Chapter 260 – Floor 52: Part 1

  Essence: Velocity

  Tier 2: Fleet of Foot

  You may use your Aether to enhance your speed and agility, giving you the ability to run and move at incredible swiftness.

  Essence: Resilience

  Tier 2: Firm Footing

  Your hardened and physically enhanced body will no longer be so easily knocked around. You may use Aether to tether yourself to the ground, preventing an impact from moving you from your current location.

  Essence: Vigor

  Tier 2: Power

  Your muscles can lift and carry well beyond the normal physical limits of your size. The Aether in your blood has made its way into your muscles and ligaments, granting you superhuman levels of strength. Mana can be used to further increase your strength.

  “You expected me to fail.” Mathew said to Lila as the pair sat in the Grand Elder’s office once again. Mathew and Adelaide had just returned from the abandoned subway, where Mathew’s quick disposal of the Eclipsed Champion had left everyone stunned.

  But the rules of the Duel were clear, and Chieftain Vera Kael had no choice but to accept the Steward’s pronouncement of Mathew’s victory.

  They had barely entered the Exaltis Clan building when Mathew had been called to Lila’s office. Adelaide had wanted to accompany him but had been forbidden. The Grand Elder wanted to see Mathew alone.

  Lila shrugged her shoulder in response to Mathew’s question; her full red lips pulled upward into a grin as she responded.

  “Yes. The loss of her Scion would have been a perfect lesson for Adelaide. She had been acting…unreasonably lately.” Lila replied.

  “And you wanted my death to knock her down a peg? Sorry to have disappointed you.” Mathew responded sourly.

  “But, your success has been a very pleasant surprise. And don’t look so glum, Mathew. You gained much from your victory. Not only have you accomplished the task given to you for your Initiation, but you have absorbed all of the Aether from the Eclipsed Champion. A rare gift, as most would only be able to take a fraction of their opponent's essences. You seem to have gotten them all.” Lila stated as her eyes combed Mathew’s body, seemingly peering inside of him in an attempt to find out how he had done it.

  “I’m just lucky, I guess.”

  “More than luck. You achieved your first Essence, investigated and stopped an attempt by the Eclipsed to disrupt one of our businesses, and then killed their Champion in a duel, all within your first week. Adelaide may have some failings, but selecting a Scion appears to not be one of them.” Lila praised him as she smiled hungrily.

  Mathew shifted uncomfortably in his chair as Lila looked at him with a mix of greed, lust and other emotions that he couldn’t identify. He was just beginning to look for an excuse to leave when Lila continued.

  “You have proven yourself to be a fine addition to the Clan. You can expect to be well rewarded, but our expectations will be even higher going forward.” Lila said as the expressions on her face smoothed, and she quickly regained her composure.

  “I’m here to serve.” Mathew replied, thankful that Lila restrained herself.

  “Good. For now, return to your room and rest. I will have something for you in the morning; be sure you are prepared.”

  Mathew stood up from his chair at Lila’s dismissal and nodded at her order before returning to his room. Unsurprisingly, Adelaide was there waiting for him. After telling her exactly what had happened with Lila and that he would be expected to perform more tasks for the Clan in the morning, he was finally left alone to sleep.

  He was awakened just after dawn by a knock at his door. Having just finished showering, Mathew quickly finished dressing and opened the door to find Lila waiting for him. The Grand Elder raked her eyes across his body and frowned, clearly disappointed that he was properly clothed. Standing behind her was Adelaide, who looked uncomfortable at Lila joining them.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “Grand Elder, you have something for me?” Mathew asked politely as he ignored her eyes. He wasn’t sure if she was serious about her desire for him or if it was just part of an act she did to keep him off guard. Regardless, he had no intention of encouraging her.

  “Come, we’re expected.” Lila said, crooking a finger at Mathew before turning around and walking toward the elevator. Mathew looked at Adelaide questioningly before closing the door to his room and following.

  “What’s going on?” Mathew asked as he flicked his eyes from Adelaide to Lila and back again. There was a definite tension between them, but that wasn’t out of the ordinary. But Adelaide seemed troubled by something else; she hadn’t been this anxious the night before when they spoke.

  “I’m not sure. Rumour is that the Highborn is going to announce a Red Edict.” Adelaide whispered as the pair waited for the elevator to arrive. Lila, standing a few feet away, interrupted her.

