The academy courtyard buzzed with the subdued energy of hundreds of young students. Conversations overlapped, instructors crossed between buildings, and groups of newly awakened children practiced their abilities beneath the morning sun.
Yet Jai barely noticed any of it.
Operating under the identity of Arthur Barne, he stood among the crowd with his attention fixed on a single man.
The stranger looked almost out of place.
He wore a perfectly tailored black suit beneath a broad-brimmed black hat that cast a shadow over the upper half of his face. A single monocle rested over his left eye, connected to a thin golden chain that disappeared beneath his coat.
But his appearance wasn't what disturbed Jai.
It was the aura.
A subtle, cold pressure radiated from the man's body.
Jai's expression slowly hardened.
I've felt this before.
The energy carried the unmistakable signature of the Chronos-Cage Latch.
The same artifact used to imprison Morisa.
The same artifact connected to Vystan.
Jai studied the man more carefully.
Something wasn't right.
He knew Vystan's face.
This wasn't him.
The man before him appeared younger and leaner, lacking the rough, hardened features Jai remembered from their previous encounter.
Then who is he?
The question refused to leave Jai's mind.
Either Vystan had given the artifact to someone else...
or something much more complicated was happening.
Across the courtyard, Jai spotted Morisa talking excitedly with several of her friends.
He immediately walked toward her.
"Morisa."
She turned.
"Big Brother Arthur!"
Jai kept his expression casual.
"Do you know who that man is?"
He subtly nodded toward the figure in black.
Morisa followed his gaze.
"Oh!"
Recognition immediately appeared on her face.
"That's our new principal."
Jai blinked.
"The principal?"
"Yes."
"The new one?"
Morisa nodded enthusiastically.
"The old principal was expelled."
Jai raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Morisa's expression immediately twisted with disgust.
"He was doing disgusting things."
Her voice dropped.
"He was behaving inappropriately with some of the girls in the academy."
Jai's expression hardened.
"The Academy Committee investigated him. They collected evidence and removed him immediately."
Morisa crossed her arms.
"And my brother made sure that wasn't the end of his punishment."
"What happened?"
"He was sent to work on farms."
Jai stared at her.
Morisa nodded proudly.
"Zayn said that if the man couldn't respect other people, then he should learn what honest hard work feels like."
Jai almost smiled.
That certainly sounded like something Zayn would do.
Still, the old principal wasn't important.
The new one was.
"But how do you know all of this?" Jai asked. "You've been away from the academy."
Morisa laughed.
"Brother, you're forgetting who I am."
Jai looked at her.
"Everyone here knows me."
She lifted her chin proudly.
"I'm the princess."
Jai sighed.
"Of course."
"If I miss something, my friends tell me immediately."
Morisa gestured toward the group behind her.
"Gossip, academy news, royal announcements... everything."
Jai nodded.
That made sense.
"Then tell me about the new principal."
Morisa looked toward the man again.
"Why are you so interested in him?"
Jai immediately realized he had pushed too hard.
He needed an explanation that suited Arthur Barne.
"I'm curious because I'm working here now."
Morisa continued staring at him.
Jai kept his expression completely serious.
"If I want to succeed in this academy, I need to understand the people running it."
He paused.
"I don't want to remain a probationary instructor forever."
Morisa's eyes brightened.
Jai continued.
"One day, I want to hold an important position here. Maybe even become the head of the academy."
He smiled faintly.
"Or perhaps work directly for the royal family."
Morisa immediately grabbed his arm.
"Brother!"
Jai nearly flinched.
"I'm going to help you."
"What?"
"I'm serious."
She looked completely determined.
"I'll help you become the head of this academy."
Jai stared at her.
"You don't have to—"
"You deserve it."
Jai decided not to argue.
"Fine."
Morisa smiled proudly.
Then she finally answered his original question.
"His name is Abinay."
Jai listened carefully.
"He used to work at another prestigious academy."
"What position?"
"I'm not sure."
Morisa shrugged.
"But everyone says his evaluations were excellent. He's supposed to be very intelligent and very good at explaining difficult topics to children."
Jai looked toward Abinay again.
"Anything else?"
"That's mostly it."
Morisa thought for a moment.
"He had a very strong professional reputation, so the academy leadership approved him as the new principal."
Jai nodded slowly.
Abinay.
The name meant nothing to him.
But the aura did.
Before he could ask anything else, Morisa's friends called out.
"Morisa!"
She looked over her shoulder.
"I have to go."
Jai nodded.
"Go ahead."
"I'll talk to you later, Big Brother."
