The black throne heir

CHAPTER FIVE - The invitation

My phone is presses against my ear.

"Nyra," my mother says softly, her voice faint through the weak signal.

"are you eating properly."

I smile despite the pain in my chest.

"I am, Mama, the food here is too much sometimes, you would laugh if you saw it."

She laughs quietly, I imagine her sitting on the old chair near the window back home, sunlight filtering through thin curtains,

"How is Jasmine and Jake ," I ask, pacing the small space of my dorm room, brushing my fingers through the edge of my desk, I miss my siblings, i and Jake's silly fights on who'd get the last slice of toast, I miss I and Jasmine's Bake offs in the Kitchen, I'm the middle child, Jake is the first, Jasmine is a year younger than me. Tears well up in my eyes as I fight to hold them back. I miss home already.

"They are fine ," she replies.

"Your siblings are fighting again. Your sister keeps asking when you will come home dressed like a noblewoman."

I chuckle, " tell her I'm still the same Nyra."

My mother exhales slowly. "You sound different."

I look at my reflection in the mirror, same face, Same dark hair, nothing different.

We talk about home, the leaky roof about the neighbour who still owes her money , about the way the city feels too big and too small all at once. When the call ends , I feel heavy sadness and yearning

I hop into the shower, steam fogging the mirror water sliding over my skin as I try to wash the tension away. I put on my uniform afterward, uniform neat, hair loose, shoes polished, just enough to blend in.

Breakfast is quieter than usual, students gather together whispering excitedly, eyes bright, something is happening . I feel it in the air, restless shimmer that has nothing to do with magic and everything to do with expectations.

I move toward the table where Vera and Mara is sitted , a group of girls rush past me, laughter spilling freely.

"Did you hear," one of them spills breathlessly. one of them spills breathlessly.

"The induction ball is tonight"

Tonight?? There's an induction ball that exist, wtf, why didn't no one tell me, not like I have any friends but still

"Of course it is," another replies.

"The Morvane family never misses it."

My steps slow. Induction ball, wait, I think I have heard of it, people whispered about it in the village as if it were a myth instead of a real event.

Breakfast passes in a blur. I notice small things that unsettle me, servant adjusting banners I have never seen before, professors speaking in lowered voices. The academy itself feels alert, and bustling .

In class the lecturer arrives late, robes immaculate. He does not begin the lesson immediately, Instead, he lifts his hand, and the class goes silent .

"Today," he says, "you will receive your induction invitations."

Gasps of excitement spreads across the hall.

Cards appear in his hands, thick and black, edged in gold. They float toward the class, gliding to each desk, when mine lands in front of me, my fingers hesitate before touching it.

"Attendance is mandatory," he continues. "Lowborn scholars are permitted two guests only. Esteemed families may attend without restriction."

Whispers explode around me. I hear Kael's name everywhere,Girls giggle, Others speak with hunger and yearning .

"They say Lord Morvane himself will attend."

"I need him to notice me."

"His family decides everything."

I trace the gold lettering on my card, twp guests, I do not even know if my family could come, even if I wanted them to.

As we leave the hall, I see him.

Kael stands near the corridor , surrounded by admirers who pretend they are not orbiting him. He is flawless as always. Beside him stands a girl I have never seen before.

She has long brunette hair, glossy and thick, falling down her back like silk. Her posture is easy, and straight , She speaks to him softly, close enough that others lean in, desperate to hear.

I feel a sting in my chest.

"Who is she," I lean over to ask Mara as we walk down the hallway

"I hear she's his bethroted, their families already pitched them together," she answers

I feel a twist in my stomach , I shouldn't feel that way, I try to push it but I can't .

He listens to her, really listens, when she smiles, he responds, just slightly, attention focused in a way I have never seen him give anyone else. I look away quickly, heat rising under my skin for reasons I do not understand.

By the time classes end, the academy is buzzing.

I retreat to my dorm and pull out my phone, dialing the only number I know might save me.

"Nyra," my friend laughs when she answers. "If this is about the ball, say less."

"I need something," I say quietly.

"Something that makes people stop breathing."

She whistles. "You finally asking me for fashion favors."

"You owe me," I remind her gently.

"Remember the time I covered for you."

She laughs harder, "Fine, I will make you unforgettable."

the academy glows.

Lights line the corridors. Music plays faintly from the grand hall as rehearsals are announced over the crystal speakers. Students rush past me in excitement. I am exhausted, head pounding..

I move to my dorm

As I reach for my door, From the corner of my eye I see something fly towards me

An arrow slams into the wood beside my head.

