"The boy should be resting!"
I jerked awake to Magister Elwin's voice carrying through my door. My body felt like I'd been trampled by a herd of crystal boars, every muscle screaming in protest.
"The Council won't wait." The Archmage's tone was unyielding. "Politics stops for neither children nor prophecies."
Great. Nothing like waking up to the reminder that you're both a child and a political pawn. I dragged myself upright, my limbs weighing roughly the same as the Academy's central spire. The magical exhaustion from yesterday's demonstration had left me feeling hollowed out, like someone had scooped out my insides with a spoon.
As I stood, a strange warmth rippled down my spine. Not painful, just... different. Like sunlight flowing under my skin.
That's new. Nothing in my research on mana depletion mentioned this.
I had about thirty seconds to ponder this mystery before the Archmage swept into my room without knocking, because privacy apparently wasn't a concept that applied to "prophesied ones."
Both the Archmage and Magister Elwin froze mid-argument when they saw me.
"Liam? Your eyes..." Magister Elwin's face shifted from concern to shock.
"What about them?" I asked, suddenly alert. The sunlight-under-skin feeling intensified.
The Archmage's expression was harder to read—somewhere between "just discovered gold" and "successfully completed an evil plan."
"Interesting," he murmured. "The Tellian manuscripts mentioned this, but I hadn't expected it so quickly."
Magister Elwin conjured a small mirror. When I looked, I nearly dropped it. My normally dark blue eyes now had faint red streaks radiating from the pupils—barely noticeable unless you were looking for them, but definitely there.
Red. Aura system coloration. That 4% activation notification wasn't just a UI glitch.
"Is this... normal?" I asked, playing dumb while my mind calculated implications faster than the Academy's best arithmancers.
"Nothing about you is normal, Initiate Thorne," the Archmage said, dismissing the mirror with a wave. "The High Council representatives are waiting. Seven of them—one from each magical system."
Seven representatives? Just kill me now.
"What do they want with me?" I asked, already knowing the answer but maintaining my confused-child-prodigy act.
"To verify what they witnessed," the Archmage replied with a smile that never touched his eyes. "You created a construct that resonated with all seven magical systems—something previously considered impossible. Each system representative has... questions."
I bet they do. And I have precisely zero answers that wouldn't get me burned as a heretic or dissected for study.
"I need you to dress in your formal robes and join us within the half-hour," he continued. "I'll send an attendant with breakfast."
After he left, Magister Elwin remained, her expression troubled. "I tried to secure you more recovery time."
"I'll manage," I said, though my trembling legs suggested otherwise. "What should I expect?"
"Each system representative will test you in their own way," she warned. "Be cautious about your eyes. The Aura Commandant is particularly interested in your... potential."
"My potential?" I repeated, feigning confusion. "But I'm an Arcane practitioner. A human Arcane practitioner."
"That's what made yesterday's demonstration extraordinary," she explained. "Your configuration showed resonance with all seven systems. Each representative saw traces of their own magical signature within your construct."
"But that's impossible," I said, voicing what any educated person in this world would believe. "Systems don't mix. Humans do Arcane, Dragonkin do Aura, Elves do Ki, and so on. Everyone knows that."
"Everyone knew that," she corrected. "Until yesterday."
After she left, I collapsed against the wall, mind racing despite my exhaustion. Four years of careful obscurity, all shattered by one afternoon of showing off. Wonderful.
And now red streaks in my eyes. Just perfect.
I dressed in the formal robes laid out for me—deeper blue than standard apprentice attire, with intricate silver patterns that now included subtle sunburst designs I hadn't noticed yesterday. Probably some new "prophesied one" fashion statement I'd failed to get the memo about.
Breakfast arrived—standard fare plus what the Academy called "mana porridge," a blue-tinged concoction that tasted like someone had mixed oatmeal with lightning. I forced it down while experimenting with the strange warmth beneath my skin.
The sensation concentrated in my muscles, responding to movement rather than thought. Unlike Arcane energy, which I directed through precise calculations, this new energy seemed to flow with my physical actions.
If Arcane energy is like computer code, this feels more like muscle memory.
