CHAPTER FORTY FIVE: A SAGE'S MARK

A dull ache settled deep in Selena's muscles as she stirred awake. The faint scent of herbal salves lingered in the air, and a warm morning light filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the room. She recognized the familiar space—Sophia's house. She had been here many times before, but this time, everything felt different.

"Good morning," Sophia greeted her with a gentle smile, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Selena shifted, attempting to sit up, but the moment she did, a sharp pain lanced through her body. She winced, her limbs heavy, her muscles tight with the aftershocks of battle. Despite Sophia's healing, exhaustion still clung to her like a second skin.

"I wouldn't move too much if I were you," Sophia said, pressing a hand lightly against Selena's shoulder. "You're still recovering."

Selena exhaled, settling back against the pillows. "How long was I out?"

"Just overnight," Sophia assured her. "Your injuries were deep, but I took care of them."

Selena nodded slowly, then caught sight of her reflection in the mirror across the room. Her breath hitched. A faint but jagged scar traced down her cheekbone, curving slightly from the inner corner of her eye to the outer edge of her cheek.

She lifted a trembling finger to the mark, feeling its raised texture beneath her touch.

"I did what I could," Sophia said softly, watching her. "But… I don't have enough power to make it disappear completely. Henri's energy left a lasting imprint."

Selena let out a quiet chuckle, her fingers still ghosting over the scar. "A parting gift, huh?"

Sophia frowned. "Selena…"

But Selena wasn't upset. She wasn't even disappointed. Instead, as she stared at her reflection, something swelled in her chest—a mixture of acceptance and quiet pride.

This wasn't just a scar. It was proof.

Proof of her battle against Sage Henri. Proof of the power she had wielded, the strength she had gained. Proof that she had stood against a legend and held her own.

A part of her had feared that winning wouldn't be enough, that people would only see her as Seth's daughter, not as someone who had earned her title. But this scar… this was undeniable. No one could take this from her.

She let her hand fall away, a small, satisfied smile curling her lips.

"I like it," she murmured, more to herself than to Sophia.

Sophia's gaze softened. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Selena let out a breathy laugh, wincing slightly as her ribs protested. "Yeah… I know."

And as she lay back against the pillows, she felt it—an unshakable certainty that she had truly stepped into her own.

Sophia let out a soft sigh, then stood from the bed, brushing invisible dust from her robes. "I'll be heading out soon," she said.

Selena glanced at her through the mirror, still absently tracing the scar on her cheek. "Where to?"

"A meeting with the King and the elders," Sophia replied. "They want to discuss how and when to announce your title to the entire Realm."

Selena lowered her hand, her expression unreadable. "Of course they do."

Sophia gave her a knowing look. "You don't seem excited."

Selena scoffed lightly. "Can't exactly jump for joy right now." She motioned vaguely to her aching body. "Besides, I don't care about ceremonies and formalities. I didn't do this for a title."

Sophia smiled at her words, but there was something else in her gaze—understanding, maybe even pride. "I know. But the people need to know who their new Sage is. They need to see what you've become."

Selena exhaled through her nose, letting her head fall back against the pillows. She wasn't the type to crave recognition, but she knew Sophia was right. The moment Henri declared his defeat, she had stepped into something far greater than herself. It wasn't just her fight anymore—it was the Shadow Realm's.

She glanced back at Sophia. "How long is this meeting going to take?"

Sophia smirked. "Why? You planning to sneak out while I'm gone?"

Selena grinned but didn't answer.

Sophia shook her head, amused. "Get some rest, Selena. You've earned it."

With that, she turned toward the door, pausing only briefly. "I'll be back soon."

And then she was gone, leaving Selena alone with her thoughts—and the weight of the title that now belonged to her.

Selena lay back against the pillows, willing herself to sleep, but her mind refused to quiet down. Every time she closed her eyes, flashes of the battle with Henri played behind her eyelids—the clash of power, the sheer force of his attacks, the overwhelming pain, and then, finally, her victory.

