Emil

  “What the hell is this?!”

  Kai’s voice rang across the hall.

  Emil shot him a confused look. They were currently inside the candidate’s mansion on the evening of the Clash of Dawn finals. Now that the tournament was over, it was time for festivities. All of the contestants and the elites in attendance had been invited to a massive banquet that was taking place in an hour. As one of the tournament’s finalist, Emil had an obligation to attend.

  Kai stomped towards him. A disgusted expression was smeared across his face as if he was offended by Emil’s presence.

  “No, seriously, I’m not messing with you. Explain this. Now,” he asked again, tugging at the hems of Emil’s outfit. His eyes were serious, devoid of his usual frivolousness.

  For the banquet, Emil was wearing a black tuxedo atop of a white undershirt, an ebon tie dangling from his neck, and a pair of black trousers. It was a simple formal outfit that was slick and comfortable to wear, affording him plenty of room to move in case of an incident happened during the banquet. A set of clothes with the perfect blend of practicality and style.

  “…It’s my outfit for the banquet,” he muttered, suddenly unsure of his selection.

  Kai’s expression could kill. “…Are you sure?”

  “Um, yes?”

  “No! No, dammit! You can’t be serious! Why are you dressed in all black?! This is an outfit for a funeral! Not a banquet!” Kai screamed, hands gesturing wildly, apparently in physical pain, “You’re the main star of the show, man! Why are you dressed like a butler?! Where are the colors? Where’s the flashiness? What the hell are you doing?!”

  “Uhhh…” Emil mumbled dumbly as he scanned Kai’s outfit.

  The tall Gharian was dressed in a glistening white suit decorated by a set of colored gemstones sewn along the hems. A large dark, purple hat was sitting atop of his head, along with a blood-red scarf that ran from his neck and trailed behind his back like a small cape.

  Even the word flamboyant felt like it was lacking to describe the extravagance that adorned Kai’s body.

  “This—” Kai yelled, beckoning at his banquet attire, “—should be the bare minimum! Even I, someone who barely touched the knockout stage of the Nautilus, am dressed with this amount of splendor! You, who made it to the finals and was the talk of the entire tournament, should at least be able to match this!”

  Emil winced. The thought of subjecting his body to this level of excessive glamor was beginning to make his head spin.

  “…I don’t know. I think I’ll—”

  “Oh, hell no!” Kai cut him off, “I just knew this was going to happen!” He clapped his hands, sending a loud cacophony down the hall of the candidate’s mansion. Without warning, a cadre of Academy staff members appeared out of nowhere.

  Emil suddenly found himself surrounded.

  “Please fix my friend’s appearance for night. This look is unbefitting of a finalist of the Clash of Dawn.”

  The Academy staff all nodded with a look of understanding. Two of them suddenly lunged and seized Emil by the arm.

  “Wait! What are you—”

  Without another word, Emil was helplessly dragged away.

  ***

  After thirty minutes of torment, Emil was finally let go.

  I didn’t realize there could be new forms of psychological torture. He thought, grimacing as he staggered towards the banquet hall. Kai was beside him, a bright smile on his face as he observed Emil’s new look.

  “Not bad. The staff did a fine job despite having only thirty minutes to work with. Truly the Academy is a level above all other institutions.”

  “Was this really something you’d praise them for?”

  Emil sighed. His face was also caked in make-up. The prickly sensation of powder and some strange viscous jelly-like substance on his skin was bizarre. He couldn’t get used it. It took every ounce of his willpower not to scratch and pick at his face.

  “Yes. You should be thanking the Academy staff. They know exactly what they’re doing.”

  “Making everything excessive?”

  “Cultivating attention.”

  Emil shook his head, suddenly reminded of his time spent in the slums. “Attention for what exactly? I don’t understand the point. I can’t see this frivolous display as nothing but a waste of wealth. The value of the clothes on my body and the items that were smeared on my face could probably feed an entire impoverished community for a year.”

  “What a charitable mindset,” Kai scoffed before suddenly dropping his voice, “But I respect it. It sounds like you had a rough upbringing. Which makes sense why you’d be resistant against all the extravagance. That being said, your way of thinking is archaic. Modesty is an outdated virtue in Ardair.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Kai’s eyes suddenly grew serious.

  “If you want something done, if you want to achieve anything in this rotten kingdom, you need either wealth or influence. Unfortunately, for most of us who didn’t have the luck of being born into the right bloodlines, those two things are out of our reach in this lifetime.

  “So, what options do we have left? Should we just roll over and accept our fates? Maybe. But for those that have even an ounce of ambition, it’s quite simple. If you have no wealth or influence, then you must seize the attention of the ones that do. That, is the wretched system of Ardair. The reason why the Academy and the Clash of Dawn are so important is because it provides a direct avenue for attention. It gets you in front of the eyes of those who possess actual authority in this nation. For us, attention is our weapon.”

