CHAPTER 15: The Classroom and the Noble Hierarchy
The morning after Ethan’s brutal one-shot victory over Garron Valerius, the atmosphere inside the First-Year Division of the Imperial Grand Martial College had completely shifted.
As Ethan and Elena walked down the wide white-marble corridors toward the Theory & Tactics Lecture Hall, the surrounding students no longer looked at them with open disdain. Commoner scholars bowed their heads in genuine respect, while noble heirs subtly pulled back, their eyes filled with a mixture of caution, envy, and fear.
They no longer saw two helpless slum commoners—they saw two monsters backed by a mysterious father and an unstoppable butler.
The twins entered the grand lecture hall, taking two seats near the window.
Within moments, a tall, middle-aged woman wearing crisp, dark-blue scholar robes stepped onto the podium. Her hair was tied back in a neat bun, and her sharp, intelligent eyes swept across the two hundred seated students.
Professor Vance—Head of Faction Studies and Cultivation Theory.
"Silence," Professor Vance commanded softly, yet her voice echoed clearly across the room. She flicked her wrist, and a glowing, detailed holographic chart expanded in mid-air, displaying the social structure of the empire.
"Yesterday, Vice-Principal Oberon gave you a grand overview of the world," Professor Vance began, pacing along the podium. "Today, we dive into the actual power dynamics that govern your daily lives in the Inner and Core Cities: The Lineage & Faction System."
The students sat up straight, paying close attention.
"In our empire, citizenship and social standing are strictly divided into five distinct Tiers," Professor Vance explained, pointing her finger at the holographic chart.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ TIER 1: THE IMPERIAL ROYAL HOUSE │
│ (Absolute Authority - Central Realm) │
└────────────────────┬────────────────────┘
│
┌────────────────────┴────────────────────┐
│ TIER 2: THE 3 GRAND DUCHIES │
│ (House Aurelius, Valerius, Zephyrus) │
└────────────────────┬────────────────────┘
│
┌────────────────────┴────────────────────┐
│ TIER 3: NEUTRAL INSTITUTIONS & GUILDS │
│ (Global Adventurer Guild & Academies) │
└────────────────────┬────────────────────┘
│
┌────────────────────┴────────────────────┐
│ TIER 4: SECONDARY NOBLES & MERCHANTS │
│ (Inner City Branches & Elite Clans) │
└────────────────────┬────────────────────┘
│
┌────────────────────┴────────────────────┐
│ TIER 5: COMMONERS & OUTER SLUMS │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
"Tier 1 belongs strictly to the Imperial Royal Household," Professor Vance instructed. "Tier 2 comprises the three ruling Duchies—House Aurelius, House Valerius, and House Zephyrus. Tier 3 belongs to independent entities like our College and the Global Adventurer Guild."
She shifted her gaze toward Ethan and Elena.
"Recently, a new clan was officially registered in the Inner City Archives—House Sterling, classified as an Elite High-Tier Clan under Tier 4 due to the documented Martial Master cultivation of its Clan Master."
Surrounding noble students glanced at the twins, their expressions complex. A new clan founded directly by a Martial Master was a rare occurrence in the Inner City, instantly elevating House Sterling above standard merchant families!
"Professor!" A arrogant voice spoke up from the front row.
A young man wearing luxurious, gold-trimmed robes stood up—Julian Zephyrus, his face still slightly pale from his encounter with Gabriel at the Exchange two days ago.
"House Sterling may have registered as a High-Tier Clan," Julian sneered, shooting a cold glare back at Ethan. "But they hold no ancestral history, no territorial army, and no marriage ties to the ruling Duchies! In the eyes of House Zephyrus and House Valerius, they are nothing more than upstarts!"
Professor Vance looked at Julian calmly, adjusting her reading glasses.
"History and ties are built over time, Student Julian," Professor Vance replied dryly. "Strength, however, is demonstrated in the present. If your branch family feels House Sterling lacks standing, you are free to challenge their position during the upcoming College Trial Arc."
Julian gritted his teeth, sitting back down with a humiliated scowl.
Meanwhile, far above the clouds...
Sitting in the serene pavilion of the Floating Cloud Island, Gabriel watched the lecture through his spatial mirror, sipping a cup of rare spirit tea.
Beside him, Malakor bowed respectfully.
"Clan Master," Malakor reported. "Our intelligence network in the Inner City is fully operational. House Valerius's Inner Military Council has been strangely quiet since Commander Drake was defeated, but my shadow scouts detected suspicious movements near the Forbidden Shadow Dungeon on the city border."
Gabriel raised an eyebrow, taking a calm sip. "The Forbidden Shadow Dungeon?"
"Yes," Malakor explained. "It is the designated location for the upcoming College Practice Trial next week. Normally, it is a controlled Grade-2 dungeon designed for first-year scholars. However, House Valerius elders have secretly dispatched a squad of black-market array masters toward the dungeon entrance."
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed into razor-sharp slits, a cold, lethal smile touching his lips.
"They want to tamper with the dungeon's spatial core," Gabriel murmured, his voice laced with absolute dominance. "They plan to turn a routine college trial into a deadly accident for my children."
"Shall I eliminate the array masters tonight, Clan Master?" Malakor asked, his hand resting on his shadow blade.
"No," Gabriel replied smoothly, setting his teacup down on the stone table. "Let them set their trap. They think a altered dungeon can kill my kids? They have no idea what I'm going to give Ethan and Elena before they enter."
Gabriel stood up, his coat fluttering softly in the mountain breeze as he looked down at the vast, sprawling expanse of the Inner City below.
"Prepare the System rewards, Malakor," Gabriel commanded, his dark eyes glowing with gold divine light. "Next week... we show the entire college what happens when you try to hunt the children of House Sterling."
**End of ARC 1: INNER CITY FOUNDATION & HOUSE STERLING**