She shifted under the covers, trying to find a comfortable position, but no matter how she turned, rest would not come. Her body needed time to heal, but her mind was restless.

With nothing to do in Sophia's house, a thought crept into her head—a thought that grew stronger by the second.

She needed to see her mother.

Helen had always been her rock, her guide. Even though Selena had fought this battle on her own, even though she had earned her place as Sage with her own strength, she wanted to see the look on her mother's face when she told her.

A slow, tired grin pulled at her lips.

Yeah… I should tell her myself.

With determination, Selena forced herself up. Her muscles protested, and a sharp ache pulsed through her limbs, but she gritted her teeth and pushed forward. She wasn't at full strength yet, but that wouldn't stop her.

Her mother's school—Ashwood Haven Academy—wasn't far.

And she was about to bring news that would shake it to its core.

At Ashwood Haven Academy, the air was thick with anticipation as the tournament's victors gathered in Helen's office. I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed, while Nicole sat upright, eager to hear what came next. Ken, still recovering, rested an elbow on the desk, his usual calm demeanor intact.

Helen scanned the room, her gaze steady. "You all fought well," she began, her voice carrying both authority and warmth. "But the tournament wasn't just for glory or recognition. Its real purpose was to select capable students for missions beyond these walls—missions that will help maintain balance in society."

A heavy silence filled the room as the weight of her words sank in. The tournament had been a test, and now, their true journey was about to begin.

I threw my head back in mock laughter, the sound sharp and almost theatrical. At the sound of my sudden laughter, all eyes turned to me. "Oh, this is rich," I said, wiping a nonexistent tear from my eye. "I've always wondered how you kept this place running," I said, my tone dripping with mockery. "The Shadow Realm sure as hell isn't funding your little circus, so I guess this is how you do it—sending students off to do your dirty work."

Nicole shot me a sharp glare, unimpressed, while Ken simply observed with his arms crossed, waiting to see how Helen would respond.

Helen leaned back in her chair, completely unfazed by my sarcasm. She tapped her fingers against the desk before offering me a calm, knowing smile.

"Oh, don't flatter yourself, Liam," she said smoothly. "If I wanted someone to do my dirty work, I'd at least pick someone who wouldn't complain about it five minutes in."

A few students stifled chuckles, and out of the corner of my eye, I caught Nicole barely holding back a smirk. Ken raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.

I scoffed, leaning back in my chair with a smirk of my own. "Touché."

Helen let the amusement settle for a moment before folding her hands on the desk, her expression turning serious. "Jokes aside, this is bigger than just the academy. The world beyond these walls is changing, and we need to be prepared. This isn't some glorified school club. These missions will test you in ways you haven't imagined."

Nicole sat up straighter, her curiosity piqued. "What kind of missions?"

Helen's gaze swept over us, calculating. "Reconnaissance, protection details, handling rogue threats. Things the general public won't ever hear about, but things that need to be done."

Ken crossed his arms. "Sounds like mercenary work."

Helen tilted her head. "Call it what you want. The truth is, you all proved yourselves in the tournament. You've shown strength, adaptability, and the ability to work under pressure. That's exactly what we need."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, great. So we survived one death trap just to be thrown into another?"

Helen smirked. "Welcome to reality, Liam."

I exhaled sharply through my nose, glancing around the room. Some of the students looked excited, others unsure. Ken seemed indifferent, as always. Nicole, on the other hand, was practically bouncing with anticipation.

Helen's gaze swept across the room, her sharp eyes taking in everyone's reactions just as I had. Then, with a measured tone, she said, "Before any of you start overthinking, let me be clear—this isn't mandatory. Even though you were victorious in the tournament, if you don't feel like being a part of this, it's fine."

Some students visibly relaxed at her words, while others looked more determined. Nicole still had that eager glint in her eyes, while Ken remained unreadable, his fingers tapping idly against his arm.