  “Is that why everyone was so desperate against me during the preliminaries?” Emil asked with a mischievous grin. He already knew the answer.

  “Yes, you bastard. It’s also why we have to put on these ridiculous outfits for the banquet. These are rules set by those with all the power in Ardair,” Kai hissed, “If you want a taste of their authority, then you must play by their game.”

  Emil shot him a sidelong glance. “You’re oddly passionate about this.”

  “It’s odd that you aren’t.” Kai trailed off, gazing into the distance. “Don’t you have any ambitions, Emil? Don’t you have things that you want to accomplish, no matter what it takes? If so, then never forget what I just told you.”

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Sounds like he also has something complicated going on.

  Emil stayed silent, deciding not to pry. It felt like there was a long story behind Kai’s words—one that he was not exactly in the mood to listen to when plastered in make-up and uncomfortable glamor. Still, he couldn’t dismiss what Kai said.

  If I want to achieve something, then I must seize attention.

  He found the idea nauseating. As an agent of Steiger who operated in the shadows, intentionally seeking out attention was a strange and foreign concept. He was so used to hiding, but now he was suddenly thrusted into the spotlight. It was bizarre. It was terrifying.

  Was this the witch’s plan all along?

  The entrance of the banquet hall soon came into view. Feeling vulnerable, Emil let the thought perish as he adorned the mask of Emil Milligan. Setting aside his doubts, he entered with a confident stride, heeding Kai’s words as he tried to embrace the spotlight.

  ***

  As he stepped into reception of the Academy banquet hall, Emil was immediately assaulted by a flash of brilliance.

  Massive, glistening chandeliers dangled from the ceiling of the majestic hall. Beneath the glaring lights was a marble fountain with the statue of the current king. Water sprouted from a stone chalice in His Majesty’s hands. An array of stained-glass paintings, depicting various landmarks and portraits of past Ardairan figures, adorned the walls with gold plated frames.

  Everywhere he looked was covered in splendor. Even the floor beneath his feet was decorated in a bright purple carpet lined with gold thread.

  Soft, orchestral music played in the background at the rear of the grand hall, bending in perfect synchronicity with the chatters and whispers taking place between those already in attendance.

  Emil walked down the carpet. Gradually, his presence was being noticed by those near the front of the hall. Innumerable eyes fell upon him. The whispers and murmurs around him slowly grew louder with every one of his steps. Emil felt the gaze of nobles, wealthy business owners, and elites of the various institutions of Ardair. All of them were dressed in eccentric, vivid outfits that looked outrageous to wear. Suddenly, Kai’s choice of attire didn’t seem so out of place.

  He felt a slight bump against his side.

  “Relax,” Kai said with an amused grin on his face, “You’re too nervous. Just enjoy yourself. None of those big names will be talking to you just yet.”

  “Was I that obvious?”

  “No, but I can tell. Your fingers are shaking.”

  Emil quickly shoved his hand into the pocket of his suit.

  “Keep your head up high. Look straight. Shoulders wide and relaxed. Project confidence. Why are you so nervous anyways? What happened to all that brazen attitude during the tournament?” Kai jeered.

  “What brazen attitude?”

  “Oh, please, the way that you were fighting was like your life depended on it. And did you forget when you opened your arms and beckoned to the crowd before your match against Gaius? Where’s all that spunk now? You’re the finalist of the Clash of Dawn for damn sake, why are you hiding your face like a criminal?”

  Oh, you have no idea.

  Emil forced himself to smile as he fixed his posture, amused yet uneased by Kai’s harmless remark. Not only was he acting undercover for Steiger, who did not have legal jurisdiction to operate in Azure City, but he also murdered a professor, his assistants, and destroyed a secret lab suspected to be funded by the Council of Mana.

  In Azure City, there was probably no greater criminal than him—hiding in broad daylight, masquerading as a student of the Academy. And now he was suddenly a finalist of the Clash of Dawn, in a room filled with the elites of the Ardairan society.

  It was difficult not to be nervous.

  “Unlike some of the students in attendance, I was born a commoner. Being in a room filled with the big shots of Ardair isn’t exactly a situation I have experience with,” Emil replied, “If anything, why are you so nonchalant?”

  “What? When did I say I wasn’t a noble?” Kai retorted as they arrived at a table by the corner of the banquet hall filled small, intricate plates of beautifully decorated desserts.

  Emil snorted. “Don’t even try,” he said while reaching for a plate.

  “Not even a single ounce of doubt, eh?” Kai smirked. “Well, a bad joke aside, once you realize that most of these people’s greatest accomplishment is being born to the right parents, they quickly lose their mystique. Besides, why do you think they’re all here? For us. Front row access to the next generation of talented Exalted. We’re the ones in demand. We’re the ones with the power to negotiate. Why shouldn’t we be confident?”

