Later that evening, the halls of House Aldreth were bathed in the soft glow of enchanted lanterns. Servants moved swiftly, tending to their duties in silence. Yet, beneath the surface of the estate’s grandeur, tension simmered.
Sylas sat on the balcony of his mother’s chambers, staring out at the sprawling capital city. Even at night, the city pulsed with life. Beyond the estate’s walls, nobles schemed, merchants bartered, and cultivators pursued power.
A soft rustle of silk announced Lady Evelyne’s arrival. She stepped beside him, gazing at the city with a thoughtful expression.
“Are you disappointed?” she asked quietly.
Sylas knew what she meant.
“Disappointment is for those who expect fairness.”
A wry smile touched her lips. “Spoken like a true Aldreth.”
They stood in silence for a while.
Then, Evelyne spoke again. “You should know… Rael was tested against one of the family guards today.”
Sylas’s fingers tightened slightly on the railing. “I assume his test was grand.”
His mother chuckled. “Of course. Your father was most pleased.”
Sylas said nothing.
Rael Aldreth. The golden son of House Aldreth. At only eleven, he was already on the path of greatness, a prodigy unlike any other. Duke Varian’s pride and joy.
Rael was everything Sylas was not—strong, favored, and allowed to participate in the trials.
The door to the chamber opened, and a figure strode in without hesitation.
Rael Aldreth.
Tall for his age, with sharp golden eyes and the unmistakable presence of a warrior, Rael moved with the confidence of someone who had never known failure. He cast a brief glance at Lady Evelyne before focusing on Sylas.
“So,” Rael said, smirking. “Still hiding behind mother’s skirts?”
Sylas turned, meeting his brother’s gaze with quiet indifference. “And you’re still desperate for an audience.”
Rael’s smirk faltered for just a moment before he chuckled. “Always the sharp tongue.”
He stepped closer, looking Sylas up and down. “It’s a shame, really. You could have been more if you weren’t so… weak.”
Evelyne’s expression darkened. “Mind your words, Rael.”
Rael ignored her. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a near whisper.
“The trials will decide the true heirs of House Aldreth. When all the noble houses witness my strength, when father finally acknowledges me as the future of House Aldreth… where will that leave you?”
Sylas’s lips curled into the faintest smirk. “At peace, I imagine. With far fewer expectations.”
Rael’s laughter was low and mocking as he stepped back. “Come watch the trials, little brother. You might finally learn what real power looks like.”
With that, he disappeared down the hall, his presence like a fading ember.
Evelyne sighed. “He enjoys provoking you.”
Sylas sat back down. “He enjoys winning.”
His mother watched him for a long moment before speaking. “You were right earlier. This world isn’t fair. But even the overlooked can carve their place in it.”
Sylas glanced at her, intrigued by the rare sharpness in her tone.
“Your father may have forbidden you from the trials,” Evelyne continued. “But that does not mean you cannot grow.”
Sylas raised an eyebrow. “Are you suggesting something, Mother?”
She smiled faintly. “Only that power comes in many forms.”
As the night stretched on, Sylas remained on the balcony, considering her words.
Power came in many forms.
And it was time he found his own.