Chapter 10: Whispers of Fate and Fire

A Silent Watcher

Even after my duel with Lucian Devereux, the academy had not settled.

If anything, the whispers had only grown louder.

"Did you see how he moved?"

"He's nothing like before."

"He defeated Lucian. That wasn't luck—that was skill."

Some still doubted me, clinging to the belief that my victory was a fluke. But something had changed.

They were beginning to fear me.

And that was exactly what I needed.

Yet, among all the murmurs, one presence remained silent.

Eleanor Vael.

She had watched my duel from the shadows.

And now, she had disappeared.

---

A Summons to the Arcane Tower

As I strode through the academy's marble halls, a chill brushed against my skin.

A shift in the air. A presence pressing against my senses.

Then—

"Prince Kael."

A voice, smooth yet heavy with authority, cut through the silence.

I turned.

A man clad in deep navy robes stood before me, the emblem of the Imperial Academy's Arcane Tower gleaming on his chest.

A mage.

"The Headmaster requests your presence."

The Arcane Tower.

A place reserved for the empire's most elite mages—where ancient knowledge was hoarded, and secrets were spoken in hushed tones.

For the Headmaster himself to summon me…

Something was happening.

Arthur, the past soul entwined with mine, stirred in my thoughts. His voice—calm yet laced with warning—echoed through my mind.

"Be careful. The powerful don't summon the weak unless they have use for them."

I clenched my jaw. I know that.

But even so—

"Lead the way," I said.

---

The Headmaster's Warning

The Arcane Tower loomed over the academy, a fortress of knowledge woven with countless enchantments.

Stepping inside, I felt it immediately.

The weight of spells woven into the stone. The lingering presence of those who had studied here for centuries. The watchful gazes of enchanted portraits, their eyes following my every step.

And then—

A force unlike any other.

A presence that dwarfed all others in this place.

Headmaster Aldric.

He stood before a towering bookshelf, his silver robes draping elegantly around him as he turned to face me.

"You are an anomaly, Prince Kael."

His voice was measured, his gaze piercing—sharp enough to slice through my carefully guarded composure.

Arthur's voice hummed in my mind.

"He knows something. Don't show weakness."

I met Aldric's stare, my expression unreadable.

"I don't know what you mean."

A quiet chuckle.

"No, I imagine you wouldn't admit it so easily," Aldric mused. "But tell me—when did you learn to fight like that?"

My fingers twitched slightly.

Of course, he had been watching.

Nothing within these academy walls escaped his gaze.

"I trained," I said simply.

Aldric studied me, his expression unreadable. Then, with a sigh—

"There are forces at work, Kael. Forces beyond what you see."

A pause.

Then, his next words sent a chill through my veins.

"The Cursed Mark… It is awakening, isn't it?"

Arthur's voice sharpened.

"Deny it. Never confirm their suspicions."

I forced my expression to remain neutral.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Aldric's knowing smile didn't waver.

"Then I will ask no more. But be careful, young prince. There are those who would see your kind erased before the truth is ever known."

His gaze lingered—sharp, calculating.

Then, as if deciding he had said enough—

"That is all. You may go."

---

A Familiar Flame

The moment I stepped out of the tower, my mind swirled with questions.

How much does he know?

How much is he hiding?

Arthur's voice hummed in my thoughts.

"He's warning you. But is it out of concern—or is he testing you?"

I had no answer.

But one thing was clear.

The Cursed Mark was evolving. And soon, I would no longer be able to hide it.

Lost in thought, I nearly missed the figure waiting for me in the courtyard.

A girl with long silver hair, her emerald eyes gleaming under the golden light of the setting sun.

Eleanor.

"You seem troubled, Kael."

Her voice was soft, yet edged with something sharper.

Arthur stirred.

"She's dangerous. Be cautious."

I exhaled. "Observant as always."

She tilted her head slightly. "It's my nature."

A pause.

Then, with quiet certainty—

"Walk with me."

She turned without waiting for an answer, moving toward the academy gardens.

Arthur's presence sharpened.

"This could be a trap. Refuse her."

But something in Eleanor's gaze held me still.

She wasn't ordering me.

It wasn't a demand.

It was an invitation.

And so, I followed.

---

A Dance Beneath the Stars

The garden was bathed in soft lantern light, the scent of blooming roses thick in the air.

Eleanor stopped beneath a willow tree, the silver strands of her hair catching the light like falling stardust.

She turned to me, her expression unreadable.

"Do you enjoy dancing, Kael?"

I blinked.

Of all the things she could have asked, this was not what I expected.

Arthur scoffed.

"This is a waste of time."

I hesitated.

"I…" A brief pause. "I've never had the opportunity."

A ghost of a smile touched her lips.

"Then consider this your first lesson."

She lifted her hand ever so slightly.

A silent challenge.

Arthur's disapproval burned at the edges of my thoughts.

"This is dangerous. Don't lower your guard."

But for the first time—

I ignored him.

I took her hand.

The moment our fingers touched, a strange warmth spread through my skin.

A flicker of something unknown.

Eleanor's grip was firm, her movements effortless as she guided me into a slow, rhythmic waltz.

"Your stance is stiff," she murmured, amused.

I scoffed. "I wasn't expecting a lesson."

A soft chuckle. "Then consider it a gift."

The distant hum of music from the academy's celebrations wove through the night air.

For a moment, there was no empire.

No politics.

No curse.

Just the two of us, moving in quiet harmony.

Then, softly, she spoke again.

"You've changed, Kael."

Arthur's presence stirred.

"She's noticing too much. Be careful."

I met her gaze.

"So have you."

Something unspoken passed between us—something neither of us could name.

A whisper of fate.

A flicker of fire.

Then, just as easily as it had begun, the dance ended.

Eleanor stepped back, her expression unreadable once more.

"You should rest, Kael. Tomorrow brings new challenges."

And with that, she turned, disappearing into the garden's shadows.

Arthur's voice was quiet now, almost contemplative.

"This girl… She could be your greatest ally—or your greatest downfall."

I stood there for a long moment, the ghost of her touch still lingering in my palm.

And for the first time in a long while—

I allowed myself to wonder.

What did the future hold for us?