Originally uploaded Feb 12, 2023

Caera Pov

Arthur Leywin. He was the boy I was tasked to keep tabs on. When Scythe Seris first informed me about this mission I was flabbergasted. I could tell my adoptive parents were as well. I was only a teen, and I would be acting as a sleeper agent in an entirely different continent.

While the Denoirs wanted to protest, they knew better than to challenge the reasoning of a Scythe, so they obeyed like the dogs they were.

Before I arrived here, I was given a briefing on the basics of Dicathen culture. I couldn't afford to stick out like a sore thumb after all. While they told me Dicathen was an uncivilized society, full of corrupt aristocrats and a very basic understanding and usage of mana. There was a certain charm to them.

Maybe it was because I was not treated as some fragile art piece when I was outside. But this continent felt more free. Most children in Alacrya born to a fairly well-off blood would attend school and train to either be a scholar or become a solider. There obviously were more career paths than that but in general the Vritra seemed to laser focused on a single goal.

And while the same did happen here with nobles. You weren't necessarily forced to it. There seemed to be more opportunities and choice. Whether that was a good thing was yet to be decided. Freedom wasn't free, there were tradeoffs. Only a small fraction of the population ever awakened and gained a mana core, and many more live in poverty or suffer at a daily basis.

It was the symptoms of a incompetent leadership as well as the lack of a strong central ruling figure. But I wanted to learn more. More about the struggles and doing of daily life in such a world. It was all new to me and my brain wanted more of it.

But Arthur Leywin seemed different. The original profile contained very little information, only his aproximate age and direct family members. It put him around my age, just a bit younger. But he didn't seem like any child I have ever seem, even more well mannered and trained highblood children.

Not to mention his position as assistant director at such a young age. It made me wonder if this was a common occurrence in Dicathen at first glance. Only for my assumption to be stumped by the other students. They didn't know Arthur Leywin's true age, he never mentioned it. And it would be hard to tell to an outsider.

He was taller than most his age. With a ageless yet well sculpted facial features. He could be mistaken for a handsome young man in the prime of his life. But what differentiated him was his eyes.

A striking gold, that seemed to be more like a cat's than a human's. They seemed to scan everything he saw. And deep within them was a hallow emptiness I had only seemed from veteran ascenders who have witness horrors I could never imagine.

His mana control was impeccable. While Scythes and powerful highbloods pressure was overwhelming, stifling. But he didn't feel any different from a adjourned. But the times he used magic, it was... something different.

The large twin doors of his office swung open and out stepped Arthur Leywin. His hair loosely tied back with his overcoat on. Seemingly headed somewhere. His usual cat-like bond no where to be seen.

I quickly tailed him making sure to mask my mana signature with an artifact and making sure I couldn't be seen.

He only got a couple of feet from his door before he abruptly stopped. And without turning around he spoke.

"If you want to talk just talk. If not, I don't need you following me around."

Realizing my cover has been blown I speak out.

"There seems to be a misunderstanding Arthur, I was merely waiting for you outside." I tried to act smooth about it. But I doubt it would work.

"Mhm, and that artifact you are currently using?" I asked, now turned to face me with his finger pointed at my pocket.

'Crap.' Any regular mage would have not been able to sense it, only a person with a high enough sensitivity to mana would know.

"If you aren't gonna answer at least don't follow me around like a lost kitten and say it." He said before turning around and walking away.

Quickly recovering from my blunder I run after him. I honestly didn't have a plan, but from the movements of other Alacryan units in Dicathen as well as the strange happenings at this school I can tell they are planning something. And I needed to grow closer to Arthur as soon as possible.

"Mr. Leywin, where are you going?"

"I thought I told you not to call me that." He said slightly annoyed.

"The-" Before I could finish he stopped me by raising his hand.

"I have some urgent matters to attend to, now run along and go to your class." He dismissed me as if I was a small child before walking away again.

Was he aware of my intentions? No, I made sure to make my image here in Dicathen as discrete as possible. There was no way he would know. He would have only know about the existence of Alacryan for only a couple of years. And they didn't even know if we were a hostile nation preparing for war.

The more I tried to find out about Arthur Leywin the more confusing things became. What was the reason for Scythe Seris to send me all the way here to keep an eye on some random boy. While I admit his fighting skills were superb for his age it just didn't make any sense.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

'Who truly was Arthur Leywin?'

Lucas Pov

A rat who I didn't even bother to learn the name of was leading me down a cave deep a fair distance from the academy.

The air was cold with moisture dripping from the ceiling and down onto the cave floors. We have been walking for a bit now. I would have never bothered with a worthless student like him but he claimed he was working for a higher power.

And from the way he spoke of him, he ruled with a iron grip. Which only sparked my interest.

A small wooden door became visible in the distance. Seemingly crudely made and maintained. I kicked at the back of the boy's and he fell face first into the stone floor.

"What the hell is this?" I said annoyed. If this was a weird cult made by other students I had only wasted my time coming all this way.

Placing on my foot onto the student's back I ask. "Do you think this is some kind of joke?" I spat as a small fire ignited on the palm of my hands.

I was fully prepared to teach this worthless mongrel a lesson before the wooden door creaked open and from inside a voice could be heard.

