Chapter 9: The Chosen One

  He sat back in a chair so comfortable it felt deliberate, as if it were designed to make one forget the passage of time. Across from him, his two companions occupied a pair of adjoining sofas, relaxed but attentive, their posture showing long familiarity with settings like this.

  Lucien lifted a glass from the low table between them, swirling the dark liquid inside. Some would have called it fine wine. He took a measured sip, then set the glass back onto the polished surface without thinking, more habit than intention.

  That was when he felt it.

  A subtle shift in the air. The faintest pressure against his awareness.

  He looked up just as footsteps approached.

  “Master Lucien,” a calm voice said. “We’ll be arriving within the next few minutes. Would you like me to prepare anything?”

  “No, thank you. Just let me know when we arrive.”

  Lucien didn’t know the man’s name, nor did he care. He was simply another servant assigned to him, another presence meant to ease his life. It wasn’t something Lucien wanted, but it made his life easier and he also understood it would not last. Once he set foot in the academy, those luxuries would disappear, and he longed for that.

  For freedom.

  If it hadn’t been for the accursed mark etched along the side of his neck, none of this would have happened. He would still be a simple farmer’s son, tending the fields beside his father, living a quiet life among the hills and soil he knew so well.

  But everything changed the day he took his evaluation.

  He hadn’t expected anything from it. His family was ordinary, unremarkable in every sense. Yet that single moment had altered the course of his life completely.

  “Stop that smug smile of yours, you look like a crazy guy,” one of his companions said. The woman’s voice was soft, yet carried an unmistakable authority.

  Lucien didn’t even glance her way. “ Did I tell you that you look rather radiant today, Aurora?” he replied smoothly. He meant it. He had always liked Aurora, ever since they had met and trained together. Her beauty was dazzling, effortless in a way few could match.

  The male elf spoke next. Aurora’s brother, Vaelis, his tone flat and unimpressed.

  “Enough with the flirting, Lucien. You know Aurora doesn’t like you, no matter how much you wish she did.”

  He paused, eyes narrowing slightly. “And aren’t you already promised to someone?

  Another chain, Lucien thought.

  Those damned elders, tightening their grip on his life before he had even realized it was happening. That was precisely why he had chosen to come to the academy in the first place, to escape them, to show defiance, if only a little.

  “No need to be rude, baby brother,” Aurora said lightly.

  Vaelis shot her a glare. “I told you not to call me that. Call me Vaelis, by my name.”

  She smiled, sweet and infuriating. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? I think I’d rather not.”

  The tension rose instantly, sharp enough to cut the air. Vaelis leaned forward, Aurora met his stare without flinching, Lucien raised a hand.

  Both of them stopped at once.

  They turned toward him, their expressions shifting, after a moment they silently took their seats again.

  “I told you two to stop fighting all the time,” Lucien said, exhaling. “You should be more considerate of your sister, Vaelis. After all, she’s the older one.”

  Vaelis stared at him, genuinely shocked. “Not you too, Lucien. She doesn’t need more praise, she’s already needy enough as it is.”

  Aurora snapped back instantly, rising halfway from her seat. “Needy? How dare you. Should I remind you how you used to cry every time Mother and Father left us? Or how you—”

  A loud laugh cut her off.

  Lucien was smiling.

  Aurora paused, blinking. “Is everything okay, Lucien?” she asked. “You’re usually so… stiff.”

  “How can you even ask?” he replied, spreading his hands across his blonde hair. “Everything is going to be amazing from now on. We’re away from home. No eyes on us. Just the three of us and the academy. New faces, new friends, and none of those damn elders.”

  Aurora tilted her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Show me more like that,” she said, “and you might just change my mind, Lucien.”

  She met his gaze, silver-blue eyes steady and searching. Lucien was striking, impossibly so: pale skin, blond hair that caught the light just right, and those eyes… unsettling in their intensity. He was talented beyond reason. If it weren’t for that one thing, she pushed the thought away, she might have already given in.

  “You might regret saying that later, Aurora,” Lucien replied calmly. “Hope is a dangerous thing, after all.”

  She laughed, light and dismissive. “Relax. I was only joking. I’d never go after a married man.”

  “Engaged,” Lucien corrected quickly. “And I’ll break it if you tell me not to.”

  Vaelis stared at them both in disbelief. “Don’t say nonsense, you two,” he muttered, rubbing his temples. “We may be close to the academy, but there are still plenty of eyes on us. Be more careful about what you say so openly.”

  “Oh, relax,” Lucien replied lightly. “You’re always so concerned. It’s not as if nobody already knows they’re practically—”

  The ship slowed, the subtle hum beneath their feet fading. A calm voice echoed across the hall.

