Royal Watcher

In the uppermost observatory of House Aldren, behind a false wall lined with soundproofing glyphs, Agent Silas sat in silence.

He wore no sigil.

No crest.

Just a cloak lined with imperial thread—and a satchel engraved with the seal of the Crown's Arcane Compliance Bureau.

To most, the Bureau didn't even exist.

Its purpose?

> Observe.

Document.

Eliminate threats that don't belong in the system.

---

📜 Initial Observation Log

Silas's quill glided across parchment, the strokes deliberate, coded with shorthand.

> Subject: Achilles Verentis

Status: Noble heir, House Verentis

Age: ~7

Combat Classification: Unknown

Initial Threat Rating: Minimal

❖ Observed behavior inconsistent with 3rd-rate swordsmanship

❖ Spell emission does not follow formal structure

❖ No vocal chant, no visible casting channel

❖ No aura discharge detected

❖ Opponent suffered focused combustion damage

❖ Possible illegal enchantment use OR unlicensed hybrid magic

He leaned back.

The boy had swung a sword.

That was all.

But the burn pattern matched a spell typically taught at 2nd Circle—with no chant, no circle glyph, no delay.

> A combat spell disguised inside a physical motion...

And worse—

> It didn't register.

Not even the estate's arcane wards picked it up.

---

🔍 Classified Review: Spell Codex Matching

Silas opened a silver orb embedded in the wall. It projected a quiet stream of blue glyphs—pulling from the Empire's spell library.

> Query: Fire-Based Casting Styles [Low-Visibility]

Filter: No verbal, no visual glyph, no aura flare

Results: 0

None.

Not a single registered style matched what Achilles did.

That meant one of two things:

1. Verentis was developing illegal spelltech in secret.

2. The boy had created—or inherited—something foreign.

He flipped the page. Began a secondary log.

> New Threat Classification:

▸ Category: Unmapped Construct

▸ Origin: Internal / Intuitive

▸ Stability: Unknown

▸ Risk: Escalating

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🕯 Final Entry of the Night

Silas dipped his pen one last time and wrote in thick ink:

> "Subject Achilles Verentis is not casting. He is executing.

Recommend deep trace analysis if signs persist.

Do not engage without authorization.

Tagging status: Watchlisted."

—End Entry, Agent Silas ████, Crown Authority Level V

The agent closed the book, blew out the lamp, and vanished into the dark.

But his message was already en route to the Capital.

---

Meanwhile, Achilles lay awake in his room at House Aldren, unaware of the watcher's log…

…but in the corner of his vision, his System flashed:

> >>> Passive Scan Detected.

>>> Counter-scan activated.

>>> Source masked.

He smiled faintly.

> So they noticed me.

Good.