Under the backdrop of lush green mountains stood a castle clad in white. The man made structure majestically towered over the lands and its people, not paling even when compared to the beautiful constructs of nature residing behind it.

There was a persistent crowd just beyond the castle grounds, and in the midst of this congregation, a man walked with hurried steps. He passed through the castle gates unnoticed and strode deeper in, stopping only before a large wooden door. The serenity on the man’s face was but a mask, successfully adorned because of years of practice. As usual, he took a deep breath, knocked and entered.

The incoming onset of winter had taken away the homely feeling of the room inside, and yet it was easy to see the thoughts that had gone into designing the place. The polished but slightly damp wooden flooring was oddly pleasant on the feet. Atop it lay an intricate and beautiful arrangement of furniture - tables, chairs, sofas, shelving. A few scenic paintings hung on the walls.

Behind an enormous wooden desk, which held several stacks of documents, sat a man completely immersed in his work, occasionally frowning before nodding his head in approval and signing the papers at hand.

The visitor slowly genuflected, but the lack of a response eventually forced him to stand and approach the desk. He hesitated and said, “My lord, I bear some news that may require your immediate attention.”

“What is it Curtis? I am busy.”

Choosing to remain silent, Curtis patiently waited until the master of the castle was done sorting through his work. It wasn’t long before the man behind the desk sighed and put down the documents. He smiled. “Fine. You have my undivided attention.”

“My lord, I ask that you remain calm while I tell you my piece.” Advised Curtis.

“Curtis… I've been a Duke for almost fifty years now. You’ve known me for just as long and yet you utter these words despite knowing my temperament.” The man chuckled. “I must say that you have piqued my curiosity.”

Curtis wryly smiled. It’s precisely because I know you so well that I am sure you’ll snap. “I have gotten word that…”

“That?”

“That a student with the last name of Walker has enrolled into Asterisk Academy as a knight.”

The man raised his brows in surprise. “Someone not from my family?”

“Yes, a boy.”

“And that’s the reason you seem so tense?” The castle’s lord laughed and replied, “We’ve been through this Curtis. I’m not like the others. I don’t care.”

“But -”

“But what?” The man impatiently interjected. “The fact that only my family can use the surname ‘Walker’ is simply an unwritten rule. It isn’t the law. Let the boy be... As long he doesn't pretend to be a part of my Walker family, don't bother him.”

Gritting his teeth, Curtis said, “My Duke! That wasn't why I came to report this matter personally.”

“Oh?”

“The - the appearance and the age…” Curtis quivered as he spoke. “They both match.”

Duke Walker's smile momentarily froze as the words sunk in.

“It’s been many years and I know it should be impossible, but the resemblance… It – It’s uncanny.”

The Duke exhaled and slowly asked, “Who else knows about this?”

“I believe only the King should have gotten word. The academy doesn't normally disclose information on its students, but regarding this matter, it felt that it was within our rights to know.”

“Good! Keep this information suppressed for as long as you can. The other nobles and especially the other Dukes are not to find out until we can be certain of his origins.”

“I understand.” Curtis answered with a nod. “Should I arrange for a team to –”

“There's no need. I will decide when that becomes necessary. Curtis, thank you for bringing this to my notice.”

With a back drenched in cold sweat, Curtis respectfully bowed. The Duke’s expressionless face said it all. This was merely the calm before the storm.

“My wife is not to be told of this matter.” Duke Walker warned his subordinate as the latter quietly nodded and left. As Curtis stepped out of the castle’s gates, a muffled explosion reduced the study table in the Duke’s room to dust. Several documents fluttered in the air while Joseph Walker sat on his chair with an expression of grief and fury. He muttered, “Stratford! If this is one of your ploys, I will have your head even if his majesty chooses to intervene.”

Though the Alcatraz Empire was currently at peace, this state was in no way synonymous to the relationship between the ruling powers. The authority of the four Dukes was second only to the Royal family, but not all of them saw eye to eye. Among the four, the relationship between Duke Walker and Duke Stratford was especially strained while Duke Bloodworth and Duchess Gladstone generally maintained a neutral stance.

