The corridor outside the Assembly Hall was silent.
Not peaceful.
Silent.
A silence born from fear.
Imperial guards, who were obviously girls stationed along the walls stood at rigid attention as Yurei walked past. None dared meet her eyes. The crimson insignia stitched onto her collar marked her as a Skyfall — and after today's trial, the weight of that name felt heavier than ever.
Her boots struck the polished marble floor in steady rhythm.
Composed.
Controlled.
But beneath that calm exterior, her thoughts churned.
Pitiful.
The word echoed in her mind like a curse.
She flexed her fingers. The skin at her palms had already regenerated, though faint traces of dried blood still marked where her nails had pierced through.
I will surpass you.
Not as Freya's descendant.
Not as your daughter.
As myself.
The Imperial Capital was a fortress city carved from white stone and reinforced with Aether-infused steel.
Towering spires rose toward the sky, each engraved with defensive runes that shimmered faintly even during daylight. Floating surveillance constructs hovered between buildings, their lenses tracking every movement below.
This was the heart of the United Royal Continent's military power.
And also its nest of vipers.
Yurei descended the broad staircase leading toward the administrative wing. Officers moved aside instinctively. Whispers followed in her wake.
"She formed a bond without authorization…"
"With a civilian…"
"A man…"
Her expression did not change.
Let them talk.
She stopped before the massive double doors of the Archives Department. Unlike other divisions, this entrance was reinforced with layered Aether barriers — translucent veils of energy shifting across its surface.
As Yurei reached for the handle—
The doors opened on their own.
She immediately straightened.
Standing before her was a blonde-haired beauty with piercing crimson eyes. Her hair flowed down her back in smooth waves, catching the overhead light. She had a tall, slender frame — long legs, narrow waist, elegant posture.
Though petite in build, she carried herself with the confidence of someone who had never once doubted her superiority.
She was nearly Yurei's height — and Yurei was already considered unusually tall for a woman.
"Ah… if it isn't Yurei," the blonde said, a mocking grin curving her lips.
Yurei's face turned perfectly stoic.
"Sera. I didn't know you were in the Capital."
"You know how it is," Sera replied casually, brushing invisible dust from her sleeve. Her uniform was pristine, tailored tighter than regulation, emphasizing her sharp silhouette.
"Being a successful captain takes most of my time." She emphasized successful.
"So," Sera continued, tilting her head slightly. "What brings you here?"
"I'm here to register my beast slave."
There was no reason to hide Hiro's existence.
News traveled faster than Aether in this building. The other princesses would learn eventually — better to control the narrative than appear defensive.
Sera's crimson eyes gleamed.
"You finally got tired of being the only princess without a slave?"
She smirked.
Sera was the Fifth Princess.
A direct competitor.
Before Yurei could respond, another presence stepped forward from behind Sera.
A teenage boy.
Broad shoulders. Powerful build. His black hair was slicked back neatly. His face was strikingly handsome — almost unnaturally so.
But his eyes—
They were empty.
Lifeless.
Like a corpse forced to stand. A thin metallic collar circled his neck, engraved with control sigils. The Aether chain linking him to Sera was faint but unmistakable.
Yurei's gaze lingered on him.
"I see your slave still looks… intact," she said evenly.
Sera chuckled.
"Don't be like that, Yur. As a newly appointed Mistress, you'll need to learn how to discipline your slaves properly."
Her grin turned sharp. Sadistic.
"Isn't that right… dog?"
She didn't even look at him when she said it.
The boy immediately dropped to one knee.
"Woof. Woof."
His voice was hollow.
No humiliation.
No resistance.
He was long past that stage, the hallway air felt colder. Yurei's fingers twitched,
her blessing pulsed faintly beneath her collar — not in anger, but in warning.
"But now that you finally have one," Sera continued, stepping closer so only Yurei could hear her next words, "maybe you can finally step up."
Her crimson eyes flicked downward briefly.
"To our level."
Sera turned smoothly, long blonde hair swaying behind her.
"Until next time, Yur."
The boy rose mechanically and followed her without a word, footsteps perfectly synchronized behind his mistress. They disappeared down the corridor.
Silence returned.
"Bitch," Yurei muttered under her breath.
Not out of jealousy.
Out of disgust.
Her eyes lingered for a moment in the direction they'd gone.
I will never turn him into that.
She pushed open the Archives doors and stepped inside.
Inside was a massive hall, clerks dressed in silver-trimmed uniforms worked behind reinforced crystal counters.
A massive crest of the Imperial Army dominated the far wall — a chained phoenix encircling a crimson sun.
Yurei approached the front desk.
"I am here to finalize the beast bond registration," she stated flatly.
The clerk stiffened upon recognizing her.
"Yes, Princess Skyfall. The documentation has been processed. The bond has been recorded under Central City Division."
A brief pause.
"What class is your slave."
For the first time since the binding ritual, Yurei finally thought about it — What her blessing had told her.
"Spirit Type S class: Nine tailed fox"
"A spirit S class!!!!"
Yurei's eye twitched.
"Is there an issue?" she asked coolly.
"N-No, Princess. Merely procedural terminology."
All beast slaves are categorized into 4 categories: Mythic, Elemental , Spirit and Feral which then broken down into classes.
The categories simply determine the origin and possible abilities of a beast whilst class determines initial Aether amount.
The most common type is Feral whilst the most rare is Spirit as these beasts are usually more in tuned with Aether followed by Mythic,beasts that originate from myths and legends.
So for an S class spirit type to appear is practically unheard of.
She signed the final Aether-encoded document. The parchment briefly glowed before dissolving into particles of light — permanently etched into the Imperial Archives.
It was done.
Hiro Yukishima was now officially hers in the eyes of the Empire.
Her husband, as her mother so teasingly phrased it.
A faint warmth filled her chest, but she ignored it.
"There is one more matter," Yurei said.