Chapter 23

As they left the second orphanage, Ivan had a smile on his face. They had indeed been to capacity, but they said with the money they gave them they could take in quite a few more children. It had saved a few, who had been sitting in their lobby. He wouldn't toss them out, even if he couldn't take them in. This orphanage was being ran by a man and his adopted children. They each adopted two of the orphans as well. Ivan was happy to hear they hadn't had any casualties. When they came in, the man had said it was an orphanage, and they'd left without another word, definitely better than the outcome at the other one. As they walked through the streets, Ivan glanced to Arthur, who sat before him on the horse, wrapped in his arms that held the reigns. "Do you regret me now that you've seen this? Does it make you angry that I came in like that and set siege to your village?"

"You set siege to my village, and entered the orphanage. You took me as a slave, and as a slave I've been treated better than I ever was by the people there." Arthur looked up. "I do not regret, Master. Not for a moment do I regret the kindness you've shown me, or the love I've received at your side." He watched as Ivan nodded, but his shoulders fell a little, letting Arthur know it had been worrying him. Arthur leaned back, pressing himself a little harder to Ivan's chest. "This is where I belong. Right here with you." He sighed, closing his eyes.

The day was difficult. Nikolai had disappeared when they'd returned to the castle, and Sasha came alone to the second orphanage with them. When they returned, it was obvious as to why.

Teenage girls lined the throne room, each one looking horribly nervous as Ivan walked through, Arthur and Sasha beside him. "Nikolai?"

"Maids and cooks, Ivan. We needed them, and guess what? There's a sudden abundance of girls in need of a job, ones who don't mind moving into the castle as they have nowhere else to go. My own version of taking in orphans, if you will." Nikolai spoke and the girls looked at Ivan with worry.

"If any of you have somewhere else you'd rather be, other family you'd rather stay with, you're free to go. I won't force anyone to work here. Is that understood?" He asked and the girls nodded, though none left. "So you're all here on your own will?" He asked and a slow nod made its way through the group. Ivan sighed as he looked at Nikolai. "You're to train them." He spoke and Nikolai sat up in shock.

"What about Roderich? Isn't it his job to train the people of the castle?"

"He's training a lady of the court. It takes time, and a lot of effort." Ivan spoke and Nikolai nodded with a sigh.

"Fine, but you owe me for this." He sighed as he stood, looking down over the girls. "Come on, let me show you to your rooms. Do any of you actually have luggage with you?" The girls all shook their heads.

"Why do they all seem to be in shock? At least they should have something from their houses." Ivan frowned as Nikolai sighed.

"They're from the seaside area. It was hit hardest, and nearly all of the adults were killed on sight. Most of the houses were burned to the ground." Nikolai spoke. "We'll need money for new clothes for them, as well as other items."

"Call in the tailor. We can pay him from the treasury. Taxes for the eastern and northern islands should be coming in the next day or two, so that should help. You're paying them normally, right?"

"Of course." Nikolai frowned. "They may not be adults, but they're still here, right?"

"Indeed." Ivan stood and looked over the women, all on their knees, watching. "Stand up. If you work in the castle, getting onto your knees whenever you see me will only make things harder for everyone. A short bow should work fine. Don't be afraid to approach me or Sasha if you need any information on things. Arthur is new as well, and doesn't know the castle well, so asking him for help might be a bit much." Ivan chuckled as Arthur playfully slapped his shoulder.

A couple of the women, realizing what was happening let out a short giggle, while a couple looked back confused. They stood, as Ivan had requested and Nikolai walked them back through the hallway to show them to their rooms.

"There's only two days left of school. Maybe we should go back?" Ivan looked down as Arthur frowned.

"I should. I need to graduate, but I think the city really needs you right now." Arthur spoke softly and Ivan looked down, a steady frown coming to his face.

"I don't know if I can do this alone." He spoke, his eyes showing the horror of what he'd seen today, as well as the worry of not having the comfort of him at his side.

