The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

"Zephyrion Calderalth—fourteen confirmed kills."

Kaiden’s eyes snapped open.

"What!?"

"A-are you serious? Fourteen kills?"

"He took down that many!?"

"I could barely handle one..."

"...he’s a monster."

Low gasps spread through the trainees as they turned toward Zephyrion, disbelief clear on their faces.

Fourteen kills... fourteen!

"I-instructor." Kaiden raised his hand. "...there has to be a mistake. I covered a large area and hardly found five. Fourteen is..."

"He found their base."

"There was a base? You didn’t say anything about that—"

"Hah, kids these days. You really expect everything to be handed to you on a silver platter, huh?"

Garrick shook his head, his cold gaze settling on the trainees.

"A part of being a Calderalth warrior means thinking on your feet. You might be given little to no information and still be sent out. Whether you complete the mission depends on how well you adapt."

"Then this mission...!"

"Yes." Garrick nodded. "I gave this mission to test your insight and ability to adapt. It’s pathetic that only trainee Zephyrion bothered to use his head."

"Hah..."

Kaiden clenched his fists, unable to find any response. He had greatly misjudged Zephyrion, greatly.

’Fourteen.’

Kaiden grit his teeth and turned to Zephyrion who stood, unfazed.

’I lost.’

Not just in direct battle, but here too.

"Alright, one more thing. Trainee Zephyrion, step forward!"

All eyes shifted to Zephyrion as he stepped forward and stopped before Garrick.

"Trainee Zephyrion, in addition to perfect mission completion, you fought against a mark six reaver and saved numerous lives. Good work."

"...Thank you."

"What!? M-mark six!?"

"He fought a mark six?"

"How’s that even possible? Isn’t he only mark three!?"

The trainees stared at him, utterly stunned. Even Kaiden had nothing to say.

"...in light of this," Garrick placed a fist against his chest. One after another, the instructors in the area stepped forward and mirrored the gesture behind him.

"...we instructors of Calderalth are offering you the title First Steel."

"What!? First Steel!?"

"...but that’s only given to steel trainees!"

’First Steel.’

Kaiden gritted his teeth. The First Steel was the title given to the trainee with the highest achievement during the tier three training period.

Though it spanned the entire Ore, Iron and Steel divisions, it had never been awarded to anyone outside the Steel trainees.

"Trainee Zephyrion... do you accept?"

"I do."

Garrick brought out a purple headband, one that signified the First Steel, and tied it around Zephyrion’s forehead. He gave his shoulder a firm pat, a faint smile on his face.

"Good job."

Zephyrion gave a small nod. Even as he stepped back, he could still feel the weight of the instructors’ and trainees’ gazes on him.

...

Their journey back to Mount Caldralth was quick. The instructors and trainees spoke in low voices, but every conversation seemed to circle back to the same person... Zephyrion.

Glances lingered. Quiet speculations passed between them. Regardless, none could refute Garrick’s words.

By the time they reached the mountain, most of them were openly staring at Zephyrion.

As they arrived at the summit, a woman in white armor with an imposing presence approached the group.

Zephyrion’s eyes narrowed slightly the moment he saw her.

’Selis.’

The Whitesteel who had escorted him back home. She walked straight to Garrick and began speaking to him.

’Why is she here?’

Though they weren’t far apart, Zephyrion couldn’t make out a single word.

’A barrier.’

Garrick wore a wide grin, gesturing loosely as he spoke, clearly trying to lighten the mood, but Selis remained unmoved.

After a while, Garrick’s shoulders dipped slightly, and he gestured in Zephyrion’s direction.

Selis fixed her gaze on him, then bowed deeply.

"...young lord. You’ve been summoned by the head of house."

Zephyrion frowned. He glanced toward Garrick, trying to read his reaction, but the man’s attention was elsewhere, fixed entirely on Selis. More specifically... the two mounds of her armor.

"...alright."

...

Ingrid was deeply engrossed in the files before her when her Ward rushed into the office.

"My lady!"

Ingrid looked up, a faint frown forming at the urgency in her tone.

"What is it?"

"...it’s about the iron trainees’ mission, my lady."

"The mission..."

Ingrid gave a small nod. Though matters like that usually fell under the Knight line, Garrick had taken control of it for the training of the Iron trainees.

"The Redmaws, right? Did something happen?"

"...yes, my lady. It’s about the young lord."

Ingrid’s gaze sharpened.

"Did something happen to him?"

"No... not exactly. It’s—it’s... he defeated a mark six reaver..."

Ingrid’s eyes thinned.

"...what are you saying?"

"...that’s what was reported, my lady. The reaver killed some instructors and infiltrated the forest. He was meeting the others to escort the captured prisoners. The young lord fought him... and gave the villagers a chance to escape."

Bam!

Ingrid’s hands struck the table. Her eyes hardened as a heavy pressure surged from her, causing the entire office to tremble.

"My younger brother is a mark three, newly ascended. And you’re telling me he defeated someone three marks above him? Do you understand what you’re saying?"

"...it’s the truth, my lady. Lord Garrick has already awarded him the title First Steel."

"...what?"

Ingrid shot up from her seat, countless thoughts flashing through her mind. She shook her head, forcing them down just as quickly.

Her gaze snapped to her Ward.

"Where are they now?"

"...they’ve been summoned by the head of house, my lady."

Ingrid’s eyes widened. If her father had summoned him... then it was true.

She reached for her jacket and slipped it on in one smooth motion.

"Cancel all my appointments."

She strode out of the office without pause, her steps heavy, her gaze intense.

...

"..."

Zephyrion stood before the grand throne room doors, his mind momentarily blank.

’Why?’

His father was not someone he could easily understand, and he disliked that, disliked not being able to grasp the reason behind the summons.

Beside him, Garrick let out a quiet chuckle and gave his back a light pat.

"Don’t worry about seeing him... it should be fine... I think."

’I slipped.’

Zephyrion immediately adjusted his expression, returning it to its usual calm. His emotions must never be seen... by anyone.

"W-why do you think the head of house wants to see us?"

Beside him, Fiona swallowed, her eyes fixed on the towering doors. Of all of them, only three had been called.

Zephyrion gave a slight shake of his head.

"...I don’t know."

And he meant it.

He exhaled, then gave a slight nod to the guard, who straightened at once.

"Fiona Calderalth, Garrick Calderalth, and Zephyrion Calderalth have arrived!"