.
Chapter Eighteen — Heir Acknowledged
Location:
House Valerius — Grand Assembly Hall
Time: Three days after the unsealing
Scene 1: The Gathering
The bells of House Valerius rang twelve times.
For the first time in decades, all elders, branch family heads, army commanders, and night leaders were summoned.
Whispers filled the Grand Assembly Hall.
"Is it true?"
"The youngest awakened…?"
"Dual authority… shadow and sword?"
Celsius stood at the center, dressed in black ceremonial robes trimmed with silver.
Calm.
Controlled.
Unrecognizable from the weak boy they remembered.
Lyra stood behind him, proud and resolute.
Scene 2: Public Revelation
Duke Magnus stepped forward.
His voice echoed.
Magnus: "House Valerius has committed a sin."
Gasps.
Magnus: "For fifteen years, my son was crippled by internal betrayal."
The elders stiffened.
Magnus raised his hand.
Kael's exile decree appeared in glowing runes.
Darius's sealed status followed.
Magnus: "The bloodline seal has been broken."
The hall trembled.
A pressure descended—
Shadow mixed with blade intent.
Celsius's aura flared briefly.
Silence.
One elder whispered:
"A successor-class presence…"
Scene 3: The Sword Responds
Without warning—
CLANG.
The Patriarch's Sword resonated from the Sword Hall.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
A sign recognized by all.
Elder: "The sword calls him."
Magnus closed his eyes.
Magnus: "…Celsius Valerius."
He turned.
Magnus: "Step forward."
Celsius did.
Scene 4: A New Status
Magnus placed the family crest token into Celsius's palm.
Magnus: "From this day forth—"
Magnus: "You are recognized as an official heir of House Valerius."
Shock rippled outward.
Not the successor yet.
But no longer disposable.
Lyra smiled.
Celsius bowed.
Celsius: "I accept."
Inside, Eridiaries laughed softly.
Eridiaries: Slowly… beautifully.
Scene 5: Enemies Stir
Location:
Night Council Chamber
A hooded figure knelt.
Night Leader: "Young master Celsius has been acknowledged."
A voice from the darkness replied:
???: "Good."
Red eyes opened.
???: "Prepare the academy."
Scene 6: Decision
That night, Celsius stood alone beneath the moon.
Lyra joined him.
Lyra: "You don't need to rush."
Celsius shook his head.
Celsius: "If I stay here, they'll suffocate me again."
He looked toward the horizon.
Celsius: "The academy is the battlefield."
Lyra nodded.
Lyra: "Then rise higher than all of them."
Shadow curled around his feet.
Celsius (thought): This is only the beginning.