Emperor's Shadow (Elite Book 1) Read online

Lucia responded with a snicker. “Right, and I'm the Supreme freaking General. It's not a bad fake, but ultimately worthless.” Stepping forward, she flicked her brother right in the forehead, hard.

  One of the adults watching the exchange rolled her eyes and continued on with her business. The other people quickly followed suit, and in moments, Vince was left all alone with his angry older sister. The day was turning out to be too exciting for his taste. But if she didn't know what had happened in the zone, then why was Lucia so angry?

  Before he could piece it all together, little Isha burst out of the door and jumped at Vince, who barely managed to catch her in time. The little bundle of chaotic energy was weeping uncontrollably, pounding on Vince's chest with her tiny fists. Her snot and tears dripped down, freely flowing onto Vince's shirt. Even Lucia must have felt bad for him at this moment.

  “All right, Isha, calm yourself. He probably had to leave in a hurry,” the gang leader said in vain. Yet Isha continued her half-angry, half-affectionate assault. Luckily, it took only a minute for the little girl to tire out, and before everyone expected it, she curled up against Vince's chest and began resting peacefully.

  With a sigh, Vince gently set Isha down after an apologetic hug.

  Once again, just for a brief second, Vince regretted taking Isha home. Why can’t I learn to just walk away? As if reading his thoughts, little Isha kicked him on the leg, but the impact was so weak he barely felt it.

  Satisfied that she had made her point, Isha turned away and marched haughtily back into the orphanage.

  “Oh,” Vince let out, finally understanding Lucia's anger. “She was difficult, huh?”

  “Would not shut up for hours.” His sister snickered. “I almost tore my hair out. Did you just smirk at me?”

  Vince stared innocently. Maybe he should have stayed in after all. The last thing he wanted to do was actually test Lucia’s limits. “I am just as frustrated as you are,” he protested, and began walking toward the orphanage. What I need now is some rest.

  Lucia blocked the way. “Your training begins today.”

  “Training?” He paused.

  “Just thought I would warn you. Half of our enforcers are in the courtyard, ready to jump you.” She shrugged. “You being my brother and all, I have to look out for your well-being.”

  “So they are just going to pile on me and beat me half to death?”

  “Not if you put up a good enough fight.”

  “Isn't there a better way to do this?” Vince complained, exasperated. While Vince was fit for someone his age, and the tussles in the street conditioned his body to deal with pain, the other orphans were no pushovers either. Given the large size of the Wolf Gang, “half of our enforcers” meant two dozen experienced fighters, some of them two years older than Vince.

  Lucia shook her head. “We don't have the time. If you want to make it to the Academy, we must start right away. Once in the Tryout, you will have to fight through the toughest kids from across the empire, some of them veterans.”

  She was right, of course; every gang from across the vast empire sent their strongest enforcers to compete in the Tryout, incentivized by the hefty stipend the champion received once inside the Academy. The amount was so high that it was respectable even by Elite standards. To an orphan, the monthly sum could feed and clothe his or her entire gang.

  That was a goal Vince was perfectly willing to take a beating for. Any other day he might have paused, or tried to sneak away, but inspired by witnessing the power of the Elite Alchemists firsthand, he was determined to strive for the same status. “I'll win. Don't worry. I'll take care of all of you one day.”

  Another small pain flashed through his forehead before he could prepare for it. He rubbed the sore spot, and looked at Lucia with a pout. The Wolf leader crossed her arms, and shook her head gently. “That badge is genuine Rudium, and I have no idea where you found it. Come find me after the gang is done with you, and tell me the whole story.”

  Just what I need: to get a lecturing from Lucia after a whole lot of physical abuse. Just as Vince was about to walk past her, she rested a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see an expression rarely found on his sister. She was smiling, and she looked ... proud of him.

  With a gentle squeeze on Vince's shoulder, she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “This is not just for the gang, Brother. Remember what you told me? About changing the world?”

