Edward left the library with an uncharacteristic heaviness. The elven fairy's refusal still lingered in his mind those eyes have returned words that refused to leave him. Failing to grasp the knowledge he sought, he convened the council once more.
Inside the grand council hall, voices clashed and tempers rose. Some nobles demanded Azriel be restrained, fearing what his eyes might mean. Others argued he was the rightful heir, a prodigy, and must not be chained by suspicion. The council split divided, uncertain, and unsettled.
Edward, seated upon the high throne, listened in silence until the chamber rang with disorder. Then, his voice cut through the noise like steel drawn from its sheath.
"Enough. Whether curse or blessing, speculation serves nothing. Azriel will attend Astralis Academy. If he is a curse, the academy will reveal it. If he is a blessing" his eyes swept across the silent faces, "then let the world bear witness."
The chamber fell still. None dared contest his word further. The decision was final.
---
Later that evening, Catelyn walked down the quiet corridor to Azriel's room. Though not his birth mother, her heart saw no difference. To her, he was her child, as precious as any of her own.
She knocked softly before entering. Azriel was seated near the window, the moonlight tracing his features. When he turned to her, a small shift in his gaze softened his sharp presence.
"Mother," he greeted.
She returned a warm smile. "Azriel."
For a moment, they simply looked at one another, the silence gentle rather than heavy. She moved closer, her voice calm. "I wanted to see you. After today's council, I thought you might… need someone to talk to."
"I'm fine," he said, his tone steady, not dismissive but certain.
"That's good," she nodded softly, though her eyes betrayed her worry. "The council's decision has been made. In a week, you'll be leaving for Astralis Academy."
Azriel leaned back slightly. "So it's decided, then."
"Yes." She drew in a quiet breath. "And I want you to be careful when you go. People will watch you more closely than ever. Some will fear you, others will try to win your trust, and some may pretend to care only to use you. Promise me you won't place your faith in the wrong people."
He tilted his head faintly, crimson eyes meeting hers. "You think I can't tell?"
Catelyn chuckled under her breath. "Even the cleverest can be deceived when the heart is involved. Just… remember that."
Azriel gave a small nod. "I will."
Her hand reached out, gently brushing his hair, a gesture she hadn't abandoned even as he grew. "No matter what they say… you are my son. Nothing will ever change that. Not your eyes. Not your power. Nothing."
For the first time in a long while, his gaze softened fully, the sharpness in him quieting under her words. He said nothing, but the silence itself was an answer.
Catelyn smiled, though her heart was heavy, and rose to her feet. "Rest well, Azriel. The world may see you however it chooses… but to me, you'll always be just Azriel."
With that, she left, closing the door behind her.
---
Alone again, Azriel sat on his chair, one leg crossed, his cheek resting lightly on his hand. He thought of how quickly things had shifted: once hailed as the next Frost Monarch, now treated as something unknown, something dangerous.
His lips curved into the faintest of smirks.
"Astralis Academy… this will be interesting."
His crimson eyes gleamed faintly in the moonlight as thoughts curled within him.
Once, they called me a prodigy, the heir to power, the future Frost Monarch. Now? They whisper that I'm a threat. No perhaps even a burden. Who knows what they truly think… but one thing is certain.
They do not wish me well.
And with that, the boy who was no ordinary heir leaned back into the shadows, the night outside strangely silent, as though the world itself was holding its breath for what was to come.
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Edward Stark's office was quiet, the late evening sun spilling through the tall arched windows, bathing the chamber in a golden glow. Azriel pushed the heavy doors open, his steps calm and deliberate.
Inside, his father stood with the familiar stoic posture behind his desk. But Azriel's crimson gaze shifted almost immediately to the figure standing at the far side of the room.
A girl.
Her long white hair cascaded down like a silver waterfall, her eyes a piercing cosmic blue that seemed to hold fragments of a night sky within them. Her form was graceful, almost ethereal, yet she stood with her head lowered, posture poised in perfect servitude. The contrast was striking beauty that could captivate, wrapped in the demeanor of a weapon waiting to be drawn.
Azriel closed the doors behind him and bowed slightly in greeting. "Father."
Edward's voice, deep and measured, carried across the room.
"I called you here, Azriel, to grant you something… no, someone. From this moment forth, she will be yours alone. A Shadow."
Azriel's gaze returned to the girl, curiosity flickering in his crimson eyes.
Edward continued, "Her loyalty is bound to you. You will be her master, her everything. You will guide her, feed her, and command her. She lives for you now her existence tied to yours."
With a subtle gesture of Edward's hand, the girl stepped forward. She walked with elegance, each step silent, until she stood directly before Azriel. Her head rose just enough for their eyes to meet, and for a brief second, he felt something strange as if the weight of galaxies hid within those cosmic irises.
Edward's tone turned formal, carrying the weight of power.
"Perform the binding."
The girl knelt before Azriel. A faint circle of mana formed beneath them, its intricate patterns glowing faintly with azure light. She placed her hand upon her chest and spoke with a clear, unwavering voice:
"I swear my oath. From this moment until death claims one of us, I am bound to you. My blade, my life, my soul all belong to you, young master. Command, and I shall obey."
The circle flared, then sank into their skin, leaving behind an invisible tether that Azriel could feel deep within his core. The bond was sealed unbreakable.
Edward watched for a brief moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without another word, he turned and left the chamber, the heavy doors closing behind him. Father and son, once again, were left in silence.
Azriel studied the girl before him. "So," he said at last, his voice calm but faintly curious, "what's your name?"
Her eyes lifted slightly, meeting his crimson ones without hesitation. "Liliana, young master."
A faint smirk touched Azriel's lips. "Liliana… a good name. But too long." His tone softened, almost casual. "I'll call you Lily."
A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, but she bowed her head again. "As you wish, young master."
With that, Azriel turned toward the door. "Come," he said simply, and together they made their way back toward his chambers the crimson-eyed boy and the shadow who now walked behind him, bound to him by fate.