Chapter 2 — Two Worlds

  The teacher’s words, spoken in a monotonous voice, did not reach the ears of most of the students. However, Kael Elvaria did not take his gaze off him.

  Ryan, who sat beside him, as usual was thinking about something else, yet at the same time caught the teacher’s words with one ear. He was not worried — for a person with his level of intellect and knowledge, this was an easy task.

  Ryan clenched his fingers in anticipation. He tried not to look at Kael, but his thoughts kept returning to him.

  It had already been a week since Ryan had begun showing him signs of attention. And to this day, Kael looked at him as if he were empty space.

  This is irritating, he thought. Utterly irritating. But that only makes it more entertaining.

  There had never been anything in this world that Ryan wanted — and could not obtain. Since childhood, he had had no rivals in anything, and the only thing his peers felt when looking at him was admiration and envy.

  But Kael was different.

  The bell rang. Kael stood immediately and left in the direction of his room. Ryan clicked his tongue quietly.

  If I disgust him so much, then why did he tell me to sit next to him, hm?

  Outwardly, this did not show at all. But inside, irritation was slowly building.

  *

  Kael hurried. It was unpleasant for him to be near Ryan. He did not even know why.

  From an early age, Kael had devoted himself to the sword, as befits the heir of the Elvaria house.

  I have never communicated with peers, he thought, closing the door behind him. Maybe that is why I do not understand Ryan at all? We are enemies, so why is he trying to speak with me? He should have just challenged me to a duel.

  Kael grabbed his sword.

  I must not be distracted, he reasoned coldly, looking at the reflection of his own eyes in the pure flawless steel. I am Kael Elvaria, heir of the North. I am the one who carries light into darkness. I am the one who follows the path of justice and honor in the name of peace.

  The words of the oath, as always, calmed him.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  He left the room.

  It is time to forget all this nonsense. I must continue training. I cannot allow my mastery to decline because of this year.

  His sword rose upward in rhythmic motions. To an ordinary person it would have seemed nothing more than meaningless farce. Connoisseurs, however, would have admired the unbelievably precise movements with astonishment. Kael did not think about the sword. He lived it.

  A barely noticeable smile appeared on his face as he performed his dance with the blade under the rays of sunset. As usual, once Kael took up the sword, he lost track of time and stopped noticing anything around him.

  He did not feel fatigue. Over the course of several hours, he once again felt alive.

  He did not notice the burning gaze that was watching him from the large windows of the ballroom.

  *

  Ryan walked along the corridor, completely hung with portraits, paying them not the slightest attention. Today the Southerners had organized a ball — with the director’s permission. This ball had become the most discussed gossip of recent days. Everyone was interested in who would receive an invitation and who would not. Naturally, not a single Northerner could even think of appearing at this party.

  Ryan was the invited guest number one, of course.

  It will be boring, he lazily noted. The same usual gossip, jokes, mutual humiliation and meaningless luxury. A complete waste of time. Besides, everyone who will be at the evening has long been enchanted by me. The only thing awaiting me tonight is pointless flattery.

  “Good evening, young duke!” Cloud Servenia, the organizer of the party, rushed out to meet him. “It is a great honor for us that you attend our celebration!”

  “Could I really not come?” Ryan asked in a playful tone. “A whole week without balls — I thought I would not survive.”

  Everyone around laughed. The moment Ryan appeared, he immediately became the hero of the evening. All eyes looked at him with boundless attraction.

  Idiots, Ryan thought. Worthless idiots. They truly are useless.

  “What are you thinking about?” one of the girls asked.

  “You would not understand,” Ryan replied. “It is too complicated for you.”

  “And still,” the girl winked, “will you tell me?”

  She is clearly trying to flirt, Ryan smirked inwardly. Well, entertaining such fools is even amusing.

  “The Third Magical Theory of Jan al Crowen,” he answered with the same charming smile. “Would you like to discuss it? I would gladly speak of it with you, lady.”

  The girl blushed.

  “Incredible, even now you think only about self-perfection,” Cloud interjected. “As expected of you, young duke!”

  “That is the very least I must do as the future head of Crowen,” Ryan replied, raising a glass of a non-alcoholic drink. “To Crowen.”

  “To Crowen!” everyone repeated after him.

  Conversations once again filled the ballroom. Ryan continued speaking with everyone, nodding in different directions. His art of conversation was at its peak.

  He took another glass.

  It is a pity wine is forbidden in the academy, a thought flashed. Perhaps I should invent magic that turns a non-alcoholic drink into wine?

  Suddenly the flow of his thoughts was interrupted by a glimmer beyond the window.

  For a couple of seconds everything around him seemed to disappear.

  He was looking at a youth training on the grounds, completely immersed in his inner world. Silver hair fluttered in the wind, and on the youth’s lips rested a faint smile.

  Ryan tightened his grip on the glass.

  The moon, which had just risen, shone, illuminating Kael, turning an ordinary training into a spectacle never seen before.

  We really are like parallel worlds, Ryan thought, with a barely noticeable bitterness.

  He would never admit it. But for the first time in twelve years of his existence, Ryan Crowen felt envy.