“I’m proud of you,” Valtair said after a few seconds.

I blinked a few times to confirm I wasn’t imagining things.

“What?!”

“I said, I’m proud of you,” Valtair chuckled.

“Uhhh... Thanks.”

Not wanting to look him in the eye, I decided to focus on the lines of my palms. To say I felt confused and uncomfortable, would be an understatement. If this were a movie, we’d just gone off script.

“I always knew you were stronger and smarter than the other children your age,” Valtair told me.

A soft scoff escaped my lips. “This isn’t the first time you tell me this.”

Valtair’s lips curled upward, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. “I know, I know... A few years ago, when you came to my room and showed me you could use magic, I was so happy. You have no idea how proud I felt. I was the proudest father in the entire world...”

Not knowing how to respond to such a comment, I opted to stay quiet.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, son. There are a lot of things I haven’t told you,” Valtair confessed.

The moment the words left his lips, my eyes widened in excitement. If this was him trying to open up, this could be my chance to pry some answers out of him. I needed to get him talking.

“You can always count on me, father.”

“I know, son.” Valtair smiled and patted me on the shoulder. “Although I trust you, I’m also aware that you and I have very different views on the world. You could say I’m a little bit more old school.”

“Yeah?”

Valtair nodded. “I know you weren’t pleased when I declared war against Eldrath. I also know you aren’t keen on the old ways and traditions of our world.”

“Of course, I’m not,” I snorted.

“I was once like you,” Valtair recounted. “When I first became King, I also wanted to change the old ways. I wanted to break the barrier that separated us from other races. And I tried to do just that. I put my faith in the hands of other races, hoping it would change the world. Our world.”

“What happened?”

Valtair’s gaze darkened. “I was betrayed...”

I waited a few seconds, hoping to hear more details, but they never came. Whatever it was that had happened, he was determined to keep it a secret.

“I apologize if I made you feel uncomfortable.” Valtair took a deep breath, forcing a smile in my direction.

I shook my head. “It’s fine.”

“If there’s one thing I want you to get out of this conversation, it’s this.” Valtair leaned back in his chair, letting out a sigh. “The only people you can ever trust are your family. Everyone else is out to get you.”

A few seconds passed before Valtair continued. “The day you were born was one of the happiest days of my life. I still remember it like it was yesterday... You were so small back then... Even though I felt joy, I also recall feeling an immense sense of fear when I first held you. Even now, I still fear my enemies will one day hurt you, to get to me.”

As subtly as I could, I inhaled deeply, suppressing the wave of anger boiling in my chest. To him, this was a father and son bonding moment. To me, this was something else. Something very different. If I could describe what I was thinking in one word, that word would be unworthy.

If it was up to me, I’d take out my sword and cut off his tongue. This person, no, this devil, had no right to voice the things he was saying. That fear he was describing, that very same emotion was something I felt too in my old life. I felt it many times.

I also used to feel hope. That was why I fought so hard against the demons. Even in the darkest moments of my life, I always had hope. At least until the day I blinked, and realized every person I loved was gone. No, not gone. They’d been killed. They were slaughtered like animals, all because of him.

“Now that you’re older, you’ve seen with your own eyes what it’s like to be me. What it’s like to be king. I have many enemies. Some of them are transparent with their intentions, others pretend to be friendly but are waiting for the day I show weakness.”

“What are you trying to say?” I asked, wanting to wrap this conversation up.

Valtair smiled. “What I’m trying to say, is that I’m glad you’re my son. For the longest time, I’ve felt like I’ve been fighting the world alone. But seeing you now, and hearing about your accomplishments, make me feel so much better. I know I’m not alone anymore.”

It won’t happen today. Or tomorrow. But one day, you’re going to swallow those words when I destroy you...

“I’m happy you feel that way, father. That’s why I’ve been training a lot, lately. It’s because I want to support you.” The lie felt like poison in my mouth.

“That’s good. Very good... I know you have a lot of questions, which is good, and I promise that one day when you’re older, I’ll answer them. For now, I just want you to know that I love you and that I’m proud of you.”

I clenched my fists. “Thanks.”

“Now that we’re caught up, let’s move on to some more serious matters,” Valtair announced.

