Escape from the Pantheon (1)
The atmosphere at Pantheon Academy was heavier than ever before.
A martial law decree had been imposed across the entire imperial capital. And alongside it, Pantheon had once again been ordered to suspend classes.
But this suspension was different from the one right after the Magic Alchemy War.
"Just as Count Yulian said, it seems quite a few cadets have been detained."
It was now nightfall, after the sun had set.
At Roia Hall in Pantheon, three men were hiding in the shadowy back alley behind the building.
Fabian nodded at Rip's words.
"Cadets from the Medica Order who are close to Her Highness Lilia. And the margrave's grandson—no, Count Yulian, her fiancé. They've been desperately hunting down northern cadets connected to him."
Finishing his words, Fabian grinned.
"That's why Eric here was a prime candidate for detention too. But now he's a free man."
"Shh. Fabian. Keep your voice down. Even at night, the Imperial Guard are patrolling."
As Fabian said, Yulian's coachman Hans—and his younger brother Eric—were naturally detention targets.
But Eric had gotten advance warning of that information. Naturally, from Yulian himself.
'He's truly remarkable. We can barely manage daily life at Pantheon, yet he uncovers such critical intel...'
He was destined to become the future margrave, after all. Even during the Magic Alchemy War, Yulian had moved a step ahead in ways no cadet should be capable of.
Of course, anticipating a rebellion like this in advance was the realm of ghostly intelligence work.
As the grand duke's heir, it seemed even such feats were possible for Yulian.
"I knew Grious was a mad bastard, but to actually launch a rebellion like this? That dog."
Eric muttered a curse under his breath. The people of Essenmont held fierce loyalty toward Margrave Wilhelm.
So for them, betraying a sworn liege like Grious—the ringleader of this rebellion—was utterly unforgivable by Essenmont standards.
'At least Count Yulian hid in time.'
He hadn't shared details for Yulian's safety, but Yulian had asked the three of them for their cooperation.
Grious's rebellion was imminent. He'd go into hiding to prepare to crush it.
And today was the day he'd said all preparations would be complete. The three had agreed to help Yulian escape Pantheon tonight.
Eric recalled Yulian's prior words.
'He said he's hiding somewhere in Pantheon.'
Given his status, evacuating to a safer place outside would have been wiser.
But this was Count Yulian—the man who'd rocketed from dead last among cadets to the top in just three months. Eric had no doubts.
'He's surely found a way to turn this rebellion around from inside.'
Eric had witnessed Yulian and Lilia leading the cadets during the Magic Alchemy War firsthand. And as an Essenmont native, he admired him even more.
He hadn't said it aloud—Fabian and Rip might be rivals—but Eric respected Yulian far more than Fabian's outward loyalty.
'Though the rumors up until last year—no, before the entrance ceremony—were awful.'
Now, as the grand duke's sole heir and the princess's fiancé, he was beyond reproach—exemplary, even.
So Eric, a northerner from Essenmont, pledged his inner loyalty to Yulian, much like his devotion to Margrave Wilhelm.
Above all, entrusting him with such a vital mission moved Eric deeply.
'Fabian and Rip probably feel the same, even if they're not from Essenmont.'
A knight's life hinged on finding a liege worthy of their sword.
Without one, they were no better than the filthy Birea Mercenaries who'd joined the rebels.
"A true liege is the one who defines who you swing your sword for. That's what sets a knight apart from a mere swordsman."
As if reading his mind, Rip spoke up just then.
"Count Yulian said he'll escape Pantheon with Her Highness Lilia. We have to carve that path, even if it costs our lives. We absolutely can't serve that filthy Grious."
Rip, too, had received Yulian's warning about the rebellion and his plea for aid in quelling it.
He hadn't shown it, but Eric—his fellow cadet—knew he was thrilled.
'Not just me—they've set their sights firm too. They all aim to join the White Night Knights.'
Before they went into hiding, many Roia cadets had been pressured to swear loyalty to Grious's Imperial Guard faction.
With rebels occupying the capital, defying them as mere cadets was suicidal.
But the three hadn't hesitated. Yulian had asked them personally.
"I'm not as righteous as you, Rip. But from the rumors, Grious has a harem and indulges in aphrodisiacs daily. I absolutely refuse to serve a corrupt, lecherous priest like that."
Fabian seemed the same. Eric was briefly surprised by his unexpectedly sensible words.
"But by your standards, isn't Grious someone to admire? Building a harem for sex..."
"No, that's different. Looking at Grious's ugly mug, no woman joins his harem willingly. My ideal harem is voluntary—women so smitten with the master they accept sharing him. A perfect, idealistic..."
Eric couldn't follow Fabian's nonsense. But the chatter ended there.
"Contact received! It's time to move!"
The three turned toward the approaching woman. A witch who had stealthily approached using invisibility magic: Rozette.
