The car hovered smoothly over the spotless road, leaving behind the cracked sidewalks and rusting rooftops of the central district. At first, the change was subtle; buildings stood straighter, glass windows unbroken, the faint scent of flowers drifting in through the cracked window. But before long, it was impossible to ignore. The air here felt cleaner, sharper, like it belonged to a different world entirely. Even the people looked different tailored suits, polished boots, eyes that barely flicked toward our passing car.
And then I saw it.
The Stormwell estate rose in the distance like a fortress carved for giants. Its walls were a seamless blend of dark steel and silver stone, catching the sunlight in sharp, blinding flashes. Banners bearing the Stormwell crest snapped in the wind, each one large enough to cover a house back home. Rows of uniformed guards stood at perfect attention along the massive gates, their armor so polished it almost hurt to look at.
It was beautiful, yes, but not the kind of beauty that comforted you. This was beauty meant to remind you who held power here.
As we drew closer, I found myself sitting a little straighter, unsure if it was respect… or instinct.
The car rolled to a smooth stop at the base of the gates. Without a word, they swung open, revealing a pristine courtyard lined with perfectly trimmed hedges and glistening fountains. The driver eased forward, tires crunching softly against the pale stone driveway until we came to a halt at the grand entrance.
Two attendants stepped forward immediately, opening the doors before we could even reach for the handles. Their movements were so precise that it almost felt robotic.
We were ushered inside, the air instantly cooler, scented faintly with cedar and something sharper, maybe ozone. The interior was just as intimidating as the exterior: high ceilings with black marble pillars streaked in silver, walls lined with storm-gray banners, and chandeliers that looked like frozen lightning suspended mid-strike.
Anakin's eyes were wide as he took it all in, and before he could even start asking questions, a tall, uniformed woman appeared. She introduced herself as a house attendant and guided him away to his room, promising that it had already been prepared for him. He glanced back at us briefly, still half in disbelief, before disappearing down the corridor.
Lyra and I, on the other hand, weren't given a tour. We were led straight down a long hall, the click of our footsteps echoing off the marble, until the massive double doors at the end swung inward.
And there he was, Duke Adam Stormwell, waiting for us.
---
The double doors closed behind us with a muted thud, sealing the room in an almost oppressive silence. Duke Adam Stormwell stood near a wide window, his posture as sharp as the tailored lines of his dark coat. His blue eyes, colder than the marble under our feet, moved from me to Lyra with the kind of precision that felt like he was measuring us in his head.
"Welcome," he said flatly, the word carrying no warmth. "I don't waste time with pleasantries, so I'll be brief."
He stepped forward, hands clasped neatly behind his back. "You'll be staying here in the estate for a few days. After that, you'll move into a penthouse close to the grounds."
Lyra tilted her head slightly. "Why move us out so soon?"
"Because the estate is for Stormwell blood and direct retainers," Adam replied without hesitation. "You are neither."
The answer was blunt, but he didn't give her time to respond. "Every day, you will arrive at the estate by nine in the morning. You will train until seven in the evening. After that, your time is your own."
I leaned back in my chair slightly. "And if we're late?"
His gaze fixed on me, unblinking. "You won't be."
The silence that followed felt heavier than lead.
"Everything related to your martial growth, equipment, resources, and regimens will be provided. You will follow your combat instructor's orders without question."
"And if we do have questions?" I asked.
Adrian's lips curved, not into a smile, but something closer to a razor's edge. "You ask them after you've done as instructed."
He didn't wait for agreement. He simply moved toward his desk and added,
"Training begins tomorrow. Don't make me regret investing in you."
Duke Adam's gaze lingered on us for a moment longer, as if committing every detail to memory. Then, without ceremony, he reached for the small brass bell on his desk and rang it once.
A moment later, the door opened and Elara stepped inside, her expression as calm and professional as ever.
"Elara," Adam said, voice clipped. "Guide them to their rooms. They'll be staying here until the penthouse is prepared."
"Understood, my lord," she replied with a short bow.
He turned his attention back to a stack of documents on his desk, already dismissing us without another word.
Elara gestured toward the door. "Follow me."
As we stepped out into the hall, the air felt lighter, though not by much. The corridors were long, lined with oil paintings and lit by soft golden sconces.
Standing near a door was Anakin, waiting for us to arrive
"I'll take you to your rooms," Elara said, glancing at Anakin with a faint smile. "Yours first, little one."
Anakin trailed behind her quietly, clearly still trying to take in the size of the place. Lyra and I exchanged a glance, neither of us speaking, but both knowing the real work would start tomorrow.
---
When Elara finally left me at the door to my room, I stepped inside and let out a low whistle. It wasn't overly extravagant, at least not compared to what I imagined a noble estate's rooms would look like, but it was leagues better than the broken bed and cramped space I used to have.
I tossed my backpack onto the chair by the desk and flopped onto the bed, letting the soft mattress swallow me for a moment. After a long breath, I pulled out my phone.
The first thing that popped up when I opened my feed made me freeze.
"Twin SSS Potentials Found in Central Solara – Who Are They?"
"Mysterious Siblings Rock the Awakeners Association."
"Speculations Rise About Their Elemental Affinities."
Every other post was the same: pictures of me and Lyra from the awakening test, clips from the crowd, and threads of people trying to guess our abilities. Lightning? Water? Fate? Some even claimed we were secretly royalty.
I scrolled through it all with a mix of curiosity and irritation. Fame wasn't exactly on my to-do list, but it looked like I didn't have much of a choice now.
At least the rumors wouldn't last forever. Once the academy's entrance exam came around, and Lyra and I went all out, everyone would know exactly what we could do. No more guessing. No more wild theories. Just facts, cold, undeniable facts. And that would cause even more of a commotion than this. After all, who would think that both us twins would have the rearest affinities.
---
Lyra Blessborne
My room was just down the hall from Zane's, though I could tell from the faint creak of his door opening earlier that he'd already disappeared inside.
When I stepped in, I froze.
The place looked like something out of a fairy tale. Tall windows draped in deep blue curtains, a bed so large it could fit three of me, and a wardrobe that could probably swallow my entire old apartment. Everything was spotless, warm, and way too nice for someone who'd been living off tips and monster parts a few days ago.
I let myself drop onto the bed, the mattress hugging me like it had been waiting my whole life. A laugh slipped out before I could stop it.
Then my phone buzzed.
The notifications were endless. Messages from numbers I didn't recognize, followed by links to articles plastered with my face.
"SSS Rank Potential! Black-haired, violet-eyed siblings shake the Awakeners Association!".
Video clips of the test were already everywhere. The comment sections were full of strangers arguing over my supposed affinities and origin. None of them had a clue.
I tossed the phone onto the blankets and stared up at the ornate ceiling. Two months until the academy entrance exams. Two months of training here under the Stormwells. Two months of being trained by God knows who.
I sighed and closed my eyes.
"These are gonna be two long months."