The following afternoon, part of Asteria's main courtyard had been turned into a training ground. Preparations for the imperial visit were still underway. Workers were hanging banners across the walls while several professors checked the arrangements for the upcoming ceremonies. But that wasn't what had caught the students' attention. Around twenty imperial knights had gathered near the training grounds. Their armor bore the emblem of the Empire. A few meters away stood several members of the Black Raven Order. Darius was there. Gareth Riven stood beside him, arms crossed. Kael had joined them a few minutes earlier. He calmly observed both groups. “They brought quite a few,” Gareth remarked. Darius looked toward the imperial knights. “That's normal. They're accompanying an imperial delegation.” “I know.” Gareth glanced at Kael. “But I didn't expect them to send this many people for just a few days at Asteria.” Kael looked at the knights. “They simply don't want any surprises.” Darius smiled faintly. “Or they want to show us they have plenty of them.” Kael gave him a look. “Already?” “Just making an observation.” Gareth chuckled. “Are you two always like this?” “Unfortunately,” Kael replied. Darius placed a hand on his shoulder. “He adores me.” Kael calmly removed his hand. “Don't mistake your dreams for reality.” Gareth shook his head, amused. “I understand why the reports say you two are difficult to separate.” Kael raised an eyebrow. “What reports?” “The Order's reports.” Darius immediately cut in. “They say a lot of things.” “I see.” Kael looked toward the imperial knights again. One of them had just glanced in their direction. His gaze stopped on the emblem of the Black Raven Order. He exchanged a few words with his superior before walking over. The knight was older than most of the students. Perhaps in his forties. His armor was simple, but perfectly maintained. He stopped a few meters from Kael. Then placed a hand against his breastplate. “Patriarch Veyron.” Kael inclined his head slightly. The knight introduced himself. “Captain Armand Caelis. First Imperial Guard.” Darius straightened slightly. “Darius Valen.” “I know.” The captain glanced at Darius's insignia. “Second-in-command of the Black Raven Order.” Darius gave him a small smile. “You did your homework.” “We received the security files before leaving.” Armand then looked at Gareth. “Lieutenant Riven.” Gareth nodded. “Captain.” A comfortable silence settled between them. Then Armand looked at Kael. “It's been a long time since I've seen such a young Veyron wearing a commander's insignia.” Kael didn't answer immediately. “You knew my parents?” “By reputation.” The captain's tone changed slightly. “Your father had a particular reputation among the imperial knights.” Kael waited. “What kind?” Armand smiled faintly. “He didn't like wasting time.” Darius let out a quiet laugh. “Sounds like him.” Kael looked at Darius. “You knew him much better than he did.” “I know.” Armand watched the two of them. He seemed to understand something. “You were already at his side?” Darius nodded. “For a long time.” The captain then looked at Kael. “Then you probably learned from him.” Kael thought for a moment. “Some things.” “And others through your own experience.” “Yes.” Armand nodded slowly. “That's probably the best way to become a commander.” Gareth looked at Darius. “He just complimented him.” “I noticed.” “I thought imperial knights were more serious.” Armand smiled. “We know how to joke too.” Gareth laughed. “Then I think we'll get along.” --- A group of students had gradually moved closer. Noah was, unsurprisingly, among the first. Lysandra and Adrian were with him. “What are they doing?” Noah asked. Adrian watched the knights. “Talking.” “I can see that.” “Then why did you ask?” “Because I want to know what they're talking about.” Lysandra smiled. “You could just listen.” Noah nodded. “Good idea.” He moved slightly closer. Kael immediately noticed. “Noah.” “Yes?” “How long have you been listening?” “Not long.” Darius looked at Noah. “He's lying.” “Thanks.” Kael sighed. “Stay behind the line.” “Promise.” Noah returned to Lysandra. Adrian murmured, “You know he's probably going to cross that line in less than five minutes.” “I know.” --- The imperial captain eventually looked toward the training grounds. “We have a training session scheduled with your students tomorrow.” Gareth nodded. “That's what we were told.” “But before that, some of my knights would like to see how your order operates.” Darius crossed his arms. “You want a joint training session?” Armand smiled. “If you're willing.” Darius looked at Kael. Kael didn't answer immediately. He studied both groups. Then said, “Why not?” Darius smiled. “I was about to suggest the same thing.” Gareth looked toward the imperial knights. “Then we might as well start now.” Armand turned toward his men. “You heard him.” Several knights stepped forward. Darius motioned for two members of the Black Raven Order to join them. Silas Arden and Rowan Hale left the group. Kael knew both of them well. “No dangerous techniques,” he said. Darius nodded. “Obviously.” Armand added, “Same rule on our side.” The first two knights stepped forward. They saluted each other. Then the training began. The exchange was quick. Not brutal. Both men were mainly trying to understand how the other moved. The imperial knight used a