The convoy ran through the Capital to the admiration of many. The Academy’s colours were prominently displayed on their clothes. Even Ethan had been granted new ones in response to his new post. Instead of a long robe, his resembled a military attire more: pragmatic and durable, with just enough flair to show his rank.

  Around him were some of the Martial Division's students, wearing the same purple uniforms. They were armed to the teeth, sporting all kinds of weaponry, from swords to bows or even hammers, all according to their own specialties and spirit affinity.

  However, they were just a minority, only there for security. Most within the convoy were labourers. Some were there to tend to the mounts pulling the carts, while others were cooks or maids meant to support the students. This was but a fraction of those deployed by the Academy—just an advance party—yet they numbered over a hundred already.

  Ethan was stunned by the enthusiasm of the populace waving to them as they slowly headed toward the exterior wall. They all had smiles on their faces. They were even waving flags with the crest of the empire, a tiger made of flame and a bird of frost intertwined as one, like two parts of the same whole.

  This city was unlike any other, all thanks to the Academy. The streets were clean, with no signs of the sewage this many people packed into such a small area should have created—a result of the Academy's research. Fresh water was being pumped into every household within the Capital—something unthinkable for any other city, even within the Imperium.

  The people were in good health, and their children were plump, owing to the miles of fields surrounding the city. When they passed the threshold of the outer high walls, Ethan could see them stretch out as far as the eye could see. This was the backbone of the Imperium—its granary. Were this to fall, the nation would be done for. This was the last bastion they would defend at all costs.

  "Impressive, isn't it?" the blind man said as he rode his steed alongside Ethan.

  Ethan nodded, basking in the incredible things humans could achieve by working together. But that feeling was fleeting as he knew the horrors of war were incoming. Unlike those revelling in ignorance, Ethan knew this was the calm before the storm. He had read many history books and knew history tended to repeat itself.

  The Imperium's path was already set from the start. There was no such thing as peace, only triumph or destruction. The times heralded a new page in history. Whether this was good or bad, he couldn't tell.

  “Let's increase our pace. We've wasted much more time than expected. We need to make up for it," Ethan ordered.

  All the cart drivers responded in unison, spurring their horses forward. Despite being mere civilians, they acted like a well-trained army. They didn't question his order, much to Ethan's surprise. He expected reluctance from them to have to listen to a mere librarian. It was a welcomed sight. Still, not all were as accommodating.

  Many students showed a negative attitude—not enough to ignore the chain of command, yet Ethan knew this friction couldn't persist, not if they wished to reach their destination swiftly and efficiently. However, he had no remedy for this. Trying to assert dominance wouldn't lead to anything good.

  He could only glance at the blind man to his side, who was—despite all odds—chosen as the Martial Division's leader. He could only hope the man would have a solution. Still, his presence itself left Ethan wondering. Who was he really?

  However, the man showed no reaction. How could he when Ethan merely looked his way? Despite it all, the man rode his mount like a seasoned veteran. Without knowing any better, one could hardly believe him to be blind. He even led his horse to avoid the potholes in the cobblestone road.

  “Mind if I ask something, chief?” the blind man asked.

  While being addressed as chief felt slightly jarring, Ethan couldn’t help but feel a slight hint of pride. He knew this was but a title thrust upon him for a reason he couldn’t quite decipher, but it was a glimpse of what once should have been. It was empowering, yet somehow felt like a big joke. Ethan really didn’t know how to feel about all this.

  “There’s no need for all this,” Ethan said, referring to the man’s formal address. “You can always speak your mind.”

  “Then, let me take advantage of your magnanimity," the man said slightly louder, almost as if he wished everyone to hear them. "You told the commander you already dispatched an advanced team. Have you received any words from them?"

  Ethan's eyes narrowed, glancing to the sides. As expected, all the students dressed in purple subtly inched toward them while not breaking formation. It seemed they were interested in Ethan's thought process—most likely a way for them to test him. If so, Ethan would humour them.

  “Not yet," he said calmly, but his voice, too, had grown louder, allowing even those manning the many carts transporting the supplies to hear them clearly. "However, that's not surprising."

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  "How so?" a young girl asked, trotting beside them.

  Ethan remembered her. She was the girl who had pointed her bow at him when he went to see the Division Head. She had left him quite the impression. She felt strong-willed and opinionated, most likely a result of her young age. Of all the students chosen to come with him, she was the youngest but also the only one not in her senior year. She strangely reminded Ethan of his own sister.

  God knows we don't need another one of those. One is already enough, Ethan thought with a wry smile, which couldn't help but get her attention. Her expression darkened, most likely misunderstanding something, yet Ethan couldn't correct her. He merely returned to a neutral expression as he answered her query.

  "They should have just arrived at the fortress. Taking into account the time needed to send a bird back, I expect we'll have news in a day or two."

  “Why a bird?” she asked, confused. “Wouldn’t using a spirit be much faster?”

