Arriving at the Clan square!

Zuxe's gaze darted between his phone and the path ahead, dread pooling in his stomach. 8:04 a.m.

He was already four minutes late, and it showed in the frantic rhythm of his steps as he raced through the winding trails of the clan grounds.

His heart hammered in sync with his footfalls, every echo pressing him to run faster. The summons had been clear: gather at the central square by 8:00 a.m. sharp to receive the academy's rules, regulations, and eligibility criteria.

But even as he sped forward, he could feel the minutes slipping away.

Around his neck, hidden from any prying eyes, was the Curse of Binding—a small, almost unassuming artifact, though it pulsed with a strange energy whenever he took a breath

After his first use, the artifact had cloaked itself, becoming invisible to everyone else.

The association had permitted him to carry it with him, although they'd insisted on regular visits to check for any new information he might uncover.

Zuxe hadn't felt a choice in the matter; though he carried the curse, it felt almost as if the artifact was holding onto him.

He wouldn't have been late if not for Hrwateek.

The man had stopped him earlier, asking him to stay a bit longer for an urgent conversation related to the book they'd been studying. Though Hrwateek was every bit as enigmatic and formidable as their first meeting had suggested, he'd proven himself to be genuine and, surprisingly, warm.

And so, Zuxe had lingered, intrigued and unwilling to cut off the conversation.

He'd lost track of the time, letting the minutes slip through his fingers.

Ahead, the clan square came into view. Zuxe felt his sprint slow as he glimpsed the assembled figures, a sea of faces he didn't recognize, each one waiting with a kind of tense expectancy.

The gathering was lined in tight, orderly columns, with the elders and higher-ups stationed at the front, their robes billowing in the faint morning breeze.

He could almost feel the weight of authority emanating from them, silent but commanding.

His eyes scanned the crowd, and he spotted Nyra standing at the far left of one of the lines, her arms crossed, foot tapping impatiently. Her sharp eyes flicked in his direction, a glimmer of annoyance flashing across her face as she noticed his late arrival.

Without drawing attention, Zuxe slid into the space beside her, slightly out of breath but otherwise maintaining a calm exterior.

He let his gaze sweep over the gathering, taking in every detail of the scenario.

The children from the main family stood in one neat line, their heads held high, while those from the Vessel and other notable families formed another line beside them.

Zuxe's gaze flickered briefly toward a girl in the crowd—one of the siblings he'd met before.

Shreya.

Her eyes caught his, and for a moment, her expression froze, her face tightening with a mixture of shock and uncertainty. She blinked, her thoughts reeling.

"Vant?" she murmured under her breath, as if testing out the name of a stranger.

He was one of the main heirs of the clan?

Her mind raced, piecing together their encounters. 'Wait... is he really a h-heir of the main family?' Panic gripped her chest, and her pulse quickened.' Was I too... rude to him last night?'

She quickly scanned their previous interactions. 'No, I kept it neutral, or at least polite… didn't I?'

But still…

A sinking feeling crept in. What if he reports me? She swallowed hard, her thoughts spiraling. 'What if I get… punished?'

Around her, whispers began to ripple through the crowd as the children exchanged glances, their voices low and curious.

"Who's that boy?"

"I've never seen him before… why is he standing with the main family?"

'But… wasn't he too… weak?'The thought floated up, unbidden, and she dismissed it as quickly as it came. That couldn't be it. There had to be another explanation.

No, he must be hiding his real strength.

Yes, that had to be it some well-guarded secret the clan had kept from even its most inner circles.

The whispers grew louder, and she felt her cheeks burn as her mind kept racing through a tangle of questions she was too afraid to ask.

The elder raised his hand, silencing the growing whispers among the children.

"Quiet, all of you. The Matriarch of the clan, Lady Janica, and the Arcane Guardian, Elysia, are about to join us."

An expectant hush fell over the hall. Everyone straightened, eyes forward as they awaited the arrival of the clan's most revered figures.

Then, suddenly, a shimmering portal appeared behind the elder, casting a faint glow over the space. From within the portal, two figures emerged.

Lady Janica, the Matriarch, stepped forward first, her elegant presence radiating authority. Her robes flowed like midnight waters, embroidered with silver constellations that seemed to pulse with a soft, magical light.

Beside her was Elysia, the Arcane Guardian, her expression sharp and discerning, as though she could see into each child's soul.

They moved in harmony, exuding a calm but powerful aura that filled the room.

And following them was a boy with the same distinctive features as Zuxe, purple hair that shimmered under the light, and eyes the same vivid shade of violet. The resemblance was unmistakable.

The elder knelt on one knee, gesturing for the children to follow suit. "Greet the Matriarch and the Arcane Guardian with honor."

The children quickly dipped into bows, except the main heirs of the clan, some sneaking glances at the boy who bore such a striking resemblance to Zuxe, but they knew who he was.

Lady Janica's voice rang out, clear and measured. "Rise, children."

They obeyed, eyes attentive as the Matriarch regarded them all. Her gaze lingered briefly on every children and then Zuxe for a brief moment.

The children murmured among themselves a mix of curiosity and admiration filled the air.

Withdrewing her gaze, she locked her eyes with Cyrus " Would you like to stay beside me or go stand in the queue?" She inquiried, her tone felt as soothing as honey.

The elders eye widened for a moment, as he had never seenady Janica whom he revered as a good behaving like that.

And the fact that she didn't hesitate to speak those words in front of everyone was not to go unnoticed.

Cyrus simply nodded in response, a smile flashing on his face.

"It's… pffft… it's too cringy for real' Zuxe said to himself, biting down on his lip to keep from bursting out laughing.

'I...I can't control...pffft'

At last he couldn't control himself, bursting out in laughter in front of everyone present there.