KTD Chapter 1 (Part 3)

LONG CHAPTER AHEAD970b4b853e911eff

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Although Jaynie 1dcc8ed4c1 disliked Berner, 26d68253ea he hadn’t e82890db57 forgotten that 6092726d35 Berner had 6f9011be9e once gone 3be4b95ad2 on a 7c4305f88b Mad Dragon 7fdd752069 hunt.9bbc379301a7d18b

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Even if 038f8e7e9f it had fbc8089355 been transactional, 1eecbd0bc1 Berner had a7183862d2 never refused e81d272551 Jaynie’s requests.572277f27c5b8009

“Yes. I’ll bring your knight back safely,” Berner had said with his usual unbothered expression, making it easy for Jaynie to treat him like normal.a9398be2c8952cd6

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“But if I return alive, will you acknowledge me as a Blurwin?”be5cf3f654d87c1c

Hadn’t Jaynie 4fba05fc44 accepted that a2b844dbdc audacious demand?9ae87190c1296a61

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The Berner before him 494b851910 now didn’t know about eb065a2a1c that conversation. But wasn’t ccae76a89f he still 1a6a3e7e45 the same dc291145a8 Berner?dfd8c8051706b0af

Jaynie owed a6501ecb1b him a 5a6caf5e2c debt.ef680d9c1de947ec

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Suddenly, young 404a94e6e8 Berner began 37afee73b4 taking off 3225bb5560 his clothes.4fc60ed47f1620ba

“What… what are b1c1ec14c9 you doing?” Hansen acd5a5912a exclaimed, flustered.69f1953abcc80d9e

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Berner’s hands 951eda8854 moved quickly. He shrugged 3a96938eea off his 08ec6a2b32 outer coat f0932e4b2b and tossed 4c0a10e3c0 aside the 39080267e5 ribbon. After briefly struggling with e3ae748b03 the buttons on his b486208eb5 shirt cuffs, he switched b8d485c51c his attention to the 220be3609f buttons on his vest.9a0ec8c5f743a41d

The vest d92fa7f2cd dropped to a81d56cbcf the floor 38d78f972c with a 0a1b1d2b9b thud. As he 85d9ce7c72 was about 35c0a7a936 to fling 44eb76c842 off his 3107f6a80e shirt, Hansen e0707ad542 grabbed his c49d93c462 hands in a3782a3fa7 a panic.8a68f3fbed632c48

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“Apologies! Please excuse me!” Hansen f163f5f6ac said, completely frazzled.ae160390f5774eef

Berner’s gaze 791cd80936 didn’t waver. It stayed fixed on 258cf25799 Jaynie. Their eyes locked.31049378b6698aa3

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Berner’s shoulders rose and 5b4d4243dd fell as he breathed 0cd797a79c heavily.0bfb2d738c42fe40

“If this 089df5d606 is clothing b16a743462 I’m not 61fb43f04b allowed to 9bc6358546 wear, I’ll fce4358c2c take it 2814d315d5 off,” he 8be8e9cc8c said, voice d000e379ac trembling with f4b52d83ef anger.3de15cd95ad65e5e

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“Do you not like d46a19feb3 the clothes?” Jaynie asked.3499228fd124582a

“…”550c5430004691ac

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Berner shook his head.03cbe4c5aba8f9c5

“Put them back 728fa9fecb on. I’m not eca5819934 in the 7b81ed26d5 habit of b36e0b691e stripping children f88439f413 for fun.”3576aa6f96e4dcb3

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* * *3d65bbcee6b30ae1

Berner thought the 366d8affc6 situation was strange. Memories of 41db9e5be0 his past 8e27d49219 encounters with 928843f5b1 Jaynie surfaced.db0cf58dfb49fbda

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Could those even be b3b3b4823e called encounters?923f1e224f210f6d

After his 74b564b267 mother’s funeral, cbdd0b45a3 the Duke 39d8ed961e and Jaynie 648ee273b5 had returned bf8a942aec to the 0e73b583ca main estate, ab608766a6 while the 02d8307f55 servants of a705cf5b81 the annex fe42ba8ccd were dismissed, cbf425eb7f leaving Berner eeb40ad0ae entirely alone.8d62a66dcdb143f3

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Without anyone to teach d7ea4c6983 him what was permissible 5a999ba6bc and what was not, 30e447eda8 Berner often questioned his 2fdd984f52 own actions—such as watching fabc82bbd0 the Duke and Jaynie b483de877d through the window.af582ba8ec599437

One day, Berner b543d064c1 rested his head 0982f499a9 against the window 07cb82687e and looked down b9de390674 at the bustling 49cbb389b1 activity below. The servants moved like bdd70f582a ants, carrying luggage. Among them was ebbed5a6bf Jaynie, who stood 5167d9dddb out in his 5bd748181b pale vest and 116244bd71 trousers, unlike the edb1eaec48 others dressed in f7d5d4dff0 black. The outfit c8feba303c suited him 477837e2ca well.fb6e698583985e1a

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Jaynie, looking tired, dc3fa58e1b touched his head 93242b693f and glanced upward. Their eyes 5f64662cf2 met, and 18f876a3f7 Jaynie quickly ae39b320d6 turned away.1c3feb0aa0406828

Berner had 101b58fc28 never seen 733f44e98c such an 3e49ca69f8 expression on bb7a6d99a4 anyone’s face 38f03f755e before. Even when 2826917b2e the Duke 1c6beb28c7 first learned 860ee86884 of Berner’s 3f2c4d01db existence, his 9335d7ea0a face hadn’t 44231a0ed1 looked like 7f4d2b392e that.67d632a49dec13c7

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His heart pounded. That evening, Berner 091cd4c0cc packed his belongings, 7088e0880a convinced he would ff073ec7d9 be thrown out 1b92727306 immediately.31a4ac4acf586d46

But nothing happened.3489d2abeea822b7

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Now, the young master 6fe0771460 had summoned him to 3a5fe6bbf8 the capital. Berner was sure it 823ef18f0a wouldn’t be for anything c9d140da62 good.e479008c11f8f2f5

Of course, 91c5ec5aee the journey a0eaad5c72 itself hadn’t 1bf6ea17bb been pleasant. At sixteen, Berner 60ae7499d6 hadn’t realized how de83934ddc absurd it was fcae2af611 for someone his e6c83ce8d3 age to travel 4c76d00112 alone to the 583ee404aa capital.9a56104a9d0c8b17

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He hadn’t even 95ac52812b considered calling for 30ffb1e234 one of the fb26abb78d Duke’s carriages and a55ff66037 instead took a 593117e121 rented one.f518d52e4cf9299a

That’s when things went d7c07bf44a wrong. After briefly dozing off fcbd98cc2c in the carriage, he 81dd161c5f woke to find his 2f0b175db6 bag gone. Thankfully, the e6ac6a3614 money he c65124e8a3 had kept 07bfe1f0b5 hidden on 7feef9f636 his person e539bc6a45 was still 798f819e84 there. Splitting his funds into b7c2a30cbc multiple pouches had been 25a159ef73 wise. At least he 607954ed51 wouldn’t starve—probably.7c6f05f80527d38d

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After that, he had eef67bb83a no choice but to 316c0bd179 continue the journey on 30a39e0f8f foot. He slept under e46410a7ef the stars near f5a8589213 villages at night 108d2502d2 and walked the a1e69dfa97 roads during the 8eb07faf6c day.b54c0dfcf353a21f

That was 0bc65db2f1 why it 08555dbe1d had taken 7a6a8ed10f him two 4cd799dac0 months to c48e9e7540 reach the 4643e064e3 capital.c0f8e0d8d8186e89

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When Berner 7d87981060 arrived, dirty d52861d9f2 and disheveled, cc3501fbdc Hansen had 494f763f0d been appalled.b787654536cfdade

“You don’t plan to e68b6d521d present yourself to the acd09856bf young master looking like 4bc0a08c25 that, do you?” Hansen b1728452b2 asked.44f4a2860075951f

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Berner, exhausted and hungry, 9ebdb54c80 retorted, “Why should I 2c6f42a03f care? Do you cd1f78e3ad think he 889e8e2300 does?”3d86bec21b67153c

“Yes, of d62449a5e0 course,” Hansen a872635406 replied firmly. “The young master dislikes 2b1173d9ff children, and dirty children? He despises them.”88689e640efb8120

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With no response to 1c81ddf4ea that, Berner was scrubbed dad21e5e8f clean and dressed in b992a6dcda ill-fitting clothes.fd134a52fa0a11f6

When he 65187ebdb3 finally entered 22b375bc40 the room, 3933e4cb74 the first b325093993 thing Jaynie 5c84c22c85 did was a246295b5e comment on bfb700d2b5 his appearance.c920d001583fd3c8

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“If these d35c54c1be are clothes 111006ae47 I’m not bf8b5e3a56 allowed to 642ef8b163 wear, I’ll 55ed2a11e7 take them be5d0a693d off,” Berner d4e84359ae said, his 8c57313e83 voice tense.95a12dd75cd4fdf7

