cherish forever."

"Oh," Yoru said, overhearing. "There will be comeback."

"And it was still worth it," Ellaazi added, chuckling as she tried to whisper and managed zero volume filter. At least the next four rows down from us heard her, and a couple of them even looked back, more curious than anything.

I stayed quiet and saw the rest of the class out that way.

The walk to Dueling class was different. Some of the Archons in the year came up, full of smiles and friendly chatter. I heard disbelief at how Aeloria had tried to grill me, and satisfaction that I'd turned the ordeal on her. Apparently trying to poach talent from other houses really was frowned on—and now everyone knew.

I smiled, thanked those with kind words, and avoided the less savory glares sent in my direction. There was definitely a divide forming, but that couldn't be helped.

The most unexpected thing was that Aeloria didn't show up to Dueling. I supposed it shouldn't have come as a surprise, but she was a teacher's pet. I hadn't seen her miss a lesson since I arrived.

Chewing over what she was up to wouldn't help anyone, so I pushed her from my mind and retrieved a training sword.

Like Heavy Weapons, this was the first time since coming here I was fully interested in learning to fight with a sword.

Usually, Ressa and I just went through the motions and she gave me general pointers. But this time, I demanded she teach me properly.

When I faced Earl again, I would be the best version of myself.

When I faced him again, I'd put him down myself.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.