Zaryth drifted into sleep, but it wasn't peaceful. He found himself seated upon an obsidian throne in the middle of a dark, endless void. Surrounding him were massive, ancient clocks, their gears grinding slowly, ticking in perfect synchrony. The sound of each tick resonated through the void, as if counting down to an inevitable fate.
He tried to move, but his body remained stiff, imprisoned by some unseen force. Then, his lips began to move on their own, uttering words in a cold, unfamiliar voice.
"So… you dare to stand before the greatest Archon?"
A shadowed figure cloaked in black mist emerged from the void, its presence suffocating, as if it could crush reality itself.
"This is the fate Olympus has chosen for you," the figure whispered, each word laced with divine authority.
Zaryth's mind swirled with confusion, a strange sense of familiarity gnawing at him. Olympus… Fate? What is this? He struggled to resist, to regain control, but the void's grasp tightened. The ticking clocks echoed louder, drowning out his thoughts—until a voice shattered the darkness.
---
"Zaryth! Wake up!" Ruby's urgent voice yanked him from the dream.
He jolted upright, gasping for air, drenched in sweat. His heart pounded like a drum as he scanned the room, half-expecting to see the shadowed figure lurking in the corner.
Ruby stood at his bedside, hands on her hips, her expression a mix of concern and exasperation. "You were tossing like a madman. What's with you?"
"It was just... a dream." Zaryth ran a hand through his damp silver hair, still haunted by the vision.
Ruby raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Well, dream or not, breakfast is ready. Nico's been asking for you all morning."
---
A Warm Morning with the Silverlight Family
The Silverlight family gathered around the dining table, basking in the soft glow of the morning sun filtering through the windows. Plates clinked, laughter echoed, and conversations flowed easily between them.
Elysia teased Dorian about being too rigid in his training routine, while Nico sat beside Zaryth, looking up at him with sparkling eyes.
"You're really back, Zaryth!" Nico said, grinning from ear to ear. "I knew you'd come back stronger."
Zaryth ruffled his little brother's hair with a rare smile. "I told you I'd be a brother you could be proud of, didn't I?"
Nico nodded enthusiastically. "You kept your promise!"
Ruby grinned as she sipped her tea. "The academy won't know what hit them. Are you ready for your big return?"
"Ready as ever," Zaryth said, a glint of quiet determination in his violet eyes.
Elysia smirked knowingly. "Try not to intimidate anyone too much on your first day back, alright?"
Zaryth chuckled. If only they knew what I've become.
---
Arrival at the Academy
The walk to the academy felt surreal, with Ruby humming beside him and Nico practically skipping along. As they approached the grand gates, the buzz of student chatter slowly quieted. Heads turned, whispers spread like wildfire.
"Is that Zaryth Silverlight?" someone muttered.
"No way… He looks completely different."
Rumors about his return had already circulated—rumors of him training in a dungeon, of him singlehandedly defeating groups of adventurers, and of his eyes glowing with the same deep purple as his sister Ruby's.
"His eyes... They're the same as Ruby's, but deeper—like he knows something we don't."
Students watched in stunned silence as Zaryth strode across the courtyard. His silver hair swayed gently in the breeze, some tied back loosely while soft bangs framed his sharp, elegant features. He radiated quiet power, a stark contrast to the weak boy they once mocked.
As Ruby and Nico headed toward their classes, Zaryth continued alone to his own. Just as he approached the classroom door, a familiar voice rang out.
"Well, look who decided to crawl back. The weak king returns," a smug boy sneered, crossing his arms with a smirk.
Zaryth turned slowly, his deep violet gaze locking onto the boy. There was no anger—just an unnerving calm. The smug boy's grin faltered as an invisible weight seemed to press down on him, paralyzing him in place.
The boy's face went pale, his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. He was frozen—not by magic, but by something far more terrifying: the sheer force of Zaryth's presence.
Zaryth didn't say a word. With a glance, he dismissed the boy as unworthy of further thought, turning to walk into the classroom as if nothing had happened.
---
An Awkward Reunion
Inside the classroom, Zaryth's eyes immediately found Mavuika sitting toward the back. Her usual fiery confidence was absent, replaced by a flicker of discomfort. She glanced at him briefly, only to quickly look away, her cheeks flushed.
It was clear she was still thinking about their kiss—their first—and the memory left her embarrassed.
Zaryth's lips curled into a subtle smirk. Seeing Mavuika, the ever-composed heir of the Natlan family, flustered was unexpectedly endearing.
After class, Zaryth caught up to her just outside the academy gates. "Avoiding me?" he teased, keeping his voice light.
Mavuika shot him a glare, but the pink in her cheeks betrayed her. "Don't flatter yourself, Silverlight."
They walked side by side for a moment, the silence between them filled with unspoken emotions.
"About last night..." Mavuika began hesitantly, her voice softer than usual. "It was... unexpected."
Zaryth glanced down at her, his expression calm but sincere. "It was for me too. But I don't regret it."
Mavuika stopped in her tracks, her crimson eyes locking onto his. "You mean that?"
Without hesitation, Zaryth stepped closer, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "Every word."
For a moment, time seemed to slow. The sounds of the academy faded into the background, leaving just the two of them standing on the edge of something new.
"You're impossible," Mavuika whispered, though the warmth in her voice betrayed her amusement.
"And yet, you don't seem to mind," Zaryth replied with a soft smile.
Mavuika rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the faint smile tugging at her lips.
"Come on," Zaryth said, offering his hand. "We've got a lot to catch up on."
With a sigh, Mavuika took his hand. And in that quiet moment, Zaryth felt like, for the first time in a long while, he was exactly where he was meant to be.