Chapter One

˖ ݁𖥔.☁︎.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ˖ ݁𖥔.☁︎.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ˖ ݁𖥔.☁︎.𖥔 ݁ ˖

I blinked away the exhaustion and smoke stinging my eyes as I navigated through the ruins of Frenbres, the last fortress of our kingdom. Now nothing but rubble and death. I fell to my knees in front of my partner, Second Prince Marsh Fleux, my lip trembling uncontrollably.

He was propped up against a boulder, his right hand clutching the gaping wound in his stomach, his other hand—once a vessel for lightning's fury—lay severed several feet away. His icy blue eyes met mine, filled with agony and sorrow. When he saw my frantic expression, his gaze softened, and he managed a weak smile, extending his bloodied hand to me.

Without hesitation, I took it, pressing his cold fingers to my cheek. "I'll find a way to save you," I sobbed. "This can't be the end for us. I've loved you since the moment we met."

He winced in pain, but his smile persisted. "I've loved you too, My Light. If only we had met sooner, maybe we could have—"

He gasped, struggling for breath as his eyes turned skyward, fixed on the smoke-choked heavens. Gently, I laid him back on the stone, trying to make him comfortable, though he was already gone. With trembling fingers, I closed his eyes for the last time, and an anguished scream tore from my throat.

Everyone I knew. Everyone I loved. Dead in just two days.

I forced myself to stand, gripping my sword and dragging it behind me as I limped to the edge of the precipice. The entire kingdom was ablaze while the Divines hovered above, watching the chaos unfold with indifferent eyes.

"Ah, there you are, little mouse."

His deep, malicious voice reverberated through the air, carrying a dark tone. He descended in all his sinister glory, an imposing figure among the Divines at least eight feet tall. Dressed in a resplendent white and gold robe against his ivory skin, his black and white hair curled around his sharp features, framing his bright red eyes. Hovering above, he smiled down at me with a malice that chilled my very bones.

"Did you take a good look at the carnage we wrought before you?" His smile remained unyielding. "All slaughtered like mere cattle, and not one of the Divines bears a single scratch from your pathetic race."

I could feel my life ebbing away from the numerous wounds that marred my body, the gash on my side burning with every breath. I drove my sword into the ground for support, refusing to fall to my knees. My green eyes blazed with fury as my short jet-black hair whipped around in the wind. I wasn't going to die cowering.

The Divine flicked his wrist, and suddenly, I was lifted into the air, brought closer to his face. His grip tightened around me, though he never lifted a finger. Face-to-face, I grunted against the invisible pressure.

"One last chance, little mouse. Are you really going to waste away like the pathetic human you are?"

In response, I spat a mix of blood and saliva onto his perfect alabaster cheek. His smile vanished, replaced by a look of cold contempt. "I see," he said, his voice icy. "As you wish, then."

His hold on me disappeared, and I plummeted toward the raging fires below. As I fell, I focused on a patch of sky untouched by smoke, bright and warm. I closed my eyes, bracing for the end. At last, I would reunite with my family, freed from the Divine's cruelty.

˖ ݁𖥔.☁︎.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ˖ ݁𖥔.☁︎.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ˖ ݁𖥔.☁︎.𖥔 ݁ ˖

Warmth enveloped me, coaxing a twitch from my eyebrow and mouth. The sound of chirping birds and the rustling of leaves seemed surreal. Slowly, my eyes fluttered open, vision blurred as I took in the canopy of leaves above, sunlight streaming down. As my vision cleared, I realized I was sitting upright against the rough bark of a tree.

I scanned my surroundings, finding myself in the serene embrace of nature. How was this possible? Hadn't I been falling to my death? I looked up again, past the leaves to the clear, blue sky that showed no sign of battle.

Tentatively, I stood, expecting the pain from my wounds, but they were gone. I glanced down, shocked to find my armor replaced by a plain green dress hugging a frame that seemed much smaller. My hands, once marked by scars and calluses earned over 29 years of life, were smooth and unblemished.

In disbelief, I patted my body. My hair now fell to my chest, no longer cut short. My bust, still large, seemed perkier, my stomach flat but muscles undefined. What had happened to me? Where were the marks that had defined my existence?