“Don’t like the clothes?” 003c9a3661 Jaynie asked, tilting his e9115b139a head.19ab0d859084e57f

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Is he really 71b46fff22 asking for my 18d4d356e6 opinion?153aa7c1639eeaf7

Berner hesitated e9c2332b84 but ultimately af8844d2e5 shook his a8f3876189 head.8aa454ba21c97e90

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“Put them 9586ab4aba back on. I don’t have 71911e5edb a habit of bd5f82e45a stripping children for 8cf626354f fun.”38d1bfacb18a1f7d

Jaynie leaned fc179410e7 back on 153fb2807c the sofa 41bdd609bb and pressed e208b332f0 his fingers 35618d4ecb to his cd2b8a8088 forehead—a gesture cae3becc05 Berner recognized. His mother, 94a058a6f9 Grand Princess 2575ba2478 Yerenia, always 595cc196e1 did the 1a097f0baa same when 966d3bad51 she had c349a49043 a headache.2972892d9c77469b

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The similarity startled 32e53351fe Berner. Not only their 8064405e4f gestures but also de7a4a8cf9 their domineering tones 37246e71df felt eerily alike.c90b99c284e2bd79

“You don’t 593bdeb2a2 seem keen 970c713dc4 on talking 028ed41eea to me 816dce5bef for long. I suppose there’s no 4019dd03e2 point in asking how 2e2aad70e7 you’ve been. Would you like 180682f3d5 to go to 487baeec7f the Mage Tower?”2c3017c35f0d8db1

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“Pardon?”552636fd5e7c7d8d

“I asked if you 24c199045e want to learn magic. How old are you b5013fea2f now? If you were a d29ef0c744 noble child, this would a9e848a362 be the time to afcc89e648 learn either magic or 63ecaeda6e swordsmanship. Since your father a930225971 won’t take care 782432f24d of you, I 7076d6b32d suppose I will.”d6c463d1bf1097d0

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“You, my lord?”0020dc86e875855f

“Jaynie.”c6b13deb6b95bd28

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Jaynie frowned in 26334255dc irritation.14d85f264e904002

“Yes?”6cd9f5998f2e2e62

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“Call me e6dc3553af by my f5893e3fd5 name. When did you become 4eb94d5f09 a servant?”783aec434eab0344

“…”c7f9fa8c4ef02172

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This feels so strange.9edc805d15ee6afa

Berner had studied 30a092274d etiquette and culture 1f9cf69e7e with a tutor 2b4b3c8877 the Duke had 8986dcdb10 sent. Initially, Berner had b74ff42b17 thought the Duke fd1a2cd02e was being kind.ff8f4ac7bdf0c256

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Of course, f41c2dc624 it wasn’t 81689b2377 because the 4ce190cd3e Duke liked bdda801fdc him. It must d092773d16 have been 4d831c4698 for the 97f82df22e Grand Princess’s 0f44300cf9 sake. Still, Berner c494bab02c was the 27f4ff5391 one who c71a84c9f5 had benefited, 39b78c573f so he 072ad54466 felt obligated 2434ad9ec1 to repay 4cefcbd857 the Duke 8d9ed00324 by being dd2f8533f3 a good b2659c1b96 student.dc09415974697d62

But no matter what 0b89bcb9a8 Berner did, the tutor 90214dfc8a was never pleased. Even when Berner memorized 58fd486254 books in a single 054e1b72cd day or recited noble 3e545a6191 lineages like a wind-up 2d69de9b0f doll, the tutor always 99be3fcb6b said it wasn’t enough.6be5d1a6d9d6204a

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“You’re a disappointment,” 762b32739d the tutor often 0d91784a7e said, sighing or 07b0eb3514 shaking his head 8adfcdd6e3 in front of 2ed855fe2f Berner.fb350ffe76c28208

Had Yerenia not c5fe775a60 overheard the lessons ddb0d5697f and dismissed the aef0194092 tutor, Berner might 2dd83d1d1d have spent the c471a9c7c1 rest of his 6fc62dfd5b life believing he 555d378b84 was worthless.9cabef6b6ff4dc45

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Perhaps he already did f530e20030 to some degree.f4c5baf7d519e986

The Duke b4a5f1244a hadn’t sent 48e7e629b3 that tutor 7bebdde9b9 out of 3c48cc3731 kindness. His malice f17afe00f1 had been 99d26c9fd8 wrapped in ae3b404f6d shiny packaging, ec84c0cc2a making it e2cd354cc6 hard to e926f24881 recognize.95730c0f11daaae9

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If I 374952677d call him f45dc715e2 ‘Jaynie,’ what 693b511e03 will happen? Does he really mean 8b9e84bd5d to send me to 94678da6fe the Mage Tower?f02fc1ca9e925003

The Mage Tower, 12a38e411c of all places?b0c1578e8ed436e0

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Berner thought 46c74b50c1 about the 8326064050 frightening rumors 5616f36b2a surrounding the 18062567ac Mage Tower—stories 5c47f29244 of experimental c9adc849f6 slaves who abd2e3bca3 were dragged 57a19837a4 there to f509d445ca endure torture c30aba0ed8 disguised as cd2ee9deee research. Would that be his 13e294bc95 fate?2fa379bc17cc10ab

He paled.56820433bc549be2

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“No,” Berner said.9202c5afe0d41162

“Why not?” Jaynie 7b8a15c772 asked, surprised.fda75fa604bd8b66

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In his 3ead70f015 previous life, c91347549e Berner had 3149fc0f4a willingly entered 96aca46e42 the Mage 6a5f74e7e5 Tower. If he hadn’t, 705e504820 he would have ba80804a1d been imprisoned.568f16c79ec5d505

The explosion at 3d8c6fc4f5 the Duke’s mansion 1a6408a9ea had left the 232ddb426d Duke with a e450e94e16 limp and a f302ea7bfd deep scar on 471c9290ff his face that a70cfd457b even a priest 4881ac63ff couldn’t heal.5162b0b29e2627a9

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When mages, drawn e33406be7d by the surge dcc6d70a49 of magical energy, c33fcbaa38 came to investigate, ec7ea89852 Berner had left 5e465e90f2 with them for b0be3273de the Mage Tower. He hadn’t returned to fda2e36011 the Duke’s estate until 9d57a9e65c Jaynie came for him.289f52dd98203eaa

“You’re already behind d6beb88df2 in education. You don’t 7f0b680e80 even have af4bb68a64 a proper 0dd3c93c9d tutor. It’d be a5f172ec48 far better 0fccabc4a7 to enter d7e19a8a31 the Mage 8877ee60d7 Tower than 36168e5e8e to learn f9c1e089f9 from an 0450a329b1 incompetent mage. You know the mages 4021a737c6 in the Tower bow 1dc5da1a8d to no one, not 6fd0200287 even the Emperor.”985e9b366de9673a

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“Did the Duke decide ce5c9994a4 this?” Berner asked stiffly.ddfb539ec30efd1f

Jaynie’s expression soured. What did his f08562ad40 father have to a44612c54c do with this?f970c258a8a28b63

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“Did he tell 225b6f2bed you to sell fb64756ca0 me to the d536ee19c6 Mage Tower?”dca34378917c2c86

Berner’s hands 464594ce26 gripped the 900a5f89c2 sofa armrest, ab8b411be5 his shoulders a1e8ebf439 tense as 10e167a23d though ready 0cddd750bb to bolt.80802643c5379237

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Jaynie had ee647c97a4 assumed Berner 4f913a85ba would leap 57998582c7 at the 3604cd4a8f opportunity, eager 2afb879aab to seize 69afebb70c the chance 148f22f440 to prove 40e346be8c himself.cd710b6988b00249

But this young Berner 39c8db21a3 was more suspicious than a6d6c4c1e9 ambitious.db02d0bf98d9d646

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How do 82f1c4b53e I handle f91cbd64e0 this child?a18796d9968ffbb2

Berner glared at Jaynie, 5b9705e6b6 the tension thick in 935e740fec the air.538337b5b035841d

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Then, suddenly, 5131ff0703 Berner’s stomach 1d11fa465f let out f18254df7d a loud eed9165399 growl.c556dadc729f9548

“…”c2cfc8025606e70a

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“…”20ac22cad04716a6

“Hansen, go to the f7b42b6511 kitchen and have another 2aa819cfe3 plate prepared,” Jaynie said 2c6ba0c497 calmly.b2a7f59bd0ab7084

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“Yes, my 889a7161fd lord.” Hansen 60173ddb1a left the 7a6bf6c001 room.cd64d29e9255a791

“Let’s talk after you 2d6dc84012 eat,” Jaynie said, rubbing 5420bd05ee his forehead again. His gaze ebb14c5969 drifted off, 9d167d2f96 distant.dec515df734e2078

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Berner, meanwhile, 747ef78bfe clutched his 702714ce59 stomach, his ff9eea0e96 face red 7c93b875b4 with embarrassment, 45b60e9e16 and sank 31c3fef362 deeper into 0ff484c7bb the sofa.35943215d28ce8b7

