Chapter 118: Messing With The Wrong One
Julian was halfway back toward the main grounds, hood drawn up loose against the morning chill, when the sound of raised, careless voices caught his attention from around the corner of the eastern barracks.
"—can’t believe the whole Empire got dragged through this mess over one Guide," a voice was saying, thick with disdain. "the Emperor personally leading search parties, half our resources diverted for weeks. and now that the Elite Academy’s heard the full extent of it, they’re saying if he’s actually alive, there needs to be some kind of formal reckoning. can’t just let a single Guide cost the Empire this much without consequence."
"agreed," a second voice said. "SSS-Rank or not, that’s an absurd amount of chaos to justify. if I ever run into him, I’ve got a few things I’d like to say."
Julian slowed his pace, something cool and calculating settling behind his still-hooded expression, listening without announcing himself.
"you’d probably get the chance to say them to his face too," a third voice added, laughing. "word is he’s awake now, recovering somewhere in the academy. wandering around unguarded, probably."
Julian rounded the corner at that exact moment, and the collision was immediate — his shoulder catching against one of the three Sentinels crowding the narrow walkway, all three of them dressed in the sharp, distinctive uniform of the Elite Academy’s contingent.
"watch where you’re going," the first Sentinel snapped, rounding on him fast, clearly spoiling for exactly this kind of confrontation after the conversation Julian had just overheard.
"apologies," Julian said mildly, voice deliberately flat and unbothered beneath the hood.
"apologies," the Sentinel repeated, something ugly and satisfied crossing his expression as he sized Julian up, taking in the plain, unremarkable clothing beneath the hood, clearly assuming he’d found an easy target for whatever frustration he’d been nursing. "do you even know who you’re talking to."
"enlighten me," Julian said, tone still calm, still pleasant, still carrying that same dangerous edge that had sent two of the academy’s own Sentinels scrambling for composure in the training yard weeks earlier.
"we’re the Empire’s third-strongest Sentinel unit," the second one said, puffing up with obvious pride. "Elite Academy’s finest. you’d do well to show some proper respect."
"third-strongest," Julian repeated, something faintly, dangerously amused threading beneath his calm.
"that’s right," the third one said, stepping closer, clearly enjoying the perceived intimidation. "so how about you bow, apologize properly, and we’ll forget this ever happened."
Julian tilted his head slightly, studying all three of them with the same unhurried, calm patience he’d carried since waking, the fan already summoned invisible and ready in his mind though he made no move to draw it yet.
"you know," Julian said conversationally, "I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation a moment ago. something about how much chaos one Guide’s caused the Empire. something about wanting to have a few words with him, should you ever run into him."
The first Sentinel’s expression flickered, some faint uncertainty crossing his face at the shift in Julian’s tone, though his pride kept him rooted in place. "and what business is that of yours."
"just curious," Julian said, still mild, still calm. "since apparently he’s wandering around unguarded somewhere in this academy. seems like exactly the kind of information three strong, capable Sentinels might find useful."
"are you mocking us," the second one demanded, bristling.
"not at all," Julian said. "I’m simply pointing out that if you’re looking for him, you might not need to search very far."
He reached up, slow and deliberate, and pulled the hood back from his face.
All three Sentinels went utterly still.
"you," the first one breathed, color draining fast from his face as recognition crashed home. "you’re—"
"the SSS-Rank Guide who cost the Empire so much chaos," Julian finished pleasantly. "the one you wanted a few words with. well, here I am. by all means, say them."
Nobody said anything. All three Sentinels stood frozen, the earlier confidence and bravado draining away fast into something considerably more uncertain.
"nothing to say now," Julian observed, tone still calm, still faintly amused, "after all that talk about respect and reckonings. that’s disappointing. I was looking forward to hearing your complaints properly, face to face, instead of secondhand through a wall."
"we didn’t—" the second one started, voice cracking slightly. "we didn’t know it was you."
"clearly," Julian said. "though I’m curious whether that actually changes anything. would the demand for an apology have been fair if I really had been some ordinary stranger you’d bumped into by accident? or does ’respect’ only apply once you know exactly whose name might get you in trouble for disrespecting it?"
None of them had an answer for that, the silence stretching thin and uncomfortable between them.
"for what it’s worth," Julian continued, voice still mild, "I don’t actually disagree that a lot of resources got spent finding me. lives were lost. that’s not nothing, and I don’t take it lightly, believe me." Something sharper cut through the calm now, cold and precise. "but I didn’t ask to be taken. I didn’t ask for whatever’s out there to drag this entire Empire into six weeks of chaos looking for me. if you’ve got complaints about the cost, I’d suggest directing them toward whatever’s actually responsible for causing it, rather than the person who spent six weeks in a coma after single-handedly holding a defensive line that kept your precious Elite Academy standing at all."
The first Sentinel’s jaw worked silently, humiliation and dawning, uncomfortable realization crossing his features in equal measure.
"we’re sorry," he managed finally, voice considerably smaller than it had been minutes earlier. "we didn’t— we spoke out of turn."
"you did," Julian agreed simply, no longer angry, simply flat and matter-of-fact about it. "though I appreciate you at least being honest about your opinions before you knew who was listening. that’s more candor than I usually get from people who find out first."
He turned to leave, then paused, glancing back over his shoulder with the same faint, dangerous calm he’d carried the entire exchange.
"tell the Elite Academy," he said, "that if they’d like a formal reckoning, they’re welcome to schedule one through proper channels. I’ll happily explain, in detail, exactly what this Empire’s been dealing with, and let them decide for themselves whether ’one Guide caused a lot of chaos’ is really an accurate summary of any of it."
He walked away without waiting for a response, leaving all three Sentinels standing frozen and silent in the narrow walkway, the fox trotting along beside him with visible, gleeful satisfaction.
"that was almost too easy," the fox said once they’d rounded the next corner, tails swishing with delight. "you didn’t even use the fan."
"didn’t need to," Julian said, something faintly, quietly pleased settling behind his calm exterior now that the confrontation had passed. "some things really don’t need volume, or weapons, to land properly."