  “We have arrived, Master Lucien. Please prepare to disembark. Your belongings will be delivered directly to your assigned suite within the academy.”

  Lucien scoffed. “A suite already? Isn’t there supposed to be a test? How can they be so sure I’ll even pass?” He leaned back, sighing . “And I told them I wanted a dorm.”

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  “Come on, Lucien,” Vaelis said dryly. “If you can’t pass, nobody can, and you didn’t seriously think they’d let you stay in a dorm.”

  Aurora crossed her arms, thoughtful. “I heard the heiress of Archypego stayed in a dorm, at least until she proved herself. After that, she was transferred.”

  Vaelis laughed softly. “Of course she would. After all, the Archypego family is royalty in name alone.”

  He paused, then continued, voice cool. “Backwater nobles, if even that. If it weren’t for the Great Master Archypego, those islands wouldn’t even qualify as a state. let alone matter.”

  silence followed.

  Lucien rose to his feet, adjusting his coat. “Well then, let’s get out of here.” His gaze flicked briefly toward Vaelis, sharp and warning. “And you should be more careful about what you say. I’ve heard she has an incredible reputation, and more than enough resolve to slit that throat of yours before you realize what you’ve done.”

  Vaelis stiffened but said nothing.

  The Western Academy's Dock stretched wide and alive with movement. Hernest, the dockmaster, barked orders as he pushed his way through the crowd, organizing arrivals with practiced ease. Ships of every size and design crowded the piers, their decks filled with new students disembarking, some wide-eyed, others proud, many accompanied by families eager to boast.

  Nobles, merchants, and officials alike watched closely. For some, this was an academic beginning. For others, it was a statement of status, proof that their bloodline had secured a place among the future elite of the continent.

  Hernest paused as his eyes caught on the crowd gathering near one of the piers drawn toward a vessel unlike any he had ever seen. A skyship. Massive, elegant, its hull shaped to ride Straum currents rather than waves. The moment he recognized its design, curiosity turned to unease.

  Then he saw the emblem.

  An old flag, worn but unmistakable.

  “Gods have mercy…” Hernest muttered under his breath. “What’s the Holy Empire doing here? Please anything but inquisitors, I don’t want that kind of trouble.”

  “You should be more careful about what you say, Hernest.”

  The voice came from behind him, calm, measured, unmistakably authoritative.

  He flinched and turned quickly. “Professor Elowen! You scared me for a moment.”

  She stood there, emerald-green hair falling smoothly over her shoulders, her eyes the same deep, tranquil green that matched her composed demeanor. Professor Elowen Thorne, one of the highest authorities within the Western Academy. Beautiful, yes, but more than that: precise, unreadable, rooted.

  “A lot of people here would sell careless words for a handful of gold,” she continued mildly.

  Hernest swallowed. “It’s… good to see you, Professor. I wasn’t expecting-why are you here? I thought someone of your rank would be far too busy.”

  Elowen didn’t answer immediately. She simply lifted a hand and pointed toward the massive Holy Empire vessel docked nearby.

  Hernest followed her gesture, his face draining of color. “I knew it,” he muttered. “Damn it… it’s the Inquisition, isn’t it? This port’s going to be a nightmare.” He rubbed his face, words tumbling out in a nervous rush. “Those Bastards.. they’ll be watching everything. May I ask why-”

  “Calm yourself, Hernest,” Elowen interrupted, her voice even. “It’s not the Inquisition.”

  He blinked. “It’s not?”

  “No,” she said. “Just students. The Holy Empire is sending three this year.”

  Hernest frowned. “Students?” He scoffed quietly. “That hardly seems worth your attention, Professor.”

  Elowen’s gaze sharpened. “These three are.”

  Hernest hesitated. “Why?”

  “Because Lucien von Lichtheim is aboard that vessel.”

  The dockmaster stiffened. “Lucien von Lichtheim?” he repeated slowly. “One of the Holy Empire’s chosen… a future hero.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Why would they send him here? I thought the elders kept his kind on a very tight leash.”

  “So did I,” Elowen replied. “But circumstances change.”

  Her tone darkened slightly.

  “And now,” she added quietly, “he’s our problem.”

  Hernest let out a tired sigh. “Damn. This year’s batch is full of troublemakers, isn’t it? Who are the other two students? Not that it really matters, one chosen one is already more than enough.”

  “They call this generation, the Golden Generation for a reason,” Elowen replied. “Two elven siblings. Exceptionally talented. If you ask me, they may prove almost as troublesome as Lucien himself. Their potential is… remarkable.”

