Chapter III.XIX (3.19) - Family Secret

  Kizu feared for Princess Kotei Kuroi’s life. Not because of any sort of secondary assassination attempt, but rather because she appeared to be on her last legs as she rode on an enchanted flying carpet. The crisp mountain air bit into their skin. Spring hadn’t quite made it up to their altitude. The old woman shook as she guided the carpet forward.

  Kizu wondered just how horrible it would be if the elderly princess died right in front of him while they traveled. Thankfully, both Aoi, Taroe, and two other Elites joined them on this expedition. He probably wouldn’t get blamed for her death. Probably.

  Aoi remained silent for the majority of the trip. She acknowledged Kizu with a nod when they first met and then proceeded to stare out into the scenery as they traveled. More than once, Kizu opened his mouth to try to say something, but he second-guessed himself every time and backed down. Her brother was caught in a fate arguably worse than death, and Aoi knew that better than anyone else. Shiroi’s soul was scarred in a way that had no known method of being healed. Nothing Kizu could think to say would make the situation better. Instead he simply joined her in staring out at the world below.

  While Kuroi rode the carpet with him and Aoi, the Elites each used a different means of transportation.

  One of them used an artifact from the World Dungeon in the form of a belt that could tie an invisible cord from the buckle to any object. It essentially made the wearer entirely weightless. So he dangled below the carpet, watching for danger.

  Another Elite rode on elemental weaves of air, not unlike what Kizu had seen both Inari and Sene use. He constantly zipped forward, scouting ahead to seek out any danger, his black cape rippling behind him.

  Finally, Taroe rode on a familiar broomstick. Kizu had last seen it gathering dust in the crone’s doorway closet. He had never even realized it was enchanted, let alone with something as powerful as flight. In fact, he couldn’t even ever remember a time where he touched the thing, never wanting to be seen with it and put to chores. Kizu glared at the broom. It was just like the crone to put something that would allow his escape right next to the door. She’d probably found it hilarious. And likely one of the reasons she’d never taught him how to enhance his spellsense. It would have ruined her joke.

  He tried not to feel bitter about the broomstick, instead he focused on the gorgeous snowcapped mountains all around them. Normally, they would have just jumped up to the academy, but because of some sort of defect in Kuroi, they instead had to find another means to access the school. And this was apparently the fastest method. The normal student body used portals scattered across Hon to come and go from their school, but Kuroi insisted those weren’t possible for her either. There were ground transportation methods that would take a few hours longer, but the old woman had vetoed them as well.

  They landed in a valley of pine trees. The crunch of snow greeted them as they set their feet back on solid ground.

  A massive red gate marked the entrance into the school grounds. It had strips of enchanted paper with stylized calligraphy of the Universal Script pinned to the wooden arch. Ahead of them, a traditionally styled Hon building loomed. It was even larger than Aoi’s family’s palace.

  “That was miserable,” Aoi complained after some prodding from her grandmother. Her voice was rough with disuse and tears. “I still don’t even understand why we’re up here freezing to death.”

  “Come along, Granddaughter,” the old woman said, smiling kindly. She started forward toward the academy entrance.

  The other Elites followed after her, unquestioningly. Kizu looked over to Aoi and gave her a smile he hoped was encouraging. Better to get this over with as quickly as possible.

  Kizu thought Shinzou Academy students stiff and unwelcoming as a whole. But compared to Yamagako, they were all sunshine and smiles. The academy uniform was a black kimono with their years stitched into their sleeves. None of the students met his eyes as they walked through, but he could feel their glares on the back of his head as they passed. Kizu heard one student grinding his teeth as they passed him by, as if barely containing his rage.

  “Sorry,” Aoi muttered. “They don’t like me much. Shiroi went to Shinzou Academy, so I was supposed to attend here, but I refused. It was sort of a minor scandal at the time.”

  Kizu nodded, feeling very lucky his parents hadn’t shipped him off here. Their reasoning was pretty obvious in that they wanted him to create contacts with international students to help with their trading company. But he still felt a wave of gratitude towards them, whether deserved or not.

  While the students made way for them, they only stepped to the side. That changed though when a new student approached. All of his peers fled into nearby classrooms or downside hallways as he walked up to the old woman. He had a slight smirk on his lips, as if he knew some joke no one else was privy to.

  “Welcome, Aunt.”

  “Nasake. It’s lovely to see you. I was disappointed you chose to stay studying instead of attending the parade, but in hindsight I’m glad.”

  “Wouldn’t do to die like my cousins. Or my uncle for that matter.”

  Kizu quickly ran through what he knew of the Hon Royal Family members. Nobody in the Kotei family was this age. Maybe the Danji family? That would make Zenchi his uncle as well.

  Then the boy turned his gaze from his grandmother over to Kizu. Kizu met those cold, lifeless eyes and he knew. This was another member of the Inari family. And his uncle must be…Inari Kusatta. Kizu’s eyes flickered over to Aoi who was standing straight back and refusing to look at her cousin.

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  “Will you join us, Nasake?” Princess Kuroi’s wrinkles deepened as she smiled warmly at the boy.

  “I’m afraid not, Aunt. Research to be done. Yamagako isn’t as lenient as some other academies.”

  “Of course. Do you have the time to escort us to your headmaster?”

  Nasake nodded and their party resumed walking through the halls, now led by Aoi’s cousin. Eventually they met an elderly man with a long white beard, a frown, and alert eyes. He dismissed Nasake immediately and then turned all of his attention to the other royals and Elites. He never once even spared a glance for Kizu.

  “Princess Kuroi,” the stoney faced man greeted. “It’s not the solstice, to what do we owe this honor?”

