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THE ARCHIVAL RECORDS OF THE 189TH YEAR OF THE IMPERIUM Documented By SCHOLAR CLAUDIUS in the Year 255
Earlier that year, the Consuls appointed the Decemviri —a council of ten —to oversee a bold enactment. They were tasked with supervising the privatisation of major Imperium institutions and operations. This gradual change involved auctioning power to the highest bidder.
Wealthy merchants with vaults of money and ambition bought their way to power displacing Old Families unable to match their wealth. These new powerful merchants became a new noble faction the Novarii(New bloods) and the remaining fourteen Old Families came to be known as the Dormani Solis(Lords of the sun)
The new private institutions were referred to as guilds.
Aware of the dangers of the unchecked power of guilds, the Decemviri were permanently appointed to oversee them through pacts. The pacts were binding laws that ensured compliance from both white and dark guilds. Notable pacts include the Umbrae Pactum and the Concordium Vitae.
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My feet echoed through the marbled floors. Beautiful, I thought as I eyed the archway leading to the academy coliseum. This time I had enough time to linger and take in all the design differences in the architecture of this side of the academy.
The vaults and ceilings were carved with either inscriptions or relief sculptures. These intricacies were ways of the academy to honour the alumni while immortalising them within the confines of the academy that made them.
As I edged closer to the coliseum, the vaults and ceiling turned into a tomb for the Great Solarin. The ceiling was a mosaic depicting Solarin like an angelic being. His face was blurred by divine light while his body was armoured in gold. He was floating in a light blue sky his hands stretched apart as if embracing the world.
I stopped for a fleeting moment then continued to the coliseum.
*-----*
I had the Blood needle strapped to my hip and today I had no use for it other than rattling Darsius. I scoured the buzzing for him. I found him right in the middle speaking to a group of students. They seemed to savor every moment they shared with him and I could not stand it.
The crowd was simmering with excitement their thirst for a good fight pushing them into hushed discussions.
I did not hover or bother with them. I moved towards Darsius.
The clique around him broke away as I approached. We met eye to eye. He recognised the rapier by my hip.
"Your eyes are no longer purple," Darsius poked.
"These are new," I cringed at my attempt at humour.
"I didn't know you were one for jokes and games."
"I too didn't know you were one to lose," I smirked.
Darsius inched closer. The crowd buzzed louder fueled by excitement.
Serenya came between us.
"All claws out," Serenya spoke with her eerie voice.
"Sera," I said
"Cass," She acknowledged.
Darsius took a step back unable to hide his shock.
"I heard you two are a thing," I jabbed.
"Jealous much," Serenya drifted towards Darsius.
"Why would I be?" I moved towards them," You aren't the better twin. I think your sister is more," I lingered," Beautiful."
Serenya resting her arm on Darsius' shoulder," I liked you better when you were angry and silent."
He is dead and gone now.
I walked past them to meet Lucius who had just joined the fray with a wooden sword in hand. I turned back to Darsius. Unhooked the blood needle and handed it to him.
"Hold onto it for a while," I went for a wooden sword. Ready to duel.
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Lucius retreated backwards distancing himself from me. His gold hair was slipping out of the rubber band that held it in a bun. His face was wet with beads of sweat. His eyes narrowing in frustration. Lucius was heaving trying as much as possible to recover as fast as he could.
I did not labour for breath. The brief break was enough for me to deactivate Revelation for this duel. I did not need it; Lucius was not strong. He was unable to handle the chaotic nature of the pavane of death but was strong enough to sharpen my battle instincts. With enough time passing, I attacked.
Without Revelation homing my blade towards where he was weakest, I tried something else. I was impressed alot by Lucius. He moved with the sinuous grace of a cat. Weaving in and out of attacks with lithe movements that were eye-catching but that was all.
I matched his speed but not his grace. My blade pelted towards his with uncanny strength. He tried parrying it but the blow was too much for him. Lucius' sword hand snapped back, the blade almost slipping out of it. He regripped his sword and thereafter faltered into a new stance ready to defend against my next attack. It never came.
I had seen enough. It was time to end it. While Lucius was not a swordsman, he utilised a sword form that I took for an ultimate attack one he uses when everything is in disarray. He had used thrice now and I was to force him into the fourth.
I lowered my body right before lashing towards him. I moved in a zigzag to distract him before attacking towards the left. He pivoted to meet my blade. We traded blows twice before I changed my attack pattern going for a diagonal slash that made him parry with an upward swing of his sword. My arms were pushed into the air. My blade was pointing to the sky.
He jumped backwards as he fell into an overhead guard. Normally an overhead guard maximises the striking power of the downward cut but Lucius's attack was different. From the guard, he used his speed to blitz into a powerful thrust.
As his blade stormed towards me, I moved my body, not to dodge or counter as I had done before. I moved enough for his blade to nick my neck doing enough damage for Lucius to win the duel.
I smiled as Lucius frowned. Once again he had not accounted for this outcome.
Serenya pronounced Lucius as the winner and the crowd exploded. They rained cheers screams and other upheavals at Lucius. Chanting his name with too much vigour. Everything had gone to plan.
I moved to Darsius. He had no words just shock plastered on his face.
"My blade,"
Shaking out of the stupor. He reluctantly handed me the Blood needle. I went to Lucius. Still in the centre circle registering what was happening. The crowd suddenly went quiet as I approached Lucius.
He turned towards me. Finally he had regained his usual demeanour. I stood before him. I raised the blood needle towards him.
"As promised, you won," I said loud enough for everyone to hear.
Lucius's composure broke once more. Another variable which was out of his calculations. He hesitated before taking the relic.
Lucius faced the silent crowd. Heaved the Blood needle and they broke into even larger cheer.
I went for the exit as I left I turned to face Darsius. His scowl brought me so much joy.