Chapter 210 — The Concord

Chapter 210: Chapter 210 — The Concord

~ Raven ~

"The Renewal Concord?" Raven asked, still trying to understand why Berry had suddenly brought vampires into a lesson about repairing inscriptions.

Berry looked at her.

"Yes, Rivers. The annual competition we’ve been discussing throughout the year."

"Oh, right."

Tessa gave her a look, which Raven promptly ignored.

Berry turned toward the rest of the class, seemingly deciding that Raven’s question was as good an opportunity as any to discuss the approaching competition.

"The Sigil Trial will involve problems considerably more complicated than the ones you’re attempting today. Both academies will receive damaged defensive structures, and their representatives must identify the faults, restore the inscriptions and demonstrate that the repaired structures can function safely under pressure."

A student near the front raised his hand.

"Are vampires allowed to use Bloodscript?"

"Approved Bloodscript, yes," Berry answered. "They’ll be working under the same restrictions concerning prohibited techniques and materials."

Raven frowned as she considered the answer.

She knew vampires possessed their own methods of constructing sigils, but she’d never given much thought to what it would mean to compete against them.

"And we’re supposed to beat them at that?" she asked.

Berry looked at her.

"Preferably, Rivers. That’s generally how competitions work."

Tessa covered her mouth, while Raven rolled her eyes.

"I meant aren’t vampires supposed to be particularly good at Bloodscript?"

"Some are exceptionally skilled," Berry admitted. "Which is why I’d suggest learning to examine an inscription properly before trying to repair it."

Raven glanced down at her board, reluctantly accepting that she’d walked straight into that one.

Berry continued discussing the upcoming event as she moved between the tables, occasionally stopping to correct another student’s work.

The Renewal Concord, she explained, was more than an academy competition. It was an annual gathering between the werewolf territories and the vampire Blood Courts, established following the historic war between their races.

Every year, representatives from both sides competed, attended diplomatic ceremonies and demonstrated their abilities before officials from their respective societies.

This year, Valerius would host the visiting vampire delegation.

Raven had heard about the Concord before, but until recently, she’d assumed it was another important noble event that had very little to do with her.

But it seems she had been mistaken.

"So the Sigil Trial is only one part of it?" she asked, looking up from her board.

"Correct," Berry answered. "There are three championship events."

She returned to the front of the classroom and indicated the first event on the slate before moving to the next.

"The Sigil Trial tests technical knowledge, precision and control. Then there’s the Night Pursuit, where teams enter a supervised course and compete to retrieve three marked seals."

Raven raised her head.

"A course?"

"Wooded areas, concealed objectives, defensive wards and permitted combat between opposing teams."

Raven stared at her.

Oh, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me.

Hadn’t they done enough running around dangerous forests during the Founders’ Hunt?

At this rate, she was beginning to suspect the academy simply enjoyed finding increasingly elaborate excuses to send students into places where somebody might get murdered.

"And nobody thought the Hunt was enough?" she muttered.

Tessa snorted beside her, while a few students nearby laughed.

Berry glanced toward Raven.

"Something to share?"

"Just wondering why every important competition seems determined to send us into the woods."

"The Night Pursuit is conducted under strict supervision," Berry assured her. "Unlike the Hunt, you’ll be competing against another academy, and lethal force is prohibited."

Raven wasn’t entirely reassured.

She’d heard similar things before, and Valerius had an impressive talent for turning supposedly controlled events into complete disasters.

Still, she decided against arguing with Berry about something that hadn’t even happened yet.

"And the third event?" Tessa asked, looking toward the slate.

"The Grand Concord Duels."

That immediately caught Raven’s interest, particularly when Berry returned to the front and began explaining how the competitors would be selected.

"The final event consists of eight individual matches. Valerius’s four Cardinal heirs and the four highest-ranking women of the Luna Court form the principal competing positions, subject to the academy’s final roster confirmation."

Raven’s attention sharpened.

Four highest-ranking women?

She was Second Seat.

Berry continued explaining that each representative would face an opposing vampire competitor, with the academy securing the majority of victories winning the event. A four-to-four result would be recorded as a draw rather than decided through an additional match.

There were also rules concerning power-class differences, official stoppages and prohibited techniques, but Raven was no longer paying quite as much attention.

She was doing the numbers in her head.

First Seat, Second Seat, Third Seat and Fourth Seat.

Oh, fuck.

She slowly raised her hand.

Berry noticed.

"Yes, Rivers?"

