ghost of the castle

The shuttle hummed quietly as it cut through Venus's thick atmosphere, descending toward the island city of Sillus. Cassian pressed his face against the viewport, taking in the approaching cityscape below.

Spires and towers with pointed arches rose among sleek crystalline structures. Narrow canals crisscrossed the city, reflecting the perpetual orange-tinted light of Venus's filtered sun. Holographic advertisements flickered between ancient-looking stone bridges, while anti-gravity platforms ferried citizens above the waterways. 

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Claudia's voice broke his concentration. "One of the few places on Venus that hasn't completely surrendered to hedonism and excess."

Cassian nodded, not bothering to turn around. "Isolated. Defensible. Strategic." He wasn't here to admire architecture.

Crillex laughed softly. "Seems the shade is quite the tactician. The old man chose well."

As they drew closer, one structure dominated the northern horizon. The Stone of Sillus, ancestral seat of the Aurelius family. Unlike the gray and white structures below, the castle gleamed a deep, unnatural red, as though the stone itself were infused with blood. Perched atop sheer cliffs, it was accessible only by a single, winding staircase carved into the rock face.

"The Stone," Claudia whispered reverently. "They say Hierarch Raa himself fused the stones with his flames as a gift to the first Aurelius when they first set foot here after terraforming was done ."

The shuttle banked sharply, heading for a small landing pad at the base of the cliff. As they descended, Cassian could see a massive gate bearing the insignia of a phoenix, wings outstretched, wreathed in golden flames.

"Remember your objective," Crillex murmured as the shuttle touched down. "Get close to Severian. Learn his secrets. Find out what connects him to the Sovereign."

"And then I'm free?" Cassian's voice was flat.

"Then you're free," Claudia confirmed, though something in her tone suggested otherwise.

The shuttle door hissed open, and Cassian stepped onto the landing pad. The air here was cleaner than in Tatalos, lacking the ever-present smell of unwashed bodies and fuel exhaust.

Three figures awaited them at the phoenix gate. 

The central figure stepped forward. A woman whose beauty transcended her apparent age. Her skin was flawless porcelain, hair a cascade of silver falling to her waist. Though clearly an older doll model, her grace and elegance surpassed that of the younger courtesans he'd seen before. She wore a simple blue dress that complemented her pale complexion and moved with a fluid grace that no natural human could achieve.

"Rhyanna," Claudia nodded respectfully. "We've brought the boy as promised."

Rhyanna's smile was warm but didn't reach her eyes. "Welcome to the Stone of Sillus, young Cassian. Lord Aurelius has granted you sanctuary."

To her left stood a severe-looking woman with close-cropped black hair and a scar that ran from her left temple to her jaw. She wore a simple gray uniform with no insignia, but Cassian recognized the subtle bulge of an energy weapon beneath her jacket. More telling was her stance. Balanced, ready, eyes constantly scanning. A knight, or at least someone with military training.

"Lys," the woman introduced herself curtly. "Head of security. Arms out."

Cassian complied as she ran a handheld scanner over his body. It beeped softly as it detected the neural implant at the base of his skull, standard for all citizens, but his had been modified by the Old Man. Lys frowned but said nothing.

"Clean," she announced finally, stepping back.

The third figure was an older man in an immaculate black uniform. His posture was ramrod straight, his face an expressionless mask beneath silver-white hair.

"Pollan, head butler of the Aurelius household," he announced with a slight bow. "I shall be assessing whether you pose any threat to my lord during your stay."

Cassian noted the subtle threat beneath the formal words. These people were protective of Severian, interesting, considering the lord's reclusive reputation.

Claudia and Crillex exchanged brief pleasantries with the three servants before returning to the shuttle. As the craft lifted off, Cassian felt a momentary flash of panic. His lifeline to the Old Man was disappearing, leaving him alone in enemy territory.

"This way, young sir," Pollan gestured toward the massive gate, which began to swing open with a low groan.

The climb up the cliff face was arduous, hundreds of steps carved directly into the rock. By the time they reached the castle proper, Cassian's legs burned with exertion. 

