The dining room at the Valen estate was immaculate, like the rest of the house. A long table gleamed under a massive chandelier, casting soft, golden light. The air smelled of herbs and roasted meat, but there was a heaviness that seemed out of place.

Jeremy shifted in his seat, his hands stiff in his lap as he eyed the perfect place settings. Across from him, Andrew sat just as tense, staring at his plate like it held the secret to getting through the night.

To Jeremy’s right, Perci leaned back in her chair, scanning the room with a casual air, though her eyes occasionally flicked toward Marcus. Mia and Timothy sat near the end of the table, trying to look as small as possible, while Marcus sat at the head, directly under the chandelier.

Marcus's parents entered, their presence demanding attention. Edric, tall and broad, had sharp eyes that swept the room with an assessing gaze. Celeste carried herself with calm authority, her smile warm but edged with an intimidating sharpness.

“Good evening,” Edric said, his voice smooth but commanding. “I trust Marcus showed you all the highlights of Luminaris?”

“Of course,” Marcus said, his grin widening a fraction too much. “The market was a big hit.”

Celeste’s gaze swept over the group, pausing briefly on Jeremy and Andrew. “And what did you think?” she asked, her voice light but laced with curiosity. “Luminaris must feel quite different from Eldoria.”

Jeremy hesitated, glancing at Andrew before answering. “It’s... incredible,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “A lot bigger than I expected.”

“Bigger isn’t always better,” Andrew muttered under his breath, his tone barely audible but sharp enough to draw a glance from Marcus.

Jeremy shot his brother a look, silently willing him to stay calm. The last thing they needed was for Andrew’s discomfort to escalate into an argument.

“Different perspectives,” Celeste said smoothly, her eyes lingering on Andrew for a moment before shifting back to Jeremy. Her gaze held a hint of something more. “It’s always fascinating to see how others view our city.”

The first course arrived, served by silent attendants who moved with practiced precision. Small plates of artfully arranged appetizers were set in front of each guest, and Jeremy stared at his with a mix of awe and confusion. It looked like some kind of fish, but the delicate layers and shimmering glaze made it seem almost too perfect to eat.

“So, Jeremy,” Edric began, his sharp eyes fixed on him, “you’ve been at the academy for a little while now. What’s your primary focus in training? Essence manipulation? Combat techniques?”

Jeremy hesitated, glancing briefly at Andrew, whose jaw was tight as he stared at his plate. “A little bit of everything,” Jeremy replied cautiously. “I’m still figuring out what I’m best at.”

Celeste tilted her head slightly, the soft chandelier light reflecting in her eyes. “Someone with your family’s legacy must have a clear path. Adrian and Helena are hardly indecisive.” Her words were smooth, but Jeremy could hear the edge beneath them, the expectation, the challenge.

“I’m not my parents,” Jeremy said quickly, his voice firmer than he intended. He caught himself and forced a small, polite smile. “They’ve encouraged me to explore my strengths.”

Celeste’s smile didn’t waver, but her eyes narrowed slightly. “Exploring strengths is one thing. But in these times, shouldn’t you already be preparing to take on greater responsibilities?”

Edric leaned forward slightly. “And Andrew, I understand you chose standard accommodations instead of the elite suite. Why?”

Andrew stiffened, his fork clattering against his plate. “I wanted space,” he said, his tone clipped. “I’m not interested in competing with Jeremy or anyone else. I need to figure things out my own way.”

There was a pause, and Jeremy could feel the silence stretching, each heartbeat heavy in his ears. He resisted the urge to speak, to jump in and somehow smooth things over. It wasn’t his place—Andrew didn’t need him to speak for him. Jeremy’s eyes moved to Marcus, who was watching with the same practiced expression of polite neutrality he had worn all evening. This dinner was a test for all of them, and Marcus’s tension was just as real, just as well hidden.

Edric’s eyes moved from Andrew to Jeremy, then briefly to Marcus. He seemed to be weighing their words, calculating. Finally, he sighed, the corners of his mouth tightening. “This is going nowhere.” Then, with a slow wave of his hand, the windows went pitch black.

The room plunged into an eerie, unnatural silence. The warm glow of the chandelier and the soft flicker of the candles remained, but the once vibrant cityscape outside had vanished into an oppressive void. Even the faint hum of the estate’s energy systems was gone. Jeremy’s pulse quickened, his hands gripping the edge of the table.

He glanced at Andrew, whose wide eyes betrayed his alarm. Around the table, their friends didn’t seem to notice anything wrong. Mia was laughing at something Timothy had said, and Perci was mid-bite, her expression relaxed. Jeremy’s heart sank as he looked at them, a cold realization dawning. They were acting as if nothing unusual was happening, their voices calm, their expressions unbothered. Even Marcus wore the same polite smile. It was as if they were completely unaware of the sudden darkness and silence that had engulfed the room.

“What’s going on?” Andrew’s voice cut through the silence sharply.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Edric rose from his seat, his imposing figure seeming to loom larger in the dimmed room. “Please, remain seated,” he said, his tone calm but carrying a weight that brooked no argument. “We only have a few moments.”

Celeste’s voice followed, soft yet laced with a sinister compulsion. “Unequip your mind protections,” she said, her gaze drilling into Jeremy and Andrew. “Both of you.”

Jeremy’s stomach twisted into knots. Mind protections? He felt no pressure, no unnatural pull—clearly his stacked equipment were keeping him safe. But Andrew, sitting just a seat away, was already moving, his hands trembling slightly as he unequipped his Hat of Mental Resistance and placed it on the table, his shoulders immediately slackening.

