2025-11-26 23:56:29
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Chapter 162
Sleep didn't last.Draven woke before dawn, restless. The estate was still dark. Still quiet. Everyone else asleep.He dressed and slipped out of his room. Needed air. Needed space. Needed to be anywhere but inside these walls.The grounds were empty at this hour. Just guards at their posts, barely glancing at him as he passed. The disappointment wandering around. Nothing to worry about.Draven walked without direction. Past the training grounds. Past the gardens. Past the stables.He ended up at the edge of the property. A section he'd never explored as a child. Dense trees blocking the view.A path led through them. Overgrown but visible.Draven followed it.The trees opened into a clearing he didn't recognize. Old stone markers rose from the ground. Dozens of them. Rows and rows stretching into the morning mist.A burial ground.Draven stopped at the entrance. Read the inscription on the nearest marker.Corporal Aldwin Marsh. Died in service to the crown. Third Battalion.The next
Chapter 161
Draven couldn't sleep.The cuts from Daniel's daggers had stopped bleeding, but they still throbbed. Small reminders of the public humiliation.He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, mind drifting back.Back to who he used to be.The estate was quiet. Middle of the night. Nothing but his own thoughts for company.And his thoughts were cruel.He remembered being seven years old. Standing in this same training ground where Daniel had just cut him apart. Holding a wooden sword that felt too heavy. Watching his brothers swing theirs with ease.Garrett had been fifteen then. Already better than most adults. Fire magic came to him like breathing.Marcus was thirteen. Lightning crackling at his fingertips. Natural talent that made instructors shake their heads in disbelief.Thomas was eleven. Moving earth before he could properly read.And Draven? Seven years old with shaking hands and no magic at all."Try again," their father had said. Cold. Disappointed already.Draven had tried. Reached
Chapter 160
Lunch was worse than breakfast.The family gathered in the main dining hall. Well, not entire. Father was still occupied with whatever military matters consumed his time. But everyone else was there.Thomas sat at one end. Marcus at the other. And across from Draven, Daniel had arrived.Fourth brother. Wind mage. Number two on the Wall of Recognition.He looked every bit the prodigy. Sharp eyes. Confident posture. The kind of presence that drew attention without trying."So you're the famous disappointment," Daniel said, not even waiting for introductions. "I've heard stories.""I'm sure you have.""Thomas says you've grown a spine. Marcus says you're still slow." Daniel smiled. It didn't reach his eyes. "I want to see for myself.""Not interested.""Wasn't asking." Daniel set down his fork. "After lunch. The main training ground. You and me. Let's see what two years at the academy taught you.""I already sparred with Marcus this morning.""Marcus went easy on you. I won't."Draven lo
Chapter 159
Morning came with the sound of horses.Draven woke to hooves on cobblestone, voices in the courtyard below. He crossed to the window and looked down.A military convoy had arrived. Wagons loaded with equipment. Soldiers in engineer corps uniforms. And at the front, dismounting from a grey stallion, was Thomas.Third brother. Earth mage. Military engineer.He looked exactly as Draven remembered. Broad shoulders. Practical clothes. Hair cropped short. Everything about him screamed efficiency.Thomas barked orders at the soldiers, directing them where to store the equipment. His voice carried up to the window. Sharp. Commanding.Then he looked up.Their eyes met.Thomas's expression didn't change. Just a flat acknowledgment. Then he turned away and continued directing his men.No wave. No smile. Nothing.Expected.Draven dressed and headed downstairs. Might as well get this over with.The main hall was busy with servants preparing for the gathering. More decorations had gone up overnight
Chapter 158
Draven walked most of the journey. Could've hired a carriage, but he wanted the time. Time to think. Time to prepare. Time to remember who he was before he stepped back into the place he'd left behind.His team had gone ahead to a town nearby. Close enough to reach if things went wrong. Far enough to stay out of sight.The journey was uneventful. No fairies in ancient forests. No mercenaries on the road. Just quiet travel through farmland and villages.Normal.Almost boring.By the third afternoon, the estate appeared on the horizon.The Ashworth manor sat on a hill, surrounded by stone walls and guard towers. The family banner flew above the main gate. Even from a distance, the place looked impressive.And cold.Draven stopped at the base of the hill. Looked up at the walls he'd grown up behind.Nothing had changed. Same stone. Same towers. Same feeling of being watched before you even entered.He started walking.The guards at the gate recognized him immediately. Straightened. Salut
Chapter 157
The healers insisted Draven stay in bed for the rest of the day.He didn't argue.After the assembly announcement about Commander Ashworth's visit, Master Vex had personally escorted him to the infirmary. No debate. No discussion."Two days unconscious isn't normal," Vex said. "You rest. That's an order."So Draven rested.The infirmary was quiet. Clean white walls. Soft beds. The smell of herbs and healing magic. A few other students occupied beds across the room, but they were either sleeping or too focused on their own recovery to pay attention to him.Draven lay back and stared at the ceiling.His body felt weak. Heavy. Like he really had been training with weights for weeks instead of dreaming about it.The prophetic vision had drained him. Pulled him so deep into the future that his mind and body needed time to recover.A healer checked on him every hour. Asked questions. Examined him with diagnostic spells. Each time, she frowned slightly but said nothing was physically wrong.
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