"Welcome." The voice spoke, it was raspy and I could tell it was actively being altered by mana. Realizing the boy from under my foot I walk to the now partially open door.

Swinging open the door I am met a congregation of hooded figures. All standing neatly in a row.

'This really is a cult.' I muttered in my head, slowly regretting coming here.

"Welcome to our humble meeting." The same voice spoke out. He was sitting on a stone throne at the far back of the room.

A white mask covered most of his face, but my attention was drawn by his bright orange red hair that stood up like a living fire.

'What is my luck with people wearing masks.' I mentally cursed before the student I knocked down recomposed himself and introduced me to their masked leader.

"My lord, I have brought Lucas Wykes as you instructed." His voice shook.

"Ahh, so this is the famous Wykes. We're glad you could finally join us." The masked man hissed, his behavior, posture, and way of speaking reminded me of pompous and over confident nobles. People who were in their positions of power, not due to their own personal strength. But by happenstance of their lucky birth.

"Join you? Who the fuck ever said I was joining this cult?" I retorted with a mocking grin. It didn't matter there were a bunch of crazed cultists here. I could sense none of them were stronger than me. And even if they were they would think twice before harming a hair on a member of the Wykes household.

"When your little messenger bird here said he had something to show me, I was expecting something more... grand. Who are you anyway. You don't seem like a mere student. Are you a professor?" I continued.

"You dare!" A hooded figure among the crowd spoke up as he pointed an accusing finger at me. "You should be grateful we let a mixed blooded mutt join us!"

"Ho? Stooping down to racism are we? I thought we were living in a bit more progressive age." I spat each word like venom as the mana flared up from within me, reacting to my bubbling rage.

The tension was broken by a loud snap of the fingers. And the cultist that spoke out burst into flames. Burning into crisp ash before he could even scream in pain.

"Now now, that wasn't very polite to our guest was it?" The masked man said with no remorse, it actually seemed like he was waiting to do and had enjoyed every second of it.

'I would have done the same if given the chance but, I couldn't sense his mana at all. I need to be more cautious here.'

"Now, about this meeting you are having, I'm going to need more information." I directed my question to the man on the stone throne.

"Oh, I have bigger plans than just this academy. But for the moment certain... things are preventing me from deviating." He said with his face propped up by one of his arms.

"I require exceptional mages to go through with my plans, and you are one of them. Everyone here is a human noble who all once took pride in the Xyrus that was built for pure blooded lineages. You may be the outlier but it's the new motto for this school I suppose."

Well, at least this one isn't a mindless cult leader. But he is scratching at a old wound.

"So what? Why should I bother wasting my time on bugs I could squish at any time. Even these pampered nobles. All these students are no better than idiotic low-class adventurers who flail around their weapons like a toddler." I spat out my true feelings. As I turned to leave.

I might be a disappointment in my father's eyes but living as an adventurer and as a student only strengthened my opinion of my superiority. I was dealt an unfair hand in life, being in the same family as my brother.

"The rumors speak truth. You are a rather prideful child that sees lower class people as weak. But doesn't your brother prove you wrong?" His words froze me in place.

"You may be nearly unrivaled at this academy, be hailed as the star student. But you will always be worthless and a failure in your father's eyes compared to Bairon, isn't that right?"

My hands clenched into fists as mana once again swelled inside me, pleading to be released.

"But that isn't even the best thing. Arthur Leywin only seem to have further disproved your ideals more, no?"

My fingernails hung into my palms as blood flowed freely from them. 'How did he know so much about me?'

"Did you know he is even a year younger than you? And look at him now. He is on top of the world, being number two in the most prestigious school on this continent. And the sad thing is he isn't even trying." He was laughing now with his masked face in his hands.

"Who the hell are you!" I screamed, fire manifested around me. Acting like violent snakes, trying to lash out at anything nearby.

But then the man stood up from his throne, while bowing his head slightly in a mock showing of respect.

"I am a mere benefactor who has come upon this land for the betterment of it."

He then got back in this stone chair and continued.

"Mr. Wykes I believe we can mutually benefit if you'd join us."

My tamed my anger as the fire died down. He wasn't someone I could take on with confidence just yet. I at least need him to think I'll work with him.

"Go on." I asked with gritted teeth.

"Soon we will personally strike. And when I do the shaky ties between the three race will shatter. I currently have the council occupied so the stage is all set. I just need you to... loosen things for the final act."

'So he even dealt with the council? Is the bluffing or is that just how far his power and connections go?'

"Loosen things... I assume Arthur Leywin is one of them?" I ask with genuine curiosity.

"Very good! Looks like your tainted blood hasn't affect your mental faculties." He said while clapping.

"And how do you propose I do that." While I didn't want to admit it, he was right. Arthur is far stronger than me and he hasn't even been trying. Going up against him with the entire academy backing him would be suicide, even for me.

"Relax, if you're as strong as you say you are you will have no issues with the powers I bestow upon you. And trust me when I say that these powers will be on a different level."

'Jeez dude, could you try any more to sound more like a shady drug dealer.'

"And you have a plan to draw out Arthur Leywin's full strength?" I asked.

"Yes indeed. He places great importance only in his family and friends." He said and I could see him smiling through the mask. "But there are two particular individuals at this academy."

Just as he finished those words two names popped into my head.

'Elijah Knight and Tessia Eralith.'