Everyone in the room was astonished, their gazes fixed on me. But it wasn't my newly revealed S+ potential that had stunned them—it was my trait. Darkness.
Darkness. The mere mention of the word carried weight, a stigma that tainted the very air around it. It was not only the rarest of elements but also the most controversial. Darkness was the embodiment of mystery, fear, and rejection. It wasn't inherently weak, but its reputation made it so. For centuries, people had avoided cultivating it, branding it as sinister and unnatural. Those who awakened to this trait were often cast aside, their talents wasted, their potential suffocated under the weight of society's disdain. In Aetherion Academy, the pinnacle of education for those with awakened powers, there wasn't a single professor who specialized in teaching the mastery of Darkness. At best, there were theoretical scholars—those who studied it from a safe distance, never daring to explore its true potential.
As the room descended into an uneasy silence, Amara broke it with a chuckle, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Darkness, huh? That does suit your personality," she said with a smirk that twisted her otherwise beautiful features into something cruel.
Though she didn't say it outright, her meaning was clear. Trash like me, awakening to a trait like this? How fitting. It was a sentiment she didn't need to voice explicitly. Her tone alone was enough to convey her disdain.
"Well," she continued, her voice dripping with mockery and condescension, "you've certainly awakened to S+. The stories I've heard about weak heroes overcoming adversity and rising to greatness with sheer willpower seem far-fetched now. You're not one of them, Kael."
Her words struck deep, each syllable a calculated blow meant to humiliate. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms as though she were a queen passing judgment. "S+ potential is hardly an achievement in our house," she said, her tone dismissive. "But I suppose it's better than that pitiful B+ rank you had before. As a reward," she paused, her eyes gleaming with mock benevolence, "I'll reduce your punishment. Previously, you were to remain confined until a month before the academy started. Now, you'll have six months of free time before enrollment. Consider yourself lucky."
Lucky. That single word twisted in my gut like a knife. Her tone was as cutting as ever, and I could feel the barely veiled derision behind her words. I bit back the anger rising in my chest, forcing myself to remain silent. My fists clenched at my sides, nails digging into my palms as I fought the urge to retaliate. Her mockery was deliberate, each word a carefully crafted dagger meant to wound.
Commander Celeste stood silently nearby, her face an unreadable mask. She observed the exchange without a word, her presence looming like a shadow over the room. Amara, seemingly bored with my lack of reaction, turned her attention to the Commander.
"I'll rest for a while. In three hours, we'll leave with Liana," she announced, her voice sharp and authoritative. She then glanced at Liana, her lips curling into a sly smile. "There's no problem with that, right, Liana?"
Her tone shifted, feigning warmth as she added, "You shouldn't waste your talent following my brother. He's nothing but a wall blocking your potential. If you choose to serve the family, you'll achieve incomprehensible things in life. You won't regret it."
The air grew heavy with tension as her words hung in the air. Liana's expression hardened, her usual composure replaced by a fierce determination that caught even me off guard. She stepped forward, her voice steady and unwavering as she replied, "Master Kael was the one who found me when I was dying. If he hadn't been there, I wouldn't be alive, and neither you nor the family would have discovered my abilities. It's because of Master Kael that I stand here today, and I will never forget that."
Her words were a declaration, her loyalty unshakable. "I will go to the main estate with you, but my loyalty will always remain with Master Kael."
For a moment, the room was utterly silent. Her words struck like a hammer, reverberating through the space. I looked at her, my chest tightening at the fierce conviction in her voice. She met Amara's gaze head-on, her eyes blazing with an intensity that left no room for doubt.
Amara's face contorted with anger, but she quickly masked it, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Well," she said after a moment, her tone icy, "at least someone doesn't think you're a burden. Though I'm sure once she grows stronger, she'll forget all about you. Don't worry."
Her words were venomous, each one dripping with malice. The air seemed to grow colder as the weight of her disdain pressed down on me. I clenched my fists tighter, my nails biting into my skin as I forced myself to remain silent. Liana stood firm by my side, her presence a rare glimmer of light in the shadows that surrounded me.
For the first time in a long while, I felt a spark of something—hope. It was fragile, almost imperceptible, but it was there. Liana's loyalty was a small reminder that I wasn't entirely alone, even in the face of Amara's relentless cruelty. And though I couldn't say it aloud, I silently vowed to repay her loyalty a thousandfold.
As Amara and Commander Celeste left the room, silence filled the air. Only Liana, the Commander, and I remained. Commander Celeste broke the quiet, his gaze sharp as he turned to me.
"How many surprises are you planning to throw at me, Kael?" he asked, his voice calm yet firm.
I said nothing, simply meeting his gaze.
He sighed, folding his arms. "Well, it's not my place to comment, but let me tell you this: the Darkness element isn't welcomed out there. The followers of the Church openly despise it, calling it heretical. My advice? Be cautious. Use your powers only when you're alone, and practice in secret."
He paused, his tone turning serious. "Your family will likely try to keep this information hidden. As much as they disdain you, you're still a Thorne, and they wouldn't want the stigma of Darkness tainting their reputation. Be careful."
With that, Commander Celeste left, leaving Liana and me alone in the room.
She stood there, looking at me with sad eyes. I opened my mouth to say something but hesitated, the words caught in my throat. Her fierce defense of me against Amara replayed in my mind.
Finally, I managed, "Thank you... for what you did."
Liana's cheeks flushed faintly. She looked away before replying, "I just didn't like her saying those things about you. She doesn't understand how hard you're trying."
A faint smile tugged at my lips. "Amara followed our family's traditions. To her, someone as weak as me has no place in the Thorne lineage. But she wasn't always like this. When she was younger, she was so sweet, always following me around."
Liana didn't respond to that. Instead, she said, "I'll be waiting for you at the house."
I nodded, meeting her gaze. "Wait for me. I'll come back stronger than ever."
She smiled faintly. "I will."
We spoke for a while longer before Liana left to pack.