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
---
🕯 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.