Chapter 9: The Web of Power

Lord Callius Orwen.

The name echoed in Eryndor's mind as he sat in his dormitory, staring at the parchment Lysander had given him. A noble lord with deep connections. A man who backed rival factions. And the one responsible for the assassination attempt.

Eryndor clenched his fist.

This wasn't just a noble dispute. This was war.

Orwen had made his move, striking from the shadows. But if he thought a failed assassination would be enough to intimidate him, he had underestimated the wrong person.

Eryndor knew he needed more information.

Lord Callius was powerful, but he wasn't untouchable. The fact that he had resorted to hiring an assassin meant that he was still operating from the shadows. He wasn't ready to move openly. That meant there was still time to strike first.

The next morning, instead of heading to training, Eryndor made his way toward the Academy's restricted archives a place where only high-ranking students were allowed access.

Normally, he wouldn't be able to enter.

But he wasn't normal.

With a swift application of Wind Step, he maneuvered past the guards, slipping undetected into the dimly lit chamber. Rows of ancient tomes and scrolls lined the towering bookshelves, filled with records of noble histories, financial dealings, and old treaties. This was where the kingdom's secrets were buried.

Somewhere in this room, there had to be something on Orwen.

Minutes passed as he scanned shelf after shelf, flipping through records of land disputes, merchant transactions, and military reports. Then, his fingers brushed against a dusty ledger tucked away in the farthest corner. The leather cover bore no title, but the date inscribed on the spine caught his attention twenty years ago.

Frowning, he flipped it open.

Lord Callius Orwen chief financier of the rebel faction during the First Civil Uprising.

Suspected of bribing royal officials.

Unverified reports link him to the disappearances of minor nobles.

Eryndor exhaled slowly, his mind racing.

This wasn't just about him. Orwen had been plotting against the kingdom for years. And now, he had made his first mistake.

That evening, Eryndor sent a letter to Crown Prince Darius, requesting a private meeting.

An hour later, he arrived at the prince's personal study within the Academy. A lavish yet practical chamber, filled with maps, strategic documents, and a well-stocked armory. The prince leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed, amusement flickering in his sharp golden eyes.

"This is the second time you've come to me with something interesting, Valeria," Darius said, gesturing for him to speak.

Eryndor didn't waste time. He placed the parchment on the prince's desk. "Read this."

Darius raised an eyebrow but picked up the document. As he read, his expression darkened. When he finished, he set the paper down and met Eryndor's gaze.

"This is dangerous information."

Eryndor nodded. "And it concerns you, Your Highness. Orwen isn't just after me. He's after the throne."

Darius tapped his fingers against the table, his gaze thoughtful. "You want my support in dealing with him?"

Eryndor smirked. "No. I want to destroy him."

Silence filled the study.

Then Darius chuckled, shaking his head. "You don't think small, do you?"

Eryndor's smirk widened. "I don't have the luxury of thinking small."

Darius stood, pacing the room. "If we take action now, we risk forcing Orwen into open conflict."

Eryndor nodded. "That's exactly what we want."

The prince turned, studying him with renewed interest.

Eryndor continued. "Right now, Orwen is hiding in the shadows, pulling strings. But if we make the right move, we can force him into the light. And once he's exposed, we can crush him."

Darius's lips curled into a grin. "I like the way you think."

He turned to the door and called for a royal guard. "Summon my intelligence officers. It's time we start hunting."

The next few days were tense.

Word spread through the Academy that something was brewing. Noble factions whispered behind closed doors, rumors circulating like wildfire. Some students who had once been hostile toward Eryndor now kept their distance.

Then an official summons arrived.

Eryndor was called to a formal hearing before the Academy's high council.

The charge? Unauthorized access to royal records.

Eryndor smirked as he read the summons. So this was Orwen's response.

The noble lord had used his influence to try and paint him as a criminal. A typical noble maneuver using bureaucracy as a weapon.

But Eryndor wasn't playing by typical rules.

As Eryndor entered the hearing chamber, he took in the room with a calculated glance. The Academy's council of nobles sat in judgment, their expressions ranging from skepticism to curiosity. Several instructors were present, as well as high-ranking officials from the capital.

And among them, seated in the farthest chair, dressed in fine black robes, was Lord Callius Orwen himself.

For the first time, their eyes met.

Orwen offered a polite smile, his expression carefully controlled, but Eryndor saw it the cold calculation beneath his gaze. This was the real enemy.

A man who had spent decades manipulating the political landscape, eliminating obstacles from the shadows. And now, for the first time, he had chosen to show himself.

The council's lead judge, Lord Bertram Faulkner, cleared his throat. "Eryndor Valeria, you have been accused of unauthorized access to restricted royal records. Do you deny this charge?"

Eryndor stepped forward, his posture composed. "I do not deny that I entered the restricted archives."

Murmurs rippled through the chamber.

Lord Bertram's eyes narrowed. "Then you admit to violating Academy law?"

Eryndor kept his expression neutral. "I admit to seeking the truth."

Silence.

Orwen leaned forward slightly, his smile never faltering. "An interesting choice of words, young Valeria. But laws exist for a reason. Even those who seek the truth must obey them."

Eryndor turned his gaze toward Orwen, his smirk returning. "I agree, Lord Orwen. Laws exist to protect the kingdom. But tell me who protects the kingdom from those who manipulate those laws for their own gain?"

The council chamber fell deathly quiet.

For the first time, Orwen's polite expression cracked just slightly.

Eryndor had turned the trial against him.

This was no longer about his actions.

This was about who truly stood on the side of the kingdom.

The first move had been made.

And the battle between Eryndor Valeria and Callius Orwen had officially begun.