The knock on the door was sharp. Measured. Controlled.
Then, another. Harder this time.
It feels more like a demand than an announcement.
Xane and Zayn froze.
[That's not a servant's knock,] Zayn muttered. His voice was low, edged with caution.
Xane didn't need the warning. His instincts had already kicked in. He swiftly shoved the letter into his pocket, his fingers tightening over the fabric. Whoever was on the other side didn't have good intentions.
He wasn't about to take any risks.
Then, without waiting for permission, the door swung open.
A tall woman stepped inside, draped in a one-piece half crimson part black robe embroidered with silver patterns.
The moment she entered, Xane felt a sharp jolt through his body—not fear, but something deeper. An instinctive reaction. Pressure.
Not the kind that came from raw strength—but from power. Control. Authority.
It wasn't just her posture—it was the way she carried herself, the way she expected obedience. Those cold brown eyes flicked toward him, sharp and precise. Like she could see through his skin, past his bones, and straight into his soul.
Xane didn't need an introduction. She was the only one in the family portrait with blonde hair.
His mother.
Zayn's voice was a low mutter, laced with something between disgust and wariness.
[Xelami Zenaris. The scheming blonde witch of the Zenaris.]
Xane was busy watching her.
Xelami's gaze swept lazily across the wrecked room—the torn mattress, the scattered sheets, the overturned cabinet.
She didn't react.
Not even a flicker of disapproval, annoyance, or curiosity.
It wasn't that she didn't notice. It was that she didn't care.
Then, as if nothing was out of place, she moved toward the lone chair by the window and sat down gracefully, crossing one leg over the other.
And without so much as looking at him, she lifted a single, slender hand—pointing to the floor at her feet.
"Sit."
Xane blinked. Did she just—?
[Oh, what's going on here?] Zayn sputtered in his mind. [Didn't the scheming witch in the novel do anything for her children?]
Xane's eye twitched. Now he even doubted if Zayn even knew much about his world. The way she was treating him like a damn dog, there was no way she was some caring mother.
His instinct here was to stay standing just to be defiant, but he caught something in her posture—absolute confidence.
This wasn't a request. This wasn't negotiable.
And more importantly, there were two powerful presences near the door.
Her guards.
Xane exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair before lowering himself to the floor. He wasn't stupid enough to cause any scene here.
With how confident she looked, it was clear this was not her first time. Most likely, Viyron must be doing as told. Not giving people a chance for them to suspect him, he followed her wishes.
But still, as he sat, something about it burned inside him.
She didn't even look at him.
Not a word of acknowledgment. Not a single glance. Instead, she turned her head toward the window, as if he were an insect buzzing in the background.
Xane caught it then—the faintest shift in her lips. A slight wrinkle on her nose.
Disgust.
And she didn't even bother to hide it.
A heavy silence stretched between them.
She stared out the window with unreadable expressions flickering across her face while he sat below her, waiting for the axe to drop.
Then, after what felt like forever, she finally looked at him.
With an innocent expression.
"Oh. So you survived the trial."
Her voice was smooth. Almost amused.
Xane's fingers twitched against his knee.
[Wow.] Zayn's voice was flat.[I feel like I know nothing about this world at all.]
Zayn's one way of commentary irked him. Xane didn't answer. He just nodded once.
A single, silent response.
Xelami clicked her tongue in mild disappointment and turned back to the window, her tone shifting back to careless disinterest.
"No matter."
Her fingers drifted lazily along the chair's armrest as she spoke.
"You don't have to worry about resources in the academy. Just choose Sir Lizami as your master—he will teach you the family's spear-wielding curse arts."
Xane's brows furrowed.
What?
That wasn't what he expected. Did she care about Viyron's training?
[What! Why does she want to kill us?]
Xane's pupils expanded at this revelation. To hide his expression, he looked down at the ground.
He desperately wanted to question Zayn about it but dared not to leak a single word. He did not want to reveal anything to this woman.
Xelami continued, not noticing any change. "You will also follow and support your sister there."
And just like that, Xane understood. This whole thing was never about Viyron.
She continued to say, "Viyron, you know how others envy your sister's potential."
Her voice was smooth and confident.
"As a family, you will deal with those who dare to hinder her progression."
At this moment, he heard Zayn's cold voice. [Sigh, she is that kind.]
The way Zayn said those words made it seem like there was some long history behind it.
Xelami's words pulled him out of his thoughts. "With her talent, it's only a matter of time before she becomes the next leader of the Zenaris, and we have to support her."
He heard Zayn cursing [Fck!].
Xane finally spoke, his voice low and unreadable. "I understand."
Xelami didn't react. She had expected that answer.
For the first time, she turned to him fully, her cold brown eyes locking onto his.
"Viyron, your silver is nothing in the academy."
[Wait…] Zayn's voice came slowly. [Did she just say silver?]
Xane was not sure what Zayn was talking about. What silver? He was hearing this silver for the second time?
Zayn started shouting, [How could she say silver? What's going on here?]
Xane felt annoyed with this one-way conversation and unknowingly thought in frustration,
Silence! Zayn went quiet, and then, [Dude, how did you speak without saying?]
Xane froze and then looked up at Xelami. It did not look like she heard anything. So just for a test, he once again tried to think aloud like he was talking with his thoughts.
[Yup, dude.]
Then he looked up, and there was no reaction. This was a fascinating discovery for him. Something good for the first time.
Xane mentally sighed and then asked,
[Yup, the voice is a bit low compared to when you actually speak. Other than that, it is one hundred percent clear. How are you doing this?]
[Wait, you heard the announcement…No, that is not important. Even that old man said silver potential, but why?]
Silver is potential! This dropped on him like a bomb.
Xane's stomach sank.
Something wasn't right.
Something was very, very wrong.
But before he could think further, Xelami spoke again.
"Do not get involved with anyone unnecessarily."
Something was suffocating in the way she said it.
"Do not stray from your sister's path. Do not waste time with foolish distractions. Do not draw attention to yourself. Simply follow her lead."
There were orders.
The restrictions.
Chains that were wrapped around his throat.
Zayn said in sarcasm, [So she wanted a slave for her girl.]
Xane didn't respond.
"The family will make an announcement soon. You will leave for the academy within the next few hours."
Xelami stood. Conversation over.
Then, at the threshold, she paused.
"And Viyron?"
Xane looked up.
Her voice was soft and smooth. Too smooth.
"Do not disappoint your sister."
Then she was gone. Gone without even bothering to wait for his answer, leaving him with hundreds of new questions.