She hurried away.
Jai remained in place.
His thoughts raced.
Abinay had recently transferred from another academy.
He had excellent credentials.
He had somehow been given the principal position.
And he carried the unmistakable aura of the Chronos-Cage artifact.
Did Vystan give it to him?
That possibility didn't feel right.
Artifacts like that weren't casually handed around.
Especially not something powerful enough to restrain prisoners and punish anyone who tried to tamper with it.
Jai pressed one finger against his eyebrow, thinking deeply.
He didn't notice James approaching.
James had finished his morning work and immediately spotted Jai standing motionless in the courtyard.
He recognized the posture.
Jai was thinking.
Deeply.
"Ja—"
James stopped himself.
"Arthur."
No response.
James frowned.
"Arthur."
Still nothing.
He walked closer.
"Bro."
Nothing.
James reached out and tapped Jai's shoulder.
Jai reacted instantly.
Golden light flashed.
His hand moved before his mind fully caught up.
The hilt of Aureon appeared, and the golden blade materialized with a sharp hum.
A second later, its edge rested against James's neck.
James froze.
His eyes widened.
"Bro!"
Jai's focus snapped back.
"It's me!"
James raised both hands.
"Your cousin!"
Jai stared at him.
Then slowly lowered the sword.
The golden blade dissolved.
James stepped back, rubbing his neck.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
Jai exhaled.
"What do you want?"
"I was calling you!"
James looked irritated.
"More than twice."
Jai said nothing.
"What were you thinking about?"
Jai immediately pointed toward Abinay.
"Look at him."
James followed his finger.
"The man in black?"
"Yes."
"What about him?"
Jai lowered his voice.
"Don't just look."
James frowned.
"Feel."
He concentrated.
"Focus on the aura around him."
James extended his elemental senses.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then his expression changed.
His eyes widened.
"No way."
Jai nodded.
"You feel it?"
"The cage artifact."
"Exactly."
James stared at Abinay.
"Is that..."
He lowered his voice further.
"Is that Vystan?"
"I'm wondering the same thing."
"But that's not his face."
"I know."
James continued staring.
"Then let's confront him."
Jai immediately shook his head.
"No."
"Why not?"
"We don't know enough."
James leaned closer.
"Listen to me."
Jai waited.
"This is an academy."
"So?"
"He's the principal."
James gestured around them.
"There are students everywhere. Teachers. Guards. Staff."
Jai understood where he was going.
"If he attacks us here..."
"Everyone sees it."
James nodded.
"He can't behave however he wants."
Jai considered the idea.
"And if he really is connected to Vystan, we might learn something just by talking to him."
James smiled.
"Exactly."
Jai remained silent for several seconds.
Then he nodded.
"Fine."
James straightened.
"But don't accuse him of anything."
"Obviously."
"And be ready."
James looked offended.
"I'm always ready."
Jai gave him a look.
"Sure."
The two walked across the courtyard toward Abinay.
Their movements remained relaxed.
Nothing about them suggested suspicion.
Abinay noticed them approaching.
Before either could introduce himself, he spoke.
"Arthur."
Jai stopped.
Abinay's monocle caught the sunlight.
"You're the new instructor."
Jai nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Abinay looked toward James.
"And you must be Clement."
James nodded.
"The royal administration informed me about both of you."
His smile appeared professional.
Controlled.
"I'm pleased to have promising young people joining the academy."
Jai smiled politely.
"Thank you, sir."
Abinay looked between them.
"Did you need something?"
"A question about your work?"
Jai shook his head.
"No, sir."
"We only wanted to introduce ourselves properly."
Abinay raised an eyebrow.
Jai continued.
"If we're all working in the same academy, I think it's better to maintain a good relationship between instructors, workers, and administration."
Abinay gave a short laugh.
"That's a mature way to think."
He adjusted the edge of his sleeve.
"Not everyone here is as welcoming."
James remained silent.
Abinay continued.
"Several instructors were unhappy when I received the principal position."
Jai pretended to be surprised.
"Why?"
"Because I was brought in from outside."
His expression became mildly amused.
"There were internal candidates who had worked here for years."
"And you were selected instead?"
"Apparently."
Abinay shrugged.
"I didn't expect it either."
Then he smiled.
"But perhaps it was Emperor Dominatrix's grace."
Jai froze internally.
James did too.
Neither allowed the reaction to reach his face.
But their eyes briefly met.
Dominatrix?
Jai turned back toward Abinay.
The principal had said the name naturally.
Casually.
Like someone invoking a religious figure.