  His audacity is really admirable, Emil thought as he sank his teeth into the soft pastry.

  The small cake was composed of multiple vivid layers, hinting at a rich and complex flavor waiting to be discovered. Indeed, he wasn’t disappointed as the creamy pastry melted against his tongue. A synergistic mixture of cinnamon, hazelnut, and chocolate exploded in his mouth, followed by a lingering spice that gave a small kick to the back of his throat. The novel taste was strangely addictive. Without warning, he suddenly found his plate empty.

  “Alright, you look like you’re finally settling in,” Kai said, turning his body away.

  “Wait, you’re leaving me?”

  “Yeah. Didn’t you hear anything that I just said? Attention. I’m going to go schmooze with some big shots. Here’s hoping I made a big enough impression before that despicable Ice Maiden overshadowed me.”

  Without another word, Kai ventured off.

  Emil suddenly found himself alone by the dessert table. Pockets of conversation and excited chatters rang over the venue to the accompaniment of the soft orchestra humming gently in the background.

  Feeling awkward by himself, he scanned the venue, looking for someone who he might be able to pass the time with. He eventually spotted Charlotte in the far corner on the other end, but she appeared to be in the midst of conversation with a pair of pompous nobles.

  Right, she’s nobility.

  The girl’s gentle and mischievous disposition nearly made him forget.

  Anna wasn’t here yet. Emil spotted a few of the other contestants of the tournament knockout stage scattered about. None of them he particularly wanted to talk to, especially given their hostile attitudes towards him after the preliminaries. Who else did he know? Melody, maybe. Not his preferred conversation partner, but it would be better than any of the other options.

  Strangely enough, the second-year commentator was absent despite being the previous champion of the Clash of Dawn.

  “How odd for you to not be the center of attention for once, Emil.”

  He spun around at the sound of his name. His eyes flickered for an instance.

  “Liesel. Hello,” he said, his voice stiffer than he intended.

  Part of it was due to the lingering tension from their confrontation earlier in the day.

  Another reason was her breathtaking appearance.

  Liesel’s hair, dark as night, was curled neatly to her shoulders. A radiant light blue dress covered her body. Loose in the certain areas and tight in others, it perfectly highlighted her well-toned figure that had been polished with training.

  She walked towards him, oozing her usual confidence as the sound of her high-heels gently clinked across the ground. A pair of azure earrings dangled by her ears, making a soft, chime-like melody as she neared. An ethereal beauty. There were no other words that could describe her.

  “I saw that you were enjoying the pastries,” she said, “These are a version of a treat from the east called the Kue Lapis. It means layered cake. This is a modified version fitted for the Ardairan palate.”

  “It’s delicious. I might have eaten the whole table if this was a less formal setting.”

  “Oh?” Liesel smiled as if pleasantly surprised. “Then I’ll have to tell Father and Mother to bring more next time. I’m sure they’ll be happy to hear your praise.”

  These were made by the Belle family? That was a surprise.

  “Normally, I would have also recommended the main course meals made by the Seven Star establishment. They’re the ones in charge of today’s catering. However, it seems like their flavors have…changed recently. So, perhaps don’t bother.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Now then, with the small talk out of the way—” Liesel suddenly lowered her head and curtsied. “First, let me apologize for my outburst earlier today. That was terribly rude of me.”

  The gesture caught Emil off guard. One of the most influential and powerful figures of the next generation was showing him deference. Stunned, he was speechless until he felt the myriads of curious eyes suddenly swarming towards their direction.

  “It’s fine, it’s fine! Please, you don’t need to do this.”

  Liesel raised her head at his urging. Emil didn’t miss the slight grin in the corner of her lips.

  “Then, moving onto the second topic. I wanted to ask you.” Liesel’s tone suddenly grew serious. “Do you know why I reacted the way I did?”

  I had the entire afternoon to think about it after all.

  “…You were let down. During this entire tournament, you were looking for someone to challenge you earnestly without any ulterior motives. Most students participate in the tournament to show off their Gifts. To make their names known. To build a reputation. Winning is secondary to their goal of showing off what they can do in front of all the elites. You were looking someone who simply wanted to win. You were disappointed when I couldn’t meet those expectations.”

  Liesel flinched. “So, you did understand.”

  Her face blossomed into a bright, radiant smile—shedding her mask of an ethereal beauty. In this moment, she simply looked like an innocent young lady.

  Suddenly, she tossed her head back. A sweet, joyous laughter rang from her haughty voice. It was one perfectly befitting of the woman who would one day stand at the apex of Ardairan society.

  “I’ve made up my mind,” she said, composing herself, “Emil, I want to know what secrets you’re hiding from me. What were you going to show me until you changed your mind at the last second? With that in mind, I present you an offer of a lifetime.”

  Liesel extended her hand.

  “Will you consider joining the Belle family?”