Selena leaned forward and fixed him with her stare. “We are not interested in a moment’s fireworks. If we sign you up with House Chimera, we will do everything we can to ensure you have the very best long-term career that we can provide. We want you to reach Imperator one day, not Dread Blaze tomorrow. Now, with that long-term view in mind, do you see why your temperament is a problem?”
“Sure, but I’ve one objection,” said Scorio, sitting up and speaking the words even as they came to him, not knowing what the objection even was till he mentioned it. “Everything I’ve done up to this point has been to survive. I wasn’t given a chance at a normal career. I was thrown through the Final Door, then had to scrape by in the ruins till I was able to impress Imperator Sol and return to the Academy. If I had behaved this way from the start while always a member of the Academy, I’d agree, I’ve a temperament problem. But I don’t. I have an overwhelming need to survive. And with your patronage and continued education at the Academy?” He sat back, smiling genially, his Heart still burning with mixed flames of copper, black, and dull silver. “That’ll no longer be a problem.”
“Well put,” said Wrack, “but we just witnessed you burn your Heart for power.”
“So as to attract your attention and earn healing,” said Scorio smoothly. “Instructor Hera told me that without House sponsorship it would take me a couple of years to naturally regenerate the damage my Heart has incurred. I don’t want to wait that long. And with your patronage, I won’t have to, nor will I have to use extreme measures anymore.”
“Oh, I like him,” said Gelegos, snapping the black case shut and smiling benignly at Selena. “Can we keep him?”
“No, we can’t keep him,” said Selena. “Honestly, Gelegos.”
“But I want to keep him,” said the recruiter, turning to smile at Scorio. “And with the wealth of pills at our disposal, I believe he’d not mind being kept. What do you think, Scorio?”
“I’d appreciate the chance to impress you further,” Scorio said without hesitation.
“Yes, I’m sure you would.” Selena sat back and tapped her chin. “Well, I think you’re worth the risk. To be honest, your being vouchsafed by Imperator Sol makes you almost worthy of being admitted regardless of your personal qualities. I’m going to make the private meditation sessions mandatory, however, both to help you control your ambition as well as a means to keep an eye on your progress. We’ll have your treasures delivered to the mess hall, and will provide you with an official Chimera badge so that you may both claim them and demonstrate your allegiance. You’re to wear it when outside your rooms unless otherwise instructed, and your every action will henceforth both reflect on your character and our decision to sponsor you.”
Scorio sat still for a moment, stunned by what had just happened—they’d accepted him.
He was in.
“Now, official sponsorship comes with other perks,” Selena was saying. “Access to these rooms and the resources contained here, coaching on your final Gauntlet run, the opportunity to form your Gauntlet team with other Chimera students, all of whom are amongst the most elite in your cohort, and tours of the Chimera Tower and other official buildings, which involves meeting the senior management and leadership of the House.”
Scorio nodded rapidly to show he was listening but felt overwhelmed, unable to get past the fact that it had happened. He’d been brought in.
He was going to be healed.
“…don’t appreciate the opportunity, being fixated on their current challenges, but long-term success in the House depends as much on your connections to senior team members as it does your own talent, so we’ll coach you on how to behave on these tours, whom to look out for, and what questions to ask so that you make the best possible impression. Remember, your stint at the Academy will only last at most for two years; after that, you’ll be a Chimera man, and your fortunes will depend on how well you navigate those halls of power. But we can speak on all of that later. For now, let me take the opportunity to formally welcome you to House Chimera. Welcome, Scorio.”
And Selena rose to her feet, followed a second later by Wrack and Gelegos. She extended her hand and smiled her tight, customary smile when he shook it.
“We’ll let you know when the House contract is ready for you to sign, along with the other sundry forms like our Code of Honor and the Spirit of Chimera. You’ll receive your badge when you sign them, and at that point, we’ll figure out your schedule.”
“In the meantime,” said Wrack stiffly, “you can have your copy of House Chimera, a History.” He turned to another shelf behind him which was laden with exact duplicates of a small, leather-bound book. “It so happens that I worked on the latest edition with Flame Vault Upparo and was greatly honored to have my edits approved by Pyre Lord Zaffex himself.”
Wrack slid the book across the table to Scorio, traced the edge of its cover with one finger, then linked his hands behind his back. “All House members are expected to know our history by heart. Let this humble tome be your vade mecum, Scorio. You will find much wisdom and inspiration within its covers.”
“Thank you, Recruiter Wrack,” said Scorio, taking the book up. “I, ah, will be sure to read it carefully.”
Wrack gave a sharp nod, then turned to Selena.
“Excellent,” she said. “Then that concludes this interview. Welcome to the House Chimera family, Scorio. We’ll let you know when you should return to sign documents and collect your badge.”
“Thank you, Principal Recruiter,” said Scorio, bowing before her. “Recruiter Gelegos. Recruiter Wrack.”
“You’re welcome,” said Gelegos, pushing up his glasses again. “It will be fascinating to watch how you progress.”
“Yes,” said Wrack unenthusiastically. “Fascinating.”
Selena came around the table and stepped into the archway. “I’ll see you out. But I agree. I think you’re going to make an excellent addition to our House. And while I genuinely can’t wait to see how well you’ll fare in the tournament and the final Gauntlet run, I’ve a strong presentiment that those successes will pale in comparison to what you’ll accomplish down the line.”
“Thank you,” was all Scorio could say, and as he stepped out of the chamber his Heart guttered and died. Strength flooded from his body, leaving him feeling weak and worn, as if he’d not slept in days. “I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations.”
“Oh, I know you will,” said Selena, smiling and leading him forth. “You’ll have no choice in the matter.”
Chapter 51
Scorio had to bury his excitement and run to get to class before the lights pulsed. Seventhday academics was a course on the Four Houses, taught by Feng. Slipping into his seat next to Lianshi, he answered her demanding, silent query with a grin, then turned to face the front as Instructor Feng entered and moved to the fore.
“Good morning, class, settle down.” Not that anyone was speaking. Those who interrupted or failed to pay attention paid the price during the following training session. “We’re going to get right into it to cure you all of your tournament fever. We’ll begin with a review of the Amicable Discord pact signed in the year 812. Who can tell me why a formalization of internecine chaos was necessary?”
Normally Scorio didn’t pay too much attention; the Houses had always seemed the least interesting aspect of Bastion and hell, but now he thirsted for any information on House Chimera and listened intently each time its name was mentioned. He took notes, followed along in the text, and by the end of class felt himself a model student.
But the class did eventually come to an end, and with a tight smile, Feng called out the homework assignment as students rose to their feet. “You’re to write a one-page summary of why the first Amicable Discord Pact lasted only two years—what caused it to collapse, what fundamental weaknesses were baked into the agreement from the get-go, and what did the Second Pact of 819 get right? I’ll see you all soon.”