Lily arrived at the Council Hall. She quickly moved up the foyer staircase to arrive in front of Charles’ office on the second floor. She took in a breath before knocking.

“Come in,” the President called out.

She curtsied after entering. Etiquette called for a proper greeting to a member of higher status, and while Charles was not the Duke yet he was still the son of one. That status designation was doubly important because of his position on the Student Council.

‘Status is just posturing and flaunting your status,’ Lily thought with a grimace. If she missed one thing from the Orphanage it was that she did not have to kiss up to anyone there. They were all street rats. Each abandoned by their parents. The Priestess who watched them did not ask for useless respect. As long as they grew to be godly children that was all that mattered to her.

“You summoned me,” Lily announced as she stood straight again.

Charles gave a curt nod and gestured to the chairs at the side of the room. He pulled a rope hanging behind him and a light chime sounded. A servant entered through a side door and gave him a, much to Lily’s annoyance, another respectful bow.

“I believe it is a good time for lunch,” Charles spoke. “Tea and sandwiches. Care for something herbal, Lilith?”

“Black, if you wouldn’t mind,” Lily replied. She doubted she would be able to relax around Charles. Their last interaction meant that this meeting was going to be anything but pleasant, so the bitter black tea would be perfect to keep her mind sharp.

“A glass of Chamomile and a black,” Charles continued.

“Would you prefer a specific leaf, m’lady?”

“Lapsang Souchong, if you have any,” Lily sighed. “If we are out again, just find something similar.”

“I’ll have them brought once it is ready.” The servant bowed and left the room as quickly as he entered.

Lily glided over the expensive gold and blue rugs and waited on a small couch. Charles took a few more minutes to finish the paper he was writing. After, he sprinkled a fine powder over his sheet to keep the ink from blotting. The letters began to sparkle slightly as the ink dried and Charles folded it and placed it in an envelope, pouring wax and stamping his seal on it.

He stood up and strode over to sit down on a decorated chair. Lily was sure that everything in the room was purposefully designed to match. The chairs, carpet, and even the curtains all mimicked the same gold and blue color scheme. It was one of the unspoken ways the rich and powerful bragged their wealth to anyone who visited.

“I’m sure you are curious why I forbid you from returning to work immediately,” Charles prompted.

Lily sighed internally. “To make sure I was safe and mentally well after the supposed kidnapping,” she grumbled.

“On paper, yes” Charles confirmed. “But that was not the only reason.”

“Punishment?” Lily asked with a sour face.

“Almost.” Charles leaned back and folded his hands together. “You did something stupid, Lily. Very stupid.”

“I’m guessing an apology won’t work?”

“Not at all.” Charles closed his eyes and took in a breath. When he exhaled he seemed to deflate slightly. “I was called to the Dean for what you did, Lily. You were not the only one at fault for the incident.” He glared at Lily, his eyes focused and unblinking. “And this was bad enough that my father was written to.”

“Technically you did form a mob to hunt one student,” Lily retorted.

“No,” Charles growled. “My mistake was being in the crowd and not controlling them like a true commander. I am the heir of the Cardaire family, so I should not be in the front lines leading like a common soldier. That was my mistake.” He paused as the Servant returned and placed a plate of sandwiches and two cups of steaming tea in front of them before departing. Charles took the cup and blew away the steam. “But my errors are not the main point of this topic, Lily, but yours.”

Charles took a sip of the tea and sighed contently. Lily took her cup and weaved a slight chill string of mana to cool it down to her favorite temperature. She took a sip and almost winced. Yup, it was bitter.

“Lily,” Charles began. “Do you even know why the adoption ceremony is so important?”

Lily shook her head. “That seems a bit off topic, doesn’t it?”

“On the contrary,” Charles dismissed. “The adoption ceremony at graduation is very much on topic. You, Melony, and Philip are all orphans.”

“Melony has a family,” Lily retorted, her hands clenching the thin porcelain cup.

“Technically, yes,” Charles replied. “But also no. She has commoner parents who gave birth to her, yes. But they are magicless, meaning she cannot be their daughter. So she was rescued from her fate and brought here to become something greater; a noble.”

