Elian barely slept that night. The words from the scroll—child of balance, betrayal, vanished—kept repeating in his mind. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw flashes of his dream: the woman struck down by the arrow, her desperate eyes, and her fading voice.
When the morning sun broke through the curtains, Kael was already snoring again, and Lyra was neatly brushing her long hair. Elian stared at the seal faintly glowing beneath his shirt, whispering to himself:
"Who… am I?"
At the Academy Grounds
The academy felt heavier that day. Students still whispered as he walked through the halls. Some bowed their heads slightly, like he was someone noble. Others pulled back as though he carried a curse.
Lyra stayed close, glaring at anyone who whispered too loudly. Kael, as usual, tried to lighten the mood with jokes, though his fists tightened when someone muttered "monster" under their breath.
But Elian's mind wasn't on the whispers. It was on Professor Aldren.
During history class, Aldren spoke about the "Great War of Magic" in his usual dry tone. But Elian noticed the way his eyes skipped over certain parts, the way his voice tightened when angels or demons were mentioned.
After class, Elian lingered behind, pretending to tidy his desk. When the room emptied, he stepped closer.
"Professor," Elian began softly, "that book yesterday… who wrote it?"
Aldren froze mid-step. His back was turned, but his shoulders stiffened. "You should not concern yourself with things far beyond your level, Elian."
"But the scroll said—"
"Forget what you saw." Aldren's voice cracked like a whip. He turned, his eyes colder than steel. "Some truths are buried for a reason. Digging them up will only bring suffering—not just for you, but for everyone around you."
The professor swept past him, robes whispering against the floor. But as he passed, Elian caught something in his expression. Not anger. Not hatred. Fear.
That evening, Elian finally told Lyra and Kael what he had seen in the library.
Lyra's violet eyes widened with interest. "The child of balance… it fits. Angel and demon blood in one body. But… is that even possible?"
Kael whistled. "Well, Elian, that would explain why monsters keep showing up around you." He grinned, though it was strained. "Guess you're more special than you look."
Elian frowned, lowering his voice. "But if that's true… why am I here? Why don't I remember anything? Who was that woman in my dream?"
Lyra gently placed her hand over his. "Then we'll find out. Together."
For the first time in days, Elian felt the heavy knot in his chest loosen.
But outside the dormitory window, hidden in the shadows, someone was watching them. A faint glint of golden armor, and a whisper carried by the wind:
"So the seal weakens at last"