I Tricked a God

The sun was rolling toward the horizon, bathing the capital in warm light. Red rooftops flared with rich hues, reflecting the rays and scattering soft crimson glimmers across the white walls of the houses. The light clung to ledges, slid along windows and cornices, making it seem as though the streets themselves were quietly smoldering.

Even the simpler, squat buildings of the student quarter could not spoil the impression. Time-darkened tiles caught the light unevenly—dim in places, brighter in others—but the overall tone still settled over the streets, making them warmer.

At that moment, a whole crowd emerged from a narrow alley. At the front walked Kael, slowing his pace slightly as he reached the exit onto the square.

“It’s quite lively here…” he noted to himself, looking around.

The central square was filled with students. Some sat on benches, stretching out their legs and lazily flipping through pages. Others had settled directly on the grass, spreading bags and scrolls beside them. A few, finding no space, sat directly on the ground, paying no attention to the dust.

Loud laughter rang out from a noisy group to the left. Talking over one another, the students argued about something, gesturing animatedly as if the outcome of the debate depended on it.

A little farther off, on one of the benches, sat a guy with a strange stringed instrument. Its body was long and narrow, as if carved from dark glass, and instead of ordinary strings, thin threads of pale blue light stretched between the mounts. Plucking them with his fingers, he drew out a light, lively melody. With each touch, the threads shimmered faintly, as though made of mana.

A whole group had gathered around him. Some listened, nodding in rhythm; others spoke quietly among themselves, and one guy, perched on the back of the bench, tapped out the beat with his heel against the stone.

But as soon as Kael took a few more steps, allowing the others to come out behind him, the entire group appeared at his back.

The reaction was immediate.

Conversations began to die down. Some fell silent mid-sentence, others openly turned their heads. Within seconds, dozens of eyes were on them—and then nearly the entire square.

The easygoing atmosphere, filled just a moment ago with laughter and music, noticeably changed. A wave of whispers rolled through the crowd. At first quiet and scattered, but quickly gaining strength.

“That’s them…”

“The same ones?”

“I still can’t believe they were found on a lost part of the continent…”

Even the young man with the stringed instrument stopped. His fingers hovered over the shimmering threads, and the melody broke off, leaving behind a brief, awkward silence. A few people near him exchanged glances before also turning their heads toward Kael and his group.

The door of a two-story tavern at the edge of the square creaked open. From inside, laughing and jostling, several students came out. One of them, squinting against the sunset light, immediately stared at the newcomers.

“Look! That’s them…” he said without any hesitation, pointing a finger toward Kael.

Beside him stood a girl holding a glass. Taking a small sip, she winced slightly at the strength of the drink and, without taking her eyes off the group, said quietly, “I feel so sorry for them… They don’t even know the language. They won’t understand why the people of the capital will treat them like this.”

“That guy seems to speak our language,” the first replied, scratching his stomach and nodding at Kael. “It’s not all that bad. They’ll get used to it.”

Several people nearby snorted; some smirked openly, not hiding their interest.

Seeing that he was being pointed at, Kael merely smiled faintly. Without looking away, he gave a calm nod in return, as if such attention did not bother him in the slightest.

The guy by the tavern grinned wider and, nodding back, raised his glass toward him, spilling a little of the drink.

Nodding in response, Kael slightly turned his head and, exchanging a brief glance with his companions, signaled for them to move on.

Without lingering, he headed down the street, passing calmly through the stares and hushed conversations. The whispers trailed after them for a while but gradually dissolved into the general hum of the square.

Violet walked beside him. Casting a glance back at the square and the lights that had already begun to flicker on along the buildings, she murmured softly, “In the evening, the atmosphere here is quite pleasant.”

Kael, without slowing his pace, let his gaze slide over the students strolling through the streets of the quarter.

“All the students here are from the provinces,” he replied, narrowing his eyes slightly. “Apparently, they see kindred spirits in us. Or brothers in misfortune.”

Pausing for a moment in thought, he shifted his gaze forward, already assessing the street beyond the square.

“The source of trouble will most likely be Overseer Marzil, Seiran, and their patrons. The rest…” he fell silent for a second, watching as a pair of students passed by, casting them a quick but not hostile glance, “seem quite friendly.”

Girren, walking beside him, nodded, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I have to admit, that’s reassuring.”

“I agree,” Roselle added quietly, nervously twisting a red curl. “I thought it would be dangerous even to step outside the dormitory…”

Kael, straightening the folds of his robe, merely smirked.

