Chapter 9: The Apprentice and the Promise
The morning sun washed over the marble tiles of East Villa as Kael stood by the wide window, his gaze distant as Elysium City's skyline shimmered in the distance. A new era had begun. It had been just seven days since the awakening of his Aura and the return of those harrowing future memories. The burden was fresh, but the clarity it gave him was worth every nightmare.
Behind him, Julia sat quietly on the edge of the antique leather couch, dressed in her crisp college uniform, legs together, hands folded on her lap. Despite the events of the previous night, her demeanor held grace and composure—though her fingers trembled slightly.
Kael turned. His voice was calm, but carried authority. "You're not going to stay idle in this villa."
Julia looked up, her heart thumping. "Senior... I'll do whatever you ask. Please, just let me stay by your side."
He nodded. "Good. You're going to learn from Aunt Helen—she manages my family's internal affairs and once ran international operations for the Nightshade Consortium. She's strict, but if you're serious, you'll learn discipline, tact, and strength."
Julia bowed her head. "I'll work hard. I promise, I won't let you down."
A moment later, a tall woman in her forties entered the room with the poise of a general and the quiet intensity of a chess master. Aunt Helen, dressed in tailored charcoal-gray, surveyed Julia from head to toe.
Kael gestured between them. "Helen, she's yours to shape."
Helen gave a small nod. "She has potential. But potential means nothing if the will is weak."
"It won't be," Julia replied, standing and bowing. "Please teach me everything."
Kael watched them for a moment longer, then glanced at the clock. "Get ready. We're going to the hospital."
---
An hour later, the sleek black car of the Nightshade family pulled up in front of St. Galen's Memorial Hospital. Reporters swarmed the gates like moths to flame. Kael, dressed in a sharp charcoal coat over his college uniform, stepped out with unshakable composure. Julia hesitated for a moment in the car, but Kael extended his hand.
"Hold it," he said. "You're with me now."
She took his hand.
Flashbulbs exploded. Cameras clicked. The media immediately pounced.
"Mr. Nightshade, who's the girl?" "Is she your girlfriend?" "Is the Nightshade family funding the hospital?"
Kael didn't even look their way. With Julia at his side, he walked through the chaos with the kind of presence that silenced noise. The doors closed behind them, sealing off the world.
---
Inside the quiet VIP suite, Julia's mother looked up from her bed, her face pale but peaceful. The IV glowed a soft green with the energy-based sedatives common in the Elyrian Union.
"Mom..." Julia rushed forward, hugging her gently.
Her mother held her tighter than expected. "You came back so soon... I thought you were still—"
"Everything's alright now," Julia said, smiling as tears gathered in her eyes.
But her mother's eyes shifted. The subtle marks on Julia's neck, the faint limp in her walk—she was a mother. She knew.
"You... did something, didn't you? For me."
Julia lowered her head. Her lips parted to explain, but Kael entered, his tone even, but firm.
"Mrs. Smith," he said, offering a respectful nod. "I'm Kael Theodore Nightshade. Julia's boyfriend... and her new boss."
The room went still. Julia turned crimson. Her mother looked between the two of them.
"Boyfriend?"
Kael stepped closer. "I've arranged for your surgery today. Top specialists, all paid in full. Julia didn't lose anything—because she now has me."
Her mother blinked back tears. "Then... thank you. And take care of her. She's all I have."
Julia squeezed her mother's hand. Her heart was a mix of emotion—grief, relief, and an overwhelming sweetness. Kael hadn't just protected her—he stood beside her.
---
Back at East Villa, twilight fell. Julia was led to the training quarters where Aunt Helen was waiting with a tablet and a stack of schedules.
Kael returned to his study and rang a bell.
A man entered, tall and lean, dressed in a black waistcoat. His silvered hair was pulled back, and his eyes carried the sharp edge of a retired predator. This was not a butler—he was a tactician in disguise.
"You called, Young Master," he said, voice smooth with an accent that hinted at an ancient heritage.
Kael turned. "Falkhan. I need a detailed map of Elysium City. Zones, factions, hidden markets. All of it."
Falkhan Kane, once known as the Blood Raven of the Western Front during the Silent Revolution, bowed slightly. "It shall be delivered within the hour. Anything else?"
"Get the Umbra Division's financial reports. And prep the guest room beside mine—for Julia."
Falkhan gave a faint smile. "The winds have shifted, Master Kael. I see the old fire again."
Kael didn't reply.
He walked to the window, gazing out as the stars emerged over Elysium.
A new chapter had begun—not just in his life, but in the fate of the world.
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To be continued...