When consciousness returned, it came in fragments.
A heartbeat.
A whisper.
A weightless darkness.
I floated inside it, suspended between life and death, memory and dream.
Somewhere far away, I heard voices.
"…too early."
"…his body won't hold it."
"…the prophecy warned—"
"No. He is not ready."
Then another voice—soft, familiar, trembling:
"Please… just let him wake up."
A warm hand touched my cheek.
Light cracked through the darkness like dawn.
I opened my eyes.
---
The ceiling above me wasn't the Academy's infirmary ceiling. It was older—etched with spiraling runes that shimmered faintly, like moonlight on water. The air smelled of herbs and something stranger… metal and starlight.
I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain sliced through my ribs.
"Careful," someone whispered. "You're still hurt."
I turned to the side—and froze.
Her.
The mysterious girl with silver eyes sat beside the bed, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders like flowing ink. Up close, her presence felt even stranger—warm yet chilling, soft yet impossibly ancient.
"You're awake," she said, relief washing over her face.
"Where… where am I?" I croaked.
"A safe place. Hidden from the Academy." She hesitated. "Hidden from them."
Them?
I didn't have the strength to ask.
I glanced around. The room was circular, dimly lit by floating orbs of pale blue light. Symbols covered the walls—wards, bindings, seals. It looked less like a room and more like a sanctuary… or a prison.
The girl stood quickly, as if nervous under my stare. "I'm sorry. I should introduce myself properly."
She bowed slightly.
"My name is Seraphine."
A name that tasted like wind and fire. Elegant. Dangerous.
"Seraphine…" I repeated.
She smiled faintly. "You said it correctly on the first try. Most humans don't."
"Humans?" I echoed.
Her expression froze for a heartbeat—too long to be a mistake.
I pushed myself up slowly, clutching my aching chest. "Who are you really?"
Seraphine looked away, struggling with something inside her. Then she whispered:
"I'm not what you think."
My heart thudded.
"You're not a student."
"No."
"You're… not human."
She closed her silver eyes.
"No, Lucian. I'm not."
Silence swept between us.
"What are you?" I asked.
Her voice was barely a breath. "A Nephra."
The word meant nothing to me.
But the way she said it—like a confession carved in blood—made my stomach twist.
Before I could ask, Seraphine suddenly leaned forward, her silver eyes sharp.
"You shouldn't have awakened like that," she said. "Your body wasn't ready. The seal—whoever placed it—buried your power too deeply. It should have taken years for it to break naturally."
"But the creature attacked," I said. "I was dying."
"And that's what forced it open. Near-death forced your true power to react. But—" She stepped closer, her voice low and urgent. "Lucian… your awakening wasn't normal."
"Meaning?"
She exhaled shakily. "You didn't just release energy. You unleashed something old. Something ancient. Something that recognized me."
My blood ran cold.
"Recognized you?"
She nodded. "When your power erupted, it called my name."
My throat dried. "How is that possible?"
"I don't know," she whispered. "But I intend to find out."
---
Seraphine handed me a small vial filled with shimmering liquid. "Drink this. It will ease the pain."
I hesitated. "What's in it?"
"A healing tincture. I promise it's safe."
Normally, I wouldn't trust someone who wasn't human—especially someone connected to the night I almost died.
But something about her… felt honest.
I drank it. Warmth spread through my chest as the pain faded.
Seraphine watched me carefully. When she saw I was steady, she sat beside the bed again.
"You probably have a thousand questions," she said softly.
"More," I admitted.
She took a breath. "Then let's begin with the simplest."
Her silver eyes met mine.
"You were never powerless, Lucian. You were sealed."
"Who sealed me?"
"I don't know."
"Why?"
Her voice trembled. "To hide you."
"From what?"
"Everything."
I stared at her, stunned.
She clasped her hands tightly, as if afraid of what she was about to say.
"There is a prophecy in Elarion," she whispered. "One so dangerous, the kings burned every scroll. One so terrifying, the gods themselves refused to speak of it."
My pulse quickened.
"And what does it say?"
Seraphine leaned closer, her voice near my ear.
"It speaks of a child born with a light greater than the gods… and a darkness deeper than the void."
I swallowed hard.
"And?"
"And that child will either save the world…" She hesitated. "…or end it."
Silence crushed the air.
"You think that child is me?" I whispered.
"I don't think," she said, trembling.
"I know."
My heart pounded so hard it hurt.
"And the others?" I asked. "The Academy? Do they know?"
Seraphine shook her head. "Not yet. But when they do…" She looked at me with fear. "They will hunt you."
A chill crawled up my spine.
"Why are you helping me?" I asked.
Seraphine looked down at her hands—small, delicate, trembling.
Then she whispered something that hit harder than any spell:
"Because I was sent to kill you."
My breath stopped.
"But I can't," she said, voice breaking. "I won't."
My mind went blank.
Heart. Stopped.
Chest tight.
She lifted her head, tears in her silver eyes.
"I met you. I saw you. And I couldn't do it."
My heartbeat returned with a violent thud.
"But someone else will come," she said. "Many others."
"Why?" I rasped.
"Because the prophecy doesn't just say you'll save or destroy the world." She wiped a tear. "It says only one person can choose the path for you."
"Who?"
Seraphine's eyes glowed faintly—like stars reflected in water.
"Your destined rival."
Kael.
Of course.
"He is tied to your fate," Seraphine whispered. "And one day… he will either be your greatest ally…"
Her voice cracked.
"…or the one who kills you."
A cold dread filled my lungs.
This was too much. Too fast. Too heavy.
My life had already been miserable.
But now? Now it was a loaded weapon aimed at the world.
I stood shakily. "I have to go back."
Seraphine grabbed my wrist. "No! You're not ready. Your power is unstable—you could die. Or worse."
Her touch sent a spark through my arm.
A strange warmth.
A connection.
"Lucian…" she whispered.
"I don't want to lose you."
I stared at her—at the fear in her eyes, fear for me.
Why?
Why would someone sent to kill me feel like this?
Questions spun through my head—
And then the sanctuary door exploded inward.
Seraphine gasped, pushing me behind her.
Shadows poured through the entrance like liquid night, forming a tall figure with burning crimson eyes.
A voice hissed:
"Step aside, Nephra."
Seraphine's face went pale. "No…"
The figure raised a hand.
"Lucian Vale belongs to the prophecy."
Seraphine shouted, "Run!"
But I couldn't move.
The figure pointed at me.
The shadows warped.
My heartbeat stopped.
And then—
My power flared.
White cracks of light burst across my skin.
The air shook.
The shadows recoiled.
Seraphine whispered behind me, terrified and amazed:
"No… not again… Lucian, you're awakening—"
The room filled with blinding light—