Thorne followed Seraphina, utterly captivated by her presence. A notification flickered at the edge of his vision.

  Skill Level Up: Mindguard!

  But it barely registered in his mind. Every fiber of his being was focused on her—her cascading waterfall of hair, her slim waist that swayed with every step, and the hypnotic rhythm of her hips as they moved with an elegance that defied reason. The world around them blurred into insignificance as he trailed behind her, willing to follow her to the ends of the world.

  They ascended grand staircases, passed through rooms filled with lively guests and opulent decorations, and navigated deserted hallways. None of it mattered to Thorne. He would follow Seraphina anywhere.

  Finally, she stopped at a simple, unassuming door. Without hesitation, she opened it and pulled him inside. The door closed behind them with a soft click, and suddenly, the fog clouding Thorne’s mind lifted. Reality crashed back into him like a tidal wave. His senses sharpened, and he realized with a start that he had no idea where he was or how he had gotten there.

  Before he could fully grasp his situation, Seraphina darted to the side, releasing her hold on him. For a moment, he stood there, disoriented, his thoughts struggling to catch up with the rapid shift.

  Then, in a heartbeat, whispered words reached his ears—words laced with a power that made his blood run cold. His body seized up, muscles locking into place as invisible forces bound him. He tried to move, to resist, but his body refused to obey.

  Seraphina stepped back into view, a triumphant smile curling her lips. “Finally,” she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. The room was small, windowless, and dimly lit.

  From the corner of the room, a familiar voice echoed, dripping with venom. Percy.

  “Sera, let me kill him! I’ll fry him to a crisp!” Percy’s voice was filled with rage, his eyes burning with a fiery hatred as he stepped into the light, a wand clenched tightly in his hand. The sight of Thorne, immobilized and helpless, seemed to feed his fury.

  So this was it. All of this—the elaborate charade, the flirting, the games—had been a vain attempt to soothe Percy’s bruised ego after Thorne had humiliated him. The realization filled Thorne with a cold, detached sense of understanding. But what troubled him more was the powerlessness he felt. No matter how hard he tried, his body remained frozen.

  Thorne activated his Aether Vision, and what he saw shocked him to his core. Invisible aether ropes bound his body, their structure intricate and impossibly complex. They wrapped around him in delicate patterns, each strand humming with a potency that spoke of a high level of aetheric manipulation. It was unlike anything he had seen before. His own use of aether was raw, an expression of his willpower, bending the motes to his command. But these bindings were something else—sophisticated, precise, and entirely foreign to him.

  Seraphina’s voice cut through his thoughts. “We’re not here for this, Percy. Behave yourself!” she snapped, the earlier elegance and grace in her voice replaced by a commanding tone that left no room for argument. It was clear now who held the power between them.

  Percy hesitated, his wand still raised, his hand trembling with barely controlled rage. But Seraphina’s sharp glare was enough to make him lower it, albeit reluctantly. Thorne noted the dynamic between the two with interest—Seraphina was clearly the one in control.

  Seraphina turned her gaze back to Thorne, her expression speculative and calculating. “You know, Thorne, when someone is new in town, they should draw less attention,” she said, her voice laced with a mocking tone. “With your display of power, you made waves. Unfortunately for you, that made us curious.”

  Thorne narrowed his eyes, suspicion replacing the initial shock. They wanted something from him—that much was clear. If they didn’t, he would already be dead.

  He tested the bonds again, this time calling upon his aether manipulation skill. For a moment, he watched Percy closely for any sign that he had noticed Thorne’s efforts. When there was none, Thorne continued his careful work, experimenting with the complex bindings bit by bit.

  Seraphina continued, her voice tinged with satisfaction. “We sent people to spy on you, but you have an uncanny ability to vanish into thin air. No matter how hard they tried, our guards could never follow you.” She arched a delicate eyebrow, clearly expecting some sort of reaction. When she got none, her smirk deepened. “You may be an expert at avoiding our guards, but others weren’t so successful... Your companions.”

  Thorne’s jaw clenched involuntarily. Damn it! Rhea. It had to be her who slipped up. He made a mental note to bring this up with Sid the moment they returned. He could see now that he had underestimated the nobles’ resourcefulness.

  “It took us some time to piece together the truth, but we did it!” Seraphina declared, her eyes gleaming with a mix of greed and anticipation. “There are rumors in Valewind about a secret organization full of spies, but no one has been able to uncover the truth. Until now!”

  Thorne’s mind raced, trying to piece together how they had connected the dots and what exactly they wanted from him. One thing was certain—they needed him alive, at least for the moment. That meant he had some leverage.

