Moonveil Academy: Trapped With The Five Kings

Chapter 67: Mansion in the Heart of Mountains

Elara:

Ten minutes after leaving Professor Fenrith’s office, I found myself sitting in the back of a black SUV beside Lorien Moonveil, staring through the tinted window at a world I had never seen before.

My heart had been pounding ever since we left the academy grounds, partly because I had no idea where we were going and partly because I couldn’t understand why Lorien had decided to take me somewhere himself.

I had tried asking myself every possible question during those first few minutes.

Was this about my seal? Had something happened? Was there something he needed to show me? Or was this simply another part of the strange lessons I was supposed to receive from the people of Starfall?

None of the answers felt convincing. What I did know was that we weren’t heading toward any of the towns at the base of the mountains.

I had already memorized enough of the surrounding map to recognize the roads, and when the SUV took a turn that led deeper into the mountains instead of descending toward civilization, my curiosity sharpened.

This was my first time leaving Moonveil Academy since arriving almost a month ago, and apparently my first excursion was going to be somewhere so remote that even the academy map didn’t tell me what was there.

I eventually turned my head toward Lorien, ready to ask him exactly where he was taking me, but the question died even before reaching my lips.

He was completely absorbed in the tablet resting in his hands, his expression focused as his fingers moved across the screen. He looked nothing like the man who had sat across from me during our Saturday sessions, patiently trying to coax my magic through the seal. This was the Headmaster again - the man responsible for an entire academy and apparently the entire supernatural world if the way people treated him was anything to go by.

He seemed busy enough that interrupting him felt unnecessary, so I turned back toward the window. Besides, there was something strangely peaceful about watching the scenery change.

The academy gradually disappeared behind us, replaced by dense forests, towering trees, rocky slopes and winding roads that seemed to disappear into the mountains. Every now and then, sunlight slipped through the branches and painted golden patterns across the road.

I found myself forgetting my questions for a while simply because the scenery was beautiful. The farther we went, the more untouched everything became, until it felt like we had driven straight out of civilization and into another world.

The journey lasted more than an hour, and not once did either of us speak. By the time the SUV finally slowed down, the sun had begun sinking toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and violet.

I straightened instinctively as I looked outside, only to find myself staring at a tall black gate almost completely covered in ivy. It looked old, but not neglected. If anything, the greenery made it seem like something out of a fantasy novel.

Before I could even wonder how we were going to get through it, the gate began opening on its own with a deep metallic sound. The SUV rolled forward, and I leaned slightly toward the window as the property came into view.

For a few seconds, I forgot to breathe.

The mansion standing beyond the gate was breathtaking. It was enormous without looking gaudy, built from dark stone that somehow looked almost black beneath the fading sunlight. Tall trees surrounded the property, their branches creating a natural frame around the house, while a vast garden stretched on either side of the stone pathway.

Elegant fountains stood among flowerbeds, small lamps lined the pavement, and stone statues watched silently from between the trees.

Everything about the place screamed wealth, but there was something warmer beneath all of it, something almost timeless. It looked like the kind of house that shouldn’t exist in the real world. A place where a powerful family from some ancient fantasy story would live for generations.

The SUV stopped in front of the mansion, and before I could finish taking everything in, Lorien stepped out. He walked around the vehicle and opened my door himself.

I hesitated for half a second before stepping onto the stone pavement. He didn’t say anything, simply shutting the door behind me and beginning his walk toward the porch.

I followed, my eyes still wandering across the property.

"Where are we?"

I finally wanted to ask, but something stopped me. Maybe it was the way he hadn’t said anything during the entire journey. Maybe I was simply waiting for him to explain voluntarily. Whatever the reason, I remained silent.

When we reached the enormous double doors, I noticed immediately that there was no visible lock or handle mechanism like the ones in the human world.

Lorien lifted one hand and placed his palm against the door. His lips moved, and though I couldn’t catch the words, I recognized the faint shimmer of magic that followed them. A soft click echoed through the silence, then another, and the doors unlocked.

I stared.

Lorien pushed one of them slightly, and both doors swung inward on their own, revealing a grand entrance hall beyond them. Warm golden light spilled across the stone floor, illuminating an enormous staircase, dark wooden walls and paintings that looked old enough to belong in a museum.

Lorien didn’t enter immediately. Instead, he finally turned toward me.

For the first time since we had left the academy, there was something almost gentle in his expression.

He stepped aside and gestured toward the open doors. "Go ahead."

I frowned. "Go ahead where?"

He held my gaze for another moment before answering. "Welcome home, Princess."

My heart stopped at his words. I stared at him before finally speaking, "Welcome... home?"

The corner of his lips lifted faintly. "Your home. This place was built for you by your parents."

I looked past him and into the mansion again, suddenly seeing everything differently.

This wasn’t Lorien’s house.

It was... mine.