The morning after Lucy's recovery, the mansion was alive with quiet joy. Servants moved with renewed energy, and the once somber air of grief had turned light with laughter and relief. Word spread quickly — Lady Lucy had awakened.
Sam, however, remained reserved. He stood quietly by the window of his guest room, watching the sunlight spill over the distant rooftops of Lavatorian. The warmth of the rays didn't quite reach his heart.
Because deep inside, something else had awakened.
He could still feel traces of Lucy's divine essence mixing with his darkness — two opposite forces now coexisting within him. His pendant, once faintly red, now glimmered with streaks of gold, as if acknowledging this strange balance.
Light to hide the dark… he thought. Maybe that's the only way I'll survive here.
A soft knock came at the door.
"Enter," Sam said.
The door opened gently, and Lucy stepped in, still pale but smiling faintly. She was dressed in a soft white gown, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders.
"I wanted to thank you," she said softly, her voice carrying a warmth that filled the room. "Mother told me everything… I owe you my life."
Sam looked at her, unsure how to respond. "You don't owe me anything," he said quietly. "I just did what needed to be done."
Lucy tilted her head, studying him. "When I was unconscious… I saw something," she murmured. "A place filled with endless shadows, and a figure standing in the middle of them. You were there."
Sam froze. "Me?"
She nodded slowly. "Your eyes were glowing like the night sky, and yet… there was light around you too. It felt… familiar. Almost comforting."
Sam forced a small smile, trying to mask the unease building inside. "Maybe it was just a dream," he said, turning away. "You were sick for a long time. Sometimes the mind plays tricks."
Lucy looked as if she wanted to say more, but then Alice's voice echoed faintly from the hall, calling her back. She hesitated for a moment, then gave Sam a soft nod and left.
When the door closed, Sam exhaled deeply, rubbing his temples.Even she felt it… that connection.
Before he could think further, another knock came — this one firmer, more composed.
"Come in," he said again.
Arvane entered, his posture as regal as ever, though his expression was softer than before. The Duke's deep eyes studied Sam for a moment before he spoke.
"Walk with me," Arvane said.
Sam followed him through the mansion's polished corridors until they reached a large, oak-paneled study filled with old maps, books, and relics. The scent of ink and parchment hung thick in the air.
Arvane gestured for Sam to sit. "You must have questions," he began. "About yesterday… about Lucy."
"I'm just glad she's alive," Sam replied simply.
Arvane smiled faintly. "You remind me of someone I once knew — humble, quiet, but carrying something heavy inside." He poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Sam. "You saved my daughter. That alone makes you someone this household will never forget."
Sam looked down. "Anyone would have done the same."
Arvane chuckled softly. "You said the same thing yesterday — and you were lying then too."
Sam blinked, unsure how to respond.
The Duke leaned forward slightly, his tone serious now. "Sam, I've lived long enough to recognize power when I see it. You are not ordinary. You hid it well, but during Lucy's healing… I saw glimpses of something I've never encountered before. Shadows that didn't destroy, but protected."
Sam's heart raced. "I—"
Arvane raised a hand, stopping him. "Don't worry. I'm not here to pry. Everyone carries their own secrets. But I believe fate doesn't send people into our lives by accident."
The Duke stood and walked toward his desk. From one of the drawers, he retrieved a sealed parchment bearing the Lavatorian crest — a phoenix entwined with a sword.
He turned back and handed it to Sam.
"What's this?" Sam asked.
"A letter of recommendation," Arvane said. "For the Lavatorian Academy. With this, you'll be allowed to enter without question or background checks. I've already sent word to the Headmaster."
Sam stared at the parchment, stunned. "But why? I'm just—"
Arvane smiled. "You're not 'just' anything. You're a young man who risked his life to save others. And perhaps… someone destined for far greater things than even you realize."
Sam hesitated, his hand trembling slightly as he accepted the letter. "Thank you, Duke Arvane. I don't know how to repay this."
"You already have," Arvane replied warmly. "By giving my daughter another chance at life."
He walked to the window, looking out over the shining rooftops of Lavatorian. "The Academy will be the first step on your journey, Sam. There, you'll meet people from every corner of the kingdo allies, rivals, and perhaps even those who'll see what you truly are. Whatever path you walk, remember… strength means little without purpose."
Sam nodded silently, clutching the letter to his chest.
As he left the study, the Duke watched him go, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. Alice entered quietly from the side door, her gaze following Sam's retreating figure.
"You were right," she said softly. "He's no ordinary boy."
Arvane's eyes glimmered faintly. "No… and that's exactly what worries me."
Outside, the wind swept through the gardens, carrying the scent of morning dew and distant bells from the city square. Sam stepped into the sunlight, unaware that the gift he held in his hands was more than a recommendation — it was a key.
A key that would open the gates to his next trial…and the first chapter of the destiny he could no longer escape.
That evening, the Arvane estate shimmered with life and celebration. Lanterns hung like stars above the gardens, the air filled with laughter, music, and the scent of blooming lilies. The great Duke's mansion, once shrouded in quiet sorrow, now radiated joy.
