Chapter Nineteen — Departure of the Shadow Heir
Location:
House Valerius Estate → Argent Blade Academy
Time: One week after acknowledgment
Scene 1: Farewell at Dawn
Mist clung to the Valerius gates.
A carriage engraved with shadow-silver sigils waited.
Celsius stood before it, dressed in travel armor—light, flexible, unfamiliar to most Valerius knights.
Lyra adjusted his cloak.
Lyra: "You've grown taller."
Celsius smiled faintly.
Celsius: "Only on the outside."
Duke Magnus approached.
No blade.
No aura.
Just a father.
Magnus: "The academy is no longer a school."
Magnus: "It's a battlefield."
Celsius nodded.
Celsius: "Then I'll treat it as one."
Magnus placed a sealed letter into his hand.
Magnus: "If your life is in danger… break it."
Celsius felt the weight of it.
Celsius: "I won't run again."
Magnus did not reply.
He stepped aside.
The gates opened.
Scene 2: Shadows on the Road
Location: Blackthorn Pass
The carriage moved through narrow cliffs.
Celsius closed his eyes.
Eridiaries: "Three presences."
The air twisted.
Steel flashed.
Bandits—or assassins.
Celsius stepped out calmly.
Shadow slid beneath his feet.
Celsius: "You chose the wrong heir."
One step.
The world folded.
When the dust settled, bodies lay unconscious.
One crawled back in terror.
Assassin: "M-monster…"
Celsius turned away.
Scene 3: Return to the Academy
Argent Blade Academy rose like a fortress.
Banners of many houses flew.
Whispers followed him instantly.
"That's him…"
"The shadow heir…"
Selene stood near the gate.
She met his gaze.
Selene: "You came back."
Celsius: "I never left."
Scene 4: New Rules
Location: Assembly Arena
Archmage Aurelion addressed the students.
Aurelion: "Due to recent events—"
Aurelion: "Academy hierarchy will be revised."
Ranks glowed in the air.
Celsius's name appeared—
Class A — Special Authority
Gasps.
Student: "That's impossible…!"
Aurelion's gaze met his.
Aurelion: "Survive."
Scene 5: The Night Moves
Location: Academy Underground
A shadowy figure knelt.
Night Leader: "The heir has returned."
A cold voice answered.
???: "Begin Phase One."
Red runes ignited.
Scene 6: Resolution
That night, Celsius stood on the academy roof.
Moonlight reflected off shadow.
Celsius (thought): They'll come.
Eridiaries: "And you will welcome them."
Celsius smiled—just slightly.
Celsius: "This time, I'm ready."