BEYOND THE NORTHERN FOREST

CHAPTER FIVE:THE LORD VAERON

THE LORD VAERON

The morning after Lucan's awakening began with silence.

Not the peaceful kind.

The estate was quiet because everyone was afraid to speak.

The previous day's events had changed everything.

The cracked courtyard had been repaired, but the damage was still visible if someone looked closely enough. Several stones remained blackened from the lightning. Thin patches of ice had melted into the ground, leaving strange patterns across the stone.

The soldiers had been ordered not to discuss what they had witnessed.

It didn't matter.

Rumors had already begun spreading.

Lucan had heard them before breakfast.

Some said he had summoned a storm.

Others claimed he had destroyed half the training yard.

One soldier had apparently told another that Lucan had nearly killed Lady Seris.

That part was completely untrue.

But Lucan had stopped trying to correct people.

He sat alone at the edge of the courtyard, staring at his hands.

Nothing happened.

No lightning.

No frost.

No strange red glow.

Just hands.

Normal hands.

He turned his arm over.

The mark was there.

Seven symbols joined together.

The strange symbol in the center remained hidden beneath them.

Lucan remembered what had happened yesterday.

Thunder had awakened first.

Then Frost.

Blood.

Void.

The others had begun reacting.

He still didn't understand why.

He closed his eyes.

You are not the storm.

Seris's voice returned to him.

You are Lucan.

He breathed slowly.

For the first time since the awakening, he felt calm.

Then a bell rang.

Once.

Lucan opened his eyes.

Another bell rang.

Twice.

He looked toward the main gate.

A group of riders had arrived.

But they weren't ordinary visitors.

The soldiers guarding the gate stood perfectly straight.

A black carriage approached slowly along the road.

There were no decorations on it.

No family crest.

No flags.

Only a silver symbol carved into the door.

A crown.

With an eye in its center.

Lucan immediately recognized it.

His mark reacted.

A faint pulse traveled through his arm.

He pulled his sleeve down.

"What is that?"

A soldier beside him whispered:

"Someone important."

The carriage stopped.

The horses didn't make a sound.

The driver stepped down and opened the door.

A man emerged.

He was tall.

Not enormous, but he carried himself in a way that made him seem taller than everyone around him.

He wore a long dark coat with silver edges.

His hair was black, neatly tied behind his head.

A thin scar crossed his left eyebrow.

But what Lucan noticed most were his eyes.

They were calm.

Too calm.

The man looked at the estate as if he already owned it.

Three guards approached.

"State your business."

The stranger looked at them.

"My business is with the Duke."

The captain raised his spear.

"You'll need to wait here."

The stranger's expression didn't change.

"I won't."

The captain stepped forward.

"Lord Vaeron."

The name came from behind Lucan.

He turned.

Lady Seris stood at the entrance to the courtyard.

Her face had gone pale.

Lucan looked back at the stranger.

"Lord?"

Seris walked toward them.

"Everyone lower your weapons."

The guards hesitated.

"Lady Seris—"

"Now."

They lowered their weapons.

Lord Vaeron watched her approach.

"Seris."

"Vaeron."

There was no warmth between them.

Lucan noticed immediately.

They knew each other.

Seris stopped several feet away.

"I wasn't expecting you."

"I didn't come for you."

His eyes moved past her.

They stopped on Lucan.

The atmosphere changed.

Lucan felt it immediately.

His mark burned.

Lord Vaeron's expression remained calm.

But his eyes widened slightly.

Only for a moment.

Then he walked toward Lucan.

Seris moved between them.

"That's far enough."

Vaeron stopped.

"You're protecting him."

"Yes."

"Interesting."

Lucan frowned.

"Who are you?"

Vaeron looked at him.

"Lord Vaeron."

"I heard your name."

"Then you already know enough."

"I don't think I do."

For the first time, Vaeron smiled.

It wasn't friendly.

It wasn't cruel.

It was simply the smile of someone who had just discovered something unexpected.

"You are Lucan."

Lucan's eyes narrowed.

"How do you know my name?"

Vaeron didn't answer.

Instead, his gaze moved toward Lucan's covered arm.

"I can feel it."

Lucan instinctively stepped backward.

"Feel what?"

Vaeron's voice became quieter.

"The Curses."