  The old woman tapped a finger on a wrinkly cheek, considering the question and the man for a long minute.

  “I wished to let you know I was on the academy’s property. I will be visiting the usual location. This may well be my final visit to your academy. Thank you dearly for your hospitality all of these years.”

  “Will you be turning your mantle over to a new generation?” He looked at Aoi who stiffened further under the old man’s scrutiny.

  “Respectfully,” the old woman said. “I don’t believe this concerns you.”

  “Excuse me?” the man spluttered, surprise breaking his disposition. He looked closer at them, narrowed eyes lingering on Aoi and then finally noticing Kizu.

  “I wish you a fine day.” Princess Kuroi resumed her slow hobble down the hallway.

  The Elites bowed their heads to the headmaster as they departed, but said nothing.

  “I’ll record your abnormal arrival in the archives,” the man called after them.

  Kizu wasn’t sure if that was meant to be a formality or a threat, but nobody in his group appeared the least bit disturbed by the news. They all continued on their way, following Kuroi through the labyrinth of hallways.

  He got a peak into some of the classroom as they walked. All were windowless tatami rooms, duplicated near perfectly across the academy. The occupied classes had students kneeling with backs straight while a professor stood up front, lecturing them. Krimpit would preen at how attentive and respectful all these students were.

  “Down this way,” Kuroi said. She pulled a key from her kimono and spent a minute getting it into a door’s keyhole with her shaky hands. It clicked and Kizu watched with his spellsense as the enchantments around the doorframe faded. She slid it open, revealing a dark passageway.

  She passed through the threshold, with the rest of them following after her. Kizu’s shoulders brushed both walls as they walked. They followed Kuroi in a line, one by one. Kizu spotted several other enchantment glyphs as they walked, but they deactivated as Kuroi passed through them. The elderly princess was completely unconcerned. Until they reached the steps leading down. She actively struggled with the stairs. Taroe had to physically lift her from behind by the armpits to help her while still keeping her at the head of their party.

  It took nearly half an hour down that cramped passageway before they reached the bottom of the steps and entered into a circular stone room.

  A young man sat on a bench, backlit by a giant sac that hung suspended from the ceiling by strands of white material. It looked like the egg of a giant insect. A silvery liquid inside the sac glowed. Kizu feared they’d need to fight a giant spider. Or worse, hundreds of dog sized spiders. He mentally steeled himself and ran through his spells.

  The man on the bench was reading a massive book, entirely nonchalant. Despite the low lighting, Kizu managed to get a glimpse of the title before he set it to the side. The Zenith of Man, a Recounting of Mankind’s Achievements.

  “Princess Kuroi,” the man said. His voice sounded hollow, completely devoid of emotion. “What do I owe this honor?”

  “Honzo died yesterday. You understand what that means, right Wan?”

  Wan cocked his head. “That’s unexpected. You are certain?”

  “I am certain that my nephew’s rotting corpse is being prepared for burial as we speak, yes.”

  “Rotting? That shouldn’t start for another day or two. Perhaps you are being a tad hyperbolic?”

  “Undeath accelerates the effects,” Taroe explained. His gruff voice was little more than a growl.

  “A necromancer assassin then. Very unfortunate.” The man exhaled. “He will not be happy about being woken early. But I suppose there is no other solution. It is time. Please stand to the side.”

  Wan stood. His face was smooth and unconcerned. Kizu thought he might be a couple years older than himself. But, unlike the others walking through the academy, he didn’t wear the uniform of either a professor or a student. Instead, he wore just a simple brown shirt and pants.

  “He will be excited to see you,” Wan said to Kuroi. “Perhaps it is better this way. Someone other than myself with a connection to him.”

  The man placed a hand on the silver sac behind him and Kizu watched as egg sac split under his hand. Instead of liquid bursting out, like Kizu expected, Wan’s arm’s pierced into it down to his elbows. The silvery liquid bulged and oozed out, swelling up to Wan’s armpits but it didn’t spill. Wan around for a minute, before retracting something from within. Or rather, someone.

  There was a sickening squelch as the man’s body exited the egg sac.

  Wan laid the person down on the bench. Not a drop of the silvery liquid still clung to either Wan or the other man. They were completely dry.

  He wore a brilliant white kimono, not unlike the one the Emperor wore on the day of the festival. Also like the Emperor, some of his hair had been tied back into a bun while the rest draped down over his shoulders. Unlike the emperor, his hair was far messier and his face less scrunched. They were clearly related, Kizu thought they might even be brothers at the resemblance. The man in front of him was at least two decades younger than the Emperor had been. In fact, he looked almost Kizu’s same age. At first glance, he appeared to be sleeping. But his chest didn’t rise and he showed no signs of life.

  Then Kizu recognized exactly what the liquid must be. His eyes snapped from the sac, back to the man before them.

  It was a stasis potion. The same one Knoff had taught them in class a few weeks back. Though this version appeared to have had some modifications to make it more gelatinous than the version Kizu had brewed. But the effects should still be the same. It kept the user completely preserved from time. When it wore off, it would be like no time at all passed by the man’s perception.

  Kizu opened his mouth to ask Wan questions, but his words died in his mouth as the stasis user reawakened.

  “Woah!” The man sat up and stretched. Then he grinned and leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “One hundred years already? You sure look the same as always, Wanchan. Thanks for keeping an eye on me.”

  “Unfortunately, only eighty-two years, two weeks, and three days have passed,” the guardian said. “There have been some complications. Congratulations. You are now Emperor Kotei Sasaki X.

  Ten Blood Curse Academia chapters (5 weeks) ahead of Royal Road.