20 Imperial City

The Savtrons had always used the system of primogeniture when crowning a new Imperator. More often than not, the system worked out well for them but then came Vagnar Savtron, the twenty-fourth Imperator.

He bore three sons... triplets.

The first by the time of birth was Bertram, the second, Viktor, and the last, Teshak.

Imperial City

Year 7023 M.E.

Kaerndal, also known as the Imperial City was the chief seat of all power and politics in Edin.

The city was the undisputed authority in the vast empire and rightly so. The empire's ruling family, the Imperial Guard, and the Imperial Court were all based in the great city.

Interestingly though, despite its massive size, Kaerndal had a population roughly a quarter that of Salancans.

However, you could bet that everyone who lived there was somebody, be it in terms of politics, wealth, strength, or nobility.

The Imperial City itself was surrounded by thick earthen walls that were easily twenty to twenty-five meters tall. The walls were a gargantuan masterwork that had been erected ages ago by Supreme class Earth practitioners.

They had been built mainly for defense but sadly, sections had been demolished for expansion purposes. Nevertheless, throughout the millennia, they had remained a marvel that showcased the might of the Edin empire at its peak.

Everyone who saw the great walls agreed that they were an incredible spectacle to behold... Hade thought differently.

All the walls did was make him dizzy. What was the plan here? To disorient enemies to death?

"Bartholomew, what do you think?" He asked the family butler.

"I find them ridiculously and unnecessarily large," the bald man commented in his monotone, robot-like voice.

"So you agree too," Hade was glad he wasn't the only one.

It was almost two weeks since that eventful training session with Leofred and since then, Hade had gradually improved in the arts of law manifestation under the tutelage of the mysterious spiky-haired Light practitioner.

Between the him of two weeks ago and his current self, Hade was 100 percent confident that the latter was far more dangerous and would undeniably beat the pants off the former in a one-on-one.

But his journey had only just begun...

Despite his rapid development, Hade knew that he still had a less than 10 percent chance of coming out victorious if he were to face Nobu again.

But that was why he was finally here in Kaerndal, the famous capital city where the prestigious Five Imperial Schools were located.

After insisting that he had done all that he could to help him, Leofred encouraged Hade to proceed with his initial plan to enroll at the Five Schools.

"Although I am not a fan of a few characters there, the Five Schools are unarguably the best magic institution in the land, perhaps in all of Miatia. Learning from some of the professors there will definitely serve you well in the long run," the Light Supreme had said.

Hade had wisely chosen to listen to the advice, not because he was in search of reparations for the Salancans incident, but because it was the necessary next step in his magic journey.

Anyway, Bartholomew had personally volunteered to accompany him this time.

Although the chances of being attacked by a maniacal hooded man twice in succession seemed slim to none, it was better to be safe than sorry...

"The walls have anti-flight mechanisms and automated defense systems to protect against magic beast attacks!" A high-pitched voice suddenly interrupted Hade's thoughts.

The owner- a small thirty-something-year-old man who went by the name of Haisam Bebti was the man Bartholomew had hired to serve as their tour guide. The butler, too, had never set foot in the capital after all.

Haisam was of Euthorian descent but had been born and bred in the Imperial City.

Hade had heard the rumor of how all Euthorians were good-looking people, however, looking at the hairy pigmy and his wiry patches of grey hair, it seemed the rumor was sadly, untrue.

Haisam was mostly a very chill and cool-headed guy. That was until you talked ill of Kaerndal. Clearly, the city held a very special place in the soldier-turned-merchant slash tour guide's heart.

"What I'm trying to say is that the walls serve many purposes," he said.

"Sure they do," Bartholomew chortled.

"I'm being serious! Just imagine what would happen if a million high-ranked magic beasts suddenly attacked the city. Without their protection, it would be a massacre!"

Bartholomew rolled his eyes, 'Talk about exaggeration.'

"So when was the last magic beast surprise attack?" Hade inquired, genuinely curious.

Haisam's face instantly turned red. He... did not know.

"Come on, it's our turn," He quickly changed topics as they moved up in the long line of visitors that queued before the enormous city gates.