The courtyard seemed to freeze.

Seris's hand moved toward her sleeve.

Vaeron noticed.

"You don't need to activate yours."

Seris's eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

"Because I didn't come here to fight."

"Then why are you here?"

Vaeron looked at Lucan.

"Because yesterday, something happened."

Lucan said nothing.

Vaeron continued.

"I felt the Thunder Curse awaken."

Seris's expression changed.

"From this far away?"

"Yes."

"That's impossible."

"No."

Vaeron looked at Lucan.

"It isn't."

He stepped closer.

"When a Curse awakens, its presence can sometimes be sensed by another bearer."

Lucan looked at Seris.

"You felt mine?"

Seris nodded.

"Yes."

Vaeron continued.

"But what I felt wasn't simply Thunder."

Lucan's stomach tightened.

"What did you feel?"

Vaeron's eyes remained fixed on him.

"Seven."

Silence.

Lucan swallowed.

"Seven what?"

"Seven Curse signatures."

A soldier nearby whispered something.

Vaeron turned his head slightly.

The soldier immediately stopped speaking.

Lucan stared at him.

"You sensed all seven?"

"I did."

"But that's impossible."

"Yes."

Vaeron's voice became almost thoughtful.

"That's exactly why I came."

---

Duke Arven arrived several minutes later.

He came quickly, followed by two guards.

When he saw Vaeron, his expression darkened.

"Lord Vaeron."

"Your Grace."

Arven stopped.

"I wasn't informed that you were coming."

"If I had informed you, would you have welcomed me?"

"No."

Vaeron smiled.

"Then I saved us both time."

Arven looked at Seris.

She gave him a small shake of her head.

Not here.

Not yet.

Arven understood.

"Come inside."

Vaeron looked at Lucan.

"He's coming too."

Arven's jaw tightened.

"Why?"

"Because he's the reason I'm here."

Lucan stepped forward.

"I'll come."

Seris looked at him.

"Lucan—"

"I'm tired of people talking about me as if I'm not standing right here."

Vaeron looked amused.

"Good."

Lucan frowned.

"What's good?"

"You have courage."

"I don't know if it's courage."

Vaeron's smile faded.

"Perhaps not."

He turned and walked toward the estate.

"Come."

Lucan followed.

Seris walked beside him.

Quietly, she said:

"Don't trust him."

Lucan glanced at her.

"Do you?"

"No."

"Then why are we letting him inside?"

"Because he's one of the Seven."

Lucan looked ahead.

"How many have you met?"

Seris was silent.

"Seris."

"Enough."

"How many?"

She finally answered.

"Three."

Lucan's eyes widened.

"There are seven of you?"

"No."

She shook her head.

"There are seven Curses."

"That's not what I asked."

Seris looked at him.

"Every Curse has a bearer."

"Then there are seven."

"Usually."

Lucan stopped walking.

"Usually?"

Seris didn't answer.

Before he could ask, they entered the great hall.

---

Lord Vaeron stood near the fireplace.

Duke Arven sat across from him.

Seris stood beside Lucan.

No one spoke for several seconds.

Finally, Arven said:

"Explain."

Vaeron looked at him.

"Yesterday, the Thunder Curse awakened."

Arven nodded.

"We know."

"I felt it."

"From where?"

"Far enough away."

Arven's expression remained guarded.

Vaeron continued.

"But Thunder wasn't alone."

Lucan looked down.

"You sensed the others."

"Yes."

"How?"

Vaeron leaned back.

"The Seven are connected."

Seris frowned.

"Not that strongly."

"They are when one bearer carries all of them."

The room went silent.

Arven's eyes moved to Lucan.

Vaeron noticed.

"So you haven't told him everything."

Arven's expression hardened.

"Be careful."

Vaeron ignored him.

"Lucan, show me your arm."

Lucan didn't move.

"No."

Vaeron looked at him.

"You're afraid."

Lucan frowned.

"I'm cautious."

"Good answer."

Vaeron stood.

"I won't force you."

Seris looked at him suspiciously.

Lucan slowly rolled up his sleeve.

The mark was visible.

Vaeron walked closer.

For the first time since arriving, his calm expression disappeared completely.

His eyes widened.

He stared at the mark.

Seven symbols.

Merged into one.

His breathing became slower.