I tried channeling a small amount of traditional Arcane energy to my fingertips. The familiar blue glow appeared, though the effort left me winded. Then I tried focusing on the warm sensation, mentally directing it toward my hand.
Nothing happened.
Different activation method? The system said 'Dormant (4%)', so maybe it's just waking up but not usable yet.
A knock interrupted my experiment. Time to face the music.
As I followed the attendant through the Academy corridors, students and teachers stopped to stare. Some with awe, others with skepticism, none with the casual disinterest I'd grown used to as "just another prodigy."
The Grand Conclave Chamber occupied the central spire's second level—a vast circular room with a domed ceiling depicting Evranth's constellations. Seven figures sat at precise intervals around a massive stone table, each wearing the distinctive colors of their respective magical traditions.
The Archmage waited by the entrance. "Ah, Initiate Thorne. The High Council representatives have been most eager to meet you."
I approached with a formal bow, fighting to keep my expression neutral despite seven pairs of very non-human eyes examining me like a particularly interesting specimen.
"Honored representatives," I said, using my most respectful voice. "I'm humbled by your interest."
The Archmage began introductions, moving clockwise around the table. "From the Arcane Conclave, High Arcanist Seraphina of the Humans." A severe-looking woman with silver-streaked hair nodded stiffly, her eyes coldly analytical.
"From the Aura Commandery, Lord Commander Darius of the Dragonkin." A warrior with red-scaled skin inclined his head, crimson energy briefly flickering around his clenched fist. His reptilian eyes narrowed, focusing on the red streaks in mine.
"From the Ki Enclave, Grandmaster Taelios of the Elves." A surprisingly young elf with copper-toned skin and amber eyes smiled warmly. Vine-like tattoos shifted on his face as his expression changed.
"From the Soul Constellation, Lady Sendra of the Fae." A translucent woman with constellation patterns visible beneath her skin studied me—or rather, studied something beside me that only she could see.
"From the Runic Judiciary, High Inscriber Verus of the Dwarves." A stocky dwarf with glowing runes carved into his ruddy skin made notes on a humming parchment.
"From the Shadow Consortium, Voice Morveren of the Shades." An unsettling figure whose face kept dissolving into shadow nodded slightly, violet star-like eyes unblinking.
"And from the Divine Astrum, the Radiant Matriarch Illuminara of the Celestials." An ancient being with luminous sigils across her alabaster skin smiled warmly, golden light pulsing from within her.
Seven representatives. Seven magical systems. Seven distinct races. And me, a nine-year-old human boy with a physicist's mind trapped in a world that kept mistaking basic science for mystical insight.
No pressure at all.
"Please, be seated," the Archmage said, gesturing to a chair that was both smaller and lower than the others.
Instead, I remained standing. "With respect, I'd prefer to stand. Yesterday's demonstration left me somewhat... stiff." A plausible excuse that let me avoid looking like a child at the adults' table.
Several representatives—notably the Dragonkin and the Shade—showed subtle approval at my small defiance.
High Arcanist Seraphina spoke first, her voice precise and cold. "Initiate Thorne, your configuration exhibited harmonic resonances with all seven magical systems. This contradicts established understanding. Explain."
Direct and demanding. Typical Arcane approach.
"I can't explain it fully," I replied honestly. "I focused on creating the most stable configuration possible. The multi-system resonances were... unexpected."
"Unexpected," she repeated flatly. "Yet you maintained the configuration despite these 'unexpected' resonances."
"I observed and adapted," I said, giving the simplified explanation that had served me well for years. "The energy wanted to flow in certain patterns. I allowed it."
"Energy doesn't want anything, boy," Lord Commander Darius growled, scales rippling along his jaw. "It follows the will of the practitioner."
Grandmaster Taelios laughed softly. "Perhaps in your Aura techniques, Commander. Ki energy most certainly has preferences."
As they began debating amongst themselves, I noticed the Radiant Matriarch watching me with quiet amusement, as if we shared a joke. When our eyes met, she offered the slightest wink.
"The boy's eyes have changed," Voice Morveren said, their whisper-soft voice cutting through the debate like a knife.
Silence fell immediately. Seven pairs of eyes fixed on my face.
"Red traces," Lord Commander Darius said, leaning forward with sudden interest. "Aura manifestation in a human."