I scoffed. "Oh, how generous of you, Headmistress. Letting people decide if they want to risk their lives or not. Truly a leader of the people."

Helen merely raised an eyebrow. "I prefer my teams willing, not reluctant. People who hesitate put others in danger."

Helen leaned back in her chair, watching as the students filed out one by one. Some left in deep thought, others whispering among themselves. Eventually, only three of us remained—me, Nicole, and Ken.

She glanced up from a few documents on her desk. "I assume you three have something on your minds?"

Ken remained quiet, his gaze unreadable as always. Nicole shifted slightly, as if debating whether to speak first. I, of course, had no such hesitation.

"I just find it interesting," I said, crossing my arms. "You run this whole tournament, make us fight our asses off, and now we're suddenly supposed to be the academy's little task force?"

Helen sighed, clearly expecting this from me. "The world isn't as simple as you want it to be, Liam."

Before I could shoot back another remark, a knock came at the door.

Helen turned toward it. "Come in."

The door creaked open, and in stepped—her assistant who had visited her office the previous day. She bowed slightly before stepping aside, revealing someone standing behind her.

Selena.

She was clad in a fresh set of clothes, but her posture was tense, and there was a certain sharpness to her expression. Her cheekbone bore a fresh scar—jagged yet subtle, a permanent mark of whatever she had endured in the Shadow Realm.

Everyone froze at the sight of Selena.

Before anyone could react, Ken moved.

He was by her side in an instant, pulling her into a firm embrace. It was instinctive, almost unconscious, and the realization seemed to surprise him just as much as it did everyone else.

Selena welcomed the hug but couldn't help the small wince that escaped her lips. Ken immediately loosened his grip, his brows furrowing. "You're still hurt."

"I'll live," Selena muttered with a smirk.

Nicole watched the interaction with a soft smile, crossing her arms as she observed them. Meanwhile, I leaned back in my chair, acting absentminded as if none of this concerned me. But I was watching—taking in every reaction, every shift in energy.

Ken finally stepped back, his expression unreadable as he rubbed the back of his neck. Helen, who had been silent up until now, slowly approached. She stopped in front of Selena, studying her daughter for a long moment.

Then, without a word, she wrapped her arms around her and held her tight.

Selena stiffened slightly before relaxing into the embrace, closing her eyes as if allowing herself to rest for just a moment.

Helen exhaled, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're home."

Selena smirked, though her voice carried an undeniable warmth. "Yeah… I am.

Nicole's eyes drifted to Selena's face, her smile faltering as she noticed the jagged scar running along her cheekbone.

"What happened?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

Selena raised a hand to her face, her fingers tracing the scar with an unreadable expression. Then, with a smirk, she said, "Henri's parting gift."

A quiet beat passed.

Then she straightened, lifting her chin slightly, her smirk widening with something almost defiant. "I am the new Sage of the Shadow Realm."

I shot her a quick glance, my expression unreadable, but my grip on the armrest of my chair tightened slightly.

Helen smiled, but before she could congratulate Selena, Ken was already ahead of her.

"Not bad," he said, his usual calm demeanor intact, but there was something softer in his gaze.

Helen sighed, mildly annoyed that he had beaten her to it, but she let it slide. Instead, she stepped forward. "I can heal that scar if you want."

Selena shook her head. "No. I want to keep it."

My chair scraped against the floor as I stood up abruptly. No one questioned it, but I knew they felt it—the sudden shift in the air.

A burning sensation spread in my chest, something neither anger nor happiness. It gnawed at me, twisting and turning, refusing to settle.

I glanced at Selena. She wasn't the same girl from before. She had grown. She had surpassed me. The realization coiled tight in my gut, leaving behind a bitter taste. Without a word, I walked out.

As I walked out, my thoughts clawed at me, relentless and unforgiving.

What have I achieved since Sage Henri died?

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Instead, I've been here, playing student with privileged kids, wasting time in a place that was never meant for me.

The realization burned, igniting a frustration so deep it made my skin crawl. At some point, I had forgotten—forgotten my purpose, my vengeance.

