Leon stood still, the weight of Lord Roderic’s words pressing on him as he watched the tall man stride away toward the manor. His first instinct was to turn to his mother, to look for reassurance in her eyes, but something in the way Lord Roderic had spoken told him that this wasn’t the place for that. He had to be strong, had to act like everything was fine.
Hollis, the Head Steward, stepped forward with the same impeccable grace as before, his tone formal but polite. “Young Master Leon, Lady Mira, I shall now escort you to your quarters. There is much to prepare for.”
Leon glanced at his mother, and she offered him a small, reassuring nod. Together, they followed Hollis into the grand estate, leaving behind the carriage, the road, and the life they had once known.
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Leon and Mira were given separate rooms in the manor, each spacious and grand beyond anything they had ever seen. The corridors between them stretched long and wide, and as they reached their quarters, Hollis paused and turned towards them with a small, formal smile.
“If there is anything either of you may need, you need only ask,” Hollis said in a calm, reassuring tone. “Lord Roderic has many responsibilities and urgent matters that require his attention. Please excuse his brief reception. You will, of course, see him at supper this evening.”
Mira offered a polite smile, though Leon could see the strain behind her eyes. She held her small bundle of belongings tightly, as if clinging to what little remained of their old life.
“Thank you, Hollis,” Mira said quietly, her voice steady despite the tension in her face.
Hollis gave a slight bow. “You are welcome, Lady Mira. Young Master Leon, your education will begin tomorrow. I will come for you in the morning.”
Leon nodded, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach as he glanced at his mother. Hollis gestured toward their rooms, and with a final courteous bow, he departed down the long hallway, leaving them to settle into their new lives.
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The next morning, Leon was reluctantly dragged out of the soft, fluffy heaven that was his new bed. He had never slept in something so comfortable before, and he resented the servant’s knock on the door that signalled the start of his new routine.
After being bathed and groomed by unfamiliar hands, Leon stood in front of the tall mirror, hardly recognising the boy staring back at him. His usually unkempt blond hair was now neatly combed, the sun-lightened strands almost golden in the morning light. It looked too neat—too polished. His skin, scrubbed clean of dust and dirt from the village, seemed fairer than he remembered. Out here, his blond hair and light skin had always been a part of him, bronzed by the long hours outdoors. But now, clean and presented in this grand place, he felt like a different person entirely.
The clothes they had given him—a crisp white shirt tucked into dark, tailored trousers—were finer than anything he had ever worn. The trousers felt stiff, and the polished boots clung uncomfortably to his feet. Everything was new, formal, and unfamiliar. He wasn’t sure if he hated it, but it certainly didn’t feel like him.
He leaned in towards the mirror, his dark blue eyes staring back. His face was still round with youth, but there was tension in his expression. His hair was the only thing that seemed to remind him of the old life—his days spent playing in the sun, helping his mother. But now... the boy in the mirror looked like someone preparing for a role in a world he didn’t understand.
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Leon stepped into the hallway, blinking at the sight of Mira waiting for him. Her blond hair, normally loose and sun-kissed from long days spent outdoors, was tied back in a tidy braid. She wore a simple green dress, elegant in its simplicity, that complemented her lightly tanned skin. Her features looked more defined, almost sharper now that her face had been scrubbed clean of the dust and grime that usually clung to them after a long day’s work.
Mira smiled softly, though there was something hesitant in her expression. “Look at you,” she said, her voice wavering slightly. “You look like someone else’s son.”
Leon shifted uncomfortably, tugging at the collar of his too-formal shirt. “You too,” he muttered, glancing at her dress. “I guess this is what they want now.”
Mira stepped closer, smoothing his combed hair even though it was already perfect. “You’re still my boy,” she said quietly, “no matter what they make you wear.”
Leon gave a small, reluctant smile. “You look nice, Mum,” he said, though there was an awkwardness to his words. “But it doesn’t feel like we belong here.”
Mira chuckled softly, though the humour didn’t quite reach her eyes. “No, love. Not yet.”
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Hollis arrived soon afterwards. He was dressed impeccably, as always, his suit crisp and his posture formal. His expression was neutral, though his eyes softened slightly when he saw Leon and his mother standing together.
“Good morning, Lady Mira. Young Master Leon,” he said with a small bow. “I trust you slept well?”
