Shattered Sanity

Riven felt as though Circuit was quite an interesting character, since the boy sitting before him possessed none of the overwhelming confidence or towering physical presence commonly associated with talented young nobles.

If anything, Circuit looked physically unimpressive, with his narrow shoulders, pale complexion and sickly frame making it difficult to imagine him surviving against most students within a serious fight.

Yet there was a certain intelligence behind his eyes that Riven found difficult to ignore, especially after everything Circuit had already revealed despite entering the room only minutes ago.

"All right."

He eventually said.

"I’ll accept that answer for now...

Let’s say I don’t want to know about your sources, and that I trust your information.

But what I do want to know is more about this alliance you speak of.

I’m assuming this news is not free, and that you expect something in return..."

Riven said, as Circuit nodded appreciatively.

"Indeed.

You see, My Lord, I possess a rather unfortunate respiratory illness..."

He explained without the slightest embarrassment.

"It has followed me since childhood, and although I can Ascend and I can study, my physical development is something that will always remain considerably behind what someone with my resources and upbringing should otherwise be capable of."

Circuit looked directly towards Riven.

"My family has spent considerable amounts of money attempting to cure me, while some of the finest physicians within Valdrak have examined my condition over the years.

Unfortunately, they all eventually reached approximately the same conclusion.

I can live normally, I can Ascend normally and there is nothing preventing me from graduating from this Academy, provided I am capable enough.

But when it comes to physical strength and endurance, there is a limit to what my body can accomplish."

Circuit briefly glanced towards his own narrow arms before continuing.

"Which means that once serious physical training begins, everyone inside this House will eventually discover exactly how weak my body is, when I either quit most drills halfway or collapse while clutching my lungs."

Riven listened quietly, although he found Circuit’s willingness to openly discuss his greatest weakness rather interesting.

According to Lucius, most nobles within the Valdrak Empire were supposed to be obsessed with projecting strength, yet Circuit spoke about his physical limitations without a hint of shame, as though he had long come to accept it.

"I have no intention of pretending that my physical condition does not leave me vulnerable...

The Imperial Academy gathers ambitious children, noble heirs, military recruits and individuals desperate to establish themselves above everyone else.

So someone physically weak inevitably becomes an attractive target for people looking for someone beneath them."

His expression remained remarkably matter-of-fact.

"So, I just would prefer not to become that person..."

Circuit implied, as Riven nodded understandingly.

"So you want me to protect you?"

Riven suggested.

"Yes."

Circuit replied.

"However, I am not asking for charity."

That answer came considerably more firmly.

"My father and brother taught me never to approach someone powerful and ask them to carry my weakness without providing something equally valuable in return.

If I want someone to compensate for the things I cannot do, then I must become valuable enough elsewhere that helping me remains beneficial for them."

Circuit leaned slightly forward.

"I cannot offer you physical strength."

He admitted.

"There will probably never be a day when you require somebody to be beaten and decide that Circuit Miles is the best man available."

Riven almost smiled, although Circuit continued seriously.

"But there are other ways to become useful."

He tapped one finger lightly against his temple.

"I find information. I notice patterns. I understand people reasonably well, and I was raised from childhood to approach problems differently because everyone in my family understood that brute strength would never become an option available to me.

Give me enough information about a situation and enough time to study it, and there is a good chance I will notice something others overlook."

Circuit paused.

"So here is my proposal."

Riven waited.

"Let me help you defeat Gary Ironveil."

Circuit began, as Riven’s eyes sharpened.

"We already know the fight is coming, which gives us an advantage before Gary even realizes there is something he needs to prepare for.

Plus, once I learn exactly what your strengths are, I can help you come up with a strategy to beat him, since I have already seen Gary Ironveil fight before, and have a rough estimate of his abilities....."

Circuit’s gaze remained steady.

"If my information proves useful and I contribute meaningfully towards your victory, then I want your protection for the remainder of this academic year."

"Naturally, I don’t expect you to fight every person who looks at me incorrectly, nor do I expect you to follow me around protecting me like some personal bodyguard."

He clarified.

"I simply want it understood within House Argent that I am associated with you."

Circuit paused.

"That should be enough."

Riven remained silent for several moments.

It was an unusually straightforward proposal.

Circuit possessed something Riven potentially needed and wanted something Riven could provide almost effortlessly in return.

More importantly, he had not approached Riven expecting protection merely because he was weak.

He intended to earn it, and the information he had brought with him suggested that his claims regarding his usefulness possessed considerably more substance than simple boasting.

"I’ll agree to something slightly different."

Riven eventually replied, as Circuit’s eyebrows rose.

"What do you have in mind, My Lord?"

"If you prove yourself as resourceful as you claim, then I will protect you."

Riven said.

"But it won’t be because you helped me win one fight."

Circuit watched him carefully.

"If we’re going to work together, and you prove yourself worthy of remaining beside me, then I will consider you part of my inner circle."

Riven continued.

"And I don’t abandon people within my circle simply because our original transaction has expired."

Something within Circuit’s expression softened slightly at those words.

"So don’t think of this as purchasing one year of protection."

Riven said.

"Show me that you’re useful. Show me that I can trust you, and if we become friends along the way, then you won’t need to ask me whether I’ll protect you."

His eyes remained steadily upon Circuit.

"Because I, Riven Dawnriver, protect my friends regardless."

Riven declared, as Circuit remained quiet for several seconds.

For most of his life, his father and brother had taught him to view relationships between powerful individuals through exchanges of value, because relying upon another person’s generosity was dangerous.

That was precisely why Circuit had entered this room prepared to negotiate.

He had expected Riven Dawnriver to ask what he could provide, determine whether the exchange benefited him and then establish whatever conditions he considered appropriate.

Instead, the young Ducal heir seemed to possess a considerably better nature than Circuit could have reasonably hoped for, offering him the possibility of something more permanent without expecting blind loyalty in return.

’He is a nice man... Definitely worth following...’

Circuit thought, as the last remaining uncertainty regarding his choice gradually disappeared.

He had entered Riven’s room hoping to secure protection from the strongest person he could reasonably approach.

However, perhaps his father had been right when he told Circuit that choosing the correct ally mattered considerably more than collecting dozens of temporary friendships.

Circuit let out a deep breath before smiling slowly.

"All right, about how to beat Gary..."

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