Marcus's POV
I watched Cassian Thorne stretch his hand toward Kieran Ashford, and something twisted in my gut.
The golden-haired hero stood there like a god come to earth. Divine marks glowed faintly on his skin. Everyone in the courtyard had stopped to stare. Of course they did. Cassian was blessed by the goddess herself.
And he was offering friendship to Kieran Ashford.
The shadow mage who'd barely arrived at the Academy an hour ago.
"Let's be friends," Cassian repeated, his smile warm and sincere.
Kieran stood frozen. His face had gone pale. Behind him, that merchant boy—Adrian something—looked absolutely frightened.
I knew I should feel happy for them. Meeting the picked hero was an honor.
But all I felt was sick jealousy burning in my chest.
I'd worked so hard to get into this Academy. Trained every single day since I was eight years old. My family wasn't rich or noble. We had nothing except my magic skill. Everything I had, I'd earned through blood and sweat.
And what did Kieran Ashford have? A noble name. A strong family. Shadow magic that everyone talked about in awe.
He didn't have to work for anything. It was all just... given to him.
Now even Cassian Thorne wanted to be his friend.
"Marcus Kane?"
I jerked my head up. Cassian was looking at me now. Those golden eyes locked onto mine, and my heart jumped into my throat.
"You're Marcus Kane, right?" Cassian asked. "Top of last year's combat rankings?"
My mouth went dry. "Y-yes."
"I've been hoping to meet you." Cassian walked over, leaving Kieran standing confused behind him. "I've heard great things about your skills."
Pride burst in my chest, washing away the jealousy. The blessed hero knew my name. Knew about my scores.
"Thank you," I managed to say.
"I'm forming a party for dungeon expeditions," Cassian added. His hand landed on my shoulder, warm and heavy. "The best kids. People I can trust. Would you be interested in joining?"
My brain stopped working.
Cassian Thorne wanted me in his hero party.
Me. Marcus Kane. The scholarship student with no family name and no special gift.
"Yes!" The word burst out before I could think. "I mean—yes, I'd be honored."
Cassian's smile widened. "Excellent. I knew you were the right choice. Come, let me introduce you to the others."
He led me away from the courtyard. Away from Kieran Ashford and his mystery merchant friend. As we walked, other students muttered and pointed. At me. Because I was walking with Cassian Thorne.
For the first time in my life, I felt important.
"Tell me about yourself," Cassian said as we entered a quiet study room. Three other students waited inside—all second and third years, all from wealthy families. "Your combat instructor said you have excellent instincts."
I talked, and Cassian listened like every word mattered. He asked about my skills, my goals, my training methods. The other party members nodded approvingly.
This was everything I'd ever wanted.
"There's something I need to tell all of you," Cassian said after a while. His face turned serious. "Something important about our mission as heroes."
We all leaned forward.
"The kingdom faces threats most people don't see," Cassian stated. "Dark magic users who want to destroy our way of life. People who question the goddess's wisdom. They hide among us, claiming to be normal students."
My stomach clenched. "Like who?"
"I can't name names yet. Not without proof." Cassian's eyes flickered toward the window—toward where Kieran had been standing earlier. "But I need all of you to stay alert. Watch for strange behavior. Students who act strangely or ask dangerous questions about the hero system."
"We'll help," one of the other students promised instantly.
Cassian smiled. "I knew I could count on you. Together, we'll protect the country from those who'd harm it."
The meeting finished with plans for our first training session. I walked out feeling ten feet tall.
But then I saw Kieran again.
He stood in an empty hallway, talking quietly with Adrian. Their heads were close together. Adrian grabbed Kieran's arm frantically.
"You can't trust her," Adrian hissed. "She's dangerous—"
"I didn't have a choice," Kieran interrupted. "She called me. What was I supposed to do?"
"You could have—"
They both stopped talking when they noticed me watching.
An awkward silence fell.
"Sorry," I said, though I wasn't sure why I was apologizing. "Didn't mean to interrupt."
"It's fine," Kieran said. But his eyes were sharp, calculating. Like he was measuring me for something.
Adrian just looked afraid.
I should have walked away. Should have gone to my college room.
Instead, I asked: "Are you two okay? You seem... stressed."
"We're fine," Adrian said quickly. Too quickly.
Kieran studied me for a long moment. Then: "Marcus Kane, right? Top combat scores last year?"
"That's me." I tried to sound proud, but it came out guarded.
"Cassian recruited you for his party?"
"Yes. Just now, actually." The pride came back. "He said I was perfect for it."
Something flashed across Kieran's face. Sadness? Pity? It was gone before I could identify it.
"Be careful with him," Kieran said quietly.
My pride turned to anger. "Excuse me?"
"I just mean—Cassian's lucky. Chosen. People like that..." Kieran trailed off. "Never mind. Forget I said anything."
"Are you jealous?" The words came out harsh. "Because he picked me first instead of you?"
"What? No, I—"
"You nobles are all the same," I snapped. "You think everything should be given to you. Well, I earned my spot in his party. Through hard work, not a family name."
Kieran's face shuttered closed. "You're right. I'm sorry. That was out of line."
He walked away, Adrian following behind him like a protective shadow.
I stood there, fists clenched, trying to figure out why I felt guilty instead of successful.
That night, I couldn't sleep.
Kieran's warning kept ringing in my head. Be careful with him.
Careful of what? Cassian was the lucky hero. The goddess's picked. What could possibly be dangerous about him?
Unless... Unless Kieran was one of those dark magic users Cassian worried about. Shadow magicians had always been suspicious. Maybe Kieran wanted to turn me against the hero because he planned something terrible.
That had to be it.
I rolled over, determined to forget the whole talk.
Then I heard voices outside my room window.
I sat up, looking through the glass.
Two people stood in the courtyard below. The moonlight made them easy to recognize: Cassian and someone in High Priestess Lyanna's clothes.
They spoke too quietly for me to hear words, but their body language was clear. Cassian was reporting something. The priestess listened, then gave him a small object that glowed with sickly green light.
"Make sure he doesn't discover the truth too soon," the priestess's voice drifted up. "Let the shadow mage think he's smart. Let him research. It will make destroying him so much sweeter."
My blood turned to ice.
Cassian nodded. "What about Marcus Kane? He's loyal but not stupid. If Ashford gets to him first—"
"Then eliminate Kane too," Lyanna said casually. "He's replaceable. The Ashford boy is the real threat. Him and that trader Vale who seems to know far too much."
They walked away, leaving me frozen at the window.
My hands shook.
Cassian—the blessed hero, the goddess's chosen, my new friend—had just agreed to kill me if necessary.
Like I was nothing.
Like my life meant nothing.
And he'd called Kieran the real threat. But Kieran had tried to warn me. Had looked at me with pity.
Because he already knew.
Somehow, Kieran Ashford knew exactly what kind of person Cassian really was.
And I'd just joined the monster's party.
I backed away from the window, my mind racing.
What do I do? Who do I trust? If I told anyone what I heard, would they believe me over the lucky hero?
A knock heard at my door.
I jumped, heart beating.
"Marcus?" Cassian's warm voice called from the other side. "Are you awake? I wanted to give you something—a welcome gift for joining the party."
He was here. Right outside my door.
And I'd just overheard him agree to kill me if I became inconvenient.
The handle started to turn.
I hadn't locked it.