After the council meeting ended, most of the commanders and nobles slowly left the hall.
Some nodded respectfully to Sanat.
Others barely looked at him.
A few gave him long, calculating stares.
Sanat noticed all of it.
But he said nothing.
Soon, a guard approached him.
"Lord Sanat, Lord Valerian requests your presence."
Sanat nodded.
"Lead the way."
The Grandfather's Chamber
The guard led him through several quiet corridors of the Virel Sky Citadel.
Eventually they arrived at a massive set of doors.
The doors opened slowly.
Sanat stepped inside.
He immediately stopped walking.
"…What the hell."
The room was enormous.
Even larger than the council hall.
Tall windows stretched across one entire wall, showing the night skyline of Astra Prime.
Bookshelves filled with ancient texts rose several stories high.
In the center stood a massive desk carved from dark crystal.
Behind it sat his grandfather.
Lord Valerian Virel.
Valerian looked up calmly.
"You seem surprised."
Sanat looked around again And thought
"This room is bigger than my entire house in my old life."
Valerian raised an eyebrow.
"Your memory disturbance continues to produce strange comparisons."
Sanat coughed.
"Yeah… something like that."
Valerian gestured toward a chair.
"Sit."
Sanat sat down.
For a moment, the old man simply watched him.
Then he spoke.
"You now stand as the successor of the Virel House."
Sanat nodded.
"So what happens next?"
Valerian folded his hands.
"You have three possible paths."
Sanat leaned forward slightly.
"I'm listening."
Option One: The Noble Path
"You may remain within the Virel House," Valerian said.
"You will train here."
"You will study under the commanders."
"You will accompany them on missions and learn how the house operates."
Sanat imagined it.
Learning directly from the ten commanders.
Commanding fleets.
Studying strategy.
It sounded powerful.
But also…
Very controlled.
Option Two: The Hidden Path
Valerian continued.
"You may leave the house entirely."
Sanat blinked.
"Leave?"
"Yes."
"You would join a guild under a false identity."
"No noble name."
"No Virel protection."
"You would live as an ordinary citizen."
Sanat raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds… dangerous."
"It is."
"But it would allow you to grow independently."
Sanat nodded slowly.
That option sounded like a true adventure.
Option Three: The Academy
Valerian spoke again.
"The final option is the Royal Academy."
Sanat's eyes lit up slightly.
"The academy of Layer One?"
"Yes."
"It is the training ground for the most talented individuals on Astra Prime."
"Nobles."
"Guild prodigies."
"Future commanders."
Sanat leaned forward.
"Now that sounds interesting."
Valerian watched him carefully.
"I thought it might."
The Secret of the Virel House
Sanat then asked something that had been bothering him.
"If I choose the academy…"
" Do I need to hide my identity?"
Valerian leaned back in his chair.
"This decision was made long ago."
"By my great grandfather."
Sanat blinked.
"Your grandfather?"
"Yes."
"Five generations ago, the Virel House became too powerful."
"Several major guilds and even factions within the royal government began to fear us."
Sanat nodded slowly.
"So you went underground."
"Yes."
"The Virel House continued operating in the shadows."
"Our power remained hidden."
Sanat crossed his arms.
"So we're basically secret rulers."
Valerian ignored that comment.
Then Sanat asked something else.
"You mentioned the royal family earlier."
Valerian looked at him.
"Who do you think truly governs Astra Prime?"
Sanat shrugged.
"Guilds?"
Valerian shook his head.
"If guilds ruled this world…"
"They would destroy each other within a decade."
Sanat nodded.
Fair point.
Valerian continued.
"The Royal Family of Astra Prime maintains balance."
"They unite the noble houses."
"They regulate the guilds."
"They command the planetary military."
Sanat leaned back.
"So basically…"
"They stop everyone from killing each other."
Valerian nodded.
"Exactly."
A Changed Grandson
Valerian studied him for a moment.
Then he said something unexpected.
"Your memory is clearly disturbed."
Sanat stayed quiet.
"But something else has changed."
Sanat raised an eyebrow.
"My personality?"
"Yes."
"You seem calmer."
"More calculating."
Sanat smiled slightly.
"Is that bad?"
Valerian shook his head.
"It could be good."
"It could also be dangerous."
The old man stood up.
"Learn quickly."
"Grow stronger."
"Then return and tell me your decision."
Sanat nodded.
"I will."
The Royal Family
Later that night, Sanat returned to his room.
Boba was waiting.
Sanat immediately asked,
"Tell me about the Royal Family."
Boba activated a hologram.
A massive golden emblem appeared.
"The Royal Family united the civilizations of Astra Prime thousands of years ago."
"Before their rule, humanity was divided into hundreds of competing kingdoms."
Sanat nodded.
"And the beasts?"
"The Royal Family led the war that pushed the Mythical Beasts away from the central territories."
"They formed the first global alliance between humans, elves, and other races."
Sanat whistled.
"So they basically built the modern world."
"Correct."
The Royal Government
Boba continued.
"The Royal Government maintains several key systems."
"The planetary military."
"The guild regulatory council."
"And the Royal Academy."
Sanat's interest returned immediately.
"Tell me about the academy."
The Royal Academy
A new hologram appeared.
It showed a massive floating island.
Buildings, arenas, training grounds, and entire forests used for combat training.
"The Royal Academy is the most prestigious training institution on Astra Prime."
"Only the most talented individuals from Layer One are admitted."
Sanat stared at the image.
"So if I go there…"
"I'll be surrounded by monsters."
"Correct."
Sanat grinned.
"Perfect."
Then he asked the most important question.
"How do I get in?"
Boba answered calmly.
"Entrance trials begin in three months."
Sanat cracked his knuckles.
"Good."
He looked back at the academy hologram.
Then he smiled.
"Looks like school is about to get interesting."