Awakening of the Pactweaver

Jann Oath bolted upright in bed, gasping for breath. His chest ached as if an unseen force had pressed down on him, and his heartbeat pounded in his ears. The remnants of a dream—no, a vision—flashed behind his eyes: swirling portals, voices whispering in a forgotten language, and a burning sigil seared into his mind.

He ran a hand through his sweat-dampened hair and exhaled. The Oath Family estate was silent at this hour, the corridors beyond his door filled with nothing but shadows and secrets. Even in his own home, Jann felt like an outsider.

A soft knock pulled him from his thoughts.

"Enter," he called, pushing aside the heavy blanket.

The door creaked open, revealing Elara, his secretary and the only person in the estate he trusted. She stepped inside, her emerald eyes scanning him as if assessing his condition. "You're awake earlier than usual. Another vision?"

Jann nodded, rubbing his temples. "Stronger this time. It felt real."

Elara set a steaming cup of tea on his nightstand and crossed her arms. "Then it's time we stop pretending, Jann. You're changing. Your power is waking up."

Jann tensed. "And yet, I still don't understand what makes me different from the rest of my family. The Oath Family dominates, they force submission. But the power I feel… it doesn't seem the same."

Elara studied him for a moment before speaking. "That's because you are not a Dominator, Jann. You are something else. A Pactweaver."

He frowned. "A what?"

She took a seat across from him and leaned forward. "Your family enforces oaths, binding others through sheer force. But a Pactweaver forges connections. You don't take power—you share it. The stronger your bond with an ally, the stronger you both become. It's a rare gift… and one the Oath Family will not approve of."

Jann scoffed. "Of course they won't. They don't respect strength earned, only strength taken."

Elara's expression hardened. "Which is why you must tread carefully. If they discover your ability, they will see you as a threat. Or worse, a weakness."

Jann clenched his fists. "So what do I do? Just keep my head down and act like nothing's happening?"

"For now, yes. But soon, you will need to decide what kind of Oath you wish to uphold." Elara stood, her silhouette outlined against the dim candlelight. "And when that time comes, you will have to fight for it."

Jann exhaled slowly, letting her words sink in. He had always known he was different. But now, for the first time, he understood why.

His path would not be one of dominance.

It would be one of power forged through trust.

And that, perhaps, was the greatest threat of all.

A silence settled between them before Jann spoke again, his voice quieter. "How long have you known?"

Elara hesitated, then sat back down. "Since you were a child. I watched the way you interacted with the estate workers, with the others in the family. You never sought control over them like the others did. You inspired loyalty instead. It was subtle at first, but the signs were there."

Jann stared at his hands. "And my father? He never said anything."

Her expression darkened. "Your father suspected. That's why he sent you away so often, under the guise of training. He wanted to see if you would 'grow out of it.' But you didn't. You only became more different."

Jann swallowed hard. "So he knew. And he still treated me like an afterthought."

"It was his way of protecting you, in his own twisted way," Elara murmured. "If the Elders saw you as a failure rather than a threat, you would live longer."

A bitter chuckle escaped Jann. "How comforting."

She sighed, standing once more. "You need to be ready, Jann. The Elders will test you soon. They do it with every heir who comes of age. And if they see what I see... they won't be as forgiving as your father."

Jann exhaled sharply. "So I have to deceive them. Play their game."

"For now, yes. Until you have the strength to rewrite the rules." Elara's voice was steady, but there was an urgency behind her words. "And when that time comes, you won't be alone. There are those who will stand with you, Jann. You just have to find them."

Jann nodded, determination settling in his chest. His power, his path—it was unlike any that had come before him in his bloodline. And whether the Oath Family liked it or not, he was ready to carve his own way.