  Vince could only stand there in surprise. He was so used to the lectures, the punishments, and the tough love, but he wasn't sure what to do about tenderness.

  “The next two months will be rough, and you will want to give up. And if you choose to walk away, I'll send Derek to represent us instead. It won't be held against you.” Lucia let out a small laugh. “But you won't, because you are an optimistic fool. And as stubborn as me.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Vince asked.

  “Because after all the horrible things we’ve seen in this life, you still made a believer out of me.”

  Instead of responding, Vince leaned in and kissed his sister back on her cheek. With his heart feeling warm, and his fatigue oddly fading, Vince clenched his fists and walked into the courtyard.

  “You are still such a hothead.” Manus chuckled as Emelia finished her story, and almost choked on his tea. The servants had just left after the third refill, and this time had also placed snacks on the table. Corncakes from Zone 906, another of his personal favorites. Such simple food was often looked down upon by the Elites, but Manus simply couldn't get enough of them. Taking a generous slice, he ate half of it with a single bite as crumbs flew everywhere.

  The general shook her head at Manus’s unrefined table manners. Subtly, she slid a spoon over toward the Shadow, but he paid it no mind and popped the rest of the slice into his mouth. Lucky for Emelia, he checked himself in time, and wiped his fingers on the napkin instead of licking them clean.

  By the time Manus finished enjoying the dessert, he looked up to find Emelia staring at him as if he were a wild animal that had broken into her office. In seconds, his inner child got the better of him, and he laughed heartily. There was no one else other than Emelia who could make him forget all of his burdens and responsibilities.

  “You do make me feel young,” Manus thought out aloud, and much to his surprise, the general allowed herself to smile.

  “Come with me,” she decided, and walked out of her office without warning.

  After taking one large gulp to finish off his tea, Manus followed her outside.

  The general's Manor is much nicer than I remembered. On the way in, Manus was so focused on stealth that he didn't have the time to appreciate all the renovations. It was quite clear within moments that Emelia's taste had really evolved. A stark contrast to the state of this place during Emelia’s younger years, everything that remained now served a practical purpose.

  Emelia was in no hurry it would appear, and Manus caught up in mere moments. She’s still in such great shape, he noted to his own surprise, and pinched his own stomach self-consciously. His surprise stemmed more from the fact that he could still look at her this way, after so many years. Not as a ruthless killer, the embodiment of Elitism, but as a woman he once loved all those years ago.

  All around, the servants were busy maintaining the huge estate, yet everywhere Emelia went, they greeted her with respect. There was no fear in their eyes, but utter reverence. Lia was many things, but approachable? This was turning out to be a strange evening for Manus.

  Off in the distance, Katherine was practicing alchemy. Her movements were impressively fluent for someone her age. Weaving her hands with the grace of a dancer, she channeled and unleashed a stream of flame, incinerating targets all around her, covering the whole 360 degrees within two seconds. Manus couldn't help but rub his beard in admiration.

  The servants rushed to replace the practice dummies as the little alchemist met his eyes. Respectfully, Katherine took a small bow toward her elder, but Manus felt noth
ing but indifference from the girl.

  Emelia didn't move toward her daughter, and he found himself happy to avoid such a meeting.

  The two continued across a large courtyard, the servant's quarters, and into an indoor garden. The double-layered pressurized doors allowed the Fye content within the building to remain relatively low. Quite an impressive sight greeted Manus as the doors slid closed behind him. Whoever maintained this garden was skilled in a way Manus couldn't begin to imagine. Aside from a perfectly laid out network of pathways arranged to allow access to every single stem and leaf, the entire ground was covered in vibrant foliage and flowers, and the color green threatened to overwhelm his senses. Emelia led him toward the center of the garden, where an elderly woman in a straw hat toiled away.

  Despite her age, there was an easy grace to the gardener's movements. By Manus's estimate, she must have been past her seventies. Such longevity was not common in this world, especially not in the capital. Without Fye entering their lungs with every breath, the Southerners outlived their northern counterparts by a large margin. Perhaps she is an expert brought in from the South. That would certainly explain her expertise with plant life, he thought.