Fabian spoke upon seeing her face.
"Then, Rip, Eric. Follow my lead from here. I've got a plan."
Eric and Rip nodded tensely.
The group had all exited the underground temple.
This route had taken them through the basement of Istia Hall—past the portal leading into the Primordial Forest—and up to the surface.
"Now we head outside. Everyone, get ready."
At my words, the group nodded. We needed to leave Pantheon swiftly and escape to safety.
'Lucky Rozette and Fabian came through right on time.'
Chloe was heading to the Aiterne estate. Rozette had stayed in the capital. But for her, the capital was safe enough.
The witches who managed the capital's communications could use familiars, animals, or spirits for real-time, highly secretive relays—fast and discreet.
Thus, Rozette—tracking Grious faction movements in real time—had far more freedom than other Pantheon cadets.
'Stealth magic makes it easy for her.'
She was here in Pantheon now. My sylph had found her and relayed her message.
'From Istia Hall to Endia Hall. That's the weakest guard point. I'll join you right away.'
I'd tasked Fabian, Rip, and Eric accordingly. As fellow Roia cadets, I'd asked for cooperation, not commanded.
All three had jumped at it eagerly.
'I asked them to loosen Pantheon's defenses as much as possible while I attempted escape.'
Rozette's message meant they'd succeeded.
'All three are prime candidates. I'll make them White Night Knights in Essenmont for sure...'
I briefly slipped into future-margrave mode, but escape came first.
The group emerged outside. As we left Istia Hall, Rozette—in her witch robe—waited in the shadows.
"Yulian!"
Rozette beamed happily to see me. But her face fell at the crowd of women around me.
"E-everyone's together, huh."
Her voice mixed odd disappointment, but having endured the Magic Alchemy War, she didn't forget priorities.
"We need to get out of Pantheon fast. Can't leave any trace of you or Her Highness Lilia."
True to her smarts, Rozette grasped the group's priorities perfectly.
'We have to vanish completely. That'll throw Grious into deeper chaos.'
Lucia hoisted Cecilia onto her back. Eirin climbed onto Rozette's broom behind her.
"This should let us move quickly without issue."
I nodded at Lucia's words.
I flew low, leading the group as I followed Rozette. As she'd said, no Imperial Guard patrolled around Istia Hall.
I asked her hurriedly.
"What about Fabian's group? How'd they loosen the guard?"
I couldn't risk their lives—they'd be invaluable later. But Fabian had outdone himself with cleverness.
"That Roia cadet Fabian's from the south, so no detention. He pretended huge interest in joining Grious's Guard, cozying up to them. And then..."
Rozette's cheeks flushed, embarrassed.
"He said he knew all the pretty female cadets, so he'd throw a special party in a lecture hall for their officers..."
Apparently, he'd lured the Guard officers guarding Pantheon into one classroom ahead of time.
'Fabian's silver-tongued. Must've fooled them good.'
My guess was right. To avoid danger if caught, he hadn't fetched real female cadets.
He'd plied the officers with expensive liquor first, got them sloshed, then "introduced" the girls late.
Of course, not actual girls.
"I contacted them via spirit beforehand. Told them about the honey trap deception and asked to disguise them as women..."
Before joining us, Rozette had cast spells on Fabian, Rip, and Eric for cross-dressing illusions.
A witch beyond 5th Tier, Rozette could temporarily feminize men easily with a few items.
"Imagining that... it's a bit much. Makes my stomach turn."
I agreed with Lucia. She wasn't close to them, but knew their faces as fellow Roia members.
All three were elite Roia swordsmen— the last men you'd picture in drag.
'But Rozette's magic would've made it flawless.'
She'd even spiked the booze with potent, undetectable sleeping potions—effective even on high knights.
Not Chloe-level, but Rozette kept such illicit brews at home, befitting a witch.
'To think they'd go that far for me—sacrificing knightly pride.'
Proud future knights, all. I resolved to write White Night recommendations for them.
I followed Rozette. We'd nearly reached Pantheon's central road from Istia Hall when she abruptly halted her broom.
"Wait! Guards ahead on patrol!"
Sure enough, while internal patrols were lax, key checkpoints had Imperial Guard soldiers.
'Not too many.'
About six. Corrupt Grious loyalists or not, the capital's Guard was one of the empire's three elite knight orders.
'Stronger than Pantheon cadets, at least.'
No time for a brawl. And they absolutely couldn't spot us.
Tension rippled through the group. Six skilled foes. Our group was elite too, but...
We needed utmost secrecy. If we couldn't drop them instantly and they called reinforcements, Lilia and I'd be exposed.
Even past this road, encirclement would form in seconds.
'We reach Endia Hall to exit Pantheon.'
Especially since Lilia and I were the rebels' top targets.
"Her Highness Lilia. I'll handle it."
Before unease could spread, I swiftly drew Sielertia.