"You can. You're stronger than I am. You did this alone for a long time, and I've only been here six weeks. It'll only be two days, then I'll be here, alright?" Arthur smiled and Ivan let out a deep sigh.

"Stay with the group. If anything else happens..." Ivan's eyes showed his worry and Arthur smiled.

"We'll rush in to save you, alright?" He smiled softly and reached up, pressing his lips to Ivan's.

"Alright. I'll come down as Piotr the last day to see you off, alright?" He smiled and Arthur nodded.

"That would be nice. I'm more familiar with that appearance, but something about your eyes like this is just... better." Arthur looked him over, running a strand of light blond hair through his fingers. "Two days."

"I'll see you then. Sasha should be going back tonight as well, so he'll help if anything happens." Arthur nodded his understanding before turning and walking through the door, back to the school for what he knew would be the two loneliest days.

And he'd been right. Vladimir had been a little surprised to wake the next morning to discover everyone else had left him, and made his way back to the school. Now, without Piotr, he glued himself to Arthur's side. The rest of the group were in couples, and Arthur watched their interactions, wondering if anyone else though of them the way he saw Francis and Gilbert, feeding each other grapes while talking about magic. It was almost tragically adorable.

"Where's your master?" Antonio asked when he sat at breakfast the next morning.

"He went to check the house, but since I'm trying out for the Assassin's Squad, it was kind of important for me to come back." He sighed, leaning forward as Sasha walked in. His eyes roved the tables, seeing many empty seats. Some had ran to their homes to check on their families, while many had died. With the boot camp having 102 students, they now only had 56, only ten had went home. Nearly half of the students had died in the attack, mostly the medics and strategists.

"I received notice this morning that the Boot Camp is to be closed from today onward, til the next new recruits come in. Congratulations, everyone here, for fighting and winning, you have all well earned your graduations, each with honors. Especially rooms 1,5 and 7, as well as Vladimir Popescu for defending the King during attack." He looked around as Piotr came in and sat beside Arthur, giving him a hug.

"I couldn't do it alone after all." He spoke softly, tears in his eyes. Arthur hugged him close as Sasha continued his speech.

"You have today to pack your things. I'll give you each your diploma at the end of the school day. You've been a very fun class to teach, and I only wish the best for your futures." He sighed. "Also, as an emergency precaution, a notice was sent out yesterday morning. The people who are trying out for the Assassin's Squad will be allowed an extra day to collect your things, as the tryouts are being moved to today, in one hour. Thank you all for being here with us." Sasha bowed low, wishing with all his heart that it had been to a full room.

"It's today?!" Antonio stood, panicking.

"Sit and eat." Francis rolled his eyes. "We've been prepared all this time, non? Just remember not to panic."

"I'm already panicking!" Antonio sighed.

"You're taking this rather well. I thought you went home?" Alfred spoke up to the two at the end of the table.

"They were all fine." Piotr smiled softly, though depressed.

"It'll be alright. We'll take good care of him, I promise." Lovino spoke with determination, but at the same time the sadness of what was happening made itself apparent in his eyes. Everyone ate before heading to their rooms. Ivan packed up his clothes and such, though only a few outfits were really there. The books belonged to the school.

Arthur only had his clothes, which Piotr packed with his things. "Don't think you're not staying in my room anymore." He spoke as Arthur turned with a frown.

"But what if I don't make it?" he asked and Piotr turned.

"If as a group they don't make it, and you're to be denied with them, would you grant yourself as my slave again? Like you did before when I granted you your freedom?" Ivan asked, watching as Arthur turned to him with tears in his eyes.

"I was worried you would take me back!" He cried. Piotr rushed to him, holding him close.

"It's my wish to have you be a knight at my side. I want you to have your freedom, for it's looked down upon for a king to court a slave, but a knight..." He kissed Arthur softly. "I'm free to show my love to a knight." He smiled.

