The air shifted before they even walked in.
The clamor of reporters and guild recruiters cut off mid-sentence, like someone had ripped the sound right out of the room. A heavy, commanding pressure rolled over the crowd, not mana exactly, but the weight of presence, the kind that made you stand straighter without realizing it.
Then the doors to the testing hall opened.
First came the Imperial Army, their uniforms crisp and gleaming, the gold trim on their coats catching the light. At their head was a man with steel-grey hair and eyes like sharpened blades, his rank insignia gleaming against his chestplate.
Behind them, in staggered formation, came the representatives of the Three Duke Houses, pillars of power second only to the imperial family itself.
From the Stormwell House, a tall man in storm-blue formal wear with silver embroidery that shimmered like lightning. His presence carried the quiet threat of a brewing tempest.
From the Ashthorne House, a woman dressed in deep green and black, a silver thorn-shaped brooch pinned to her collar. Her gaze was calculating, like she could see straight through a person's lies.
From the Nightveil House, a pale-skinned figure in rich crimson, their expression unreadable beneath the half-mask they wore. Whispers of assassination mastery followed that name everywhere.
The crowd didn't just back off; they cleared out. Paths formed instantly, leaving nothing but silence and the faint echo of boots on polished stone.
All of them were here for one reason.
Us.
The four of them stepped forward, and the crowd backed away without needing to be told.
Commander Rhaegis Vorn from the Imperial Army looked the two of us over with a firm, appraising stare.
"The Army will train you properly," he said. "Weapons, tactics, real combat. You'll be part of something bigger than yourselves, and if you're good, you can climb the ranks fast."
Adrian Stormwell gave an easy smile, hands in his pockets like he had all the time in the world.
"House Stormwell plays to win. You'll get the best instructors, top-tier gear, and the kind of political pull that keeps doors open. We care about results, not where you came from."
Lady Elara Ashthorne's gaze was sharp, her tone clipped but confident.
"Ashthorne invests in talent. We'll give you resources, influence, and a serious boost to your reputation. All we expect is that you deliver—and keep delivering."
Lord Kaelen Nightveil spoke last, his voice calm, almost casual.
"Nightveil's not for everyone. We handle the things other people can't or won't touch. You'll learn to work in the shadows, and you'll be paid well for it. We look after our own."
It wasn't hard to tell; they were all competing for us, even if they kept it polite.
The room was so quiet I could hear the shuffle of someone's boots across the marble floor. The four of them waited for our answer like wolves pretending not to be hungry.
"We'll go with House Stormwell," I said, meeting Adrian Stormwell's eyes.
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Good choice."
Lyra shot me a quick glance, but didn't say anything. Adrian motioned toward a side hallway, and we followed him past the stares of the crowd into a private room furnished with a round table, three chairs, and a tea set that looked too expensive to drink from.
"Alright," he said, closing the door behind us. "Let's talk details. I don't believe in signing people without making sure we're on the same page."
The faint noise of the guild hall faded away, replaced by the quiet hum of the room's mana wards.
---
Adrian poured himself a cup of tea before even sitting down, like he had all the time in the world.
"Stormwell doesn't waste resources," he began. "You'll train under our instructors, live on our estate, and represent us in the academy rankings. In exchange, you follow orders and don't take Stormwell's name lightly."
I leaned back in my chair. "Sounds fine… but I've got some conditions of my own."
His brow arched, amused. "Go on."
"First, protection for my younger brother, Anakin. Full, no-questions-asked. Second, good living conditions not just for me and Lyra but also for him. Third, a monthly allowance. Enough to make sure we don't have to scrape by like before."
Adrian studied me over the rim of his cup, then set it down with a quiet clink.
"You negotiate like someone who knows his worth. I like that."
Adrian's lips curled into the faintest smirk. "Done." No hesitation, no bargaining, just like that. "Stormwell protects its own, and you two will be no exception."
