House of Blood

The violet glare of the Spatial Transit Tunnel snapped into blinding natural sunlight as the carriage broke through the mountain terminus.

Outside the glass window, the sweeping white-marble arches of the Central Capital Spire towered into the clouds, framed by enormous flying buttresses and floating aqueducts that spanned the canyon below.

For several seconds, nobody in Cell One spoke.

Then Casper slowly stood.

”Whoa.”

Lyra pressed both hands against the window.

”It’s enormous.”

The mag-rails hummed beneath them as the train decelerated, gliding smoothly into Grand Central Platform One.

Thousands of passengers crowded the massive white-slate concourse—scribes in dark robes, guild envoys in embroidered doublets, merchants surrounded by attendants, and armored vanguards from across the outer sectors.

Casper stared through the glass.

”That’s not a city.”

Solene raised an eyebrow.

”What is it?”

”A vertical country.”

Castor chuckled.

”You’re impressed.”

”I’m trying not to be.”

Pollux looked out the opposite window.

”You are failing.”

The train came to a gentle stop.

A metallic chime sounded through the carriage.

”Grand Central Platform One,” announced the conductor. ”Central Capital Spire. Final destination.”

The doors opened.

Casper immediately stepped into the aisle and stretched both arms above his head until his shoulder joints popped.

”End of the line.”

He rolled his shoulders.

”Man, my back feels like a dried oak plank.”

”That is due to poor posture,” Valerian remarked, sliding his iron stylus into his sleeve pocket and closing his ledger.

”You slouched against the cushion for three consecutive hours.”

”I was resting my core!”

Casper grabbed his duffel bag from the bench.

”Even elite vanguard swordsmen need rest.”

”Proper rest involves spinal alignment,” Pollux said, pulling Solene’s leather travel trunk from the overhead rack with one hand.

”You were folded over like an empty sack.”

Casper looked offended.

”I was comfortable.”

”You were shaped like a question mark.”

Lyra giggled.

”She’s right.”

”Nobody asked you.”

Castor hoisted the remaining heavy luggage onto his broad shoulders without a whisper of strain.

”Focus, everyone. Concourse crowds in the Capital are prime grounds for pickpockets and shadow scouts.”

Solene nodded.

”He’s right.”

She adjusted the silver crest on her lapel.

”Keep our formation tight. Valen, where is our assigned lodging?”

”The Directorate reserved six suites for us at the Silver Quill Inn in the Upper Tier,” Valerian answered.

He stepped down onto the white-slate platform.

”However, before we check in, we must present our credentials at the Grand Registrar’s desk in the lower lobby.”

Casper stared at him.

”Six suites?”

”Yes.”

”One each?”

”Yes.”

Casper’s grin widened.

”Now that’s what I call victory.”

”We’re not spending the night together in one room?”

”No.”

”Excellent.”

Valerian paused.

”The suites are charged to the Directorate.”

Casper’s smile became even wider.

”Valen, I suddenly love bureaucracy.”

”That feeling will pass.”

The group moved into the concourse.

Lyra immediately slowed.

Her eyes traveled upward toward the enormous vaulted ceiling.

”It’s so huge...”

She adjusted the strap of her focus-staff case.

”There are more people on this platform than in our entire district administrative building.”

”There are approximately eight thousand people within this concourse,” Valerian said.

Lyra stared at him.

”You counted?”

”No.”

”Then how do you know?”

”Acoustic density.”

Casper groaned.

”Of course.”

Solene’s expression changed as she looked across the crowd.

”And every single one of them is watching us.”

She was right.

As Cell One moved down the broad concourse, heads turned.

The silver crest of Sector Zero on Solene’s cloak drew sharp, hushed whispers from passing groups of competitive teams.

”Look at the badge,” a passing vanguard in blue plate armor muttered to his companion.

”That’s Sector Zero’s top seed.”

”Zero?” the second warrior sneered softly.

”The provincial district? I heard they got their seed on a technicality.”

Casper’s head snapped toward them.

”What did you—”

Castor placed one heavy hand on his shoulder.

”Ignore the noise.”

”But—”

”Unearned arrogance is easy to punish on the field.”

Casper frowned.

”I wasn’t going to yell.”

Castor raised an eyebrow.

”I was just going to tell them their armor polish is two shades off regulation.”

Lyra giggled.

”That would hurt them far more.”

Pollux glanced at Casper’s sword.

”Especially if you explained the cleaning deficiencies in detail.”

Casper sighed.

”Fine.”

Solene smiled faintly.

”Good.”

They continued through the crowd.

At the northern end of the plaza stood the Central Registry Building.

Its enormous bronze doors were framed by carved marble pillars and golden inscriptions dating back to the First Era.

Two tall guards stood beside the entrance, clad in polished obsidian plate and holding heavy halberds decorated with golden ribbons.

Between them stood a young man in an impeccably tailored navy suit, holding a silver clipboard.

