Chapter 72: Return of the seventh prince at the academy

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Return of the seventh prince at the academy

The Following Morning

The first thing Theon saw when he opened his eyes was the familiar dark gold eyes of a demon standing beside his bed.

Morning light spilled faintly through the curtains, and for a moment his body still ached with the memory of everything that had happened only hours before, a dull reminder that yesterday had been very real.

Theon froze. A sharp jolt of surprise shot through him, and his breath caught for half a second before recognition finally settled in.

"Ifrith?"

Ifrith immediately raised both hands. "No, no, Master, don’t run! I’m fine!"

Theon almost fell backward, the mattress shifting hard under the sudden movement. He stared at Ifrith for a long moment, taking in the sight of him standing there, whole and upright, after everything that had happened the night before. It was strange to see him on his feet so easily, considering the state Silva had carried him in only the night before.

Ifrith smiled awkwardly, the expression not quite reaching his eyes. "I’m completely fine now."

A sharper edge settled into Theon’s expression. The morning light filtering through the curtains caught the faint tension still lingering in Ifrith’s shoulders, the kind that didn’t quite match his reassurances.

"We have a lot to discuss."

Ifrith’s smile disappeared. "I know."

"But not now," Theon said, pushing himself out of bed despite the residual ache still protesting through his body. "I have to rush to lectures."

Lazaria immediately stepped forward. "Master."

Theon looked at her, still blinking sleep from his eyes. "Morning, Lazaria."

"What should we do about Nova?"

Theon stopped. "Nova?"

"Yes." She pointed toward the room where the primordial demon lay. "It’s been a few hours since he’s been there."

Theon blinked. "All night, huh?"

He glanced toward the restrained primordial demon, checking that the ropes and seals still held firm before he spoke again. "He’s already restrained, so don’t worry."

Lazaria nodded. "Understood."

For a moment neither of them said anything else, the quiet stretching just long enough to feel deliberate.

"After lectures, we’ll decide what to do with him," Theon added.

"Yes, Master."

Theon looked around. Something felt wrong, an absence he couldn’t quite place until it clicked into focus. The familiar presence that should have been there was missing.

"Where’s Lyra?"

The answer came immediately. The door suddenly burst open, its wooden frame rattling against the wall.

"Big brother!"

Lyra rushed inside, and before Theon could react, she threw her arms around him. The warmth of her small body pressed against his chest, and the faint scent of morning soap still clung to her hair.

"Good morning!"

Theon smiled, the expression coming easily despite everything weighing on him. "Morning, Lyra."

He placed a hand on her head, her hair soft under his palm. "Did you sleep well?"

"I slept like a baby!"

Theon chuckled, the sound low and genuine. "Good."

He gently pulled her away. "Now it’s time to go."

Lyra nodded enthusiastically. "Let’s go!"

* * *

They soon left the Imperial Dormitory.

The morning air was cool, carrying with it the aftertaste of the previous day’s destruction. Even here, several corridors away from where the true damage had occurred, the atmosphere across the whole academy felt different, quieter than usual, as though everyone was still holding their breath.

The moment Theon stepped onto the campus grounds again, he noticed something. Everyone was looking at him. The weight of dozens of stares pressed against his skin, and whispers followed him from every direction, soft and sharp at the same time.

"Isn’t that Theon?"

"He wasn’t even around during the explosion."

"Where was he?"

"Could he have been involved?"

"Maybe he caused it."

Theon ignored them and kept walking, the morning air carrying the scent of fresh stone dust from the ongoing repairs around campus.

Then a male instructor approached, his boots clicking against the paved path with deliberate, unhurried steps. Theon recognized the look on the man’s face immediately, a familiar mix of caution and forced politeness he’d seen plenty of times before.

"Prince Theon."

Theon stopped. "Yes?"

"The committee would like to speak with you."

Theon sighed, the sound quiet but resigned. "Of course, after you."

He followed the instructor to the staff hall. The corridor smelled of polished wood and old parchment, and inside, several instructors were already waiting, the air in the room feeling heavier than it should. Some of them looked openly suspicious, while others seemed almost apologetic, as though they resented having to conduct this conversation at all but had no real choice in the matter. Theon was asked to stand in the middle of the hall, directly beneath a gap in the ceiling where a shaft of sunlight fell through and landed squarely on him, as though he were the only thing in the room worth looking at. He kept his own expression carefully neutral. An imperial prince being questioned by academy staff was already unusual enough without giving them any more reason to dig deeper.

One of the instructors looked at him seriously. "Where were you during the recent commotion?"

Theon answered calmly. "I was frightened..."

Several instructors exchanged glances, the faint rustle of clothing filling the brief silence that followed.

"...so I ran back to my dormitory," he finished.

"Then why, when we went there to check on you, were your pets preventing us from entering?"

Theon’s expression instantly changed, a cold edge entering his voice. "Don’t call them that."

The instructor immediately raised both hands. "My apologies." He cleared his throat. "Your companions, then."

Theon relaxed slightly, the tension in his shoulders easing a fraction. "I ordered them not to let anyone come in."

The instructor hesitated, clearly wanting to ask more but unable to. Theon was an imperial prince, and pushing the matter too far could create a political problem far larger than an academy investigation.

