The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 233: Chapter 229 — March

Of his people, Zephyrion found Kaelion first. His cousin woke the moment the sun hit him, stared at the desert, then at him, before giving a single nod, as though that alone was enough for him to understand the situation.

Fiona was next, and a soft smile spread across her face the moment she opened her eyes and found him standing there. Zephyrion pulled away sharply before she could kiss him. Realizing it was real life, not a dream, her face turned so red it looked ready to explode. Zephyrion spared her the embarrassment, and himself the awkwardness, by continuing on.

With other cadets now joining the effort, more and more woke at a rapid pace. He spotted Vaelor, Nedra, Draven, Lucien, and Kaelith not long after. Aside from Draven, who cheerfully waved, each threw him a glance before looking away.

He found Kaiden not long after, his reaction dangerously close to Kaelion’s. Tobias, though, remained peacefully asleep despite the blazing sun overhead. Zephyrion planted a kick into his gut, jolting him awake. The boy scratched the back of his head, bowing repeatedly as he realized the situation before hurrying off to join the effort.

Soon, he found Lumi scurrying toward him from the distance. Her tiny legs were practically swallowed by the deep sand, making her look like a puppy trying to run on water.

Confirming she was alright, he continued his work, Lumi naturally falling into step beside him.

Eventually, the last of the cadets was freed.

"Prime! There you are."

Horus, along with a few other Tier Two cadets he’d fought beside during the pressure test, approached him, fist tight on their chests.

"What are your orders, Prime?"

Somehow, the shock and bewilderment had vanished from their eyes, replaced by quiet resolve. They now stood before him in silence, awaiting his orders.

Zephyrion’s lips curled upward, and he gave a small nod.

"Gather the others."

"Yes, Prime!"

He watched as Horus immediately began barking orders to the other Tier Twos, each of them rushing to carry them out, and found himself quietly observing the boy. He was a head shorter than Zephyrion, light on his feet and nimble. The boy seemed to grow more confident whenever he was entrusted with responsibility.

Several minutes later, at the command of their Prime, the cadets gathered beneath a high dune. Zephyrion stood at the top, flanked by Lumi, Fiona, Tobias, Kaiden, and Kaelion.

Vaelor, Nedra, Lucien, Kaelith, along with their loyal supporters, had refused the call, choosing to remain at a distance. A clear power play.

The endless chatter gradually tapered off as Zephyrion stepped forward.

"The last thing I remember was going to sleep. The next thing I know, I woke up here. I assume the same happened to all of you."

Several cadets nodded, while others voiced their agreement.

"I believe this is another academy test. That means we’re being watched and graded. Everything we do from this point onward matters."

Several cadets straightened, eyes fierce. Last time, none of them had known they were being tested, and many had performed poorly. This test would be different. Zephyrion could see it in their eyes.

"We can’t afford to slack off. I expect the very best from every one of you. Let’s prove ourselves. What are we?"

"We are steel."

"I said..." Zephyrion’s voice deepened. "What are we?"

"WE ARE STEEL!!"

"Good. First, we figure out why we’re here. Search the area. Anything that looks out of place, bring it to—"

"Prime! I found something!"

Zephyrion frowned, not expecting anyone to find something so quickly. He gestured to the cadet, and a moment later, a nervous boy hurried over and handed him a metal cylinder.

He tapped it. A hollow clang echoed back. Then he gave it a shake, feeling something rattle inside.

He looked up at the others, all of them watching him expectantly.

"Something’s inside."

Several cadets mouthed an "oh" before quickly gesturing for him to open it. Zephyrion gave a small nod. He focused on the metal and found it no different from their domes. With a thought, it peeled apart, revealing a small scroll inside.

He pulled it free and read through its contents.

By then, every cadet was watching him in silence. Even the city lord descendants had drawn closer, waiting.

After a moment, Zephyrion decided to read it aloud.

Current time: 10:15.

You have entered enemy territory.

Reach Fortress Blackstone before 18:30 on the fourth day. Arrival after the deadline will be considered mission failure.

Everything between your current position and the fortress belongs to the enemy.

Survive.

A deep, deafening silence settled over the cadets as their faces gradually paled.

Then a sudden flash of light drew every gaze toward the horizon.

A bright red flare pierced the sky, followed by a distant horn rumbling across the desert, the sound reverberating through their bones.

Zephyrion’s expression darkened.

Enemies.

And so close.

...

The flare and horn were all the motivation the cadets needed.

Within moments, they were marching across the desert, Zephyrion at the helm.

The sun overhead blazed relentlessly, the sand beneath them burned with every step, and the air was dry and unforgiving.

Ferrans, thanks to their elements, were sturdier than most, able to endure harsh environments other ascendants would struggle to survive. Yet after seven hours of constant running, fatigue had begun to creep in.

Zephyrion watched another flare rise in the distance and frowned.

They hadn’t stopped running for even a single second, yet the enemy was still closing the distance.

He glanced back at the cadets, taking in their weary expressions and cracked lips. The sun overhead burned so fiercely Zephyrion was convinced it was unnatural. Every passing second bled away more of their stamina.

They couldn’t continue like this much longer.

Zephyrion caught Vaelor Ocren approaching from behind and immediately realized what was coming. Surprisingly, Lucien Donvaire wasn’t far behind.

Vaelor reached him and spoke without preamble.

"Zephyrion. Why are we heading west when the north is clearly the better option?"

Zephyrion... a clear challenge. Still, he was more focused on something else.

’Of course.’

The desert stretched endlessly in every direction except the north, where a distant tree line broke the horizon.

A forest.

It seemed like the obvious choice. Given their lack of resources and the pursuit behind them, it offered cover and shelter.

Yet despite all that, Zephyrion had chosen to lead them west.