High Arcanist Seraphina's expression hardened. "Impossible. He's been evaluated as pure Arcane affinity since birth."
"And yet, the evidence is before us," High Inscriber Verus noted, inscribing another series of glowing runes. "Dual-system manifestation is theoretically possible, if exceedingly rare. Historical records mention seventeen confirmed cases in the past decade."
"All of whom used their systems independently," Lady Sendra added, her voice carrying strange echoes. "Nine attempted to combine systems simultaneously and died as a result. Their souls showed distinctive fracture patterns where the energies conflicted."
Well, that's comforting.
"Does it hurt, child?" the Radiant Matriarch asked gently, her voice cutting through the clinical discussion. "Having two different magics inside you?"
I considered my answer carefully. "No. They don't touch each other. I just feel... different since yesterday."
"Good," she nodded, her golden eyes warming. "When the magic paths cross too early, that's when people get hurt."
The Dragonkin commander leaned forward. "The ones who died tried using both systems at once. The others kept them separate."
"We should test the extent of this Aura manifestation," he added, his tone making it clear this wasn't merely a suggestion.
"The boy is still recovering from severe mana depletion," the Archmage countered. "Further testing could damage his development."
"Or reveal critical information about his unique nature," High Arcanist Seraphina responded, her eyes narrowing. "Information all systems—and races—have equal right to evaluate."
The political undercurrents were painfully obvious. Each representative wanted to claim me for their tradition, with the Arcane and Aura systems currently leading based on my visible affinities.
Lady Sendra's melodic voice cut through the tension. "Perhaps before subjecting the child to our various tests, we might ask what he experienced during the demonstration?"
Seven pairs of eyes turned to me expectantly.
Careful. Everything I say will be filtered through their biases and prophecy expectations.
"As I constructed the configuration," I began carefully, "I noticed that higher complexity levels behaved differently than simpler constructs. The patterns became less... predictable."
Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
"At the highest complexity, when I reached the twelfth node, the energy seemed to develop resonance patterns I hadn't intended. Almost as if the configuration itself was drawing on aspects of different systems."
"As the prophecy suggests," the Radiant Matriarch noted quietly. "The Tellian Configuration was designed as a bridge between systems."
"Designed by whom?" Lord Commander Darius challenged. "And for what purpose?"
The ancient Celestial smiled enigmatically. "Questions for another time, perhaps."
As the debate intensified, I felt the strange warmth beneath my skin increasing, flowing through my muscles more vigorously. My vision sharpened suddenly, peripheral awareness expanding to encompass details I'd normally miss—the tiny scale patterns along Lord Commander Darius's knuckles, the barely perceptible glow beneath High Arcanist Seraphina's skin, the constant shifting of shadows beneath Voice Morveren's hood.
Then, pressure built at the base of my skull, and a familiar mocking voice echoed through my consciousness:
[CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIRST MAGICAL IDENTITY CRISIS!]
You've managed to confuse your magical pathways so thoroughly that
your body can't decide whether it's an ARCANE NERD or an AURA JOCK!
This remarkable achievement puts you one step closer to SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION!
NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: [AURA SENSITIVITY LEVEL 1]
ACHIEVEMENT: [SYSTEM BOUNDARY VIOLATION]
REWARD: Enhanced physical perception
(Now you can watch your own catastrophic failures in HIGH DEFINITION!)
WARNING: Forced manifestation may result in:
1. Cellular degeneration (slow and painful)
2. Pathway conflict (agonizing and painful)
3. Spontaneous energy discharge (explosive and painful) Notice a trend? HINT: It's PAIN!
The chamber seemed to shift around me, colors intensifying and sounds becoming almost painfully clear. I could hear the heartbeats of everyone at the table, each with its distinct rhythm—the steady drumming of the human Arcanist, the powerful thrumming of the Dragonkin commander, the gentle melodic pulse of the Elf. I could see dust motes suspended in sunbeams with perfect clarity, count individual light refractions through the Celestial Matriarch's luminous sigils.
With this enhanced perception came visceral awareness of the energy in my own body—no longer just theoretical understanding but immediate knowledge. The warmth had transformed into a network of red-hued pathways running parallel to but distinct from my familiar blue Arcane channels.
