Chapter 5

  Seconds stretched. The silence weighed on River. Alerus was the first to speak. “A true Primordial has appeared. Now you know why the shadows want him.”

  A slender man at the far end of the table leaned forward.

  “Power isn’t proof. Contain him or show us why we don’t need to.”

  River’s heart sank. Despite the display, the Council still regarded him with suspicion. But before he could speak, Alerus cut in again.

  “Mathew, in the name of Lady Luck, why would the boy return here? If he were truly our enemy, if he was a Primordial on their side… would he really come back?”

  That gave them pause. River scanned the faces around the table. He saw it: the shifting expressions, the subtle nods as the Council began dissecting the implications of Alerus’s words.

  The councilwoman from earlier spoke again.

  “Even if he wasn’t the cause—or our enemy,” she said, pointing a slender finger directly at River, “That power must be contained. If he’s ever corrupted, tempted, it would catastrophic.” River didn’t like the sound of that. Contained? Imprisoned?

  No. He wouldn’t let that happen. If they tried, he’d fight.

  But before he could say anything, William spoke. “If the council permits it, I will take responsibility for him. As a high-ranking noble and a mage I can stop him. If it comes to that.”

  River blinked; that wasn’t what he had expected. Would he be used as a tool from now on?

  Then William’s eyes found him—sharp, calculating, suspicious. Slowly, he removed his gloves. River hadn’t paid much attention to them before, but as William’s bare hands emerged, he saw it.

  The wards, the aura, the unmistakable depth of essence. Tier Seven, as high as Alerus. River swallowed. William wasn’t just a soldier or a father—he was powerful. Very powerful.

  Alerus turned to the other council members and said, “Please leave us; we have things to discuss.”

  River turned on his heel and slipped out into the hall beyond the auditorium. The heavy door hadn't closed before raised voices spilled through the gap. The Council was still arguing, their voices growing sharper by the second. Then the door clicked shut behind him, sealing off the noise and replacing it with the hush that haunted the school’s stone corridors.

  Silence. Then a hand touched his shoulder.

  “It’ll be all right,” Albert said. Amalia stepped up next, wrapping her arms around River without hesitation. “It’s fine. You can trust my father,” she said. Their bonded creatures waddled close behind them, echoing their humans’ actions. Tessa curled around River’s ankle, and Nymeira gently nuzzled against his shin. Even Calira gave a soft chirp from his shoulder, her warmth grounding him.

  River stood frozen a moment, words gone. What was he supposed to say? He turned. William stood just a few paces away, arms folded, expression unreadable—until it wasn’t. His face turned red… and then split into a wide grin. River blinked. That… was not the reaction he expected. Was he amused? Proud? River didn’t know. But for now, at least, he had stood up for him. That had to mean something. “Well, at least your scrawny ass is good for something.”

  River muttered, “Yeah. It seemed to do the trick.”

  Before anyone could speak again, a voice rang out through the hallway.

  “Uncle!”

  At first, River didn’t recognize it. But then he saw her, brown hair bouncing, eyes sharp and familiar. Kidrin. Before he could react, she launched herself into William’s arms. He caught her easily, spinning her once in a wide arc.

  “Hello, little one,” he said, his voice full of glee. “It’s been too long.”

  She smacked his shoulder, jumping to reach them. “I’m not that little!”

  He set her down with a grin, unconvinced. “Sure you’re not,” he said, chuckling deep in his chest. Then Kidrin turned to the others, eyes twinkling. “Still alive, I see.” River and Albert nodded, still catching up to her presence. Amalia stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug.

  “Good to see you, little one,” she said, emphasizing the words with a smirk. Kidrin groaned as her cheeks flushed. “Dammit, Amalia.” The moment lightened the mood, and they quickly filled Kidrin in on what had happened behind the closed doors. She already knew about him, which helped. She just nodded once when they finished.

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  “Heavy,” she said. Everyone nodded. Then the doors to the auditorium swung open again. Alerus appeared in the door eyes landing on Kidrin with surprise.

  “Kidrin,” he said. “I’ll find you when we’re finished.”

  She opened her mouth to respond, but Alerus cut her off with a wave. “Not now.”

  River saw the flicker of frustration cross her face, but she didn’t push it. Without a word, she turned and disappeared down the corridor.

  He steadied himself and stepped into the auditorium. A glance over his shoulder showed Albert, Amalia, William, and all three bonded creatures. Close behind him.

  Together, they must’ve looked intimidating to any outsider. The thought made River chuckle under his breath, cutting through just enough of the tension to keep his fear at manageable levels.

