Chapter 2: The Fenralis Heir

  The Fenralis estate was a fortress of stone and steel, its towering walls and sharp angles a testament to the family’s virtues: Honor, Strength, Pragmatism, and Efficiency. Inside the training grounds, the air was thick with the sound of clashing blades and the rhythmic breathing of students practicing the Fenralis school of swordsmanship.

  Garrett Fenralis, now ten years old, stood in the center of the courtyard, his swordstaff gripped firmly in his hands. The weapon was a relic of the Fenralis school’s origins—a long, elegant staff with a triangular blade at the end, designed to counter mages with reach and precision. It was a weapon of pragmatism, born from necessity, and Garrett wielded it with a skill that belied his age.

  Across from him stood his older sister, Cassia Fenralis, the prodigy of House Fenralis. At sixteen, Cassia was already a master of the blade, her movements fluid and effortless. She was tall and slender, her figure elegant yet commanding, like a sword forged for both beauty and lethality. Her hazelnut-brown hair, streaked with golden highlights that shimmered in the sunlight, cascaded down her back in loose waves, tied back with a silver ribbon to keep it out of her face during training. Her eyes, a piercing shade of amber, glowed with an intensity that could cut through steel—or Garrett’s confidence—with ease. She wore the Fenralis training uniform, a fitted tunic and trousers of deep blue, accented with silver embroidery that caught the light with every movement. In one hand, she held a traditional sword, its blade gleaming like a sliver of moonlight. In the other, she wielded a Starflare, a sleek, stone-like device that resembled a firearm. The Starflare’s grip was wrapped in black leather, and its “barrel” was made of Luminite, a rare mineral that amplified and directed magical energy, bypassing the need for incantations or rituals.

  “Ready, little brother?” Cassia asked, her tone light but her eyes sharp, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.

  Garrett adjusted his grip on the swordstaff and nodded. “Always.”

  The match began with a flurry of strikes, the sound of steel ringing through the courtyard. Garrett moved with precision, his strikes calculated and efficient. He had trained hard, and it showed. But Cassia was on another level.

  Cassia’s sword blurred through the air, each strike perfectly timed, each movement a testament to her mastery. She didn’t just fight; she danced, her Starflare glowing faintly as she channeled her celestial energy. Her movements were so graceful, so effortless, that it was easy to forget she was holding back—way back. Garrett knew she could end the match in seconds if she wanted to, but she always took her time, letting him think he had a chance before crushing his hopes with a single, devastating move.

  Garrett blocked a strike and countered with a thrust of his swordstaff, forcing Cassia to step back. For a moment, it seemed like he might gain the upper hand.

  Then Cassia smiled.

  With a flick of her wrist, she activated her Starflare, sending a burst of fire spiraling toward Garrett. He dodged, but the distraction was enough. Cassia closed the distance in an instant, her sword stopping just inches from his throat.

  “Yield,” she said, her voice calm but laced with amusement.

  Garrett sighed and lowered his swordstaff. “I yield.”

  Stolen story; please report.

  The other students erupted into applause, but Garrett barely heard them. He was used to losing to Cassia. Everyone lost to Cassia.

  “Of course,” Garrett thought, his internal monologue dripping with sarcasm. “Why bother trying when you’re competing against a once-in-a-century genius? Might as well challenge the sun to a brightness contest. Or better yet, try to out-pizza the Hut. Spoiler alert: you can’t.”

  But despite the frustration, Garrett couldn’t help but admire his sister. Cassia was everything their father wanted in an heir—strong, disciplined, and magically gifted. Garrett, on the other hand, was… well, Garrett.

  After training, Garrett retreated to the estate’s library, a vast room filled with books on every subject imaginable. He spent hours poring over texts on physics, astronomy, and engineering, his mind racing with ideas. The Fenralis library was one of the finest in the Celestial Empire, and Garrett took full advantage of it.

  He was particularly fascinated by the ancient texts on celestial magic, which described the manipulation of stars and the flow of energy through the universe. He couldn’t perform magic himself, but he understood the theory behind it, and he was determined to find a way to apply that knowledge.

  “Still reading, little brother?”

  Garrett looked up to see Cassia standing in the doorway, her training uniform still damp with sweat. Her hair, now loose from its ribbon, framed her face like a golden halo, and her amber eyes sparkled with mischief. She leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed, her Starflare holstered at her hip.

  “Just studying,” Garrett said, closing the book he had been reading.

  Cassia walked over and picked up the book, flipping through the pages. “Celestial Mechanics? Shouldn’t you be practicing your sword forms?”

  Garrett shrugged. “I already practiced. Besides, this is important too.”

  Cassia raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. “Important? You’re not going to defeat an enemy with a book, Garrett.”

  “Maybe not,” Garrett said, his voice steady. “But knowledge is power. And power isn’t just about swinging a sword.”

  Cassia studied him for a moment, then smiled—a genuine smile this time, not the teasing smirk she usually wore. “You’re a strange one, little brother. But I like that about you.”

  Garrett smiled back, but the compliment did little to ease the weight on his shoulders. He knew he would never be as strong as Cassia, as skilled, as perfect. But he was determined to find his own path, even if it meant defying everyone’s expectations.

  As he left the library, Garrett couldn’t shake the feeling that something big was coming. In a few days, the Fenralis estate would host a grand soiree, a chance for the noble families of the Celestial Empire to gather and celebrate. It would also be the first time Garrett was formally introduced to society as a member of House Fenralis.

  “Great,” he thought, his sarcasm returning full force. “Just what I need—a room full of people judging me for being the ‘other’ Fenralis heir. Can’t wait to hear the whispers. ‘Oh, look, it’s the one who can’t do magic. How quaint.’ Maybe I’ll just hide in the library and pretend I’m a very tall bookshelf. Or better yet, I’ll quote Richard Feynman and confuse everyone. ‘If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don’t understand quantum mechanics.’ That’ll show them.”

  But deep down, he knew this was his chance to prove himself. Not as Cassia’s shadow, but as Garrett Fenralis.

  Later that evening, Garrett found himself in the gardens, staring up at the stars. The twin moons of Fenris Lupus hung low in the sky, their silver light casting long shadows across the courtyard. He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Cassia approaching, her hair glowing like molten gold in the moonlight.

  “You’re brooding again,” she said, her tone teasing but her eyes soft. “What’s on your mind, little brother?”

  Garrett sighed. “Just thinking about the soiree. Everyone’s going to be watching me, waiting for me to mess up. And I probably will.”

  Cassia’s expression darkened, and for a moment, the playful older sister was gone, replaced by the fierce heir of House Fenralis. “Let them watch,” she said, her voice low and sharp. “If anyone dares to say a word against you, they’ll answer to me.”

  Garrett blinked, surprised by the intensity in her voice. “Cass, you don’t have to—”

  For a moment, Garrett didn’t know what to say. Cassia’s words were a lifeline, a reminder that he wasn’t alone. But they also made him feel guilty. Cassia had always been the perfect heir, the one who could do no wrong. And Garrett... well, Garrett was just trying to keep up.

  As they stood there under the stars, Cassia reached out and ruffled his hair, her smirk returning. “Besides,” she said, her tone light again, “if anyone tries to mess with you, I’ll just challenge them to a duel. And we both know how that’ll end.”

  Garrett couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, with them running for the hills.”

  Cassia grinned. “Exactly. Now come on, little brother. Let’s get some rest. Tomorrow’s another day of training—and I’m not going easy on you.”