Raven, Pandra and I were led all the way from the courtyard into the heart of Waurweth Academy.
As we walked, Elysia’s voice rang with pride.
"Waurweth Academy was founded over seven centuries ago. This institution has forged kings, generals, high mages, and scholars."
We turned a corner and found ourselves in the main square, bustling with activity.
As we walked, students clad in the academy’s signature uniforms—deep red robes with golden trim, fastened by engraved clasps bearing the Waurweth crest—moved through the halls in clusters.
So carried stacks of spellbooks while others practiced levitation charms on floating objects.
A group nearby sparred with controlled bursts of elental magic. I couldn’t help but stare in admiration. The sheer scale of the academy was breathtaking.
"Look at this place," Raven muttered. "It’s so beautiful here."
I had to agree. Everything about Waurweth academy was surreal.
We passed through a courtyard where students lounged beneath ancient trees, having lunch or studying.
Finally, we arrived at a set of heavy double doors, carved from oak wood. Elysia placed her palm against the wood, and the doors swung open without a sound.
Her office was a warm, majestic study with shelves lined with leather-bound tos stretching to the ceiling.
A massive obsidian desk dominated the center of the room, its surface covered in scrolls, quills, and a strange, magic orb that pulsed like a heartbeat.
Elysia circled the desk and sat, steepling her fingers as she regarded us.
"You three," she said, a slow smile curving her lips, "are the most interesting candidates this academy has ever seen."
A mont of silence passed. Then she continued.
"With the Selection Exam concluded, Raven, Pandra, and Archer, you have officially beco first-year students of Waurweth Academy."
A wave of excitent surged over us. We had made it.
Elysia reached into a drawer and withdrew a thick, silver-bound dossier—the Luminis Codex.
She flipped it open, scanning the contents before settling on Pandra’s file.
"Pandra Thornewood," she mused. "You perford exceptionally well in the written exam. The House of Thornewood must be proud of you. How, might I ask, were you able to solve such advanced theoretical questions?"
Pandra blushed, her fingers twisting in the fabric of her tunic. "I—I began learning advanced magic when I was four, Chancellor. My family insisted on private tutoring. I’ve always found books more comforting than people."
Elysia nodded approvingly. "It shows." She tapped the page. "The Codex lists you as a water mage. Is that correct?"
"Yes," Pandra said, then quickly added, "But I still have so much to learn."
"Of course." Elysia said, and pulled another file toward her. "Which is why you’ve already been assigned a class. You’ll be joining the Moon-Tide Sanctum. Professor Ruen will be your instructor. He’s one of the finest water mages in the academy."
Pandra’s eyes lit up. "Thank you, Chancellor."
Elysia’s gaze drifted to Raven and , her eyes turning more calculating.
"Now," she said, closing the Codex with a soft thud. "Let’s discuss the two of you."
I braced myself. Here it cos.
"Archer," she called first. "You’re from the Brutish Empire, King Godfrey’s kingdom, am I right?"
Luminis city was once an independent city, but it was conquered in the past and absorbed into the Brutish Empire.
As a result, King Godfrey holds a significant influence over the city.
There were various smaller towns and village which made up the empire, but King Godfrey III has little interest in expanding his territory further.
This was due to the ongoing war with the Demon King.
Which explains why Luminis city remains it’s only major city of the Brutish Empire.
I nodded. "Yes, I was born and raised in King Godfrey’s household."
"Interesting," Elysia’s gaze locked on mine. "Is it true your mother’s a servant girl?"
This woman was digging for information. I could tell. If she was in anyway connected to the cult, then might want valuable Intel.
"Yes," I replied her. "Is there anything wrong with that?"
"Oh, nothing really, I’m just curious to know why King Godfrey would want to sponsor the son of a servant girl to an academy as expensive as this one. King Godfrey is never known to be the generous type."
I shrugged, forcing a smile. "People change, chancellor. Perhaps he saw my potentials and decided to use it to his benefits in the future."
Elysia smirked. I knew she knew there was so much more to the little I’ve just told her.
"What’s your specialty, Archer?" She asked, reopening the Codex. She had switched the subject almost quickly.
"I’m a spellcaster," I replied.
