Calen's smirk haunted me long after he disappeared into the shadows.
I knew what that expression meant.
He wouldn't remain silent.
By morning, the whispers had begun again servants scurrying about with wide eyes, murmuring that the "useless young master" had been seen dabbling in strange powers.
Exactly what Calen wanted.
When I stepped into the training yard later that day, the jeers were already waiting.
"Young Master Erian, did you finally learn a parlor trick?"
"Careful, or he'll faint just from walking too much."
Laughter rang, sharp and cruel.
I kept walking, head high. Let them laugh. Soon, they would choke on their own words.
But one pair of eyes was different.
At the edge of the yard, Aster Caelum leaned casually against a stone pillar, arms crossed, watching everything. His silver gaze pierced straight through the noise.
My steps faltered. Why was he here?
Before I could approach, Calen strode forward, voice loud enough for all to hear.
"Little brother," he drawled, lips curling, "rumor says you've finally awakened something in that empty shell of a body. Is that true?"
The yard hushed instantly. Dozens of eyes fixed on me.
If I admitted it, they'd mock me. If I denied it, Calen would twist it.
Either way, he had me cornered.
I forced a calm smile. "Why don't you test me and find out?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
The useless young master, challenging Calen the Duke's second son, a prodigy with a blazing Star Core? Madness.
Calen's smirk widened. "Gladly."
He raised his hand, golden flames sparking to life. His Star Core blazed like the sun, drawing cheers from the onlookers.
I steadied myself. My own star flickered faintly in my chest, fragile compared to his brilliance. But it was mine.
Calen struck first, flames arcing through the air like a whip.
I dodged barely in time, heat searing past my cheek. My heart pounded, not just from fear but exhilaration.
For the first time, I wasn't running. I was fighting back.
But before I could retaliate, a cold voice cut through the air.
"Enough."
The flames sputtered out instantly, as though the world itself obeyed.
Aster had stepped forward, his gaze like winter steel. "The Trials are near. Wasting energy on meaningless fights… is beneath you."
His eyes flicked briefly toward me.
Warning.
Or… protection?
Calen grit his teeth, bowing stiffly. "As you command, Your Highness."
He turned away, but not before his gaze met mine. His smirk promised that this was far from over.
I exhaled shakily, my body trembling with restrained energy.
When I glanced at Aster again, his eyes lingered on me longer than they should have.
Cold. Calculating. And yet something else I couldn't name.
"Do not falter," he said lowly, so only I could hear. "If you fall in the Trials, not even I will save you again."
His words should have chilled me.
Instead, my chest burned.
Not from fear.
But from the strange, dangerous spark he left behin