“That’s enough about the bad.”

Raising his gaze, he had already spotted the landmark they needed. Between the buildings, in the thickening twilight, a red temple stood out. Its walls softly reflected the light of hundreds of candles set around it, making it seem as though it glowed faintly from within.

“We’re almost there,” Kael added, quickening his pace slightly. “We’ll finally be able to wash up properly.”

With those words, they turned off the main street, passing by the temple. The warm candlelight fell across their faces, and from inside the building came a faint scent of incense—and distant hints of blood.

Soon, a tall white wall appeared ahead. Smooth and unadorned, it stretched along the street, dividing the space. There were two separate entrances in it, each marked with simple symbols above the openings.

From behind the wall, thick steam rose, lazily curling upward, lit by a soft glow from within, making it seem as though a rather large space lay beyond.

Kael pointed ahead and, raising his voice slightly, said, “Men to the left, women to the right.”

A wave of excitement immediately ran through the Lasthold group. Satisfied voices rang out, someone even chuckled, and almost at once they began to split up, exchanging glances and joking with each other.

“Violet knows some of the imperial language,” Kael added, glancing toward the girls. “So stick with her.”

Waving his hand, he gave a brief nod in the opposite direction: “Men—follow me.”

The two groups quickly parted, heading toward their respective entrances.

As they walked, conversations flared up here and there in the crowd.

“I wonder what these baths look like?”

“How much time do we have?”

“Do you think there are private rooms?”

“What rooms? These are open-air baths, idiot…” someone snorted. “At best, partitions.”

Someone laughed quietly; others started arguing, quickening their pace. A clear sense of anticipation hung in the air, growing stronger with every step toward the steam rising behind the wall.

Carried by that mood, they quickly covered the remaining distance. A few even unconsciously sped up, overtaking one another right near the entrance.

Kael pushed the door open first.

The moment it opened, they were immediately enveloped by a warm gust of air. Before them spread vast open-air baths.

White tiles and pale decorative stone stretched outward, forming an entire network of pools. At the center lay the largest basin, from which paths extended to smaller ones—more than a dozen of them, of varying shapes and depths. Steam rose above the water in soft layers, slightly obscuring the far edges.

In some of the baths, students were already relaxing. Some sat chest-deep in the water, leaning back against the edge with their eyes closed. Others talked, resting their elbows on the edges, sending lazy ripples across the surface.

A few people by a distant pool glanced at the newcomers for a second, but, as if not wanting to embarrass them, quickly returned to what they were doing.

Kael, taking it all in, almost immediately shifted his attention elsewhere. Narrowing his eyes slightly and fixing his gaze near the entrance, he murmured, “Is that a barrier restricting moisture?”

Right by the entrance stood a hemispherical barrier of mana. Barely visible, it revealed itself only through a faint distortion of the air, like heat shimmering above stone. The dome clearly separated the dry area from the rest of the bath space.

Beneath it were rows of storage compartments for belongings. Some were open and empty, while others were closed—their surfaces covered with the same semi-transparent layer of mana as the entry partitions in the dormitory for shoes.

But at that moment, the general excitement was cut through by a voice from the side: “I’ve been wondering all day whether you’d show up or not.”

The voice was calm and even friendly, but it sounded loud enough that several people nearby immediately turned.

Kael turned sharply.

A bald guy with dark skin was approaching them. His movements were relaxed, almost lazy, and his facial features were neat and too soft for such a build, making him seem younger than he really was. But something else drew attention—his eyes. Deep, richly violet, they fixed immediately on Kael.

Coming closer, the guy tilted his head slightly, studying Kael, and said, “If I remember correctly, you’re the only one who understands me?”

Kael, without hesitation, gave a slight bow in return.

“Exactly so. My name is Kael.”

The dark-skinned young man let out a short laugh, running his palm over his smoothly shaved head.

“And I’m Matif. I look after the baths. Nice to meet you.”

Kael nodded, maintaining a friendly expression.

“The feeling is mutual,” he replied with a smile. “Since you’re in charge here, could you help us? We’d rather not look like savages or break any rules.”

Matif smiled as if he had heard this many times before and, rubbing the back of his head, answered, “It’s simple. Strip completely, then head over there.”

He pointed toward a separate section around the corner. There, along the wall, were carved pipes shaped like dragon heads. Streams of water poured continuously from their mouths, crashing against the stone and slipping through the narrow seams between the tiles.

“You’ll wash off the worst of the dirt,” he continued, “and then into the baths. Stay as long as you like.”