The entrance hall of the Stone was cavernous, a vast space of polished red marble and towering columns. Holographic fire danced in ancient-looking braziers, casting flickering shadows across the walls. Despite the grandeur, the space felt empty, abandoned. No servants hurried about, no guards stood at attention. The only sound was their footsteps echoing against the stone.

"The west wing has been prepared for your stay," Pollan announced, leading them down a labyrinthine corridor. 

The decor grew increasingly baroque as they progressed deeper into the castle. Ornate tapestries depicting battles long forgotten hung between gilded mirrors that reflected their procession infinitely. Statues of what Cassian assumed were Aurelius ancestors watched from alcoves, their marble eyes seeming to follow his movement.

"Where is everyone?" Cassian finally asked, the emptiness of the massive structure unnerving him.

"Lord Severian dismissed most of the staff after the... incident," Rhyanna explained gently. "He prefers solitude these days."

"After his family was massacred, you mean," Cassian pressed, watching for their reactions.

Lys's hand twitched toward her weapon. Pollan's expression remained impassive, but his shoulders tensed slightly. Only Rhyanna maintained her composure, her artificial features betraying nothing.

"Yes," she acknowledged simply. "After that."

They arrived at a set of double doors carved with the phoenix emblem. Pollan pushed them open to reveal a luxurious suite that would have comfortably housed a family of ten in the lower tiers of Nova Athena.

"These will be your quarters," Pollan announced. "Fresh clothing has been provided. Once you have refreshed yourself, join us in the dining hall for the evening meal." He handed Cassian a small datapad. "This contains a map of the permitted areas of the castle and will serve as your communication device during your stay."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and departed, Lys following close behind. Only Rhyanna lingered, her artificial eyes studying Cassian with unsettling intensity.

"You have his eyes," she said softly.

"Whose eyes?" Cassian asked, genuinely confused.

"Your father's," she replied. "I knew Argave well. He was a good man."

Before Cassian could respond, she turned gracefully and glided from the room, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

The suite was opulent beyond anything Cassian had experienced. The bedroom contained a massive canopy bed draped in crimson silk. The bathing chamber featured both a traditional water shower and a sonic cleansing unit. The sitting room held antique furniture that appeared to be actual wood. A luxury almost unheard of since the Sovereign's ascension.

As he stripped off his travel-stained clothes, Cassian caught sight of himself in a full-length mirror. The face that stared back was both familiar and foreign. Red hair falling across deep-set eyes, strong jaw, aquiline nose. It was Cassian Von Deyrs' face, but behind the eyes lurked Kai Parker's consciousness, fragmented and incomplete.

 I need to be careful, he thought.  From what I know from the Jovan sovereign, Severian is elusive and mysterious, he does not show up until the homunculi wars are at almost ending.. I really do not know much about him, his details are obscure, but there's no doubt he is a major player in venus events

The biggest event he knew was coming was when the Atticus Uprising launched a devastating attack at Nova Athena, triggering the civil war. But that was a year or two off in the future, for now he needed to get stronger, through the institute and Severian was key in this case.

He showered quickly, letting the hot water wash away the lingering smell of Tatalos. The fresh clothes provided were of exceptional quality. a black tunic with subtle gold embroidery, fitted trousers, and soft leather boots. Palatine fashion, not the utilitarian garb of the lower tiers. Someone was making a statement about his expected status.

After dressing, he activated the datapad, studying the castle's layout. The map showed only three floors of what was clearly a much larger structure. The restricted areas were marked in red, the entire east wing and all floors above the third level. Interesting. Severian's quarters were likely in one of those areas.

The dining hall was smaller than Cassian had expected, clearly designed for intimate gatherings rather than the grand banquets depicted in records of Palatine life. A table of dark, polished wood dominated the center, set for four. Rhyanna and Pollan were already seated, with Lys standing at attention near the entrance.

"Please, join us," Rhyanna gestured to an empty chair.

