Chapter 90 - 88 — Lead
Garrick’s cold gaze bore down on the trainees.
"Listen carefully. I won’t repeat myself. You’ll be split into teams of five. Each team gets an instructor and a mission. The instructor doesn’t help you, unless you’re about to die. They’re there to watch. That’s it."
"How you handle pressure, how you carry yourselves, how you complete the mission—all of it gets graded. That’s what they’ll use to pick the ten Candidates representing this house. Any questions?"
Arms shot up at once, but Garrick sneered.
"I was joking, you dimwits. If you still don’t get it after I’ve simplified it this much, you probably won’t survive out there."
The trainees grew pale, many swallowing as they fell silent.
"I’ll now announce the groups. If you hear your name, step forward. Bareth...!"
The name calling took some time, but after a while, Zephyrion found himself standing alongside four other trainees.
"Let’s do our best, young lord."
Kaiden dipped his head slightly, but Zephyrion didn’t miss the faint smirk on his lips. For Kaiden, this was another chance to beat him.
’I’ll become the leader.’
Though Zephyrion was stronger, the grading of this mission wasn’t entirely based on strength.
How they carried themselves out there, how they led. People were born to be leaders, and someone as quiet and reserved as Zephyrion didn’t fit the type.
"...Likewise."
"L-let’s do our best, young lord."
Fiona bowed as well, but unlike Kaiden, her fists were clenched at her sides, excitement shining in her eyes.
’I’m glad!’
Out of everyone, she felt genuinely happy to have been paired with Zephyrion.
As Zephyrion gave a curt nod, the other two in the group stepped forward and paid their respects.
"It’s an honor to work with you, young lord."
"We’ll do our best not to hold you back."
"...Alright."
"Hmph." Kaiden smirked at Zephyrion’s lackluster response. He had been right. Zephyrion might be strong, but he simply wasn’t cut out for leadership.
"Try not to forget your teammates until tomorrow. Be back here by dawn for your mission details. Dismissed!"
As the trainees began dispersing, Kaiden turned to the group. His demeanor shifted as he straightened, a quiet pressure settling around him.
"Alright, listen to me—"
"We’ll meet here at dawn. Don’t be late."
The weight behind the words halted Kaiden, along with the others. None of them realized when they had bowed, their voices coming out in unison.
"Yes!"
It was only after Zephyrion left that Kaiden snapped out of it. He blinked once, then again, shaking his head.
What the hell just happened?
...
"Wait, you can’t just—"
Garrick pushed into the high judicial office with a wide grin on his face.
"My favorite niece! It’s been a while, how have you been?"
Ingrid lifted her head from the stacks of documents before her, frowning.
"Uncle Garrick..."
She shot her ward, Lina, a look, and Lina immediately returned an apologetic one. Ingrid’s frown deepened.
She knew it wasn’t her fault, there was no one in the house unaware of Garrick’s tendencies.
"You may leave, Lina."
"Yes, my lady."
As Lina bowed and left, Garrick dropped into the chair and casually propped his legs onto the table.
"Damn, the High Judicial must pay well. You could open a tavern in here."
Garrick let out a low whistle as his gaze swept across the spacious office.
Ingrid’s eyes lingered on the grains of dirt scattered across her desk from his boots, her brows twitching faintly.
"...what do you want, uncle?"
"Hm? Is that how you greet your uncle who took time out of his busy schedule to visit you?"
Ingrid smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
"You’ve barely seen me for the past seven years. Don’t pretend you’re here for me. What do you want?"
Garrick coughed, scratching the back of his head.
"Really? That long? You’re making me sound like a terrible uncle or something."
"You are."
"Damn, for your information, I’m one of the fun ones. Imagine Kastor as an uncle... that’s boring."
Ingrid let out a quiet breath.
"Uncle... in case you haven’t noticed, I’m busy handling the trainees’ missions. If you’re not here for something—"
"Actually... that’s exactly what I’m here for."
"...what?"
Garrick grinned and pulled out a paper from his robe, sliding it across the desk toward her.
"My favorite niece... if you could just change your loving brother’s mission to this, I’d appreciate it."
Ingrid’s gaze narrowed.
’Of course.’
It had to be Zephyrion. Every time. Still, she picked up the paper and went through it. By the time she finished, her brows had drawn together.
"This... what is this?"
"It’s a mission, of course."
Ingrid pushed the paper back toward him, her frown deepening.
"I know it’s a mission, but this isn’t something a trainee should be sent on. The situation there is still being monitored, we don’t know what to expect."
"That’s exactly why it’s perfect. It’s got just the right mix of danger and mystery."
"The real world isn’t a playground, uncle. You know that. He could die."
"He? Hmm... didn’t realize you cared about your brother that much."
"I don’t...!"
Ingrid leaned forward sharply, but the moment she caught the knowing smile on Garrick’s face, her tongue clicked in irritation.
"This isn’t about personal feelings. I am the High Judicial of Calderalth. It’s my duty to ensure the trainees’ safety. This mission is too dangerous. My answer is no."
For the first time since he arrived, a faint frown touched Garrick’s face.
"Hm. What about this?"
Thud.
Ingrid’s gaze dropped to the golden seal he had just placed on the table, her eyes widening.
"That’s...!"
"Yep." Garrick grinned. "The head of house token."
Anyone who bore the token of the head of house was to be treated as one would treat the head of house. That fact had been ingrained into Ingrid since childhood.
"You... how did you get that?"
"How else? Kastor gave it to me."
"Impossible!"
Kastor and Garrick were like oil and water, they never mixed. She couldn’t imagine a scenario where Kastor would entrust something like that to Garrick of all people.