Beyond The System
Chapter 127: Hidden Nobility

We rushed inside, dragging the bodies with us.

Before the door shut, the commander called out over his shoulder. “We are still under strict orders; no one is to leave!”

With a sharp click, he sealed the lock and turned to us. “It’s safe here. Now explain.”

“We came out heading here to meet with Drake,” I said, dropping the corpses to the floor and Thea followed suit.

His eyes went wide. “The town’s under lockdown. Why did you go—what about the others?”

My heart rate picked up. “I don’t think they know. Do you think someone found out about our plans?”

He shook his head. “No… not yet. It’s too soon. Unless there’s a spy, but…”

I nodded slightly. I was pretty darn confident no one inside was working against us.

“Did they say anything?” he asked, stepping over to the bodies. He knelt beside the frost-rimed one, peeling off the tank’s helmet, eyes scanning. Eventually, he shook his head.

What was it he yelled…?

Two voices answered, Luna and Wyrem, teacher and student, perfectly in sync. Brior.

“Oh. Brior,” I said aloud. “The big guy shouted it just before... well, that.”

The commander frowned. “That name sounds familiar...” His voice dipped quiet, but he didn’t elaborate.

“One’s still alive,” Thea added, pointing at the mage’s unconscious body.

Griffith didn’t hesitate. He hauled the man up by the collar and walked over to a bookshelf then slid it aside, revealing a concealed Gate built into the wall. “Follow me. We’re going to Drake’s home. It should be safe to talk there now.”

I trudged in behind Thea, letting her go first. Then I sat down.

“Why are you doing that?” Thea asked.

“Why’re you doing that?” I shot back. I still refused to believe there wasn’t some secret trick to standing upright on these things. How did everyone else manage it so easily?

The gate opened quickly, and I crawled out onto a cool marble floor.

“I’ll never understand why you can’t handle that, Peter,” Drake called out. His voice echoed from somewhere ahead in his fancy white apartment. Maybe it was more of a loft?

He approached as I lay there, face pressed to the tile. “Attacked,” I muttered. I kept my head down while the others spoke.

“Y–y–your Majesty,” Thea stammered. “It’s an h–ho–honor to meet you.”

Yeah... maybe I was way too casual with Drake when others were around.

“Relax,” he said with a slight grin. “If you’re that worked up, your parents might think I’m threatening you.”

“OF COURSE NOT! I would never let them think that!” she cried, flustered.

“Drake,” I groaned. “Move on. She needs to breathe.”

“Go help your friend,” he replied lightly.

Footsteps followed, and a hand pressed gently against my back.

“Thanks,” I mumbled.

“Griffith, explain.” Drake’s tone shifted, addressing his guard.

They walked past me, and I heard the deep creak of furniture as Griffith sat, his large frame putting serious stress on the poor furniture. “They were attacked. The mage is still alive. All four were wearing Voxter uniforms,” he reported.

“That’s it?” Drake pressed.

“One shouted Brior before he died, according to the boy.”

Silence stretched between them.

With Thea’s help, I finally sat up and saw why the room had gone quiet.

Drake was trembling. No, more than that, he was shaking. Like a leaf didn’t really even cover it. His face was pale, sweat dripping down his brow, eyes wide and intense. A sickening mixture of fear and fury that froze the air around him.

“M–my lord? What’s wrong? They can’t really know about the plan, we—”

Drake held a shaking hand up and took a very, veeery deep breath. “No. Brior… He is a guardian like you. No one knows of our plans, but they’ve already made their suspicions of my supporters.”

Still as pale as his floors, he looked straight at me. “They’ve decided to purge the intruder.”

I stood, walked over, and took a seat on the sofa next to him. “Then the others? Your younger brother?”

He let out a rattled breath. “My guess is they had someone send a signal when you left, then prepared from there.”

“That’s good.” I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I was the only one being targeted so far. Thea was just unlucky.

You’re a very bad luck charm, Luna added, using vocabulary I didn’t even know she knew.

Drake shook his head. “This is very bad, Peter. Brior is the guardian to my oldest brother, the First Prince. He’s cunning, hidden, and extremely ruthless. He never uses half-measures or underestimates his targets…”

He looked me in the eyes again, and there was a moment, where he really showed his resemblance to Elric.

“You are the first exception.”