At those words, Kael’s smile twisted almost imperceptibly, his gaze lingering for a moment on the other men behind him.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“This will be awkward… But we’ll have to adapt to a different culture,” he noted calmly to himself.

Turning to the others, Kael briefly looked over the group and said evenly, “For us, this is a bit… unusual. But to enter the baths, we’ll have to undress completely.”

For a moment, silence hung in the air.

And then the reaction hit all at once.

“What?!”

“You’re joking, Kael?”

“I’d rather go back to the dorm and wash in cold water!”

Several of the men immediately averted their eyes, some gave awkward chuckles, and a few visibly flushed, as if they had already been made to do it. One even took a step back, clearly considering turning around right then and there.

A murmur of discontent rippled through the group.

After waiting a couple of seconds, Kael turned back to Matif, raising his hand slightly in an apologetic gesture.

“Sorry for the noise. In our culture, it’s not customary… to see each other naked. Some of the guys are a bit shocked.”

Matif raised his brows in surprise, clearly not immediately grasping the issue.

“But we’re all men. What’s the problem then?”

Kael simply gave a short nod without going into explanations, then turned back to his group.

“Anyone who wants to can go back to the dorm.”

Then, his tone growing slightly more serious, he added, “We’re on foreign soil. We’ll have to adapt either way.”

Saying this, he was the first to reach for the fastenings of his robe and calmly headed toward one of the empty compartments, removing his clothes as he went.

“Given the constant wars, baths like these are probably the norm here…” he noted to himself calmly, folding his clothes neatly. “In combat conditions, warriors hardly worry about modesty. The habits of Lasthold were formed under different circumstances.”

He had already begun pulling off his trousers, moving without any unnecessary fuss.

Gilmash, standing behind, only burst out laughing loudly and, casting a mocking glance at the other men, said, “What’s the matter? Embarrassed about your manhood?”

Breaking into even louder laughter, he added, “Some girls say, ‘It doesn't matter the size, it’s how you use it.’ So no need to be shy!”

Short laughs and quiet comments ran through the crowd, but the tension only grew.

“Fine. To hell with it!” someone in the crowd blurted, exhaling sharply, and, as if making up his mind, headed toward the nearest compartment.

That moment became the turning point.

One by one, the men began to push past their embarrassment. Some did it with crooked smiles, others with clenched teeth, trying not to look around. Clothes gradually filled the compartments, the fabric hastily folded, sometimes even with sleeves tangled.

Not everyone, however, found the courage. A couple of them, flushed to the ears, exchanged glances and, without a word, hurried back toward the exit, avoiding eye contact with anyone.

The rest, though with varying degrees of confidence, stayed.

Gradually, the noise died down. The awkwardness didn’t disappear, but it no longer bound them as tightly as in the first minutes.

When everyone was finally ready, Kael swept his gaze over the group, making sure no one else intended to back out.

Then he gave a short wave toward the carved pipes shaped like dragon heads.

“Let’s go.”

With that, they all followed Kael, following the local customs and gradually growing accustomed to the discomfort.

And though the first minutes were filled with awkward glances and restrained jokes, the tension gradually faded. The hot water quickly did its work, washing away not only the dirt but also the fatigue of the journey. Conversations died down on their own, movements grew more relaxed, and even the most tense stopped paying attention to those around them.

✦ ✦ ✦

Despite the discomfort, the bathing went calmly and without incident.

With the first rays of the sun, the ringing of bells spread through the capital. Deep and drawn-out, it rolled through the streets, echoing off the walls of buildings and gradually filling the entire city. It was the signal for the start of the day. People woke up, doors opened, the streets began to come alive, and students hurried to their classes—some adjusting their clothes on the go, others flipping through their notes.

At that moment, Kael was already standing at the entrance to the dormitory, watching the movement. The cool morning air was refreshing after sleep, and the flow of students was gradually growing denser.

Dorian had been standing beside him just moments ago, but after a brief farewell, he had already headed toward the Imperial Academy. His figure quickly disappeared among the other students.

Watching him go, Kael lingered for a moment before noting to himself, “When will our escort arrive?”

At that moment, the sound of a door opening came from behind him, and Kael turned.

A group of girls stepped out of the dormitory, among whom Violet, Roselle, and Lissandra immediately stood out. All of them looked noticeably fresher: their hair neatly arranged and gleaming with cleanliness, their faces calm and free of fatigue, and their new clothes fit neatly and well, emphasizing the contrast with how they had looked the day before.

