The Lady of the Church had arrived, and her presence alone was enough to send his powers spiraling out of control.
"If that girl touches me, I'm done for," Jack muttered through gritted teeth, his breath coming in ragged bursts. "No one's taking me down there… She can keep her stupid blessings."
He cursed his bad luck. He was in the body of Asriel, but this wasn't the story he remembered. In the book, Asriel had been shielded by the spell of the angels, making his hidden powers undetectable even to someone as powerful as the Lady of the Church. But Jack wasn't so lucky. He hadn't locked out his magic completely. His dark powers simmered just beneath the surface, threatening to expose him at any moment.
"I'm not about to lose everything over this," he growled to himself, the sting of his earlier failures eating away at him. Jack couldn't bear the thought of being caught, not now, not when he had barely begun to understand his abilities. He could almost feel the weight of that cursed past—the taunts, the powerlessness, the ridicule. He had made a vow to himself never to live through that again.
His eyes darted around the room in a panic. Where could he hide? The heavy footsteps in the hallway grew louder, each one echoing like a death knell. His mother, Arwen, was getting closer. If she found him, she would drag him straight to the Lady for the ceremonial blessing.
"Under the bed? No, that's way too obvious," Jack thought, mentally discarding the idea. The wardrobe wasn't an option either. It was too small to hide in, and she could easily pull the doors open. His room was too spacious, too open, offering no solid hiding places.
"This is it," Jack whispered, steeling himself as he caught sight of the open window. "Guess we're doing this the hidden boyfriend way."
In a desperate move, Jack leaped toward the window just as the door clicked open. He flung himself through the frame with the speed of a cornered animal, his fingers gripping the ledge with all the strength he could muster. His heart raced as he dangled outside the castle walls, his feet scrambling to find purchase on the smooth stone surface. The cool breeze did little to ease the burning in his arms.
Inside, Arwen's voice filled the room. "And he's not here either? Asriel! Where did you run off to?" Her tone was a mix of frustration and concern.
Jack clung to the ledge, straining to stay silent. His hands trembled, and his muscles felt as though they were about to give out. He couldn't hold on much longer. 'I'm not letting anyone strip me of my magic,' he thought, his grip tightening despite the pain. 'Not now, not ever.'
Inside, Arwen flicked her wrist, casting a quick spell. A wisp of golden light swirled through the air before bursting into tiny particles that shimmered like dust. The particles gathered into a humanoid form, its translucent body mimicking the shape of Asriel. The spell was one of Arwen's specialties—an ability to replay moments from the past in a location.
The magic wisp floated for a moment, scanning the room as if searching for clues. Then, in a sudden movement, it floated toward the window.
Arwen's eyes widened as she watched the wisp drift toward the open window. "What… Did he jump out the window?" she muttered, stepping closer to the ledge in disbelief. Jack hadn't anticipated this. In the stories, Arwen was always gentle, always protective. This was not supposed to be happening.
Outside, Jack's body shook violently, his strength rapidly draining. He was small and weak, the body of a child unable to handle the strain. His vision blurred, and he could feel his hands slipping. 'I can't let go… I have to hold on… Just until she leaves…'
Desperation kicked in as he glanced upward. 'Why hasn't she left yet? She should have given up by now!' He dared to peek over the edge, just enough to see what was happening, but as soon as he lifted his head, his eyes locked with Arwen's. Her face was full of surprise and confusion.
"Oh, shit," Jack whispered under his breath.
Arwen leaned over the window, staring at her son with a mixture of bewilderment and concern. "Asriel… What are you doing out here?" she asked, her voice soft but puzzled. "Why did you jump out the window?"
Jack's mind raced for an excuse. There was no way he could explain this rationally. 'I guess I'll have to use that trick,' he thought with a sigh. As much as he hated it, there was only one way out of this—he had to play the scared child. It was humiliating, but it might be the only way to avoid suspicion.
He blinked rapidly, forcing tears to well up in his eyes, making his already bright azure eyes glisten like sapphires in the sunlight. His lower lip trembled as he looked up at his mother with pitiful eyes. "Mom… I… I was scared. I don't know who that lady is," Jack stammered, injecting as much fear and innocence into his voice as he could manage.
The effect was immediate. Arwen's expression softened, her stern gaze melting into one of concern. She sighed deeply, clearly affected by her son's tears. "Oh, sweetheart," she said gently, reaching out her hand toward him. "But you could have hurt yourself. Your father and I would never forgive ourselves if anything happened to you."
Jack's heart sank as she grabbed his arm, pulling him up from the ledge and back into the room. As much as he hated relying on manipulation, it worked. He had played the role perfectly, but inside, he was fuming. 'This isn't what I want! This isn't how it's supposed to be!' his mind screamed in frustration. But outwardly, he forced a grateful smile, keeping up the act.
Arwen smiled softly, brushing the dust off his clothes. "Come on now, let's go meet the others. There's nothing to be afraid of. The Lady of the Church is kind."
'Kind? She's going to obliterate me if she touches me,' Jack thought bitterly, but he kept his thoughts to himself, nodding silently as she led him out of the room.
As they walked through the hallway, Jack's mind raced, trying to think of a way to avoid the impending disaster. The dining hall was just ahead, and that meant facing the Lady of the Church herself. Her presence would be overwhelming, her power undeniable. Even now, he could feel the oppressive weight of her divine aura washing over the castle like a suffocating mist.
The guards at the dining hall doors stood tall, their armor gleaming in the torchlight. With a swift motion, they pulled the heavy doors open, revealing the grand room beyond. Jack's heart sank as he stepped inside. The room was filled with nobles, knights, and priests, all gathered in reverence for the arrival of the Lady.
And there she was—standing at the head of the table, her white gown glowing with an ethereal light. The veil over her face fluttered slightly as she turned toward Jack, her presence commanding and terrifying.
Jack swallowed hard, his throat dry. 'This is it,' he thought, forcing himself to keep walking. 'I can't screw this up. Not now.'
But as her gaze settled on him, a chill ran down his spine. There was no turning back now.