  He continued to work on his bonds, using his aether manipulation skill to sever the connections holding him. The structure, though intricate, was fragile in places, as if Percy’s control over the aether was clumsy or incomplete. Using this to his advantage, Thorne formed two aetheric blades and sliced through the bonds at strategic points where the structure was weakest.

  Suddenly freed, Thorne casually stepped back, trying to regain some control over the situation and leaned against a nearby console table as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Both nobles froze in shock at his sudden movement, their eyes widening in disbelief.

  Percy, his face pale and slack with surprise, raised his wand again, his hand trembling uncontrollably. “Who are you?” he demanded, his voice quivering with a mix of fear and confusion. “How did you unravel my spell? Are you a hedge mage? An apostate? No regular skill can combat spells!”

  Thorne raised an eyebrow mockingly, crossing his arms and looking at Seraphina, who watched him with wide eyes. "A spy, you say?" Thorne asked casually. "I am that, among other things..."

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Deactivating his Mask of Deceit skill, Thorne allowed his true face to show—a cold, calculating visage with piercing eyes and a cruel, predatory smile. “But I prefer the term assassin.”

  Seraphina’s eyes widened in fear, her earlier confidence now wavering. Percy muttered something under his breath, preparing to cast another spell, but Thorne was faster. With a fluid motion, he reached for his hidden dagger. Before Percy could react, Seraphina, in a desperate move, slapped Percy’s hand away.

  “Stop it!” she commanded, her voice trembling with fear and anger. Thorne couldn’t help but admire her courage. He had to give it to her, the girl was brave.

  He didn’t hide his dagger, in fact he began toying with it, tossing it into the air and catching it as if it were a harmless trinket. “I’m getting bored,” he said, directing his question at Seraphina. “What do you want from me?”

  Seraphina, still trembling, met his gaze. “So, it’s true,” she said, as if seeking reassurance. Thorne simply nodded, sensing that she was on the verge of making a deal. He could put two and two together.

  She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “I want to meet your leader.”

  Thorne almost laughed at the absurdity of her request. The thought of this naive girl meeting Uncle was beyond ridiculous. “You or your father?” Thorne asked casually, watching both nobles stiffen at his words.

  “So, your parents need assassins,” Thorne stated, his tone matter-of-fact. “Their scheme to overthrow Lord Valewyn must require some... delicate maneuvering.” He could see the shock and horror on their faces. It was one thing to speak ambiguously, but another to talk plainly about treason.

  “I could arrange a meeting,” Thorne mused, tapping his chin thoughtfully, “but I see no benefit in doing so.”

  Percy, desperate to salvage the situation, blurted out, “Coins! We can give you more money than you’ve ever seen in your life!” he said with the arrogance and certainty of a man born into wealth.

  Thorne rolled his eyes at the typical response. Seraphina, however, was more measured. “What do you want?” she asked, her voice laced with calculation.

  Thorne smiled, a genuine, predatory smile. “You know,” he said almost fondly, “if you two manage to survive the next few years, you might actually become something remarkable. With his brawn and spells, and your wits, you could truly rule this city.”

  Seraphina offered a small, hesitant smile, clearly flattered, but Percy’s expression darkened. "Just a little advice," Thorne said, "don’t start using your skills when you don’t know what your target is capable of. It can tip you off." He winked at her, making her blush.

  Percy growled in anger, “What do you want?” he demanded again, his voice edged with frustration.

  Thorne turned his cold gaze on Percy, his amusement fading. “Information,” he stated simply.

  “About what?” Percy snapped, his patience wearing thin.

  Thorne began to pace, a calculated move that made the nobles even more uneasy. “While you were busy investigating me, I did some digging of my own. The Vaynes, while high nobles, aren’t exactly wealthy. You lack the resources to become a true powerhouse. This pairing,” he gestured to the two of them, “will improve your situation, but not enough to give you the power you need. What might actually achieve that is... your newfound status as a mage.”

  He stopped pacing and took a step closer to Percy. “Many people in Valewind are whispering about your surprising acceptance into Aetherhold, but no one knows how you managed it. And there’s my interest. Your family doesn’t have the money or the status to get you into the academy. So how did they do it?”

  Thorne’s body was coiled, his eyes staring intently at Percy. Percy laughed. "You think I will tell you something like this? I guess spies aren’t very bright."

  Thorne sighed and shook his head in disappointment. "Idiot," he muttered, before exploding into action.