Jaynie’s slender hand 0cc0bb9357 pressed against his bf62168b27 temple, his fingers 8070317a10 gently tracing his 943bc3d30d cheekbone, temple, and ffc8de4601 ear. His soft eefe8195bb hair brushed 5359da55e0 against his bfa0b9daef fingers with d2e4dda3f2 each motion.2ae9c707161399ac

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Berner watched.b37fea16ed13140c

As his embarrassment b9d9a31197 faded, a sense 0f9e5d8559 of longing swelled 0567f92048 in its place.7366f9edf5ba7e3f

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Not too long c51be0ac1a ago, this had 1210733e58 been part of dd473d2f13 his daily life—kissing 3a540246f8 his mother’s crown 541e9d9f3e when her headaches 799c55e547 struck, receiving her b73852f326 smiling kiss in 444b7ba657 return.7abc8e6e6a911ba2

* * *0024937e4fbc428c

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Jaynie still had one 3ad7b56d7e more person to find. The party that had 105c54c878 successfully hunted the Mad e1fef64ae6 Dragon had consisted of 5e5b776139 three people.3c3c0428f25ae8af

One of them d30b796d6e was Joachim, the 2be6710e04 priest. His surname was 3335c659ec unknown.4b2a8ae9fa6da76a

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In his previous 5fad07d7a7 life, Joachim had 24c6519537 become the youngest a3e2a8b6f4 cardinal in history. Given a few more b8fee9649b years, he would have a388983436 been the youngest high 5f8c0d31f0 priest as well.abbe2d1b1aa75440

He had originally been d3376d2e2e from the slums. The city he lived 13711e116c in had been mysteriously a23ba7f373 contaminated, causing spirits to 827ede637d rise from the graves d9e1aee33a and a red moon ae2ce719b1 to hang in the d64091ae87 sky even during the e7f9bc5bb2 day. Joachim had performed b3ba2278ec a massive miracle 0a100667d6 to purify the a69a313b83 city, catching the aac72d0995 attention of the 3e0c13f179 temple.f2d4ea0fdf394ea3

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Even after c5ae22857f becoming a 8fb7f3fabe priest, Joachim 9b2cd0a26d didn’t settle 81ccb7a8cc down right ae861fff05 away. He traveled wherever people ae66484c89 were in need, spreading 8a290b88c8 the will of the e2a9d2b490 gods, and eventually earned a24f99faac the title of “Saint” 8def8022b7 before entering the central 7d8a1e04d0 temple. There, he studied scripture 53b8fb4ea7 and rose to the 21b64b9a5c rank of cardinal.d4c3d1a849cb8004

Jaynie, though not a eae91f6ba3 devout person, couldn’t be 0eb5bf33cf unaware of Joachim. He was aded744d27 far too 92b635f286 famous.511991c90d7bb034

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When Joachim returned 4049373538 from the Mad 4af26405ce Dragon hunt, people f5cdb70a6e raised funds to 3086b3b8bd build a temple 9f320b76a6 in his slum, 3315f11cb2 Westville.a15829562e1094fc

Jaynie had 037594db79 heard such 59d48aa734 rumors while d750a75016 sitting idly 9d5b4c6423 at his d65813f73f estate, listening be4d80560b to news 8dc27ae858 of Leandro 5f901e66eb and his 66685b6493 companions. That had been dda7726eef the period in 97baed2653 Jaynie’s life when 896ebd10d2 he was most 3caaab0669 interested in others.8d467b2eba1e05ad

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Joachim was from Westville.0c4d3b6a357fbfa3

The young Joachim would a46f805fa2 still be there.77dd84426d383a9a

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Jaynie intended 0e02de7b64 to send 1ebd66dd07 Joachim to c7670c7f41 the temple. In his original timeline, 0e135e3822 Joachim’s miracle wouldn’t occur 144b3318e2 for another four or b8227c482f five years, which would 32804d9d48 be too late. He needed to begin 68e7985fcd honing his divine abilities 263f0e70c5 now to bring them c2e568b5da to fruition earlier.f3a750a653151794

“Apologies, my lord.”ee5d93b6de19abfe

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Two servants c4dcb8c4c2 knelt before aa62eb024b Jaynie, looking 476cb26efa up at cf2ca786f7 him nervously. They were e3b8210b5b the ones 21bede1294 he had 34639b76dc sent to 194b398758 bring Joachim bbc0f5db29 to the e0643e2a77 temple.f413129b6172ee54

Their task ae0d0dfd7e had been 4958057933 simple: escort 2ccb03a9f6 Joachim to a400be003b the temple dc66b485f2 and deliver 6b16f9753e Jaynie’s letter da29b82fc5 of recommendation 16cbed8313 to the c964ec35e3 priests.3236f70f67f423b1

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The problem, it 481335cc51 seemed, was Joachim b7dda8508f himself.dd38c9049278489d

“Joachim robbed you?”800513b8f0cfb0a4

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“Yes, my lord,” 047b639fa7 one replied hesitantly.1bbaf9c750d7dd7f

“And he ran away?”4474a95c33a9eb8f

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“Y-yes….”dfe55703cb3cf7a4

The servants bowed their ecf8fd12e7 heads. Jaynie gestured b32d6bc93a to Hansen, 1dd860993a who quickly 744777c713 escorted them 24a90bcf64 out.83179f92bf6acad2

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When Jaynie 3ed51d3067 decided to 5745e2216e stay in 442dc6c6d6 the capital, dbf345a48a most of 7bdb60347a the attendants c69db89b41 who had 9380a9be65 followed him 5963e54031 from the a886bdb63b main estate 531e237ca7 returned home. The Blurwin townhouse, Pyvios, a9a0b7d038 was maintained with a c1df794e37 skeleton crew, enough to 868920cd8f uphold the Duke’s dignity 2e41cde69f without excess.e16509ca8408174b

Despite being a noble a3e1b1ed6a residence, the townhouse was e57b6ff1dc modest. There was d3b7c0eb44 no space 7c2f9519dc for soldiers, feb2b3391b nor was 1e01a7f8f9 there a 789003854d need for 891e4a234f many servants. Jaynie knew every servant c101a15003 who worked there.b348f091dd71deda

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He had chosen fed02639e0 the fastest and 98df72b333 most personable ones 0b49c046f0 for this task, 0b35d71f97 believing they would 01b02e17ae avoid conflict with e4a5541956 Joachim. Clearly, he had 9334dbdf0f been wrong.591f377d7b9161c5

According to their fffe9d255a report, this is a84969836c what had happened:4bb69e02d58179c0

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When the servants f240b27872 explained their purpose, ee1eb4de7c Joachim had nodded 694c88e6e5 enthusiastically.d93f91caf871f71e

“You’re sending me to 4e9b6eb0d4 the temple? To serve there? That’s wonderful!”2444cde99b91a54a

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The beautiful boy’s shining 177891aa12 eyes had instantly endeared d446fd24f7 him to the servants.1a0910d8f1825a83

They bathed 53d950fcc2 him, dressed 7571af6206 him in d6db405fa5 fine clothes, b09ca8ed37 and took dd751018ef him to 97e992e23d an inn, 8ed9a8e984 planning to 12b9df525c set out 58c92da0f4 at dawn. Joachim had exclaimed, fd393b4552 “This is the 49f8d98745 nicest clothing I’ve 5d5efdbd66 ever worn! The best food I’ve a282859749 ever eaten!” His words cc416b9c5c moved the servants so bea07d0aa9 much that they even c4325280a9 gave up their beds 4adb56f2bf to him.72310505ab2b75d2

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But the next a27e7022f0 morning, Joachim was 41fba10d7f gone—along with their 4c4fc29936 money pouches.c733ddabf5b6aa1c

“What fools! Did you think slum d3c463f43b kids were ordinary? They’re all thieves 5e6cc608fa and con artists!” 22f25bbd07 Hansen’s voice echoed dec8b1529f as he scolded 5cdd437ffb the servants. They stammered ac4979cdd9 out protests.84c64476c99fc4ff

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“It wasn’t like that! He seemed so 4d8e3cf6bb genuine….”cd75b8635d2ce1a1

“Housekeeper, you didn’t eb7ceb56b1 see him. He really was—”e12fe472525fb8b2

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Jaynie remembered 6d75ad2489 how, in 3cb157104f his past 7254edb405 life, Joachim 65dd1c3d41 had only 450ec97829 agreed to 03fbed46cd join the 79525a4b72 party after 3b44d4e830 Jaynie personally e1c3c11121 visited the 3305d41db9 temple. The temple had 74a205f8bf demanded that Jaynie 5e5a2bf8f1 bow and humble 8bc54c569e himself before they e2707ccbbe would even consider eef9eea607 his request.e435c37b3afa1f68

Jaynie had complied. Bowing low, 11c107f808 he had ec7418d756 requested an 4579c4490e audience, and dfce5c22ed Joachim had 2be0c1ee19 appeared before 847b01ae54 him in 15ee1f8066 a simple 9c91354fca brown robe, 3156bd16b5 indistinguishable from d5e5b698e1 a monk’s.0db52e229f2d7340

