While everyone was congratulating and cheering for Chast, his eyes scanned the room, searching for his mentor—Zayn, the one who had helped him the most.
He spotted Zayn sitting on his chair, calmly watching the crowd.
"Boss!" Chast called out, waving excitedly.
Zayn simply nodded, crossing one leg over the other.
Chast jogged toward him, his grin wide and bright.
"I did it!" he announced, his voice a mix of pride and joy.
"You did great," Zayn replied with a faint smirk, his gaze shifting to the glowing sigil on Chast's palm.
Chast noticed where Zayn was looking. He raised his hand, waving it proudly to show the mark.
"Do you know this too?" he asked eagerly. "He said it's tied to my bloodline and that it's proof I'm the chosen."
He spoke with unguarded excitement, unaware of the weight carried by his words—like a child sharing his happiest secret.
Zayn froze inwardly. It wasn't the mention of Chast's bloodline that startled him—it was the word chosen.
The chosen one from the prophecy? He thought, looking at Chast.
But he quickly composed himself and smiled.
"Do you know what that means?" Zayn asked, his voice calm but his eyes sharp.
Chast shook his head, biting his lip. "All I know is about this mark." He pointed at the letter V embedded on his palm.
A flicker of realization crossed Zayn's eyes. Did he find out?
Zayn's heartbeat quickened, anticipation rising as he waited for the answer.
"V stands for your bloodline — the thread that binds you to your lineage. Soon, it shall come to light. When the truth awakens, the real you will ignite... and at last, unite with the mark of V." Chast repeated what his double said before he vanish. "That what I was told." He added.
Zayn raised an eyebrow as the words slowly sank in. He cackled inwardly, shaking his head. Oh boy... there's still a long way to go for him.
"So, did you figure it out?" he asked, his voice calm and his expression back to its usual nonchalant state.
"The answer's obvious." Chast pointed at the letter V on his palm. "Valkiery—" He paused, a puzzled grin spreading across his face. "Or... maybe not."
Zayn narrowed his eyes, studying him closely, as if trying to read the boy's thoughts.
Zayn's chest tightened. That grin... it reminded him too much of someone else... someone that he knew very well.
Chast met his gaze head-on, the air thick with tension. Neither spoke, neither moved just the steady rhythm of unspoken words hanging between them.
"Oh my, what do we have here? A staring contest?" Professor Valkiery teased as she and the other professors approached.
Chast was the first to break their gaze. He turned toward his professors, smiling awkwardly.
"You did a great job, kid!" Professor Morrwynn said cheerfully, giving him a firm pat on the back.
"Thank you, Professor Morrwynn." Chast smiled sheepishly, feeling his face flush with warmth before bowing his head.
Professor Morrwynn chuckled and gently pulled him upright. "That's not necessary," she said. "Stand tall."
Professor Vrynth crossed his arms, his lips curling into an amused smile. "That was quick, boy. It's like you skipped Level One and jumped straight to Level Two." His tone was filled with awe. This was something he hadn't seen happen in the Academy before.
Chast chuckled sheepishly, his face flushing an even deeper red. The compliments were eating him alive. He wasn't used to them—he'd rather hear people call him defective.
"Chast!" a voice called.
He smirked inwardly. His cue to escape. He turned toward the sound and spotted Luke waving from across the room.
"I gotta go! My friend's calling me," he excused himself quickly. Before leaving, he glanced back at Zayn and smiled, then jogged off to meet Luke halfway.
"Let's go!" Chast said, tugging Luke's arm. They jogged toward the door.
"You guys looked like you were having fun back there," Luke teased, stealing a quick glance at the professors, who were still busy chatting.
Shit, I still need to report!
Chast hissed. "Not really," he replied curtly.
"You should go first," Luke said, stopping in his tracks. "I still have to do something."
Chast furrowed his brows. "Okay," he said. He wanted to ask more but decided to drop it—escaping the professors mattered more right now.
Luke headed back while Chast continued walking down the corridor.
When he'd gone far enough, he noticed Nico and Sean standing beside a massive framed portrait.
"Who are they?" Chast asked as he approached, eyes locked on the photograph. It showed seven figures smiling brightly—and among them, he recognized only three: his mother, Zayn, and Professor Sylverynth.
"The High Celestials," Sean answered, gazing at the picture.
Chast nodded slowly, his eyes lingering on his mother's image. She was smiling—a smile he'd never seen before. There was something about it, something warm yet unfamiliar.
Nico glanced at Chast, following his gaze toward Chastlyn Valkiery. "Isn't she lovely?" he said with a grin.
"Yeah," Chast replied softly.
Just looking at the photo made him feel something—an invisible thread tugging at his chest. He felt connected, almost anchored, and an ache of longing bloomed deep within him.
I need to go. I miss my mom.
It had been two days since he last saw her. Maybe... maybe that's why her smile hit him so hard.
But no matter how eager he was to leave, his feet refused to move—like they were glued to the floor.
Something held him there, unseen but strong.
His eyes remained fixed on Chastlyn's image, drawn to it as though it was silently calling to him.
"Your mom was one of the best students here in Valvrynth," Sean said, stepping closer beside him.
"She's quite strong, eh?" Chast chuckled softly, pride flickering in his tone.
"I heard she was a badass Celestial!" Nico exclaimed, clearly fascinated by the stories he'd heard.
Chast laughed, shaking his head. "She is a badass mom," he corrected. All his life, his mother had been strict and terrifying at times—but sweet, too, in her own way.
"But why doesn't your mom remember anything? What happened to her?"
They turned to see Luke approaching from behind, waving casually. "Yo," he greeted, joining their group.
"What do you mean?" Chast asked, brows furrowing.
Luke glanced at the portrait, then back at Chast. "She lost her memories, right?"
Chast shrugged, his gaze returning to his mother's photo. "I have no idea." He wasn't lying. He'd never once thought that parts of his mother's memory were missing.
"Your mom disappeared once," Sean said quietly, his voice hesitant. "And when she came back, she had you... but no memory of Labrynthia."
"What happened in the mortal world?" Nico pressed, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
Chast forced a small smile. "We're a family of three... and we're happy," he said simply. He didn't know what else to tell them. There wasn't anything special to share. They just lived like ordinary humans.
"She married into a Burthry," Luke added suddenly.
Nico and Sean froze, exchanging startled looks as they unconsciously stepped back from Chast.
Chast frowned. "What?" he asked, confusion tightening in his chest.
This wasn't the first time people had reacted strangely to that name.
What's with Burthry that I don't know?
Is it... something bad?
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
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