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The teacher’s gaze swept over us. For a moment, it felt like I was back in his classroom, only instead of chalk in his hand there was a carved staff.
— You should have realized it by now, — he spoke low and firm, — we didn’t end up here by chance. And this parameter, XR=9, is no coincidence either. We must find everyone and uncover the truth.
My heart clenched. Everyone?
Caldwell paused and leaned forward slightly.
— I’ve already found four more, — his voice sounded muted, but that only made it heavier. — They live in different lands, in different houses, under different names. But they are all ours. Your classmates.
Elianora’s gaze shot up. In her eyes flickered something alive and real, so unlike Selina’s emerald coldness.
— Who? — she asked, and there was a tremor of urgency in her voice.
— Not here, not now, — Caldwell answered. — The time hasn’t come yet. But know this: you are part of something greater. That is all I can say for now. I’m still studying the ancient writings.
Selina let out a quiet chuckle, leaning back in her chair.
— Ancient writings? Human magical fairy tales can’t compare to my family’s library, and even there, there’s not a word about this XR, — she cut in with an icy smile, resting her hand on the back of the chair as if she owned the hall itself.
Caldwell didn’t so much as twitch a brow. He only let his gaze travel over us slowly and, as always, spoke measuredly, each word carving itself into memory:
— As a future member of the Royal Magical Council, I have access to archives barred even to the lords of elven houses. And trust me, there are mentions. Sparse, fragmented—but far too ancient to be mere invention.
The torches along the walls crackled as if to confirm his words. I caught myself holding my breath.
— XR is not a title, not a privilege of blood, — he went on. — It is a seal placed by forces older than dynasties or lineages. I still don’t fully understand what it means. But one thing is clear: you are bound. And each of you will be drawn into events that will change not only the fate of your houses… — his eyes lingered on me longer than anyone else, — but the fate of the world itself.
Caldwell fell silent, and the hall seemed to tremble with his words. The torches hissed, shadows stretched long, as if the very walls were listening.
Selina lifted her chin, ready to fire back something mocking, but in the end only curled her lips and turned away. Still, it pleased her to feel like a weaver of the world’s fate.
Kaiden inclined his head, his eyes catching the firelight—calm, yet too dark not to be hiding something deeper.
Elianora sat unmoving, once again regaining that sculpted grace that had slipped for a few minutes during her clash with Selina.
As for me… I looked at all of them, and suddenly I felt it clearly: We were bound, all of us, by this strange mark of XR, by a past none of these local lords could ever understand, and by a future we ourselves were afraid to even imagine.
I clenched my fists under the table, trying not to show how hard my heart was hammering. Strange as this world was… we were once again thrown into the same story. And damn it, I realized—no, I already knew for sure—that from here on out, things were only going to get more dangerous.