The morning felt wrong.
Even before the bells rang across the Academy, Rivan sensed the air vibrating—uneven, restless, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
He hadn't slept.
The pulse from last night still beat inside his chest, steady as a second heart.
Every time he blinked, he caught flickers of gold beneath his skin, fading only to flare again.
He thought no one would notice.
He was wrong.
"Rivan."
Liora's voice cut through the haze. She stood framed in the doorway, sunlight washing against her silver-trimmed uniform. Her hair shimmered faintly in the light, and a tight line of worry tugged at her brow.
"The Headmistress wants you. Now."
He hesitated. "Why?"
"She didn't say. But… I think it's because of last night."
That made his stomach tighten.
Did they see something?
Did someone follow him to the observatory?
They walked in silence through long corridors of glass and rune-lit stone. Students turned to stare; whispers followed him like shadows. The air itself felt charged—lights flickered, faint sparks of energy dancing along the walls. Even the engraved floor runes pulsed subtly in response to him.
By the time they reached the central training hall, the Headmistress was already there, her posture sharp as a blade. Deep violet robes hugged her shoulders, lined with runes that shimmered faintly.
Her eyes, usually composed and measured, lingered on him a moment too long—an almost imperceptible widening of the pupils, a tightness in her jaw.
"Mr. Rivan," she said, voice smooth but with a weight beneath it. "You performed well in your earlier evaluations. Today we'll test your control over raw mana response."
Control.
He almost laughed. He could barely contain it.
She gestured toward a circle of hovering crystals.
"Channel your energy through the conduits. Maintain stability as long as possible."
He forced a breath. The hum beneath his ribs answered instantly—too eager, too alive.
Light spilled from his palms, weaving through the conduits. For a heartbeat it was perfect—balanced, precise.
Then something shifted.
"It's not their test… it's mine."
The whisper slid through his mind.
A surge followed—violent, golden, unstoppable.
Crystals shattered, the hall exploding in light. Mana tore through the air like a storm, leaving a faint metallic tang in his nose.
Students screamed, stumbling back. Instructors cast protective barriers, their robes whipping in the shockwave.
Only Liora didn't move. She stood frozen, eyes wide, lips parting in a whisper, as if she wanted to warn him but couldn't.
When the brilliance faded, silence fell.
The air reeked of burned mana; the floor was scorched.
And Rivan stood in the center—unharmed, trembling, threads of gold still flickering beneath his skin before fading away.
The Headmistress stepped forward, her voice tighter now. "Rivan… what did you just do?"
For a moment, she looked almost afraid—a flash of uncertainty across her otherwise controlled expression. Her hands clenched slightly at her sides before she forced composure.
He looked down at his hands, still faintly glowing. "I… don't know."
The room stayed still, filled only by the faint crackle of dissipating energy.
He turned toward the shattered mirror on the wall—its fractured surface caught pieces of his reflection.
Dozens of eyes stared back, all golden, all his.
For a moment, he didn't recognize the face at all.
His voice came out low, unsteady.
"…Who am I becoming?"
The glow beneath his skin dimmed, retreating until only his heartbeat remained.
When the others left, Liora lingered in the ruined hall.
She crouched where the mana had scorched the floor, fingertips brushing the faint golden residue still pulsing there.
"You shouldn't exist…" she whispered, voice trembling with a mixture of fear and awe. "And yet… you do."
Her reflection wavered in the broken crystal beside her—eyes uncertain, almost afraid.
Outside, the morning bells rang again, but she didn't move.
Something inside her had shifted too.
That night, sleep came for Rivan like drowning.
He stood once more beneath twin moons, the sky burning gold. Towers crumbled in the distance, their shadows reaching toward him.
The same faceless figure appeared beside him, cloaked in starlight. Its voice, faintly echoing, carried a weight he couldn't place.
"The seal is breaking… Arion. You cannot run from what you are."
Rivan reached toward it—then light consumed everything.
He jolted awake, heart hammering, breath ragged.
The dorm walls glowed faintly with golden veins, pulsing in rhythm with his pulse.
He wasn't sure if he'd woken from the dream… or into it.
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Author's Note:
Hey readers!
Chapter 9 finally lets Rivan face the consequences of his growing power… and we're only scratching the surface. That golden surge wasn't just a test—it was a warning.
Did you catch the whispers calling him "Arion"? That's a hint of what's coming, and trust me, it's going to get far more dangerous.
Also, Liora's quiet moment in the hall… notice how she reacts. Her feelings might be subtle, but they'll matter later.
If you're feeling the tension, the mystery, or even just Rivan's struggle to understand himself, don't forget to hit save. Chapters like this are just the beginning — things are about to get even more intense.
Stay tuned… the Starborn's story is only unfolding.
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