The two energy systems weren't merging or even touching—completely separate networks running in parallel, with no interaction between them. The red pathways were faint, barely formed, while my blue Arcane channels remained dominant and fully developed.
Two completely different magical pathways in one body? How is that possible? Everyone knows humans are Arcane-only.
My sudden stillness drew attention.
"Initiate Thorne?" The Archmage's voice seemed distant. "Are you well?"
I tried to respond, but the overwhelming sensory input made focusing difficult. The room was too bright, too loud, too present. I could smell the distinct magical signatures of each representative—the crystalline sharpness of human Arcane energy, the metallic tang of Dragonkin Aura, the earthy richness of Elven Ki, the ethereal sweetness of Fae Soul essence, the mineral-and-forge scent of Dwarven runes, the cold void scent of Shade shadows, and the sun-warmed ozone essence of Celestial divinity.
"He's experiencing Aura awakening," Lord Commander Darius said, rising from his seat. "Sensory overload is common during first manifestation."
My enhanced perception suddenly focused on a detail I might otherwise have missed—a faint ripple of shadow beneath Voice Morveren's outstretched hand, directed subtly toward me.
"Stop." The Radiant Matriarch's voice carried absolute authority despite its gentleness. "Voice Morveren, cease your testing. The child is not ready."
The Shade's hood tilted slightly. "A minor stimulus to evaluate response. Nothing harmful."
"Your definition of 'harmful' differs from mine," the ancient Celestial replied, golden light briefly flaring around her fingertips.
I felt the shadow-presence withdraw, bringing marginal relief.
"I... I'm fine," I managed, though my voice sounded strange in my own ears—too loud, too defined.
"Can you describe what you're experiencing?" the Dragonkin commander asked.
"Enhanced perception," I said honestly. "I can see and hear details I couldn't before. And there's... energy moving through my muscles, different from Arcane mana."
"Can you direct this energy?" he asked, leaning forward with intense interest.
"I'm not sure how."
"Intent," he said. "Aura responds to physical intent, not mathematical precision. Think of movement, of action, not calculation."
I focused on the warm energy flowing through my right arm, imagining it concentrating in my hand. I tried to direct it through will rather than calculation, straining to feel something, anything.
Nothing happened. Not even a spark.
The Dragonkin commander frowned. "The pathways are there, but too undeveloped for manifestation. Interesting."
I slumped slightly, the failed attempt leaving me even more light-headed than before. My already depleted reserves felt stretched paper-thin.
"As expected for initial stages," the Radiant Matriarch observed. "The signs are present, but active manipulation won't be possible until the system develops further."
"I think..." I began, then swayed as sudden vertigo struck.
"Enough." Magister Elwin stepped forward from her position near the wall. "The boy needs rest, not interrogation and experimentation."
"This development cannot be ignored," High Arcanist Seraphina insisted. "While we've documented seventeen dual-system practitioners in the past decade, none were humans with primary Arcane affinity. The patterns have always emerged in other racial combinations."
"No one is suggesting ignoring it," the Archmage said smoothly. "Merely postponing further examination until Initiate Thorne has recovered."
Lord Commander Darius's scales bristled. "The Aura Commandery should be informed of his progress. Those pathways, dormant as they are, could destabilize without proper monitoring."
"The Academy has monitored magical development for eight centuries," the Archmage countered, his tone cooling. "We are perfectly capable of observing early-stage pathway formation without outside interference."
"Early-stage human Arcane pathways, perhaps," the Dragonkin commander growled. "Not Aura pathways in a human body. You lack the expertise."
The tension in the room thickened. I could see the political game unfolding - the Aura system wanted access to me, and the Arcane system was determined to maintain control.
"I believe," the Radiant Matriarch said, her quiet voice somehow cutting through the growing argument, "that we should consider what the child himself might want."
Seven pairs of eyes turned to me expectantly.
What I want is to understand the scientific principles behind this world's magic without being treated like a prophecy fulfillment machine. But somehow I doubt that's an acceptable answer.
"I would like to continue at the Academy," I said carefully. "This is where I've studied for years."
The Archmage smiled triumphantly.