He had short, slicked-back black hair and sharp, dismissive eyes.

”Halt.”

He stepped forward without looking up from his clipboard.

”Registration for the Grand Trial is strictly by appointment. State your sector and team designation.”

”Cell One, Sector Zero,” Solene said clearly.

”We hold the top regional seed and the Eastern Directorate mandate.”

The clerk finally looked up.

His eyes moved slowly across the group.

Solene’s silver crest.

Casper’s worn sword sheaths.

Lyra’s spatial focus case.

Castor and Pollux’s heavy armor.

Finally, Valerian’s dark blindfold and simple linen coat.

A small, condescending smile touched his lips.

”Sector Zero.”

He flipped a page.

”Ah, yes. The administrative exception team.”

Casper’s eyebrow twitched.

The clerk continued.

”You are scheduled for Desk Four in thirty minutes. Please wait in the lower concourse with the auxiliary squads.”

”Lower concourse?” Casper repeated.

His voice rose slightly.

”We’re the top seed of our sector.”

”Every district claims a top seed, traveler.”

The clerk didn’t even look at him.

”The Upper Registry reception is reserved for teams ranked in the top five overall. Sector Zero’s cumulative point total places you at rank fourteen.”

Casper opened his mouth.

Valerian spoke first.

”Our point total was calculated under the previous councilor’s fraudulent entries.”

The clerk looked at him.

Valerian stepped forward.

His boots clicked softly against the marble floor.

”As of seven o’clock this morning, Representative Mirain issued an official ledger revision under Case File 882-B.”

The clerk’s expression remained amused.

”And who are you supposed to be?”

His gaze dropped to Valerian’s coat.

”The team porter?”

Solene’s eyes narrowed.

Valerian didn’t react.

”I am Valerian, Chief Auditor of Cell One.”

He reached into his coat and produced a crisp, sealed parchment.

A deep purple wax seal marked its center.

”This is the updated ranking mandate from the High Council of Accounts.”

He extended it.

”Read paragraph three.”

The clerk hesitated.

Then reluctantly took the parchment.

He broke the seal.

His eyes moved across the first line.

Then the second.

Then the third.

His expression changed.

The amusement vanished.

His fingers tightened around the parchment.

”This...”

He scanned the page again.

”This adjusts your base administrative score by six hundred points.”

”Six hundred and forty-two,” Valerian corrected.

The clerk looked up.

”Six hundred and forty-two.”

”Correct.”

Valerian tilted his head slightly.

”Which reclassifies Cell One’s starting evaluation to third overall in the Grand Trial bracket.”

Silence.

Solene stepped forward.

Her icy blue eyes fixed on the clerk.

”Which means we do not wait in the lower concourse.”

She pointed toward the parchment.

”And we do not use Desk Four.”

The clerk swallowed.

”Correct.”

”Then where do we go?”

”My deepest apologies, Lady Solene.”

He bowed.

”Scribe Valerian.”

His bow went lower.

”I was not informed of the morning revision.”

He gestured toward the bronze doors.

”Please follow me directly to the High Registrar’s private office in the Inner Circle.”

Casper leaned toward Castor.

”That went well.”

Castor’s mouth twitched.

”Keep your voice down.”

”I whispered.”

”You whispered loudly.”

The clerk led them through the massive bronze doors.

The change was immediate.

The noisy bustle of the public concourse disappeared behind them.

Inside was a quiet marble hallway lined with towering stained-glass windows depicting ancient Grand Auditors, High Kings, and legendary Scribes.

Their footsteps echoed softly beneath the vaulted ceiling.

Lyra whispered.

”This place is beautiful.”

”It is also expensive,” Valerian replied.

She looked at him.

”Do you know how much the windows cost?”

”No.”

”Then why did you say that?”

”Because they’re made of imported crystal glass.”

Casper groaned.

”We’ve been in the Capital for ten minutes.”

He shook his head.

”And he’s already auditing the windows.”

They stopped before a pair of polished mahogany double doors.

The clerk knocked twice.

He pushed them open.

”High Registrar Vance is expecting you.”

Inside the spacious, book-lined office, a middle-aged man with sharp gray hair and gold-rimmed spectacles sat behind a massive desk carved from solid oak.

He looked up from a stack of ledgers.

His eyes immediately landed on Valerian.

For a moment, the man’s stern expression froze.

Then a genuine smile appeared.

”Valerian.”

He set his quill down.

”It has been three years.”

Valerian bowed slightly.

”Senior Scribe Vance.”

His tone was formal.

”It is good to see your desk remains organized.”

Vance laughed.

”Organized?”

He stood and came around the desk.

”It’s a disaster since you left the Central Spire.”

He extended his hand.

”I had to hire three junior clerks just to replace your daily output.”

Valerian shook his hand.

”Three?”

”Three.”

”Your standards have declined.”

Vance stared at him.

Then laughed again.

”Same Valerian.”

He turned toward the others.

”Princess Solene.”

