Kaiden walked out of the palace quietly, his bag slung over his shoulder. The morning air was cool, the kind that made his breath fog a little. The sound of his boots echoed lightly on the stone path as he stepped away from the golden doors.
After his father handed him the recommendation letter, he went straight to his room, packed his things, and didn't waste any time. There wasn't anything left for him here anyway.
But as he moved down the marble steps toward the courtyard, he felt it. That stare.
Two pairs of eyes were already fixed on him.
Selene and Darius stood by one of the pillars near the entrance, both of them watching him like he was some ghost walking by. Their expressions were hard to read. Not angry. Not afraid either. Just… confused.
They had stayed awake most of the night, expecting him to run to their father and tell everything. That they stabbed him. That they left him to die in the woods like a piece of trash.
But he didn't.
Instead, here he was, walking out with a packed bag and the king's recommendation letter, heading to the academy.
Darius looked like he wanted to say something but didn't. His jaw tightened as Kaiden passed by without even looking at them.
Then, from behind the two of them, a faint voice came.
"Kaiden has decided to take matters into his own hands."
Lucien.
He stepped out from the shadows of the hallway, calm as ever. Unlike Darius and Selene, his face didn't show a bit of guilt or confusion. He looked collected, like he had already seen everything coming.
"He's going to the academy," Lucien continued, his tone steady. "He'll train, level up, become strong."
His eyes flicked from Darius to Selene.
"Then he'll avenge."
The words hit Darius hard. He felt a chill crawl up his back. Everyone knew what it meant when someone became a cultivator. Once you awakened, once you grew strong, normal people were nothing to you anymore. A cultivator could crush armies.
If Kaiden really grew into one… then they were all doomed.
Selene swallowed quietly, her lips trembling a little. "We… we have to prepare for when he comes back," she said, her voice shaky but serious.
Lucien turned his head slightly and gave a faint smile. "No," he said simply as he started walking away. "You two have to prepare for when he comes back."
Darius blinked, confused. "What about you?"
Lucien chuckled softly, not turning around. "I'll be waiting for him."
And with that, he vanished down the hallway.
Neither of them spoke again.
——
Outside the palace gates, Kaiden walked up to the stable. His horse was already saddled and ready, a dark brown stallion with sharp eyes. He ran his hand along its neck before placing his bag by the side and tightening the strap.
As he climbed onto the saddle, a voice called out from the front.
"Good morning, Prince Kaiden."
He looked up to see Sir Denn approaching with two guards behind him. The knight stopped and bowed lightly.
"The king has ordered us to escort you to the academy," he said formally.
Kaiden frowned a bit and shook his head. "That won't be necessary. I can handle myself."
Sir Denn straightened his back. "I'm afraid it's the king's order. I can't disobey."
Kaiden stared at him quietly for a moment. He knew his father too well. He smiled faintly.
"Did my father also tell you that if I reject the escort, you should let me go?"
Sir Denn's eyes twitched a little. He coughed into his fist. "Well… yes, he might have mentioned that, but still, Prince Kaiden, the road to the academy is dangerous. Bandits, beasts, and worse. It's a long trip."
"I'll be fine," Kaiden said simply, patting the side of the horse. "Besides, traveling alone will be faster."
Sir Denn hesitated, clearly torn between duty and reason. "Prince, I understand you're capable, but the king—"
Kaiden cut him off gently. "Sir Denn, if my father really wanted me escorted, he wouldn't have added that condition. He trusts me. So should you."
The knight's jaw tightened. He looked at the two guards behind him, then back at Kaiden. Finally, he sighed. "Very well, my prince. If that's what you wish. But please, at least take this."
He handed Kaiden a small metallic badge with the royal crest engraved on it. "If you're in trouble, show this. It'll help you if you run into royal guards or city patrols."
Kaiden accepted it with a nod. "Thank you."
Sir Denn stepped aside and bowed deeply. "Safe travels, Prince Kaiden. The king will be waiting for good news."
Kaiden looked toward the long dirt road stretching beyond the palace gates. The sun was still low, painting the sky with orange light.
He gave one last glance at the palace behind him before pulling the reins.
The horse neighed softly and started moving forward.