Hidden Agendas and Public Display

Valen woke in the soft glow of his private quarters, the early morning light streaming through the high-arched windows.

His room, one of the most luxurious in Astralis Academy, was furnished with rich velvet drapes, golden sconces, and a chandelier that shimmered with enchanted crystals.

Yet despite the grandeur, Valen barely paid any mind to it. He had grown up surrounded by far greater wealth and power.

He lay still for a moment, his mind drifting to the reason he had joined the academy in the first place.

For most, attending Astralis Academy was an opportunity of a lifetime—an honor reserved for the elite, the talented, and the noble.

But Valen? He was a member of the Aetheris family, the most powerful family in Aurelia, whose influence rivaled even the imperial throne.