The Imperial Academy was a world unto itself—a place of learning, competition, and hidden agendas. For the sons and daughters of the Valaris Empire, it was also a battleground where power was not only wielded but flaunted. Yet, as Simone walked through the academy's sprawling halls, no one seemed to take notice of him.
He was just another scholarship student—a quiet, shy boy who rarely spoke up in class, who kept to himself and was content to avoid the spotlight. In the hustle and bustle of the academy, Simone's unassuming presence went unnoticed. His royal heritage remained a well-kept secret, even to his own siblings, who, though attending the academy as "commoners" themselves, were always recognized by their distinctive powers and aristocratic airs.
Simone, however, had made no such attempt to stand out. His transformation after the Awakening had been drastic—his once-obese frame was now lean and muscular, and his midnight black hair and blood-red eyes had become striking features that could not be ignored. But Simone had chosen to keep it all hidden. He dressed in simple, unremarkable clothes, a far cry from the regal finery his siblings wore even under the guise of their commoner statuses. The few students who had noticed him at all had only assumed him to be a shy, introverted commoner like any other, and they treated him accordingly.
It was in this anonymity that Simone found solace. No one knew who he truly was—not the students, not the teachers, and most importantly, not his siblings.
His siblings—Dorian, Helena, Felix, and Astrid—were all enrolled at the academy as well, but their powers were impossible to ignore. Dorian, with his uncontrollable electricity, often lit up the air with violent sparks during heated arguments, much to the annoyance of his classmates. Helena, always surrounded by a playful breeze, could conjure powerful gusts that startled the weaker students. Felix, though more subdued, had once raised a massive stone wall in a training exercise, stunning both the students and the faculty. Astrid, with her sharp mind and ability to create illusions, was always one step ahead of her peers, weaving intricate webs of deception for fun.
Despite all of them attending the academy under the same circumstances as Simone, it was clear to everyone who they were. Their royal blood was unmistakable. But Simone? No one had any idea.
Simone had made sure of that. He had never used his powers in public, and he never would, not as long as he was at the academy. He wasn't there to gain favor, to compete for a throne, or to showcase his abilities. He was there to live his life in peace, to study, and to learn.
And so, he spent his days in the shadows, blending in with the common students, forming bonds with those who had no idea of his true identity. He befriended a group of scholarship students—warm, genuine people who saw him only as a fellow student and nothing more. They treated him with respect, not because of any status or power, but because of who he was as a person. To them, he was Simone, the quiet, earnest student who always helped out when asked, never drawing attention to himself.
One of his closest friends was Elliot, a cheerful and outgoing boy with a natural talent for reading people. He had taken a liking to Simone the moment they met, drawn to his quiet nature and kind demeanor. Simone, in turn, appreciated Elliot's straightforwardness and warmth. They would often study together in the academy's libraries, exchanging notes and helping each other with their coursework. Simone found that he was excelling in his studies, his mind sharp from years of training in the palace, even if his body had been slow to catch up.
But while his days were spent in relative peace, Simone's nights were a different story.
Every evening, once the academy had quieted down and the moon hung high in the sky, Simone would slip away from his dorm room and make his way to the hidden passageway that led to the royal training rooms. These rooms, known only to the imperial family, were designed to help them hone their abilities in secret, away from prying eyes. Simone had no desire for fame, no need for the attention that came with being the royal heir, but he could not afford to let his powers go unchecked. The darkness within him was wild, untamable, and it called to him with a hunger that only grew with time.
So, each night, he trained in solitude.
In the secret training room, the silence was deafening as Simone pushed his abilities to their limits. Shadows twisted around him, dark tendrils that swirled in the air like smoke. They could take any form he imagined, but the challenge was controlling them—guiding them with precision. Every time he succeeded in shaping the shadows, he felt the power grow stronger, but also more difficult to contain.
Sometimes, he would summon shapes—forms of creatures, serpents, or birds—that danced in the air before him. Other times, he would allow the darkness to engulf him, feeling its weight settle over his skin, its coldness seeping into his very bones. He was constantly testing himself, constantly pushing against the ever-present pressure of the darkness inside him.
He couldn't let it break free.
The hours would pass in a blur of shadows and concentration, Simone's body growing tired but his mind razor-sharp. His power was his secret, and it would stay that way. As long as he could keep control over it, as long as he could manage to stay in the shadows, he could continue his life here at the academy—just another student, just another commoner.
By the time the first light of dawn crept into the training room, Simone would be exhausted, his body sore and his mind buzzing with the aftereffects of his late-night training. But he never stopped. The hunger inside him was too great, and he knew that he had to stay ahead of it, even if it meant sacrificing his sleep and his peace of mind.
The next day, when the academy bell rang and students filtered into classrooms for their lessons, Simone would return to his facade—shy, reserved, a student who would rather remain in the background than stand at the forefront. He attended his lessons diligently, quietly absorbing the information, his sharp mind soaking in every detail.
But even in class, he remained invisible. His classmates—commoners, nobles, and even his siblings—never saw him for who he truly was. They only saw what he wanted them to see: the quiet, unassuming commoner who had no interest in the politics of the royal family, who didn't care about power or the throne.
For now, Simone was content to keep it that way.