Mira returned the bow with a slight nod. “Thank you, Hollis. The accommodations have been... more than generous.”
Leon, unsure of how to respond to this level of formality, just nodded awkwardly.
Hollis glanced towards him with the faintest trace of a smile before regaining his usual formal tone. “Today, Leon, you’ll begin your instruction. Madam Aldwin is expecting you.”
Mira’s grip on Leon’s shoulder tightened briefly. “You’ll do well,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Just... remember what I’ve taught you. Stay calm, choose your words carefully, and don’t let them see you falter.”
Leon gave a small nod, his mouth dry with nerves. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but whatever it was, it felt too soon.
“Shall we, then?” Hollis gestured down the hallway. “I’ll escort you.”
Leon exchanged a final glance with his mother, her reassuring smile doing little to quell the nerves in his stomach. Hollis led Leon down the long corridors of the estate, the polished floors gleaming beneath their feet. The air was cool and still, as though everything here had its place, and there was no room for mistakes.
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When they finally reached the heavy wooden door, Hollis paused and turned to Leon. “Madam Aldwin is strict, but fair,” he said quietly, as if offering one last piece of advice. “You will learn much under her guidance.”
Leon swallowed hard, unsure if that was meant to be reassuring.
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Hollis knocked on the door before opening it and gesturing for Leon to step inside. The room was spacious, but not overly grand. A large window let in natural light, illuminating the wooden desk and neatly arranged chairs.
Standing in the centre of the room was a woman who immediately commanded Leon’s attention. Madam Aldwin stood straight as a board, her posture perfect, and her every movement precise. Her silver hair, pinned tightly back in a neat bun, gleamed in the light, giving her an air of regality. Though age had softened her features, her eyes were sharp—calculating—as they landed on Leon, assessing him in an instant.
Without a word, she stepped forward, hands clasped in front of her. Everything about her radiated discipline and control, from her rigid posture to the way her gaze never wavered. Leon could tell instantly—this was someone who had mastered the art of etiquette, and she expected the same from him.
“Good morning,” she said finally, her voice clipped but calm. “I am Madam Aldwin. I will be overseeing your academic and social education during your time here.”
She paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked Leon over, taking in every detail. “I’ve trained many young men in the proper ways of nobility. Lord Roderic himself was one of my pupils." Her tone carried a note of pride, but it was subtle—contained.
“I expect the same dedication from you.” She gestured towards a chair near the centre of the room. "Now, shall we begin?"
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Leon hesitated before sitting in the chair Madam Aldwin had gestured to. He felt as if her eyes were following his every movement, silently judging whether he measured up. The moment he settled, she stepped closer, her sharp gaze unwavering.
“You are an Evoker, young man,” she said, her tone firm and precise. “That alone places you above most in noble society. Your powers are a blessing from the Goddess herself, but that does not grant you freedom from responsibility.”
She paused, letting her words sink in before continuing, her voice taking on a sharper edge. “Being an Evoker comes with expectation. You are no longer simply Leon. You are Leon the Evoker—a servant of the Empire, a figurehead for the people, and a weapon in the hands of those who wield power.”
Leon shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The weight of her words pressed down on him, the full reality of his awakening settling in.
Madam Aldwin stepped back, her gaze unwavering. “As an Evoker, you hold a unique position within the noble hierarchy. You will serve Lord Roderic, and for now, you are under his command. It is your duty to defend his lands and his people, just as all Evokers must protect the territories of their lords.”
She began pacing slowly, her voice calm but precise. “But should the Empire call upon you, your allegiance shifts to the Emperor. In times of conflict, the highest-ranking Evoker takes command, usually determined by the number of Circles mastered.”
She paused, then added with a sharper look, “However, the Chosen—those directly blessed by the Goddess—answer only to the Emperor. Their authority supersedes all others, regardless of rank or Circle.”
Leon nodded, feeling the gravity of his new place in the world settle even more heavily on his shoulders. The Chosen... it was a concept he had heard of, but now, it carried far more weight.
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Madam Aldwin stopped her pacing for a moment, her sharp gaze focused on Leon as she continued.
“To understand why the Chosen are so revered, you must first understand the history of your power.” Her voice softened just slightly, shifting into the tone of a tutor about to recount a critical lesson. “Long ago, during the First Demon Incursion, the demons invaded our world, threatening to destroy everything in their path. The Empire was on the brink of collapse.”
