CHAPTER 124: FORTUNE HUNTING

Aegis woke to sunlight stabbing through the curtains and Lune already up, organizing coins into neat stacks on her desk.

"You’re up early," Aegis said, rubbing her eyes.

"You asked me to help count, last night." Lune didn’t look up from her work. "I’m helping."

"Right. Thank you. Best roommate ever." Aegis rolled out of bed, padding over in just her nightshirt. The pile of coins had grown since last night—she’d been too tired after the Nazraya thing to finish counting properly.

She dropped into the chair beside Lune and started sorting too. Lune cast a brief glance her way before turning back toward the gold.

"Three thousand, two hundred from last count," Lune said. "Plus yesterday’s haul makes—"

The door burst open.

Sophie bounded in, still in her pajamas, hair a mess.

"Big sis!"

Before Aegis could react, Sophie launched herself onto Aegis’s lap, nearly knocking over a stack of gold.

"Sophie, what—"

"Whatcha doing?" Sophie peered at the coins, then at Lune, then back at Aegis.

"Counting money. Which I have a feeling you’re about to make very difficult."

"Ooh, money!" Sophie picked up a gold piece, turning it over in her fingers. "Why?"

"Because I need to build a fortune."

"Ahh."

Aegis moved Sophie slightly to the side so she could reach the coins. She grabbed another stack and started counting.

"Fifty-two, fifty-three, fifty-four—"

"But why do you need a fortune?" Sophie asked.

"So I can marry Talia."

"Right, right."

"Fifty-seven, fifty-eight—Sophie, stop wiggling."

"Sorry!" Sophie settled but kept watching. "So you’re gonna be really rich?"

"That’s the plan."

"Wow."

Aegis finished the stack and grabbed another one. Sophie’s chin rested on her shoulder now, breath tickling her neck.

"Lune, can you grab the ledger?"

Lune reached across the desk without looking up from her own counting. Sophie made a little "ooh" sound at each number Aegis called out.

"Sophie."

"Yeah?"

"Go bother Lune instead."

"Okay!"

Sophie bounced off Aegis’s lap and practically skipped over a few steps to where Lune sat. She leaned over Lune’s shoulder, watching her paint-stained fingers sort through silver coins.

"What are you doing?"

"Counting."

"That’s so cool."

"Is it?"

"Yeah! You’re like, really good at it."

Lune’s expression didn’t change but Aegis caught the tiniest pause in her counting.

"It’s basic arithmetic."

"Sexy arithmetic."

"What does that even mean?"

Aegis grinned, holding back a chuckle, and went back to her own pile. With Sophie occupied, she managed to get through the rest in about twenty minutes.

Final tally: four thousand, one hundred gold.

That was, of course, on top of the amount Darius had given her.

Better. Still not nearly enough.

---

The dining hall smelled like bacon and fresh bread. Aegis’s stomach growled as she slid into a seat beside Scarlett, who was already demolishing a plate of eggs.

"Mooorning," Aegis said.

"Mmf." Scarlett swallowed. "Morning."

"I need you for one more hunt. Today."

"Yeah, sure, Your Majesty. Whatever you—"

Scarlett’s words died. Her fork clattered onto her plate.

Aegis followed her gaze.

Kanna had just walked into the dining hall. Her grey hair was tied back into a very short ponytail, uniform crisp and perfect. She moved with that calm, steady grace that made Scarlett go stupid.

"Scarlett."

No response.

"Scarlett."

Still nothing. Scarlett’s mouth hung slightly open, eyes tracking Kanna across the room.

Aegis snapped her fingers in front of Scarlett’s face.

"Earth to Lionheart. I need you to help me kill things."

"Huh?" Scarlett blinked, tearing her eyes away. "Oh, yeah, sure."

"Did you hear anything I just said?"

"Uh. Killing things?"

"Emberhorn Stags. Western forest. High-value antlers."

"Right. Yes. Absolutely."

Kanna grabbed a tray and sat down across the hall. She glanced up, caught Scarlett staring, and—

She waved.

Just a small lift of her hand, nothing dramatic.

Scarlett made a sound like a dying animal.

"I’m leaving," Aegis said, standing. "You coming or are you going to sit here and drool?"

"I’m not—" Scarlett scrambled up, nearly knocking her chair over. "I’m coming!"

They headed for the exit. Aegis caught Kanna watching them leave, that barely-there smile on her face again.

Once they were in the hallway, Scarlett grabbed Aegis by both shoulders.

"DID THAT JUST HAPPEN?"

"Yes, you useless lesbian, she acknowledged your presence."

"She waved at me!"

"I saw."

"What do I do?"

"You could try talking to her."

"I can’t just talk to her!"

"Why not?"

"Because—" Scarlett’s hands flailed. "Because what if I say something stupid?"

"You always say something stupid. She hasn’t run away screaming yet."

"That’s different!"

Aegis patted her shoulder.

"Now let’s go hunt so I can afford to marry a princess."

"You’re really doing this, huh?" Scarlett fell into step beside her. "The whole ’become a noble and marry Talia’ thing?"

"Either that or watch her marry Darius."

"Fuck that guy."

"Agreed."

They grabbed their gear from the armory and headed out through the academy gates.

---

The western forest was quiet. Too quiet.

Aegis’s hand rested on one of her daggers as they moved between the trees. Scarlett had her sword out, eyes scanning the undergrowth.

"There." Scarlett pointed.

An Emberhorn Stag stood in a clearing about thirty meters ahead. Its antlers glowed with faint orange light, like embers from a dying fire. Beautiful. Valuable.