“So you kidnapped her,” Lily snorted. “I heard about it from her when we first met up. Knights arrived out of nowhere one day and just took her away because someone, somewhere, claimed they detected a magical core from her.”

“She was taken for her own safety, Lily.”

“She was stolen from her proper family!”

“Her family will be taken care of for life because of her gift!” Charles dismissed. “You and Philip were true orphans so you were bought by the University. She was rescued.”

“Your definition of rescue and mine seem to be different.” Lily set her cup down and crossed her arms indignantly.

Charles sighed and set down his cup, crossing his legs and setting his hands on them in a patient manner.

"Melony might have had a family, yes, but they could not protect her, Lily," he said softly. Lily got the impression he was speaking to her like a child and, so she clicked her tongue in annoyance, Charles' eyes narrowed at the sound but he didn't waver in his lecture. "They are commoners so if a noble, any noble, ordered for her to be taken she would have been. The common parents might have been able to get her back after some time using the proper channels, but by then it would have been too late."

"Too late for what?" Lily growled. Charles might be her superior but he was also barely older than her. Being spoken down to rattled her nerves.

"Too late to save her life, or at worst her mind."

"Being rescued from being a noble’s plaything, you mean?" Lily snapped. Such things were not common but also not unheard of. Charles spoke of them like they were supposed to be a surprise, which made Lily chuckle darkly. "Don't treat me like a naive kid, Charles. We lost two girls at the orphanage from such perverts."

Charles sighed again and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "While that is also a danger, it should not be your main worry."

"Then please clarify it, Charles. I'd love to know what our main problem is."

"Your problem is all of you are mages. Your cores are more valuable than you realize." Charles leaned back in his seat, sweeping his arms and legs out in a dramatic fashion. "Only Nobles have cores, so the resource is not only finite but also extremely guarded. But you, Lily! You, Mel, and that Philip are commoners! Nobles can just walk out there and snatch you if they had a hint you have a core. You have no protections! No families to shield you."

A shiver spread down Lily when Charles declared her potential kidnapping. She wasn't sure if he used a spell or if something just clicked in her mind but a cold sweat spread across her.

"So they'd 'adopt' us before we went to university--" she started.

"There would be no adoption, Lily," Charles interrupted. "An unregulated core is more valuable than mithril. A gold mine of potential experiments, and I mean that almost literally. Many of these experiments have been untouched for centuries due to the lack of resources."

"Resources?"

"Your core," Charles confirmed.

Lily clutched at her chest and felt her heart beat rapidly. Every pump echoed within her and into the core, the pulse of magic responding in kind a half beat later. It was a familiar and soothing feeling, a beat of the heart and the pulse of the core.

"To many families," Charles continued, "most even, that core of yours is more valuable than your life or potential. They would cut it out to attempt to make a philosopher's stone knowing that the attempt would be basically useless, but that slim chance would be worth the expense."

An image of her being tied down and cut into flashed across Lily's mind. She gulped and shook her head to dismiss the scene. Charles had a ghost of a smile on his face when she looked back at him. Was he enjoying this?

"Alchemy aside, they say the core is part of a person's soul. They might try for a new Golem to see if they could finally make a sentient one like we've read in the histories. It could be ground down into a tonic to de-age a person to give a noble just a few more years to use. Or they might not even cut it out of you and just break your mind to use you as a magical battery--."

"I get the idea, Charles!" Lily snapped.

Charles crossed his legs again and picked his tea for another sip. "It is only by the grace of the Royal family and three Dukes one hundred and sixty nine years ago during the final conflict that you are allowed to be adopted and not turned into a resource."

Lily started her breathing exercises to calm herself down again. She was becoming too passionate in all of this and it was starting to fog the reality of things. She had to keep control. She entered this room and became annoyed far too easily, and now Charles decided to play some stupid mind games on her. Now she felt like she was about to panic from a possibility which is no longer a threat. She was a student, they would be adopted. That was reality now.