I clenched my fists, my teeth sinking into my lower lip as I turned a corner. The memory of Selena standing there, stronger than before, more powerful than ever, flashed in my mind like a taunt.

She had grown.

And I had stayed the same.

The anger boiled over. I struck my fist against the nearest wall, the impact jolting up my arm. The pain was nothing compared to the storm raging inside me.

I was jealous.

And I hated it.

Back in the office, the air was lighter without my presence, but Selena could still feel the tension I left behind. She sighed, rolling her shoulder slightly, feeling the lingering soreness in her muscles.

Helen finally stepped forward, taking a good look at her daughter, as if truly seeing her for the first time. "You've grown," she said softly, a mix of pride and something else—something unspoken—lurking beneath her words.

Ken crossed his arms and smirked. "And here I thought I was the only one getting stronger. Guess I'll have to catch up."

Selena chuckled, shaking her head. "You? Catch up to me? That's cute."

Nicole giggled at their exchange but then reached out, brushing her fingers lightly over Selena's scar. "Does it hurt?"

Selena placed her own fingers over it and smiled faintly. "No. It's Henri's parting gift."

Helen's expression softened. "I can still heal it," she offered.

But Selena shook her head. "I want to keep it. A reminder."

Helen hesitated, then nodded, understanding. There were some wounds that weren't meant to be erased.

Ken, who had been watching quietly, finally broke the silence. "So, what now, Sage Remmick?"

Selena glanced at him, at the playful smirk that didn't quite hide the respect in his gaze.

"Now?" She exhaled deeply, her body still aching, but her mind clear. "Now, I figure out what it truly means to be a Sage."

Helen folded her arms, studying her daughter with quiet contemplation. "Being Sage isn't just about strength, Selena. It's about leadership, responsibility, and making decisions that don't always have a clear right or wrong."

Selena met her mother's gaze. "I know." She wasn't just speaking to reassure Helen—she truly understood. The fight with Henri had shown her that power wasn't enough. She had to be more.

Nicole smiled brightly. "Well, whatever it means, you're going to be amazing at it. The Shadow Realm is lucky to have you."

Ken gave a short nod. "Yeah. Just don't let it get to your head."

Selena smirked. "Too late."

They all shared a brief, rare moment of warmth—something unspoken but understood between them. But before the moment could linger too long, Helen sighed and turned back toward her desk, her voice shifting back to her usual pragmatic tone.

"You should rest, Selena. I assume you didn't come here just to announce your new title?"

Selena hesitated for a second, then shook her head. "No. I came to see you, to see… everyone."

Helen's lips curved slightly, but she didn't press further. "Then stay a while."

Selena shook her head. "I can't stay long. If Sophia finds out I left, she'll scold me to death."

Ken smirked. "So even though you're the great Sage of the Shadow Realm, you're still scared of a little scolding?"

Selena shot him a glare, but the corner of her lips twitched in amusement. "It's not about fear. It's about avoiding unnecessary lectures."

Nicole giggled. "Sounds like fear to me."

Selena rolled her eyes, but there was no real bite in her expression. "Believe what you want. I just don't feel like hearing 'Selena, you need to rest' every five minutes."

Helen chuckled softly but then crossed her arms. "They're not wrong, you know. You should be resting."

Selena let out an exaggerated sigh. "Not you too, Mother."

Helen raised a brow. "You disappeared into the Shadow Chamber for who knows how long, returned unconscious, and now you're running around like nothing happened. Forgive me if I'm a little concerned."

Selena exhaled, glancing toward the door. "I'll rest when I get back. Right now, I just wanted to see everyone."

Ken leaned back with a smirk. "And now you have. So, what next, oh wise Sage?"

Selena scoffed. "I go back before Sophia drags me by the ear."

Nicole chuckled. "Now that, I'd love to see."

Selena shook her head at them but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. Even with everything changing, some things—like this—remained the same.

