"I object," Syryn raised his hand.

The avians had a collective moment of dumbfounded shock. Was the boy an idiot?

Of all the people they'd expected an objection from, it wasn't him. Utsui balled his fists and breathed out audibly. How much stress was Syryn going to cause him in a day?

Altaire and Syryn faced each other. Syryn would not deny that there was an attractive majesty in the straight lines of Altaire's open posture. He was at the top of the food chain and it showed in the way he occupied the space around him. The elegant black and gold edged robe on his wide shoulders amplified Altaire's presence of power. The mysterious looking man didn't appear cocky or arrogant - it was that Altaire simply didn't care for who was in charge.

"I object, not because I reject your offer to judge my potions. I wish to implore you to first consider my plea before you begin judgement," Syryn's voice was clear and loud. "These unscrupulous avians have insulted me, questioned my character, my abilities, and have attempted to disrupt the test with lies that slander my integrity - all of this for the sole purpose of sabotaging my hard-earned victory. Master Altaire, should you find that I am innocent, I believe that it is within my rights to demand suitable compensation for the harm they've caused me. Do you agree?" His speech was injected with just enough helplessness and frustration that Syryn really became a victim in the eyes of the imposing alchemist.

Altaire had remained silent as he listened to Syryn plead his case. Like an unshakeable monolith, the alchemist made no reaction and asked no questions. The teen was allowed to speak uninterrupted, and when he had said his final piece, the masked man finally nodded.

Altaire's low voice resounded in the amphitheatre, "I cannot speak for Nua's courts. It is not within the scope of my authority to award you compensation, but, as your senior alchemist, I will give you justice only as someone of my abilities can." Like boulders filling a lake, each word settled down heavily within the tense atmosphere of the amphitheatre. Why did it sound like Altaire had already made his decision about the guilty party? The avians were unaware that the alchemist had watched Syryn closely through the entire brewing process, and had understood how talented he really was.

And it was at that moment the avians knew that they were done for. Who was Altaire? A godly presence amongst them that had contacts all across the known kingdoms. With a single word from his mouth, Nua would find itself hard-pressed to receive business from reputable potion industries. And that was just the best-case scenario for them. The alchemist was capable of handing down far worse punishments. Yes, they were well and truly done for today.

"There's no need for such drastic actions, please, master Altaire, reconsider your words. We don't have to take it that far!" Elder Toka sounded panicked as he hurriedly interjected. If the great master really placed an embargo on Nua because of the silly show, the emperor of Nua would have their freedoms and titles, if not their lives. They could not afford to offend Altaire and in turn, the thorny Syryn.

The old man had found it inconceivable that someone so young could have claimed mastery of both medicine and alchemy but the teen had proved him wrong. Syryn had in fact pushed them into the hole they had dug out for him. And Altaire was helping the boy bury them alive. What a troublesome child! Elder Toka thought as he glanced at the beautiful boy. Syryn reminded him of the toxic flowers that were gorgeous to look at but could kill you if you so much as caressed a single petal.

"Elder Toka," Altaire replied with gravity, "I do not take back the words I've already spoken." The alchemist walked past the elder and then stopped as if he had remembered something. He picked up the basket of heart feathers and began a walk down the steps of the amphitheatre. To the avians, he seemed like an undertaker arriving to execute them.

Syryn waited for Altaire to arrive beside him. What was it like to be defended by a guardian angel who was also the man you'd idolised for years? Syryn would have said that it felt better than sex, not that he was in a position to make such a statement. The teen was feverish with excitement, and there was a hint of nerves that made him hyper-aware of Altaire's imposing presence.

The black and gold robe filled his vision when Altaire stopped beside him. Syryn swallowed past the dryness of his throat and arranged his features into a natural smile. "Master Altaire, thank you for saving me from the cunning machinations of these cruel avians."

Elder Toka felt the blood rush up his throat when he heard Syryn's fake accusations. Right from the beginning, the entire alchemy test had been an insidious trap set up by Syryn. They'd all lined up and tied themselves together with a single rope to jump into the pit. He regretted setting up a big stage for Syryn, he regretted allowing Syryn to get under his skin, and most of all - he regretted having involved Altaire.

A basket of precious heart feathers, the goodwill of the famous alchemist, and a noose around the necks of the avians in the amphitheatre - these were the spoils of war that Syryn had reaped. Elder Toka's old heart was strong but this time, his chest felt tighter than it had any right to.

The old man clutched his chest in agony and the last thought that went through his mind before he passed out was of how that cursed Syryn brat was driving him into an early death.

"Grandfather!" Syryn heard an alarmed shout and then saw the figure of Utsui rushing up the stairs where elder Toka was slumped over unconscious. Frightened avians began milling around the old man, and chaos quickly descended upon the amphitheatre.