Cassian sat, noting that the fourth place setting remained empty. "Lord Severian won't be joining us?"

"The lord dines alone," Pollan replied curtly, signaling to an unseen servant. A moment later, two homunculi entered, bearing trays of food.

The meal was exquisite. Seared protein cultured to taste like pre-Singularity animal flesh, vegetables grown in Venus's hydroponic gardens, wine from the vineyards of Callow. Cassian ate mechanically, his enhanced taste buds registering the flavors without truly appreciating them.

"I'd like to meet Lord Severian," he said after several minutes of silence. "To thank him for his hospitality."

Pollan's expression hardened. "The lord is occupied with matters of state. Perhaps in a few days, if his schedule permits."

"Matters of state?" Cassian raised an eyebrow. "I was under the impression he hadn't left his chambers in years."

"Lord Severian governs from seclusion," Rhyanna explained, shooting a warning glance at Pollan. "He communicates with the necessary authorities through proxies."

"Like the Miara and Saheman families, who rule in his name?" Cassian pressed.

Lys took a step forward, her hand once again hovering near her weapon. "You seem remarkably well-informed for someone who just arrived on Sillus."

Cassian shrugged. "My parents were instructors at the Institute. They discussed politics."

"Your parents," Pollan interjected, "were valued members of the academic community. Their loss was... regrettable."

"Regrettable," Cassian repeated, anger flaring behind his calm exterior. "Is that what you call assassination?"

A tense silence fell over the table.

"Young man," Rhyanna finally said, her voice gentle but firm, "you have suffered a great loss. Lord Severian understands this better than most. That is why you have been granted sanctuary here. But do not presume to use that grief as a weapon in this household."

Cassian lowered his gaze, feigning contrition. "My apologies. I'm still... processing their deaths."

The remainder of the meal passed in uncomfortable silence. When the final course had been cleared, Pollan rose from his seat.

"If you are finished, I shall give you a tour of the permitted areas. It would not do for you to become lost in these halls."

The tour was comprehensive but clearly designed to emphasize the boundaries of Cassian's confinement. The library, filled with actual paper books alongside digital archives. The training rooms, equipped with both ancient weapons and modern combat simulators. The gardens, a marvel of engineering that recreated Earth flora in Venus's artificial atmosphere.

Throughout, Cassian noted the absence of security cameras in the traditional sense. Instead, small, bird-like drones occasionally flitted through the corridors, surveillance disguised as decoration. The castle's defense systems were subtle but omnipresent, from pressure sensors in the flooring to energy barriers disguised as decorative archways.

Most interesting was the collection of ancestral weapons displayed in a long gallery. Swords, plasma rifles, and stranger devices whose purpose Cassian could only guess at. Among them was a pair of whip-swords, similar to the ones he'd seen Historical Knights wield in recordings of the Android Wars.

"Those belonged to Octavian Aurelius," Pollan explained, following Cassian's gaze. "He was considered one of the finest duelists in the Venusian nobility before his death."

"How did he die?" Cassian asked, though he already knew the answer.

Pollan's face hardened. "That is not a topic for discussion."

As they approached a set of ornate double doors at the end of a corridor, Pollan stopped abruptly. "This marks the boundary of the permitted areas. Beyond lies the east wing and Lord Severian's private quarters. You are not to pass this point under any circumstances. The security systems beyond will not distinguish between intruder and guest."

Cassian nodded, making a mental note of the location. The eastern wing would be his target tonight.

The tour concluded back at Cassian's quarters, where Pollan left him with a curt bow. Alone again, Cassian began systematically checking the suite for surveillance devices, finding three. One in the sitting room, disguised as a decorative sculpture; one in the bedroom, hidden in a light fixture; and one in the bathing chamber, incorporated into the water controls.

Primitive by the standards he expected, but effective. He would need to be careful.

The hours crept by slowly. Cassian requested and received a complete schematic of the castle from the datapad, ostensibly to help him navigate the permitted areas. In reality, he was planning his infiltration of the east wing. The schematics showed ventilation shafts large enough for a person to traverse, a common architectural feature in structures built during Venus's early colonization when atmosphere regulation was crucial.

