The carriage rolled through Valebourne's quiet upper district, where the air smelled faintly of lantern oil and blooming nightshade. The murmuring city gave way to shadowed avenues lined with towering oaks, their branches arching overhead like cathedral spires. At the end of the long, winding road, Thorne Manor rose from the earth like something carved from another age.
It was a fortress draped in elegance—black stone walls climbing high, softened by curling ivy that clung like veins of green to its ancient bones. Arched windows glowed with warm light, their frames traced in silver filigree that shimmered faintly, as if whispering with forgotten magic.
Spires crowned its silhouette, tapering into the night sky, each crowned with banners snapping in the breeze—banners of deep sapphire bearing the sigil of House Thorne: a blue dragon, wings flared wide, standing proudly atop a mountain peak.
The carriage passed under an arch of wrought iron gates etched with curling runes, the metal glinting like starlight. Beyond lay a grand courtyard paved in polished black stone, its path flanked by gardens lush with silverleaf shrubs and midnight roses, their petals almost glowing under the moonlight. The wheels clattered to a halt at the foot of the wide marble steps that swept up to the main entrance.
The great doors opened before the siblings set foot on the ground. Caelum stood framed in the golden glow of the hall beyond, tall and still as a carved sentinel. His dark blue hair, long enough to brush his shoulder blades, was loosely tied and draped over one shoulder, catching the light with a sheen like deep ocean glass. His eyes, clear teal, calm yet holding depths that felt older than stone, watched them descend. Behind him, two neat lines of servants bowed low, their voices rising in unison:
"Welcome home, Lady Lilith. Lord Elias."
Lilith's heels clicked against the stone as she stepped down, crimson skirts trailing like spilled wine across the pale marble. Her face wore its practiced calm, but when her gaze met Caelum's, there was the faintest curve at the corner of her lips. A private acknowledgment—unseen by the others.
"Lord Silford's heirs honor this house," Caelum said, his tone rich with formal weight, yet smooth as tempered steel.
His bow was flawless, precise, and for the briefest instant, his eyes softened, an echo of something older and deeper than ceremony.
Lilith returned the nod with grace. "Thank you, Lord Caelum."
"If you would, please follow me."
The heavy doors swung wider as Caelum led them inside. The great hall stretched before them, vast and echoing, its ceiling vaulting high into shadow. Columns of black stone flanked the crimson carpet that ran the length of the chamber, their surfaces veined with faint silver patterns like roots frozen in marble.
Between them hung banners of deep sapphire, each bearing the sigil of House Thorne. The flicker of torchlight set the scaled form of the dragon shimmering, giving it the illusion of life as the flames danced.
Rows of chandeliers, their arms wrought in curling iron, hung from chains overhead, their candles burning with a steady golden glow that bathed the room in warm light. At the far end rose a sweeping staircase, its rail carved with intertwining vines of silver and obsidian. Above it, a tall arched window let in the pale gleam of moonlight, washing the polished floor in hues of blue and ivory.
The scent of old wood, stone, and faint spices lingered in the air, a hall that carried centuries in its silence.
Servants melted away as Caelum turned to face the siblings. He inclined his head, his tone still formal, yet softened at the edges.
"The east wing has been prepared for your stay," he said. "But supper awaits in the dining hall. Shall I have it brought to your rooms, or will you join us there?"
"We'll join you!" Elias blurted before his sister could speak, his eyes lighting up with relief at the word 'supper.' "Anything's fine, just… please, a lot of it."
Caelum's lips curved, almost like a shadow of amusement. "Very well. The table is set."
Lilith, emerald eyes cool yet softened by fatigue, inclined her head. "Thank you, Caelum."
He gestured toward the stair that led deeper into the hall's glow. "Come. You'll find the fare worthy after such a day."
As they walked, Elias leaned close to Lilith, muttering under his breath, "I thought I was going to starve before we even got in."
Lilith allowed the smallest hint of a smile. "You weren't alone."
The dining hall carried the quiet glow of candlelight, shadows flickering along the sapphire banners that lined the walls. The long table gleamed under the golden light, already set with platters of roasted venison, fresh bread, and bowls of steaming vegetables. The rich scent filled the space like a promise.
Elias collapsed into his chair with a groan the moment the servants stepped back. "Finally," he muttered, seizing a hunk of bread. "The Academy put us through an entire day of exams and didn't even bother with lunch. Is this how they plan to kill students before classes start?"
Lilith's crimson hair spilled over her shoulder as she took her seat opposite Caelum at the far end. "You survived," she said smoothly, reaching for her goblet. "Barely, by the sound of it."
"Barely?" Elias shot her a look as he tore into the bread. "I had to fight Vivienne's pet brute, you know. The guy's practically a boulder with arms."
"And yet you're here," Lilith said, amusement tugging faintly at her mouth. "Should I assume he went easy on you?"
Elias barked a laugh. "He tried to break me in half, Lil. I had to dance circles around him just to stay alive. If I didn't move fast, you'd be dining alone."
Lilith set her goblet down with a soft click. "Impressive," she said, tone almost casual. "But while you were running in circles, I was ending duels."
He paused mid-bite. "You didn't just 'end' them, did you? Come on, what happened? Did Vivienne cry?"
Lilith gave him a measured look. "She yielded."
"That's it?" Elias grinned, leaning forward. "No details? No dramatic flourishes? Lilith, please, give me something. How red was her face?"
Lilith lifted a brow. "Red enough."
Elias snorted. "Bet the entire hall heard her pride shatter."
A low sound interrupted, the distinct clearing of a throat. Caelum, seated at the head of the table, hadn't spoken once until now. His teal eyes, cool and unreadable, shifted briefly from Lilith to Elias before returning to his plate.
The silence that followed pressed like velvet. Elias straightened slightly in his chair, cheeks coloring. Lilith, however, only took another sip of apple juice, her expression untouched.
Servants moved like shadows, refilling goblets and replacing platters before slipping out through the side door, leaving the three in the hush of the hall.
Lilith broke the quiet first. "Tomorrow, we rest," she said softly, emerald eyes flicking toward her brother. "No running circles."
Elias smirked, reaching for more bread. "Fine. But if another brute shows up, I'm charging at him."
Lilith's lips curved faintly. "Good luck with that."
At the far end, Caelum's gaze lingered a moment longer, sharp as the edge of a blade, before turning back to his meal. Normally he would scold the siblings and tell them to act more like nobles, specially Elias. But they had gone enough trouble today by the sounds of it. So he let them have this relaxed moment.