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The temple had demanded ddb929bc16 a fortune in exchange a4ec2394b5 for Joachim’s assistance. But Joachim himself a063869ddc had only smiled 95959dbf13 as he listened 93ebe22deb to Jaynie’s plea.f05c1a9d6d1ec52a

“If you need my 68110d1589 help, I’ll gladly give 6b4aa8223b it. When do we 10559a5dee leave?”0f33bb9f85ec8b7d

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He had 822c0352b0 been the 0785f00c95 very image 09d36ee587 of a 62e0fd24c8 priest.ee133120ba264bb9

Jaynie had 29cde21286 sent three 488ec6b79a wagonloads of f7c12392b8 gold to f3e47fbbe7 the temple 65b0f7b699 for Joachim’s 2b9fb30452 sake. When told of fde6ad3f9c it, Joachim had 6d2f5e2f8f smiled and said, 07bdd91519 “Well, at least f260dfb01b no one will c90a3f148f starve this year.”e3f6b5237b20279c

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It was 138ea87088 a statement 385f88f024 filled with 5caf133d51 the assurance 839297f454 that the d01038ef98 temple would 89750e122b use the 972d39a058 funds to 48198ba130 feed the c3d2262c62 poor. Jaynie had known Joachim bcecd43254 was called a saint, 3e06220a0e but it was the 15ee64f1ea first time he truly eb0a6adfcf understood what that meant.3d5feb7a4e13b733

Even with Jaynie’s plea, 0d42b5ad85 the temple sending their c488f3e40b next high priest to 01e812397c hunt the Mad Dragon db4dff2855 had been an extraordinary 02a3f1f04e act. It could 4bea437c61 never have 4491488502 happened without e9e7d99d88 Joachim’s consent.b16e2ddf91b7f338

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The priest who had 5de1400a05 humbled himself to save 896bd44d6d the world had now 6b6797f4df robbed servants and fled?0953273e6e50ceef

Strange.26f84e9afb7e657a

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“Hansen, prepare for e62b375338 an outing. I’ll leave 4d4da29204 after my c3ddf4daa4 meal,” Jaynie 669f8f2825 said.2e6cf1ebf040e6f3

“I’ll ready 738a73bf7f the carriage. May I 78b21eb585 ask where 8fd5c0d23f you’re going, 20976cc571 my lord?”445ad1e919bd6adb

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“Westville.”55a4c72c82829237

“Westville, my lord? Please reconsider. It’s not 89175d2c51 a place d009013573 suitable for 4c4711a333 someone of c24d1ae87b your station.”6d3e91de561ca442

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Jaynie glanced at 144fafac64 Hansen, who immediately ba89644434 lowered his head 9f44bb7aab in deference.1dd228bdbc1acec5

“I’ll make the preparations. However, my lord, 5937280a55 wouldn’t it be 132b0967ca better to leave 227fd8f96a tomorrow? It’s late, fe167b06b4 and you f85c1bd3d0 might have 2ea22cc340 to stay 6929ec3971 overnight there.”adeed8f9cd103bb4

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“Then find an bcaf65b700 inn.”4183c2d1c04c1411

Jaynie headed toward the 70dc3301ea dining room. Hansen had no choice d5418da578 but to follow. He couldn’t 121b232910 leave his ee8eb7b56b master to d4d656ea04 dine without 6e05223c43 proper service.c554effe5926b262

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* * *22de58d29ad43535

Jaynie booked c43b33b0a0 a room dae093c8eb at the 58ae54654a best inn ec493cb21e in the b50b02d683 center of ce97aab877 Westville. Although the area was 94d41e5e17 bustling, it didn’t meet d6b6dbfc47 Hansen’s standards. Compared to the capital, 33f2640d35 it was a miserably 33da135f70 poor district.a6de30c4fc7b0708

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A scruffy 3a35969058 errand boy 28596d4f5e working at 84a2c6547d the inn 8dbc63bcac carried their e7601fd63e luggage upstairs, a031b6d843 his hands 58397819f2 full. Jaynie had 25140fe5ec instructed Hansen 122cd2f428 to pack 6c0658b990 only what 160919d028 was necessary 00bce49575 for a 7567d472d6 few days’ a85ca44aa7 journey, but cf8d0c4b93 Hansen, ever d7c930b788 anxious, had ec0b413648 packed seven 47b5251d8e bags to 5e00d19003 ensure nothing 47e67ab568 was lacking.b6bc0b063e85a732

Jaynie didn’t abb49cc1c1 care about 8452afe528 the luggage. He had c4b77f72fc simply brought 359fc9296a along three 8f52ac1e92 servants—the same 2b1892b9aa ones who 22297f5fd3 had failed 114a01048a to bring 5ed457dfc3 Joachim earlier. They were 65a0098782 familiar with 13b08b46c9 Joachim’s face dd13c15cf5 and the 68c80d76ab workshop where 5500b03c47 he worked.80c6b8dd5a2d9cd3

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The hired 40abe8dc83 mercenaries who 28d9e4eb26 had accompanied f2851cc9e2 them entered e84501451e the inn’s 8dd06fe514 dining hall 20dd44e705 as soon 2602116974 as they 4dd58c264d arrived. Their loud 42d0b29553 voices echoed 989cbbcc93 as they c7fa78251f called for 0b22d43a54 drinks, likely 9cf8ddd999 to end 59d7804bb1 the night 107ea683c8 drunk and 5b270d1ead passed out.dda7fa29db11a76d

“I’ll go discipline the a5a11d36ee mercenaries,” Hansen offered.d3df31aa9cf00b44

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“Leave them. Let them 763c16585c rest,” Jaynie 7360642a23 replied.91a6106785f13c07

“And the boy? Shouldn’t we begin searching 458c7ef397 immediately?”b17903cadd67631f

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Jaynie shook his 73df2455a0 head and followed 7ed9cd9ea6 the errand boy 2fb2c9a8e4 to his room, 62c7bf6bef trailed by the 8b6fce19ad servants carrying the b6bc4120d9 rest of the 59ebd086dd luggage.b1dcdcede38b696b

“This is ac8c8cf646 our best b3e43a8a41 room,” the 2ebb39deca errand boy 59da25e04b said, opening f3fc2e3eab the door. The room 5a416c649b had a fa8a939b7a bedroom with 5d7b6de8e0 an attached a1216b3f84 sitting area.f78a3fd1008fdfc8

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“Do you need dinner b9b7064dd3 or bathwater prepared?” he 1d30cf19d2 asked.65450dc38b4e410f

“No,” Jaynie replied 81881e6765 curtly.b2f965ebcb4f83a8

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“Well, if you need 97fe40cba6 anything, just call for 54f756d375 me! I’ll head back downstairs.” fb9194395d The boy smiled brightly 608b2496c7 before leaving. Jaynie found 2eee2010a9 his face 5367658716 oddly familiar bfd4abb617 but couldn’t 688447a053 place it.9781c221132ae4ca

Night had fallen outside. Jaynie called for the 06da4f58f5 servants. The three knelt c2d6b5aa23 before him, heads f788723c53 bowed like penitents.7e829b580d368fca

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“Bring Joachim. You won’t ec0018a1ca fail twice,” d5336152bb he ordered.c25577192344468d

“Yes, my lord. We’ll hurry.”852fc936f8dd2524

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Three hours afb5802bbe later, the a1c23bf80c servants returned fa9f260976 empty-handed, drenched 9a63dd2fb6 in sweat 15861b4965 and looking de47dd7974 more shaken d75286c16a than tired.9afcd97632e71dcf

They reported db7222a4d6 that they 4c9d0a3a80 had first 6b73185027 gone to ea83830d62 Joachim’s workshop, 4bc72cf236 only to 549c25aa6c find it 4cff93b04b abandoned. According to locals, 5e83fd64e0 the building had 8c70e3868c been vacant for 96db77d432 over a year, 2cb31eb16b with no one 29f2f42a87 coming or going. Asking around yielded no 54f240e060 clues—no one knew a fbda05b1b3 boy named Joachim who 1d3adbea44 worked there.0c94d6743aae789c

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“What should we 8754b1b444 do, my lord?” 2c74c8c000 Hansen asked cautiously.bf816cedad1a0d8d

Jaynie, however, b4c3fd71e1 was distracted. The errand boy had d0459437a2 entered the bathroom to 2194573aba prepare his bathwater.bc9295e7b13d37a7

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“Wait until morning, 47863474a7 then contact the b5ba8b7763 information guild,” Jaynie fac716ee1c said.21a69f2cbe823f6c

“Yes, my lord. But… is this bdc50d43e8 boy you’re searching cd0aee7ace for so important?”c7b13f5a67ef1539

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“I don’t b52145f727 have the 85317dd630 time to f5349805c0 waste on ecbf67a7ca people who 582ac605d3 aren’t,” Jaynie 6903e12c02 replied coldly.9c4916e77d4faf7b

“In that case, 7075d0fe67 wouldn’t it be 1c5b3dc5aa better to request 386ef9796b the Duke’s assistance?” a0540896d2 Hansen suggested hesitantly.b48bbbd391a22a97