As evening approached, Rhyanna visited him again, bearing a tray of refreshments.

"I thought you might be hungry," she explained, setting the tray on a side table. "The castle can be overwhelming for newcomers."

"Thank you," Cassian gestured for her to sit. "I appreciate the company."

She settled gracefully into a chair, her movements fluid and precise.

"You mentioned earlier that you knew my father," Cassian prompted.

Rhyanna nodded, a sad smile playing at her lips. "Argave was one of the few Palatines who treated homunculi with respect. He saw beyond our , recognized our capacity for growth."

"And my mother?"

"Emma was brilliant. Fierce. She would have done anything to protect those she loved." Rhyanna's expression grew distant. "They were good people, Cassian. Their deaths were a tragedy."

"Do you know why they were killed?" Cassian asked softly.

Rhyanna's artificial eyes focused on him with sudden intensity. "They discovered something at the Institute. Something dangerous. They reached out to Lord Severian for protection, but..." She trailed off, shaking her head. "The Furies got to them first."

"The Furies? "

"Yes. They serve the Lady Astra, hunting down any who threaten her rule." Rhyanna stood abruptly. "You should be careful with your questions, young Cassian. The wrong ears might be listening."

"Is that why Severian won't see me?" Cassian pressed. "Because of what my parents knew?"

Rhyanna's expression softened. "Lord Severian bears his own burdens. Since returning from Earth to find his family slaughtered, he has... changed. The boy who once laughed and drank with commoners in Tatalos is gone. In his place is a man haunted by ghosts."

"I need to speak with him," Cassian insisted. "My parents died trying to tell him something important. I deserve to know what it was."

"And what would you do with that knowledge?" Rhyanna asked gently. "Seek revenge? Against the sovereign's daughter? Against the Institute? That path leads only to death, Cassian."

"I'll find another way."

Rhyanna studied him for a long moment, then sighed. "You have his determination as well. Very well, I will speak to him on your behalf. But I make no promises."

After she left, Cassian waited, counting the minutes until the castle's night cycle began. The artificial lighting dimmed gradually, simulating sunset. The surveillance drone in his room settled into its nighttime pattern, sweeping the chamber at regular three-minute intervals.

At precisely midnight, according to the castle's internal chronometer, Cassian made his move. He slipped from his bed, already dressed in the dark clothing he'd worn from Tatalos, and moved to the window. The security system was designed to prevent entry, not exit. A simple oversight he could exploit.

The climb down the outer wall was treacherous but manageable for his enhanced body. He moved quickly, avoiding the sweeping pattern of the exterior drones by timing their rotations. Once on the ground, he skirted the gardens, keeping to the shadows until he reached the eastern face of the castle.

Here, the architecture became more complex. Flying buttresses and ornate stonework providing ample handholds. Cassian began to climb, his fingers finding purchase in crevices too small for normal human hands. Twenty meters up, he found what he was looking for, a ventilation grate, partially concealed behind a decorative gargoyle.

The grate came loose with a careful application of pressure. Cassian pulled himself inside, into a shaft barely wide enough for his shoulders. He moved silently, counting junctions until he reached what should be the east wing, according to the schematics.

A soft glow emanated from a grate ahead. Cassian approached cautiously, peering through the slats.

Below was a vast training hall, its high ceiling supported by massive columns carved to resemble ancient trees. Holographic flames danced in braziers along the walls, casting long shadows across the polished floor. And in the center, moving with inhuman grace, was a man.

He was tall and lithe, barefoot and shirtless, his pale skin gleaming with sweat. Long blond hair, almost white in the firelight, whipped around his face as he moved through a complex series of forms. In each hand, he held what appeared to be a simple metal hilt, but as he moved, energy uncoiled from them, whip-swords, their blades formed of pure plasma, cutting through the air with an audible hiss. He had read about them all those years in the Jovan book, but seeing them live was awe inspiring.