  A deep, resonant thrum rolled across the docks as mechanisms within the vessel engaged. Metal shifted, ancient and precise, and the front of the ship began to unfold. Wooden plates parted, locking into place as a wide ramp extended outward toward the stone dock, a crimson carpet unrolling atop it with ceremonial precision.

  When the ramp settled, armored knights poured out in disciplined lines, positioning themselves along its length. One by one, banners were raised.

  White fabric caught the light, pristine and untouched. At their center was the emblem of the Holy Empire, a perfect golden circle, flawless and unbroken, with a radiant inner halo suspended within it. No figure bore the symbol. It was not worn. It simply was, shining brilliantly, absolute and untouchable.

  As Hernest glanced around, he realized the green-haired professor was gone. His eyes snapped back to the ramp just in time to see her already standing at its end, posture calm, authority unmistakable.

  An elderly figure began his descent.

  His robes were white trimmed in gold, immaculate and flowing, carrying an elegance that demanded attention. Two knights followed closely behind him, clearly more important than the rest. Their golden armor shone brilliantly beneath white capes that stirred softly with each step.

  Elowen inclined her head as the elder approached.

  “What a pleasant surprise,” the elder said, his voice smooth and measured. “To find the Thorned Rose herself here to greet us.”

  “Elder Knowledge,” Elowen replied evenly. “I wasn’t informed that one of the respected Pillars would be attending personally. I should notify the Headmaster at once.”

  “Oh, no need for that. I’m just making a quick stop,” the elder waved a hand lightly. “I’m on my way to the Black Oasis, after all. I’m only here to deliver our… troublemaker safely, and to thank you for accepting our pupils into your academy.”

  Elowen’s gaze sharpened slightly.

  “Nothing important,” he added casually. “Merely stopping to offer His Majesty a proper word of thanks.”

  Elowen followed his gaze and studied the knights at his sides more closely.

  Ocean Realm Paladins, Almost certainly.

  Just a thank you, my ass, she thought dryly.

  Lucien and his companions started walking toward the figures gathered at the dock.

  “Damn it… why is he here,” Lucien muttered under his breath.

  “What was that?” Aurora asked. Before anyone could answer, her expression shifted. “Wait, isn't that Elder Knowledge? Was he on our ship?”

  Vaelis clicked his tongue. “Damn it. They really do monitor you all the way. It wouldn’t surprise me if one of the Paladins stayed behind just to keep an eye on you.”

  Lucien didn't answer but his expression clearly shifted it hardened as they continued forward.

  Lucien walked straight past the elder without so much as a glance. He stopped only when he reached the professor and inclined his head slightly.

  “Hello, Professor…”

  “Elowen. Elowen Thorne,” she corrected calmly.

  “The Thorned Rose,” Vaelis murmured in surprise.

  “Thank you for receiving us, Professor,” Lucien said quickly, cutting Vaelis off before he could continue. “May we proceed with our examination immediately? I don’t mean to be rude, but I would prefer to disembark and settle this as soon as possible.”

  His gaze flicked briefly toward the elder, sharp, restrained, almost a snarl.

  The elder laughed softly, unbothered.

  “Young ones are always so impatient,” he said, turning his gaze fully to Lucien. “Very well. I won’t delay you any longer.”

  He inclined his head slightly toward Elowen. “The students are in your care, Professor Thorne. I trust they will… perform as expected.”

  With that, he turned away, his white-and-gold robes flowing as he ascended the ramp once more, the paladins falling into step behind him without a word.

  As the elder disappeared back into the vessel, the ramp retracted smoothly and the ship sealed itself shut.

  “Elder,” one of the paladins spoke quietly, careful not to let his voice carry. “I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but… will you truly just let him be?”

  The elder laughed softly.

  “Of course not,” he replied calmly. “Measures have already been taken.”

  Lucien stared at the vessel for a moment longer before slowly turning away and starting down the dock.

  He let out a breath of relief. “Finally,” he muttered.

  “You don’t truly believe the elders won’t have some sort of measures in place, do you?” Vaelis said quietly as he followed.

  “Of course they will,” Lucien replied without hesitation. “But I don’t care. I’m tired of being treated like a valuable asset instead of a person.”

  “Then you have come to the right place, Student Lucien,” Elowen said calmly.

  Lucien inclined his head slightly. “Thank you, Professor. If I may ask, what will our evaluation consist of?”

  “You three will spar against me,” Elowen answered. “I don’t expect you to win, obviously. Not even you could manage that, chosen one or not.”

  “Please, Professor,” Lucien said firmly. “Don’t call me that. I’m a student. Just a regular student.”

  Aurora laughed softly, her gaze lingering on his neck. “You have nothing regular about you, Lucien.”