Divine Magus: Awakening

Logan was packing when a soft but insistent knock came at the door.

"Enter," he called, not looking up from folding the last of his training robes.

The door opened, and one of the academy attendants stepped inside. "Headmaster Victor wishes to see you immediately, Master Logan."

Logan froze. Packing had paused, his mind already racing. He had only minutes left before the mid-year break began, before he could leave the academy grounds and finally have a few days of rest.

He swallowed and nodded. "Understood."

The attendant left quietly, and Logan closed his bag slowly, his chest tightening. Victor rarely summoned him without reason. Rarely, and never lightly.

He took a deep breath, trying to push the fluttering panic in his chest to the back of his mind. The Headmaster's office wasn't far, but every step felt weighted. He had expected to walk to the halls, to the library, maybe even to the grounds to enjoy the crisp air before leaving. Instead, he was being called in.

The office door was heavy, polished wood, engraved with intricate but restrained runes that shimmered faintly in the early afternoon light. Logan entered and found Victor standing behind the desk, arms crossed. His usual calm, measured expression held, though there was an unspoken gravity in how he looked at Logan.

"Logan," Victor said simply. "Sit."

Logan obeyed, placing his bag carefully on the floor beside him. He kept his hands folded in his lap, trying to mask the tension coiling in his stomach.

Victor's gaze didn't waver. "The Royal family wishes to see you."

The words struck Logan like a physical blow. For a moment, his mind froze entirely. His involvement with the crown prince — the late-night training sessions, the rare missions, the moments of connection he had thought were secret — had never been meant to be discovered.

Panic clawed at him. Questions, worst-case scenarios, accusations — they all flashed at once, nearly overwhelming him.

Victor's voice cut through the noise. "I am not here to question you, Logan. They wish to speak with you, that is all."

The gravity of the statement grounded him slightly, though the knot in his chest remained. He forced himself to inhale slowly, counting each breath. One. Two. Three. The world didn't end here.

He remembered Orion. He remembered the calm logic of his friend, the way he would analyze a situation and find the path forward.

When he left Victor's office, Logan sought Orion out. He found him in one of the quieter corridors, the academy nearly empty as students prepared for the break.

"Orion," Logan said, keeping his voice low, measured.

Orion looked up from the notes he had been reviewing. "What is it?"

"I've been summoned by Victor. The Royal family wants to see me."

Orion's brow furrowed slightly. "Any idea why?"

Logan shook his head. "No. But it's not a summons to punish, I don't think. Victor would have made it clear if this were a disciplinary matter."

Orion nodded slowly. "Then it's best to prepare. Do you want me to accompany you?"

Logan shook his head again. "No. This is… something I have to handle alone."

The corridor seemed suddenly colder, emptier, though he was certain it hadn't changed. The weight of anticipation pressed against his shoulders, but he pushed it down, reminding himself to remain composed.

Victor had prepared the teleportation ring for him in the office. Logan entered alone, the polished surface of the ring catching the light. He adjusted the settings carefully, committing the destination to memory: the castle at the center of the kingdom, the seat of the Royal family.

He inhaled deeply, focusing on the mechanics. Teleportation was precise, but it demanded calm and clarity. Any disruption could leave him stranded or worse.

With a flicker of light and the soft hum of the arcane runes, the world shifted. Stone floors and quiet halls of the academy gave way to the cool, sprawling expanse of the castle courtyard.

Logan stepped forward onto the smooth stone, the sound of his boots echoing faintly in the open space. Guards passed him without pause, their eyes trained on him only briefly before returning to their patrols.

The castle loomed around him, functional and unadorned in its design, yet its presence was commanding. Logan reminded himself to keep his composure. Panic, curiosity, speculation — they would only serve to cloud his judgment.

He moved toward the interior, following a path Victor had instructed him on. The corridors were wide, light filtering in through tall, simple windows. It felt different from the academy — there was an efficiency here, an authority in the space that reminded him why the Royal family ruled.

Finally, he arrived at the door to the audience chamber. Guards stepped aside without a word. Logan's hand rested on the handle for a moment, steadying himself.

He entered.

Logan stepped inside.

The chamber was vast, but functional. High ceilings, polished stone floors, and walls lined with simple tapestries depicting the kingdom's history. Nothing ornate, nothing distracting — just space, authority, and quiet expectation.

A few steps in, and he saw them. The Royal family. They weren't as imposing as the rumors suggested. They were… human, though the weight of responsibility and power clung to them like a shadow.

The King and Queen are seated at the far end of the chamber, flanked by attendants and advisors.

Logan's chest tightened. He had trained with the prince, spent hours sharing strategies, discussing magic. He had thought those moments secret. Now, every thought, every step he had taken in that context felt exposed.

He straightened his back, lifting his chin. Panic tried to rise again, but he forced it down. Breathe. Focus. The situation was serious, yes, but clarity would guide him.

