Chapter 160: Spires Deployed [1]

Before the energy between them could actually do something catastrophic to the stadium seating a wall of emerald mana slammed across the arena floor.

Isabella stepped directly between them.

"That is enough."

Ancient roots tore up through the cracked marble behind her and wove themselves into a solid barricade between Alden and Arvendis in about two seconds flat.

Then she released her own Rai-Kin and the emerald pressure that rolled out from her swept both their energy fields sideways like a tide hitting two boats. The suffocating weight that had been collapsing the lower gallery seats simply dissolved.

Alden blinked. The pressure in his veins settled.

Across the barricade Arvendis’s locked expression broke apart. His eyes snapped away.

Isabella looked between the two of them with golden eyes that were not in the mood. "This is a public demonstration. Not a blood bath."

Theodore had already materialized beside Arvendis and thrown an enormous arm around his shoulders. "Easy big guy! We’re supposed to be giving these people something inspiring! Not sending the whole lower tier to the healer with collapsed lungs!"

Arvendis blinked and looked out past the barrier toward the stands. Several low-tier cadets were still gripping the railings trying to remember how breathing worked. A few first-years were on their knees.

"...Ah." He rubbed the back of his neck. The charming smile slid back onto his face like he had just pulled it out of a pocket. "My mistake. I suppose I got a bit too interested in what our new commander could actually do."

Leon had already crossed to Alden’s side and put a hand on his forearm. "It’s fine Alden. Let it go. Don’t do this on my behalf."

Alden looked at Leon. Then at Arvendis. Then gave a short nod and let the energy go.

The red Rai-Kin receded back into his core and The Living Gazer started disappearing from his hand. The crimson eyes across the blade rolled shut one by one until the blade was still and dark and the smoke stopped curling off it.

Leon stared down at his own hands for a moment.

"You saved me again," he said. His voice was low enough that only Alden caught it. "Every time he stands in front of me I just... A coward... I lock up. And every time you’re the one who has to step in."

His fists closed at his sides.

"I’m sorry Alden."

Alden looked at him for a moment. Then stepped forward and put a firm hand on Leon’s shoulder.

"Stop it."

Leon looked up.

"I don’t know the history between you two and I’m not going to press you for it right now," Alden said. "But stop calling yourself a coward because your body’s instincts haven’t caught up with your mind yet. Those are two different things."

Leon was quiet.

"Look where you’re standing," Alden said. "Out of every cadet across the entire tournament the Supreme Lords looked at you and chose you to wear that crest. Those aren’t people who hand out titles because they feel generous. They saw something inside you."

He held Leon’s gaze.

"You heard what Alarion said. You don’t hit a wall and stop. Your potential to grow is vast and you won’t stop growing. That’s who you are."

Then the grin came back to Alden’s face and he gave Leon a shove on the shoulder that had some real weight behind it. "Besides you’ve got actual work to do now. You’re positioned dead center during this war. You have to read the whole map decide where the vampires are pressing hardest and drop into the worst spot before it becomes a collapse." He pointed. "That’s your job Spire Leon. So wake up and do it."

Leon stood there for a second.

Then the tension in his shoulders dropped and the warm genuine smile came through. "You always do that."

"Do what?"

"Every time I start drowning you say exactly what I need to hear to make me want to stand back up." Leon looked at him with something sincere behind his eyes. "I’ve never said this out loud before." He paused. "You’re kind of my inspiration man."

Alden stared at him.

"...Your what."

Before anything escalated further, Darius’s voice hit the colosseum like a church bell.

"That concludes our preliminary demonstration!"

Every head in the arena went up toward the central platform simultaneously. The crowd that had been on its feet cheering went to that specific attentive quiet that a hundred thousand people can produce when they all decide to listen at once.

"Our Spires and elite commanders have shown you only a fraction of what they will bring to bear against the vampire host." Darius raised one gloved hand. "Now, our Spires march to war. Give them your faith. Give them your support!"

The silence lasted exactly one second.

Then the colosseum erupted.

"GO SPIRES!"

"PROTECT OUR HOMES!"

"VICTORY TO ASTERN AND CALYNDOR!"

"SHOW THEM WHAT WE’VE GOT SPIRE LEON!"

"WE’RE COUNTING ON YOU COMMANDER ALDEN!"

The noise was physical. You felt it in your chest and your ears and the stone beneath your feet.

Up in the stands Seris stood beside Roselle and Nicholas clapping with a calm beautiful smile on her face. Her crimson eyes had already found the arena floor.

Alden turned back to Leon and hit him on the back with the full flat of his palm.

PAK.

Leon stumbled forward three full steps coughing. "GAH! What was that for?!"

"We’re done here Spire Leon." Alden was already heading for the tunnel exit. "Let’s get to the real show."

Leon straightened his coat and jogged to catch up. The warm smile was still there.

"Right behind you Commander."

The arena noise cut off the moment they cleared the threshold and the stone corridor was cool and quiet around them. Darius stood waiting with his staff. Down the hall the other Spires were already in the middle of final briefings with their respective kingdom delegations.

Emilia stood behind Darius the moment she spotted her brother.

Leon’s face lit up. "Emilia—"

She stopped in front of him ramrod straight. Something flickered in her expression. Pride. Very briefly. Then it was buried under the formal posture.

"I’m proud of you brother." She dropped into a precise formal bow. "Do your best out there."