“Shadow!” Duke Walker called out in the seemingly empty room.

A hoarse voice mysteriously echoed in response. “Yes?”

“I trust I can leave the information gathering to you.”

After a long pause, the same voice asked, “Is there a chance that this child could be him?”

“It’s impossible. Eight years ago I buried him myself.” Duke Walker clenched his fist as he mournfully replied, “The only reason I kept the search order active was to give Sarah a semblance of hope. It was the only thing I could do at the time.”

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“I understand.”

Sensing that the man he called ‘Shadow’ had already disappeared, Duke Walker sighed and pulled out a small pendant from his pocket. He reminisced about the past as he stared at the small photograph latched inside.

***

At the academy, Max was busy pondering his latest conundrum. The scholarship had exempted Max’s fees for the years to come, but Liliana’s share of a few gold coins was still a considerable amount. Considering the standard of living at Argent Village, he couldn’t help but question Isabel’s identity. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that there was a lot about Liliana’s mother that seemed amiss.

The first week in Asterisk Academy was perhaps the busiest for all the freshmen. They needed time to acclimate to their new schedules which mainly consisted of a ridiculous number of classes. From the history of magic to the general education catered to the masses, the courses covered everything and left the students swamped with an overwhelming workload.

Max, in particular, had it more difficult than the rest. Sixteen years on a different planet was quite the handicap and Max had initially found himself struggling to keep up. After class, he would rush to the library, spending the remainder of his day perusing a large array of books, hungrily absorbing the new knowledge and slowly bridging the gap between him and the aborigines of Asterisk.

The Academy had a vast collection of books and a number of them were about summoning. During his hunt for answers, Max casually skimmed through these, but failed to find any relevant clues. These textbooks had scarce traces of information pertinent to human summoning, but mentioned nothing about contracted beings from other worlds.

“Sparring and training begin next week, huh?” Max sighed as he stepped out of the library and thought about what had been announced in class. He couldn’t help but worry about his inability to sense mana despite an obvious connection to it. How am I supposed to explain myself if someone finds out?!

Max sped towards his favourite spot within the dormitory compound – a large tree in full bloom. Its bark had a unique smell that helped him relax and doze off underneath its shade. As he approached the wooden life form, Max noticed an old man in a ragged cloak calmly sweeping at the fallen flowers.

Max stealthily climbed the tree and found a comfortable branch. A casual glance at the old man left him sitting up in disbelief. Max watched as the man’s every movement seemed to create an astounding illusion. The latter seemed to phase in and out of reality, disappearing and reappearing with each stroke of his broom.

“That’s pretty interesting.” Max admitted even though observing the caretaker lead to no clues about the mysterious technique. Eventually, he adjusted his posture and closed his eyes. While he slept, the old man appeared on a branch beside Max. With a genial smile, he sat beside the sixteen year old boy for minutes and soundlessly watched him sleep. His white hair fluttered in the breeze as he eventually sighed and wordlessly disappeared.

At a clandestine location, several thousand miles from the Empire, a decrepit man walked out of a barely discernible vortex. The space around him seemed to tremble with his every step. Taking a cursory glance at his surroundings, he nodded to himself. “Seems about right.”

Amidst the forest of tall trees, the old man carelessly picked a direction and sauntered towards a small cottage. The little man-made structure stood at the heart of the woods, completely isolated from the world and from mankind. It appeared dilapidated, and yet showed no signs of collapse despite its war against time. The old man respectfully stood outside its entrance and stepped through its door only after he heard a gentle voice whisper into his ears. “Enter.”

Unlike its outward appearance, the insides of the tiny lodging gave a homely impression. The fireplace was lit with bright orange flames that set an optimum temperature, making the room warm and comfortable.

