Jonan made his way to Lady Aurelia, who was set to assign him to a group heading for the front lines. His mind buzzed with anticipation and countless thoughts, making it difficult to stay calm.
Upon reaching the garden, he immediately noticed the difference. It lacked the usual warmth and vibrancy, and the absence of visitors left it eerily quiet.
Yet, he pressed on, stepping inside where Aurelia sat, leisurely sipping tea. She seemed to be waiting for something or someone.
Beside her stood a man clad in a mask. The mask was pearly white, featureless except for a straight line running through two hollow circles where his eyes should be. Just a single glance at him sent a chill through Jonan's spine.
There was something wrong with him. An inexplicable discomfort gnawed at Jonan, though he couldn't pinpoint why.
Forcing himself to stay composed, Jonan straightened his posture, bowed politely, and spoke. "Madam, I have come as instructed. May I know when I will be leaving for the front lines? And who my teammates will be?"
Aurelia's lips curled into an amused smile as she giggled softly. "It seems someone is eager for their first outing. "Jonan flushed, his cheeks reddening in embarrassment. She wasn't wrong though, this would be his first real battle.
The front lines were no mere battlefield, they were a chaotic convergence of power and bloodshed. They were not ruled by a single force but housed warriors from all four great families and their affiliated factions.
Despite being called the front lines, it was not a single location but a collection of war-ridden cities and border outposts. And there was only one business conducted there, and that was WAR.
A war against the beast race. Countless warriors perished in this ongoing struggle, laying down their lives to protect their loved ones.
At times, their monstrous leaders, the Abominations descended upon the battlefield, bringing devastation that shook the very land. Though rare, these creatures were forces of pure destruction. If every beast had the potential to become an Abomination, humanity would have long since fallen. Aurelia's voice pulled Jonan from his thoughts."
Jonan, this is Rhydian. He will be your guardian on the battlefield."
Jonan stiffened. Guardian? His gaze flickered toward the masked man, his unease growing.
Aurelia continued, her tone turning firm. "He will ensure your safety but do not mistake this for coddling. You will fight your own battles. Unless your life is at risk, he will not intervene. You need not concern yourself with anything else about him.
Your only focus should be to observe, survive, and return. There is no need for heroism. I do not wish to hear any news that would break Sister Elara's heart."
Jonan swallowed hard, his fantasies of a thrilling adventure shattering in an instant. He had foolishly imagined a journey filled with excitement, but the moment he laid eyes on Rhydian, reality set in.
The city he was heading to, The Wailing Shadow was no place for daydreams. There, he would be carrying out missions alongside Rhydian's group. The unease he felt about the masked man refused to fade, but Jonan knew he had no choice but to adapt to the situation at hand.
Distractions are also a tribulation, he reminded himself. If he was to walk the path of power, he could not afford to indulge in fleeting fantasies.
There was only one goal for him at the moment, and that was to move forward. And he would do so, no matter the cost.
Jonan sharpened his gaze and spoke with steady resolve. "I will follow your instructions, Madam, and I am grateful for this opportunity, as well as for the measures taken to ensure my safety."
His voice carried a hint of excitement as he asked, "When do we depart for the front lines?"
A cold, hoarse voice answered before Aurelia could speak.
"Today."
Jonan tensed.
The masked man, Rhydian, continued in the same sharp, clipped tone. "Prepare yourself. Pack what you need for the journey, it will take at least a week to reach The Wailing Shadow. During our time on the front lines, I will oversee your training. Do not expect leniency. I dislike excuses. You have one hour. Be at the main gate. The carriage will be waiting."
The air around them turned heavy, and Jonan could only stare at Rhydian in stunned silence.
This wasn't what he expected.
His stepmother remained quiet, her expression unreadable. Had she arranged for this unsettling man to be his tutor? Why? He had only asked to go to the front lines to push himself past his limits, was such a strict arrangement necessary?
A deeper concern nagged at him.
Aurelia had said nothing about her eldest son, Jonan's half-brother, the one person he had expected to be placed with. If anything, his brother had always shown a fondness for him. Yet, here he was, being sent into unknown territory, without any familiar faces, under the care of a man who radiated nothing but an eerie murderous aura.
Still, he couldn't complain.
It was Aurelia who had arranged this opportunity for him. Without her, he might have been placed in a random group, left to fend for himself among strangers. At least this way, his safety was being accounted for.
Jonan exhaled slowly, bowed slightly, and left the garden to prepare for his departure.
Meanwhile, Back in the Garden
The gentle warmth Aurelia had shown just moments ago vanished the instant Jonan left. Her expression darkened, her lips pressing into a firm line.
A chilling stillness settled over the space.
"You can come out, Witch," she said coldly, her voice laced with restrained anger.
A shadow flickered.
From the very spot Jonan had stood, a figure materialized, a woman cloaked in green dark robes, her presence carrying an air of quiet dominance.
The shaman, Lenaia.
She had long served at the side of Draven the Hero.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Lady Aurelia," Lenaia said smoothly.
Aurelia's hands clenched into fists. Her teeth gritted as she hissed, "You have a lot of nerve manipulating me. And even more to think you can toy with someone from our family."
Lenaia's expression flickered with mild irritation, but she remained composed, her tone as indifferent as ever. "I am not manipulating anyone, my lady. I am merely following His Highness's orders."
Her eyes gleamed with utter displeasure, as she added, "And you would do well to remember your place. Yes, you are the main wife, for now, that is, and Yes, your brother sits on the throne, and the nobles stand behind you. But do not forget the one simple truth."
She took a step closer, her voice dropping lower.
"This family belongs to His Highness. No one, not you, nor the King, nor your noble allies, has the right to challenge his will. He allows you all to play your little game of 'Main' and 'Branch' wives, but do not mistake it for true power."
A mocking smirk tugged at her lips. "You would do well to remember that."
Aurelia paled.
She had known, of course, she had known, that all of this had been observed by him in silence without much of his interference. No one else wielded that level of influence within the Starfall Family.
But the real question remained.
Why?
Why was His Highness going to such lengths? Why was Jonan, of all people, receiving such focused attention?
Most would see this as a blessing. But Aurelia knew better.
She knew what it meant to garner such heavy interest from such a legendary being.
And she knew what their fate would be.
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to speak. "I have done as you asked. I even allowed Jonan to be placed among those war-loving lunatics. But tell me why? Why is His Highness so intent on pushing that boy forward? What does he see in him?"
Her voice tightened. "Why is he shaping Jonan for a path that will lead to his certain death?"
Lenaia studied Aurelia for a long moment. Then, surprisingly, she answered.
Her voice took on a rhythmic, almost eerie cadence.
Seven Heroes chase the light, Racing onward through the night.
Some have led, yet none have stayed,
Through endless trials, paths were laid.
But now the tides begin to turn,
A chance to rise, a fire to burn.
His Highness strides with steadfast grace,
Not just to lead, but to win the race.
Yet fate demands a heavy toll,
A heart must break to reach the goal.
His dearest child, so bright, so pure,
His father's image is clear and sure.
With trembling hands, through silent cries,
He makes the choice, and the dream survives.
Beyond the gate, beyond the fight,
Glory stands in fractured light.
But for one true family in stars,
A triumph won, yet bound by scars.
The words hung in the air like an omen.
Then, without another word, Lenaia and the masked man disappeared instantly.
Aurelia remained frozen in place, her face drained of all color.
The pieces began to fall into place, each revelation more horrifying than the last.
And for the first time in a long, long while…
She was afraid.