Chapter 9: What Woke Up with Him
Lucien awoke to the sound of breathing.
It was slow, measured, steady—close enough that he could feel the warmth of it against his skin. His eyelids felt impossibly heavy, as though sleep itself clung to him, reluctant to let go.
Pain pulsed faintly at his temple.
He slowly opened his eyes.
Soft golden light filtered through tall windows, illuminating white stone walls etched with protective sigils. The scent of herbs and clean linen filled the air.
The academy infirmary.
Lucien tried to move—and froze.
Something moved *with* him.
A hand tightened around his.
"Don't," a voice said quickly. "You're awake—but not completely healed.
Lucien turned his head slowly.
Princess Elowen sat beside the bed.
Her posture was rigid, as if she had not moved for hours. Shadows lingered beneath her eyes, but her gaze was sharp, painfully alert.
"You fainted," she said quietly. "In the examination hall."
Fragments rushed back.Chains screaming.Light breaking.An eye opening.
Lucien inhaled sharply, his heartbeat spiking.
Elowen felt it immediately. " she said. "You're safe."
Lucien swallowed. "That is for now. "
A corner of her mouth twitched despite herself.
"How long?" he asked.
"Two days," she replied.
His eyes widened slightly. "Two?"
"You scared half the academy into prayer," she added. "And the other half into silence."
Lucien closed his eyes briefly.
*Two days,* the whisper echoed faintly.
He felt it then.something was *settled*.
Like a presence that had found a place to rest.
He opened his eyes again. "They didn't take me."
Elowen's grip tightened. "They tried."
Lucien looked at her sharply.
"The Church of the Veiled Night demanded custody," she continued. "They called you a catastrophic anomaly."
"That's flattering," he muttered.
"I refused," Elowen said.
Lucien went still. "You… refused?"
"I am the Crown Princess," she said calmly. "They forget that sometimes."
Before he could respond, the door opened.
Selene Ashcroft stepped inside, holding a stack of notes—and promptly dropped them when she saw Lucien awake.
"You're alive," she blurted out.
Lucien blinked. "Good morning to you too."
Selene rushed forward, stopping just short of the bed. Her eyes darted over him, searching for wounds.
"You broke a divine examination," she said. "Do you have any idea how rare that is?"
Elowen sighed. "Selene."
"Sorry. Sorry," Selene said quickly. Then, more softly, "I was worried."
Lucien looked away. "I'm sorry."
She frowned. "For what?"
"For proving you right."
A heavy silence followed.
Selene swallowed. "The Church sealed the hall," she said. "They're rewriting reports. Pretending nothing happened.
Lucien exhaled slowly.
"Of course they are."
---
Elsewhere, beneath layers of warded stone and consecrated sigils, Inspector Halbrecht stood alone in the sealed chamber.
The shattered remains of the examination sigil lay before him, cracks still faintly glowing.
He knelt, pressing gloved fingers against the stone.
It was warm and alive.
"Two anchors remain," he murmured.
A shadow shifted behind him.
Inquisitor Darius leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "You're calm for a man who just watched a god blink."
Halbrecht stood. "That was not a god."
Darius smirked. "Whatever helps you sleep."
Halbrecht turned to face him. "The boy cannot be taken."
Darius's smile faded. "That wasn't your decision to make."
"The Crown stands between us," Halbrecht replied. "And if we push now, we fracture the kingdom."
Darius's eyes glittered. "Or purify it."
Halbrecht said nothing.
---
Back in the infirmary, Lucien finally sat up.
The movement felt… wrong.
He flexed his fingers.
Symbols flickered briefly across his vision—faint outlines of runes beneath the surface of reality itself.
Lucien froze.
"You see it too, don't you?" Elowen asked quietly.
He looked at her.
"You've always seen it," she continued. "Haven't you?"
Lucien hesitated, then nodded.
"It's stronger now," he said. "Clearer."
Selene frowned. "Stronger how?"
Lucien searched for words. "Like the world is… layered. And someone peeled one back."
A chill ran through the room.
Elowen rose to her feet. "Then we don't have time."
"For what?" Selene asked.
"For pretending this is just an academy problem," Elowen replied.
Lucien met her gaze.
"What woke up beneath the academy," she said, "has chosen you."
The whisper stirred.
Lucien closed his eyes.
And for the first time since transmigrating into this world, he understood something with terrifying clarity.
The seal had not only killed the original owner of this body. But it also awaken in him.
And this time
It was awake.