Aethelos Pain and Blood

Seventeen years ago, the Solaris Academy had no director. · It was an extension of the government. It received orders. It followed them.Nayb Cari was eighteen years old and already considered one of the greatest prodigies of the Captations. Beside him stood two humans who had entered the same year: Brock and Violeta. Their tutor was a still-young man, serious and calculating — Joseph Ville Light.That afternoon, training had ended. The three of them were in the courtyard, residual aura still lingering in the air.“Another attack in the Valley of the Wind,” Brock said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “The government is already calling it a ‘rebellion.’”Nayb shrugged.“If they’re attacking civilians and kingdom structures, the name fits. The government may have flaws, but it still works. Someone has to maintain order.”Violeta crossed her arms, her gaze hard.“Works for whom, Nayb? · For the Vindicari? Because for the rest of us, a lot of things should have changed a long time ago.”“This isn’t about race,” he answered calmly. “It’s about stability. Without the government, what’s left? Chaos.”Brock let out a low, humorless laugh.“Stability based on fear is also chaos. Just a quieter kind.”The argument was about to rise in tone when Joseph approached. His presence alone made the three of them straighten their posture.“The discussion is over,” the tutor said. “There’s a meeting at the Vindicari Royal House. The high royalty wants reports on the attack in the Valley of the Wind. · You three are coming with me.”Nayb frowned.“They thought it was an isolated attack.”“That’s what everyone thought,” Joseph replied. “Now the royalty wants certainty. And we will give them what they ask for.”The three exchanged a look. Brock and Violeta swallowed their criticism. Nayb held on to his conviction.None of them knew that meeting would be the beginning of everything that would later destroy the balance they knew.