I knocked on the door twice, and waited a few seconds. Each second felt like an eternity, but eventually I heard my father's voice call out to me: "Come in."
After a quick prayer to Agrai, I pushed open the doors and walked in. I made sure to remain respectful, but I couldn't help but let my eyes wander all over the office. I'd only been in there a handful of times, and each time I was left in awe by how special it felt.
Sitting at the end of the room was an oak desk with unlit candles atop it, piles of paper and legal documents that my father must have just signed. Just behind the desk, on the wall, was a large window that overlooked the estate and the vast lands we owned, giving a grand view that my bedroom window couldn't compare to.
On the left and right side of the room were bookshelves that reached the ceiling, filled with - you guessed it - books. The books on the bottom shelves were tall and large, while the ones at the top were smaller and more numerous. I caught a few titles: A History of The Solomon Family I, The Many Species of Solomon County IV, A History of Magic Experimentation II, etc.
After a quick scan of the room, I turned my gaze towards father. He stood to my right, with his back to me as he put a book back onto one of the many shelves. He was dressed in a dark red tunic, with black trousers and brown boots, and a decorated belt around his waist. His black hair was swept back, and I could see his neatly trimmed black beard from the side.
I didn't speak, and instead stood silently as father ran a finger down the spine of the book he had just put back before turning towards to me. "Do you know why I treat these books with so much respect?" He asked.
I could see his eyes clearly now. They were cold and crimson in colour, like those of a devil. His face showed that he was in his early sixties, and he wore a frown that unsettled me. I gulped, and considered.
"Because they've been passed down for generations?" I responded, unsure.
He let out a long sigh, and I tensed. "No. Just because something is old, does not mean it's deserving of respect. I treat these books as I do because they are useful- they have taught me, and I have learnt a lot from them over my lifetime. They have added to my knowledge, and helped make me who I am today."
I nodded my head, not sure where he was leading with this. Father often liked to play pointless games like this, and I just had to go along with them.
Silently, he made his way to behind his desk and looked through the window, out towards the estate.
"Everyone in this family has had their use some way or another. Your brother, Arcturus, helped fight off the invaders in the east. Your sister, Elizabeth, married into the Imperial Family and helped us gain more influence. Even your sister Beatrice, who refused to marry, discovered a new herb that had rare medicinal properties. Your younger siblings also show promise in becoming knights or mages, and will surely make our family proud in the future. Now, that begs the question, what have you done for us?"
My heart skipped a beat, as father turned around and gazed at me with those cold red eyes of his. I felt as if I had a lump in the back of my throat, and looked down towards the ground.
"Perhaps I'll rephrase that question. What will you do for us?" He asked.
I didn't know how to respond. I looked back towards him, and our eyes met. "I… I'll become a mage," I managed to squeak out.
"A mage?" He asked, and raised a brow. "Perhaps. Perhaps you'll scrape by and pass the Imperial Exam. But to do that, you'd need the blessing of god. Do you have that?"
His questions were condescending, and his tone made me feel immense shame. I was left speechless, hanging my head in what felt like a futile attempt to apologise. After a few moments of silence, I heard him snort, and then walk towards me.
"I'm sure you understand the meaning behind my words by now. You're failing this family, and I'll only give you one last chance. Pass the Imperial Exam and become a mage. Quite simple, is it not? And if you don't, then even Agrai won't be able to save you. Do you understand?"
I gulped, and nodded my head meekly.
"The Imperial Exam is in roughly three years. So it should take place when you're eighteen. You may hire teachers, or you may choose to attend the Imperial College. As long as you make this family proud, I don't care what you do to pass the exam. Just don't make me regret this."
I left father's office with my head bowed low. As I heard the double doors close behind me, I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. However, I knew I couldn't relax yet. He had given me another chance, and I had no other choice but to take it. Father cared only about results. If I didn't achieve anything, then I was as good as dead to him.
I thought about his words: 'Even Agrai won't be able to save you'. I knew exactly what he meant. He was going to have me killed. Therefor, the only way for me to survive was to pass Imperial Exam and become a mage.
As I prepared to leave, I glanced at that skull painting once more. I recognised it from somewhere, but I wasn't quite sure where. Unable to put my finger on it, I eventually shrugged it off and made my way back to my bedroom in order to focus on what to do next.
My only option was to become a mage, but that was easier said than done. I knew my limits better than anyone else, and magic was simply a no go for me. I could barely form even the simplest of spell - passing the imperial exam was nothing but a pipe dream. Perhaps I'd have a better chance on the theoretical side of things, but the practical side was plain impossible. My death was sealed if I followed the path of a mage.
I thought about my other options. I could run away from home and make up a new identity. Or I could beg father to let me join the military instead, that way I'd be of some worth. But on second thought, joining the military was a big ordeal, and I didn't feel like being treated as some cannon fodder on the eastern fields. I ruled that option out.
There wasn't much else I could do- in layman's terms, I was fucked.
The day went quickly. Morning became evening, evening turned to night. I ate my meals, did my lessons, and eventually returned back to my room to make a final decision. I had to do something.
So, I spent the rest of the night writing down ideas - many of which were nonsensical or useless. I was stuck, with no clue how to proceed or what to do next. I'd met a dead end, and, after much consideration, decided to sleep on it. Perhaps in the morning I'd come up with something that could save my life. Of course, I knew the chances of this were slim, but before I knew it I was sleeping soundly once more.
And sure enough, the answer came to me. Not in the morning, but during my sleep, for my dream showed me the way. As I walked along the corridors, my feet dragged me towards that familiar yet distant skull painting. I reached out, and pressed a button on its frame, revealing a hidden compartment within the wall behind it.
And within that compartment was an old, leather-bound book. I reached out, grabbed it, turned to the first page, and began to read.