When Arthur realized what he meant his eyes widened, his heart beat faster. Ivan was granting him his freedom to allow him to stand at his side instead of kneel at his feet. "We will win, but if something happens, please take me as your slave again." He smiled softly, sharing another kiss.

It was forty five minutes later, fifteen minutes til the contest was to start. They stood before the castle, looking with worry and hope. Arthur clung to Piotr. He offered kisses and sweet words, making Lovino's stomach drop every second. He knew they needed Arthur, but he hated to see this happening. "Piotr, why don't you join us as well? I don't want to be the reason you're split." he frowned, feeling his stomach twist further.

"I can't." He smiled sadly. "Lovino, I grant you my slave, Arthur Kirkland. Treat him well." Piotr smiled, a tear coming to his eye, but only he and Arthur knew it was happy. Arthur hugged him tightly, pressing his face to his chest.

"Arthur Kirkland, I grant you your freedom. As a free man, do you still wish to join us for this?" Lovino asked and Arthur turned, nodding.

"Then with that, I must grant you a farewell." Piotr spoke softly, leaning down to offer another kiss before turning and walking back to the school. Lovino, Francis, Alfred, Yao, Feliciano and Antonio stared in horror over what they'd just witnessed. Arthur watched Piotr walk away, feeling like it really was the last time he'd see him. Piotr had a distinctly different attitude than Ivan did, after all. While he thought the light hair and violet eyes looked different, he'd grown used to the dark hair and eyes and he watched carefully until it left his vision. He turned with tears in his eyes.

"Let's go." He nearly whispered, tears in his eyes.

They walked to the door and guards looked at them in surprise. "We're here for the Assassin's Squad challenge." Antonio spoke and the guards nodded, remembering them as the group who had defended the king the day before. They were allowed entry, Nikolai and Sasha sitting in their thrones, another group already there. It was a smaller group, only four members, but if they were amazing, it would cause them trouble. One last one, a girl walked in behind the groups, standing in the center. Arthur looked at her, seeing her stand tall, her blue maid looking dress flowed in the breeze. Though she wore an apron and looked quite dainty, she had a glint in her eyes that told the rest to be wary of her.

"Hello, again." Vladimir nodded and she glared back.

"Don't speak to me, peasant." She snapped, surprising both of the other groups there. It was a few minutes til Ivan walked through, looking over the groups.

"There was another group, but if they weren't able to make it in time, that's against them. Bar the door!" He yelled and the guards stepped inside, sliding a bar over the door. Arthur stared surprised. So the other group had been disqualified for that...

"I am King Ivan, the one you are all here to challenge to serve under. You." he pointed to the group of four. "If you are to serve me, show me. Where will you stand by my side?" He asked as he lowered himself into the throne. The group ran up, each taking a corner of the throne, standing tall at attention. Gilbert let out a huff, but was quickly elbowed by Francis, who stared as if to ask him if he'd gone insane.

"You're dismissed. Lady Natalia. Where would you serve?" He asked as she walked up the stairs, taking the back left corner, between Ivan and Nikolai.

"And you?" He turned to the last group as Natalia ran back to her seat. They had barely gotten a step in when Arthur ran up and nearly jumped onto his lap, laying his head on his chest, while Gilbert just sat on the steps. Vladimir sat beside him, having a feeling he understood. He grasped Antonio, who sat beside him, while the others dispersed over the dais, feeling an odd disconnect, but something surprisingly familiar. Antonio stared, seeing Arthur look up with a smile at Ivan and frowned, staring.

Ivan's face did look familiar, but from the six feet away, with his head down, it was nearly impossible to see his face. Ivan glanced up, finding Ludwig staring at the other groups, his arms crossed over the top of the throne. Ivan glanced around, seeing everyone comfortable and enjoying. He couldn't help the smile that came to his face at this, though the group of four were gawking in horror.

