Meanwhile, in a different place…

A quiet office at heart of the Headquarters of The Judicators of the Glass.

The only administration of the empire that was far removed from the capital city because of its role.

A fire crackled softly in a wide stone hearth. The orange glow of its flames danced across dark wood shelves and maps pinned along the walls.

Outside the tall windows, thick snow drifted lazily from a pale winter sky, frosting most of the outer world in white.

No doubt winter had claimed more parts of the empire than others.

Commander Jared stood near a heavy oak desk, reading through a stack of documents with a stern, thoughtful expression. His uniform coat hung open, allpwing the warmth of the fire to seep in.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," Jared said without looking up.

The door opened, and a tall man stepped inside.

Boyed.

He straightened immediately and saluted the moment he crossed the door frame.

"Commander."

Jared finally lifted his gaze, eyes narrowing slightly as he took in Boyed's tired look.

"How was your trip to Blackspire Bastion Prison?" he asked.

Boyed grimaced, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and pressing it lightly to his nose.

"Disgusting as ever, sir," he replied dryly. "The stench still clings to me."

Jared snorted and turned toward a small side table where a crystal decanter sat. He poured himself a measure of amber liquid and lifted a second glass.

"Drink?" he offered.

Boyed shook his head politely. "I'll pass, sir."

Jared shrugged and took a sip himself, the alcohol warming his throat. He gestured toward the chair across from his desk.

"So," he said. "What about the young Waterfell?"

Boyed lowered the handkerchief and sat.

"Soren doesn't behave like an F-rank Soulbound warrior," he said bluntly.

"If I hadn't been there the moment he first touched the glass… I would've sworn the readings were wrong."

Jared nodded slowly.

"The norm never holds when Waterfells are involved. Then again, norms never stable when its about shades," he muttered. Then he slid a thin document folder across the desk. "Take a look."

Boyed opened it.

His eyes widened.

"It hasn't even been a day since I dropped him off at the academy, and he has already broken and set new records." he said surprised.

Jared chuckled as he rose from his chair and walked toward the window, hands clasped behind his back. He stared out into the falling snow.

"We're fortunate to be alive when such an anomaly exists," he said.

"Hopefully… he helps the academy deal with that... problem."

He took another slow sip of his drink, then glanced over his shoulder.

"You got it, right?"

Boyed nodded.

The real reason Boyed went to Blackspire Bastion Prison wasn't for Soren.

Commander Jared other plans.

The boy was just a convenient excuse… in case questions were asked.

In such a place were power determined a lot of things, the ability to acquire information no matter the circumstance was important.

And commander Jared took advantage og any opportunity that crossed his path.

Boyed reached into his tunic and placed a document on the table.

"These are the sites where the glass has been breaking," Boyed said.

"All of them illegally owned by the Church."

Jared's jaw tightened.

"To think Scarvguard is willing to go this far," he murmured.

"His secret forbidden lover would be heartbroken if she found out he's been using her to steal church secrets."

Boyed gave a humorless breath of a laugh.

"I doubt she isn't doing the same. Besides, I believe he wants us to act far more than we do," he said.

Commander Jared turned back from the window and walked forward, stopping by the desk.

"Of course. Love has a way of pushing our hand when duty is useless.

The Church's influence has grown too large," he said firmly.

"And now they're bold enough to go behind the Emperor's back."

He placed his glass down with a soft clink.

"We trim their wings. Pass down my orders."

Boyed's eyes sharpened. "You are going?"

Commander Jared nodded. "Get my Soul Mecha ready. We're going hunting."

Boyed stood and snapped into a sharp salute.

"Yes, sir."

.....

Back at the academy, Soren sat in the jail cell not aware that he had relevance on different proportions to two sides of sizeable power and influence.

Instead, he had his own problems to deal with.

He had only just left Prison and he was behind bars again.

But what was more disturbing, was the person sitting in front of him.

Pill Polystar.

It turned out that the bespectacled noble had led a protest against the use of Shades on school grounds.

This was against school policy, and he had been thrown in here for it.

From what Soren heard from the whispers, it was not even the first time.

While Soren was not at all interested in a conversation, Polystar's eyes dud not leave him.

"Do you have a problem with me, or something." Soren inquired.

"How do you know my family's Clap hand-to-hand combat technique?" Polystar asked with scrutinising gaze.

Soren remembered. On the last day—the day they defeated Instructor Ivory, he had used the Clap hand-to-hand combat technique.

Polystar saw it back then. It must have shocked him.

"From you." Soren replied.

Polystar raised a brow. "You mean to tell me you copied it after I beat you up one time?"

Soren shrugged. "I'm a fast learner."

Just then foot steps were heard.

The metal clicked and the cell was opened.

The Instructor with the Eagle wing eyebrows stood before them.

Even closer, he was taller than Soren thought.

"Protesting and fighting outside the gauntlet are both frowned upon. You will each have 100 points deducted for your behaviours. Now leave my sight."

Both of them walked outside, through the hallway to a much broader room.

There, Cynthia, Bloodshine and Pencil were waiting.

They hurried to him asking if he was alright.

Apparently, they too had 100 points deducted as punishment.

However, Soren quickly noticed something.

"Where is Tommy?"

No one answered.

Pencil swallowed. Bloodshine clenched his fists.

Even cynthia looked away helplessly.

"Where," Soren said again, slower this time, "is Tommy?"

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