  Emelia reached out to caress a white rose, then nodded in approval. “It's gorgeous, Merian. I have never seen them this vibrant.”

  The wizened gardener beamed with pride and patted Emelia's hand affectionately.

  A realization struck Manus. “Riftborn.” The clean air, the secrecy, and the gardener's complete lack of fear for Lia. It was the logical conclusion to draw.

  Merian scowled darkly and walked away, mumbling as she disappeared behind a large bush. Whatever was said under her breath, Manus was sure wasn't in his favor. A few seconds later, sounds of shears could be heard as the gardener resumed her work. “You were testing me earlier, with the talk about me naming my Riftborns. Although, this is technically in violation of the Imperial codes,” he found it necessary to remind Emelia, compelled by his sense of duty. Riftborns were all supposed to be registered and restrained at all times; even the Shadow didn't dare to break such laws. In public, that is.

  “Technically,” Emelia answered without turning around, and kept examining different flowers with adoration.

  How time has changed all of us, Manus thought to himself. “Are you trying to make me regret my choice?” He didn't need to mention what he was talking about. Just between them, there was only one thing they could be referring to.

  “You already do,” the general replied, and looked around for Merian. Certain the gardener was occupied, she plucked a freshly bloomed white rose and, after taking a long and deliberate sniff, tucked it under her left sleeve. She then turned to Manus and pressed a finger to her lips, signaling for him to keep the secret. After winking at him, she began walking out of the building.

  Manus looked after her, and couldn’t help but smile. The two had first met when they were teenagers, and somehow, they were sharing a childish moment, after more than three decades, and enough drama for three lifetimes.

  “I had a pleasant evening,” Manus stated as the door shut behind them. Despite having spent his entire life breathing in Fye, he always found himself enjoying air in its pure form. The missions to the South were always dangerous and strenuous, but the blue sky and clear air still drew him there, time and time again. Maybe it was the high of fresh air, or just the feeling of nostalgia, but without realizing it, he stopped Emelia with a gentle hand on the shoulder. “You've changed, Lia.”

  The general turned around. “I grew up; time changes all of us.” Her gaze wandered to where Katherine stood in the distance. “I don't blame you for what you did, Manus.”

  “For not choosing you?”

  “Oh, grow up,” she teased with a smile. “As weird as it is coming from me, I wasn’t perfect. Though ...”

  “So many people suffered and died for my folly. Including all the ones I held most dear.”

  “You followed your heart, and paid the price. Part of me wonders sometimes, if I had been more like the wo—” She stopped abruptly with a shake of her head. “It's silly of me, of course, but it made me rethink so much.”

  “You are not responsible for my demons, Lia; it is my own burden to bear.” Manus let out a sigh.

  The two spent a few moments wallowing in their regrets. This is no way for a reunion to play out, Manus thought. He frantically searched his brain for a way to break the tension. Got it! The solution came to mind, and with any luck, Emelia would be up to the task.

  “So I will have to pay Lucien a visit next,” he said, trying to sound casual. Meanwhile, he watched for her reaction, his heart beating faster. A sense of relief washed over him when the general snickered.

  “The wise and mighty High Chancellor?” she asked with all the sarcasm she could muster.

  “It would seem he's the traitor to the throne.”

  “Then you should bring your whole envoy. Cowards always put as many bodies between themselves and harm as possible,” she said, nodding sagely.

  “My envoy suffered casualties, and my only Riftborn needs her rest.”

  “I see your problem.” She winked and made a snapping motion. Several servants rushed out from a nearby building, holding a grappling system even more advanced than Manus's personal arsenal. Within half a minute, and after several straps hooked together, she was ready for action. With the push of a few buttons and minor shifting of her clothes, she hid the whole rig under her uniform. “Predictable,” she repeated with a smug smile on her face.