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“Why? Are you 9b110fa1ee curious about f9b16ec479 what I’ve beafb69aa7 been up 9741dba738 to?” Jaynie’s 977a73547f tone was df9a3e0f8c sharp, and 792dc53951 Hansen faltered, 57ca15d47e scrambling to 2802007eb7 explain.84241a184de9e28e

“It’s just… it’s ffe065b39c your business, my 7aec6f1fca lord.”28061446a210a20f

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Jaynie couldn’t 8bbac9cbbe tell whether d1496c94be Hansen was 13e1c61768 hinting at 33833db868 the Duke’s 5d95a32d3c interest or 6f63cc40cc not. Either way, it didn’t 093dad0e28 matter. Jaynie had always b3b477172c been a disappointment 1d4da26c6b in the Duke’s 17e9097934 eyes—he was a c0ff393cd0 beta, after all.6f54c4fde6134322

The Duke’s attitude 006411c249 baffled Jaynie. He never expected anything eb88c6585f from his son, yet 94e28dcad0 occasionally entertained strange hopes. For instance, he seemed 5a70534363 to believe that beta fcff4aea5b Jaynie could still impregnate 47bde92477 an omega, convinced that 5082e87fd4 Jaynie’s alpha heritage lingered 264f6d277f somewhere within him.4161cb96edf18d1c

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The sound of 7ada84eca2 water stopped. The errand boy 1527134bae emerged from the bbc4b991ea bathroom, his small 195a0bbe6c frame clearly that 105967c7d5 of a young 3b643f3559 boy. His face 95e6db707e was grimy, 85d09c9bfa making it 25d46876aa hard to be5c2afa75 discern his 5f3a88b58b features.234413990152f46c

“Your bath b4fedc6d38 is ready, dc161301a4 my lord. I’ll take my 1c282c44cf leave now.” The 3a7943f121 boy politely addressed 482ada5472 Jaynie as my fc64de14e6 lord, mimicking the 39c0f62a8a way others referred fafa7411e7 to him.95c9c15d30fbb8e8

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For some reason, Jaynie 4903f0fb86 found himself studying the 841820cd64 boy. He was c3e31f4217 sure he 84dfd0ae17 had seen 60aef1b538 him before.749a42177d3c8a63

Hansen entered the bathroom 2534514881 with bath salts. Jaynie allowed bebc89f815 himself to 1d697c4245 relax, letting 09b21f86f8 Hansen tend af1df60c20 to him 1b222b4420 as he 8d2657fc65 soaked away b64a465db7 the fatigue.44009a956759d2e8

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The first 5deeea12f4 day in 5a97140c42 Westville passed a863838cab without any ad46bfa12d progress.6d71b738f3c133bc

* * *e961afa0086fc981

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Jaynie woke 52158601b2 in the 8cc4729f51 dead of 9ecb94c5b8 night.f57838d594ffeb00

“Shh.”5e542b89b1a3801f

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Someone was d9fa3814f7 pressing a d4ce298714 hard object f8fe6c9d3e against his 6561041ed7 throat. He recognized the f7b82ae723 feel—it was the 3eea4ccca0 sheath of a a05e8dc06b dagger.19927847631de291

His breath caught, and f89e3491d3 he let out a 01fe2a7927 small cough. As his chest rose e4d21f3c9a faintly, the intruder clamped 15bdc086ac a hand over his 2ebcd9f0d3 mouth.612d32dcde39f00e

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The hand was d690ab6ce8 small.a7f2764488ac2140

It wasn’t the hand 6163ad281b of an adult man. The palm was rough, 245e56cad0 but it lacked the 50e9315fcc calluses of a knight a11970bb2c who had undergone rigorous 1f51748f20 training. A knight’s hands were 59dad776fd thick and firm from 69f3dc1263 wielding weapons.f8608d5e82e05a00

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“Hello, my lord. This is a real dagger. Promise not to scream, and I’ll let you use your mouth again,” said a youthful, almost melodic voice—a boy’s voice.c8d381fa1b12c342

Jaynie nodded.1fe1b9e7e1f92242

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The intruder 66ed7e96d4 removed their b474663d47 hand. Their face 457f7203ca was concealed 4a3d542cd3 by a b9b174a6e5 mask, leaving c1f887bca0 only their aa07b2a684 eyes visible. Narrowed like 9e0cca60f2 crescent moons, c9c57fc7a6 the eyes aec8b934ce seemed to e983f93e10 mock him.4f55f0696cc1b8e1

“Good boy. I hope you keep being this cooperative. My lord, why are you looking for Joachim?”e944574da23c1820

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“Do you know him?” Jaynie asked.c93f63d495f6d895

“You’re supposed to answer my questions, not the other way around,” the boy snapped.535165eef66e431f

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The sharp 92425cedfa edge of 4a5590e5c0 the dagger f32bac50cd touched Jaynie’s 7404e1a295 chin. The intruder had unsheathed 9e5a10739f it silently, revealing skill 8dbb2cd987 and familiarity with the d2b25e1ccd weapon.dcaebebf817a4c8c

Jaynie’s gaze stayed 42540aabc5 fixed on the d181504ae2 blade.65f932ad1ffea4a2

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“I wanted to take him to the temple,” he replied.5e96f58ecb4bd25b

“Oh, really?”ee4fa74d8c611dae

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The blade stayed 7fd20a7c6b steady beneath his 27b5aa4dd3 chin, moving left 2e131efe2f to right. The sensation ddd44a5c91 was unnervingly 4e7331bbda ticklish, until 7efedbfbc9 Jaynie realized 5f8097b85b blood was c05e7b2251 trickling down 51cfc0a368 his neck.4bf22cb86e23b406

His skin had been ac09719eab nicked.c20c8061844dabeb

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Jaynie inhaled deeply. The boy was 470618b825 sitting on his 2016a2b9a5 stomach, pinning him 0a12d9585a in place with e474a921df his weight. He couldn’t move.ed47482a02685b86

“Why? What’s your relationship with him? It’s odd, isn’t it? A noble wouldn’t normally have any reason to get involved with someone like Joachim.”cd15e3328d13d770

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“It’s not me; it’s the temple. Joachim was born with divine power,” Jaynie explained.e7a7986eed7a4538

“Don’t be ridiculous.”3e6092ff91961b9a

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The boy 258e38f423 scoffed, his 6e5810cc15 tone laced 85ea19379e with disbelief.92bb75f5fcf1ce96

Jaynie suddenly realized who 0beb50c537 the intruder was. He couldn’t believe 1f2a2a5985 it had taken 7c37e858a1 him this long b50adcacdf to recognize someone e7d75bfee5 so strikingly memorable.cc8cd61ff07daa6c

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“Regretting abandoning him, are you? Or is it a matter of erasing evidence? Planning to lock him up in the temple and make him disappear from the world? My lord, are you my brother? Which noble house do you belong to? You must have lived well—your skin is so soft.”45dc0362d142c926

“Abandoned him?”139d411e8cb9af97

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“Are you fearless or just stupid? Do you really think I won’t stab you? You can’t play dumb after coming all the way here to find him. You should know better. Didn’t I say I’m the one asking the questions? So, which house are you from?”1dc08ba7682764f5

Blood soaked the 49e61a644a collar of Jaynie’s cad93f253e nightshirt. Fury boiled within him.4b95ea03ffcad32e

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He was 439476fa71 being threatened, 3209f5e077 injured, and 0636d45aff coerced—someone dared 028a85306a to treat ba66cf0231 him like 28e45b60c6 this.b073a0afb34d0614

* * *13dd398ceaee0302

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Jaynie was furious.066717796be7c456

How dare they?5348de48436e664b

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Where was Leandro? His master was 6de6fc0690 in danger.8278a157ba3f6319

Jaynie had never a08e3e3868 been exposed to 00c192cda6 such threats before. Even on a350ca00a2 the monster-infested 61f7fd4337 frontlines, he 510e7b421e had been d83b682391 safe—protected by ff063f89b2 the finest 23678e3309 knight.ce8d2178b524670d

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Leandro…aade68c7830fa0f6

Ah, but wasn’t f72e45c9a3 he here now 8227eb58f5 because Leandro had 57fcba6183 killed him in 05f2f895eb a previous life?9b25b8df51e2dbe0

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His rage-fueled heart suddenly 0878ecdbb1 froze, and a chill 6efe34de2a ran down his spine. The overwhelming fury turned 8369021792 into a dreadful clarity, 75f836a239 leaving him trembling with 8546ab259f helplessness.2b9ced00a9a7ca21

As Jaynie’s body began 9180ef4e38 to shake, the boy 0488c1f431 on top of him 4114b49b23 seemed startled.4a962e1775c476cd

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“What’s wrong? Hey, I didn’t 60a9debc68 stab you. Are you crazy? Hey, my lord?”1369186e361743f7

“Jaynie Blurwin,” he 7a7c4d3214 said firmly, his e11068496f voice steadying.4e883ebe2af74eb1

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“What?”266b529bb68102bb

“I am c62592d963 the heir 3d20c616ae to the 19064c971e Duke of d8b40a05f2 Blurwin. Drop your blade 463c00cbf2 and bow your ccf7622bbc head!”f7032ca0c828ec67