The sound of moving water caught my attention, and I stumbled toward it, still struggling to navigate with these unfamiliar limbs. Each step was a battle, my new form awkward and unsteady. I leaned against tree after tree, panic and confusion crashing over me like relentless waves. Had I been teleported to a place untouched by the Divines' wrath? How long before they found me again?

Nausea churned in my stomach, but I pushed it down as I finally reached the stream. Sinking to my knees, I felt the cool grass prick at my legs and hands. I took a deep breath, then leaned over to peer at my reflection.

I gasped.

The same mossy green eyes I'd known all my life stared back at me, but the rest of me looked so much younger. Much younger than I was before waking in this tranquil forest. Panic surged anew, and I turned away from the water, vomiting onto the grass.

What the hells is happening?

A satchel hung at my side, one I recognized instantly as my late brother's. He'd passed away at thirteen, and the choppy embroidered blue and green flowers at the bottom were unmistakable. My jaw slackened with each revelation. This satchel had been stolen from me in my early twenties, never to be seen again. Until now.

My fingers traced the embroidery lovingly before I unclasped the gold buckle and lifted the flap. Inside, I found an apple, a small loaf of bread, and a leather-bound journal. My heart skipped a beat as I pulled it out. It was mine, another piece lost all those years ago.

Hands shaking, I opened it and was greeted by my child-self's poor handwriting on the first page. It began when I was ten, two years after Mother and Jorge passed away. I skimmed the pages, not wanting to immerse myself in the heartache of my childhood. I reached the last entry and focused on the date.

Sunreach-Goldleaf 4300

"4300?" I muttered, squinting at the freshly written page. I counted in my head, realizing I was in my 19-year-old body. I started reading the entry.

"Something has changed. A pull is tugging me to this school. I quit the Guard, much to Captain Dothmer's dismay, and now I head to Captain's Peak. I don't know why, but something is drawing me there. No rationalizing can help me. I'm on my way."

I shut the book and shoved it back in the satchel. Captain's Peak? It was a school I'd always dreamed of attending. I had hoped to go at thirteen, the same age my brother was supposed to attend, but we were too poor, and Father would never have allowed it. Not after what happened.

The school taught years one through six, and most students started at thirteen. It was only open to those from wealthy families with natural magic abilities, which was another reason it had always been just a dream for me.

I had no magic ability.

I could channel a small amount of magic into my limbs and lungs, making me formidable in battle, but I could never conjure a flame or lift a piece of cloth with my mind.

My brother, however, had been eagerly accepted into Captain's Peak despite our humble upbringing. He had a significant mana reserve and could create things with just his mind, often making toys and hair accessories for me. Even the satchel I now held. His death at thirteen had been a tragedy not just for our family but for the entire world. He would have made a difference.

I glanced behind me at the path that I assumed led to the school. It was hidden within miles of lush, green forest, and if I remembered correctly, the trail would take me up a mountain to where the grand castle stood. I didn't know what I'd do when I got there, but I felt the same tug that I had written about. I had to go.

Feeling my panic settle, I pulled out the apple and began my trek south, eager to see what awaited me. I needed something to distract me from the haunting memories of those gruesome two days of torture.

˖ ݁𖥔.☁︎.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ˖ ݁𖥔.☁︎.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ˖ ݁𖥔.☁︎.𖥔 ݁ ˖

The day had started with me waking between a nude man and woman, their warm bodies pressed close to mine under the green, silky sheets of the large brothel bed. I kissed their foreheads and rose, careful not to wake them. I pulled on the brothel's complimentary black robe and stepped onto the balcony, taking in the smell of baking bread and fresh oranges from the nearby stall.

I attempted to smooth my short, disheveled hair to no avail. I silently wished I could grow it longer, but it wasn't allowed in the Imperial Army. As I leaned against the railing, watching people commute to work below, I spotted my partner holding the reins of his black horse.

The Second Prince looked up at me with his glacier-blue eyes and smiled. His blonde hair was short on the sides and slightly longer on top, and after a couple of weeks without a shave, a slow-growing beard was visible from my vantage point.

"I thought I would find you here!" he called.

"Why don't you come in and join me?" I teased with a wink, taking pleasure in his embarrassed squirming. No one was listening.