She checked my profile and nodded. "You’ll be assigned to Arcane Foundations class. Your instructor is Mistress Seraphin. She’s Luminis city’s one and only female Archmage. You are very lucky."
I forced a polite smile, bowing slightly. "Thank you, Chancellor. I’m honored to learn under Mistress Seraphin."
Elysia gave a knowing look, as if she saw right through my feigned humility.
Her gaze shifted to Raven—and her entire deanor changed.
Her fingers stilled over the Luminis Codex. The warmth in her expression drained like water from a cracked glass.
"You," she said slowly, "are a layman, aren’t you?"
The words hit us like a thunderclap.
A stunned silence filled the room. My breath caught in my throat. Pandra’s hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock.
Raven went deathly pale. "W-What are you talking about?" she stamred
"How could Elysia possibly know?" The question scread in my mind.
Elysia leaned back in her chair, studying Raven closely.
"I sensed it the mont you stepped into the academy. Your presence lacks the natural resonance of a mage." She tilted her head. "But more than that..."
Just then, the heavy oak doors burst open.
Heavy boots echoed into the study as a group of royal palace guards entered, dressed in polished silver armor with Emberfalls Kingdom’s crest emblazoned across their breastplates.
At their lead was a distinguished nobleman with sharp features, his right eye covered by a single-lensed monocle.
His dark coat was embroidered with silver thread, marking him as soone of high status.
The mont Raven saw him, her entire body went rigid.
Her voice cracked as she whispered, "Lord Aldrich? What... what are you doing here?"
The nobleman—Lord Aldrich—ignored the rest of us entirely.
His gaze locked onto Raven, and then, to my utter shock, he dropped to one knee. The guards followed suit, bowing deeply before Raven.
"Princess Eris," Lord Aldrich said, his voice full of reverence. "We have co to take you back ho."
Princess?!
Pandra’s mouth dropped open, and I could feel my heart hamring in my chest.
All this ti... the girl I’d trained with, laughed with, eaten with—she was royalty?
* * * *
Raven’s hands clenched into fists at her sides, her knuckles white. Her face was a storm of emotions—fear, anger, resignation.
"How... how did you find ?"
Lord Aldrich adjusted his monocle, rising slowly to his feet. "It wasn’t easy, Your Highness. We traced your movents from the villages and towns you passed through—whispers of a girl traveling alone, asking about magic. Eventually, your trail led us here... to Luminis City."
He paused, his tone softening. "Your father and mother are beside themselves with worry, princess Eris. They commanded us to bring you ho the mont we found you—no matter what it takes."
I stood there, stunned.
Raven... is a princess? Not just any princess.
Eris Lyon. The only daughter of King Harold Lyon and Queen Fiona Lyon of the Emberfalls Kingdom.
Emberfalls Kingdom was the Western superpower—the most prosperous realms in the world. The kingdom was known for its technology innovations, science and imnse military power.
Many of their scholars scoffed at magic, viewing it as an outdated superstition. They had no need for magic. All their trust and beliefs were on science.
Why would soone from such a place abandon all of that?
My chest tightened. She had lied. About everything.
Raven clenched her fists, her voice cracking. "I’m sorry for running away... but I had no choice." She lifted her chin, eting Aldrich’s gaze. "My parents would never let practice magic. They want to be a proper princess—to sit quietly, to smile and wave at crowds. I’m already betrothed to a prince I don’t even like. They think that’s all I should ever be."
She paused, her voice softening. "But I want to learn magic. I want to be like my grandmother—the last mage of Emberfalls! She was the only person who ever believed I could be more than just a crown and a title."
Aldrich sighed, shaking his head. "Princess Eris... you are a layman. You don’t have magic. It’s impossible."
"I can at least try!" she snapped, her voice raw with desperation. "What harm is there in trying?"
Silence settled like dust in the room.
And yet, all I could hear was the pounding in my ears.
She lied. About everything.
Her na. Her past. Her very identity.
The way she had fought beside us, the way she had spoken about magic with such passion... had any of it been real?
I thought I knew her. I thought we were friends. But now—
She was a runaway princess from the greatest kingdom in the world. A kingdom that saw magic as nothing but foolishness.
I just stood there, feeling like a fool. For the first ti since arriving at Waurweth Academy... I felt betrayed.
Reviews
All reviews (0)