She regretted neglecting her history studies to focus on magic practice. This would not have been a surprise if she tried to understand her position a bit better. Perhaps that would be something useful to check out before the ceremony.

"Fine," she admitted. "I can now see the importance of the Ceremony."

"Good. Now that we are on the same page we can discuss yesterday. Your actions may have damaged your credibility to the point where a family will overlook you.”

"Are you insinuating that I will not be adopted because of my 'kidnapping'?" Lily felt her self control finally returning. Her mind was reaching a calm, logical state. She won't let her guard down again… at least today. Charles was not someone to underestimate.

"Yes and no." Charles bit into one of the sandwiches. "Mmm, delicious. Please, help yourself, Lily. The chef has been exceptionally skilled today."

"I'm not hungry, Charles," Lily deadpanned.

"Your loss," He shrugged. As he took another bite then washed it down with some tea. "The situation," he continued. "Is you now look incompetent. Philip is a known flunk, and yet he somehow managed to catch and tie you up?"

"That 'flunk', as you put it, is a lot more skilled than you expected as well," Lily gloated. Insulting her friend? He was goading her. Instead of playing into his game she will move onto the attack.

"Indeed…" Charles set down his cup and gave Lily a hard glare. "Luckily that is a silver lining for you."

"A secret talent who stayed under the notice of every instructor and student at the University." And it all went exactly as planned, if slightly more destructive than she anticipated.

"Quite," Charles grumbled as he looked away from Lily for the first time since the conversation started. His eyes lingered at the nearby window, his brows furrowed. "Someone who is also still unfound, I might add."

"Then this shouldn't affect my reputation at all," Lily said, taking a victorious sip of tea to conceal her smirk.

Charles sighed and gave Lily a pointed look. "I was hoping to scare some caution into you.”

“Your message is ringing loud and clear,” Lily dismissed with a wave.

“I really hope it is,” Charles deadpanned. He stood up and walked over to his desk, his fingers brushing against a small pile of papers. “A good number of families have inquired about you. You have a very promising future, Lily. I would hate to have it stained with reckless actions. You might be friends with Philip, or even Melony, but depending on where you are adopted that friendship might not be possible. It might even become a hindrance to you.”

Lily sighed and sprung off the seat. She left the plate of mostly untouched sandwiches and headed toward the window. It seems like Charles wanted to remind her of the more cutthroat aspects of the Noble families. Nothing new as it was a subject he seemed to dwell on often.

“I’ve heard your warnings before, Charles, but I doubt I’ll be swayed by a little intimidation. I am friends with many people, those two included.” Lily looked over the field. The normal crowds of students were currently missing, replaced by a few stragglers or those in self study. The gardens seemed to almost glow in vibrancy, the gardeners having expertly repaired any damage from the day before.

“Be careful who you call friends, Lily,” Charles warned. “Not everyone uses friendship as you seem to believe. Rebecca from the Groaw family could be using you to try to pull in a skilled new mage. That family is always looking to bolster their numbers no matter how skilled so you'd be quite a catch.”

"Rebecca needs help studying arithmetics, which I excel at," Lily sniffed indignantly. "We have also bonded, not on magical studies, but through our interests in fashion and other types of gossip."

"Gossip is one of the deadliest weapons between houses."

"I'm sure it is, Charles," Lily giggled. "The current rumor is a potential engagement between the Cardaire house and the Tai house."

Charles visibly deflated. He leaned against the desk as he hung his head. "I have no idea how you heard of that. I just heard a few days ago."

"Gossip is the deadliest weapon between houses," Lily quoted smugly.

"Touche…" he shook his head and stood up straight, straightening his jacket. "But that proves my point. Beware getting too involved with anyone or you'll be used to their family's ends"

“And I'd like to reiterate not everyone is as self centered as you fear,” Lily countered. She turned and matched his glare. The two stood for a few moments until Charles’ shoulders slouched and he visibly sagged.

