Laid Bare

Chapter 1

ARTHUR LEYWIN

I stood outside a pair of large mahogany doors, my pale, shaking hand resting on the cool surface of a brass doorknob. Just a single twist, a simple pull was all that stood between me and my loved ones and everyone else I cherished.

I was a king in my past life. I trained tirelessly day and night to get better, faster, and stronger. I killed one of my closest friends and betrayed the trust of the other. I purposely sacrificed myself so that my mom and sister could live. I consciously took a full-power attack without protection to save my childhood friend.

None of those decisions, none of those actions were as difficult to make as the decision I had made, the action I have decided to take. I was going to tell everyone my truth.

I knew that no one would have ever known if I didn't tell them anything. I could keep the life I cherished the way it was, with no ramifications. But that wouldn't be fair to them. They all think I am someone I am not. And I care for them too much to purposely do that to them.

With a deep sigh, I twisted my wrist and pushed the large door forward, which moved on its hinges with a groan as if it was complaining about overuse. I was immediately greeted by a large number of eyes, all fixated on me, curiosity alit within their eyes as they were wondering why they were gathered here and what I was going to say.

The classroom we were in was a long, narrow room with stone walls that seemed to close in around you. The only light came from a few high windows, casting soft beams of sunlight on the desks and benches. The air was still and quiet, with no sound of voices or footsteps to disturb the peace as everyone waited for me with bated breath.

The desks were arranged in neat rows, each one cluttered with quills, ink, and parchment. The benches were empty as if they were waiting patiently for the students to fill them. At the front of the room, a lectern stood beneath a blackboard, its surface scarred and stained from years of use. Behind the lectern, a fireplace sat cold and dark, its ashes long since extinguished due to the lack of use in the summer weather.

The room was spartan in design, a world apart from the comforts and distractions of the outside world. Even with the absence of a lecturer speaking in the front, the room held the echoes of countless lectures and discussions, a testament to the generations of students who had passed through its doors.

My mom, dad, and sister were all standing at the epicenter of the open space in the room, flanked on either side by the Twin Horns and the Helsteas. Scattered across the room, some standing patiently in the room, while others had taken seats within the rows of empty desks, were the others I had grown close to over the years. The Eraliths, Elijah, Director Goodsky, Elder Rinia, and the disciplinary committee were all here as well.

I kept my face passive, ensuring my outward appearance belied the melange of feelings that stirred within me. This did not seem to achieve the result I had desired, however, as my mom grew more distressed every passing second. She could tell this was serious, and that she would not like what I am going to say.

Virion was the one who broke the silence, the first to speak up. "Brat, what happened? Why did you gather all of us here?"

I gave him as warm and appreciative a smile as I could muster at the moment. My mentor had never taken another disciple, never tutored anyone that wasn't family besides myself. He literally saved my life by helping me with the assimilation process, and I knew that no matter what, there was nothing I could really do to repay the kindness he had shown me.

I took a deep breath before I began, preemptively hardening my heart from the onslaught of emotional damage I knew it would be receiving soon. "Before I begin, I want to make sure that everyone here knows that I care extremely deeply for each and every one of you. The experiences we went through together, both happy and sad, have helped shape me into the man I am now. But there is something I have been hiding from all of you, and I've thought long and hard about telling you ever since coming to this world."