This guy... He’s something, isn’t he?

“Let me guess... You want to know how and why I formed a master-servant pact with Leonis.”

“Oh, no! I think I can figure that part out for myself... Besides, Leonis is nothing more than an old cripple now.”

Phew... It seems he doesn’t know that I’ve healed his core.

“Technically speaking, we don’t know either,” Solomon said. “We still haven’t confirmed it’s been healed...”

Fair enough...

Valtair winked and pulled out a scroll from his pocket.

At first glance, the scroll seemed nothing more than an ordinary letter. But as I looked closer, I recognized the royal seal of Alveria.

“Early this morning, I received a letter straight from Emperor Claudius,” Valtair revealed.

“What did it say?”

“It was quite long,” Valtair chuckled. “To start, he congratulated me on our victory in Eldrath and thanked me for keeping my side of the bargain.”

“Your side of the bargain?” I asked, feeling lost.

Valtair nodded. “What I’m about to tell you is very sensitive and secret, do you understand?”

“I do.”

“Around two years ago, a couple of months before I declared war against Eldrath, Claudius survived an attempt on his life.”

I felt every nerve in my body freeze as my mind processed this sudden revelation. I had no idea what to make of it.

Valtair continued. “After some thorough investigation, Claudius discovered he’d been attacked by a group of dark elf assassins. To make matters worse, there were clear indications that the assassins knew the inside layout of his manor.”

I shook my head in disappointment. “There must be a traitor.”

“There isn’t just one traitor. Claudius believes there’s a secret organization within his ranks, of very powerful nobles that are plotting to overthrow him. For years his position as emperor has been weakening, but now more than ever his reign is truly hanging by a thread.”

“A secret organization, eh?”

“Yes. Claudius believes this secret organization has influence over every major power in the universe, including our world.”

“Is he right?”

Valtair shrugged. “I’m not sure... All I know is that they call themselves The Silver Covenant.”

The moment I heard the name, sparks of electricity started flying over my skin. Every muscle in my body twitched in anger. Even though I couldn’t explain it, I was sure this was the same group responsible for the deaths of Felix and Elandril.

“Amazing,” Valtair said, staring at me in awe. “It’s the first time I see you use the dark lightning... It’s a very powerful element that runs only in our family.”

“Yeah, I know.” I clenched my fists to snuff out the remaining sparks of lightning. “Can we stay on topic, please?”

Valtair blinked. “Yes, of course. Where were we?”

“You were saying that Claudius believes this organization has widespread influence throughout the universe.”

“Ah, yes.” Valtair rubbed his beard thoughtfully. “Well, unfortunately, as I said, at this time I can’t confirm his conspiracies.”

“Can you tell me about this bargain you mentioned before?” I asked.

“Yes, the bargain!” Valtair said. “After finding out the assassins had escaped to Eldrath, Claudius feared that if he went on a wild goose hunt for information, the Covenant would strike again. He was also aware that sending an investigation team into Eldrath would have been seen as an act of war... It’s never been a secret that the elves and dark elves are at odds.”

“In other words, his hands were tied,” I noted.

Valtair gave me a thumbs-up. “Exactly! That’s where the bargain comes into play... To solidify his position as emperor, Claudius believed that a public friendship between him and I would make the traitors in his ranks wary of attacking him. Knowing I wasn’t as tied up as him, he asked me to investigate the incident on his behalf, which I did.”

“You did?!”

Valtair nodded grimly. “I sent a group of trustworthy ambassadors into Eldrath, in hopes of rooting out the mastermind who’d orchestrated the attempt on Claudius’s life.”

I leaned forward in anticipation. “How did the investigation go?”

“It went bad... Very bad.” Valtair let out a sigh as his gaze darkened. “Out of the five diplomats I sent, three of them were killed.”

“What!?”

“One of the three was the only son and heir of Lord Ashur Cirello.”

My eyes widened in shock. “Lord Ashur?! Do you mean, Grand Duke Cirello?”

“The very same,” Valtair replied.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed with this new revelation, I leaned my head against the railings of the bed. Even though we’d just hit the tip of the iceberg, the pieces of the puzzle were quickly falling into place. Many of the questions I’d been holding in my mind had just been answered. The only problem now was that I had even more questions than before.