“I truly do wish I had the same optimism as you,” he chuckled. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and peered over his desk. “The weight of responsibility is greater than you can imagine. Trying to push yourself to be able to match and bear the weight of the rank you are born with. Not just meeting but excelling at the standards set by those that came before you. It is a burden I would not wish on even my worst enemy, but it is one I was both cursed and blessed to bear.”

He turned and gave Lily a strange look, one which she would not place. It made her feel weary of what thoughts Charles was thinking. When Charles started to speak again Lily realized she unconsciously took a few steps back and was closer to the door than she realized.

“You will not have to directly bear the weight of the Rank, Lily, but you will learn how to help the one who bears it. It is the responsibility of those who are not of the direct line to serve and help the house in any way they can. I almost envy you, honestly.”

“I think I would rather make my own decisions than serve someone who makes them for me,” Lily chided.

“As you should,” Charles agreed. “But every decision should be made for the benefit of your house. Selfish wishes like you made yesterday, could earn enemies. If, for example, you targeted someone else’s member like you did Philip it could have broken the delicate balance we have held for centuries and caused a war between the Houses again. You must think before you act, Lily. Your actions will have consequences.”

“And if my choice was for the greater good of everyone involved?”

Charles snapped his attention away from the desk and gazed directly into Lily's eyes. “Then you must become strong enough to deal with that choice,” Charles declared.

"So might makes right?" Lily said dramatically. "The power of the family makes you correct, but if you get stronger than the family then your decisions make you correct? What if that choice goes against the Royal Family? Do I have to become stronger than them?"

Charles started walking to Lily, his expression stiff and cold as stone. “If what you wish to do is for the benefit of the Kingdom, then you must convince the Royal Family it is such. Then become strong enough to fight off all the enemies you make along the way.”

His pace remained steady as he waved around the few chairs between them. Lily watched them and started to back away as he got closer.

"Might does make right, but if all you want is power then all you'll find is yourself surrounded by enemies. You will become stories like the World breaker, the Oracle of Bones, or the Necromancer." Lily shivered, her blood running cold as Charles named childhood stories at her.

"Fantasies," she tried to wave off but her back hit the wall. Charles closed the distance and slammed his hand onto the wall by her head and leaned in close to her face.

"Each of them were as real as you and me. As real as demons and monsters which wake even the bravest magi in a cold sweat. And each of them a lesson you need to remember."

Lily gulped and broke eye contact with Charles, her irritation and smugness evaporating away. Perhaps she made a mistake there. Charles rarely got so serious so this means she hit one of those extremely sensitive subjects which nobles do not like talking about.

“And if, hypothetically, I convince the Royal family but anger my family?” She hesitantly asked, her throat felt dry.

“Then prepare to fight for your life, as your shield will no longer protect you.” He turned away and moved back to his desk. “You are dismissed. Please go back to your office and catch up on your work for today.”

“As you wish, President,” Lily said as she gave him a polite bow.

Charles waved his hand in dismissal.

Lily turned and left the room, closing the door behind her. She sighed and leaned against the door. That ended differently than she thought. The mood grew extremely heavy and all playfulness disappeared. Challenging the Family was now filed away as a big no-no. Especially if it meant doing something that would damage the ‘balance’ between noble families.

Lily was not sure about that. She would have to ask someone about that balance. It seems like there were some mysteries within the nobles she never caught onto. And while she dismissed what Charles said about her friends, it was food for thought on how she should review her social circles. Was she being used?

If she was then there was a problem. Lily was a Council member, a prodigy, and not someone who likes being someone else's tool. She would have to deal with that problem if it arose.

So the order of priorities today is: Get Council work done first, then list out her current social network and review how much she is benefiting from them. If she is getting nothing then test to see if she is being used. After that then research into Noble houses. She knew their basic histories but not their current power balances, a lesson which was strangely missing in her education. Melony would not know, she is too into her books. Philip would not know either, he is far too hermit-like to care.

Which means when she gets a list of friends and it turns out it is an equal balance of give and take she would inquire there.

Plan settled, Lily set off to her office.

There was one thing which was now absolutely evident to Philip.

Stairs sucked.