She began pacing again, her voice calm yet heavy with history. “The people prayed to the Goddess, begging for salvation. In her mercy, she answered their prayers, granting her power to four heroes. These were the first Evokers. Their powers were immense—drawn directly from the Goddess herself.”
Leon listened closely, feeling the gravity in her words.
“However,” she continued, “such pure, divine power was too much for any mortal to bear. After defeating the demons, the four heroes began to break down under the strain of their divinity.” She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. “To save them from destruction, the Goddess ascended them into the heavens, granting them a new purpose as her demigod proxies.”
Leon’s brow furrowed in curiosity as Madam Aldwin’s tone grew more serious.
“From then on, it was through these four demigods that the Goddess’ power flowed. They act as a filter, allowing Evokers like yourself to receive power in a form you can handle—an Aspect of the original divine power. This is why your power is unique, tied to the domains of these four heroes.”
Leon nodded slowly, trying to absorb the weight of this history.
“However,” she added, “the Chosen are different. When the Goddess marks an Evoker as Chosen, she grants them a Mote—an unfiltered fragment of her own divine power, rather than just an Aspect granted by the demigods. This is why Chosen Evokers are so rare, and why they hold authority that even other Evokers cannot match.”
Leon couldn’t help but ask, “So... does that mean the Chosen could become like the demigods one day?”
Madam Aldwin’s expression shifted, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “That is what the Empire believes. If the Chosen rise far enough, if they prove themselves worthy, they may one day ascend as new demigods. This is why the Chosen are revered and why their potential must never be wasted.”
Leon felt a chill run down his spine as the enormity of the Chosen’s role settled in his mind.
“But whether or not you are one of the Chosen,” she said, her tone returning to its firm, disciplined edge, “is not something you need to concern yourself with yet. What matters now is your training and your discipline. You must first prove yourself as an Evoker. The rest will follow in time.”
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The rest of the lesson passed in a blur of instructions and corrections.
The day started with the basics of etiquette, a subject that quickly proved to be far more difficult than Leon had expected.
"Posture, Leon," Madam Aldwin snapped, tapping the back of his chair with a thin cane as he struggled to sit perfectly straight. "You must sit as though you are carrying the weight of your title on your shoulders. Chin up. No slouching."
She corrected every movement, from the way he held his utensils to how he placed a book on the table. Even the simple act of walking became a carefully choreographed affair—each step deliberate, each movement precise.
"An Evoker must exude control at all times," she said, watching as Leon stumbled over a step in the intricate walking routine she'd laid out for him. "Grace is not an option—it is a requirement."
When they moved to academics, things weren’t any easier. Madam Aldwin’s expectations were clear, and they were high. Mathematics, history, literature—subjects he’d had only the briefest exposure to back in his village—were now essential foundations for the life he was stepping into. She drilled him relentlessly on everything from imperial history to the laws of the realm, ensuring that no detail was overlooked.
"Remember this, Leon," she said sharply as she pointed to a map of the Empire’s borders. "Every Evoker is a servant of the realm, and knowledge of the land you defend is as important as the power you will one day wield."
He struggled to keep up with the flow of information, but there was no room for mistakes. Every wrong answer, every misstep was met with a sharp look, a terse correction, or a demand to try again.
By the time they reached formal speech practice, Leon’s head was spinning.
"Again," Madam Aldwin instructed, her tone unyielding as Leon stumbled over the proper form of address for a noble three ranks higher than his current position. "An Evoker must be as adept with words as with power. You cannot afford to offend the wrong person with a careless tongue."
Her eyes flicked over him, as if assessing how much he had absorbed. "Remember, words are weapons, too."
Hours passed, and Leon’s muscles ached from maintaining rigid posture, his brain throbbed from absorbing too much information, and his tongue felt tied in knots from all the formal phrases she’d made him recite. Yet Madam Aldwin showed no signs of tiring. Her energy remained as sharp and controlled as it had been when they first started.
By the time she finally dismissed him, the sun had begun its slow descent outside the window, casting long shadows across the room.
Leon stood, his legs wobbling slightly from the exertion. He caught Madam Aldwin's glance, and for just a brief moment, there was the faintest hint of approval in her expression. It was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced with her usual sternness.
"We will continue tomorrow," she said crisply. "You have much to learn, and we have only just begun."