It was morning, and the first thing Ryke sensed was Azaya’s presence. Still sore from yesterday’s training, he waited for her to speak as she stood at the doorstep but she didn't even make a sound. When he got up, he saw her face for the first time.

  “Nice to finally put a face to you,” he said, surprised by her beauty. She was a mix of two races, her almost white complexion contrasting with a name that belonged to another lineage.

  “Morning to you too, Ryke,” Azaya replied.

  “Please, there’s much to learn.” She continued, leading the way.

  The halls were different from the ones he’d seen with Leon. He ate a delicious meal as Leon and Azaya spoke, barely keeping up with the conversation. Once they were done, they stepped outside, where others were waiting. Leon had said something about a new maid—or something like that—but Ryke hadn’t been paying much attention.

  He scanned the group, both men and women, walking close to each one, quietly trying to sense their presence. When he crossed paths with her, a jolt struck him. It wasn’t the same as Leon or Azaya. It was different.

  “Her,” Ryke said, eyes steady on her dead stare. “I would like to know her.”

  Leon gave a sign, leaving the two of them alone. “Don’t go too far,” he called back as he and Azaya departed.

  Ryke wasn’t captivated by her beauty alone but by the fact that her ability made him numb. He studied her again, comparing her to Azaya. In beauty, Azaya would win. But in physical attributes, this girl had the clear edge.

  “Name,” Ryke said, his tone shifting as he understood what he was dealing with.

  “Sherlyn,” she replied.

  The two began walking around the mansion.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  “Where do you come from? As I’ve said, I would like to know you better,” Ryke asked, absently kicking a stone in his path.

  Sherlyn was about to answer when she noticed a bench overlooking a flower garden. Ryke immediately turned toward it.

  “That wasn’t what I was looking at,” she said as he headed that way.

  “And I’m not asking you to follow,” Ryke replied.

  Yet she did, sitting beside him on the bench.

  “I was born in a loyal family,” she began, feeling the cool breeze. “At least, that’s what I thought—until I met true loyalty. I’m originally from Valmere, in the far north. My parents ruled a small kingdom near Valtherion. During their reign, they gave demi-humans rights and freedom. The rich were not pleased. Valtherion intervened, helping them overthrow and kill my parents. My siblings and I were sold off.” She explained showing no emotion.

  “What about your ability?” Ryke asked.

  “I can cancel the abilities of others—but only to a certain extent,” Sherlyn answered.

  “So that’s your ability?” Ryke said studying the garden, its yellow, red, and white blooms. “Then why did I sense the powers of the others? Were you trying to hide your abilities, or have your limiters failed?”

  “Both,” she admitted. “I wanted to stop you from making a bad decision about them, and my limiters… they don’t work. I’m a rare case.”

  “That means the others, especially the ones closest to you, are stronger than they appear,” Ryke said with a smile, silently cursing Leon. “Still, I would have chosen you.”

  His words made something shift .

  “For your family,” Ryke added, “help me grow stronger, and I’ll help you recover what you lost.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  “I hate that look in your eyes,” Ryke replied.

  His answer unsettled her. For the first time, she wondered how she truly looked at him.

  “My siblings are in Zurehn,” Sherlyn admitted. “I recognized them the last time I was there.”

  " Can I ask something " Sherlyn said.

  " What but I promise not to answer if don't feel like it" Ryke replied

  “Do you know where Mr. Leon stands?” she asked.

  “I don’t care. He’s given me a place I can thrive in; that’s what matters for now,” Ryke said.

  Something flickered in her eyes, a silent message Ryke understood. From that day on, Sherlyn joined his training, guiding him while Leon’s role became more distant. Leon only appeared when the lessons turned to history or limiters. In those moments, he spoke with an authority Ryke couldn’t match, though Ryke listened carefully.

  “If you ever see someone who looks like me,” Leon once told him, “do not speak to him. Don’t say my name, don’t say my family name. If we meet outside, don’t acknowledge me unless I call for you first.” He left with Azaya soon after, as he often did.

  Ryke spent nearly two weeks with Sherlyn before deciding. He would go to Zurehn to retrieve her siblings. Born and raised in Os’Thera, near its capital, Ryke knew Zurehn well—it was a sister kingdom, both sharing the same royal blood. The journey was not far.

  “What color should I dye my hair?” Sherlyn asked one morning.

  “That’s a surprising question. I thought you didn’t care,” Ryke replied.

  “It’s not that I care,” she said, “but I’ve realized people remember me too easily. Having me around can be costly.”

  “Go with brown,” Ryke said. “It suits you better than black.”

  It was a cold morning in Os’Thera, though the cold season had yet to begin. The city was known for its unstable climate—its people were used to sudden shifts, even heavy rain in the middle of summer.

  Ryke was heading toward Sherlyn’s room when he noticed a man, perhaps five years older than him, bruised all over. The stranger staggered past, rushing toward Leon’s mansion, his face twisted with urgency—like he’d just seen a ghost he couldn’t believe was real.