Daywalker Part 1: Lucian Moonshade and the Sunlit Prophecy

Chapter 6: The Headmaster's Warning

The silence in Headmaster Maris' office was oppressive. The ancient wooden desk between Lucian and the headmaster felt like a barrier, a final line of defense against the weight of everything that had happened. Lucian sat with his hands in his lap, fighting the urge to fidget. His body still ached from the battle at the Night Gate, but it wasn't the physical pain that weighed on him now—it was the dread.

Across from him, Headmaster Maris sat with his hands folded on the desk, his expression unreadable. His sharp, angular face was as impassive as ever, his silver hair shimmering faintly in the dim light of the room. Behind him, the tall windows of his office offered a view of the academy grounds, where students moved about in blissful ignorance of the dangers that lurked just beyond their sight.

"I hear you had quite the encounter in the woods," Maris finally said, his voice smooth and calm, though his eyes betrayed the weight of his thoughts.

Lucian swallowed, trying to steady his nerves. He had known this conversation was coming ever since they had returned to the academy after closing the first Night Gate. Maris had summoned him the following morning, and Lucian hadn't had the time to prepare any kind of defense. What was he supposed to say? That he and his friends had been battling ancient dark magic right under the academy's nose?

"I—" Lucian started, but Maris raised a hand, cutting him off.

"You don't need to explain," Maris said softly. "I already know what happened."

Lucian's breath caught in his throat. "You know?"

Maris nodded slowly. "The Night Gates, the prophecy of the Daywalker... these are not secrets that I take lightly. I've been keeping a close eye on you, Lucian, ever since you arrived at Solara. I knew your connection to the Daystone would lead you down this path eventually. I just didn't expect it to happen so soon."

Lucian's mind reeled. Maris knew about the prophecy? About the Daystone? Why hadn't he said anything before?

"Why didn't you tell me?" Lucian asked, his voice sharper than he intended. "Why keep it a secret? I've been stumbling through all of this, trying to figure out what I'm supposed to do."

Maris's gaze softened slightly, though his expression remained guarded. "Because you weren't ready. You still may not be. The burden you carry is a heavy one, Lucian. And if you're not careful, it could destroy you."

Lucian leaned forward, his frustration boiling over. "I don't have a choice, do I? I can't just walk away from this. The Night Gates are opening, Kieran is trying to use them for his own gain, and if we don't stop him, both realms are going to fall into darkness."

Maris sighed, leaning back in his chair as he studied Lucian carefully. "You're right about that. The threat you're facing is very real. And I believe you've done the best you can, given the circumstances. But I must warn you, Lucian—this is only the beginning. Kieran is not the only one after the power of the Night Gates. There are forces far older and more dangerous than him that would see the balance between light and dark shattered."

Lucian felt a chill run down his spine. "Older than Kieran? What are you talking about?"

Maris rose from his seat, moving to stand by the tall window that overlooked the academy grounds. His gaze was distant, as if he were looking beyond the present, into the depths of ancient history.

"Morvath was not just a rogue sorcerer," Maris said quietly. "He was the last of a forgotten order, an order that believed in harnessing both light and dark magic to transcend the limitations of mortality. His followers were known as the Order of Eternal Night, and they sought to unlock the secrets of the Night Gates to gain power over both realms. When Morvath was defeated, the Order was thought to have been destroyed."