Aegis crouched low.

"I’ll go left, you go right?"

"Got it."

They split up. Aegis moved through the trees, keeping her footsteps light. The stag’s head lifted, nostrils flaring.

Shit.

It bolted.

"Now!" Aegis shouted.

Scarlett burst from the trees, sword raised. The stag tried to dodge but Aegis hit it with an Aether Whip, yanking its legs out from under it. Scarlett’s blade came down hard.

One kill.

Then the trees exploded with movement.

Stags poured into the clearing from every direction. Six, seven, eight of them. Their antlers blazed brighter, heat rippling the air.

"Oh fuck," Scarlett said.

"They travel in herds!" Aegis drew both daggers.

"You could’ve mentioned that earlier!"

"I forgot!"

A stag charged. Aegis Aether Stepped to the side, its horns missing her by inches. She slashed across its flank as it passed. Blood sprayed.

Scarlett was already engaged with two of them, her sword a blur of steel. She was faster than she’d been a month ago. Stronger.

Three more stags turned on Aegis.

[Okay. Think.]

She couldn’t Aether Step again yet—cooldown. Aether Whip would only get one of them. Which left—

The lead stag leaped.

Aegis threw out her hand.

"Aether Pulse!"

The burst of energy slammed into the stag mid-air. It staggered, legs buckling, and crashed into the dirt in front of her instead of on top of her.

[Holy shit, it worked!]

She stabbed down with both daggers before it could recover. The other two hesitated, giving her time to roll away.

Scarlett finished her opponents and moved to intercept the stragglers. Her blade caught one across the throat. It went down spraying blood.

"On your left!" Aegis shouted.

Scarlett spun, bringing her sword up just in time to block a set of flaming antlers. The impact drove her back a step.

Aegis hit the stag with an Aether Whip. It stumbled. Scarlett’s overhead slash took its head clean off.

The last two stags turned and ran.

Aegis let them go. She dropped to her knees, gasping for breath.

"That was—fuck—that was intense."

Scarlett wiped her blade on the grass, grinning.

"But we got them!"

They high-fived, both covered in dirt and blood and bits of stag.

Aegis’s hand stung from the impact. She didn’t care.

"Let’s collect the antlers before something else shows up."

They worked quickly, sawing through bone and horn with hunting knives. Eight sets of antlers. At two hundred gold each, that was sixteen hundred gold.

Add it to her current four thousand one hundred, and—

"Five thousand seven hundred," Aegis muttered, doing the math in her head. "That’s not bad progress."

Scarlett snorted.

"You’re really serious about this."

"Dead serious."

"What happens if you lose the tournament?"

"I won’t."

"But if you do?"

Aegis stood, slinging a bag of antlers over her shoulder.

"Then Talia marries Darius and I spend the rest of my life knowing I could’ve had her if I’d just been—"

"Surprise, students."

Aegis nearly jumped out of her skin.

Sister Mirabel stood ten feet away, hands clasped in front of her pristine robes. How long had she been there? How much had she heard?

Scarlett looked between them, eyes wide. It was clear Mirabel was primarily concerned with Aegis, judging by the glaring.

"Uh. I’ll just... go over there."

She grabbed her bag and practically sprinted into the trees.

Traitor.

Mirabel’s gaze fixed on the antlers.

"Emberhorn Stags." Her voice was calm. Too calm. "Interesting choice."

"They sell well."

"They also happen to be a primary component in certain Shadow Magic rituals."

Aegis’s stomach dropped but she kept her face neutral.

"I wouldn’t know anything about that."

"Wouldn’t you?"

"I’m here because they’re worth two hundred gold each. That’s it."

Mirabel stepped closer. Her eyes were sharp, searching.

Aegis met her gaze head-on, channeling every ounce of confidence she’d earned over the past months.

"If you have any real evidence, Sister, I suggest you present it to Headmistress Valdris. Otherwise, I have antlers to sell."

Mirabel’s jaw tightened.

"I’m watching you, Starcaller."

"I’ve noticed."

They stared at each other for a long moment. Then Mirabel turned and walked away, robes swishing.

Aegis waited until she was out of sight before letting out a breath.

[That was too close.]

Scarlett emerged from the trees.

"Is she gone?"

"Yeah."

"What was that about?"

"Nothing. Just a bad reference to an old cop show." Aegis adjusted the bag on her shoulder. "Let’s get back before she decides to follow us."

---

When Aegis got back to her room, she discovered an envelope. It sat on Aegis’s pillow, cream-colored and sealed with red wax.

Aegis picked it up, turning it over. The seal bore a phoenix rising from flames—House Vermillion’s crest.

Her heart kicked into overdrive.

She broke the seal and unfolded the letter.

Miss Starcaller,

Your letter regarding your academic achievements and future aspirations was most intriguing. House Vermillion has long supported talented commoners who show exceptional promise.

We would be honored if you would join Lady Vermillion for tea tomorrow afternoon, prior to the commencement of the Winter Trials. There are matters we believe would be of mutual interest.

Cordially,

House Vermillion

Aegis read it three times.

[Holy shit. Nazraya’s intel was right.]

She’d sent the letter last night on a gamble. Nazraya had mentioned House Vermillion was looking for young talent to sponsor, so Aegis had written directly to them, laying out her test scores, her combat progress, her plans for the future. And, of course, she’d subtly implied she’d appreciate some support.

She hadn’t expected a response.

And definitely not an invitation to tea the day before the tournament.

Lune glanced up from her painting.

"Good news?"

"The best news." Aegis clutched the letter, grinning. "One day left. Let’s fucking go."