"With periodic examinations from the Aura Commandery," I added, watching his smile falter. "To monitor any developments in the secondary pathways. Just monitoring, not training, since there's nothing to train yet."
This compromise seemed to defuse some of the immediate tension. The Dragonkin commander nodded stiffly, satisfied to have secured a foothold. The Archmage couldn't openly protest without appearing unreasonable.
"A wise solution," the Radiant Matriarch said, effectively ending the debate. "Observation only, until there is something substantial to develop."
The other system representatives looked disappointed not to have secured their own access, but with only my Arcane active and trace amounts of Aura detected, they had little ground to stand on. For now, at least.
"Of course, Radiant One," the Archmage acquiesced with a formal bow. "Your wisdom would be invaluable."
As the representatives began negotiating specifics, my enhanced perception focused on subtle details—the tension in the Archmage's shoulders despite his agreeable words, the calculating gleam in the Dragonkin commander's reptilian eyes, the way the Shade's shadowed hands formed nearly imperceptible gestures beneath the table.
They're all playing angles I can barely comprehend, using me as both game piece and prize.
The pressure at the base of my skull intensified again, but differently—sharper, more focused. A translucent red interface appeared at the edge of my vision:
Copy
AURA SYSTEM: Dormant (7% ↑) Aura Sensitivity (Level 1): Enhanced perception of physical details and intentions
The notification faded quickly, but its implications remained. My secondary system was growing stronger. Was it the presence of a Dragonkin? The discussion of system theory? Or simply natural progression following yesterday's demonstration?
Magister Elwin stepped closer, noticing my faltering attention. "Initiate Thorne needs rest," she insisted more forcefully. "His systems are clearly still stabilizing."
The Radiant Matriarch nodded. "Indeed. We've learned what we needed for now."
With her support, even the most interested representatives reluctantly agreed to postpone additional testing. As the meeting concluded, I found myself escorted from the chamber by Magister Elwin, her hand supportive on my shoulder.
"That could have gone worse," she murmured as we departed. "Though not by much."
"What just happened?" I asked quietly. "Politically, I mean."
She glanced down with surprise, then something like respect. "You noticed?"
"Hard to miss the positioning," I replied.
"In simple terms, you've become the focal point of a power struggle between the seven systems. The Arcane and Aura traditions have primary claim based on your manifested abilities. The others are positioning for influence based on prophecy interpretations."
"And the Radiant Matriarch?"
"Playing a longer game than the others," Magister Elwin said thoughtfully. "The Divine system often takes a custodial role in matters of prophecy."
As we walked, my enhanced Aura perception gradually faded, the overwhelming sensory detail receding. The warmth beneath my skin remained, but subdued, as if settling into dormancy once more.
"What happens now?" I asked as we approached my quarters.
"Rest. Recovery." She stopped at my door, expression serious. "And preparation. Your life has changed fundamentally, Liam. The path ahead will be neither simple nor peaceful."
"Because of the prophecy?"
"Because of politics," she corrected. "Prophecies are merely the justification powerful people use to pursue what they already wanted."
After ensuring I had everything needed for recovery, Magister Elwin departed. Alone at last, I collapsed onto my bed, mind racing despite my exhaustion.
In just two days, I'd gone from carefully anonymous prodigy to the center of a political storm involving all seven magical systems. My secondary Aura system had begun to awaken, despite everything this world knew about system incompatibility. And seven of the most powerful practitioners in Evranth now had direct interest in my development.
I need to understand what's happening to me. Scientifically, not mystically.
With effort, I retrieved my hidden journal from beneath the loose floorboard and began documenting my observations:
Day 1,464 (Evranth Calendar Year 542, Day 178): Secondary system (Aura) has begun manifesting. Initial symptoms: - Warmth beneath skin, concentrated in muscular structures - Enhanced sensory perception when active - Red coloration in energy signature and eyes - Different control mechanism from Arcane (intent versus calculation)
Hypothesis: The seven magical systems aren't fundamentally incompatible, but utilize different neural pathways and interaction methodologies. My Earth-origin consciousness may lack the ingrained limitations that prevent typical Evranth natives from accessing multiple systems.