Finally, the instructor sighed. "Very well." He pointed toward the door. "You may return to class."

Theon didn’t miss the way the man’s eyes lingered on him a moment longer than necessary, as if still not quite satisfied.

Theon nodded. "Thank you."

He turned and left, the door closing behind him with a soft, final click.

* * *

The academy looked different.

Damaged sections of the campus were still being repaired. The sharp scent of turned earth and wet mortar filled the air, and workers and instructors moved steadily through the grounds. More guards had been stationed around important areas, and students were being directed toward their lecture halls with an efficiency that felt almost too practiced for how recent the disaster still was. Theon caught sight of a collapsed section of the eastern wall, its stones still scorched black in places, with a cluster of instructors gathered nearby, speaking in low, urgent tones and gesturing toward the damage. Whatever conclusions they were drawing, none of it looked good.

And everywhere Theon went, people talked.

"He caused it."

"No, he probably had bad luck."

"Maybe he summoned a monster."

"He’s dangerous."

Lyra’s expression darkened, her small hand tightening around the edge of his sleeve.

"Big brother..."

Theon glanced down. "Ignore them."

"But they’re talking about you."

"I know." He didn’t tell her that the rumors bothered him more than he let on, or that some small part of him wondered how long it would take before the truth came out on its own.

He kept walking, though inside, his thoughts were elsewhere.

Five years. The number kept surfacing no matter how hard he tried to push it aside. No matter how much strength he’d gained, or how many battles he’d survived, none of that changed what had already been taken from him.

He clenched his fist, the pressure of his nails against his palm grounding him against everything else pressing in from outside.

*If I can contact that Spirit Sovereign...*

A voice suddenly came from inside his mind, calm and clear.

*It won’t be easy, you know.*

Theon stopped for a moment, the morning sun feeling warmer against the back of his neck.

*You knew about that?*

*Of course,* Cryvathar answered calmly.

*Then why did you suggest it?*

*I’ve already watched you accomplish things that should have been impossible.*

A pause settled between them, the faint presence inside his mind seeming to steady itself, settling more firmly into place.

*I didn’t think this would be much harder.*

*You’re really confident in me,* Theon said, half amused despite everything.

*Someone has to be.*

Theon almost smiled. *Fine.*

He continued walking, the whispers following him like a second shadow.

* * *

The moment Theon entered the classroom, the entire room became quiet.

Heads turned. Students stared. The weight of their attention pressed against him like a physical force. Theon walked toward his seat with Lyra and Silva close beside him, then sat down, the wooden chair creaking softly under his weight. Lyra pressed closer to his side, clearly uncomfortable under so many eyes, while Silva stayed stiff and alert, her gaze sweeping the room as though daring anyone to say something to his face instead of behind his back.

Silence.

Then the whispers began again.

"That’s him."

"Why is he even here?"

"I heard he was involved in the commotion."

"I heard he caused the explosion."

"I heard he’s bad luck."

Theon ignored every word, the faint scent of chalk and old paper filling the classroom around him. He was used to attention, given who he was, but not like this, not stares edged with suspicion and unspoken accusation.

Then someone stepped in front of him.

Noel Embercrest.

Noel stared directly into his eyes, the intensity of that gaze almost physical.

"Tell me."

Theon looked up. "Tell you what?"

"Where were you during the commotion?"

Theon’s expression remained calm. "I’m not obliged to answer you."

Noel’s jaw tightened, a muscle flickering along the side of his face. He turned away, but after taking several steps, he stopped and looked back.

"You went down that cave, didn’t you?"

Theon’s breath caught for a fraction of a second, and for a brief moment he couldn’t hide the flicker of surprise that crossed his face.

Noel laughed quietly, the sound low and knowing, then walked away without waiting for a response.

Theon watched him go. Something about that boy wasn’t right. Neither the way he moved nor the weight behind his questions felt ordinary. It wasn’t only what Noel had said. It was the certainty in his voice, as though he already knew the answer and only wanted to see how Theon would react to being asked.

His gaze shifted. Leon was leaning against a wall nearby, and for a moment their eyes met. Leon immediately looked away, pushed himself off the wall, and walked toward the far side of the classroom, the soft scrape of his boots against the floor deliberate and unhurried. Whatever he’d been about to say, or ask, he’d clearly thought better of it.

Suspicion flickered behind Theon’s calm expression. What was going on with those two?

* * *

Noel walked away from Theon’s seat, not stopping until he was well clear of the classroom, alone in the corridor with nothing but his own thoughts for company.

His hands were clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, the faint sting of pain the only thing grounding him.

*I don’t want to kill him.*

His expression darkened, the morning light through the windows suddenly feeling too bright, almost accusing.

*I honestly don’t.*

He thought of his family. The threat hanging over them. The seal that bound him to it. The consequences that would follow the moment he disobeyed. None of it was fair. None of it had ever been his choice to make.

He had told himself, over and over, that there had to be another way. He just hadn’t found it yet.

His breathing grew heavier, and the air in the corridor felt thinner with every step.

*But if I don’t...*

His eyes closed, the image of what waited for him if he failed pressing hard against the back of his mind.

*....They’ll kill my family.*