The Emperor finished his food and sent the Empresses away.
Getting to his quarters, it hit him…
"Where is Ezra?"
Bolton came to his aid, whispering to him the answer.
At the same time, Bolton took the chance to tell the Emperor of Ezra's acquisition of Skyfall.
The Emperor's eyes widened and he turned to face Bolton with a fiery expression.
"When did this happen? And why wasn't I told sooner"
Bolton stepped back.
"Seven years ago,"
"That's-"
"Yes sire, it happened on the eve of war, the same day you left"
"Call him here" the Emperor huffed.
"As you wish" Bolton swiftly moved.
—------------------------
Ezra stood in front of his father with his hands behind his back.
"My boy. You have grown"
Ezra shook his head.
"Father, it's all thanks to you"
"You've even gotten better at using your tongue"
"Sir?"
"Never mind"
The Emperor went straight to the topic at hand.
"Now, Bolton tells me you have bonded with Skyfall, is this true?"
Ezra nodded.
"Show it to me"
Without delay, Ezra took off his pin sized scythe from his clothes and enlarged it.
"Hoo…" the Emperor gasped in amazement.
"You have already grasped its nature to a sufficient level" he nodded.
"Good. Seems it will of best to get you a new trainer as soon as possible"
Ezra's eyes widened in alarm.
'I can't let that happen'
And thankfully, he had prepared for this situation.
"You seem surprised" the Emperor remarked.
Ezra lowered his gaze, allowing silence to reign for another minute.
"I-I don't want another teacher"
"What?"
"I don't want another teacher" Ezra repeated clearly, following up with his intention.
"I want to go to the academy"
Andrew leaned back in his chair.
"I see" he said, staring at his child, before nodding.
"That is…reasonable"
'Now that I think about it…'
He called Bolton to his side.
"Why is the youngest still in the castle?"
"Sire, the academies have been barred from accepting new students for five years now, pertaining your orders"
"Oh yes" the Emperor suddenly remembered.
'I'd forgotten about that'
And how could he not when all his focus was on clearing out the poison.
'But I didn't think it would've taken this long'
"Have them lift the ban"
Bolton nodded.
Ezra was displeased.
'He's powerful…but far more irresponsible' he thought.
But he dared not show it, keeping his gaze lowered, until the emperor spoke again.
"I have granted your request. When shall you be leaving?"
"Hmm?" Ezra was puzzled.
"Haha" the Emperor hit his arm.
"Son, you're going to be a man. You'll make harder decisions in the future" his gazes intensified.
"So…when will you leave for the academy?"
Since he didn't know much about the academy, he avoided naming a specific time.
"I will leave for the academy when the academic year begins"
"Fair enough" said the Emperor, with Bolton whispering in his ears.
"What is this I hear about taking war slaves for personal use"
"They have potential. I simply saw that, and picked them as vassals. I deemed such actions to be my birthright. Was I wrong, your majesty?"
"Having the Empire pay for their living fees is your birthright?"
Ezra shook his head vigorously.
"No, your majesty. Having the Empire incur fees to protect a prince is my birthright" he said.
"And grooming vassals who are to be my personal guards is if the utmost priority to my safety"
Just as Ezra smiled within…
"Ugh!"
A flick from the Emperor had his skull crying.
Ezra looked at the Emperor, who gave a funny smile.
"I see you've gotten better at using that sly tongue of yours"
'Is that why you hit me?!' he wanted to ask.
Right on cue…
"And I've told you stop calling me 'your majesty'"
"Sorry your-I mean, father"
"Besides that, Bolton tells me you've been training diligently. Good, it will do you well"
"Thank you, father"
The Emperor nodded.
"You can go back to training. I have other matters in need of attention"
Ezra swiftly left.
With that, Bolton got back into action, filling the Emperor in matters needing his attention.
Among them…
"Sire. I believe dealing with Black Jaws should be our top priority. We cannot allow them to conti-"
The Emperor raised his palm, shutting him up.
"I agree with your concerns, but there are steps to be taken. And besides, we should be thankful. They have used our money to create things we never thought of, and now…we'll be taking it all back"
Bolton nodded.
"That building they built. That, eh…"
"Skyscraper" Bolton corrected.
"Sky…scraper? What a funny name. Whatever. When will it be completed?"
