Jorien's frantic breathing echoed through the forest as he stumbled forward, barely keeping himself upright.
—
Behind him—
Aaron's voice rang out.
—
"Oh—and tell Rowan…"
A pause.
—
"…his little schemes won't work anymore."
A faint, cold edge slipped into his tone.
—
"His lackey is… broken."
—
A heartbeat.
—
"Run."
—
The word dropped like a command.
Predatory.
Absolute.
—
Jorien didn't hesitate.
—
He ran.
—
Stumbling. Falling. Forcing himself back up again and again as his body threatened to give out beneath him.
—
But one thing kept him moving—
—
The feeling.
—
That something was behind him.
—
Something…..deadly a creature in human form…
He didn't dare look back.
***
Kavarel Empire
Archduchy Tauros — Capital Delphi
—
Cassandra sat upon her throne, posture composed, gaze steady.
—
The throne hall, however, was anything but calm.
—
"Did any of you know?"
—
Her advisor's voice cut through the chamber, sharp and rising.
—
"That she has taken an apprentice—no, a disciple?"
—
Murmurs spread instantly.
—
"Heh—disregarding her duties, neglecting her responsibilities… and for what?"
He stepped forward slightly, voice growing louder.
—
"For him?"
—
A ripple moved through the gathered nobles.
—
"Did she inform anyone? Did she consult this council?"
A harsh scoff.
—
"No."
—
"And now, when this House stands without an heir—when she should be considering marriage—"
His voice sharpened further.
—
"She chooses to nurture a disciple."
—
A pause.
Then—
—
"A male disciple."
—
Gasps spread across the hall.
Whispers followed.
—
Silence broke as a man raised his hand.
—
Cassandra's father.
—
"That aside....The Oracle…" he said calmly, though his presence alone stilled the room. "The prophecy of the Total King."
—
His eyes settled on Cassandra.
—
"Have you deciphered it?"
—
All attention shifted to her.
—
Despite the weight of their gazes… Cassandra remained composed.
—
"No, Father."
Her voice was calm.
Measured
—
"It is… complicated."
—
But that wasn't entirely true.
—
A fragment.
A suspicion.
—
A possibility she had yet to voice.
—
Aaron.
—
The thought lingered, unspoken.
A faint smile touched her lips.
Her student.
Talented.
Unpredictable.
And above all….Really….
….Really…..what was the word?…..
Interesting.
Something warm stirred in her chest—subtle, unfamiliar… yet growing stronger with each passing day.
—
Pride
And something else.
Something she hadn't fully named yet.
Her fingers rested lightly against the arm of her throne as her thoughts drifted—
Unaware of the faint blush coloring her cheeks.
—
Then—
—
"Of course you haven't."
—
The advisor's voice cut back in, sharp and intrusive.
"How could you? Not when your attention is so clearly elsewhere."
A few uneasy glances were exchanged.
—
"That disciple of yours…"
His tone dipped, suspiciously….
"Who knows if he even is just a disciple?"
A pause.
Measured
Calculated
Suggesting much more than actually was necessary….
—
"But let us not jump to conclusions…."
His gaze swept across the hall.
—
"The matter of an heir remains far more pressing."
"And House Orelix… cannot afford to wait!"
Cassandra gritted her teeth.
—
Her thoughts drifted—unwillingly—toward the one person behind all of this.
—
Her brother.
—
A faint tension tightened in her chest, her fingers curling slightly against the armrest of her throne.
—
She hated it.
—
Hated him.
—
Hated everything that had to do with him.
***
Horizoncrest Academy — Arena Grounds
—
"Students—listen carefully."
—
"The competition will proceed as follows."
A brief pause.
—
"All of you will enter the Great Arena."
—
"A free-for-all."
—
"One hundred participants."
—
"Sixteen will remain."
—
"The rest…"
A slight pause.
—
"…will fall."
—
"Victory is determined by elimination—whether by knockout… or by being forced out of the arena."
—
A faint murmur spread through the gathered students that were….. I don't know let's say….oh a good example a horde of sheep ready for the slaughter.[1]
—
"You have one hour."
—
"Return to your dorms."
—
"Prepare yourselves."
—
"Because when you step into that arena…
…There will be no second chances."
"Only the strong will stand."
"
[1] Author speaking