The display was mesmerizing, each movement flowing into the next with perfect precision. It was art, a dance of death performed for an audience of ghosts.

Cassian watched, transfixed, until a misstep sent him shifting against the grate. The metal creaked softly.

The man below froze mid-motion, his head snapping up toward the sound. His eyes, a startling gold that seemed to glow in the dim light, narrowed.

"I can hear you breathing," he called, his voice surprisingly soft. "Come down, or I'll bring you down."

Realizing stealth was no longer an option, Cassian pushed the grate open and dropped to the floor below, landing in a crouch. He straightened slowly, hands raised to show he was unarmed.

"Lord Severian Aurelius," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I'm Cassian Von Deyrs. I—"

"I know who you are," Severian interrupted, deactivating one whip-sword and setting it aside. The other remained active, a coil of deadly energy wrapped around his right arm. "The question is why you're here, in my private training hall, when you were explicitly forbidden from entering this wing."

Up close, Severian was even more striking. His features were fine, almost delicate, but there was nothing soft about him. His bare torso was corded with lean muscle, and several scars crisscrossed his chest and abdomen—evidence that even a Palatine noble wasn't immune to violence.

"I needed to speak with you," Cassian replied. "Your servants said you wouldn't see me."

"And you thought breaking into my private chambers would endear me to your cause?" Severian raised an eyebrow, his expression caught between amusement and irritation.

"I thought direct action would get your attention."

"Well, you have it now." Severian circled him slowly, the plasma whip trailing behind him like a tail of blue fire. "Speak."

Cassian took a deep breath. "I want you to sponsor me for the Institute trials."

Severian stopped, genuine surprise flickering across his face. "The Institute? Where your parents were instructors? Where they discovered whatever led to their deaths? That Institute?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"To finish what they started," Cassian replied simply. "To find out what they died for."

Severian laughed, a harsh sound devoid of humor. "And you think I'll help you commit suicide? No, boy. Go back to your room. In the morning, I'll arrange transportation to wherever you wish to go, except the Institute."

"You owe me this," Cassian insisted, taking a step forward. "My parents reached out to you for help, and they died for it."

Something dangerous flashed in Severian's eyes. "I owe you nothing. Your parents' deaths are a tragedy, but not my responsibility. Now leave, before I call Lys to escort you out."

"I'm going to the Institute one way or another," Cassian pressed, desperation creeping into his voice. "But without a Palatine sponsor, I'll never get close to the truth. You're my only option."

"Find another patron," Severian dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "I'm not interested in sending another child to die at the Institute."

"Another?" Cassian seized on the word. "Like your sister, Phoebe?"

The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Severian's expression hardened into a mask of cold fury.

"You dare speak her name?" he whispered, the plasma whip humming ominously as it tightened around his arm.

Cassian knew he was treading dangerous ground, but pushed forward anyway. "I'm not a coward like you. I won't hide in a castle while others fight my battles. I'm going to find out what happened to my parents, what happened to Phoebe—"

The whip lashed out with blinding speed, not at Cassian but at a weapon rack nearby. A training sword clattered to the floor at Cassian's feet.

"Pick it up," Severian commanded, his voice deadly quiet.

Cassian hesitated only a moment before complying. The sword was heavier than it looked, crafted for training rather than actual combat, but deadly enough in the right hands.

"You think you're ready for the Institute?" Severian's second whip-sword activated, twin coils of plasma dancing around him. "Prove it."

Cassian barely had time to raise his blade before Severian attacked. The first strike nearly tore the sword from his grip. The second sent him staggering backward. The third knocked him to one knee.

"Phoebe was ten times the fighter you are," Severian snarled, circling him like a predator. "She was brilliant, dedicated, disciplined—everything you're not. And the Institute still killed her."

Cassian struggled to his feet, his arms burning from the effort of parrying Severian's attacks. He lunged forward, attempting to close the distance, but Severian sidestepped effortlessly.

