Onyx Magical Academy (GXG)

Chapter Ten

After Conrad left the office, Baron Larkin remained seated at his desk, lost in thought. The sun filtered through the window, casting shifting patterns of light across the polished surface, but the warmth failed to penetrate the chill that settled in the pit of his stomach. The mention of Flynn's mother as a graduate of the esteemed academy weighed heavily on his mind.

A powerful knight, respected and feared, yet she had chosen to live in the mountains, far removed from the court's political machinations. It was perplexing that someone with her skills and lineage had ended up in his barony, where she seemingly had little to protect her from the world outside. The Baron leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair, the stress of the situation pressing down on him.

Why had she settled here, and how had she succumbed to an illness? It didn't add up. The academy trained warriors to face the fiercest adversities, equipping them with not just combat skills but also the knowledge of survival. Yet her life had taken a turn that led her away from that strength, back into the very dangers she sought to escape.

"Was she truly ill, or was it something more?" he muttered to himself, his fingers tapping against the desk in a rhythm of growing agitation. There had been no word of her suffering during her time in the mountains, no warning signs that something was amiss. It struck him as suspicious, almost too convenient.

The Baron recalled the rumors that had circulated in the court regarding Flynn's mother—a woman who had turned her back on her potential, a knight who had given up her sword for the peace of herbalism. But why? Did she sense an impending threat, or was she simply tired of the endless power struggles that defined noble life?

As he contemplated the implications, the Baron's thoughts turned back to Flynn. She bore the blood of a warrior and the legacy of a powerful family. If her mother had chosen this secluded life, perhaps it was to keep Flynn away from the ambitions and schemes of nobility. The girl was still just a child, yet she had already displayed remarkable skill.

"What are you hiding, Flynn?" he pondered aloud, the question echoing off the stone walls. The girl's sudden appearance in his life felt like an intrusion, yet it also presented an opportunity—one he could exploit to solidify his own power. If she was indeed as formidable as her mother, then she could be a valuable asset. But that also meant he had to tread carefully.

The Baron rose from his seat and paced the room, grappling with the conflicting emotions swirling within him. He had initially seen Flynn's arrival as a threat, but now he recognized the potential of nurturing her talents, albeit for his own ends.

He glanced out the window, watching the birds soar high above the mountains, and a plan began to take shape in his mind. "If I can gain her trust, perhaps I can bend her to my will," he mused, an icy smile creeping across his lips. "But first, I need to learn more about her and her mother."

Determined, he stepped out of his office and summoned his aide, a young man named Alaric, who had always been eager to please. "Alaric, gather any information you can about Flynn's mother—her time at the academy, her battles, her life before she came to my barony. I want every detail, no matter how small."

"Yes, my lord," Alaric replied, his eyes widening with the excitement of the task.

As the aide scurried off, the Baron turned his attention back to the window. He needed to uncover the truth behind the illness that had taken Flynn's mother. There had to be more to this story—something that tied the young girl to her past in ways that could be manipulated.

The Baron's expression darkened as he realized he was not merely playing a game of politics; he was weaving a web that could ensnare both Flynn and the duke in his designs. The stakes were higher than ever, and he was determined to come out on top, no matter the cost.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the castle grounds, Baron Larkin felt a renewed sense of purpose. In the depths of this mystery lay the key to his future, and he would not rest until he had unlocked it.