Jeremy’s mind raced. His secret was dangerously close to being exposed. If Edric and Celeste realized he wasn’t affected, who knew what they would do? He glanced at his friends again—Perci and Marcus were chatting about the meal, seemingly oblivious to the change.

They can’t know. Play along.

Suppressing his panic, Jeremy unequipped one of his Hats of Mental Resistance, placing it on the table with deliberate hesitation.

Edric’s gaze lingered on the items. “Adrian and Helena—always prepared. Annoying... but workable.”

Celeste sighed, irritation flashing in her eyes. “Isolating the room temporally is such a chore, but without it, stronger manipulation would be detected immediately.” She glanced at Edric. “Worth the trouble, I suppose.”

With a snap of Edric’s fingers, the darkness receded. The windows returned to their normal view of Luminaris. The muffled hum of the city resumed, and the rest of the group continued eating and chatting as if nothing had happened.

Jeremy fought to keep his breathing steady. Celeste’s gaze locked onto him and Andrew again, her smile tight but unsettling. “Now, tell us,” she said, her tone deceptively smooth, “have your parents given either of you Essence?”

Andrew, now fully under their control, answered automatically. “No, they haven’t. Why would they? It’s illegal to give kids Essence.”

Edric’s expression darkened, though he kept his voice level. “What a shame. That could have been... useful.”

Celeste leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing. “Tell me about your sister, Alicia. What happened to her?”

Jeremy felt his chest tighten, the weight of the question slamming into him. He forced himself to respond, keeping his tone even. “She died. A Pretender killed her and took her place.”

Beside him, Perci gasped. “Oh no,” she whispered, her face pale. “Jeremy, Andrew, I’m so sorry.” She reached out, placing a comforting hand on Jeremy’s arm. Marcus, sitting beside Andrew, gave him a solemn pat on the back.

Jeremy barely registered their gestures, his focus locked on Celeste, who ignored the interruption entirely. “And the Pretender?” she pressed, her voice cutting through the murmurs.

Andrew replied without hesitation, his words cold and mechanical. “Mom killed it.”

Celeste exchanged a sharp glance with Edric, who shook his head slightly. “What a waste,” she murmured, her disappointment palpable. “I had thought she might be... sympathetic to our cause.”

“No matter,” Edric said, his tone dismissive. “It was a long shot.”

Celeste’s gaze hardened as it swept back to Jeremy and Andrew. “Before I return your hats, I need to know: do you know any other secrets related to your parents?”

Andrew nodded, his face blank. “They gave us Amulets of Insight. Does that count?”

Jeremy’s heart plummeted, panic flashing through him. Andrew, what are you doing?

Celeste’s expression froze for a moment before her eyes narrowed dangerously. Edric placed a hand on her shoulder, steadying her. “Relax,” he said evenly. “If we take them, the drop in their performance will be noticed. Helena would storm in here and kill us all before we could blink. You know her reputation.”

Celeste let out a frustrated breath, her jaw tightening. “Fine.” She turned to the boys. “Here are your hats. But before you put them back on, all of you here will forget this conversation. Once you are back at the academy, a group of students who call themselves the Seekers will approach you. You will join their group and listen to their commands.”

Jeremy’s pulse thundered as he pretended to reach for his helmet, his mind racing. Forget? He glanced at his friends again. Perci, Marcus, Mia, and Timothy remained oblivious, nodding at the command. Jeremy forced his expression to stay blank, the crushing weight of their situation settling over him.

As Jeremy equipped his hat, the room’s atmosphere shifted back to normal. His friends laughed, unaware, Andrew’s expression relaxed again, calm.

But Jeremy felt anything but calm. The weight of their commands, the probing questions, the mention of the Seekers—it all clawed at his mind. What are they planning? If my parents find out, the Valens are finished. But if I don’t tell them, this could spiral out of control.

He forced a smile, laughing as Perci nudged him with a joke about Marcus’s tour guide skills. But his thoughts were miles away. Once they returned to the academy, he’d have to call his parents. There was no other choice. His mother and father needed to know about the Valens.

But a cold knot of fear twisted in his chest. What would happen to Marcus’s parents if Adrian and Helena got involved? He had no doubt his parents would protect him and Andrew—but the Valens wouldn’t live. Would Marcus hate him for it? Could he live with that?

Jeremy glanced at Marcus, who was smiling, oblivious, occasionally making jokes to lighten the mood. Marcus's carefree demeanor, completely unaware of his parents' actions, only deepened Jeremy's guilt. He didn’t want to lose his friend. But could he risk doing nothing?

As the meal continued, Jeremy resolved to wait until they were back at the academy. There, in the safety of his suite, he’d tell his parents. Maybe they could handle this quietly. Maybe they could protect Marcus too.

He imagined his mother’s face when he told her. The cold, unyielding expression she wore when she dealt with threats. She would act decisively, without hesitation. And his father—he could already picture his fury. Would they even consider Marcus’s innocence? Or would they see only the Valens as a threat that needed to be eradicated?

But even as he made the decision, the pit in his stomach remained. For the first time, Jeremy wasn’t sure his family’s power would make this better. And if it doesn’t, what happens to Marcus?

The noise of the room faded in and out. The laughter, the soft clinking of cutlery against plates—it all seemed to blur as Jeremy’s thoughts spiraled. He looked at Marcus, whose cheerful chatter filled the room. Deep down, he knew—whatever came next, everything would change.