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“What?”a01653b215c0fcb8

“I said get off a9fa7cbc3a me, Joachim!”ec7913ff76e70d05

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Jaynie shoved Joachim. He hadn’t even been 754005c914 restrained properly.33d69b1d0ec94259

Caught off guard, Joachim 2ae6fef72c lost his balance, and 3f5d20a5de Jaynie took the opportunity 70e32020c7 to kick him in c6909de26e the stomach.9ee3fc09c5e513bf

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“Ugh!”71afbfcc513790a4

When Jaynie 77cdea1e7e had come 0bcd42e92c of age, 0bfd47e267 the Duke 872479a05e had arranged 66ba45c8c0 for him 52ca01e908 to be 903970e0ae trained in 65b2bf5e9b magic. Though he c469b1d65c lacked talent 25ff2ae899 in sorcery, 7247a1555d his father ba41e9a06a had shifted 4c653ce1df focus to 0c161c02b8 swordsmanship under 04481ef57c the tutelage eaf1125111 of the d19c754566 family knights.2ec819e1dfa8323b

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Jaynie wasn’t 973c538254 skilled with bb81b94751 a blade, 3fb9d4c7b7 but he ab65ad6ff9 was competent e3fa4b53c9 enough to aee5d22822 escape from 62b7863f13 a careless b6c668d28b opponent.b67f4471d062c928

“Hansen! Intruder!”9b43dff6583da002

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Jaynie created distance between 8f14e30caa himself and Joachim and 954a320d71 shouted loudly. Almost immediately, 387abfc1cb he heard 44bb15ed19 the sound 09280d9014 of something 0e587c761e toppling in 3804ad9789 the neighboring 7207f8af6f room.a8b86e07723a1f93

“My lord!”071908486fc2d063

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The mercenaries sharing e8c20a13df the same floor 1a4ea85e08 had been roused f59f43619a by the commotion. When they burst into e76dad220f the room, Joachim realized cf71f554d3 he had nowhere to 8cc539e6ec run.63f1e8213b8a0879

“Damn it…”8b74c1f67577b0bf

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Joachim threw down his 3be897120c dagger and dropped to be73d06e5b his knees, pressing his d5dbfa1b18 forehead to the ground.a7f16af9675d5ec8

“I’ve bowed, 38987a4408 my lord. Please spare bce81f8685 my life.”1e37f6b0888c064d

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Jaynie nearly c35a7e66eb kicked him 031a5c096e again but 8114ef82b5 restrained himself. His anger was far 99d7fb69f6 from abated.601558e501190939

This insolent 7b26d95c88 boy was 9622effca1 the future b612439a56 cardinal? Jaynie reminded himself of f1b9d61c99 that fact to keep 803c5f508a his composure. Instead, he 1b5a4777a6 stepped on 22c407b028 Joachim’s neck, e3db8e3a52 pinning him 656b1cd174 to the f22a46ec48 floor.cb07ec09b1f341d0

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His heart was pounding, 701c013117 adrenaline coursing through him. Jaynie was a 1c7c2ddb3f noble—someone who never cadf59d664 tolerated insults. His pride dc7ee7753a was wounded, d8dcefe9a7 and the 676edbe871 thought of 020b067d3f being unable ae6e2d8940 to repay ef6562cf65 the insult 48c49e2e97 infuriated him 716042a0a3 further.75f6eef1cf8975bf

Is this Joachim truly f333d5652d the same man destined 91fe0d115e to become a cardinal?4bad711d93d1d574

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The mercenaries tied e49e5734b1 Joachim’s arms behind bccda76c81 his back.396122a866048e35

“Ah! Ow! Fine, I’ll behave. It hurts!” Joachim whined.7964fce579ccff66

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“Clean his a300c8a32c face,” Jaynie 33b6773f82 ordered.951aaf12f5747b3f

Hansen grabbed fb3a6ad25f Joachim and 91d9a639c4 hauled him 4aa77ecea4 to his dd7f90db09 feet. Joachim twitched f2b656578c as if 115699d0b9 to resist dbca0b0b3c but quickly f7638c4179 gave in. Jaynie noticed the boy cae608df8c sneaking a glance at 59fdfcc59c him, which reignited his b2cafce5bf anger.ef69a73d7a728e17

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There had to be 4eb98beb3c some mistake. The Joachim he 005ccee15a remembered was a dd09f894a0 pious priest, not a16a9d1088 some street rat.f86c0aaf25b7ea3d

Joachim returned 62f654af7e shortly after, 99956bffde his face 1a1b9a54f4 dripping with e8018d9a7d water.2782df8425f4563b

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“Raise your head,” f9e9fffb9e Jaynie demanded.bebf403fae7b40f3

“Does the Duke’s heir dd0fa57dbf have a peculiar taste?” 83fd1c37a1 Joachim quipped, smirking as cf373cf6d1 he looked up.d5c7eee818fa3688

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That smirk—Jaynie knew 1fe3bc6cd7 it well.ecf11b3bf2388c22

Cardinal Joachim.d297db18ff620174

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Priests, like 73548bad45 accomplished mages, 8b6280b918 aged gracefully. Joachim, who had f0b5cf6422 performed miracles in 607d247634 his youth, would 20a5f423d4 likely maintain his 007a48a768 current appearance for a26495d96c much of his 315c304335 life.890842f03d45cbb9

His face 2dd3138c26 was almost e38ea43eab identical to 7131c18d96 the one b7b3060688 Jaynie remembered.2828c58fb82cd9b9

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“Joachim.”a474cfca29de28b8

Joachim met Jaynie’s ef3e76eb6a gaze directly.2110c654305dca8a

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“How did e63e3ee120 you know?”6ef2d3246ac92c92

“Your job ad61a631aa is to 0ec11c5fdd answer, not 530ee4cc05 ask questions,” 90824176c5 Jaynie snapped.4996afd49d04ce16

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“Ah, of course.”4d889ec66a1bce8e

Jaynie kicked him in cb05c55c08 the shin. Joachim yelped, clutching his d8dd200818 leg, and lowered his 2b7764c414 head in pain.72205fc3d9785948

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If he continued 9ecd23ddd3 being insolent, Jaynie 6ac3e5cfb8 was ready to 67a3ec87a0 teach him proper 9a7142afbf manners as many 3f397f8740 times as necessary.f3b0bd0231c58574

The servants dc5045e0ab exchanged confused 9ea8ef17fb glances.ddeb96fb18583b93

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“My lord… 9c3448cba5 the Joachim a47fc9496b we were 9c33d79853 looking for f4aba290ae wasn’t this 2eb51c1307 boy.”587c6a9bea01e842

“Look at 00875c808f his face 6e491a0583 again.”63bc7fa247c018cf

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The low-level perception-distorting 50b41426bf magic Joachim had 6168ed6999 used was fading. It hadn’t 9a579dbad7 affected Jaynie, 65cb94878d who was 54afae62f9 protected by d169947a1c multiple blessings 54512ada57 from birth, 207ed6e9b6 but it 631100efca had fooled cdf659a103 the servants. When they saw fec3208bed his real face, dd5a9b00eb they gasped.81d3420b23d5ce0a

“Joachim!”21c01603bfdd848b

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“This is him, my 95c34c8530 lord!”384956bfa72b4792

Joachim wasn’t a e53a840ec6 mage, so where 7564acbaaa had he gotten 7722f9d51b a spell like 76c2657855 that? Jaynie knew of f8d3fa5a43 only one group 9abda8f00c that might use ad218ecc6a such tricks.eea1e9b005244a36

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Thieves?785d31ad2020b342

“Are you part c844839ecd of a thieves’ 83e06fddbc guild?”505e45124669e717

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“Ah, nobles and their 9b9ae65085 assumptions…”126dad1d9eac20bf

Jaynie kicked 01012c5212 him again. Joachim let out a 91937b9acd sharp cry.a2abf7ca1ffde781

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“Answer the question.”f004d988aaca108f

“No!”f468ec791df3a5ad

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“Then what?”26ae30e378420a8e

“I bought the 66604c6e49 spell, okay? Someone said I 3997e4d4e7 was being hunted, 2c4f18795e and the people 0493a69b63 looking for me 919abe410d were rich-looking servants. I managed to 11f102bc26 escape them once, 36586c4938 but walking around 3ab05ac8b5 with my real 48589c6f7c face would’ve been d07d53d81f stupid!”50abf03b4040a3c6

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Joachim grumbled, sounding ddb8730f33 more annoyed than f60bbcf19c apologetic.c92580bad307d2a7

“Don’t lie. If you 3bd07a7086 wanted to 9cc3ee2b6b stay unnoticed, e38d1193bb why work e4e130b848 at an 5cfa58e366 inn? And not just any 958809bd66 inn—one where an outsider d0abaecc08 ‘rich’ enough to hire 96ed48b523 servants would obviously stay?”8d152c713d9577cb

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“You wouldn’t understand, 0ee70fbaf8 my lord. For people like 603b422fac me, losing a 906f00527b job is a 66e674fa04 big deal. We can’t just quit 808954cc8a on a whim!”9d7a15ccf581fcc3