Forget going up, going down was the worst. Going up all you had to worry about was getting a little tired from the climb. Maybe some shortness of breath if you are out of shape. Or your legs burning from exertion.

But going down. Going down was the worst. Each step was agony on his heels, his newly awarded injuries excluded. Each step was another jolt into his knees, a new crunch of his bones as they banged together as he moved down stop by step.

The wind attacked him as well. Going up you could try to duck against it, and if desperate you can climb on all fours to be under it. But going down on all fours was suicide on the slick stairs. Try it and you’ll slip and then your trip would be much, much faster than you want. The ending for this quick decline would not be enjoyable either, since you would most likely fly over a cliff face and then freefall down into the University.

That normally would not be a problem with a simple Featherfall spell, but his magic was still ignoring him. Every call was hollow. It was… concerning to say the least.

But, the worst part of all of this was not the slick stairs, or the wind, or the jolting pain of every stop. No. The worst part of this entire trip down the mountain was his robe was far, far too constricting over his chest. When he tried to bend over it was like being wound up in carpet, the fabric straining to keep his torso straight. Last thing he needed was a new hole in borrowed clothing from the old lady.

The opposite problem was the lower body. The robe seemed to flair out, so when the wind blew it tried to grab him like a kite. Attempting to pull him from the staircase to fling him through the air like a bird.

And there are no rails! Who builds a mountain staircase with no rails?

Wizard nobles, that's who.

It took most of the morning to go down the staircase. He could have gone a lot faster but Philip had a distinct enjoyment to living, especially after yesterday’s events. Unfortunately, if they were still after his hide he would have nowhere to go but in their hands. His wounds on his back throbbed, his legs which were already aching from yesterday were throbbing painfully now, and no magic.

He was defenceless.

But luckily, when he finally made it to the bottom of the staircase there was nobody to be seen. Classes must have already begun and the staircase leading up to the Peak was not a very popular hang-out spot.

He carefully made his way forward, avoiding the open path in a half-crouch and sticking close to the wall of a building. Unfortunately this seemed to aggravate the already tight robe which dug into his back, threatening to crack his scabs again.

Philip winced when he heard a door slam open. He leapt and pushed himself against the wall as he looked back. Two students exited a building, their boisterous voices echoing across the mostly empty street. The few students who were outside seemed to focus on two. Seeing an opportunity, Philip slid down the wall toward a break across the open road to the building across the street. His goal was a small alley between the buildings which he reached in only a couple seconds and left the open street.

"Lucky break," he breathed to himself.

He stood up and stretched his shoulders and back to try and get the robe to feel a little more comfortable, but it was in vain. It also seemed a couple scabs broke open again. He sighed and set off down the alley toward his dormitory.

Things went well for a while. He ran across a few like himself who sleeked in the alleyways, usually servants running a quick message or errand but there were a few students as well. Luckily they ignored him. Those that used this route did so for a reason, and those reasons were their own business.

It didn't take long to get close to his destination either. Maybe fifteen minutes to a half hour and he was peering out of the alleys searching for observers. Classes were still going strong and the roads were still mostly empty, but they now had more loiterers than by the Peaks staircase.

To the left he saw a few groups talking around tables. Philip guessed they were having tea and doing something else useless. Gossiping, networking, and whatnot. They were far too engrossed with each other to pay attention to him.

And to his right were a few tables with some students reading or gossiping but there were also a few who were strolling around. None seemed to have their focus in his direction so he set off to his goal, the building directly on the other side of the road.

"Philip? Is that you?" A soft, familiar voice asked just as he passed the halfway point.

Philip froze and turned to see Mel who had just turned a corner with a tall man dressed in black. He gave a weak smile and a small wave.

"Morning, Mel. I can’t stay to chat--"

"Philip?" Mels voice changed from soft and friendly into concern, her voice rose slightly. Some of the gossipers stopped talking and started paying attention to them. "What's that on your back?

"Got to go!" Philip blurted out before breaking into a run into the dormitory. He had to stay low, there was no time to comfort Mel.

"Philip!" Mel's voice screeched out in panic. Philip winced and vowed to apologize later.