"You're dismissed as well. Except you." He kept his arm over Arthur, causing him to giggle.

"Who here, besides Gilbert, Vladimir and Ludwig know who I am?" He asked and a woman from the group of four called out.

"You are King Ivan Braginsky! You are the King of Russia!" She called out, pressing an arm over her chest in salute.

"You're Piotr." Antonio spoke, surprised. "That's why Arthur was alright with you leaving! You're Piotr!" He called out, laughing. Everyone else in his group stared, surprised.

"You're insane!" Francis spoke. "Arthur's obviously lost his mind to the agony of losing his love! He's distraught!"

"Do I look distraught to you?" Arthur asked, staring as Ivan chuckled.

"What's the tactical advantage of having that boy on your lap?" Another woman from the group of four yelled out, a bit upset at seeing someone so friendly with the king she was fighting to protect.

"Why does there have to be a tactic?" Arthur leaned over backwards, looking at the girl. "Maybe I'm just an innocent kitten!" He smiled before leaning back up.

"I have fifty soldiers outside of the room." Ivan clapped his hands and the soldiers came in, lining up on the far side of the room. "You." he pointed to the group of four and Arthur nodded, getting off of his lap and ran to his group. "The soldiers, as well as Sasha and Nikolai will attempt to touch me. Keep them from doing so, as well as keeping them alive for five minutes." Ivan smiled and the girls nodded, running to the throne. The others moved to the side of the room, out of the way. "Go!"

The soldiers took off running, reaching them quickly. The magician of the group placed a shield around them, keeping the soldiers out, but also keeping them locked in. One of the soldiers noticed something and pointed. Sasha nodded and grinned, jumping to the window and climbed the curtain before jumping on the chandelier. He climbed across those, the girls so busy with the soldiers below they didn't even notice as Sasha came over the group and stood right over Ivan in the shield.

It hadn't gone all the way to the ceiling.

He watched as the girls fought, actually pretty good, but it looked like one magician and three soldiers. No strategy was really in play. If Ivan got injured, there was no medic. This group, as hard as they fought, they just weren't good enough. He slipped down, hanging and released his hands.

Sasha fell with his legs straddling Ivan's lap, and stuck out his finger, touching his nose. "And he's touched!" Sasha called out, a happy smile on his face as the girls turned, seeing him. One groaned while one screamed in frustration. The other two looked on in hope. Maybe no one else would succeed either, they hoped.

Natalia was next. She stood before Ivan with a frown. "As you're alone, I'll have the soldiers, my brothers and the time. Sasha, return to your seat." Ivan smiled as Sasha shrugged and sat down.

Natalia knew she had to think quick. Her moves were meant to kill. Keeping the enemy alive was never her intent. She pulled up her dress, pulling a handful of knives to her chest as she stared ahead, honestly confused over what to actually do.

"Your instructions were not to kill." Ivan reminded her and she swallowed hard.

"I was taught as a weapon. I don't know how to fight without going for an artery or vein, but I'll try, your Highness." She spoke, her voice soft, but harsh.

"Nikolai, do this alone. I want to see how she fares." Ivan spoke out loud and Nikolai nodded, a smile coming to his face as he squared off, his hands falling in fists at his side. "Go!"

Nikolai was fast as lightening, and took off running, but Natalia was a tad faster. Her fingers flew, her blades flying forward, stabbing through the material of his coat and Nikolai gasped, darting to the side as the blades kept stabbing his coat, sticking him to the floor for a moment. He knew a few had torn through, but when she threw two at once, on one each side of the bottom of the coat, he jerked back, falling to the ground. Natalia ran over, throwing blade after blade through his coat, pinning him to the floor before she jumped back, waiting at Ivan's side. He struggled, and was eventually able to get out of the coat. He took off running at her, seeing no more blades, he thought himself safe. He darted to the side, surprised as her hand reached out and grasped his collar, yanking him to the side. She was on him in a moment, his arms pinned behind his back, her straddling over him, holding him still til Ivan called time. As Nikolai stood, he stared, surprised at the girl. She turned and bowed low, a smile coming to her face as she returned to her spot.