"Urgent news from the palace. The King needs us immediately." His face was still slightly red, but his tone was serious. I nodded and went inside to get changed without hesitation, as a good soldier of the King does.

I headed out in my green riding gear, my sword sheathed at my side. Retrieving my white horse from one of the brothel workers, I deftly saddled on. Marsh was already mounted on his own, and we set off toward the palace together.

"What's going on?" I asked, nudging my horse closer so that our legs were almost touching. At my proximity, Marsh shifted his horse a little further away. Message received.

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "I haven't seen anyone today except the High Sage, but I've been hearing strange rumors."

My curiosity piqued. "What kind of rumors?"

"They're just whispers, but some of our soldiers reported a loud explosion and a ray of light emanating from Kenston Castle."

My eyebrow arched. Kenston Castle was one of the strongest fortresses in all of Arkanthea, second only to Fleaux Castle, which stood in the north border of the city. Surely they were fine.

We rode in silence for a while, the weight of his words settling between us. I finally dared to ask, "How is Penelope?"

The corner of his mouth twitched. Princess Penelope was his wife, mother to his alleged child. Rumors circulated about Triton's true parentage—whether he was Marsh's son or the King's. Their marriage had been arranged when I was still in the Guard, long before my promotion to the Sovereign Army.

"She's feeling much better," Marsh replied. "She's still recovering from her travel sickness, but at least little Triton is doing well, under the loving care of the palace nannies." His tone turned bitter at the last part, clearly irritated by his situation. He hardly saw his own child, who now preferred the company of his uncle and four cousins.

I nodded. "I'm glad she's feeling better," I said, though I didn't mean it.

We entered the castle, bristling with Royal Guards stationed at every entrance. The sight made me uneasy. Something was very wrong. In the great hall, Marsh's brother, Carson Fleux, sat regally on his throne. A dark blue velvet cape draped over his broad shoulders and trailed onto the floor. His posture was composed, but his blue eyes and the scowl etched on his face betrayed his distress.

Beside the King stood old Abdeer Bellmon, head of the High Sages and a light user himself, shaking like a leaf.

"We must leave, Your Majesty," he urged in a hushed tone, though Marsh and I heard it clearly as we dropped to one knee in front of the king. "Something evil has awakened. There is no one left alive at Kenston Castle, except for one lone soldier."

"What did the soldier say, High Sage Bellmon?" Marsh asked.

Abdeer turned to us, fear gleaming in his eyes. "They want the stone."

˖ ݁𖥔.☁︎.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ˖ ݁𖥔.☁︎.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ˖ ݁𖥔.☁︎.𖥔 ݁ ˖

I had just finished my apple and bread when I reached the base of the mountain, where the stone steps began their winding ascent. Looking up, my breath caught at the sight of the immense castle partially obscured by clouds. Captain's Peak was everything I had envisioned and more—majestic, intimidating, its towers piercing the sky.

My limbs ached from the long journey, and the sun was nearly set, leaving the moons to rise in its place. As I began the climb, the air grew cooler, a refreshing change from the day's heat. I focused my magic into my legs to ease the strain, allowing me to appreciate the view. The forest below stretched out in a sea of green, the leaves shimmering in the twilight.

When I finally reached the glittering gold gates of Captain's Peak, a group of soldiers aimed their weapons at me. "Halt!" called an older, plump man from atop the wall. His face was flushed pink, dominated by a large, round nose that glowed against the light. "Who goes there?"

"My name is Daemira Langesly," I replied, straightening my back and eyeing the soldiers who peered down at me.

"What brings you here, Daemira Langesly?"

I blinked, struggling for words. "I...I wish to enroll."

The soldiers exchanged looks of stunned silence before bursting into laughter. Irritation flared within me, and I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to climb the wall and teach them respect.

"Please," I added, though their laughter only intensified, though I couldn't blame them. My own statement surprised even me.

"Let her pass," came a calm, authoritative voice. I jumped at her sudden appearance. A woman stood behind the golden gate. She was tall, with dark skin and bright hazel eyes, her bald head gleaming. She wore a long-sleeved, fitted white dress and held a wooden staff topped with four golden rings.

We locked eyes. I recognized her from her visits to the palace during my time in the Sovereign Army. She was the headmistress of Captain's Peak. I bowed respectfully.