Thea spoke up, still obviously nervous. “I don’t think he did. These men were strong. I don’t think I’ve even seen my parents move like them.”

“They were most likely Starborn Guards. No recruit, or even a soldier at a training center, should have stood a chance. He was unlucky, sending such powerful troupes against a mere recruit,” he said, calming as he talked. “On top of that, a false flag. Dress as Voxter agents, kill a recruit, maybe leave a message. That way, I’d have no ability to accuse anyone of anything.”

“Well… we are leaving, right?” I said, trying to offer something, comfort maybe. “One day you’ll come back, after disappearing on a mission. You’ll be stronger, and do as you please.”

He laughed, dry but honest “Starborn are something else, Peter. And Lucan… he’s unique even among them. If you saw their power…”

I thought back to the illusion world. That young girl with the fireball, shooting it so fast it broke the sound barrier. Someone special in that group? Yeah. Lucan might actually be a problem.

“Either way, it seems like you deciding to leave on your own was good timing.” He stood, steadied himself, and walked over to the unconscious mage. “I doubt we’ll get anything from him. Best to just eliminate him.”

Wyrem, could you force the truth out of him? I asked.

Not really sure how that works, he replied. Like I said before, it was probably a toxin from my body. Nothing I can do right now.

Not that I cared to save an assassin, but more information wouldn’t hurt.

“Your brother has a pretty good skill with pain,” I offered.

Drake’s voice went cold. Almost angry. “No.”

The commander stepped forward, grabbed the mage by the throat, and squeezed. A cold rattle followed as bones creaked and crumbled to dust.

“We should all leave today, then,” Griffith said, letting the body drop.

He turned to the Gate. “It’s probably best for you two to go alone,” he told Thea. “The prince joked, but with him around, it’d be hard for your parents to make a clear decision. Just be honest, girl. That’s all you can do.”

As we walked to the Gate, Drake looked like someone had just snatched away his favorite toy.

“Fine. I’ll just scare that Trevor boy,” he grumbled.

I stepped onto the elevator. “How’s Trevor been?” I asked, hoping someone had been keeping tabs on him.

“I know he still signs up for matches, so he’s alive at least, but I doubt he wants to stay,” Drake said.

Thea grabbed my hand as the gate closed. “I didn’t think I’d ever see them again,” she whispered.

I wanted to say something, but I was barely upright. We sank to the floor slowly, and I leaned into her.

The platform stopped, and the gate opened to a place that looked like it belonged in a noble family’s painting. A polished white-marble floor stretched out beneath us, and through the haze as Thea helped me up, I took in the rest: a huge, open space with a massive crystal hanging from the ceiling, glowing bright and clear.

It lit up the twin staircases that curled up to opposite halls like something out of a palace.

“Seems… nice,” I muttered, glancing at Thea.

“Miss and Mister Aster, Peter. Nothing else,” she said firmly, right as a man in a black coat, shirt, and pants appeared, carrying a tray.

He stopped the moment he saw us. “I heard we were expecting an important guest, but… to see you.” He lit up. “Welcome home, my lady.” He gave a quick bow of the neck.

“I was sent by the prince. I must meet with my parents and sister,” she replied, her voice softer, more formal than I’d ever heard it. It was the kind of tone you’d hear in a royal drama; sweet, composed, poised, and graceful. All mixed into one at the same time as being commanding.

It was... I liked it.

He didn’t say anything else, just nodded and disappeared down the hall.

“Thea?”

“Not all nobles are associated with royalty,” she explained. “Most prefer to stay hidden, out of sight. Just regular citizens who happen to have estates.”

The man returned quickly. “They are ready, my lady.”

Then he looked at me. “Your guest?”

“He will be coming,” she said simply, and we continued walking through the building.

Everything felt... expensive. The halls were lined with carefully carved sconces holding softly glowing stones. Paintings covered the walls filled with scenery, portraits, and a few I couldn’t make sense of. The shrubbery was placed just so, like the room had been combed into perfection.

Eventually, we reached a set of tall double doors.

The servant opened them without a word, and we stepped inside.

Three figures waited: two tall, one small.

Thea came to a stop and stood at attention. I quickly mirrored her, bowing just after the doors closed behind us.

“I have returned,” she said. 

“Mom and Dad.”