Rage consud as I paced across Mariana's hidden chamber. Three days had passed since our initial conversation, and I'd spent every waking mont here at the Celestial Apothecary Guild, trying to advance my cultivation.
"She's suffering every day while I'm stuck here!" I slamd my fist against the stone wall, barely feeling the pain as my knuckles split open. "Do you understand what they're doing to her, Mariana? They're draining her blood like she's nothing but a resource!"
Mariana's face remained composed, though I caught a flicker of sympathy in her eyes. "I understand your frustration, Liam, but rushing in unprepared will only get you killed. The herbs from the auction—"
"The herbs aren't enough!" I cut her off, gesturing to the scattered remnants of rare plants I'd consud over the past three days. "I've barely advanced my cultivation despite everything I stole."
The auction heist had yielded powerful treasures—Blood-Cleansing Grass, Nine-Petal Starflowers, and even a single Devil's Whisper Root. All gone now, absorbed into my body with minimal results.
"The human body has limits," Mariana explained, her tone asured and patient. "Even with your unique constitution, there's only so much spiritual energy you can absorb at once."
I ran a hand through my disheveled hair. "I don't have ti for limits. Not when Isabelle is suffering."
Mariana approached , examining my bloodied knuckles with a healer's practiced eye. "Your body is showing signs of spiritual poisoning. You've pushed too hard, too fast."
"It doesn't matter."
"It matters if you're dead before you can save her."
I pulled my hand away, turning toward the chamber's small window. Outside, Riverbend Town continued its daily bustle, oblivious to my internal turmoil.
"I need information," I said finally. "Real information about what's happening to Isabelle right now."
Mariana sighed, retrieving a folded newspaper from her desk. "This arrived this morning. You should see it."
I recognized The Warrior's Scroll imdiately. The prominent newspaper was the voice of Veridia City's elite—and frequently a mouthpiece for the Martial Guild. My eyes were drawn to the headline: "MARTIAL GUILD ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF THE AEGIS ACADEMY."
Blood pounding in my ears, I devoured the article. With each word, my fury intensified.
"They're creating an entire academy?" My voice was barely above a whisper. "Using her blood to enhance students?"
"It appears so." Mariana's tone was grave. "The Martial Guild is inviting the sons and daughters of every prominent family to join. Those selected will undergo 'special enhancent procedures' to elevate their cultivation potential."
I crushed the paper in my fist. "They're expanding their operation. Not content with just draining her themselves, they're going to sell her power to the highest bidders."
"The political implications are significant," Mariana noted. "By tying all the aristocratic families to this 'enhancent' program, they ensure united opposition against anyone who might interfere with their plans."
"Anyone like ."
"Precisely." She took the crumpled paper from my hand, smoothing it against the table. "The Academy opens in two days. After that, you won't be fighting just the Martial Guild—you'll be facing the combined might of every powerful family in the nation."
I closed my eyes, trying to control the storm raging inside . "Where is this Academy located?"
"Liam—"
"Where is it?" I demanded, my eyes snapping open.
Mariana held my gaze for a long mont before answering. "The old Imperial complex in eastern Veridia City. But you can't possibly be thinking—"
"I'm done hiding," I declared, heading toward the door. "I'm going to Veridia City."
"That's exactly what they want!" Mariana moved swiftly, blocking my path. "Can't you see? The very public announcent, the tight tiline—it's all designed to draw you out."
"I don't care if it's a trap."
"You should. Your death won't save Isabelle."
I felt my jaw clench. "I'm not going to attack the Academy—not yet. But I need to see it with my own eyes. Understand what we're facing."
"We?" One of her eyebrows arched upward.
"Yes, we." I t her gaze unflinchingly. "You've helped this far. Are you backing out now?"
A small smile played at her lips. "No, Liam Knight. I've chosen my side in this conflict." She stepped aside, no longer blocking my exit. "But at least wait until nightfall. And take this."
She pressed a small jade vial into my palm. "Mist Veil Essence. It won't mask you completely from powerful spiritual sense, but it will make detection more difficult."