Unlike in Salancans where almost everything revolved around money, Kaerndal used their infamous recommendation system.

Basically, to live in or even simply enter the city, one needed to have a recommendation.

This recommendation could either be by someone of power or by any official citizen of the city.

What it implied was that whoever recommended you would take sole responsibility for everything you did while in the city.

'How tactful,' Hade thought.

Just because of this one rule, already, all traffic into the city was immediately halved from the get-go. After all, who was willing to risk their entire reputation on behalf of someone else?

In fact, Hade did not see anyone entering the city unless they were an aristocrat, a powerful and connected practitioner, or someone ridiculously wealthy.

'No wonder this city is not nearly as popular as Salancans.'

Of course, there were a few exceptions. For example, during festivals and celebrations, recommendations were not mandated but even then, entry requirements were still very strict.

Back to the present...

"Recommendation!" One of four heavily armed men bellowed as soon as Hade, Haisam, and Bartholomew approached.

The soldier was fortified from head to foot by a light yet extremely durable plate armor smithed from an indigenous metal known as Anarion.

Anarion was for all intensive and extensive purposes, the most valuable mineral on the continent. From artifacts to weapons, there was barely a thing the invaluable metal could not be used for.

However, like all precious materials, Anarion ore was found in very limited amounts. In fact, in recent times, over 80 percent of the empire's entire supply now came from its colonies.

Which is why Hade was flabbergasted when he saw not one, but four guards, donning the ridiculously expensive armor as if their bodies were national treasures.

'So this is the infamous Imperial Guard,' Hade thought to himself.

From just one glance, he could tell that the difference between these men and the Blueshields of Salancans was already like night and day.

There was a perfect blend of professionalism and intimidation in how the Imperial Guards carried themselves.

Hade could also sense the oozing confidence they had in their abilities, and the pride they possessed in being part of such an elite force.

Heck, even Bartholomew did not tally when the guard asked for their recommendation. He immediately handed over a seal that was synonymous with all aristocratic families, but each with a design that was unique to each family.

When the guard received the seal, he was visibly shaken to see a flaming capital letter R on its crest. He didn't need to be told twice about whom the sigil belonged to...

Immediately stepping to the side, he bowed lightly.

"Enjoy your stay in Kaerndal," he said.

Bartholomew nodded, took back the seal, and together with Hade and Haisam, continued into the city.

'The Imperial Guards are actually not that bad,' Hade thought to himself, that frivolous exchange between Novin and that Blueshield officer in Salancans still very fresh in his memory.

'Speaking of, what ever happened to the Professor who had been sent to recruit him?'

Perhaps the only one who was stunned by what had just happened was Haisam, and for good reason too.

Countless times he had entered through those gates with countless people, important people even, but never, never in all fifty-two years of his life had he ever seen an Imperial Guard bow to anyone! Ever!

What's more, the vetting process was usually far more rigorous and nerve-racking than whatever the hell he had just witnessed.

'Is it because of the seal?' Haisam made a quick, intelligent guess and when he did, he could not help but take a closer look at his clients.

Except for the boy looking a tad bit more handsome than most young men, and his bald grandfather quite the queer fellow, Haisam found nothing out of the ordinary.

"I'm sorry, who did you two say you were again?" He asked, just to confirm.

Hade did not think much of it and replied, "I'm Hade and that's Bartholomew."

Haisam was dumbfounded.

'How the hell is that supposed to help!?' He exclaimed in his mind.

Bartholomew, sensing what the tour guide really wanted to know, decided to lend his assistance:

"His full name is Hade Ronen," he said, emphasizing the Ronen part.

"What does my full name have to do with anything?" Hade asked absentmindedly.

Well, apparently, it had a lot.

Haisam stood rooted in the same spot as he felt a shudder run down his spine.

"R... Ronen?" he stammered. "A... as in the Harlston Ronens?"

Unfortunately, nobody was still paying him any mind.

Bartholomew had begun scanning the perimeter for any possible signs of danger, and Hade's gaze was already fixed on a tall obsidian tower that pierced the clouds in the far-off distance.

'The Five Imperial Schools, brace yourselves, I am finally here,' He thought to himself.