Cursed Mark: Rise of the Forgotten Prince

A Silent Watcher

Even after my duel with Lucian Devereux, the academy had not settled.

If anything, the flames of speculation had only grown stronger.

I could hear the murmurs wherever I walked.

"Did you see how he moved?"

"He's nothing like before."

"He defeated Lucian. That wasn't luck—that was skill."

There were still those who doubted me, of course. But something had changed.

They were beginning to fear me.

And that was exactly what I needed.

But among all the voices, one presence remained silent.

Eleanor Vael.

She had watched my duel from the shadows.

And now, she had vanished.

---

A Call to the Tower

As I walked through the academy's grand halls, a sudden chill ran down my spine.

A subtle shift in the air. A presence pressing against my senses.

Then—

"Prince Kael."

A voice, smooth as silk yet heavy with authority, called from behind me.

I turned slowly.

Standing before me was a man clad in deep navy robes, the emblem of the Imperial Academy's Arcane Tower gleaming at his chest.

A mage.

"The Headmaster requests your presence."

The Arcane Tower.

A place where only the most elite mages studied—where secrets of the empire were whispered in hushed tones.

And the Headmaster himself?

For him to call me...

Something was happening.

Arthur, my past self, stirred within my mind. His voice—calm yet firm—echoed in my thoughts.

"Be careful. The powerful don't summon the weak unless they have a purpose for them."

I clenched my jaw. I know that.

But even so—

"Lead the way," I said.

---

The Headmaster's Words

The Arcane Tower was a fortress of knowledge, rising above the academy like an unshaken pillar of wisdom.

As I stepped inside, I felt it immediately.

The weight of countless spells woven into the very foundation.

The watchful gazes of ancient figures peering from enchanted portraits.

And the presence of a man whose power dwarfed all others.

Headmaster Aldric.

He stood before the grand bookshelf, his long silver robes flowing as he turned to face me.

"You are an anomaly, Prince Kael."

His voice was calm, but his piercing gaze held the force of a thousand unspoken truths.

Arthur's thoughts flared once more.

"He knows something. Don't show weakness."

I met Aldric's eyes, unyielding.

"I don't know what you mean."

Aldric chuckled.

"No, I imagine you wouldn't admit it so easily. But tell me—when did you learn to fight like that?"

My fingers twitched slightly.

Of course, he had been watching.

Nothing within these academy walls escaped his gaze.

"I trained."

A simple answer. A safe one.

Aldric studied me for a moment, then sighed.

"There are forces at work, Kael. Forces beyond what you see."

A pause.

Then, his next words sent a chill down my spine.

"The Cursed Mark… It is awakening, isn't it?"

Arthur's voice whispered in my mind.

"Deny it. Never reveal what they suspect."

I forced my expression to remain neutral.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Aldric gave me a knowing smile.

"Then I will ask no more. But be careful, young prince. There are those who would see your kind destroyed before the truth is revealed."

His gaze lingered, sharp and knowing.

"That is all. You may go."

---

A Familiar Flame

Leaving the tower, my mind raced with questions.

How much did he know?

How much was he hiding?

Arthur's voice, ever the strategist, murmured in my thoughts.

"He's warning you. But is it out of concern—or is he testing you?"

I had no answer.

But one thing was clear.

The Cursed Mark was evolving. And soon, I would no longer be able to hide it.

Lost in thought, I barely noticed the figure waiting for me in the courtyard.

A girl with long silver hair, her emerald eyes glinting under the afternoon sun.

Eleanor.

"You seem troubled, Kael."

Her voice was gentle, but there was a quiet sharpness behind it.

Arthur's presence sharpened.

"She's dangerous. Be cautious."

I exhaled. "Observant as always."

She tilted her head. "It's my nature."

A pause.

Then, with surprising directness—

"Walk with me."

She turned without waiting for an answer, moving toward the academy gardens.

Arthur's voice warned me.

"This could be a trap. Refuse her."

But something in Eleanor's gaze stopped me.

She wasn't issuing a demand.

It wasn't a command.

It was an invitation.

And so, I followed.

---

A Dance Beneath the Stars

The garden was quiet, the world fading into the soft glow of lanterns and the fragrance of blooming roses.

Eleanor stopped beneath a grand willow tree, the silver strands of her hair catching the light like falling stardust.

She turned to me, her expression unreadable.

"Do you enjoy dancing, Kael?"

I blinked.

Of all the things she could have asked, this was not what I expected.

Arthur scoffed in my mind.

"This is a waste of time."

I hesitated.

"I…" A brief pause. "I've never had the opportunity."

A smile ghosted her lips.

"Then consider this your first lesson."

Without hesitation, she stepped closer, lifting her hand ever so slightly.

A silent challenge.

Arthur's disapproval burned at the edges of my thoughts.

"This is dangerous. Don't lower your guard."

But for the first time, I ignored him.

I took her hand.

Our fingers touched, and a strange warmth spread through my skin.

A spark, delicate yet undeniable.

Her grip was firm, her movements graceful as she guided me into the slow rhythm of a waltz.

"Your stance is stiff," she murmured, her eyes filled with amusement.

I scoffed. "I wasn't expecting a lesson."

She chuckled softly. "Then consider this a gift."

The music of the academy's distant celebrations wove through the night air, blending with the rustling of leaves.

And for a brief moment—just a moment—there was no empire, no politics, no curse.

Just the two of us, moving in quiet harmony.

Then, softly, she spoke again.

"You're different now, Kael."

Arthur stirred.

"She's noticing too much. Be careful."

I met her gaze.

"So are you."

Something passed between us then—something unspoken, something neither of us could name.

A whisper of fate. A flicker of fire.

And then, just as easily as it had begun, the dance ended.

She stepped back, her expression unreadable once more.

"You should rest, Kael. Tomorrow brings new challenges."

With that, she turned, disappearing into the garden's shadows.

Arthur's voice was quiet now, almost contemplative.

"This girl… She could be either your greatest ally or your greatest downfall."

I stood there for a long moment, the ghost of her touch still lingering in my palm.

And for the first time in a long while, I allowed myself to wonder—

What did the future hold for us?