Despite the muffling enchantment on my boots, my footsteps seem thunderously loud. What is going on? Why does the Empress even know my name? The quarrel with Vincent? The mysterious mandate that got me into the Academy? Neither of those seem worth calling me up in front of hundreds of the most important nobles in the empire, especially not in the middle of giving her children gifts.

I reach the designated spot beneath the throne and kneel properly despite my pounding heartbeat. Can she hear it? I'd be surprised if she didn't have better hearing than me. "I'm here to serve, your majesty." Did I stutter? Fidget? Twitch? No, I was in perfect control. My gods given gifts are being put to the test, but are proving themselves barely adequate.

"Yes, I know," she says dryly, "But I have called you to give you a gift. I have heard many things about you, Malichi Monhal, and am very interested in your future development."

My eyes widen as she gestures to her side to a pair of servants carrying the ritual stone block on a tray, the dagger still lodged inside. They place the stone before her and with a casual yank, she removes the dagger. There's a click followed by a pair of thuds as the stone splits cleanly in two and falls apart. Then she takes an ornate and enchanted sheath from another servant and slips the dagger inside before motioning for me to ascend to her level.

Keeping my head bowed, I quickly climb the steps and kneel again before her, struggling to control my breathing as I do. "It pleases me to give you this dagger," she says, gesturing for me to take it.

Head still lowered, I outstretch my hands and allow her to place the weapon into them. It feels heavy and light at the same time. "I'm… I don't know what to do with this honour, your majesty."

"I'm certain you'll figure it out," she says wryly, then drops to a whisper that only I can hear, "But when you finally have the resolve to break those chains, don't hesitate, and strike true." She makes a two-fingered gesture touching a spot on her chest off centre and on the opposite side of her heart.

I scrunch up my face in confusion. Chains? What chains? The only chains I have are the ones placed on my homeland by her. If she knew as much about me as she seems to think, there'd be no reason to let me get so close. Surely, she's not telling me to kill her?

... Could I kill her? It'd be worth the mission, even knowing I'd die myself. But she doubtless has a shield effect on her that could take even a point-blank shot from my heavy crossbow. I have weapons on me, but none up to the task. The liquifying beam spell would likely do it, but I'd be dead before even the first second of the lengthy chant parted my lips.

My eyes turn to the 'gift'. I didn't see any symbols etched into it, but she did use it for a major ritual. Perhaps that imparted some properties to it? It might be my best bet… but far too uncertain to throw away what I'm working for. So, when she dismisses me with a wave of the hand, I bow my head further and back away until I reach a respectable enough distance to turn.

As I do, I can see the thoughts of everyone in the crowd on their faces 'Who is this nobody to be given such a gift by Her with Her own hand?' Well, a few have different expressions. Allan looking overwhelmed and… shit, Lindrid. Our eyes meet. His expression is… I don't know. Put it off till later.

Talia likewise has an extremely stern but otherwise unreadable look on her face as I return to her and nods to a space next to her for me to stand.

"What was that about?" I whisper as I slip next to her.

"I was hoping you would tell me," she whispers back. "What was that she whispered to you at the end?"

"I don't know. It didn't make any sense. I mean, I didn't even know she knew my name… Maybe it has something to do with her mandate."

"Madate?"

I shake my head. "All I know is that fulfilling it is the reason I got accepted into the academy."

"Is that so? Interesting."

"Do you think it's why she gave me the dagger?"

She chuckles. "Not likely. Mother makes a lot of mandates."

"Yeah, but the dagger didn't seem to have any symbols on it. Maybe she just wanted to give a mundane object, as, I don't know, a hint towards something? A sign of expectation?"

Talia scoffs. "You think Mother has even touched a mundane tool since her ascension? Even her table cutlery is enchanted. How much more do you think a weapon she used with her own hands to perform a major ritual would be?"

I gulp nervously and look at it again while inverting the Eye – ignoring the blinding glare from all the other magic in the area, especially from the Empress. It's probably using a similar method as my listening coins to have symbols inscribed on the inside. Though I don't see the point as that…

"Chance dancing leaves," I mutter, much to the amusement of Talia, "the symbols are three-dimensional! I've only heard about that in theory. They should be geometrically more potent than the standard ones, and it's filled with them."

"Yeah," she chuckles, "that thing might be the second most valuable gift she gives tonight, after my new armour."

"Why would she give me this?" I ask, bewilderment growing.

"That's what everyone in this room wants to know. So, I ask you again. What did she whisper to you?"

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"It… it really didn't make any sense… unless… Do you know if far prophecy has manifested as part of her divinity yet?"

Talia's eyes narrow. "A few times, that I know of. Does it bring anything to mind if her words were prophecy?"

I shake no. "But isn't that the way? That I won't know until the moment of change comes?"

She nods, then shrugs. "Well, I'll likely see her a few times privately before I go to Kaldima. I'll be sure to ask her about it then."

"And you'll share what you learn, your highness?" I ask, hopeful.

She laughs softly. "Not likely. If mother didn't see fit to explain it to you, then I certainly won't question her judgment."

"Yes… of course," I say, knowing full well she's getting amusement from the withholding.

"Well, anyways, you'll probably want to skip out on the after party. Lucky for us, we're pretty close to the door, so you should be able to dash out before anyone accosts you. You may use my name to get out of anything if you are; just say that you're on an urgent task for me."

"…Thank you for your consideration, your highness."

"Of course. No reason to let these jackals eat you alive. Besides, I want everyone to be talking about my new command, and your presence will distract from that."

"Of course, your highness," I say, not fully believing her reasoning.