“Please tell me you didn’t go to war just to quell Ashur’s grief?!”

Valtair shrugged.

If he wasn’t going to talk, then I would. “I’m disappointed in you... Thousands, if not millions of lives were lost because of that war. Innocent people were killed...”

“That’s the price of war, son.”

I clenched my fists in anger. “While that might be true... It still makes zero sense to go to war because of one person’s death. Can’t you see you sentenced an entire world to misery because of the sins of a few?”

Valtair grimaced. “You’re still too young to understand how the world works, Lucian.”

“Oh, please, do indulge me, father... Explain to me how the world works!”

Without warning, Valtair stood up and threw the chair he’d be sitting on at the wall. The chair crashed against the stone wall with such force, that by the time it hit the floor, it was just a pile of wood.

“That’s what happens to you when you show weakness,” Valtair said, pointing to the chair. “That’s how the world works. There are lines you don’t cross. If someone ever crosses those lines, you kill them. You got that? You fucking rip them to shreds before they do the same to you!”

“Keep your cool, Lucian,” Solomon warned. “I know you want to argue, but you have to be careful with what you say.”

Screw that! I’m going to expose this brute for what he is!

Standing up on the bed, I closed the gap between Valtair and me, my frustration boiling over.

“You sound insane,” I spat out, my words dripping with disdain. “Can’t you see you’re nothing but a power-hungry mongrel?”

Valtair’s eyes widened in anger as he lunged forward, gripping my collar tightly. “You’ll NEVER understand why I do what I do unless you accept that our race is superior to the rest!!”

My breath caught in my throat as a surge of rage coursed through me. I couldn’t believe he had dared to lay his hands on me.

If that’s what he wants to do, I’m all for it!

“What are you going to do?” I challenged, my voice trembling with fury. “Are you going to hit me because I don’t agree with your barbaric way of thinking?! Or maybe you’ll cut off my head and parade it through the streets of Valoria!”

For a moment, it seemed as though our argument would escalate into something far more volatile. And I was ready for it. I’d been holding back loads of anger for years. But then, to my surprise, Valtair lowered his head and rested it against my chest.

I was stunned into silence. I had never seen this coming. Unsure of how to react to this sudden shift, I remained still, waiting for whatever this was to pass.

After what felt like an eternity, Valtair sighed heavily and lifted his head. When our eyes met, I saw a glimmer of vulnerability in his gaze. It was a look I had never seen in his eyes.

Releasing me from his grip, he placed a gentle hand on my shoulder and smiled. “All I’m trying to do is protect our family. I may seem like a ruthless devil at times, but it’s only because if I’m not, people will stop fearing me... Like I said before, I wasn’t always like this, son... Once upon a time, I was young and naive, just like you. But because of that naivety, someone I cared deeply about was taken from me.”

The heaviness of his words hung in the air, filling the room with a solemn silence. I could see the pain etched in Valtair’s features, and it troubled me deeply. This side of him was foreign to me, and yet, it tugged at something within me, stirring empathy I hadn’t known I was capable of.

No, no, no! What am I even thinking?!

Not wanting to deal with these complicated emotions, I decided to indulge my curiosity instead.

“What happened?” I asked softly. “Who was this person you cared so deeply about?”

Valtair withdrew his hand from my shoulder, offering me a small pat on the head. “That’s a story for another time.”

I nodded, my curiosity only partially satisfied. Looking down at my feet, I felt a wave of uncertainty wash over me.

I wonder what secrets he’s hiding... And why do they weigh so heavily on him?

“I apologize for losing my temper,” Valtair said, taking a step back.

“It’s fine,” I murmured, shaking my head. “I lost my temper too.”

Valtair chuckled softly, a hint of warmth returning to his eyes. “Good... That’s a clear sign that you’re my son.”

I offered no response, choosing instead to remain silent. There was little comfort to be found in his words, and I found myself lost in thought once more.

After a moment of uneasy silence, Valtair cleared his throat, lifting the scroll in his hand. “Before things escalated, we were discussing the bargain, correct?”

I nodded in confirmation, my attention returning to the matter at hand.

