The days that followed were strangely quiet. No new messages appeared in the corridors. The black crystal remained silent. Even the gardens, which had become the center of Kael’s attention, revealed no new traces. For the first time in weeks, the Imperial Academy of Asteria seemed to have returned to its usual rhythm. Students attended their classes, training continued on the outdoor grounds, and the corridors were once again filled with conversation. Almost usual, at least. The presence of the Order of the Black Raven made it impossible for the academy to feel completely normal again. Two knights were almost always visible near the older sections of the academy. Others patrolled the gardens and secondary entrances. They rarely spoke to students and never seemed to lower their guard. As for Darius, he had resumed his duties as second-in-command with such seriousness that his behavior around Kael had become a regular topic of conversation for Noah. — I still say he’s not the same person, Noah declared as they walked through a corridor. Kael kept walking. — You’ve already said that. — And I’ll keep saying it until you explain how someone can be this annoying with you and this terrifying with everyone else. Lysandra, walking on Kael’s other side, smiled. — Maybe Kael is simply used to him. — That’s possible, Kael replied. Noah turned toward him. — You admit that far too easily. — I’ve known Darius almost my entire life. — Exactly. That’s what worries me. Kael was about to answer when a familiar voice came from behind them. — I can hear you, you know. Noah turned around. Darius was walking toward them, accompanied by Gareth. He was wearing his dark armor and had once again adopted the serious expression he used while on duty. Noah smiled. — Ah, the terrifying commander. Darius stared at him. — I can still hear you. — I know. Gareth gave a faint smile. Kael looked at Darius. — Don’t you have anything better to do? — Several things. — And yet you’re here. — I’m monitoring the Patriarch’s movements. Kael sighed. — You’re starting again? Darius stepped closer and lowered his voice slightly. — I’m doing my job. — You took your job far too seriously even when we were ten. — And you were already far too talented at getting yourself into impossible situations. Noah looked at Lysandra. — How long have they been like this? — Apparently their whole lives. Darius placed a hand on Kael’s shoulder. — Come on. You’re going to be late. Kael calmly pushed his hand away. — I can walk by myself. — I know. Darius smiled. — But this is more fun. Kael gave him an exasperated look before continuing down the corridor. For a few moments, everything seemed perfectly normal. And that was precisely what made what happened next so unexpected. --- The next class took place in one of the large magical theory rooms. The professor had dedicated the lesson to the interaction between magic and aura, a subject Kael already understood quite well. Noah, on the other hand, seemed to have decided that this particular hour would be devoted to something else. — If I fail this part again, I’m going to start believing magic hates me, he whispered. Kael did not even look up from his book. — It doesn’t hate you. — Thanks. — It simply finds you exhausting. Lysandra stifled a laugh. Noah placed a hand over his heart. — Betrayed by my best friend. — You’ll survive. The professor turned around. — Mr. Noah. Noah immediately straightened. — Yes, Professor? — Since you seem particularly interested in your conversation with your classmates, perhaps you could answer my question. A few students laughed. Noah looked at Kael desperately. Kael quietly whispered: — Aura resonance. Noah answered correctly. The professor nodded. — Correct. Noah sat back down with a satisfied smile. — I knew the answer perfectly well. — Of course you did, Kael murmured. The lesson continued. Everything was normal. Until a group of students approached Kael at the end of class. They were not particularly hostile. Three boys and one girl, all from noble families. Kael had crossed paths with them several times without ever actually speaking to them. The first boy stopped in front of him. — Patriarch Veyron. Kael looked up. — Yes? — We wanted to ask you something. — I’m listening. The boy seemed slightly nervous despite himself. — Is it true that the Order of the Black Raven is here solely to protect you? — That is what was announced. — So you really are being threatened? Noah frowned slightly. Kael remained calm. — I don’t think that question concerns you. The boy looked embarrassed. — I didn’t mean to offend you. — It’s fine. He was about to step aside when another student spoke. — People are saying a lot of things, though. Kael looked at him. — Rumors are rarely reliable. — They say your family has been having problems since your parents died. The corridor seemed to slow around him. Kael did not move. — People talk a lot. — Yes, but… The boy hesitated. — Some people say your parents might not have been victims of an accident. Noah straightened. Lysandra immediately looked at Kael. His face had not changed. Neither had his eyes. But something had shifted. Very slightly. An almost imperceptible pressure spread through the corridor. The first student took a step back. — You… He stopped. Kael did not appear to have done anything. And yet the air had suddenly become strangely heavy. A thin shadow slipped across the floor around his