As soon as Jax made it back to the inn he spotted hordes of people in the streets discussing some hot topic. At three in the morning.

He ignored them and moved toward the stairs where he spotted his group of girls. Lavinia was the first to react, screaming his name from a distance while sprinting toward him with a face that told him something had gone very wrong.

He scanned the rest. Evangeline was rubbing her forehead with visible frustration. Delphine looked worried, which was a first. And Athanasia was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

But one person was missing.

Lavinia reached him gasping for air. "Professor! There... there is terrible news—"

Jax cut through her words without blinking. "Where is Tempris?"

Lavinia’s face crumbled. "That’s... that’s what the news is. The others said that right after you left, the Grand Marshal himself showed up. He brought an entire battalion along with Imperial Mages. They... they took her away."

Tears flooded down her cheeks. "I am so sorry, Professor. It’s my fault. I sneaked out for a bit of entertainment, and by the time I got back... everything was already over."

Anger surged through Jax like lightning finding a rod. He moved with haste and grabbed Athanasia by the collar, yanking her off the wall.

"Why did you just watch? Drop the helpless act. I know exactly what you are hiding and we both know that if you had actually wanted to, those Imperial lapdogs would have died before they even laid a finger on her."

His grip tightened. "Answer me before I erase your entire existence even before butchering this whole damn empire."

Athanasia slapped his hand to free herself. It did nothing. The grip only got harder.

She was cursing him under her breath but finally spoke with a voice that carried no guilt. "Why would I bother dirtying my hands? It wasn’t my place to play the savior. It was yours. You were the one who swore you would be her shield. The only person who needs to be interrogated right now is you."

Her eyes bore into his. "Tell me, Professor. Why did you leave her? Where were you when she actually needed you? While they were dragging her away, the only name she kept crying out in these halls was yours."

She paused. "So answer me. Who really failed tonight?"

Jax’s grip loosened on its own. Because she was right. He was the only one to blame. His careless curiosity to shadow that stranger had pulled him away from the inn. He had traded her safety for a mystery and paid for it with the tears of the very child he had promised to protect.

He had completely failed.

Jax released Athanasia and turned back toward the direction he had come from.

Lavinia called out with worry in her voice. "Professor, where are you going?"

"To the imperial palace. To settle some scores and redeem myself."

Athanasia spoke up again behind him. "Don’t be a fool, Professor. You have been incredibly lucky up until now because you haven’t crossed paths with their true nightmares. That Empire is a breeding ground for absolute monsters. Let me be perfectly clear. Even with my strength, I would be reduced to dead meat within seconds if I encountered certain individuals hiding in that capital."

She added with weight. "The Heutria Empire didn’t just dominate this era. They would have swallowed the entire globe if an internal feud between their two Emperors hadn’t split their focus."

Jax didn’t turn around. "Why are you bothering now to involve yourself in my matters? Sit right there in safety with your ego, Athanasia. Keep your hands clean. And just watch."

His voice dropped to something that carried more violence than any blade. "Watch how I walk into a capital filled with your unbeatable monsters and turn the greatest empire in the world into a graveyard. Just to get her back."

—x—X—x—

After several hours, Jax had successfully sneaked into the imperial palace. He was wearing full knight armor which he had acquired after beating a patrolling knight unconscious and borrowing his outfit without asking.

He was not alone in this mission to rescue the tiny dragon. There was company. Lavinia had been the first to stubbornly follow him, flat-out refusing to leave because she genuinely wanted to protect Tempris.

Then there were two surprising additions. Evangeline, whose reasons for helping Jax still couldn’t figure out. And Delphine, who had volunteered despite her twisted relationship with both Jax and the girl he was trying to save.

And lastly Athanasia had tagged along, declaring she would only interfere if her heart told her to.

And so the whole squad was now going up against an entire empire.

Each member was given a specific task. Evangeline and Delphine were on their way to locate Tempris and free her.

While Jax was assigned to his most suited job. Creating diversion. Which meant creating chaos and diverting every ounce of attention toward himself.

He was walking through a palace corridor thinking of ideas when he spotted a man trailed by a formation of guards. Looking at the way every servant pressed themselves against the wall as he passed, Jax was sure he was one of the emperors.

A guard knocked on a door ahead. When it opened, a gorgeous woman appeared and bowed with practiced elegance. "Your Imperial Majesty, you grace this chamber with your presence."

The emperor waved her off warmly. "Come now, drop the honorifics. After all, you will be a part of the family soon."

She replied with a gentle smile. "Even so, it would be improper not to greet you properly."

He sighed in happy defeat and gestured for the guards to hand over some wrapped presents. "Then allow me to be improper in return. I brought these before that moron Damian and your soon-to-be husband forgets every custom in his excitement."

The woman giggled with royal etiquette that was somehow both restrained and warm at the same time. "I thank you for these generous gifts, Your Majesty. But please, won’t you step inside? I would love to express my gratitude properly over a cup of tea I brewed myself. Assuming His Majesty isn’t too burdened by his duties, of course."

The emperor smiled. "A moment of peace before dealing with the court sounds absolutely perfect. I would be delighted."

He turned to his guards and said. "Tell Damian that I am currently busy sharing some childhood memories with Lady Isadora."

-x-X-x-

[A/N: Big shoutout to stripes8608, Leo_Muhammad, david_hargr, tony_adams_4787, Outsxder and Kyle_Neel for the golden tickets, appreciate every single one of you ❤️🔥

(👍🏻ᴗ _ᴗ)👍🏻]