Valtair smiled faintly. “To sum up what I was saying, in return for the favors I provided, Claudius agreed to publicly support and condemn Eldrath for killing Ashur’s son, henceforth legitimizing the war.”

“I see...”

For the next few minutes, I remained quiet as I listened to Valtair explain the gist of the relationship he was building, or at least trying to build with Claudius. After the screaming match, we’d just had, I had no energy to go into another one. I was tired. All I wanted was to absorb every ounce of information possible and compartmentalize it so that I could analyze it later.

“Now that you have an idea of what’s happening, I’m going to tell you about something very peculiar. I have a feeling you’ll find it intriguing, especially given your commitment to fostering harmony with the other races...”

I raised my brow. “And what’s that?”

Valtair shrugged and passed me the scroll he’d been holding. “Open it.”

Careful to not bend the edges, I unfurled the scroll, the parchment crackling softly as it unfolded in my hands. As my eyes scanned the paper, I quickly realized it wasn’t a letter. It was a document. An official government document with the title: “The Fellowship Accord: A Unity Among Races.”

Glancing up at Valtair, confusion etched across my face. “I thought this was a letter from Claudius?”

Valtair shook his head, a small smirk playing at the corners of his lips. “This document came along with his letter. It’s something Claudius and I have been working on for some time... Keep reading, son.”

Rolling my eyes, I returned my attention to the scroll and began to read. At first, the words on the parchment seemed like gibberish, but as I delved deeper, a sense of clarity washed over me.

The document described the development of an institute—an academic institution of magic and science that would serve as a beacon of knowledge and unity. My initial confusion gave way to awe as I began to realize the magnitude of what I was reading.

Never before had such a project been proposed. This document talked about a school that would welcome students from every race. It was unprecedented, groundbreaking, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the writing.

As I reached the bottom of the document, my breath caught in my throat. There, in bold signatures, were the names of every major leader in the universe starting with Valtair. The Dwarf Grand Marshal, the Elf Emperor, the Celestial Enclave, and some other signatures I didn’t recognize—all had pledged their support. Even the Orc Lord, who was known for being an outsider, had signed the document.

Turning to Valitair, I lifted the scroll, my voice barely above a whisper. “What is this?!”

Even though my eyes had read the document, my brain couldn’t process that this was happening. I needed some sort of third-party confirmation to be sure I wasn’t imagining things.

Valtair shrugged nonchalantly as if the implications of the document were of little consequence. “Given Claudius’s delicate position and the scrutiny I’ve faced for invading another world, this seemed like the most prudent course of action.”

I listened attentively as Valtair went on to explain his plan to showcase his peaceful intentions by spearheading the creation of this institute. It would not only establish friendly relations with other races but also soothe the suspicious glares he’d been receiving lately.

Valtair wasn’t the only person benefiting from this project. Thanks to this development, Claudius was planning to solidify his standing by forming strong connections with figures outside of Alveria. Even though the two of them were more interested in self-preservation than anything else, I was still impressed. It was a shrewd move, one that would undoubtedly alter the political landscape of the universe.

“What’s going to happen to Nocturna Academy?” I interjected, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Nocturna Academy was Azurax’s most prestigious institution where the children of demon nobles were traditionally educated.

“Nocturna will be downsized,” Valtair stated simply. “The dwarves and elves are doing the same... Our three worlds will be pooling our resources into creating something bigger and better.”

As the implications of his words sank in, I realized my jaw had been hanging open in astonishment. Hastily closing my mouth, I continued to absorb the details the old man was providing.

According to initial estimations, there was going to be a population of about fifty thousand students and five thousand teachers. Each race would be allotted a specific number of spaces every year regardless of social rank or lineage. Since the school was going to be so heavily populated, the idea was to build a small city around the school to support it. To make matters even more interesting, acceptance would be determined solely by merit in the shape of a rigorous entrance exam.

“Well, even though your motives might lean more towards politics than goodwill, I wish you the best with this project. It’s a remarkable idea, and I’m sure it’ll help unite the races,” I said, handing back the scroll.

Valtair snorted and flicked my forehead with his index finger.

