Prince's Master (Calluvia's Royalty 4)

“It is not my place to discuss my superiors,” Ferev said evenly, but Eridan could still feel a surge of jealousy mixed with admiration coming off him.

Poor man. It must have been hard for him to bow to his former classmate. Idhron being a full-rank Master must have stung enough, but him also being a member of the Chapter must have been incredibly hard to swallow.

The Chapter was the ruling body of the Order. It consisted of twenty-two senior Masters, with the twenty-third member being the Grandmaster. There were rumors that members of the Chapter had a different degree of influence, but obviously lowly initiates were not privy to details. All everyone knew was that the Chapter consisted of the most powerful Masters of the Order, though it wasn’t very clear whether “powerful” meant powerful telepathically or politically. Perhaps both.

Eridan was still mulling it over when the t-chamber arrived at High Hronthar’s public wing. As far as Eridan knew, this wing of High Hronthar was the only section of the ancient castle visitors were allowed to enter. Most of the castle was for the Grandmaster’s personal use.

Their footsteps echoed in the large, empty halls.

Eridan could feel Ferev’s nervousness. Strange, but he seemed more nervous than Eridan was.

“Why is it so quiet here?” Eridan said, breaking the silence. It felt like a tomb here. A huge, luxurious tomb, but a tomb, nonetheless. “Where is everyone?”

“There is likely a session of the Chapter,” Ferev said. “And the current Grandmaster uses only robots and AI for the upkeep of the castle.”

“We can still leave,” Eridan said hopefully.

Ferev shot him a sour look. “If I don’t report what happened to the Chapter, someone else will, sooner or later. And then they will wonder why I didn’t report it. Wait for me here.” And with that, Ferev disappeared behind the huge double doors.

Sighing, Eridan sat down in one of the incredibly uncomfortable chairs and prepared to wait.

He didn’t have to wait long.

“Initiate Eridan, they are waiting for you,” an AI’s voice said.

Right.

Eridan stood, wiped his sweaty palms on his pants, and went inside.

Behind the double doors, there was a grand circular room decorated in chrome and black. Twenty-two identical seats were spread out evenly around the room, with one larger seat placed higher, one level above the others. There was an old man seated there, his kind, wrinkled face instantly recognizable: Grandmaster Kato.

Eridan hastily dropped his gaze. Strictly speaking, he wasn’t allowed to look at any member of the Chapter unless directly addressed. He walked to the middle of the circle and bowed deeply, his gaze downcast, as he had been taught—though he had never expected to stand before the Chapter anytime soon.

“Masters,” he murmured, wondering where Ferev was. It seemed he’d given his report and left through the other door.

“At ease, Initiate Eridan.”

Eridan straightened but kept his gaze downcast.

“Your instructor has told us most disturbing things, Eridan,” Master Kato said, not unkindly. “He says you nearly strangled a fellow student to death, with as little as a thought.”

Eridan pursed his lips but forced himself to stay silent. It hadn’t been a question. He couldn’t speak until he was directly asked.

“How long have you been hiding this ability?” said a cold voice Eridan instantly recognized, despite not having heard it in years.

Eridan’s head snapped toward the voice. A part of him, the part that wasn’t busy glaring at Castien Idhron, was surprised by Idhron’s nerve. He had spoken without the Grandmaster’s permission, interrupting Kato’s line of questioning.

And yet, Master Kato didn’t reprimand him.

“I haven’t been hiding anything,” Eridan replied, lifting his chin. “Master,” he added as an afterthought.

Judging by the slight narrowing of Idhron’s eyes, he hadn’t missed the slight.

“Do you mean to say you did not know that you possessed such power?” Kato said.

Eridan dragged his gaze away from Idhron’s and replied, “I wasn’t aware I could do it at all.”

There was a murmur among the Masters.

“That is clearly a lie,” Master Tethru said. “And I’m surprised you were oblivious to your apprentice’s questionable talents, Castien. How remiss of you.”

A strange, tense silence descended upon the room.

Eridan looked between Master Tethru and Master Idhron.

The latter’s eyes were fixed on Master Tethru with a flat expression. “The boy is not my apprentice yet, and may never become one,” he said evenly. “And I have more important matters that require my attention than being interested in little boys.”

Eridan’s hands clenched into fists. But despite his anger, he could sense an underlying meaning in Idhron’s words. They weren’t carelessly spoken.

Tethru’s lips thinned and he gave Idhron a glare, his telepathic aura seething with his hatred.

Eridan blinked. Wait, was Idhron actually hinting at…?

“Castien is indeed not responsible for the boy yet,” Grandmaster Kato cut in, breaking the tension. “Your criticism is unwarranted, Tethru.”

Another Master, a regal elderly woman whose name Eridan had forgotten, spoke up. “Perhaps he should be, Grandmaster,” she said. “It is high time for Castien to take responsibility for the boy, especially if the boy is showing such… interesting talents.”