"What..."

He stopped.

Lucan watched him.

"What?"

Vaeron didn't answer.

He raised his hand but didn't touch the mark.

"That's impossible."

"You've said that already."

Vaeron ignored him.

He looked at Seris.

"You knew?"

"We discovered it recently."

"You allowed him to remain here?"

Seris's eyes narrowed.

"Where else would he go?"

Vaeron looked at Arven.

"You have no idea what you've done."

Arven stood.

"Don't lecture me in my own home."

"You think this is about your home?"

Vaeron pointed toward Lucan.

"This is about him."

Lucan looked at Vaeron.

"What am I?"

Vaeron's eyes returned to him.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

Then:

"I don't know."

Lucan frowned.

"Then why did you come?"

"Because I know what happens when the Seven gather."

"What happens?"

Vaeron's voice became quiet.

"They call the others."

Lucan's heart skipped.

"The other Curse-bearers?"

"Yes."

Seris crossed her arms.

"They'll sense him eventually."

"They already have."

Arven looked at Vaeron.

"How many?"

Vaeron's expression darkened.

"I don't know."

"Then why come here?"

"Because I wanted to see whether what I sensed was real."

He looked at Lucan's mark.

"Now I know."

Lucan lowered his sleeve.

"What happens next?"

Vaeron stared at him.

"That depends on you."

---

Later that afternoon, Vaeron requested a private conversation with Lucan.

Duke Arven refused.

Seris refused.

Vaeron simply looked at both of them.

"I won't harm him."

Seris answered:

"That's not the same as saying you won't manipulate him."

Vaeron smiled.

"You understand me well."

"I've met you before."

"So you have."

Lucan looked between them.

"What happened?"

Neither answered.

Vaeron finally said:

"Seris and I served under the same commander many years ago."

Lucan raised an eyebrow.

"You were soldiers?"

"Something like that."

Seris interrupted.

"That's enough."

Vaeron nodded.

"As you wish."

He turned to Lucan.

"Then I'll speak with you here."

They moved to a smaller room.

Seris remained by the door.

Vaeron sat across from Lucan.

"You've activated Thunder."

"Yes."

"Anything else?"

Lucan hesitated.

"Frost."

Vaeron's expression changed.

"Blood."

Another pause.

"Void."

Vaeron became very still.

"Did they fully awaken?"

"No."

"Good."

Lucan frowned.

"Why?"

"Because you aren't ready."

"I know."

"No."

Vaeron leaned forward.

"You don't."

Lucan's eyes narrowed.

"You don't know me."

"I know enough."

"What?"

"I know that if you lose control again, you could destroy this estate."

Lucan looked down.

"Maybe."

"Not maybe."

Vaeron's voice remained calm.

"You could hurt people."

Lucan's jaw tightened.

"I know."

"Then learn."

"I am."

"Not fast enough."

Lucan looked up.

"Then teach me."

Vaeron was silent.

Seris watched from the doorway.

Lucan continued.

"You said the Seven are connected. You know how they work."

"Yes."

"Then teach me."

Vaeron smiled.

"Perhaps."

Lucan frowned.

"Perhaps?"

"I don't teach people who don't understand the price of power."

"What's the price?"

Vaeron stood.

"Everything."

He walked toward the door.

Lucan followed.

"That's not an answer."

"It is."

Vaeron stopped.

Then he turned.

"Do you know what happens when a Curse consumes its bearer?"

Lucan shook his head.

"The Curse doesn't disappear."

Vaeron looked directly into his eyes.

"It takes control."

Lucan remembered yesterday.

The seven powers moving inside him.

The pressure.

The voices that weren't voices.

He felt cold.

"How do I prevent that?"

"Control."

"How?"

"Discipline."

Lucan frowned.

"That's it?"

"No."

Vaeron's expression became serious.

"You must understand each Curse before it understands you."

He looked at Lucan's mark.

"And you have seven."

---

That evening, Lord Vaeron remained at the estate.

Nobody knew why.

He didn't eat with the Duke.

He didn't speak with the soldiers.

He simply sat in the library, reading ancient records.

Lucan watched him from the doorway.

Vaeron didn't look up.

"You've been standing there for five minutes."

Lucan stepped inside.

"You knew?"

"I can hear your breathing."