“Ouch,” I muttered, rubbing the spot he hit. “What was that for?!”

His eyes twinkled with mischief as he leaned closer. “Consider it a wake-up call, son. The reason I’m telling you all this is because you have a role to play.”

I arched an eyebrow, intrigued by his sudden seriousness. “Wait, seriously?!”

“The construction of the institute began a few days ago,” Valtair revealed, his tone growing more solemn.

“So what? What does that have to do with me?”

“You’ll be attending the school as well, Lucian.”

I scoffed, unable to contain my disbelief. “Yeah, right...”

Valtair’s expression hardened, his gaze piercing. “Your enrollment isn’t up for debate.”

In response, I snapped my fingers, conjuring a dark ball of crackling lightning above my palm. The air hummed with energy as the ball pulsated, a menacing aura emanating from its depths.

Valtair’s eyes sparkled with admiration as he watched the display, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

With a flick of my wrist, the ball dissipated into thin air, leaving a faint scent of ozone in its wake.

Turning back to Valtair, I folded my arms defiantly. “I learn better on my own, in the real world. Not in some stuffy classroom filled with brats.”

Valtair adjusted his collar, a thoughtful expression crossing his features. “That may be true, but you’re not going there to learn.”

“Then why am I going!?”

Valtair scratched the back of his head, a sheepish grin playing on his lips. “It’s more of a... strategic move, you could say. If I don’t send you, it’ll be seen as a sign of distrust and ill will on my part.”

I rolled my eyes, a sense of frustration bubbling within me. “So, I’m just a pawn in your political game?”

“More or less. But remember, it’s what you make of it that counts.”

I shook my head, feeling a surge of defiance coursing through my veins. “Well, I’m still not going.”

Valtair turned to the balcony, his gaze fixed on the morning sky. “If it makes you feel any better, you won’t be enrolling anytime soon. The construction will take at least a year, and you’ll need to be at least thirteen to attend.”

I scoffed dismissively. “By the time I’m thirteen, I’ll probably have more important things to do.”

“You need to grow stronger, son,” Valtair said, ignoring my remark. There was a sense of urgency in his voice. “I fear that Claudius’s suspicions may hold some truth... If there truly is a powerful organization lurking in the shadows, I fear we may become targets, especially since we’ve allied ourselves with him.”

“So you admit we’re in danger, yet you still insist on sending me to that school?”

“The truth is, if it was up to me, I wouldn’t send you to that school. Unfortunately, there are a lot of forces at play...” Valtair paused as he let out a shaky breath.

All I could do was stare as I waited, unsure of what to do.

“I fear for your safety,” he admitted after a moment, his words heavy with emotion. “You need to grow stronger, much stronger before I can feel comfortable sending you to that school.”

His words struck a chord within me, stirring a sense of unease. “What are you getting at?”

Valtair’s next question caught me off guard. “If I recall correctly, you mentioned that your second element was fire, correct?”

I nodded, puzzled by his sudden interest. “Yeah, why do you ask?”

Valtair’s eyes bore into mine, his expression grave. “As far as the world is concerned, you’re just an ordinary boy who’s a bit ahead of the curve. Nobody knows how strong you truly are... That’s an advantage we need to exploit!”

Suppressing a smirk, I bit into my cheek, careful to conceal any trace of amusement. It had been years since I managed to convince Valtair that I was Marked. The fact that he still believed it was both amusing and concerning.

Still, I knew I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. There were still secrets I needed to keep hidden, especially from him.

“Like the fact that you have a third element?” Solomon chirped. “Or are you talking about how you happen to have a second magic core?”

You really can’t stay quiet, can you?

“Nope!”

A smile tugged at the corners of Valtair’s lips. “I think it’s time for you to master your second element. You’ve already shown great proficiency with the element of lightning, but mastering fire will make you even stronger... I’m sending you somewhere to train.”

“Please tell me you’re not thinking of sending me to Dahlia.”

Valtair snorted. “No, not her. This time I’m sending you to someone more responsible.”

“Good,” I sighed in relief. “Wait, hold up... Where are you sending me, then?”

Valtair smiled, a twinkle of mischief dancing in his eyes. “You’ll be going north, to the continent of Polaris...”