Once the empress is done going down the row of her children, she moves on to give presents to about a dozen nobles not affiliated with any of her children who she notes for exemplary service. Mostly moderate magic items, but a few more unique gifts. One of Allan's paintings actually gets thrown into the mix, though the receiver doesn't seem as exuberant as the others. From everyone's reactions though, there are no more surprises regarding who receives something. Once that is done, the celebration moves on to another general congregating phase, and Talia gestures to me that it's time to leave.

I walk briskly to the door. A few nobles rush to intercept me (one noticeably from Vincent's entourage), but I pre-emptively excuse myself, citing Talia allowing me to get out of the door before getting bogged down by aggressive inquirers. However, while I succeed in escaping, it does leave me with the predicament of not knowing where I am.

Obviously, I couldn't go out the main doors, so I was forced to take a side one which exited to an expansive garden with twisting hedges blocking off sight. I can't even just follow the wall around as the hedges block that option off. No doubt it's a deliberate feature to confound intruders.

Hearing my pursuers close behind, I breathe deeply and go off in the direction of cover where I can hopefully gain enough time to divine my way out of this mess. Unfortunately, every time I find a good place, I'm immediately interrupted by the voices of my pursuers. It's annoying how persistent they are, given how bad they are at every other element of a chase.

Eventually, I round a corner bringing me to an ornate fountain with the figure I least want to talk to waiting at it, causing me to freeze, and my hands to go to weapons.

Lindrid turns and smiles at me. "You know, I don't think I ever caught your name last time we met."

"I'm certain you're mistaking me for someone else, Count Fluemhal. The Empress said it, I'm Malichi Monhal – a baron's son from north of Caethlon."

He chuckles softly. "Yes, of course, a mistake. I see that now. How embarrassing. Pity, since I did promise that person further boons for a great favour they did me."

"I think I've received enough boons tonight, don't you?" I ask, glancing down at the Empress's absurd dagger.

Lindrid gives an amused grin. "Yes, of course. I wonder what you did to earn her majesty's favour."

"…So do I, Count Fluemhal, so do I."

What is he hinting at? It really might be simplest just to kill him, but obviously not here. Is that why he's confronting me? Letting me know he remembers me in a place that I dare not act? How did he even find me? Assuming it was intentional, is he just somehow more familiar with the palace than I am and was able to intuit my route and a shortcut to it? Or does he have his own divining methods? He didn't seem self-empowered last time.

Will he betray my secret? It'd be too risky now, given that I just received favour from the Empress – the first real benefit from that whole fiasco – but there's no reason to assume he won't reveal what he knows later.

Faint footsteps jolt me from my thoughts, and I turn to see Allan come into view. Or rather I hear his outfit first. It's like the rustling of a tree in a storm when he moves, fitting as he's bedecked in branches. Berry bearing twigs are inserted into his hair in a way that somehow does not seem crown-like and flowering vines wrap around his arms. The colour of his clothes gradually changes as if going from day to night, with relatively protracted sunrise and set, and the flowers seem to droop whenever it's 'night'.

He smiles with relief upon seeing me, then tenses when he notices my company.

"Lord… Fluemhal, correct? I'm Baronet Allan Linhal. A pleasure to meet you." His face is a perfectly controlled smile, but his tone is weighted – protective and assessing. "Did you have some business with my cousin?"

Lindrid smiles courteously back with a questioning eyebrow raised. "Your cousin? Is he now? But no. He reminded me of someone, but I see now I was mistaken. Pleasure to meet you, Baronet Linhal, but I must return to the celebration."

We all make polite half bows and Lindrid leaves.

"What was that about?" Allan asks me once he's gone.

"I um… may have met him before."

"Before? When?"

"Before before."

"…I see… Wasn't he the one you asked me about? Will he be a problem?"

I shake my head, unsure. "We parted on good terms, but just him knowing… I don't know where he stands on everything now. Which, now that I think about it, he's probably thinking the same thing about me, given what just happened with the Empress."

"No doubt. Speaking of; what in Vanocaur's blinding halls brought that on?"

I exhale sharply. "No idea, wish I knew. I didn't even know she knew my name, much less enough about me to decide I was worthy of a public gift. Talia's best guess is that she had a far prophecy about me, but that's nearly as terrifying as not knowing. Though maybe her mortal parts mitigate the consequences somehow?"

"Right… Well, good thing you're on break. You should probably get out of the capital for a few days to avoid inquirers."

I blink in surprise. "Oh, right. The horse I mentioned maybe needing? I was going to go on a trip anyways, and need to leave now."

He gives me a questioning look. "Yeah, I um, sent word to my country estate to keep a suitable one fresh for you, but you never said why."

"Er, yeah. I meant to tell you, but I guess we were busy. You know how I mentioned some of my friends seemed hostile to each other and wouldn't tell me why? Well, I overheard one side talking. Turns out they're rivals in pursuing a set of divine artefacts, or something."

"Divine…? How can one kid get into so much trouble?" He mutters under his breath.

I give a protesting look. "I don't see what my age has to do with it. Besides, I'm not interested in the artefacts… for now. I just need to follow them in case I can stop them from killing each other."

He makes a very exaggerated and long sigh. "I suppose that's an admirable goal. Just make sure you won't do anything too risky. In the meantime, I'll stay in the capital and try to diffuse the attention you earned tonight."

"Thanks," I say.

"Just be careful. Now, let's try to get you out of here. They probably have people watching the carriages, so it might be tricky."

I give him an insulted look. "Allan, I don't need your help running away – I'm very good at it. Just go back to the party and misdirect anyone looking for me and I'll be fine."

He nods. "Fair point. Well, good luck, and try not to get into any more trouble."

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