Murmurs arose. It was clear which Great Souls had won, for they tended to sit taller, be surrounded by beaming friends, while those who had lost were talking, explaining, or complaining, or simply looking downcast.
“Now, you have until First Bronze to report to your classes, so make use of this free time as you wish. Those with House sponsorships might wish to confer with their patrons, but everyone else is at liberty to relax and enjoy this rare break until the cycle changes.” Praximar lowered his arms. “Congratulations once more to our winners, and may you all learn from their example!”
Scorio took a shaky breath. “How does the sponsorship system actually work? Do I approach the Houses, do they have offices in the Academy where I can go petition, or…?”
“Look sharp,” said Leonis, voice low. “Looks like your question’s about to be answered.”
Three people in rich, green robes were making their way through the glowing blue light between the biers towards their little group, their intent obvious, their eyes trained on Scorio. The leader was a stern, handsome woman in her thirties, her skin dusky, a sprinkling of birthmarks rising alongside her left cheek. A striking man in his twenties flanked her on the left, olive-skinned and with stubble on the verge of becoming a tightly curled beard, his hair trimmed and cut short, everything about him purposeful and neat and sharp. On her right walked another man, leonine and bemused, hair like pale gold, apologizing quietly to everyone he stepped by as he went.
“House Chimera,” murmured Lianshi, stepping back. “They’re my favorite.”
And indeed, each wore a badge over their hearts depicting the lion and goat-headed monster with a snake for a tail.
“Cinder Scorio?” Their leader stopped before them, her hands on her hips, her manner direct, forthright. “I’m Principal Recruiter Selena, Dread Blaze, and member of House Chimera. This is Recruiter Wrack,” and she indicated the well-kept man to her left, “and Recruiter Gelegos.”
Both men nodded but remained quiet.
“Hello,” said Scorio, wondering if he should slide off the bier or remain seated.
“You fought well,” said Selena, her gaze traveling over him. “We’d like a chance to speak with you in private. If you’re not busy, I’d appreciate your following us to our offices.”
“Sure,” said Scorio, wondering if they could hear his heart pounding. “I’m not busy. Now?”
“Now,” said Selena, amusement glimmering in her eyes. “If you’ll follow me?”
Lianshi made a subtle, shooing motion when he glanced at her, and he smiled and slipped off the bier at last. “Lead the way, Principal Recruiter.”
The three House Chimera members began to pick their way through the biers toward the great doors. Leonis gave him an encouraging wink, while Naomi just looked… conflicted.
Straightening his robes, he cinched his sash tight and hurried after the recruiters. His passage drew stares, a few respectful nods, but mostly careful scrutiny.
No matter. He wasn’t here to make friends. Scorio stared straight ahead, schooled his features, and followed the trio out into the Aureate Hall.
Selena glanced back at him as she slowed upon entering the imposing hallway. “Scorio, how are you finding life here at the Academy? You’ve only recently returned, have you not?”
“Right, just a couple of Eighthdays now, though the first was spent out in Bastion helping deal with damage Imperator Imogen caused.”
Selena nodded, encouraging, and so he began to describe his experiences thus far, the classes, the training, the morning runs. Selena proved adroit at keeping him talking, asking questions that led to his sharing ever more of his opinions, though he was careful to not say anything that could be seen as too controversial; simply stated his preferences, some of the questions that had occurred to him, and outlined his hopes.
They crossed the Academy to a wing he’d not entered yet, climbed a few floors, and emerged into a large, open-plan chamber divided by cunning partitions, painted screens, and large, potted plants into various subsections.
“This is House Chimera’s space within the Academy,” said Selena as she led the way. “We encourage all of our sponsored students to think of it as a communal space, and to visit whenever they have the inclination.”
Scorio nodded, looking around with wide eyes as he took in the resources on display. There were countless nooks and secluded spots formed by the plants and screens, each with its own collection of cushions, benches, or reclining chairs. Here and there were small altars boasting different treasures whose power pulled to him, and down the center of the large room was a table whose purpose alternated down its green marble length, ranging from study stations to boasting bowls of succulent-looking fruits to a board game that had been paused halfway through.
“House Chimera is the youngest of the four Houses,” continued Selena, her words practiced, her tone warm. “We’re well aware of our status as upstarts, and have no interest in jockeying with the other three for local power, influence, or financial might. Instead, we focus our energies into forging our teams into elite units that can spear deep into hell in search of unique resources. We specialize in acquiring legendary treasures, in verifying rumors, and uncovering new lands. To accomplish that, we are very discriminating with whom we recruit, for it is our intention to invest heavily in every student that joins our ranks.”
Scorio nodded slowly as he followed her through an archway into a circular chamber whose far, curving walls were broken up by tall windows through which First Rust’s light streamed onto a table. Selena gestured for him to take a chair, and the three recruiters sat across from him. A servant in Chimera livery seemed to materialize from the shadows, and quickly set out golden cups into which she poured an amber liquid.
“Now,” said Selena, taking up her cup when the servant departed. “We’re obviously interested in learning more about you following today’s fights, but in truth, your incredible assistance to Imperator Sol had already brought you to our attention. Could you share with us in your own words what happened on the day Imogen the Woe attacked?”
“Of course,” said Scorio, sitting forward. “I was, at that time, ah, banned from the Academy and living in the ruins. I’d befriended two of the Great Souls with whom I’d originally run the Gauntlet, Leonis and Lianshi, and they’d agreed to come out and explore the ruins with me.” Eliding the existence of the old Gauntlet, he instead focused his tale on Imogen’s arrival, her interest in the broken Archspire and the Portal, and how Praximar had saved them all from her wrath. How they’d been caught up in the fight, and how her memory of him from past lives had caused her to listen to him when he’d asked to be her witness.
“So this was a purposeful plan of yours?” asked Wrack, his tone clinical, almost disinterested. “To trick her into keeping you free-willed until you could strike?”
Scorio frowned. “I’d like to say so, yes, but in truth, I was just trying to remain free-willed. I knew I couldn’t harm her in any way, and so thought my greatest hope lay in speaking with her. Once she started talking to me, I just reacted to her words, saying what I thought she wanted to hear, until at last, she agreed to keep me around to witness her actions.”
“Excuse the inferred accusation, but I would be remiss if I didn’t ask,” continued Wrack. “You weren’t at any time tempted to throw in with her, as it was, so as to ensure your survival?”