Kael smiled faintly as he looked them over.

“Good morning. How did you sleep?”

Roselle, closing her eyes for a moment and stretching, replied with a slight smirk, “I’m not used to such small rooms… but compared to sleeping in the mountains—it was wonderful.”

Kael nodded, accepting the answer, and immediately asked, “Have you met your new roommate yet?”

Violet shook her head, tucking a strand of violet hair behind her ear.

“No. She didn’t return to the dormitory today.”

Kael paused for a second, lifting his gaze to the sky, where the sun was already rising above the rooftops, bathing them in soft morning light.

“It seems that girl truly wants to leave the student quarter…” he noted calmly to himself. “If she’s working even at night…”

Realizing that he would soon have to carry out a similar task, he let out a heavy sigh and glanced around.

“Good thing no one is late. Everyone’s already gathered…”

But before he could finish the thought, a pleasant female voice came from the side: “Which of you is Kael?”

The conversations immediately cut off. Several people turned their heads toward the source of the voice at once, and some even instinctively straightened up.

A woman stood before the group.

She had appeared so quietly that it was hard to tell whether she had approached from the street or had simply materialized out of thin air. Tall, with a straight posture, she wore a strict black uniform that resembled a ceremonial military outfit more than a combat one—without armor, but with clean lines and a precise, tailored fit.

Her skin was olive-toned, her features sharp and well-defined. A narrow nose, calm expression, and an attentive gaze. Her eyes were deep red, with a dark burgundy shade that echoed her short hair, tied into a neat tail at the back of her head. Even her eyelashes carried the same tone.

At first glance, she could have been taken for about forty, but the condition of her skin and the overall impression she gave was closer to Violet—too well-kept, too “composed,” without a hint of age-related fatigue.

Her gaze slowly swept over the group, and she repeated, a little more sharply this time, “Who is Kael?”

At that very moment, Kael came to attention. Taking a step forward, he gave a slight bow, then straightened his back and said calmly, “Greetings, Senior, on behalf of Lasthold. I am Kael.”

He was about to add something else, but didn’t have time.

The woman’s figure suddenly blurred, as if her silhouette had momentarily lost its sharpness, and in the next second she was already standing almost right in front of him. The movement was so fast that several people behind him flinched involuntarily.

Slender fingers with neatly kept nails came to rest on his chin. She lightly—almost lazily—tilted his head upward, forcing him to look directly at her.

Kael’s amber eyes met her deep, blood-red gaze.

She narrowed her eyes, studying his face intently, then slightly turned his head to the side, as if assessing him from every angle. Her touch remained calm, yet there was strength in it, leaving no room to pull away.

“Remarkable…” she murmured quietly. “You truly are no different from us.”

After those words, her gaze grew sharper.

“In my left breast pocket, there is a letter. Take it.”

The command carried not a trace of doubt.

For a moment, Kael was taken aback, not understanding why. But lowering his gaze, he immediately realized the reason. The left side of the woman’s uniform looked different—the sleeve simply hung empty.

“Her left arm is gone… lost all the way to the shoulder,” Kael noted to himself, without showing it outwardly.

“Understood,” Kael replied at once.

Carefully extending his hand, he gently slipped his fingers into the woman’s breast pocket, trying not to brush against her unnecessarily, and took out a sealed letter. The paper was thick, bearing a dark wax imprint in which a familiar symbol of the Empire could be discerned.

For a few more seconds, the woman watched him without looking away, as if testing his reaction, and then stepped back, widening the distance.

“To save time, I have written a welcome and the main information in the letter,” she said evenly. “Translate it for your companions.”

Only now, lowering his gaze, did Kael notice the emblem on her chest—a red dragon embroidered on her uniform. Its lines were sharp, and the figure itself differed from those he had seen before.

“Her dragon has two horns…” he noted to himself, lingering on the symbol. “Severus had three… that warrior—one…”

The conclusion formed quickly.

“Does that mean she is a Jade Mage? And judging by the uniform… and her arm… she’s with the military.”

He did not dwell on it, understanding that making her wait would be a bad idea.

Turning to the group, he swept his gaze over those gathered. Everyone was already standing in place, though with visible tension, waiting for what would come next.

“I’ll read the letter now,” Kael said calmly. “It contains this woman’s greeting.”

Without wasting time, he broke the seal and unfolded the sheet. His eyes immediately caught on the first lines, written in the language of the Empire.