He offered a respectful bow.

”Welcome to the Capital. I read the transcript of your hearing in Sector Zero.”

Solene smiled.

”A clean hearing.”

”A clean sweep,” Vance corrected.

”Against Julian’s faction.”

”We had good records, Scribe Vance.”

Vance glanced toward Valerian.

”And a ruthless auditor.”

Casper muttered.

”That’s putting it mildly.”

Vance smiled.

”I assume you’re here to submit your final roster for the Grand Trial?”

”We are,” Solene said.

”Five combatants and one administrative lead.”

”Excellent.”

Vance walked to a side table and picked up a velvet-lined wooden box.

Inside were five silver lapel pins shaped like soaring hawks.

”These are your official Grand Trial credentials.”

He handed the box to Solene.

”They grant full access to the Upper Tier training facilities, the High Registry archives, and the Silver Quill suites.”

Solene nodded gratefully.

”Thank you.”

Vance’s expression became slightly more serious.

”There is one detail you should be aware of.”

Everyone looked at him.

”House Vane arrived two hours ago.”

Casper’s grin vanished.

”Kaelen.”

Vance nodded.

”Kaelen Vane has already requested an advance review of your tactical logs.”

Pollux’s expression hardened.

”Did you grant it?”

”Of course not.”

Vance’s voice became cold.

”A team’s tactical audit is private until the morning draw.”

He looked toward Solene.

”But Kaelen is not accustomed to being denied.”

”Political weight?” Solene asked.

”Considerable.”

Casper rested a hand on his sword.

”Let him weigh whatever he wants.”

He grinned.

”He still has to face us on the sand.”

Vance smiled faintly.

”Indeed.”

He glanced at the clock.

”Your first official team briefing is scheduled for eight o’clock tomorrow morning in the Sunken Arena.”

He looked directly at Casper.

”Don’t be late.”

Casper pointed at himself.

”Me?”

Vance nodded.

”Especially you.”

Lyra laughed.

Solene bowed.

”We won’t be late.”

As Cell One turned toward the door, Vance’s voice stopped them.

”Valerian.”

Valerian paused.

He turned his head slightly.

”Yes, Vance?”

The Senior Scribe’s expression lost its humor.

”The Capital is not Sector Zero.”

The room became quieter.

”The ledgers here are written in thicker ink.”

His eyes sharpened.

”And the men who hold the quills have much sharper knives.”

Valerian remained silent for a moment.

Then his lips curved into the faintest smile.

”Ink washes off slate, Vance.”

He adjusted the ledger beneath his arm.

”And knives can be audited like any other asset.”

A brief, low chuckle escaped Vance.

”Same as always.”

He waved them away.

”Go on, then.”

His smile faded slightly.

”Take care of your team.”

Valerian nodded once.

”We will.”

The door closed behind them.

They walked through the marble corridor toward the grand exit.

Casper immediately turned toward Valerian.

”You knew him before?”

”Yes.”

”Three years ago?”

”Yes.”

”And you worked here?”

”Yes.”

Casper stared.

”How many secrets do you have?”

Valerian considered the question.

”Enough.”

Solene laughed softly.

”That’s probably the most honest answer you’ve given all week.”

They stepped onto a high stone balcony overlooking the Capital.

The Central Spire stretched endlessly in every direction.

Floating platforms crossed between towers.

Crystal bridges connected enormous marble buildings.

Thousands of people moved through the streets far below.

Lyra stared in wonder.

”Where do we go first?”

Valerian immediately pulled his leather ledger from beneath his arm.

”First, we check into the Silver Quill Inn.”

Casper sighed.

”Of course.”

”Then we verify our room allocations.”

Casper sighed again.

”And?”

”Ensure the innkeeper does not attempt to charge us the unadjusted provincial tax.”

Casper looked toward the sky.

”The battle for the Capital starts with the hotel bill.”

”It always does, Casper,” Solene said with a soft laugh.

She pulled her white cloak tighter against the mountain breeze.

”Come on, Cell One.”

The six of them stepped onto the grand avenue leading deeper into the Upper Tier.

Above them, the towers of the Capital vanished into the clouds.

Somewhere beneath those towers waited the Sunken Arena.

Sixteen district winners.

One Grand Trial.

And now, Cell One had officially entered the game.

Casper adjusted his sword belt.

”So...”

He looked around at the enormous city.

”Which one of these buildings is ours?”

Valerian didn’t even look up from his ledger.

”The Silver Quill Inn.”

Casper waited.

”And?”

”Three streets east.”

”Can we walk?”

”Yes.”

”How long?”

”Twenty-seven minutes.”

Casper groaned.

”Why didn’t we take a carriage?”

”Because the carriage costs four gold sovereigns.”

Casper stared at him.

”You’re joking.”

”I am not.”

Solene burst out laughing.

”Twenty-seven minutes it is.”

And with that, Cell One disappeared into the heart of the Capital Spire.