"Master Logan," King Julian said, his voice carrying clearly across the chamber. It was calm, measured, commanding respect without being harsh. "We have requested your presence for a reason of importance."

Logan inclined his head slightly, careful not to show the anxiety he felt. "Yes, Your Majesty."

The Queen's gaze met his gaze for a brief moment, soft but firm. Logan didn't flinch. He had practiced control, repetition, discipline - he would not give them even a hint of hesitation.

"Your reputation precedes you," the crown prince said, voice quieter, almost hesitant, but with an edge of curiosity.

"The Headmaster tells us you had been advancing in Darkness magic at an unusual pace and even after the incident, you still showed prowess with your Body Enchantment."

Logan's throat tightened. Darkness magic. He had been careful, methodical, using spells like Eclipsing Grasp and Sovereign of Darkness to build skill and control. But the thought that the Royal family might now be aware of his capabilities or his connection to their son made his stomach churn.

He forced himself to take one slow breath, to steady the rapid beating of his heart. "I have trained diligently, Your Highness," he said evenly. "I seek mastery and control, not confrontation."

The King nodded once. "Very well. We have no intention of testing you here, not in a manner that would cause harm. Our interest is… strategic. We have tasks where your abilities may serve the kingdom, we wish to speak with you directly before any decisions are made."

Logan's mind raced. Tasks. Missions. Requests from the crown. None of it was unexpected, as he had prepared for the possibility, but hearing it confirmed in this quiet, authoritative chamber made it real.

He kept his voice calm. "I understand. I am ready to serve, should my skills be of use."

The Queen inclined her head slightly, signaling approval. "Good. The Headmaster trusts you. We wish to know if that trust extends to collaboration with the Royal family directly."

Logan nodded slowly. "It does."

The King's gaze softened for a brief moment. There was understanding there, but also concern. He seemed aware that Logan's talents were extraordinary, perhaps unnervingly so.

The King leaned forward, steepling his fingers. "We are aware of your time spent in isolation, your dedication to your craft. The Headmaster assures us your control over shadows is exceptional, but mastery is still incomplete. That is why we requested this audience - to offer guidance and, when necessary, oversight in tasks that may require your… unique skill set."

Logan absorbed each word, weighing tone and intent. This was not a reprimand. It was a formal acknowledgment of his abilities. Yet it carried the weight of responsibility he had not fully anticipated.

He straightened, meeting the gaze of each member of the family in turn. "I will not disappoint. I will ensure that every assignment is executed with precision and care."

"Then we shall start with preparation. There are situations within the kingdom that require subtlety and discretion. We will provide context and boundaries. Your understanding of shadows, of control over what others fear or cannot see, will be vital."

Logan's mind cataloged each phrase. Subtlety. Discretion. He understood the weight of those words. There would be no reckless use of his abilities. No attention-seeking. Only calculated, controlled application.

The Queen's voice cut in, measured and soft. "We also recognize that you are still young, still learning. That is why the Headmaster's support is vital. He has chosen to entrust you to us for the purpose of guidance, not punishment. Your experience here will be monitored and reviewed, but we expect initiative and judgment on your part."

Logan nodded once. "I understand, Your Majesties. I will act within the bounds of responsibility and ensure the outcome aligns with the kingdom's interests."

A moment of silence passed, not tense, but weighted.

Logan could feel the gravity of the chamber, of every word spoken, settling over him like a physical presence. He reminded himself that he had trained for situations like this - the focus, the control, the awareness of authority without submission.

Finally, the King spoke. "You may return to the academy now. Headmaster Victor will provide any additional details you require for immediate preparation. The break may proceed, but you will remain available as needed."

Logan bowed slightly. "As you command, Your Majesties."

He turned, walking toward the exit. The corridor felt different now, less like a path and more like a bridge between two worlds — the controlled structure of the academy and the broader, complex responsibility of the kingdom.

Outside, he paused for a moment, the courtyard quiet.

His hatred for the Kingdom still burned true, but at the moment, he couldn't do anything about it.

He removed the teleportation ring from its case in Victor's office, set the coordinates back to the academy for the time being, and allowed himself a single, controlled breath.

He had faced the uncertainty of the Royal family's attention and had come through with composure.

But Logan knew, with a quiet certainty, that the next phase of his training and his service would demand far more than he had yet faced.

He tightened his grip on the ring, the weight of possibility pressing in. Shadows and darkness were his allies, his tools, his responsibility. And now, that responsibility extended far beyond the academy.

He stepped back onto the ring, activating it with practiced precision. The familiar hum of magic swirled around him, and the stone corridors of the castle gave way once more to the polished halls of the academy.

He landed lightly, ready to inform Orion and prepare for whatever the kingdom required next. The mid-year break had shifted - it was no longer a break.

It was the start of a new chapter, one that would test his mastery, his judgment, and his control over the darkness he wielded.

And Logan, silent, steady, and resolute, was ready to meet it.