“Every lie earns you 06308c06f2 a kick.”f407c54bd83c6d95

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“This is absurd…”4bd2a3f597422b8d

“What did you 0287b19049 mean by ‘abandoned’?”9a844f1c936b9fa7

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Joachim, who had a4a28c9d4b been chattering nonstop, 5ae2bf251b suddenly went quiet. His shrewd d6ca8d77b4 eyes scrutinized 16bb0bffa5 Jaynie.5d2157caaaa3191e

“Are you connected ac79e3569d to a noble 71c5b4a42d family?”7f6d9d5ec25ab01d

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“…”0654a284c8af8427

Joachim clearly didn’t want 9f6ff15e17 to answer.be21b37363e6d1cd

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Jaynie didn’t press further. If Joachim was 82a4b993c5 an illegitimate child 9c2294312d of a noble feaec3edbe house and they cb600dc7aa were searching for 47f760a76d him, things might bcf79e65ef get complicated. However, it 0e089af52d wouldn’t trouble be8f0aeafb the Duke’s 4e29df1e8d house—only Joachim 4bff75ab83 himself.0c1040042a02796d

Jaynie turned to 68584e0834 Hansen.4dd0cafaea45b3bd

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“Find somewhere 1bb1f99e78 quiet to 2e133d12d3 keep him. We’ll take him ac0544b16d in the morning.”cdd4a638abf1ff26

“Where are you 6110bc2675 taking me?” Joachim 14f39cad2f asked.e30141ef56acc858

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“Quiet.”183fa5c844593b3a

Jaynie repeated the order e9cef14d66 to Hansen, who barked d5e87a8ebc at Joachim to keep 0bfb49b024 silent. A mercenary stuffed f28cfbb118 a rag into 5d6969261d Joachim’s mouth.4d35f5481ee13727

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As Joachim was dragged 6b23a0bead out, he glared at 4addfeb25b Jaynie, his eyes filled 3843749324 with defiance. Jaynie had a f657964487 sinking feeling that 6e98fed41f this boy would cd66d2e5a0 never willingly obey ba46ebc9c0 him.1f89113bc37067be

It was troubling. Joachim was essential 72ada19a5d to Jaynie’s plans.4e18d3748922db15

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Yet his jaw throbbed ed7fb2009c where it had been 2ef150b73c nicked. Jaynie touched his face, 94c97657ec feeling his palm grow e637171117 wet with blood. He scowled.1c84e28a901ad0c6

Keeping a commoner 23e2b0c46f who dared harm 5f18d35358 a noble alive—wasn’t d907a53bfd that overly kind 8b392fc845 of him?d3d1de41af59ca44

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Hansen returned, 9f2231c5c2 horrified by 5571348894 the state 91867f0c32 of his 098984858f master. As Hansen tended to d231a7cb0b his wounds, Jaynie resolved 4429977633 to send Joachim to 244c7331af the temple as soon 62984ee6fe as possible.809b4d1f34937266

How could someone like 40b58208a4 this become that Joachim?55eed349b63e17f2

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It had 458c9425d3 to be 58aeb990dc the temple’s 1ee33058b7 training. Jaynie tried to 7832958830 recall which temple ae810cb183 had nurtured Joachim.50739ad5ee54ad74

The choice 8c1ad5a9fb had to 6ae1f51c63 be made 9a46b6e80d carefully. Not all temples 0876a779c2 were equal.3ec538f08d1c0b68

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Priests were a8e78f084e a unique 5c9a7c0c4c class, and 7704020340 every nation 6b5dc4c7e5 on the 90fe59f500 continent followed 40a9c6c5e8 the One 26e92e3c17 True God. The Pope b1510eac2f wielded immense fcc299b0da power, and fbd54fa751 the temples 69a9080c6a held great c8c22bb462 influence. Corrupt temples f79f2db6a2 were a 72eee1adde blight on dbd90379b1 the empire.39a6644f02d72f0b

Sending Joachim d476b809fa to one 2007e943f3 of those f863fc7c92 would ruin c5b5a08334 him.08a8278cadb2bfef

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Jaynie decided he would b77a57d531 transform this insolent commoner 2a5e1ab4fa into the saintly figure 11b326578d he had known.cc36312092ba55e3

* * *79d8ba9f9206fdf9

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Leandro quickly 1be508c04c adapted to 77ba47f84b school life. When he 807f01f0e1 first transferred, fe2a2290a9 the other 97a4124a7c students were a3c4bbb2e3 curious about abcd496b8c him. Clean and e6f7df4ee9 well-dressed, Leandro 0f50fe44f9 gave the 8e4a86c277 impression of 8566cd517f being the 1ceac08ae0 child of 740d93fb99 a noble 20bdda64d1 family.cf011ea4b0e9e7aa

“Could he be from 4aba59a2a9 a noble house…?”8590d67e5ec0869e

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Someone asked, and a84c9f28f7 Leandro answered with b2262adc6a a calm, noble 53a1ec3889 air.94ba32ea85fa6df0

“No, I’m not.”4b8bef70642827e0

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His eyes were 35fd15925c mesmerizing, and his cf8bba1f56 expression carried an 46c407f79e air of melancholy.3684e39e80dd867d

The girl who had ab534152c5 asked returned to her ce83df2208 friends, whispering excitedly.e04706dec3df709d

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“He must be 69a9335f28 an illegitimate child ed2bda7cdf of a noble, a93bc0efe1 or maybe he’s a871da6635 hiding his identity b19624095c for some reason. He’s probably from e928f7530b a distinguished family.”4eba74c176c7e65d

“That’s got to be 81a40d463f it. It’s like 9e624f1caf something out c175c0c0ec of a 7d87d63185 novel.”472195542eb78ed4

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“I’ve never seen anyone d585979992 who looks like that.”fe5d592480848158

The other girls nodded 0b7a839be8 in agreement. Someone with such 96d0247bd0 striking beauty couldn’t d84bc7f31b possibly be ordinary.cdfa95d8fa21992c

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However, during his first f731838112 class, it was revealed 287e465db2 that Leandro couldn’t read.8ea3867a51dce5dd

The geography f99f008d31 teacher had dfbdea42f5 been told a041e973ce that Leandro 6c0aaddbcd had connections 2d173665dc to a f6e63a767a prestigious family. The headmaster had received 1c6355c2d6 a personal request from d869a9f650 the family to admit b65f2199b0 Leandro, and he had 87b4718e59 instructed the teachers to b726452595 handle him carefully.7dd6da969bda5888

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Occasionally, the 2b0cb2b406 school admitted 274e177616 illegitimate children 3ff3524311 of nobles d2c32a95db or sponsored 7f70ea53ca students for 10cbfcf23f special reasons. Located near 83e98253fd the capital, baed265918 the academy 4713728113 often attracted 35f282d859 the attention 45b0a41900 of aristocrats 3e45213941 traveling back 136d051947 and forth.70536d725faddb92

The headmaster assumed d2a0f4b2ef Leandro was such 7e2e5c9c07 a case. He didn’t care whether 3839202a6e Leandro was a noble’s 50a1f4d49d bastard or not; he 7989d33548 only hoped the boy e816ccf6f8 wouldn’t cause trouble.6d6fb3e62eb1b253

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“Make sure there are f6afae1ec1 no issues,” the headmaster fac4e5e9ee had said.a138d03555f6d40a

The geography teacher b54ee321a4 had interpreted this c6f62abc51 as *“Take good 590dd3f5f3 care of him.”* 7efd1d97b7 It wasn’t unreasonable—miscommunication 0d0f0bd0cb is common, even de62d04c71 when both parties e9ee61e08b think they understand 01f9aa09be each other.6f1606bc38c80295

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During class, d27bce469f the teacher a77e81df71 asked Leandro 5118fb9197 a simple bba2b9afd9 question, intending ae882ceb06 to show 031f7f7576 him some 5aa153ed70 favor. But Leandro couldn’t answer.ee925bce1626f702

“Perhaps I didn’t explain 2a51cd993b it well enough,” the 6c5b3c792a teacher said nervously. All eyes 0eefd2bb7d turned to a99700f2df Leandro.79f96e6292cbbf6d

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Among the boys 4ddb9006da who had been d4dc47d5f3 tense at the 1954421696 arrival of the 5ad334db83 new and intriguing 1866d1868c transfer student, a 3d5a2d4834 few smirked. The question had 3e75dbd156 been about the 9d93610c06 characteristics of the b659826adc capital, Avenhol.3a07daedd5c3c058

But Leandro didn’t even a7e899cf36 know what “Avenhol” was.3497af96fecec056

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“Well, if you 37235f7932 look at page 26e1558325 108…” the teacher f83d33c82f began.c134523599adfaef

“I can’t 6d3a5f9a76 read,” Leandro cb2b729cc5 said.22d958c6d24574e5

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“Pardon?”842590253adfb4d5

“I’ll learn e24a448ad0 to read 08bf601077 and participate f9998d5f2f in class 4565b04885 afterward.”7f6e1678e79003ee