  “It is not rumour. We are to attend the declaration.” Lila said and entered the elevator when it arrived. Mathew quirked an eyebrow at his Elder questioningly before joining her.

  “A Red Edict means someone has committed a serious crime and is about to be hunted by every Aether-Blood in the city. It’s a formal decree that can only be issued by the highest authority. They will be stripped of all rights and protections, and anyone who manages to find and eliminate them will be rewarded.” Adelaide explained.

  Mathew had been told before the Duel that killing another Aether-Blood of the lineages was a serious crime in this world. The Highborn ruled the city and kept the peace between all the clans and lineages. Killing someone during a sanctioned Duel, as Mathew had done, was one of the only ways that a person could legitimately kill and absorb the Essences of another Aether-Blood.

  “Is participation mandatory?” Mathew asked softly. Adelaide shook her head in response.

  “No, but the rewards are great. Look at what you achieved last night by killing that Eclipsed. Three Essences could take decades to gain, and you earned them simply by plunging your dagger into him. Think what you could gain if the Red Edict was against Chieftain Veral Kael or…” Adelaide trailed off as her eyes flicked to Lila.

  “Or an Elder.” Lila finished, her lips curled in amusement at the comment. Adelaide swallowed nervously, and it took a moment for her to regain her composure.

  “Is this sort of thing common?” Mathew asked Lila, partially in an attempt to take the attention away from Adelaide.

  “No. Normally, violations are handled by the Clan or organization the individual belongs two. Either the person in question is too powerful for that, or this is a purging of the group itself.” Lila replied with a shrugged expression, unconcerned about the reason why.

  “Perhaps it’s someone unaffiliated with a Clan?” Adelaide added, offering a third alternative, which Lila promptly ignored.

  “We’ll know when we arrive.”

  Page Break

  The Highborn’s palace was nestled deep within the wooded outskirts of New York City. The building itself was a mansion that had a blend of Gothic opulence and modern-day architecture. It rose like a jewel from the wilderness, surrounded by towering iron gates adorned with intricate, arcane symbols that provided both protection and concealment.

  For all of its grandeur, the estate was invisible to most of the world’s inhabitants, with only those blessed by the Aether-Blood able to find it.

  It was a sprawling masterpiece of dark stone and stained glass, with tall spires and intricate, detailed gardens. Statues lined the driveway, and the trees were meticulously cared for so that they grew in unique shapes.

  As their limousine came to a stop outside the palace and a waiting servant opened the door for them, Mathew was reminded of the palaces he had seen on other Floors. This place could have belonged to the highest nobility or royalty, fitting in perfectly in those locations.

  Walking through the large hallways, surrounded by men and women from the various groups and Clans residing in the city, Mathew arrived at a large ballroom where a throne had been erected at the far end. The figure sitting in it was the very image of medieval aristocracy.

  Tall and imposing, the Highborn was pale with flawless features that appeared as if he were carved from alabaster or marble. His eyes were bloodshot and gleamed with an unnatural light. His aura was so strong that it was visible like a halo around his head, and Mathew felt the urge to kneel in subservience at his very sight.

  Thankfully, Lila’s presence prevented that, and he was able to resist the impulse, although barely. He was grateful for the Grand Elder’s company as it allowed him to keep his composure. The last thing he wanted to do was to be sprawled out on the ground helplessly in front of this monster.

  When everyone was gathered, the Highborn rose from his throne and spoke the Red Edict.

  “We have been betrayed! The Ashen Pact have absconded with the Sacred Vessel! Even now, their members are hidden in the city, seeking to unlock the secrets of the Aether-Blood it contains. They can not be allowed to release it, or the entire city will be at risk! I call on all Clans to participate in the destruction of The Ashen Pact and the retrieval of the Sacred Vessel!”

  Floor 52 – The Red Edict

  The Highborn has issued a rare Red Edict against The Ashen Pact. A group of Aether-Blood from many clans once trusted by the Highborn, The Ashen Pact, has betrayed the Clans and stole the Sacred Vessel that contains Aether-enhanced blood from a long-forgotten Elder of the Clans.

  If this Aether-Blood is released, it could infect everyone in the city, bringing about untold destruction and death.

  Goal: Participate in the Red Edict. Destroy The Ashen Pact and retrieve the Sacred Vessel.

  Reward: One (1) new Essence. One (1) Tier in any Essence of your Choice.

  Additional Reward: Absorption of any Aether-Blood of The Ashen Pact members you eliminate.