Jai needed to know why.
"Sir..."
Abinay looked at him.
"Do you worship Emperor Dominatrix?"
The question came out more directly than Jai intended.
Abinay's smile faded.
Jai immediately realized his mistake.
Abinay straightened.
"Yes."
His tone became colder.
"My people honor her."
Jai listened carefully.
"Just as many people in her homeland do."
Then Abinay's eyes narrowed.
"But your tone makes it sound as if you find something strange about my background."
Jai immediately raised his hands slightly.
"That wasn't my intention."
Abinay remained quiet.
"I apologize."
Jai bowed his head.
"I worded the question poorly."
The tension slowly faded.
Abinay adjusted his coat.
"Very well."
Jai gave another respectful nod.
"Thank you for giving us your time, sir."
"We'll work hard."
Abinay's professional smile returned.
"Do that."
He stepped past them.
"Work hard long enough, young man, and one day you'll see how much your life can change."
With that, Abinay walked away.
Jai and James watched him head toward a large black wooden cart waiting near the academy entrance.
Neither spoke.
The moment Abinay stepped inside the cart, his entire expression collapsed.
Sweat covered his forehead.
His hands trembled slightly.
They don't know.
He forced himself to breathe.
They don't know that I'm Vystan.
For several seconds, relief washed over him.
Then another thought struck.
But why were they watching me?
His breathing tightened again.
How did they suspect anything?
He looked down at himself.
His disguise was flawless.
His clothing was different.
His face was different.
His voice was controlled.
Then he felt it.
That faint vibration.
The artifact.
The Chronos-Cage Latch.
Its energy leaked through the disguise like smoke through cracks.
Vystan's expression darkened.
That's it.
Anyone familiar with the artifact could recognize the aura.
The disguise hid his body.
Not the artifact's energy.
I need to suppress it.
He leaned back in the cushioned seat.
Or get rid of it.
The driver climbed into position and started the cart.
As the wheels began turning, he glanced backward.
"Vystan."
Vystan immediately looked at him.
"Did they figure you out?"
"No."
The answer came quickly.
The driver remained expressionless.
"If they discover who you are, you're dead."
Vystan frowned.
"I know."
"Do you?"
Vystan ignored him.
The cart rolled away from the academy.
Later, Jai and James returned to a quiet section of the academy grounds.
They needed to talk.
Abinay was Vystan.
Or at least the evidence was now pointing strongly in that direction.
Before they could begin discussing it, hurried footsteps approached.
Zayn appeared.
He looked unusually tense.
"My father and mother are back."
Jai froze.
James looked toward him.
"What?"
Zayn nodded.
"They've returned to the kingdom."
Then he looked directly at both of them.
"And they want to meet you."
Jai's thoughts stopped.
The King.
That was already a problem.
Then another detail registered.
"Your mother?"
Zayn frowned.
Jai immediately realized how the question sounded.
"I'm sorry."
He lowered his voice.
"Morisa told us that your biological mother died when you were born."
Zayn's expression softened slightly.
"Yes."
He sighed.
"I'm talking about my stepmother."
"Morisa's mother?"
"Exactly."
Zayn nodded.
"The current Queen of Khazadcoher."
James and Jai exchanged a glance.
Zayn continued.
"She and my father want to meet the two men who rescued Morisa."
Jai's stomach tightened.
This was exactly what they had been trying to delay.
They had expected the meeting eventually.
But not now.
Not while their disguises were still fragile.
Not while they had just discovered Vystan inside the academy.
And certainly not while facing two of the most powerful people in the entire Dwarf Kingdom.
"When?" Jai asked.
"Now."
James stared at him.
"Now?"
Zayn nodded.
"They're waiting."
Silence.
Jai and James looked at each other.
There was no believable excuse left.
They were supposed to be Arthur and Clement Barne.
Two ordinary travelers.
A teacher.
A construction worker.
Yet they were about to stand directly before the King and Queen of Khazadcoher.
Jai closed his eyes briefly.
Of course.
First Vystan.
Now the King and Queen.
He opened his eyes.
Sometimes it felt as though destiny had developed a personal hatred for him.
Every time the road became easier...
something else appeared.
Jai exhaled slowly.
"Fine."
He looked toward Zayn.
"Take us to them."
As they began walking toward the palace, one thought remained lodged in Jai's mind.
Behind him was a disguised enemy.
Ahead of him waited a King and Queen powerful enough to expose his own disguise.
For the first time since arriving in Khazadcoher, Jai wasn't sure which direction was more dangerous.