Finding a seat on a wooden table, the man poured himself a cup of tea. He quietly savoured its flavour and eventually helped himself to another serving before the voice sounded out once more. “Still keeping up appearances?”

The old man placed his cup down and smiled. “In your presence, would your student dare?”

The old man gradually transformed into a young woman with silky long hair that fell past her shoulders. She had fair skin, crystal clear eyes and petite lips. The tatterdemalion cloak was replaced by a white gown that only served to accentuate her features. She appeared no different from a celestial being, a true beauty that couldn’t possibly belong to the world of mortals.

The young woman giggled. “Does my esteemed teacher have any more complaints?”

“Sylvia… Tell me. Why have you come?”

Sylvia sipped tea and candidly answered, “I met the boy.”

“Didn’t I specifically tell you not to interfere?”

Sensing that the owner of the voice seemed irked, Sylvia issued a dry laugh and immediately tried to pacify her teacher. “You worry too much. Besides, that was precisely why I was under the guise of an old man. Max didn't notice a thing.”

“My dear girl!” Sylvia heard her teacher say with a hint of resignation. “You’re already more than a few thousand years old and you still behave like a pampered child. When will you start listening to me?”

“I do listen to you.” Sylvia mischievously snickered. “Well, most of the time anyway.”

“And... What did you think of him?”

Sylvia's countenance changed and grew serious. She stroked the edges of her glass cup, carefully choosing her every word. “Max is growing rapidly. It’s been less than two months and he is already about to reach the strength of a Superior Knight. Given enough time and room to grow, I’m sure he’ll surpass me at the very least.”

“Unfortunately, that’s not good enough.” The voice sighed in regret. “Time is the one thing that is not on our side.”

“Should I –”

“No. Continue to watch over him, but do not meddle. I mean it Sylvia... Do not test me.”

Sylvia trembled at the thought and hastily replied, “Okay! Okay! I promise I won't do anything until you tell me to.”

“Good.”

“Teacher?” Sylvia looked around and timidly asked, “Is he really your nephew?”

“Yes he is.”

“Then why have you -”

“Tasked him with such a burden?” The voice interjected. It suddenly sounded melancholic, its owner suddenly reminiscing about untold events. “Because he is the only one with the potential to bear it. Of course, if his father were alive, he would have preferred to kill me than let his son come here.”

Sylvia chuckled and mused out loud, “Kill you? Like someone who can do that actually exists.”

“At his peak, Max’s father was probably stronger than me, but we’ve never really fought seriously.”

The corners of her lips twitched as Sylvia heard her teacher admit to something preposterous. She involuntarily shuddered at the thought of coming face to face with her teacher’s brother. I am revered by billions as one of the strongest existences on the planet, but even I can’t hold a candle to you. Now, you’re actually saying there is another person out there who is stronger?!

“Sylvia, if there's nothing else, then I suggest you go back. It’s almost time for me to make my rounds.”

“I understand.” Sylvia lightly skipped towards the door, but stopped with her hand on the knob. Turning around, she struck a seductive pose and coquettishly asked, “Teacher, what do you think of my dress?”

The room violently shook, her teacher’s voice booming, “Sylvia Alcatraz!”

“Alright. Alright! I'm leaving… Sheesh! Can't you at least compliment a girl? This is why you're still single.” Sylvia pouted and quickly disappeared.

The air in the room shook and shimmered as a man, seemingly in his thirties, appeared out of nowhere. The power behind his gaze and his natural aura were things that no mere mortal could ever hope to comprehend. “The great Saint of the Alcatraz Empire… so many years have gone by, but you never seem to change; forever the spoiled little girl.”

The man’s gaze penetrated the cottage roof, peeking at the dark skies above. “Father… Was it really the right decision to bring his son here? The child is a double edged sword.”

As if in response to his words, the skies rumbled amid flashes of lightning.

“I know. But, at the very least, we owe him the truth.” The man mumbled as his figure began to fade into the shadows. “You have my word. I will do the best I can to strengthen the seals for as long as possible.”