The whole time this had been going on the last group had chatted, coming up with a plan.

As Ivan turned to them, Arthur smiled, again throwing himself to Ivan's lap.

The group came up, pretty much sitting or standing where they had before, except Ludwig sat with his brother, Vladimir and Antonio. "They're getting farther from the King." One girl on the other side mumbled and Ivan smiled, knowing Yao put his thoughts behind this. "Go."

As the soldiers started rushing forward, Sasha and Nikolai in the front, there was a fantastic flash of light. When it cleared, the only one left was Vladimir, who smirked.

"Now you have to find out where in the castle they actually are!" He chuckled with mirth as the soldiers stared. Nikolai took half of the soldiers and they ran to the left door, taking off.

"That was cute. You probably got rid of half of the army for this, but you forgot. I've seen this trick before." Sasha smiled as Vladimir grinned back and with a flicker, he was gone as well.

Sasha frowned, his eyes narrowed as he slowly stepped forward, his hands out as he reached for the throne.

About five feet before the throne he was zapped by something and stumbled back, his eyes wide as he realized Arthur's shields had been altered to allow for an effect other than burning someone to ash. He nearly fell down the stairs, but was caught by one of the other soldiers, who sat staring at the throne before them.

"DON'T TOUCH IT!" Sasha yelled out before blinking hard and stumbled back to his feet. "It's drunk." He frowned, stumbling to the side, the soldier catching him again.

"You mean you're drunk?" The man asked, watching as Sasha tried hard to stay on his feet.

"It's Arthur's shields. Can anyone absorb magic?" He asked but the men all shook their heads.

"I can." The magician from the other group walked up, uncaring if her interference was later looked down upon, as long as they lost as well. She walked up and held out her hands, about an inch from where she'd seen Sasha zapped and sighed, starting the process of sucking in the magic.

From the top of the shield vines appeared and lifted her, tossing her to the other side of the room. It was a far toss, but she landed on a few of the soldiers, breaking her fall. They didn't want her injured, after all. The woman frowned, seeing the vines suck back in and looked at her arms, finding thorns stabbing into her flesh. She pulled them out before walking back up and tried again.

This time no vines came to meet her, but none were needed. "I can't use magic." She stared, her eyes wide.

"The thorns were poisoned. You'll be fine in an hour." She heard mumbled from within the shield and turned, screaming in frustration.

"Let's rush it!" Sasha yelled. "Maybe if we all rush in, it'll overload the shield!" He yelled and the soldiers all nodded.

The worst that could happen is they get drunk, after all, so they all rushed in.

They fought to get past, but eventually, with a scream from Arthur, the shield did fall, and was replaced with the save vines that had attacked the woman. Thorns stuck into their skin, but this time it wasn't to remove magic, but consciousness.

They fell into a sleep around the group.

"Francis, left door!" Yao called. "Ludwig and Gilbert, bar the right!" He called and the group jumped into action as Yao called out for more locations, everyone falling into their positions as Ivan held Arthur.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yeah." Arthur smiled, but all four of the girls saw his condition. His skin was pale, sweat beaded his brow as circles came to light under his eyes.

Vladimir wasn't looking much better, sitting beside the throne, panting for air. Making the shield invisible was harder than he thought it would be, but he'd succeeded. Antonio worked on trying to restore him, as honestly Ivan was pampering Arthur enough. Lovino stood at the back of the throne, ready to toss up another shield. It wouldn't be as strong, but in an emergency, it would work for a few seconds, even if it was a pretty nasty zap they'd be getting.

Alfred worked alone until Ludwig and Gilbert were done. They carried the soldiers down to the bottom of the dais to make sure none of them could move to touch the king.

The girls just stared, knowing already that they'd been outdone.