  Manus let out an audible sigh as the servants scattered. “As an Elite, he has the right to due process. Maybe he will give himself up,” he said hopefully, fully knowing violence was unavoidable. A rat like Lucien wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice lives just to save his own skin.

  “Don't worry,” Emelia assured him. “I won't start killing until you finish boring him half to death with your lecturing.” She then looked at him straight on, daring him to challenge her statement.

  Manus shook his head, and fired his grapple at the courtyard wall. With the push of a button, he launched himself over, and landed gently on the other side. He looked up and saw Emelia grinning, already ahead of him. Together, they ran full speed toward Lucien's manor. “You are quite a long way from my good side, Manus, but this is a good start.” Emelia laughed as she began outpacing the Shadow.

  Manus picked up his own pace as a wave of nostalgia washed over him. This is going to be an interesting day.

  Chapter 9: Retribution

  The two Elite alchemists made the journey in record time, as nothing proved an obstacle to them. Personally, Manus would have preferred subtlety, but Emelia had no such reservations. In fact, her path ended up being a perfectly straight line.

  Crowds parted the moment they caught sight of the well-polished Ivy Sigils pinned to their chests. And every building, no matter how tall, was scaled with grapples instead of being circumvented with minor detours. Supreme General Emelia lived up to her reputation as she never lost her momentum the whole way there. Even Manus had to admit he felt slightly out of breath toward the end. I’m not getting old; it’s this damn chilly weather.

  “Our movements were bound to be spotted and reported back; this way we get to him before the information does,” she answered before Manus could even ask.

  “That's not the most attractive quality you know.”

  “What isn't?” She turned around.

  Manus opened his mouth to answer, but finally, common sense caught up to him, and he shook his head. “Never mind.”

  “Knowing everything?”

  The Shadow took a moment to chuckle at the irony of her reply, and began assessing the situation. Before them was a large twelve-acre estate surrounded by two-story-high walls. Guard towers covered every two hundred meters of the outer rim, so that not even a fly could sneak by undetected. High Chancellor Lucien's manor was heavily guarded, but luckily, Emelia's prediction proved correct as the guards weren't on alert. Even so, it
would be difficult to sneak past the heavily manned walls. “What's the plan?” he asked, conceding to her will.

  “We walk in the front door,” Emelia stated matter-of-factly, and began walking toward the front of the manor.

  “Because denying entrance to us might as well be a confession of guilt,” Manus guessed as he fell in next to her.

  Emelia let out an approving smile. “Besides, no one in their right mind would test the temper of a general who hasn't had a war to fight in years.”

  Looking at her combat-ready form, Manus had to admit she might be right.

  Sure enough, they were recognized immediately at the gate, and the doors swung open. None of the house guards dared to approach; most of them simply bowed respectfully and avoided eye contact.

  Once inside, Manus took the lead. The layout of this place was perfectly clear in his mind. Little more than a decade ago, the last tenants of this manor had made a huge gamble for power. As a result, Manus had personally shed blood all over these grounds.

  “Be on your guard, Manus,” Emelia warned as she cracked her knuckles in anticipation. Although she had matured much over the years, her instincts had only gotten stronger.

  Manus shook his head, hoping to rid himself of the feeling of déjà vu. Before he realized it, they had reached the Chancellor's study. Perhaps it will be different this time, he allowed himself to hope.

  The study was a separate building from the manor, its design both inconspicuous and secure. If Manus's memory proved accurate, this was the only building with a bunker underground. Of course, he thought to himself, typical of a rat like Lucien.

  He took a deep breath and pushed on the door. The moment the door cracked open, he caught a whiff of the air inside. Slight variance in the concentration of Fye warned him of the danger. Before he could channel alchemy, a swirling inferno sped toward his face, threatening to consume him.

  Manus's training kicked in, and a wall of ice appeared instantly before him. Sadly, the preparation was rushed, and the barrier wasn’t at its full strength. The inferno broke through his half-formed defenses, and blew him backwards.