The black throne heir

CHAPTER TWO- First Day

I wake to the alarm I set the night before, flowing through the walls, for a moment I forget where I am, sitting on the bed I scan the room, trying to recollect my full consciousness. The sun has just begun to rise, painting the towers of Obsidian Crown Academy in gold. I sit up, adjusting the thin blanket around my shoulders, trying to shake off the tension

tension from yesterday. My muscles ache, but I pay it no mind. Genuinely wonder what today would be like, my mind races im anticipation and unease.

Other students are on the move already, polished shoes, straightened robes . They are effortless in their elegance, their wealth.

"Heeyyy," Mara hops in front of me cheerfully

before I can fully respond she pulls my arm .

"Let's go, we have five minutes left before

classes start."

"What's the lecturer like," i question curiously.

"Don't worry, you'll see," she answers, pulling me even faster as I try to keep up with her pace

The first class is Magical Theory and Contracts. I slip into the back row, trying to merge with the other scholarship students, the ones who never get noticed. Our professor glides into the room,

"Contracts are alive," he says, voice resounding through the class.

"They sure are," I whisper while rolling my eyes, Mara who sits close to me let's out a silent giggle.

"Every bond, every agreement carries energy. Wealth, intent, power, they respond to those who understand. Misstep, and consequences follow. Observe, feel, and survive."

Across the hall, through the tall window, I catch a glimpse of him, Kael Morvane. He is moving with that same effortless precision.

walking Hand to hand with Mara, we sight him together , with his clique.

"Oh my God, Kael? That's him. Do you see the way everyone just stopped? He's literally the deal, Like he is stupidly handsome, and he knows it. Everyone gasps when he passes,teachers, students, everyone. And don't even get me started on his family, Old money, insane money, the kind where their name opens doors without knocking. he's popular without trying, untouchable, like he belongs above all of us. Honestly? The school might as well revolve around him," Mara chatters away

"Girl chill," i giggle as I nudge her slightly

"He's quite cute though," I add

"Cute? quite cute? Oh no that's preposterous, you mean to say his divine," she drags

I let out a soft chuckle

"Okay Mara, he's Diiiivvviiinnee," I jest

But on a serious note I begin to wonder why

students part for him, almost unconsciously. I shrink against the wall, hoping he does not see me, but something in me knows he notices. I catch the way his head tilts, just slightly, the faintest observation, and then he is gone, swallowed by the corridors, leaving me wondering if my mind is playing tricks.

Getting to our second class, I and Mara assume our respective seats .

A girl with golden hair and sharp eyes leans over my desk. "So you're one of the new charity case?"

"I am not a charity case ," I whisper, trying to clean the mess.

"Oh really?" She rethoughts

"Yes," I answer biting back tears, I feel the heat rising to my cheeks, and continue to write, the professor does not notice, nobody notices, I feel the familiar weight of being invisible, an outsider, a nonentity.

"Alice!! Asume your seat now," I hear a loud command

The lecturer for the second class glides in.

"Catch you around," the girl says with a mean thin smile.

My eyes sting as I hold back tears

"Hey, it's a norm over here for people like us, don't take it to her, just let it be okay," Mara whispers from beside me.

Mara had been my comfort ever since I got in.

Today, we are learning a thing or two about water magic and how to combine it with fire magic to create molten magic, Oh well, I already knew I possessed all the elemental powers, but I still have so much to learn. Still, I can't help but wonder why they seem to pick on me more than the other lowborns. Yes, they attack other lowborns too, but mine feels heavier somehow. Oh well, I shake it off. At least I have Mara beside me.

From the balcony above, I sense movement. Kael appears again I tend to sense energies faster than anyone else, but only when they are strong. Keal energy is something I just can't ignore, or maybe I'm the only one who feels it. Something is drawing me in. I know he's important, but we all know he's important. The kingdom knows about him. The entire kingdom of Aurum knows about him. Still, there's something about him that pulls at me, something I can't explain. My stomach tightens. I want to run, hide, but there's no reason to.

The afternoon is a blur of lessons I struggle to follow. Magical contracts are alive, shifting as I try to copy them onto my journal . I glance at my neighbor for guidance, only to find a smirk and a whispered, "You really shouldn't be here."

Of all times, Mara chose this moment to pee. I roll my eyes , of course I know I'm not meant to be here, but I earned the scholarship fair and square

By late afternoon, I am exhausted. My feet ache, my back burns from sitting straight, my fingers cramp from endless notes. I carry my bag from across the hall, avoiding eye contact with the clusters of students.

In the library, I sit at a small table tucked between towering shelves, attempting to study in silence. There's a slight shift in the air above the pages, glowing faintly, reacting to my touch.

"Hey girl," Mara approaches, but she isn't alone this time

"Meet Vera,"

"She's just like us," she whispers to me

"Hi Vera, I'm Nyra," I wave sheepishly

"Hi," she sheepishly waves back. Guess she's just like us after all

"Did you hear what Selene did in combat class? She almost set her own robes on fire." Mara starts as she and Vera sit opposite me

"I know, and she still tried to act like it was on purpose. The confidence was… impressive," I add, letting out a reckless chuckle

"Please. Have you seen Rowan lately? He's been following the elites around like a lost rabbit," Vera says as she gestures a rabbit

We laugh loudly

"Sssshhhhh" people around hush us almost immediately

"Don't say that too loud," I whisper, we are in a library let's keep it down .

"Moreover he's always in the library pretending to study," Mara continues, holding back her giggle

"Well, if pretending was a subject," Vera mutters, "he'd be top of the class."

I snort softly. "Obsidian High really brings out the characters, doesn't it?"

A hand flicks my hair, pulling a strand across my face. I swipe it away, glare at the shadowed figure beside me.

Even as I try to focus, I feel it again, there's a noticeable shift , the scent of magic in the air , like a heartbeat, my pulse quickens, I dart my gaze to the balcony where Kael has been standing but he is not here. The feeling persists, something watches me, maybe it's paranoia.

The bell rings, dismissing us for the evening. Students flow like a river toward their dorms,

Back in my dorm, I collapse onto my bed,

"Aaaaarrrrhhhh," I moan with relief as I stretch

staring at the ceiling.

Out of boredom I begin to trace the faint carvings above with my fingers , they glow slightly in the dim candlelight.

I feel a strange pull towards him and I have no idea why, I need to always keep in mind that I'm low class and it'll be a cold day in hell before someone like Kael notices me.

My head begins to spiral with uneasy thoughts

I know I am being observed, but by who? I am left with the uneasy, twisting mixture of fear and curiosity.

Outside, in the corridor, the candlelight flickers. There's a faint movement across the floor. Somewhere, far above, a shadow

passes silently. I do not see it, but I feel it.