Bound by fate

The Prince's Dilemma

Elara woke to the sound of rain tapping softly against the tower window. The storm had passed, but the sky was still gray, and the faint light of dawn struggled to break through the clouds. For a moment, she lay still, trying to shake off the disorientation of being in a strange new place.

Arclight Academy.

The events of the previous night came flooding back: the letter, the strange carriage, the imposing headmistress. It felt like a dream—one she hadn't fully woken from yet. But this was no dream. She was here, at a school where magic was real, and where she was supposed to discover something about herself—something that had been hidden her whole life.

Elara sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed, running her hands through her tangled hair. She had so many questions, but the only way to get answers was to face whatever lay ahead.

After dressing quickly in the academy's simple uniform—a dark cloak over a fitted tunic and trousers—Elara made her way down to the dining hall. The castle's corridors were quieter than she had expected, though she passed a few students who glanced at her with varying degrees of curiosity and suspicion. She felt their eyes on her as she walked, but she kept her head down, not ready to engage just yet.

The dining hall was a grand room with long wooden tables and tall, arched windows that overlooked the academy grounds. Students were scattered around, eating breakfast and talking in low voices. Elara hesitated in the doorway, scanning the room for a familiar face—but of course, there were none.

Before she could decide where to sit, a voice called out behind her.

"New girl!"

Elara turned to see a boy striding toward her, a smirk on his face and a mischievous glint in his eye. He was tall and athletic, with tousled blonde hair and an easy confidence that seemed to draw attention.

"Kieran Frost," he introduced himself with a flourish, flashing her a grin as if they were already friends. "I've heard about you."

Elara raised an eyebrow. "That's funny. I haven't heard about you."

Kieran laughed, clearly unbothered. "Ah, but you will. You're Elara, right? The lost heir of the Ward family? People have been talking about you since last night."

Elara's stomach twisted. She had expected some attention—after all, the letter had said she was the last of her kind—but hearing that everyone already knew who she was made her feel exposed. She hadn't even spoken to anyone yet, and already she was being watched.

"I didn't realize I was that interesting," she said dryly, trying to hide her discomfort.

Kieran's grin widened. "Oh, you have no idea. A Ward hasn't been seen at Arclight Academy in years. The last time someone from your family was here, it didn't end well."

Elara frowned, her curiosity piqued despite herself. "What do you mean?"

Kieran opened his mouth to answer, but before he could speak, the hall seemed to quiet, and a hush fell over the students. Elara felt the change in the air immediately—a shift in the atmosphere, as if something cold had swept through the room.

And then she saw him.

A tall figure entered the dining hall, his presence commanding attention without even trying. He moved with a quiet grace, his dark hair falling messily across his forehead, and his sharp green eyes scanning the room with a cool detachment. His expression was unreadable, but there was an air of authority around him that made the other students fall silent as he passed.

Elara didn't need anyone to tell her who he was. She knew instinctively.

Adrian Thorn.

The prince of the magical realm. The son of the most powerful family in their world.