"It already is"
"Oh? Even better. Schedule the merit award ceremony to be a month from now"
"Is that not too soon? They will be a lot of clamor"
"There would be clamor no matter what we do. Announce this, any who misses the ceremony, automatically forfeits his rewards"
Bolton gulped,
"By your order"
—-------------
Days later, the Emperor's announcement sent Niton into an uproar.
—-------------
As the chaos dispersed, so did Black Jaws's biggest advantage, distraction.
The influx of adventurers solved a multitude of problems, or at least reduced the impact of most of them.
With more adventurers, the explosive growth of the beasts stabilized because they killed beasts to survive.
As more beasts were killed, the availability of materials increased, thereafter affecting the price.
Like so, balance began setting in place, and things began looking up for the economy.
—---------------
In a place unknown, red light permeated the air with a man sitting on a throne of bones with seven people flanking him at his right and left sides.
Their attires were draping crimson robes with skull masks, each person holding a different figure and features, some with gauntlets and others with appendages showing.
The leader, seated on his throne, began…
"How far have we progressed?"
The first person seated at the right flank cleared his throat and spoke…
"I'm afraid we haven't been able to get far"
Another snickered, his robe outlining his huge physique.
"You've barely gained any progress, you meant to say"
The leader's voice resonated, his irritation clear.
"Why so?"
"Huu…months ago, while covertly gathering the needed items, we discovered a group trailing us" he started.
"Normally, such issues would be easily taken care of, but these people were different. They are everywhere, their network is wide, and their resources seem limitless. We've been silencing them, but that only leads to more problems because they keep coming back in greater numbers!"
"What is the name of this group?"
"Black Jaws"
Another interjected…
"What? That Guild?"
He looked to the leader.
"Master, Goceron had failed, send me"
"Quiet"
The speaker shook, quieting up like a mouse.
"I will send whoever I wish whenever I deem it fit. At the current rate of progress, when shall we achieve our aims?"
"It would take nineteen-no, thirteen months"
He tapped his armrest with his index finger.
"Too long. You have eight months, take any means necessary to achieve it"
"At your command"
The leader continued…
"What is truly troubling, is that I have yet to receive news from the other side"
All the members 'hmm'ed.
"Maybe there's a problem with the ingredients? Or maybe the connection?" one inquired.
"Not at all" the leader replied.
"Then…?"
"Crea, what do you have to say about this?" the leader asked.
"Such precedence has happened in the past" she began with the sweetest of tones.
"And in all cases, calamity struck soon after"
"Is that so?"
"It has been so in almost all cases, excluding a few" she continued.
"Hmm, such disturbing news" another chipped.
"Goceron, have our sources begin tracing these 'Black Jaws'. We must know our enemies, lest they strike us unawares"
"Yes"
"The rest of you, be ready to act at a moment's notice. At the same time, assist Goceron with the proceedings. Any quarrels are disallowed"
"Yes" they said in chorus.
"As for me, I will head into seclusion to increase my faith. Perhaps, that will elicit a response from the other side"
They nodded.
"Send a message to our messengers to prepare themselves as well"
The leader quotes…
"The path painted in blood-"
And in chorus, the others finished…
-is the only one for us"
"Dismissed"
The moment he said that, Darkness engulfed the place for a second, and the next, fire spurred from the torches hanging at the wall sides and light came back, but the leader was already gone.
"He's gone"
"We can see that"
Soon after, the members dispersed.
—--------------------
With enemies hidden and unhidden coming for them, Black Jaws was on the move as well.
Taking the best carriages, the Black Jaws regiment arrived at Traxford in less than two weeks.
Swiftly, the members alighted.
Cabrera, Fredrick and Kron arrived in Kingsmere a day later, calling back Black Jaws's top officials.
They immediately go into seclusion.
Like others, they knew the bubble called "buffer zone" that had been protecting them would no longer be enough.
With the war settled, it wouldn't be a surprise, no, it was only a matter of time before things got hectic.
They had to be sufficiently prepared for the inevitable event, lest all they'd achieved would come tumbling down faster than a sand castle as they find themselves robbed of all their worth, that if they were left alive.
Again, it was do or die time. They'd grow strong enough or die trying.
To lower the risk and increase the success rate, a combination of things were in place for smooth cultivation.
It was time to see what their efforts would yield.