very straight, precise guard. The Black Raven knight was far more mobile. After several exchanges, they both stepped back. Neither had really gained the advantage. Armand nodded. “Interesting.” Darius replied, “Your man relies heavily on his footwork.” “Yours changes his rhythm constantly.” Gareth smiled. “That's intentional.” “I figured.” A second spar began. This time, the differences were even more obvious. The imperial knight favored defense. The Black Raven knight focused more on creating openings. After several minutes, they stopped. The imperial captain gave a single clap. “Very good.” Gareth nodded. “Your knights are solid.” “So are yours.” Darius looked at Kael. “What do you think?” Kael had watched every movement. “They're disciplined.” Armand smiled. “That's all?” Kael thought for a moment. “Their training is primarily defensive. They protect something before looking for an opening to attack.” The captain remained silent. Then his smile widened slightly. “Exactly.” Darius looked at Kael. “You really notice everything.” “It's useful.” “Sometimes it's annoying.” Kael shrugged. Armand then looked at Darius. “And your order?” Darius answered, “We're more flexible. Our missions are rarely predictable.” “Territorial protection?” “Among other things.” Darius paused. “Escorts, reconnaissance, intervention, covert operations.” The captain nodded. “A versatile unit.” “That's the idea.” Kael added calmly, “The Black Raven Order protects House Veyron, but not just its walls.” Armand looked at him. “I understand.” “We also protect the people who live under its banner.” The captain remained silent for a few seconds. Then he inclined his head. “That's a philosophy of command I can respect.” Kael returned the gesture. “And the Empire protects those same people, on a much larger scale.” This time, Armand nodded. “Exactly.” There was no tension. No provocation. Just two orders realizing they had more in common than they had expected. --- Noah, who had watched the entire exchange, whispered, “I thought they'd fight a lot more.” Lysandra smiled. “Why?” “I don't know. Two important knight orders… I thought they'd want to prove which one was better.” Adrian shook his head. “True professionals usually don't need to do that.” Noah looked at Kael. “Does he agree with you?” “Who?” “Kael.” Adrian smiled. “Probably.” Kael, who had heard him, turned his head. “Yes.” Noah jumped. “You do that on purpose.” “Do what?” “Listen to conversations from ten meters away.” “I'm just attentive.” Darius walked behind Kael. “He did that as a kid too.” Kael turned around. “Darius.” “What?” “Don't start telling stories.” “I haven't told one.” “You were about to.” Darius smiled. “Maybe.” Noah immediately stepped closer. “What did he do as a kid?” Kael placed a hand on his shoulder and gently pushed him back. “Nothing interesting.” “Then it's interesting.” “No.” “Yes.” “No.” “Yes.” Lysandra laughed. Adrian shook his head. Even a few imperial knights smiled at the scene. --- A little later, Armand approached Kael while the other knights were putting their weapons away. “Patriarch Veyron.” Kael turned toward him. “Yes?” “I wanted to thank you.” Kael frowned slightly. “For what?” “For agreeing to this exchange.” Armand looked toward the two groups. “Some of my men had heard quite a few things about the Black Raven Order.” “False things?” “Not necessarily. Just stories.” Kael understood. “And now?” The captain gave him a faint smile. “Now they know you're not so different from us.” Kael looked toward Darius in the distance. Then Gareth. Then the imperial knights. “We simply have different duties.” “Exactly.” Armand extended his hand. Kael shook it. “I hope we'll have the opportunity to work together during the visit.” “So do I.” The captain returned to his men. Darius approached a few seconds later. “You just shook hands with an imperial.” Kael looked at him. “Yes.” “I should write down the date.” “You should stop writing down everything I do.” Gareth walked up behind him. “Too late. He already does.” Darius smiled. “It's my job.” Kael sighed. “You two are exhausting.” Gareth looked toward the imperial knights as they gradually left the courtyard. “They're good.” Darius nodded. “They are.” Kael watched the group disappear through the gates. “They are.” He paused. “And they seem to take their duty seriously.” Darius looked at him. “Does that matter to you?” Kael answered simply, “Yes.” Darius nodded. He knew Kael well enough to understand what that answer meant. To him, an order wasn't defined by its uniform. It was defined by what it chose to protect. --- As evening fell, the imperial knights returned to their quarters. The members of the Black Raven Order returned to their posts. And Asteria slowly settled back into silence. But something had changed. The two orders had observed each other. They had trained together. They had spoken. And neither had tried to overpower the other. For Kael, that was probably the best way to begin a relationship between them. The imperial visit hadn't even begun yet. And already, the first connection had been made. When the Imperial Family finally passed through Asteria's gates, they wouldn't meet only the students and professors. They would also meet those who truly protected the academy. The Black Raven Order. And this time, the imperial knights would know exactly who they were dealing with.

Between Two Orders