"You have been angling for the Champion's League all along!" Headmaster Kim jumped out of the chair and paced as far and the small office allowed.

"But Uncle how can anyone my age aim so high?" Junseo shook his head. "This was my first shot at the government examinations after all," he tried to reason but it had little effect.

"You made the cut." His uncle said in a strangled voice. "You more than made the cut. You will be in the first tier of the qualifiers even though you are only sixteen."

"I am not sure I remember how the tiers are determined. What does it mean exactly?" The Investigator wanted confirmation since the headmaster seemed distressed.

"The second tier will have scored in the top half of the exams but not in the top twenty percent. They can choose to start their mandatory military service or continue their studies. A few might go through preliminary tournaments to try get an open spot at the official qualifier. Anyone in the first tier, or top twenty percent on the exams can go to straight a college or university. They are automatically screened into the qualifying rounds for the Champion's League. Junseo is the only student at the school who made the first tier this year."

"That's good, isn't it? It means you will stay to train." There was a bit of a plea in Tai Yi's voice.

"I will certainly stay but I don't know where you are going to stay. We surely can't go back to our room tonight," Junseo looked expectantly at his uncle but was answered by the Investigator.

"The Psyonan Lord Presumptive has been invited to stay in a suited of rooms in the East Wing of the Palace. We will arrange for his things to be transferred and he will study with the royal tutors for the time being."

Tai Yi nodded glumly at the offer. He was not surprised at the outcome only disappointed he could not stay with his new friend. Junseo read the situation in a glance.

"I understand you have to take measures to improve his safety but do you think it might be alright if I came and stayed with him from time-to-time. Starting say, tonight?" Junseo knew he might be pushing things and that staying in the palace was the last thing he should be doing but it just felt right to stay with the younger boy.

The Palace Inspector gave Junseo a hard look but before he could say anything so Headmaster Kim jumped in.

"Can anyone be doubting my nephew's loyalty?" He was starting to get his back up at the thought.

"No, I am very grateful for his offer," the Investigator said firmly and then turned to Junseo, "Is there anything you will need?"

"Just a change of cloths. Oh, and volume two of the Great Sage's Cantos. It should still be in the senior student's lounge. I have to brush up for a recitation tomorrow."

"I will lend you my volume," his uncle surprised him with this offer and then rushed off to retrieve the volume.

The two boys were soon bundled into a carriage. They both still wore bloodied school uniforms and carried book bags on their laps. It was only after they were underway Junseo remembered the incriminating papers still tucked into the binding of his design book. He was lucky it was with him and not uncovered by the investigators searching their room. He worried about the check at the palace gate but it was perfunctory.

When they arrived at the assigned apartment the guard detail made them remain in the carriage while they searched the place. The guards then indicated they would remain at the entrances to the suite all night.

Inside the lush accommodation there were just two servants to help the boys get cleaned up and served a light meal. Tai Yi's new tutor stopped by to meet him and promised to be back to guide him around the next day. Even though both boys were very tired, they were tense being in a strange place after the afternoon's events.

Junseo sat beside Tai Yi's bed and read the Fourth Cantos aloud. They both found if very soothing. Before heading to his designated room, Junseo found extra bedding to pile over top of Tai Yi to help the boy feel more at home.

"I don't know why I feel so connected to you, my friend." Junseo said a bit shyly as he tucked the young boy in.

"Maybe it's the power of the phoenix." Tai Yi guessed with a smile. "I think the Inspector sensed it too even if he was trying to put me on guard against you."

Junseo could not imagine what Tai Yi meant and said as much.

"It would be a pretty good trick to gain my trust. Dramatic rescue after we just met and all that. I can already hear what the Council of Regents might say." Tai Yi went on with some colourful impressions of his least favour advisors.

"What kind of twisted world do they live in, if they think I would kill one of my allies just to gain credibility with someone in a temporary position?" Junseo still felt sick over having killed one of the attackers. He had played it over, and over, in his mind but could not see how it could have been avoided without letting Tai Yi be taken.

"They don't know you. Not at all." Tai Yi shook his head. "Besides, it just as easily could have been any one of them trying to pry more money out of the estates. Or maybe even start more trouble with all that is going on in the south."

"It was more likely someone local who was just too stupid and greedy to do a proper job. The Inspector will probably have it all sorted by morning." Junseo yawned widely as he said this and had to repeat it to make it understandable.

Before getting into bed Junseo did a slow stretching routine that supplied a full inventory of his most recent injuries. Most of the bruises were not very serious except he possibly cracked a rib. The cut on his hand was deep enough that he would need to be extra careful not to lose mobility while it healed. The saddle sores would be annoying for a while longer. He breathed in deeply visualizing positive energy flowing in and exhaled slowly sending his pain and worries away. He tapped lightly along a meridian line that felt blocked and then repeated his breathing exercise while laying down.

Junseo dreamed he was floating in a warm pool that washed away all his cuts and bruises. He felt a couple of friendly creatures swimming beside him and nudging him toward a brightly lit, arched tunnel. When he reached the entrance, he was held in the most tender-hearted gaze but before he could make out who or what looked at him a silvery mist swallowed the scene.

He came to with a start and saw whisps of mist wrapped around his injured hand. It took only the briefest moment for him to realize he wasn't still dreaming and the aches and pains he expected to feel were not there. He was so grateful for this respite he did not question it.

Part of an old poem came to mind as he dressed for the day in the new uniform the school send over. It was something about letting the dragon take care its own. If he was at home he knew exactly where to look it up. He pushed away the sense of frustration and gathered himself together.

He caught a glimpse of his face in the bronze mirror in the hall and realized the recent scar from his split eyebrow was completely gone. He felt for the scar on his scalp behind his ear but it did not seem to be there either. When he peeked under the bandage on his hand the cuts were much better healed than one night should make them.

Junseo's mouth went dry. His grandmother's favourite Shaman had said being dragon touched also meant being able to call up healing mists. He worried members of his birth family might be able to tell with the family's powers were at work. He knew coming to the Palace had been risky but this was something else.

He was barely out of his room when Tai Yi came bounding over too him. Looked up with shining eyes he exclaimed, "I just remembered what the phoenix on your ring being in flight signifies. You're the one. Our new defender. You already proved it."

"I am honoured to serve." Junseo said humbly and desperately tried to think of a distraction for the boy.

Tai Yi noticed Junseo did not deny the northern connection but it was not satisfied.

"No, you ARE honoured. Prince to be." Tai Yi insisted.

Junseo felt as if all the air had rushed out of the room. There was such a profound stillness filling up the words so he knew it had to be true. As unlikely as it all seemed up until now, it was true.

"Never say that aloud. Especially here." Junseo whispered urgently. He swallowed hard and shook his head. The boy he helped get to safety just endangered them both.

"I won't say it but you didn't say no either." Tai Yi was still beaming when the guard came to accompany Junseo back to school.

There was no opportunity to reinforce the need for secrecy with the younger boy but after he thought about it, Junseo realized Tai Yi would never confide anything to someone connected to the southern court. If somehow a rumor made the rounds in the North, it was most likely to be ignored here in Leuso. So, for now he had more immediate concerns, like a poem to be recited in front of a class and an uncle to calm down.