  As River approached the long oak table, Alerus spoke. Despite the Council's presence, it was clear that as headmaster, he still held sway.

  “While we have not reached a unanimous decision,” Alerus said, eyes scanning the others with a faint scowl, “we have agreed on a course of action. Under William’s supervision, you will be escorted to the Royal Court. Any step out of line will bring dire consequences.” His voice grew colder. “William, do you accept responsibility for the boy? … if you deem it necessary.” He didn’t blink. “Kill him.”

  River’s mind blanked.

  The room receded, sound pulling away as if he had been dropped underwater. Had he heard that right?

  River’s last moments at the school blurred past. Alerus’s order to William. Hestay veiled, grow sharp, and choose his moment.

  But for now, he felt like an animal. Dangerous if left unchecked. Something to be restrained, euthanized if it ever snapped. Before he knew it, he was seated in the carriage once more, the rhythmic clatter of hooves on stone echoing in the silence.

  Inside the carriage, relief washed over him as William spoke: “Politics first, boy. Give them what they want and they’ll leave us alone.” He blinked; the leather, the lamp, the steady drum of wheels snapped back into place. More time had passed than he’d realized. Dusk smeared the window; the sun was gone.

  Albert’s voice pulled him back. “You feeling better?” River hesitated. He didn’t feel bad, exactly, just hollow. As if his emotions had been wrung dry and left to stiffen in the quiet. So he just nodded. As full darkness fell, the carriage ground to a halt once more. Guards moved with practiced rhythm, setting up camp in perfect harmony. River moved too, but it felt like someone else’s body, his limbs heavy, disconnected. He dropped into a chair by the fire, more from habit than decision.

  As the others ate, he pulled the cube from his bag and inspected it while everyone’s attention stayed on their food. River watched as Calira danced around the bowl, pecking with gleeful urgency. A small, unbidden smile tugged at the edge of his mouth. For the first time that evening, he felt like himself again.

  At that moment, William interjected, “So, would you mind explaining how you came to be a Primordial? And what exactly it means to be one?”

  His tone was calm, but his eyes held a spark of curiosity—an emotion River had rarely seen on his face. “I thought they were extinct.” River ran a hand through his hair, trying to organize his thoughts. “Well… so did everyone else. It’s a long story.”

  William’s expression darkened. “We have time. And now that you're my responsibility, I need to know.” River hesitated. He wasn’t sure he wanted to relive it all again—but Amalia stepped in.

  “You have to explain it now,” she said.

  River nodded, then took a deep breath. This time, he told the whole truth.

  He started with Norvil. His mother. The visions from the gods. The shadow ritual. The dungeon creatures. The orb. The truth of the Bonded. Details spilled out, as William listened without interrupting. River watched his expressions shift: disbelief, suspicion, awe, confusion. By the end, William sat back, silent, his brows furrowed in thought.

  After a long pause, he spoke. “Keep the visions to yourself for now. It's never a good sign when someone starts seeing things.” River nodded. That part wasn’t surprising.

  “I’ll look into your mother, If someone that powerful was around, we should be able to find something.” River’s eyes widened. “Really? That would be… incredible. Thank you.”

  William gave a small smile and slapped his knee. “Don’t worry about what Alerus said. I won’t kill you…” he paused, grin widening. “unless you go insane.” River stared.

  River didn’t smile.

  Air thickened; the carriage lamp guttered as William’s words landed. Hooves drummed, steady as a pulse.

  A book on runes balanced on his knee, but the words wouldn’t stick. Eventually, he gave up. He snapped the book shut and set it aside.

  Calira fluttered onto his chest and curled, warm against him. He stroked her back, her steady breathing anchoring his. Clouds cloaked the stars, but sleep never came. Instead, curiosity crept in—his bag at his side still simmering with unanswered questions.

  Careful not to wake the small phoenix, he laid her gently atop the satchel. Her eyelids fluttered for a moment, then stilled; she slipped back into that enchanted trance. Quiet as breath, he imagined the book—and it appeared.

  The Line of the Primordials.

  His fingers twitched with anticipation as he cracked it open. But his heart plummeted just as quickly as it had soared. Blank pages. All of them. And with each empty sheet, new questions bloomed like thorns in his chest.

  Then, something shifted.

  The book drew from him, thin threads of energy weaving between his fingers and its cover. It pulsed, briefly, with light. And as it dimmed, words began to bloom across the parchment like ink stirred by unseen hands.

  The Line of Sylas

  Name: River

  Status: Primordial – Bonded

  Age: 17