"When you say the four highest-ranking women..." Raven hesitated, suddenly aware that several nearby students were looking toward her.

"I mean exactly that."

Raven looked at her.

"So that includes me?"

More heads turned this time, although Berry merely raised an eyebrow.

"You are Second Seat, are you not?"

"Yes, but—"

"Then you fall within the eligible positions. Whether you ultimately represent Valerius will depend on the confirmed roster and your readiness."

Raven sat back, suddenly finding the possibility much more real than it had been a moment earlier.

Beside her, Tessa was looking positively delighted.

"Raven, that’s incredible."

Raven wasn’t entirely certain incredible was the word she’d have chosen.

A few months ago, she’d barely been able to imagine herself sitting in a classroom like this, much less competing against anyone.

Now there was a genuine possibility that she’d stand before vampire nobles and academy officials as one of Valerius’s representatives.

The thought was almost ridiculous, although another part of her was already wondering how strong those vampire competitors might be.

She’d fought dangerous opponents before, certainly, but the idea of facing someone who’d spent years preparing for a competition like this was another matter entirely.

And if the four Cardinal heirs were expected to participate, then the vampires would presumably be bringing opponents capable of fighting them.

Raven found herself wondering what sort of monsters those people might be.

Berry noticed her expression.

"Don’t look so pleased with yourself yet, Rivers. Your Standing may make you eligible, but it won’t repair a damaged inscription for you."

Raven glanced at the board in front of her.

"Yes, Instructor."

"And if you’re considering the duels, remember that your opponents won’t necessarily share your experience level simply because they’re students."

Raven nodded, understanding what Berry was saying.

Her advancement to Tempered had been extraordinary, but it hadn’t magically given her years of combat or Sigil Writing experience. There were still things she struggled to understand, techniques she hadn’t mastered and opponents who might be considerably more experienced than she was.

That was irritating, but it was also something she could change.

She’d spent enough of her life being told what she couldn’t do, and although she had no intention of underestimating the vampire competitors, she wasn’t about to decide she couldn’t stand against them before she’d even met one.

The possibility of representing Valerius was still strange to consider.

She wasn’t sure whether to feel proud or terrified.

Perhaps both.

By the time the lesson ended, Raven had completed the remaining corrections on her board and was already considering which parts of her Sigil Writing needed the most attention.

Berry inspected her work before dismissing the class.

"Better than your first attempt," she told Raven, setting the board down. "Keep practicing. You’re improving."

Raven smiled.

"Thank you, Instructor."

"And remember to examine the whole structure next time."

Raven gave her an aggrieved look.

"Goddess, I’ll never live that down, will I?"

"Not until you stop doing it."

Tessa laughed as they gathered their belongings, and Raven shook her head before following her friend outside.

~~ ~~

The academy grounds were busy when they emerged from the building, with students moving between lessons and small groups gathered along the paths.

Tessa was still talking about the Concord, totally finding the entire prospect considerably more exciting than Raven did.

"Eight duels," she said, adjusting the books beneath her arm. "Can you imagine?"

"I’d rather not."

"Oh, please. You’re Second Seat, Raven. You could actually be representing Valerius."

"Assuming they pick me."

"Why wouldn’t they?"

Raven glanced toward her as she adjusted the books beneath her own arm.

"Because apparently I can’t repair an inscription without nearly ruining the whole bloody thing."

Tessa laughed.

"You fixed it eventually."

"Berry didn’t seem particularly impressed."

"Berry never seems particularly impressed."

That was true enough.

Raven continued walking beside her, thinking about the approaching competition and everything she’d need to improve if she genuinely wanted a place among Valerius’s representatives.

There was still plenty she didn’t understand, particularly when it came to Sigil Writing, and she had no idea what kind of opponents the vampires would bring.

Still, the possibility was exciting.

For once, she wasn’t simply trying to survive another academy disaster. She had something she could prepare for, something that would require her to become stronger rather than merely prove that she deserved to remain where she was.

Tessa was explaining why she thought Raven would make an excellent representative when Raven’s attention drifted toward the students gathered farther along the path.

She noticed a familiar figure among them, and her steps slowed before she could help herself.

Even from this distance, she recognized the red hair immediately.

Dante Prymont.

The conversation with Tessa faded from her attention as she remembered the kiss she’d shared with Cassian during the Ball, how Dante had disappeared afterward and the uncomfortable possibility that he’d witnessed everything.

She’d known she would have to speak with him eventually, but now that he was standing right there, Raven realized she still had absolutely no idea what she was supposed to say.