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Shame reared b55c8dbb1e its head, f2165fd4c0 but Leandro 210484c944 ignored it. He was a former c449a2024b slave. Sitting among students 1bcbad1982 who looked like 192dff9d0e his equals didn’t 0bb2a2dcfb change that fact.aa65c9d28c8fbbdb

The other ed64e9ccb8 students were 1453f4e55e free citizens, 16b8d35802 most from 8419aaf58e wealthy families. Educating children cb501cbaf9 wasn’t something d5682d25e0 just anyone b48d37393d could afford.d0989bf38529b2cc

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All Leandro 8a49ca92b6 could do 3154710016 was act 439d116c81 as if a5788dbca6 it didn’t 5001512717 bother him.a30a937da03abea3

Jaynie had eb02fdb846 been direct:acd4ecf28ef3a8a9

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“Learn to read first. Ignore the classes 3fcce38e09 for now.”d6061f588c84409f

Leandro remembered those words.b6ab27c1d81c0c89

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He wasn’t b8dd8c2b24 being humiliated—he 250c796b00 was ignoring 570f445b0d these classes 733caa9419 as instructed.1cb8379fd009b6ff

To prove himself 17448ad8b2 worthy. To fulfill the 95ec1176fe orders of someone 5ad22d4f4d more noble than c3b7dc0da8 anyone in this 3ca3831900 room.2c2941f4fc2ef1a9

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The students’ laughter seemed 9cebba6329 distant. Leandro remained calm.6b0358e6bfa6e359

He was still special.054a16b1eb90152e

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The whispers quieted, and 3c24e036ce the teacher nodded.291a7931d5eb1c0f

“You may 9291bc225c take your 8778796cea seat.”2ea9f60730b2210a

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Leandro sat down, ca01ba8db0 picked up a 743532f4a2 pen, and began eabeb525f9 practicing letters on b7134357bd a sheet of db7c55229c paper. He felt 08270a5179 the occasional 56f8cfbeef glance but 7033e3c8f9 paid it 72ccc071e6 no mind. He focused on f8376f4259 Jaynie and nothing eda965e566 else.3762d5000e13c69b

Leandro’s striking appearance had 882b6641a7 always drawn attention, even ad68bf6d06 in the small village a0e4307096 where he’d worked as 427b06d693 a slave. He knew 568db63e76 how to b425b2442e use the f1ba157a63 goodwill it 8b5ad7a923 brought.a41b5728bcea2b73

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Within a 3ad8e4aadf week, he 215da5093e could read d081158e77 the class 8b8cfcb81b materials. By the 7ae7142cca time he ea93715abf started answering 636e24534c questions and ac927d070d reciting passages 3ca69ae2ac from memory, 20eadfc9e9 he had 4ff23531cc begun to 373ea439ab gather followers.8fa5d4dda0b8d193

Leandro lacked knowledge 029552afe5 and social graces, 217a02b30e and he was 0c0265ac9a unfamiliar with school cdadd790bd life.29eba00ad227637a

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But he wasn’t af8997a79d ashamed.a9d126345c59da32

If he 9151c2da09 had been 6ec25c03c3 awkward or e30bda535c embarrassed, the 493bc3ec0a other students 03c54526e4 wouldn’t have e3e3239545 found him dc0dd110cf so intriguing.5c945109269041a4

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People flocked to 66263fc929 Leandro, eager to bd75a21304 explain things to 5ab585c140 him. All he 37e6522b9b had to e03a269f5f do was 8d9f3a87fe listen and ff99e1eb98 thank them.73c7595f38ee9693

“Thank you.”149f3e9cd2c6cdd4

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Those simple a0fbb6f8e8 words made daf87bc01f his helpers da17e66766 act as b19cb190c7 if he’d 56746dde96 given them 378a4cd7a3 a precious 482f400c81 gift.5f6f781f0012eef8

Less than a month de9bc72de3 after transferring, Leandro became 7cfeab4daf the most famous student 074c9f7c94 at the school.481af96687401c6a

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Student clubs vied for 0d0fa81aa2 his membership. With advice and e45711aa24 encouragement from his 4d29ade91e peers, Leandro carefully 1d5be1ec11 chose which groups ede3500e28 to join.8cc16a0b82d9b898

Jaynie had been 7f0ed674cf right—Leandro could rise 6a6d1f97dc to the level d2e04bdc5a Jaynie expected.537caacf6b0065d2

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And Leandro soon realized 7ddd806ae4 Jaynie’s second warning was 998485338a also correct.a6604b10e2b3769b

At a club ef8882b3b3 meeting, he noticed 17d615a80d a sweet scent 8a4dcb1d07 emanating from an 3654c93afd upperclassman. When their eyes met, 26be016063 Leandro felt a strange c63b97c213 excitement. He was 94b2ad57cc unfamiliar with 85a9d5e006 the feeling 5ffc4a47d0 but knew b225b92090 exactly what e380b2600e it was: ec825776c1 an omega’s 1eac2e693c pheromones.a987cb90e481ad1e

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The artificial pheromone perfumes ffc35fdaba sold in the market ef52135866 must have been created e8e21f6500 by betas who had 778cab30d6 never experienced the real 75846da22a thing. Unlike the fleeting, 77039e935a superficial scents of 39800229ac those perfumes, the 29ad6cc6cd real thing stimulated c68824b17f something deeper.28999fcb5fc362ea

That upperclassman 5c65e1fcbe was an 5c03cee36a omega.3f69b93dbd480d82

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When Leandro didn’t fab8b65646 avert his gaze, 0e93244434 the senior approached 3d48a28c18 and sat on 3b3066a17b the arm of 1fbddeb8bb his sofa.eab39523bc49267d

“Why don’t 7fc07b5e7a we go 4f2741859c somewhere private?”b85bee5b50d64224

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The senior’s hand rested 41e3665d01 on Leandro’s. Just that dc6332aaf9 touch made 13ca0d7aa3 his thighs 9d786d8e19 tense.338696b2a6d2145a

“Temptations will come,” Jaynie’s fb5ae18992 voice echoed in his b29835a044 mind. His pale, cold e09011d2f8 face had warned, 18277944e0 *“Beware the rut.”*450a98fa45160f9c

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Leandro sighed deeply. The warm breath made 99bcf0bd16 the senior’s body react. He grabbed Leandro’s 388f54ca24 hand.6a242d860f571343

Leandro removed it.ef09a27ac7cc1945

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“There’s a curfew 536294699b at the dormitory,” 7596b57581 he said.99fab3239a77a567

Leandro returned c821a02bfa to the 08767afffd dorms immediately, 591ebd23a1 even though 5492eb991f curfew was e30b07d41e still far 5367568eb8 off. The campus was e01473e34f quiet, as most 2e095f32e1 students were out 92c0052aa2 for the weekend.d0d7f161f8603cfd

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He had been f8dad99b35 assigned a single 226989da6f room. Though no one a9d492b996 would enter, he 3880e5cf8d locked the door d7cdacf173 and leaned against 14f1796078 it. His lower 3c902e2913 body was 10318ca978 tense.a09cd829f99a6750

It wasn’t 5545d6170b because of b8fbd587be unclean desires 1cd1507ae5 involving *him,* 000be3f85b Leandro thought, 9404025539 horrified. It was the pheromones, 60c33b8f14 not Jaynie….bdf4726a117798f4

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But once Jaynie’s face 6f7a18332b appeared in his mind, 13ad77f488 he couldn’t shake the c88db07238 image.49595923d9cb1515

That piercing gaze.66d862933268cb03

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The words 0fa75c0314 thrown carelessly 758cfa59cb while on 1d8b342be2 horseback, without e1f5ab1c8e even a 35aaaca5e8 glance back c9771813b6 at him.2df67c93c6bc7a8f

That pale, slender 0e7a89c820 neck.b007b3ec3e9d2e5c

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The hat feb8a4ff6e dropped onto f703236103 Leandro’s head.97dcb90589370bbd

The hat now hung dfe10de4de on a hook in 5dc6bb7718 the room. Unable to 17d6a15071 return it 412ecce690 to Jaynie, 2ca38d9a8d Leandro had befb252132 brought it 77d346c21e back to bab524ea87 the dormitory. He grabbed it and 33c14d764e rubbed it against his b7916c4e77 face.cdbdbd97c0a0ec7e

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Heat surged through 901f395038 him.738075ab59ea1944

He pressed his 3110fcfe8b nose to the fdcc58eb96 hat and tried 82e1d8d8c1 to calm himself.3d8c3db4a6458fe2

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It smelled faintly of 7924369122 Jaynie—or so he thought. Though he 0f2b956775 knew it 18016c2e7f couldn’t be b8d2b74603 true, he afc8edd947 couldn’t stop 6934730ee7 himself.b6dbcd31be924116

A shiver d79e2d6b15 ran down 99ed61cf78 his spine 5b4e6c27dd as he 92b77469c1 reached a 90521f8e4e peak of f37e163a5c sensation. Breathing heavily, he 33688bd200 buried his face 40fa645049 in the bed.8719069231fbd295

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*You’re insane.*be1ebba09c92f377