Helen excused herself, giving Selena a final look before stepping out of the room. "I'll leave you all to catch up. I have things to sort out in my office."

As the door shut behind her, Selena turned her attention back to the group. "So… how's Liam been?"

Nicole and Ken exchanged a glance.

Ken was the first to respond, rubbing the back of his neck. "Same old Liam. Sarcastic, brooding, and generally acting like he's too good for everyone."

Nicole frowned slightly. "He's been distant. Even more than usual."

Selena's brow furrowed. "Distant how?"

Nicole hesitated before answering. "After the tournament, he's been different. More irritable, more… detached. He barely talks unless necessary, and when he does, it's either a sarcastic remark or something to push people away."

Ken leaned back against the desk, arms crossed. "Can't say I blame him. He's got a lot on his mind. Whatever reason he had for being here, I don't think he found it. And now, seeing you come back as the new Sage probably just reminded him of that."

Selena exhaled slowly, her fingers brushing over the scar on her cheek. "So he hasn't changed much."

Nicole shook her head. "If anything, he's worse."

Ken tapped his fingers against the desk, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "Well, there are times he shows some promise," he admitted. "Like when he helped me connect to my pseudo-Tenebri side. I doubt I would've figured it out without him."

Nicole nodded, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah… he has his moments." She paused, then looked down briefly before continuing. "On my mother's death anniversary, I was feeling really down. I thought no one noticed, but Liam did. He didn't say anything, didn't try to console me—he just sat there with me. It was… nice."

Selena listened, her gaze flickering with interest. "So, beneath all that arrogance, he actually cares?"

Ken smirked. "It's buried deep, but yeah, I think so."

Nicole chuckled. "He'll never admit it, though."

Selena exhaled, leaning back. "Sounds like Liam, alright."

Selena crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly. "So, what about you two? Are you going to take part in these missions my mother mentioned?"

Ken shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "I haven't decided yet. Seems like a hassle, but it could be interesting."

Nicole tapped a finger on her chin, thinking. "I want to," she admitted. "If I can help people, then why not? But… I also know it won't be easy."

Selena nodded. "It won't be. Missions like these aren't just about helping people. There'll be danger, fights, and decisions you can't take back."

Ken smirked. "Sounds like you're speaking from experience, Sage."

Selena rolled her eyes. "Don't start with that."

Nicole chuckled at Selena's reaction. "You better get used to it. You're officially the Sage now."

Selena sighed. "Yeah, yeah. But don't expect me to act all wise and mysterious."

Ken smirked. "Too late for that. You already have the scar to match."

Selena shot him a dry look but didn't bother responding. Instead, she turned back to Nicole. "So, you're sure about this? These missions won't be like school exercises. It's real danger, real consequences."

Nicole nodded firmly. "I know. But I want to do something meaningful with my strength. And if I have to face danger for that… I'm ready."

Selena studied her for a moment, then turned to Ken. "And you?"

Ken stretched his arms behind his head. "Still thinking about it. But if I do join, I'm not doing it for some noble cause."

Selena smirked. "Of course not."

Before Ken could respond, Nicole changed the subject. "What about Liam? Do you think he'll take part?"

The question hung in the air for a moment before Selena exhaled. "Honestly? I have no idea. But knowing him, if he does, it won't be for the same reasons as you guys"

Selena glanced at both of them, a small smile playing on her lips. "Well, whatever your reasons are, I hope you both make it back in one piece."

Nicole chuckled. "We'll be fine."

Ken smirked. "You almost sound worried, Sage."

Selena rolled her eyes but took a step closer to him. Before Ken could react, she leaned in and pressed a light kiss on his cheek. "Don't die," she whispered before pulling back.

Ken froze, blinking in surprise as Selena turned away, heading for the door. Nicole watched with raised eyebrows, clearly holding back a laugh.

Selena waved over her shoulder. "See you both around."

And with that, she was gone, leaving Ken staring after her, completely thrown off, while Nicole grinned beside him.

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