feet. Lysandra noticed it. Her expression changed. — Kael… He did not answer. The boy who had mentioned his parents swallowed nervously. — I only meant that… The pressure increased. This time, several students nearby turned around. Some instinctively stepped back. The conversations around them stopped one after another. A student farther down the corridor dropped his book. The sound echoed through the silence. Kael slowly raised his eyes. His aura had changed. It was not simply stronger. It was different. Darker. Colder. As though something stood behind him without truly belonging to this world. A murmur spread through the corridor. — That’s his aura… — Why is it like that? — Back away. — I can’t breathe properly… Kael heard the voices. But they sounded distant. His gaze remained fixed on the young noble in front of him. Another shadow passed beneath his fingers. The boy stepped back again. This time, he stumbled. And that was when Darius appeared at the end of the corridor. He stopped. Gareth, behind him, immediately did the same. Darius studied the scene. He understood. No questions were necessary. He had seen that expression before. Not often. But enough. — Kael. Darius’s voice cut through the silence. Kael turned his head slightly. — Darius… — Look at me. Several students turned toward him, surprised that he dared to approach. Darius moved forward slowly. He did not appear worried. Not outwardly. He stopped a few feet from Kael. — You’re with me. Kael frowned slightly. — I know. — Then look at me. Their eyes met. For several seconds, nothing changed. Then Darius spoke in a quieter voice. — Breathe. Kael slowly inhaled. The pressure weakened slightly. Darius continued. — Again. Kael did it once more. The shadow around his feet trembled. Then it disappeared. The oppressive sensation gradually faded from the corridor. The students began breathing normally again. No one spoke. Kael looked around. Dozens of eyes were fixed on him. Some were frightened. Others were simply shocked. The boy who had mentioned his parents could no longer move. Kael lowered his gaze to his hand. — I… He stopped. He had not even realized how much his aura had changed. Darius placed a hand on his shoulder. This time, Kael did not push him away. — Come on. Kael did not protest. They left the corridor. Gareth remained behind for a few seconds. His gaze swept over the students. — Back to class. No one argued. --- They stopped in a quiet inner courtyard. Kael leaned against the wall. — I didn’t mean to do that. Darius stood in front of him. — I know. — I didn’t even think I was angry. — You were. Kael frowned. — I stayed calm. Darius gave him a faint smile. — You were calm on the outside. He paused. — Inside was a different story. Kael looked away. — I don’t like this. — Neither do I. Silence settled between them. Then Darius continued. — But you didn’t hurt them. — I could have. — But you didn’t. Kael looked up. Darius was watching him seriously. — That matters. Kael remained silent. He knew Darius was right. His power was not only dangerous when he completely lost control. Even an involuntary reaction could be enough to frighten the people around him. — They’re going to be afraid of me now. — Some of them will. Kael sighed. — Great. Darius gave a quiet laugh. — Were you trying to become popular? Kael stared at him. — No. — Then you’ll be fine. A faint smile appeared on Kael’s face. — Idiot. — There. That’s more like you. For a few seconds, the silence between them became comfortable again. Then Darius’s tone grew serious. — Kael. — Hmm? — What just happened wasn’t like the little manifestations you told me about. Kael looked at him. — I know. — Your aura changed very quickly. — I know. Darius hesitated. — And it reacted to what he said. Kael lowered his eyes. Mentioning his parents had been enough. He understood now why Lucian had always been so careful whenever he spoke about his power. — I need to learn how to control this. — Yes. Darius crossed his arms. — But you’re not going to do it alone. Kael gave him a tired smile. — Are you really going to stay behind me twenty-four hours a day? — If necessary. — You’re insufferable. — I know. A voice came from the entrance to the courtyard. — I can confirm that. Noah appeared, followed by Lysandra. Kael looked at them. — You were supposed to stay in class. Noah shrugged. — After what just happened, I don’t think anyone feels like going back to class as if nothing happened. Lysandra approached quietly. She did not look at Kael with fear. She simply looked at his hand. — Are you okay? Kael hesitated. Then he answered: — Yes. She nodded. — Then that’s enough for me. Noah sat on the edge of a fountain. — Well… I suppose we can officially add “making half the Academy panic” to your list of talents. Kael stared at him. — Noah. — I know. Bad timing. Darius smiled. So did Lysandra. And, for the first time in several minutes, Kael let out a quiet laugh. He did not yet know what this manifestation would cause at Asteria. He did not know what rumors would spread by tonight. But something had changed. Until now, the students had mostly seen him as Patriarch Veyron, a mysterious noble with red eyes, surrounded by elite knights. Now, some of them had seen something else. A glimpse of what truly hid behind his calm. And somewhere within the Academy, someone was bound to wonder one thing: What was Kael Veyron truly capable of?

The Calm Before the Shadow