Chapter 15: The Final Weight
I. The Pressure of Protocol
The immediate focus was the Royal Guard Competition. Evan had bought several days of peace by diverting Theron's attention to the public inquiry, but the competition was non-negotiable protocol. He had to be present, and his final two allies, William and Lysandra, had to participate and excel to secure their positions and solidify Evan's political defense.
The competition was scheduled to begin in two days. Evan knew the greatest danger wasn't the martial trials, but the Magic's ticking clock. The week was almost up, and he still lacked the identity of his final, justified target.
Evan met privately with Lysandra, who presented him with the smooth, perfectly balanced stone Kaelen had left behind.
Lysandra: "Your Master is safe, Your Highness. But his note is a riddle. The three weights: the curse, the training... what is the third 'weight' that is the 'cost of your escape'?"
Evan (examining the stone): "Kaelen does not deal in riddles, only in necessary truths. The Magic demands a justified kill to survive. I have always focused on eliminating external threats—Garrick, the rioters' mastermind—to satisfy the debt. But Kaelen's training is about inner discipline. This final weight is not an enemy of the Crown, but an enemy of my own focus."
II. The Discovery of the Flaw
Evan realized the stone felt perfectly balanced in his hand. It was beautiful, but heavy. He consulted his core texts—the principles of his Oratorical Command—and connected them to Kaelen's Stand.
Evan (Internal thought): The Silver Tongue demands complete honesty to persuade. The Stand demands complete discipline to strike. My current discipline is built on fear of the Magic. My true flaw is the lingering weakness of the old Prince—the inability to make the final, unforgivable choice.
The old Prince Evan was meek, characterized by hesitation, self-doubt, and a refusal to take control of his own life. The new Evan was a Strategist who had killed for the greater good, but he still clung to the moral justification of those actions.
Kaelen's final lesson was brutal: The final weight Evan must shed is his last moral inhibition. He needed to prove he could kill for survival alone, without the justification of 'saving the Kingdom.'
III. The Strategic Sacrifice
Evan identified his final target: Baron Renwick, a low-level, self-serving Noble who had spent the last week actively trying to steal credit for Evan's success in the North. Renwick was a leech, but not a traitor. Killing him would serve no political purpose, but he was a legitimate source of annoyance and, crucially, would be seen by the guards as an arrogant political rival who "pushed the wrong Prince too far."
Killing Renwick would be pure, cold Strategic Sacrifice. It would satisfy the Magic's demand for blood while teaching Evan that his survival superseded all minor moral concerns—the true lesson of the Master.
The time to strike would be immediately after the high-profile Royal Guard Competition, when the palace would be focused on the new security appointments, giving Evan the cover of chaos.
IV. The Muster for Competition
The day of the Royal Guard Competition arrived. Over a thousand aspiring warriors, nobles, and skilled professionals gathered, all hoping to secure one of the five coveted, untouchable spots as Evan's personal guard.
Prince Theron was present, watching with the intensity of a hawk. He knew Kaelen had slipped away, but his new objective was simple: observe the competition and predict which candidates Evan would choose, then sabotage their careers if they won. He looked at the massive field of applicants, knowing that only a handful would possess the Strategic Acumen and skill required.
Evan stood by his father, the King, ready to begin the trials. William, already guaranteed a place based on his field service, stood ready to participate only as an exhibition of power. Lysandra, disguised in simple warrior's leather, waited among the applicants, her eyes already tracking the 20 exceptional candidates she had marked as worthy rivals.
Evan felt the familiar, cold pressure of the Magic begin to stir in his chest, knowing his deadline was hours away. He had to guide his allies through this rigorous two-part test while preparing for the assassination of Baron Renwick. The Test of Mind was about to begin.