Chapter 63 – The Heir of Magic
The land beyond the Argent Vale was cloaked in perpetual mist, where the stars bent oddly, and the winds whispered forgotten spells. Here, the laws of aura faded, and the will of magic reigned. This was the threshold of the Magistery.
Jean rode beneath towering rune-trees that glowed with sapphire script. Whitney trotted silently at her side, his white fur catching starlight, eyes scanning every flicker of motion.
They were watched.
Jean could feel it—eyes woven from arcane lenses, shadows tethered by scrying glyphs.
"They're not hiding their surveillance," Whitney growled.
"No. They want me to know I'm vulnerable here," Jean said.
At the heart of the silver grove, an ancient spire rose—a floating citadel known as Virellas Arx, the seat of the Magus Family. Floating above a vast abyss of broken sky, it shimmered with impossible geometry.
A bridge of floating platforms formed beneath her as she approached—each step unlocking a warded seal.
Jean didn't flinch.
She reached the gate.
And there, waiting for her, was a boy barely older than her—cloaked in indigo robes woven with starlight. A staff floated at his back, and arcane symbols hovered around his fingers like lazy comets.
He was beautiful, unreadable, and terrifying.
"Jean Luther," he said. "Emissary of Light. Welcome to the Arx."
She raised her head. "And you are?"
He bowed.
"Lucien Magus," he said. "Heir of the Magistery. Sage-rank. Bloodline of the First Archmage. And possibly... your last hope."
Whitney growled low. Jean's hand twitched near Luxclade.
"You know why I'm here," she said.
Lucien gave a soft smile, but his eyes gleamed like a storm barely contained.
"I know what you are. I've watched the skies tremble since you claimed Severra's second shard. You've stirred more than Antares, Luther. You've awakened old debts between gods."
He walked closer.
"And yet… you come here, unescorted, to ask for help. That takes either foolishness—" he stopped inches from her "—or power."
Jean didn't flinch. "I offer alliance. Your mages. My knights. Magic and Aura. Together against Antares."
Lucien studied her. Then, with a flick of his fingers, the floating citadel opened to her. Lights danced across bridges of glass and wind.
"Come," he said. "But know this, Jean Luther—if we agree, you bind our fates. And the last time our bloodlines walked side by side… the world nearly ended."
Jean entered the Magistery.
Unknowing that Lucien had already seen the threads of fate.
And that in one possible future… he would be the one to kill her.
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