  “This information isn’t critical,” Ethan replied. “I’d rather not the fortress use more resources than they need to. Last I heard, they were in the thick of it and needed to reserve spirit communication to relay orders to the front. Besides, it's not like getting this report a few hours earlier will change anything. If something important happens, they’ll surely let us know. That’s what they were trained for.”

  "That seems to make sense," she replied, nodding slightly, as did some of the other students. Yet Ethan could clearly see that some still had some doubts.

  This wasn’t something that could be dealt with immediately, yet he knew he could rely on them to forgo their own doubts when needed. After all, they had been trained and chosen by “that man” and those under him. They wouldn’t be that foolish. Somehow, this gave Ethan a sense of security.

  Ethan unfurled a map. It showed a detailed view of the Capital's surroundings and a more vague aerial coverage of the Imperium's eastern outskirts. The names of many cities were sprinkled along the way. Intrigued, the young girl looked over from the side and couldn't help but gasp, for there was even the location of military fortresses located on that map.

  "Where did you get this? Not even my family possesses a map that accurate!" she exclaimed, prompting the remaining students to try and glance at it. However, Ethan quickly retracted it before narrowing his eyes at the young woman.

  "I forget your name; mind reminding me?" Ethan asked, examining her more closely. Yet, from all angles, she resembled a girl of only sixteen. She didn't seem any different from any of the other young women admitted to the Academy. If anything, all had some spunk, just as this one did.

  “Celena,” she replied, offering not much more.

  “Just Celena? No family name?” he asked, yet she just shrugged.

  “Why? Are you trying to propose?” she said with a smirk, allowing everyone to hear her, but then scoffed, “Forget it. I’m not interested in another woman’s leftovers.”

  One of Ethan's eyebrows rose sharply. He could hear muffled giggles and sneers around him, yet he ignored them. His attention was on the two at his side, especially the blind man riding in silence. Despite the apparent insubordination of one under his charge, he seemed utterly unconcerned.

  "That's quite alright," Ethan replied calmly, looking her up and down. "You're also not my type. I like my women with some curves, and you're not quite there. Keep at it, and maybe you will someday, though I doubt it."

  Elizabeth's image appeared in his mind; although not bad herself, this little girl could never compare. In fact, even she didn't believe she could, at least not with pure looks. She would always be one step behind in at least one singular aspect.

  Celena couldn’t help but turn bright red. Most of the audience were utterly shocked, though some also cracked a smile, the blind man being one of them. Rage seemed to boil under Celena’s visage, twisting her expression. She even sought to reach for the blade attached to her hips, yet Ethan was faster.

  "I wouldn't if I were you," he said as he pressed on the pommel of her blade, restraining it from being unsheathed.

  No matter how hard she tried, the blade didn’t budge a single millimetre. She strained herself, even emitting a small grunt, yet all it proved was her powerlessness.

  However, Ethan could feel mana begin to pool around her. While her spirit had yet to manifest itself, he knew this was only a matter of time. Ethan's eyes narrowed, ready to act decisively, but before he could do so, he felt a chill down his back.

  He turned sharply, facing the blind man on the other side, yet nothing had changed. His face remained completely neutral, yet the threat he represented was real. Fortunately, this wasn't aimed at Ethan but the young girl holding firmly to her blade.

  The message was quite clear. With nary a word, Celena relented, letting go of her short sword, yet her fury had yet to fade. It soon turned to a pout before she drove her steed away to the back of the convoy where she could hide from Ethan's sight.

  "Do forgive her," the blind man said. "Her family spoiled her quite a bit. It resulted in her being very headstrong, believing she could do no wrong. The Division Head has been trying to remedy that."

  “Which family would that be?” Ethan asked, now quite interested.

  Not many would try to antagonize the Lancasters, even if Ethan shouldn’t be considered one of them. As proof, though the other students didn't hold him in high regard, they weren't openly hostile either. They simply created a divide between them, which suited Ethan just fine. Living and letting live was his preferred policy.

  “I’m afraid I cannot say,” the blind said. “Her parents do like their anonymity.”

  Ethan’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded in the end. He saw no reason to push further. Still, something else remained on his mind.

  “I just remembered. I haven’t asked for your name,” he said.

  “You can call me Theo.”

  “Any relationship with her, or do you too have reclusive ancestry?”

  The man merely laughed and didn't answer the question. Ethan didn't probe further, knowing he wouldn't get one. Instead, he introduced himself, yet the man promptly stopped him.

  “No need,” he said. “There’s not a soul in the Academy that doesn’t know who you are after the stunt you pulled two weeks ago.”

  Ethan couldn’t help but grimace, recalling his altercation with Beth’s current fiancee. If possible, he wished this hadn’t happened. Fortunately, that was the only time he had been approached by those people.

  “What now, chief?” the man added.

  Ethan shook his head and unfurled his maps again, checking the route to the east. Along the main road was an open field next to a small forest, secluded enough for them to camp without anyone noticing them.

  Ethan looked overhead, noticing that the sun had begun its slow descent, and ordered the convoy to pick up the pace. They needed to reach that location before night came.