Chapter Twenty-Seven — The Duke's Investigation
Location:
Valerius Imperial Academy – Grand Council Hall
Time: The following morning
The Grand Council Hall had not been opened in decades.
Its massive doors creaked as elders, instructors, and Valerius officials took their seats along a circular stone table carved with ancient oaths.
At the highest seat sat Duke Magnus Valerius.
His presence alone silenced the room.
Celsius stood at the center of the hall.
Unbound.
Unbowed.
Scene 1 — The Questioning
Magnus' voice echoed.
Magnus: "Explain what happened beneath the academy."
Celsius met his father's gaze.
Celsius: "I discovered a sealed chamber predating the academy. It contained a relic bound by Valerius chains."
Murmurs spread.
Elder Thane: "Impossible. All pre-imperial artifacts were catalogued."
Celsius: "Then your records lie."
The elder bristled.
Magnus raised a hand.
Magnus: "Continue."
Celsius: "The relic was not Valerius-made. It reacted to my bloodline and awakened."
Magnus' fingers tightened slightly.
Scene 2 — A Brother's Testimony
Darius was brought in.
Restrained by suppressor runes.
He glared at Celsius.
Darius: "He used forbidden power."
Celsius: "So did you."
Gasps.
Darius snarled.
Darius: "You're accusing me?"
Celsius stepped closer.
Celsius: "You damaged my body when I was ten."
Silence.
Lyra's breath caught.
Magnus' eyes widened—just for a moment.
Magnus: "…Is this true?"
Darius said nothing.
That was answer enough.
Scene 3 — The Father's Conflict
Magnus stood.
The pressure of his aura rolled through the hall.
Magnus: "House Valerius was founded on strength."
He looked at Darius.
Magnus: "But not cowardice."
Darius trembled.
Magnus: "You are stripped of succession rights."
The words struck harder than any blade.
Kael, watching from the shadows, narrowed his eyes.
Magnus turned to Celsius.
Magnus: "As for you…"
The room held its breath.
Magnus: "You will be observed."
Celsius bowed slightly.
Celsius: "I expected nothing less."
Scene 4 — Strings in the Dark
Later.
High in the eastern tower.
Kael poured wine calmly.
Kael: "Darius failed."
A hooded figure knelt before him.
Kael: "Initiate Phase Two."
The figure vanished.
Kael smiled.
Kael: "Let's see how the academy handles accidents."
Scene 5 — Eridiaries' Whisper
That night.
Celsius stood alone beneath the stars.
Eridiaries: You've shaken the roots.
Celsius: "Not enough."
Eridiaries: Careful. Truth destabilizes faster than lies.
Celsius closed his eyes.
Celsius: "Then let it fall."
Far away, the academy's wards flickered.
The calm before the storm had ended.