Shattered Sanity

(An isolated spot near the boundary of the academy, the night before Black Week begins)

A few hours before Black Week began, in what was a highly unusual meeting, the secretaries from House Aureate, House Sable and House Viridian gathered near one of the isolated boundaries of the Imperial Academy.

”So, are we all in agreement here? We allow our forces to pass through each other’s territories unopposed for the first day, as the three of us focus the bulk of our offensive strength on taking down Argent.

If we capture enough of their people on the very first day, they’ll struggle to do anything significant from there onwards.

We spend one day destroying Argent, and if all goes well, we can then spend six more to compete amongst ourselves,” the Aureate Secretary affirmed, as she laid out the terms of their agreement one final time.

The other two nodded.

A three-House alliance before Black Week was almost unheard of, as usually the differences between each House were significant enough that any attempt at cooperation collapsed long before an agreement could be brokered.

This year, however, it seemed the dislike all three Houses shared towards House Argent was slightly greater than the dislike they held towards one another, and hence, an informal alliance had somehow been born.

”I still want to make one thing absolutely clear....

We are allowing passage through our territories, and that’s it.

If Aureate is chasing Argent students and they cross into something Sable controls, you can follow them through without worrying about us jumping you from behind.

And if you manage to take them prisoner, we’ll allow you to transport them back through our lands without demanding any additional payment.

But that is as far as our agreement goes.

If your people try to camp inside territory we control, we will throw them out ourselves, and if we see them getting captured inside House Argent’s territory instead, don’t expect us to send anyone in to help them,” the Sable Secretary clarified, as she looked between the other two.

”That’s fair. None of us are here because we suddenly developed some great affection for one another anyway.

We simply hate Argent more at the moment, and I think everyone understands that once the first day ends, whatever happens afterward is fair game,” the Viridian Secretary replied, as a faint smile appeared across her face.

”Exactly. And the same applies to prisoners.

Whoever captures someone from Argent keeps them.

Nobody interferes, nobody argues that their people contributed more to the fight, and nobody tries stealing prisoners while they’re being transported back.

However, there is one situation where I think all three of us need to be prepared to actively cooperate,” the Aureate Secretary replied, as she folded her hands behind her back.

”The Silver Stone Bridge?” the Sable Secretary asked.

”If Argent tries to occupy Silver Stone Bridge like the rumors suggest they’re planning to do, we’ll need a three-way assault to successfully force them off.

That bridge is one of the hardest areas in the Academy to take once somebody establishes a proper defensive position there, and historically, it’s been one of the biggest reasons Argent performs so well during Black Week.

If we allow them to settle in comfortably tomorrow morning, taking it afterward is going to cost all three of us far more people than it needs to,” the Aureate Secretary explained.

”I’ve heard the same rumors. Apparently Argent has been unusually interested in the western side of the Academy during their preparations, although nobody from Viridian has managed to confirm what they’re actually planning.

Still, if they do make a move for Silver Stone Bridge, I agree. Better to hit them before they have enough time to turn the place into a fortress,” the Viridian Secretary replied.

”Sable agrees as well.”

The Sable Secretary added, as the arrangement seemed reasonable enough.

For a while, silence settled between the three, as everyone waited for someone else to add something to the discussion, before the House Aureate Secretary finally brought forward the last topic for the night.

”One last thing... It’s not an official part of our agreement, but something I hope the three of us can agree on.

Should any of us capture Riven Dawnriver or any of those five fools constantly following him around, I propose that none of them be released for the entirety of Black Week, regardless of whatever price House Argent offers for their freedom,” the Aureate Secretary proposed, as the other two glanced towards one another.

”Your First Years really hate that boy, don’t they?” the Sable Secretary asked.

”More than I expected.

Riven Dawnriver has somehow managed to become the most hated First Year in Aureate within his first month at the Academy, and after everything that happened with Gary, a large number of our students are particularly motivated to make sure he doesn’t walk away from Black Week without consequences.

However, we also understand that he’s the son of the Eastern Duke, so nobody wants to antagonize him more than necessary. Once the seven days are over, if we still have him, we’ll allow Argent to negotiate for his release at the right price,” the Aureate Secretary explained.

She paused briefly.

”His followers are a different matter. If Aureate captures any of those five, we intend to keep them for the full thirty days permitted under Academy rules.

But I don’t expect either of you to make the same commitment.

All I’m asking is that for the seven days of Black Week, none of us accepts a ransom for Riven Dawnriver or anyone from his group.”

The Viridian Secretary considered the proposal before giving a small shrug.

”I don’t see a problem with that. Our First Years have been complaining about that group almost as much as yours have.

I won’t promise anything beyond Black Week, but if Viridian captures any of them during the event, they stay captured until the seven days are over.”

”That’s reasonable enough,” the Sable Secretary replied. ”Sable will agree to the same terms. Whatever happens afterward is our own business, but until Black Week ends, no ransom and no prisoner exchange involving Riven Dawnriver or those five.”

”Good. Then we’re agreed,” the Aureate Secretary replied.

And with that, the final matter of their unusual meeting was settled.

Whatever else happened between the three Houses during Black Week, Riven Dawnriver and the five First Years associated with him had unknowingly been placed under an agreement none of them even knew existed.