The academy gates loomed tall and regal, carved from shimmering obsidian and inlaid with veins of enchanted silver. A symbol of prestige. Power. And secrets.
Lucien Silver Star stood at the entrance, his silver eyes half-lidded, unreadable. Behind him stretched a trail of years carefully spent shaping minds, crafting illusions, and forging loyalty in the shadows. But ahead of him lay something new: the Crown Academy of Maurya—an institution where the children of the nobility trained not just in the arts of magic and combat, but in the politics of supremacy.
It was not simply a school. It was a crucible.
And Lucien intended to dominate it.
---
A Shift in the Game
The Sovereign System flickered in his mind, a quiet pulse accompanying his every step through the grand halls. Fresh data streamed across his vision:
[SYSTEM UPDATE: NEW TERRITORY DETECTED]
[Academy Social Mechanics Engaged]
[Influence Ranking System Activated]
Current Rank: Unknown
Reputation Points: 0
Objectives: Establish Dominance, Expand Influence, Acquire Key Assets
Lucien's smile was a flicker in the shadows. This would be fun.
---
New Prey, New Threads
As he walked through the academy courtyard, dozens of eyes found him. Some curious, some disdainful. Nobility measured worth in blood and reputation—and Lucien, the third son of a mid-tier house, was an unknown quantity to many.
Perfect.
He scanned the students, his All-Seeing Eyes flaring softly beneath his lids. Names, statistics, susceptibilities appeared beside faces.
Marcia Valemont: Daughter of a royal advisor. Smart. Isolated. Craves approval. [Corruption Susceptibility: High]
Kieran Voss: Bastard of a powerful bloodline. Aggressive. Insecure. Seeks validation through dominance. [Corruption Susceptibility: Moderate]
Ilyra Nyx: Scion of House Nyx. Talented mage. Emotionally repressed. [Corruption Susceptibility: Unknown]
So many possibilities. But one stood out.
Marcia.
She sat alone beneath an ironwood tree, face buried in an arcane tome, her aura timid yet sharp. A flower that needed only a whisper of wind to bend.
Lucien approached slowly, stepping into her peripheral vision, not speaking until she looked up.
"You read Nytherian Theorems? That's rare," he said softly.
She blinked. "You recognize them?"
Lucien offered a small smile. "I studied them in private. Most students here wouldn't understand half the first chapter."
It wasn't flattery. It was a subtle elevation. An invitation to feel seen.
[Influence Detected: Passive Affinity Triggered]
[Corruption Progress: 2% - Seeded Thoughts Stage]
The first thread had been tugged.
---
The Hidden Elite
That night, Lucien wandered the deeper halls of the academy, where few dared explore. Hidden libraries. Sealed corridors. And beneath one of them, a room protected by illusion magic older than most empires.
He cracked it with effort.
Inside, he found what he was looking for:
The Unlisted Student Files.
They detailed names not publicly enrolled, secret apprentices, children sponsored by shadow factions. The true future of Maurya's elite.
And among them, one file was marked with a red sigil:
"Sariah Ashen - House Shadowborn - Level 4 Operative in Training."
His lips curled. A spider hidden in the web. One he would tame or devour.
---
A Subtle Introduction
The next day, during Combat Arts evaluation, Lucien demonstrated only enough skill to seem competent. He allowed himself to be placed near the middle ranks.
Average. Unremarkable.
Which made it all the easier to observe the true talents.
Sariah fought with grace and lethality. She never made eye contact. But Lucien could tell she noticed him.
That night, he left a single message under her door. No name. No threats. Just a question:
"How many of your enemies know they're being watched?"
[Corruption Progress: 3% - Subconscious Recognition]
The spider had been lured to the edge of the web.
---
Academy Arc: Initiated
As the week unfolded, Lucien began shaping his place in the academy:
With Marcia, he played the confidant.
With Kieran, he provoked subtle tension, letting the boy stew in jealousy.
With Sariah, he provoked curiosity.
Each step designed not to draw attention to himself, but to push others where he wanted them to be.
And the Sovereign System approved.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Influence Network Initialized]
[Academy Ranking System Synced]
[Your Rise Has Begun]
Lucien stood alone atop the academy's eastern tower that night, the city of Ilyndor spread before him in lights and spires.
He didn't come here to learn.
He came to rule.
And the first kingdom he would take—was a school.