  Using his evolved running skill, Burst of Speed, he closed the few meters between them, slapping Percy’s wand out of his hand with a swift, practiced motion. The wand clattered to the floor, useless.

  Thorne twisted his body and grabbed Seraphina by the neck, pulling her in front of him like a human shield, his dagger pressed against her throat.

  “I’ll ask you again,” Thorne said calmly, “how did they do it?” To emphasize his point, he pressed the blade harder against Seraphina’s skin, feeling the soft flesh part slightly under the pressure.

  Seraphina’s eyes filled with tears, and Percy’s face twisted in helpless fury. His face transformed when his eyes returned to Thorne. "I will kill you! I swear to the dead gods, the moment I get the chance, I will burn you alive."

  Thorne rolled his eyes. "Let me remind you, it is not prudent to threaten the man who has a dagger at your fiancée’s throat." Looking at Seraphina, he commented, "He’s not very bright, is he?"

  Seraphina whimpered. Thorne looked at Percy. "I’m listening," he said with a steely voice.

  “I... I can’t tell you,” he stammered, his voice trembling.

  Thorne’s eyes narrowed. “You seem to be under the impression that I care whether you two live or die.” He increased the pressure on the dagger, a thin line of blood appearing on Seraphina’s neck.

  Seraphina sobbed quietly, her body trembling in his grasp. Percy’s eyes darted between Thorne and Seraphina, desperation clear in his expression. Finally, his resolve crumbled, and he spoke. “The king! The king sponsored me!” he blurted out.

  Thorne raised an eyebrow, surprised by the revelation. “And?”

  "And what?" Percy shot back, furious.

  "From personal experience, I know there is always a catch. No one gives something without expecting something in return."

  Percy hesitated, then continued, “The king sponsors candidates, but they have to sign a contract—an agreement that binds them to serve him for life. It’s the only way.”

  Thorne’s expression darkened as he considered the implications. “And what else?” he pressed, knowing there was more to the story.

  Percy’s face twisted with frustration, but when he looked at Seraphina’s tear-streaked face, his will broke. “I swear, that’s it! You sign the contract, and you’re bound to serve the king as a mage. That’s the deal.”

  Before Thorne could respond, Seraphina made a desperate move. She reached into the folds of her gown and pulled out a letter opener, trying to stab him. Thorne easily deflected the small weapon and laughed, a harsh, mocking sound.

  “Oh, I like you,” Thorne said, his voice filled with cold amusement. “I have a soft spot for violent women—you should meet my girlfriend. In fact, if I didn’t already have a girlfriend, I might have taken you up on that dance.”

  Percy’s face flushed with rage, his fists clenching in impotent fury. “Unhand her,” he demanded, his voice shaking with barely controlled rage. “You got your information—now let her go.”

  Thorne considered the demand for a moment, then shrugged. “Sure,” he said casually, releasing Seraphina. She stumbled away, rushing to Percy’s side, her eyes wide with fear.

  Thorne’s mind raced as he processed what he had learned. “So, he’s building an army,” he muttered to himself, “an army of mages.”

  Percy, still furious, demanded, “What army? We’re not soldiers—we’re just...”

  Thorne cut him off, his gaze shifting to Seraphina. “Really? This guy?” he said, jerking his thumb toward Percy. “You could do so much better.”

  Seraphina looked at Percy with a mix of disdain and pity, her expression one of disappointment.

  “Anyway,” Thorne said, sheathing his dagger with a fluid motion, “it was a pleasure doing business with you. The leader of our guild will be notified about your interest.”

  Seraphina coughed delicately, trying to regain some composure, her face still red in places.” He glanced at both of them, his eyes cold and calculating. “Is there a way to get in contact?”

  Seraphina, somewhat more composed, reached into her gown and pulled out a token bearing her family’s crest. Percy did the same, handing her another token. Seraphina approached Thorne hesitantly, holding out the tokens with a shaky hand.

  “If you present these tokens to anyone in our household,” Seraphina said, her voice barely above a whisper, “you’ll be taken straight to the head of the family.”

  Thorne took the tokens, careful not to touch her skin. “Good,” he murmured, pocketing the tokens.

  “That has been an interesting meeting,” Thorne remarked as he turned to leave.

  “Will we see you again?” Seraphina asked, her voice tinged with a mix of fear and hope.

  Thorne glanced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. “Let’s hope not, for your sakes.” He opened the door but paused before stepping out. “Tell your fathers I’ll be offering them a gift soon.”

  With one last, mocking wink, Thorne left the room, closing the door behind him.

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