"I said, let her pass," she repeated firmly. The gates swung open, and I looked up at her ethereal form, feeling a surge of gratitude.

"Thank you," I said.

"Come," the headmistress said, turning and walking back toward the castle. "Let's talk more in my office."

I smirked at the sneering guards as I passed through the gates. But how would I explain this to the headmistress?

We walked through the front garden, a lush paradise filled with meticulously tended shrubs, trees, and flowers in shades of yellow and white. Marble statues of the five out of six Gods of Life—Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Light—stood proudly, each one spotless and pristine.

The opulence was almost overwhelming, and we hadn't even entered the castle yet. I followed closely behind the headmistress, her graceful steps producing a soft clinking sound from the golden rings on her staff.

Inside, we moved through a grand corridor that opened into a common area for students. The space was lavishly decorated with artwork and plush gold-and-white furnishings. A sweeping staircase split at the landing, leading off in two directions. Students gathered in the area stared at me with wide eyes, their immaculate black uniforms contrasting sharply with my travel-worn attire. Their scowls mirrored those of the guards at the entrance.

We climbed staircases in silence, the halls and classrooms deserted as the day came to a close. The rest of the students were likely at dinner, leaving the castle eerily quiet. At last, we reached the top floor of the east tower. The headmistress flicked her wrist, and the oak door before her swung open. The gesture reminded me of the Divine's cruel magic, though there was a gentleness in her power.

We walked down a narrow hall lined with portraits of past headmasters and headmistresses on one side, and gothic windows on the other. Moonlight streamed through, casting shadows that stretched across the floor to the paintings. At the end of the hall, another oak door opened with a wave of her hand, revealing a spacious room.

The headmistress's office was grand, with floor-to-ceiling windows, rows of bookshelves, a fireplace, and an upper level that I assumed contained her living quarters. In the center of the room stood a polished desk, and she took her seat behind it, her back to the view of the forest I had just traversed.

"You may call me Headmistress Fler," she said, placing her staff in a holder beside her and gesturing for me to sit. The chair in front of her desk moved back with a creak, and the door closed softly behind me.

Hesitantly, I sat, my anxiety returning under her intense gaze.

"I saw you climbing the Captain's Steps. Did you travel through the entire forest alone?"

I nodded.

"Why would you undertake such a journey, knowing there was a chance we wouldn't let you in?"

I swallowed hard, still unsure of how to explain my situation. "I wish to enroll here."

Instead of laughing like the guards, Headmistress Fler tilted her head, scrutinizing me. "What did you say your name was again? Daemira..."

"Langesly," I said. "Daemira Langesly."

She extended a slender arm, and a heavy book floated down from a shelf, landing on her desk. She relaxed as the book opened, and her eyes scanned the pages, flipping through them with her mind. I watched in awe.

"Langesly...Langesly," she murmured, then her eyes widened. "Was Jorge Langesly your brother?"

I nodded, thumbing the embroidered satchel. "He was supposed to attend as a first year...but he didn't live to see the first day."

The headmistress sighed, closing the book. "I'm deeply sorry for your loss. We were looking forward to having Jorge here. His unique talents would have taken him far."

"Yes, they would have," I agreed softly.

"So, you wish to attend here? You appear much too old for a first year. How old are you?"

I hesitated. "Nineteen, Headmistress."

She drummed her fingers on the desk. "You are quite the curious one, Daemira Langesly. Have you been to school before?"

I nodded. I received some education in the Guard and taught myself as much as I could. But it was nothing like Captain's Peak.

"And do you know how to wield magic?"

I bit my lip. "Not really...no."

She sighed, but there was no irritation in her expression. I felt a subtle aura as she assessed my magic.

"Well, I can sense magic within you."

My eyes widened in surprise. "You can?"

She raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you can't wield it, given your mana reserve. I'll need some time to discuss this with the professors. In the meantime, I'll arrange for you to stay in an empty dorm."

I sat rigid, memories of the war flooding back. Was it a dream? How had I gone from that nightmare to sitting here, being considered for Captain's Peak? My thoughts became hazy, and a tingling numbness spread through my fingers and toes.

"Are you alright, Daemira?"

Her voice was the last thing I heard before I slumped forward, unconscious.