I tucked the vial into my robes. "Thank you."
"Don't thank yet. You're still likely walking to your death." Her expression softened slightly. "But if anyone can defy those odds, I suspect it's you."
Hours later, disguised once more, I approached Erson Hols's residence in Veridia City. Night had fallen, shrouding the city in shadows that worked to my advantage. The Mist Veil Essence coated my skin in an invisible layer, dampening my spiritual signature.
I knew it was reckless to co here rather than going directly to scout the Academy site. But sothing drove to confront the man ultimately responsible for Isabelle's suffering.
Security around his mansion had doubled since my last visit. Guards patrolled the periter, and I detected multiple spiritual barriers layered throughout the grounds.
None of it mattered. I scaled the eastern wall where the shadows were deepest, avoiding the patrol routes I'd morized during previous observations. ThegenuinearticleresidesonM|V|L&EMPYR.
Finding Erson was simple—his ostentatious private study blazed with lights despite the late hour. Through the window, I could see him hunched over docunts, likely planning more atrocities under the guise of progress.
I slipped through an unwatched servant's entrance, navigating the corridors silently. Two guards stood outside his study door, but a well-placed pressure point strike rendered them unconscious before they could raise the alarm.
When I pushed open the heavy wooden door, Erson didn't imdiately look up from his work.
"I told you I wasn't to be disturbed," he snapped, irritation clear in his voice.
"Hello, Erson."
His head jerked up, eyes widening as he recognized despite my disguise. To his credit, he didn't cry out or reach for an alarm. Instead, his expression shifted from shock to a practiced calmness.
"Liam Knight." He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "You must be truly desperate to co here."
"I wanted to look into the eyes of a monster." I closed the door behind , advancing into the room. "A man who preaches about the value of human life while draining a young woman of her blood."
A flicker of sothing—perhaps guilt?—crossed his face before vanishing. "You don't understand the complexities of what we're doing."
"I understand perfectly. You're sacrificing Isabelle to increase your own power and influence."
"We're advancing cultivation for all of mankind," he countered, rising from his chair. "One person's sacrifice for the benefit of thousands—perhaps millions eventually. The math is simple."
"Simple?" My voice was dangerously soft. "Then let offer you an equally simple equation: your life for hers. Would you make that trade, Erson? Would you allow your blood to be harvested day after day until nothing remained of you but an empty husk?"
His silence was answer enough.
"I thought not." I moved closer, and he instinctively stepped back. "Your new Academy is an abomination."
His eyes narrowed. "So you've heard about that. Then you should know it's already too late to stop what's coming. The families have committed their heirs. The process has begun."
"Nothing is irreversible while I still draw breath."
A cold smile spread across his face. "That particular condition can be redied."
We stood facing each other, the tension between us thick enough to cut with a blade.
"I'll give you one chance, Erson. Release Isabelle, and I'll allow your precious Academy to continue—without her blood as its foundation."
He actually laughed at that, a sharp, humorless sound. "You'll 'allow' it? Do you have any idea who you're threatening? The combined might of every powerful family in this nation stands behind the Aegis Academy now."
"I don't care if the Heavenly Emperor himself stands behind it," I replied, my voice steady. "I'm going to tear it all down if that's what it takes to free her."
Sothing in my tone must have reached him because a flicker of uncertainty crossed his face. "You can't win this fight, Liam."
"We'll see." I turned to leave, having said what I ca to say. At the door, I paused without looking back. "Rember this mont, Erson. When everything you've built lies in ruins around you, rember that I gave you a choice."
I slipped out of the mansion as silently as I'd entered, lting into the night. As I made my way through the darkened streets toward the eastern district, I knew I should be scouting the Academy site as planned.
Instead, I found myself heading back toward the city limits. I'd seen enough—confird enough—to know what needed to be done. Now I needed to prepare.
Behind , in his study, Erson Hols stood at his window, watching the darkness where I had disappeared. A satisfied smile spread across his face as he whispered to himself, "He's finally taken the bait. Liam Knight, this ti you're as good as dead!"
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