Lavatorian's most powerful nobles, scholars, and adventurers gathered to honor a single miracle — the recovery of Lady Lucy Arvane. Servants moved gracefully among the guests, pouring golden wine and serving fragrant dishes that gleamed beneath crystal chandeliers.
At the center of it all, Duke Arvane stood proudly, his hand resting gently on Lucy's shoulder. "My friends," he declared, his voice carrying over the crowd, "tonight we celebrate not only my daughter's recovery, but the courage of the young man who made it possible!"
All eyes turned as Sam stepped forward.
He wasn't dressed in noble finery — only a simple dark tunic gifted by Alice — yet in that moment, he stood taller than anyone there. Whispers rippled through the hall, admiration and curiosity blending together.
"So young…" someone murmured."And to lift a divine curse? Impossible…" another whispered.
Sam bowed politely, his expression calm, though his heart beat heavily beneath his chest. He wasn't used to being the center of attention. He felt their gazes — intrigued, judging, and yet… respectful.
Arvane smiled proudly. "Everyone, I give you Sam, the boy who saved not just my daughter… but my family."
Applause erupted, glasses clinked, and music swelled again. Lucy smiled shyly at him from beside her father. Sam returned a small nod, trying to relax as the nobles began to approach with their endless questions.
It was sometime later, when the night sky had deepened and stars began to twinkle over the marble courtyard, that Sam felt it — a heavy, commanding aura entering the hall. It wasn't visible, but its pressure rolled through the room like thunder.
The crowd parted instinctively as a tall, silver-haired man entered. His deep blue eyes glowed faintly under the torchlight, and his presence demanded reverence without a single word.
"Headmaster Gary," whispered one of the guests, bowing low.
Even Arvane's expression grew solemn as he stepped forward to greet the man. "It's an honor, Headmaster. Your presence humbles this house."
Gary smiled faintly, his voice calm but powerful. "How could I not come, Duke Arvane? To see the miracle child of Lavatorian returned to life is no small event."
His gaze shifted then — sharp, deliberate — and found Sam.
The moment their eyes met, Sam felt a surge of energy rush through him. Gary's aura was immense, ancient even — deeper than any power Sam had sensed before. It wasn't just strength; it was the weight of centuries, of wisdom carved through battle and knowledge.
Gary approached, his footsteps echoing in the hall. "So, you are the boy who defied a divine curse."
Sam bowed slightly. "I only did what I could."
The headmaster chuckled softly, though his eyes never lost their piercing focus. "Modest, I see. Tell me, boy… what is it you seek? Fame? Power? Wealth? Recognition?"
Sam met his gaze steadily. "None of those."
"Oh?" Gary tilted his head. "Then what drives you?"
"I want to learn," Sam replied, his tone calm yet carrying weight. "About the ancient times — the forgotten civilizations, the forbidden powers, and the secrets buried in history. I want to understand what the world has tried to erase."
For a moment, silence hung between them. The soft music and laughter of the party seemed distant, muted under the tension between the two.
Then Gary's lips curved into a faint smile. "You speak like a scholar, yet I sense the spirit of a warrior in you. A rare combination."
Sam didn't respond.
Gary turned slightly toward Arvane, then back to Sam. "You wish to study such things? Then you'll find no better place than Lavatorian Academy. But access to those archives — the ones that hold truths about forbidden powers — is not freely given."
Sam frowned slightly. "What do I have to do?"
Gary's eyes gleamed faintly with challenge. "Earn it."
He turned, his cloak sweeping behind him like a wisp of night. "Every three years, the Academy holds a contest among its finest — a battle of intellect, skill, and magic. Only the top three earn access to the Hall of Veiled Truths, the archive that holds knowledge lost to time."
Sam's heartbeat quickened. The Hall of Veiled Truths… could that be where my answers lie?
Gary continued, his voice echoing like a prophecy. "The contest is called The Celestian Trials. It tests not only power but heart, wisdom, and one's control over their inner force. Many have entered; few have endured."
Sam's eyes gleamed faintly, determination hardening within them. "Then I'll enter… and I'll win."
Gary smiled, impressed by his resolve. "Good. You'll need more than determination, boy — you'll need to face what's inside you. The shadows you hide and the light you pretend to understand."
For a heartbeat, Sam thought Gary could see through him — into the darkness he kept buried. His chest tightened, but he stood his ground.
Arvane placed a reassuring hand on Sam's shoulder. "You have my support, Sam. Whatever your reason for seeking knowledge, know that Lavatorian stands behind you."
Gary gave one final nod. "Then it's settled. Tomorrow, you'll report to the Academy. The Trials will begin soon… and with them, your true journey."
He turned and left, the air seemingly lighter after his departure, yet the weight of his words lingered.
As the music resumed and nobles raised their glasses once more, Sam stood near the balcony, looking out at the glowing city. The moonlight bathed him in silver, his pendant faintly pulsing against his chest.
"The Celestian Trials…" he whispered. "If that's what it takes to uncover the truth… then so be it."
Unseen by him, the shadows beneath his feet shifted, rippling like dark water — as if something ancient had just awakened, answering his resolve with a whisper from beyond:
Then your test begins, Child of Shadows.