Kairan was in the palace garden, tending to the healing herbs, when he sensed a presence. He turned, recognizing Selene approaching him.
"Your Highness, I've been searching for you," Selene said.
"Give me a moment, and just call me Kairan" Kairan replied, carefully adjusting a few sprigs of medicinal plants before dusting off his hands.
"Why were you looking for me?" he asked as the servants began setting up a table nearby.
Selene hesitated for a moment before replying, "I had a vision last night. It was unclear, but you were at the center of it. Something is stirring, Kairan-something tied to your magic. I wanted to speak with you before I tried to interpret it further. But be careful."
Kairan frowned slightly but nodded. "I appreciate that. If there's something I should know, I'd rather not be the last to find out."
Selene gave him a small, reassuring smile. "I'll let you know once I'm sure of it. I don't want to alarm you without proper confirmation."
Kairan studied her for a moment before exhaling. "Fair enough. I trust your judgment."
Selene's expression was thoughtful. "Thank you for trusting me," she said sincerely. "As you might already know, the Sevaris clan possesses the power of vision. We have diviners and seers. While we've always kept our distance from both Fae kingdoms, we have offered aid in secret. Some of our clan members even became high priests serving royal families. But because of our ability to foresee the future and unravel hidden truths, we rarely interfere directly. That burden is heavier than most can understand."
Kairan felt a tug of empathy at the pain in her voice. He had always been the kind to comfort others, so he instinctively reached out, placing a gentle hand on hers. Selene's muscles eased, the tension leaving her body.
"You are not just a Light Fae, are you?" Selene asked, her gaze piercing. "Are you a witch?"
Kairan stiffened. His instinct was to retreat, to brace himself for the judgment that always followed when people discovered his heritage. "Yes," he admitted, his voice steady but guarded. "I am a half-witch. My mother was a witch, and my father a Light Fae."
He expected the usual disdain-whispers of impurity-but Selene's response caught him off guard.
"That's incredible!" she said, her eyes alight with curiosity. "I've read about hybrids before, but this is the first time I've met one in person." She paused, suddenly realizing her words might have sounded impersonal. "I'm sorry, Kairan. I didn't mean to speak of you as though you were an object of study."
Kairan chuckled. "It takes a lot to offend me."
Selene smiled. "If you don't mind me asking... can you tell me your witch affinity?"
Kairan's expression darkened slightly. "I don't know much about my witch side. I've only just begun embracing that part of me. I lost my mother when I was a child, and after that, me and my father lived in the palace. You know how obsessed the Light Fae are with purity. The villagers were kind to me because of my mother-she was a healer, and she had a way of warming people's hearts."
"So, I focused on mastering water and earth magic instead." Kairan said.
Selene's expression remained warm. "What was your mother's name?"
"Maevira Eryndor," Kairan said.
Selene frowned slightly. "Eryndor?"
"Yes," Kairan nodded. "She took my father's second name after their mating."
Selene's brows furrowed in thought. "I think I've heard that name before... You said she was a healer, right? She might have belonged to the Lirienne clan. I can check with my father if you'd like."
He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. His mother had possessed other abilities, ones his father had warned him never to reveal. He wasn't sure he could trust Selene with that information.
"There's no need," Kairan said quickly. "My father told me her clan was against their union. I doubt they would accept me."
A moment of silence stretched between them before Selene spoke again. "Would you like my help with your magical training?"
Kairan's eyes lit up. "I'd love that."
Selene smiled. "Since you're a hybrid with water and earth magic, you have the potential to become an exceptional healer. Healing is not just about mending wounds-it's about channeling energy correctly, understanding mana flow, and balancing one's magic. You should start with simple energy channelling techniques before attempting direct healing spells."
She guided him through an exercise, instructing him to focus his mana into his palms. "Imagine the energy flowing like a river," she said, placing her hand over his. "Now direct it toward the leaf in front of you, encouraging it to grow."
Kairan concentrated, feeling a faint warmth gather in his hands. The tiny sapling trembled slightly, its leaves shifting as if sensing his magic. But after a few seconds, the energy dissipated.
Selene nodded approvingly. "Not bad for a first attempt. With practice, you'll refine your control. We'll work on power focus and healing techniques in future lessons."
She stepped back. "That's enough for today. Pushing your mana too far will drain you."
Kairan smiled. "Thank you, Selene. This means a lot to me."
Deep in the mountain caves...
Elder Councilman Valeran, stepped forward from the darkness. "We must act soon," he said. "The Sevaris clan has visited Luminara. They have seen visions on Vorraketh's awakening and they are planning to form an alliance."
Doria, the rogue witches' leader, scoffed. "Those arrogant vision-seers. They think themselves above the rest of us because of their 'divine' sight."
Valeran's expression hardened. "Doria, we don't have time for this. What's the plan?"
"We will proceed as expected," Doria said, her voice laced with cruel anticipation. "The boy's power is surfacing. We need to trigger it fully. Thomas has prepared the potions. Make sure he consumes them daily-without suspicion. And ensure he remains unclaimed."
She handed Valeran a small vial filled with dark liquid. "This will weaken the seals on his power, forcing his magic to awaken. Once that happens, his mind will fracture. His control will be lost."
Valeran accepted the vial with a nod.
"Here, the items you requested" he asked.
Wordlessly, Doria opened the small wooden box he had given her. Inside were strands of hair and pieces of fabric, carefully preserved. A slow, satisfied smile spread across her lips.
"Perfect. This will be enough to tip him over the edge."
She ran her fingers over the delicate strands. "Since that incident in the forest years ago, we have been feeding him potions, performing rituals-testing the limits of the seal. And now, I can finally feel the cracks forming."
Her eyes gleamed with dark satisfaction. "It seems the seal is connected to his emotional strength. Every time we push him toward despair, the barrier weakens. That is where we must focus."
She lifted the vial between her fingers, the dark liquid swirling ominously. "And this potion... This will be the final blow. The seal on his magic will shatter, as his mind breaks, and he will have no choice but to become what we need him to be."
A cruel smile curled her lips. "By the time we meet in Luminara, his power will be fully unleashed. And he will be ours to control".