He let out a short breath and began to read, translating as he went:

“I greet you. My name is Lieutenant Valeria. I have been tasked with teaching you the basics and bringing your understanding of the Empire to an acceptable level.”

Lowering his gaze further, Kael continued, translating aloud:

“For the coming months, you will be under my command. Today, I have come personally to show you the location of your training room. In the following days, you will attend lectures on your own.”

His gaze lingered on the lines for a moment. The handwriting was sharp, precise, pressed deeply into the page, as if each letter had been carved into the paper.

“She writes the way she gives orders…” he noted to himself, without breaking rhythm.

“I will warn you at once: many of the academy’s professors are former military. We do not tolerate disobedience or breaches of discipline. Whatever your traditions may be, you will be required to adjust them.”

Kael continued without pausing, “I also consider it important to point out that you have been given a chance that most of you do not deserve.”

A barely noticeable reaction passed through the group. Some tensed, others pressed their lips together, clearly holding back dissatisfaction. But as soon as a few people cast furtive glances at Valeria, any trace of emotion vanished. Her presence was oppressive, leaving no room for open objection.

“Only the best young mages from across the Empire are admitted to study at the Imperial Academy. And even among them, not all manage to complete their training.”

Quickly scanning the final lines, Kael paused for a second, then lifted his head, shifting his gaze to his companions, and continued:

“You have a special status, and for the next three months you will be adapting. After that period, your studies will truly begin. If any of you fail to meet the standards and fall significantly behind—you will be expelled from the Imperial Academy.”

At those words, the group grew noticeably quieter. Some unconsciously clenched their fists, others tensed their shoulders, as if already imagining themselves in that position.

“But don’t worry,” Kael added without changing his tone, “most of the exams are practical. Even if your knowledge of the language is poor, as long as you have strength, you will still have a chance.”

After those words, a barely audible sigh passed through the crowd. Several people exchanged glances, and in their eyes flickered a cautious hope, though still mixed with tension.

Finishing, Kael folded the letter and turned to Valeria. Inclining his head slightly, he said respectfully, “We are ready, Lieutenant Valeria.”

Valeria gave a short nod, as if she had expected that answer, and said, “Follow me.”

Turning, she immediately headed forward, setting a steady, confident pace. The group, hesitating for only a moment, followed her, quickly falling in behind.

After taking a few steps, she added without looking back, “Student Kael, come here.”

Nodding to his companions, Kael quickened his pace, catching up to her. He nearly drew level but deliberately kept half a step behind, maintaining distance.

Valeria didn’t even look in his direction.

“By order of Captain Severus, you will be my assistant. Today, we will begin with the basics of our language.”

“Understood,” Kael replied calmly, without slowing his pace.

“But as early as tomorrow, I plan to move on to the history and structure of the Empire,” she continued in the same even tone. “For proper assistance, translation alone is not enough. You must understand the material yourself.”

At those words, she shot him a brief glance, and her gaze hardened.

“After the lectures today, you will stay behind. We will study everything together.”

Hearing this, he thought, “Reasonable. The lesson will go faster without constant pauses.”

Aloud, he simply answered again, maintaining the same calm tone: “Understood.”

At that, Valeria allowed herself the faintest hint of a smile. It was a strange smile—thin, almost cold, with something predatory slipping through it, as if even an ordinary emotion became distorted by the oppressive aura that emanated from her presence.

Kael caught the change immediately.

“Is something wrong?” he asked calmly.

Valeria gave a quiet huff, continuing forward without slowing.

“You answer briefly and to the point,” she said. “You would be well suited for military service.”

After a short pause, she added, “Is that how everyone speaks in your homeland?”

Kael thought for a moment before replying, “To be honest—no. I simply have experience serving… a powerful figure.”

He paused briefly, choosing his words.

“And as I understand it… in the military, similar rules govern interactions between juniors and seniors.”

Valeria nodded in approval.

“A good observation. Hierarchy is valued in the Empire. And if you want to stand among the elite—graduating from the Imperial Academy is mandatory. It is the first and one of the most important steps.”

She adjusted her collar slightly without breaking stride.

“I was informed that Elder Cornelius has high expectations for you. So I will be evaluating you particularly strictly.”

Kael merely nodded, accepting it without showing emotion.

“I will try not to disappoint you.”

With those words, the group picked up the pace slightly. Ahead, the massive structures of the academy were already coming into view, and the voices and laughter of students drifting from there grew louder, gradually drowning out the quiet of the morning streets.