The Path of Answers

The academy's hallways stretched endlessly, their gothic arches casting long shadows under the floating chandeliers. Priyam followed Evelyne in silence, his mind still fixated on what had happened in his room.

I stopped a sword. With my bare hand.

That wasn’t normal. Even if adrenaline had kicked in, even if he had somehow dodged, catching a blade like that should have shattered his bones.

But it didn’t.

His mark pulsed faintly, as if reacting to his thoughts. He clenched his fist. What the hell am I?

Evelyne, walking ahead, stole a glance at him. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Priyam exhaled. “More like I became one.”

She didn’t laugh. Instead, her gaze lingered on him for a second longer before she turned away. “We’ll find out soon enough.”

They approached an enormous set of doors made of blackwood, covered in glowing runes that shimmered like liquid gold. Two knights in enchanted armor stood guard, their eyes hidden beneath their visors.

Evelyne raised her staff. “Princess Evelyne von Rozenheim, escorting my familiar for magical evaluation.”

One knight tapped his gauntlet against the door. The runes flared, and with a deep, resonant hum, the doors groaned open.

Inside, the chamber was vast—circular, lined with towering bookshelves filled with ancient tomes. At the center, an elderly man sat on a floating platform, his long silver beard flowing like mist. His robes shimmered with arcane symbols, and his golden eyes—too sharp for someone so old—locked onto Priyam immediately.

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The Grand Mage of the Academy, High Sorcerer Malakar von Evernheim.

“Ah, so this is the anomaly,” Malakar mused, his voice deep and thoughtful.

Priyam tensed. The old man’s gaze felt like it was peeling back layers of his soul.

Evelyne stepped forward. “Grand Mage, I require an analysis of my familiar. He lacks magic, yet…” she hesitated, “…he stopped Leonhardt’s sword with his bare hand.”

Malakar raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

Evelyne nodded. “Without an enchantment. No reinforcement spells. Just… raw instinct.”

Malakar hummed, stroking his beard. Then, he raised a single finger.

“Familiar. Step forward.”

Priyam felt a strange pressure in the air, like invisible chains trying to pull him closer. He obeyed, stopping in front of the floating sorcerer.

“Hold out your hand.”

Priyam hesitated, then extended his left hand, the one bearing the glowing mark.

Malakar’s fingers hovered over it. His eyes flickered with arcane energy.

Then, something changed.

The room darkened. The candles flickered wildly. A deep hum vibrated in the walls, like the academy itself was reacting.

Malakar’s eyes widened. “Impossible.”

Evelyne stiffened. “What? What is it?”

Malakar’s gaze snapped to her, then back to Priyam. “This boy… is no ordinary familiar.”

Priyam felt his throat dry up. “Then what am I?”

Malakar exhaled. “You… should not exist.”

Silence.

Evelyne’s expression darkened. “What does that mean?”

Malakar closed his eyes, as if deciding how much to reveal. Then, in a grave tone, he spoke:

“The summoning ritual is designed to call forth beings with pre-existing magic—a creature tied to a greater source of power.” He gestured at Priyam’s mark. “And yet, this seal bound you, a being with no known magic signature. That should be impossible.”

Priyam swallowed. “But it did happen.”

Malakar nodded. “Yes. And that means two things.”

He raised a finger. “First, the spell did not fail. It found something inside you. Something even this world’s magic could recognize.”

Priyam felt a chill crawl up his spine.

Malakar raised a second finger. “Second… the contract should be absolute. Evelyne should hold complete control over your actions.” His golden eyes gleamed. “And yet, it is weakening.”

Evelyne stiffened. “What?”

Malakar gestured at Priyam’s mark. “The binding should suppress any resistance. But his soul… is rejecting it.”

Priyam looked at his hand. The glow of the mark was dimmer than before.

“So, what happens if it breaks?” he asked.

Malakar’s expression turned unreadable. “I do not know.”

Evelyne scowled. “You must have an idea.”

The Grand Mage exhaled. “There is only one other recorded case of a summoning contract failing.” His voice lowered. “And that was with a being that defied the very laws of this world.”

Priyam’s heart pounded. “And what happened to it?”

Malakar looked him dead in the eyes.

“It burned this kingdom to the ground.”

To Be Continued…