Lucan sat across from him.

"What are you reading?"

"The history of the Seven."

"Anything useful?"

"Nothing that explains you."

Lucan leaned forward.

"Then what does?"

Vaeron closed the book.

"Stories."

"Stories?"

"The oldest stories."

He looked at Lucan.

"Long before the Seven were known as Curses, people called them something else."

"What?"

"Blessings."

Lucan frowned.

"Blessings?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because they gave people power."

"Then why are they called Curses?"

"Because every blessing has a price."

Lucan looked at his mark.

"What price?"

Vaeron shook his head.

"That's different for every bearer."

"What's yours?"

Vaeron's eyes became distant.

"Control."

Lucan waited.

Vaeron continued.

"My Curse allows me to command others."

"You can control people."

"Yes."

"What's the price?"

"I have to live with the knowledge that every person who obeys me may not be doing so by choice."

Lucan was silent.

Vaeron looked down.

"Power changes people."

"Did it change you?"

"Yes."

"How?"

Vaeron smiled faintly.

"I stopped trusting myself."

Lucan didn't expect that answer.

"You seem confident."

"Confidence isn't trust."

He opened the book again.

"Remember that."

---

A scream suddenly came from outside.

Lucan jumped up.

Vaeron was already standing.

Seris entered the library.

"Someone's trying to enter the estate."

Arven's voice followed from the hall.

"How many?"

"None."

Lucan frowned.

"What?"

Seris looked toward Vaeron.

"That's the problem."

They hurried outside.

The courtyard was empty.

The guards stood at the gate.

No enemy.

No rider.

No carriage.

Nothing.

Duke Arven approached.

"What happened?"

A guard pointed toward the road.

"There was someone standing there."

"Where?"

"He disappeared."

Vaeron walked toward the gate.

Lucan followed.

Vaeron stopped.

His eyes narrowed.

"What did he look like?"

The guard swallowed.

"I couldn't see his face."

"Did he speak?"

"No."

"Did he have a symbol?"

The guard hesitated.

"Yes."

Vaeron's expression darkened.

"Which one?"

The guard looked at Lucan.

Then at Vaeron.

"The Void."

Everyone became silent.

Lucan's mark burned.

Vaeron immediately looked at him.

"Don't."

Lucan grabbed his arm.

The mark pulsed.

Once.

Twice.

Then stopped.

Vaeron stared toward the darkness beyond the gate.

"He knows."

Seris asked:

"Who?"

Vaeron didn't answer.

Duke Arven stepped forward.

"Vaeron."

Vaeron turned.

"The others have begun to sense him."

Arven's face hardened.

"How long?"

"Not long."

"Days?"

"Maybe."

"Hours?"

Vaeron looked toward the northern road.

"Perhaps already."

Lucan felt a chill.

"What happens when they come?"

Vaeron looked at him.

"That depends on which one arrives first."

Lucan swallowed.

"And if it's an enemy?"

Vaeron's eyes became cold.

"Then you'll need to learn very quickly."

"Learn what?"

Vaeron looked at Lucan's mark.

"How to survive a Curse-bearer."

---

That night, Lucan stood by the window.

The estate was dark.

Lord Vaeron had taken a room in the western wing.

Seris was stationed nearby.

The soldiers were on alert.

Nobody knew what was coming.

Lucan touched the pendant beneath his shirt.

Nothing.

He looked toward the northern forest.

A strange feeling filled his chest.

Not fear.

Recognition.

As though something was calling him.

Then his mark glowed.

Lucan froze.

Seven symbols appeared.

One after another.

Thunder.

Frost.

Blood.

Void.

Decay.

Dominion.

Ascension.

Then they merged.

The strange central symbol appeared again.

This time, it remained visible for several seconds.

Lucan stared.

A whisper reached him.

Not from the pendant.

Not from the room.

From somewhere far away.

A voice.

A familiar voice.

"Lucan."

His heart stopped.

He moved toward the window.

"Levi?"

Nothing.

Then the voice came again.

Faint.

Distant.

But unmistakable.

"Don't trust them."

Lucan's eyes widened.

"Levi!"

He opened the window.

Cold air rushed into the room.

Nothing stood outside.

Only darkness.

But on the far horizon, beyond the estate walls, a tiny light appeared.