I freeze.

My heart slams violently against my chest , my pulse picks, as I stare at the arrow, this made me realise how easy it'll have been of the arrow was meant to kill me. Slowly, trembling, I reach out, holding unto the arrow I yank it off, a brown paper tied on it.

It is a message.

the paper wrapped around the arrow is stiff and dark, my fingers shake as I unfold it. My heart pounds hard against my chest, not knowing what it could contain.

A word

Written in blood.

RUN.

The get dizzy as fear floods my veins. My pulse roars in my ears. I glance down the corridor, then behind me.

Someone is watching me, but who ?

My heart pounding with one question echoing through my mind.

Who wants me gone?

I close my dorm door softly behind me and lean against it, breathing hard, trying to steady myself . I press the paper flat on my desk and stare at it until my pulse slows enough for thought to return.

I tell myself later, right now the academy has given permission for us to leave and to prepare. I change into my mufti slowly, folding my uniform with care, soft trousers, a simple top, comfortable shoes, I tie my hair back, then pause and let it fall loose again.

The outer city welcomes me with noise and warmth, the air smells like baked sugar and dust . My steps slows down as soon as I cross into it, tension eases. Finally I can breathe

My first stop is Liora's studio, sitting above a spice shop that always smells like clove and citrus. The door creaks as I push it open, and before I can even say a thing, a spool of thread flies past my ear.

"I swear if that need broke again, I would have cried," Liora says,

She's shocked when se sees me

Her eyes widen and mouth left hanging open

"Nyra!"

She rushes to me, taking me hand and pulling me in for an embrace , she squeezes the hair out of my lung.

I struggle to break free

"Girl, I need to breath," I jest

"You disappeared, I was so worried sick about you, you don't know how unfair it is to disappear into a school filled with rich kids and not send a letter."

"I sent one," I giggle .

"One letter! One letter! That's says I am okay and fine, girl that's not an update,"

I laugh, she pulls me into the studio, chaotic as usual, it screams Liora, silk curtains draping from the roof, little elf assistants working on several designs.

She circles me slowly, scanning every inch and bit of me.

"You look thinner, aren't they feeding you properly," she questions

"They are," I say.

"I just forget to eat."

She sighs, "Of course you do."

She presses a hand to my shoulder and guides me toward the mirror.

"So, tell me everything, are they awful, are they beautiful, are they unbearable."

"All three," I say honestly.

She laughs loudly "Good, I was worried it would be boring."

As she takes my measurements, she mutters under her breath.

"Your posture has changed," she says looking up at me, I shrug

She studies me, really studies me this time, then turns without a word and pulls fabric from a locked trunk beneath her worktable.

The cloth is dark, fluid, embroidered with a subtle shimmer that catches the light .

"I have been saving this," she says.

"For someone who I love."

Magic stirs as she works, threads weaving themselves under her guidance, responding to her instructions, she tells me stories while she works. About a noblewoman who cried because her gown could not outshine her sister's, about a client who fainted when her hem glowed too brightly.

"You," Liora says finally, stepping back, "are going to shine louder than them."

I swallow, "I am afraid of them seeing me."

She meets my eyes in the mirror,"They already are."

I stop by the cake shop next.

The bell above the door rings, and the baker looks up, flour on his cheek, eyes widening.

"Long time no see," he says, grinning. "Obsidian Crown stealing you away."

I laugh, warmth spreading through me as he slides my favorite slice across the counter without asking.

"I missed this," I admit.

"World always looks different from up there," he says kindly. "Do not forget where you come from."

I do not tell him how afraid I am of forgetting.

Home is loud the moment I step inside.

My siblings crash into me, pulling me into a tight embrace . My mother pulls me into her embrace next, holding me like I'll slip away.

Studying me she says, "you look taller."

"Yeah right, unfortunately I'm still 5'1," I chuckle .

We sit together, talking about event that happened in my absence, I ask Jasmine how nursing school has been and she gives a positive reply."

I pull out my dress to show my mum and siblings

"You are wearing that?" Jake asks surprised

"Yeah I am"

I hand them the invitation.

"Two guests," I inform.

Jake straightens immediately, "I'm coming,"

"Of course you are," I Giggle

My mother laughs, "Jake has always wanted to visit Obsidian high."

"I know," I answer

Jake applied for the same scholarship I applied for, unfortunately his magic wasn't strong enough.

I Genuinely missed the warmth and coziness of home.

Later, alone in my room, I unfold the paper again.

Run.