"Adam! Mr. Adam Fletcher!"
Thud!
Adam's eyes snapped open as a piece of chalk struck him squarely in the forehead. His vision blurred as he rubbed his eyes, the world around him gradually coming back into focus. For a moment, he couldn't quite remember where he was. Then it hit him—he'd fallen asleep in class.
His heart sank as he gulped and looked toward the front of the room. Standing at the podium was Professor Kevler, a tall, bald man in the signature Izkaa Professor's uniform. The stern look on Kevler's face was enough to make Adam shrink in his seat. Damn it, I actually fell asleep in this baldy's class.
"Why are you sleeping in my class, Mr. Adam Fletcher?" Professor Kevler asked coolly, his teaching stick tapping rhythmically on the desk in front of him. Each tap felt like a countdown to his impending doom.
Bad luck. Adam sighed, feeling the eyes of his classmates on him. He reluctantly stood up and stammered, "I apologize for my behavior, Professor. I promise it won't happen again."
"Promises mean nothing to me," Professor Kevler scoffed, crossing his arms as he surveyed Adam with clear disapproval. "But I suppose I'll let you off the hook this time. Just—"
"Yes, Professor, I promise." Adam interrupted, giving a small shrug and sitting back down, eager to avoid further embarrassment.
Kevler raised an eyebrow at the interruption but continued, "—don't do it again." He sighed, shaking his head before returning to the lesson, though Adam could still feel the lingering judgment in his gaze.
"Yo, dude, why are you messing with the bald guy?" A whisper broke the silence beside him. It was his friend, Jed, flashing a teasing grin. Jed had always been cheeky, even from childhood, but Adam had come to rely on him as a steady presence in his life.
"I stayed up all night. I was… busy," Adam whispered back, trying to hide his weariness.
Jed raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Busy, huh? What were you doing, fantasizing about some beauties?"
"Nothing like that," Adam muttered, trying to dismiss the subject. "Just some… personal stuff."
Jed narrowed his eyes, sensing there was more to the story, but chose not to push. "Alright, if you say so. But you know you can tell me anything, right?"
"Yeah, I know," Adam replied with a nod, feeling a small wave of gratitude. His mind, however, was elsewhere, drifting back to the events of the previous day.
---
Yesterday.
In Adam's small, dimly lit room, he sat at his desk, staring at a brown envelope in his hand. The edges were slightly worn, the ink faded, but the name written on it was unmistakable:
Rufus Fletcher, Year 1322 UC (Uzbor Calendar).
Year 1322? Adam thought, turning the envelope over in his hands. It had been exactly three years since then. The current date was the 4th month of 1325 UC, and the Empire was now ruled by Emperor Melfran Varyn IV, who had been crowned two years ago. But none of that mattered to Adam right now. Only the name on the envelope did.
"So, it's been three years, huh?" Adam muttered, gazing out of the window, lost in thought. Three years since his father had vanished without a trace, leaving only memories behind. He could still remember coming home that day to find his father's room empty. All of Rufus's belongings were gone, as if he had never existed at all.
Adam had searched everywhere for clues, even visiting his father's workshop, hoping to find answers. But he was met with only disappointment—the workshop had been mysteriously closed the day before Rufus's disappearance.
The strangest part was how quickly his father's presence had faded. Even though it had only been three years, Adam struggled to remember his father's face. It was as if Rufus had deliberately erased every trace of himself from the world.
Sighing, Adam carefully opened the envelope and unfolded the yellowed letter inside. The handwriting was familiar, yet it felt distant, like a relic from a different time. The letter began:
Dear Adam,
I don't know when—or if—this letter will ever reach you. But if you're reading this, it means I've been gone for some time, and I hope you understand why. I know you must be wondering why I left without a word. The truth is, it's complicated.
I can't give you all the details, but I want you to know one thing: be careful. Beware of the Son of Heaven. If you ever cross paths with him, do not antagonize him. He is far worse than anyone claims. Much worse.
I know this sounds strange, but I needed to warn you.
Also—
Adam paused, closing his eyes for a moment before looking back at the letter.
—I'm so sorry, son. For everything. For disappearing, for not being there for you. I know I haven't been the best father, but I love you. Please be safe, always. And don't waste time thinking about me anymore.
Adam let the letter fall to the desk, his hands trembling slightly. He didn't know how to feel. Three years of believing his father had abandoned him, only to be told it was for reasons he couldn't even begin to understand. It was overwhelming.
He looked over the letter again, but one phrase stood out: Beware of the Son of Heaven.
Son of Heaven? Adam thought, his brow furrowed in confusion. The words tugged at a vague memory. He didn't know much about history or the politics of the Empire, but he was certain he had heard that title before.
It clicked. The Son of Heaven was a title given to someone from the noble family of Ashebourne, a name whispered in history as both revered and feared. This person had been celebrated decades ago, though Adam couldn't recall the specific time. But the connection between this mysterious figure and his father's disappearance gnawed at him.
"What was his name again?" Adam scratched his head, deep in thought, but the answer eluded him. As he continued tapping his fingers on the desk, lost in contemplation, a voice suddenly snapped him back to reality.
---
"Mr. Adam Fletcher!"
Adam jumped as Jed nudged him out of his thoughts. He glanced up to see Professor Kevler marching toward him, his expression sour.
"Umm, I-I'm s-sorry, Professor," Adam stammered, trying to hide his panic.
"Sorry? Not only were you sleeping in my class, but now you're daydreaming too?" Kevler sneered. "And you have the audacity to think you'll get away with this? You may be the son of the almighty Rufus Fletcher, but that means nothing in my classroom! Your father disappeared, didn't he? So don't act like you're above paying attention."
Adam's face darkened at the mention of his father. "Yes, Professor."
Professor Kevler sighed, his tone softening a little. "Look, I didn't mean to bring up your father—"
"I know, Professor," Adam interrupted, offering a weak smile, though his heart wasn't in it.
"Just… make sure you come to my office after school. Understood?" Kevler's voice was firmer now, but not unkind.
"Yes, sir," Adam nodded, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him.
With that, Professor Kevler resumed his lesson, diving back into the complex theorems of magic. But Adam couldn't focus anymore, his mind too full of conflicting thoughts and emotions.
Jed leaned over again, his voice soft. "You okay?"
Adam shook his head slightly. "No, I'm just… tired."
Jed hesitated for a moment, concern evident in his eyes, before giving a small nod. "Alright, but if anything's bothering you, don't hesitate to come to me, okay?"
"I'll remember that," Adam replied, forcing a small smile as he turned his gaze back to the front of the room. Professor Kevler's voice droned on, but Adam was no longer paying attention. His thoughts were already wandering back to the letter, the warnings, and the unsettling mystery of the Son of Heaven.