Additional hypothesis: The racial specializations (Human/Arcane, Dragonkin/Aura, etc.) may be more cultural and evolutionary than absolute biological limitations. The representatives clearly expected me to have difficulty with Aura manipulation due to my human physiology, yet I've already begun manifesting traits.
I closed the journal, hiding it away again before allowing myself to rest. The political complications would need to be addressed eventually, but my scientific curiosity remained my core motivation.
Just as sleep began to claim me, a soft knocking at my window jerked me back to alertness. Cautiously, I approached, the strange warmth briefly surging back through my muscles.
The window swung open before I reached it, revealing Vance, the skeptical senior apprentice who had provided crucial information about the Tellian Configuration.
"We need to talk," he said without preamble. "You're in more danger than you realize."
"What are you doing at my window?" I demanded, keeping my voice low. "We're three stories up."
"Shadow Step technique," Vance replied dismissively. "Basic application for anyone with the right training."
Before I could question this further, Vance swung himself through the window with practiced ease, landing silently. Something about his movement seemed wrong—too fluid, too precise for a normal Arcane apprentice.
"You're not just an Arcane practitioner, are you?" I realized aloud.
A thin smile crossed his face. "Perceptive. No wonder they're all so interested in you." He glanced toward the door. "Is your room warded against eavesdropping?"
"No," I admitted. "I didn't think I needed that."
"You do now." Vance withdrew a small black crystal from his pocket, placing it on the floor. It pulsed once with indigo light, then faded to a dull obsidian. "Temporary privacy. It won't last long, so listen carefully."
His demeanor had changed completely—gone was the academic skepticism, replaced by urgent intensity.
"The Archmage isn't what he seems," Vance said bluntly. "His interest in you and the Tellian Prophecy isn't academic or political. It's personal."
"What do you mean?"
"He's been searching for someone like you for decades—someone who can bridge multiple systems. The prophecy is just convenient cover for his true goal."
"Which is?"
Vance's expression darkened. "Access to the Nexus."
"The Nexus?" I repeated, the term triggering connections to various references I'd encountered. "The theoretical source point of magical energy?"
"Not theoretical. Real." Vance glanced nervously at the black crystal, which had begun to develop fine cracks. "Our time is short. You need to know three things immediately."
He held up one finger. "First, the red streaks in your eyes aren't just Aura manifestation—they're physical evidence of system blending that should be impossible."
A second finger joined the first. "Second, the Radiant Matriarch's intervention today wasn't coincidence. The Divine system has been watching for Nexus signs for centuries."
The third finger completed the count. "And most importantly, someone will attempt to kidnap you within the next three days. Probably Shade operatives, but possibly Dwarven agents. Don't trust the Academy's protections."
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked, studying his face for deception. "You've made it clear you don't believe in the prophecy."
"I don't believe in prophecies," Vance confirmed. "But I do believe in threats. And what's happening around you threatens everyone."
The black crystal suddenly shattered, dissolving into fine powder that evaporated into the air.
"Our privacy is gone," Vance said, already moving toward the window. "We'll speak again when it's safer. Until then, trust no one. Especially those who claim to have your best interests at heart."
"Wait—" I began, but Vance was already through the window, dropping from sight with impossible grace.
I rushed to look out, expecting to see him on a ledge or hanging from a rope. Instead, there was nothing—just the sheer drop to the courtyard below, with no sign of how Vance had escaped or even survived the fall.
"Shadow Step technique," he said. But that's not Arcane magic.
As I returned to bed, I couldn't shake the uneasiness that Vance's visit had left behind. His movement hadn't been normal Arcane manipulation - it was clearly Shadow magic. "Shadow Step technique" was right there in the name.
An Academy student using Shadow magic? That shouldn't be possible. Humans don't have Shadow affinity - that's Shade territory.
The implications were troubling. If Vance was right and someone was planning to kidnap me, I'd need to be more careful than ever. And if he was using Shadow abilities while posing as an Arcane student, then there were imposters and secrets within the Academy that ran deeper than I'd imagined.
As exhaustion finally claimed me, my last conscious thought was deeply unsettling: What if the prophecy wasn't mystical nonsense after all? What if it described something real—something that had happened before and would happen again?
Something that was happening to me.