"Your footwork is sloppy," the Palatine commented, lashing out with a whip that tore a gash in Cassian's tunic. "Your balance is worse. At the Institute, you wouldn't last a day in the incubation phase, let alone survive the dungeon dives."

Cassian attacked again, desperation lending him speed. This time, he managed to get within striking distance, but Severian simply caught his blade between his whips and twisted it from his grasp.

"Pathetic," Severian spat, genuine disgust in his voice. "And you want me to put the Aurelius name behind you? To send you to the Institute with my blessing? You'd bring shame to my house before you even reached the trials."

Disarmed and outmatched, Cassian changed tactics. He charged forward, attempting to grapple with Severian directly. The Palatine met him with a backhanded strike that sent him sprawling across the polished floor, blood trickling from a split lip.

"Stay down," Severian advised, deactivating his weapons. "You're not ready. You may never be ready. Going to the Institute with your current skills is suicide, and I won't have your death on my conscience."

Cassian pushed himself up, spitting blood. "I don't care if I die. I just want—"

"Revenge?" Severian cut him off. "Justice? Truth? Noble goals, but meaningless if you're dead." He turned away, clearly considering the conversation over. "Rhyanna will see to your wounds. In the morning, you'll leave."

"No," Cassian managed, his voice hoarse. "I'm not giving up."

Severian paused but didn't turn around. "Then train. Become stronger. Find another sponsor. But don't ask me to send you to your death."

The doors to the training hall opened, and Rhyanna entered, her expression a mixture of concern and resignation.

"My lord," she acknowledged Severian with a slight bow before hurrying to Cassian's side. "What happened?"

"A lesson," Severian replied coldly, disappearing through a side door without looking back.

Rhyanna helped Cassian to his feet, her strength belying her delicate appearance. "You shouldn't have provoked him," she chided gently, examining his split lip. "You're lucky he showed restraint."

"That was restraint?" Cassian winced as she dabbed at his wound with a cloth produced from her sleeve.

"Lord Severian was once considered one of the most promising knights of his generation," Rhyanna informed him. "Before he abandoned that path to return home."

As she led him back through the castle toward his quarters, Cassian's mind raced. Severian clearly had the skills to help train him, if only he could be persuaded. But how to convince a man who had sealed himself away from the world?

"He thinks I'm not good enough," Cassian muttered as Rhyanna applied a healing salve to his injuries.

"You're not," she agreed bluntly. "The Institute isn't just another academy, Cassian. It's a forge that breaks as many as it strengthens. Without proper preparation, you wouldn't survive the trials, let alone what comes after."

"Then help me prepare," Cassian pleaded. "Convince him to train me."

Rhyanna sighed, placing a cool hand against his swollen cheek. "Lord Severian has his reasons for refusing. He lost everyone he loved to the Institute and its machinations. But..." She hesitated, studying him thoughtfully. "Perhaps if you proved your determination, showed him you were willing to put in the work..."

"How?"

"That's for you to decide," she replied, rising gracefully. "But know this—Lord Severian respects strength, courage, and above all, perseverance. Show him those qualities, and he might reconsider."

After she left, Cassian lay in the darkness, his body aching from the brief but brutal confrontation. His first attempt had failed spectacularly, but he'd learned valuable information. Severian wasn't just hiding from the world, he was hiding from his past, from the pain of losing his family. And somewhere in that pain lay the key to gaining his cooperation.

I need to become stronger, Cassian thought, his resolve hardening. I need to prove I'm worthy of his training, his sponsorship. And then...

Then he would enter the Institute, discover its secrets, and fulfill his mission for the Old Man. He would get stronger and be able to find out who the hell sent him here. And why. The clock was ticking. And the knowledge of what was going to happen plagued him, he was going to need a whole lot of power to deal with what was coming.

As he drifted into an uneasy sleep, Cassian began to plan his next move. Severian had shown him exactly what he lacked. Now he needed to show Severian what he possessed in abundance. The determination, adaptability, and the will to succeed at any cost.

It was time to leverage his knowledge of the future from the Jovan. One way or another, he would earn Severian's respect, and his patronage.