He stood, smoothing the front of his coat. "You'll be taken to the Stormwell estate tomorrow morning. I suggest you head home tonight and get your things in order."
Before we could say anything else, he glanced toward the door and gestured. A young woman with sharp eyes and a neat ponytail stepped in.
"This is Elara. She'll be your assistant from now on. If you need something, you tell her. She'll make sure you're ready for the move."
Elara gave a crisp nod. "It's a pleasure to meet you both."
I met Lyra's gaze. We'd come in as just two more faces in the crowd; now we were walking out as Stormwell's newest recruits.
---
Elara led us out of the association building and into a sleek black hover-car, enchanted, from the way the mana faintly hummed through its frame. The streets of Solara slid past as we rode in silence, the events of the day still sinking in.
When we finally stopped in front of our modest little house at the edge of the central district, Elara turned in her seat and handed each of us a small, engraved card.
"That's my direct number," she said. "If you need anything, supplies, information, or transport. I'm available at all hours. Don't hesitate."
Lyra nodded politely, while I tucked the card into my pocket. Elara's gaze lingered on us a moment longer, as if assessing something, then she gave a short nod and pulled away, the hover-car vanishing down the street.
The house felt quieter than usual when we stepped inside. Tomorrow, everything would change.
---
Lyra shut the door behind us and leaned against it, arms crossed.
"So… why Stormwell?" she asked, one brow arched. "You barely hesitated."
I shrugged, kicking off my boots. " It's because Adrian's going to be attending Ironwill with us this year. Having a duke's son on our side from day one? That's not something you pass up."
She tilted her head, taking in the information
What she didn't know was that was only half the reason; the other half was that he's the protagonist.
Without another word, I raised my hand. A faint shimmer of mana sparked in the air, and my status window unfolded before me like a page written in light.
[Status Window]
Name: Zane Blessborne
Age: 17
Rank: E (Apprentice)(0%)
Soul Integrity: 71%
Oath Capacity: Three Lesser Oaths or One Greater Oath
Active Oaths: Oath of the Watchful Circle
Passive Oaths: Equilibrium Eternal
Soul Forge Access: [Unlocked]
Affinity: Time, Space
Bloodline: Locked
Attributes
Strength: 100
Agility: 100
Endurance: 100
Perception: 100
Willpower: 100
Luck: changes from time to time
—
Unique Skill:Oathsmith's Authority
Titles:
-Anomaly
-The Twin Blessed by Time
Oaths
-Equilibrium Eternal
-Oath of the Watchful Circle
---
Lyra glanced at me as I closed my status window, the faint shimmer fading from my eyes.
"You were looking at your stats again," she said. "So? What affinities did you get?"
"Space and time," I said, like it was no big deal. "This just makes getting into the academy that much better, after all, the vice principal is the only time mage alive, except me, of course."
Her eyes widened. "Wait… space and time? That's exactly what I got."
I froze, blinking at her. "You're kidding."
She shook her head slowly, a grin tugging at her lips. "Nope. Space and time."
For a second, we just stared at each other, the weight of what that meant sinking in. Then I let out a low whistle. "Well… that's either insanely lucky or insanely dangerous."
She smirked. "Either way, the academy's not ready for us."
The creak of a door made both of us turn. Anakin shuffled into the room, rubbing his eyes, his hair sticking up in every direction.
"Why are you two so loud? It's the middle of the night," he mumbled.
"Middle of the night? It's barely past ten," I said with a grin.
Lyra patted the seat next to her. "Come here, we need to tell you something."
Still half-asleep, he dropped into the chair. "This better be important."
"It is," I said, leaning forward. "We're leaving tomorrow. Both of us are joining House Stormwell. They'll be moving us to their estate, and you're coming with us."
That woke him up instantly. "Wait what? For real?"
"Yeah," Lyra confirmed, smiling. "It's a good thing, Ani. Better home, better protection, better everything."
He blinked at us a few times, then slowly broke into a grin. "…Guess I should start packing."