Chapter 12 #2
Professor Komarov pinches the bridge of his nose, letting out a deep sigh.
“Mr. Volkov, with an aptitude like that, I question our admission standards. Since admissions have clearly gotten lax, I suppose I’ll need to elaborate.
The Realm of Sidera is broken up into four kingdoms: Transformare, Elementum, Devorare, and Convalescere.
The first three are each ruled by one royal house.
The last, Convalescere, has a shared rulership between two royal houses.
I’m sure you will learn more about their centuries of civil war in your history classes, but presently, power is shared between the royal house occupying the Stygian Throne and the one that holds the Throne of Light.
King Kian Amani sits on the Stygian Throne, and a regent currently occupies the Throne of Light until the Prince of Light completes his education.
Currently, Transformare and Elementum are both ruled by regents as well.
And Devorare’s queen will be stepping down three years from now.
Do you have any other burning questions we need to get out of the way? ”
“Yeah,” Man Bun adds sheepishly. “So why are you a professor?”
“You mean why am I teaching you lot, instead of sitting on the throne?” Komarov sighs rhetorically.
“I was a professor before I was crown prince. I was never intended to be a spare, let alone next in line. So enjoy my teaching while you can, as by the time most of you graduate, I too will have moved on.” He picks an invisible piece of lint from his shirt.
Wait, what? He’s also a prince? How am I just interacting with royalty left and right?
“If it’s so rare, why is it happening now?” a tall man with long golden hair shouts out.
“Mr. Leo Gatti, are you in shifted form?” Komarov’s sharp gaze bores into the blonde man.
“Um, obviously not.” Leo laughs uncomfortably.
“So you do not currently have paws?” Komarov asks.
Leo shakes his head, and snickers break out among some of my classmates.
“Then you are capable of raising your hand before speaking.”
Leo turns a deep shade of red, and a warm sense of secondhand embarrassment trickles over my skin. God, why does such an attractive man have to be such an ass? At least I’m not the only one Professor Komarov is rude to.
“The consecutive shifts in power are the consequence of someone trying to usurp a crown. Do we have anyone in the room who has enough brain cells to add further explanation?” No one raises their hand, but he gestures to Boden. “Mr. Lamont.”
“The Challenge Epoch allows claims to be brought forth peacefully,” Boden explicates. “If someone were to disregard one of our most sacred traditions, they would not only dishonor their house for all future generations, they’d bring war. It’s treason of the highest order.”
Damn, with such serious consequences, I can’t imagine that ever happening.
Leo raises his hand.
“Mr. Gatti, thank you for showing us your arm now works. What’s your question?”
Leo clears his throat. “The reason we only have two current sitting rulers is because of what happened with the War of Suns?”
“Correct. The purpose of the Challenge Epoch is to prevent subterfuge and civil war. The Sun Wars began when a play was made for the Convalescere Throne of Light outside of the appropriate challenge period. Having succeeded in fracturing the Convalescere Kingdom, the Dark Sun challenger subsequently attempted to incite insurrection in the three other kingdoms. War spread brutally through the realm for the following fifty years. It only ended at a great cost: the death of many, including most members of the royal families.”
Oh, shit! Damn the consequences, I guess. That Dark Sun challenger dude sounds like an asshole. I’m sure he’s long dead and this is all ancient history, but war and suffering are still hard to hear about.
Komarov continues, “While many of you are deeply and personally aware of this history, it’s worth remembering. On the night of the winter solstice twenty-three years ago, the five royal families, knowing that a fierce battle lie ahead, set up safe houses to protect the line of succession.”
My gut sinks—so not ancient history.
“While many members of the royal houses fought in battle, children, including the youngest of each family, were spread out over four safe houses. The Dark Sun challenger, attempting to use an attack on the safe houses as a distraction, discovered their locations and ordered his followers to carry out the assault. They destroyed all but one. In doing so, he also took advantage on the battlefield, slaying almost every member of the opposition.”
It’s horrible to think of so much death. That happened to Kian’s and Teariki’s families. Oh, and Komarov’s, too. Oh gods, twenty-three years ago. Were they children?
As if he heard me think his name, the professor meets my eyes and adds, “In one night Adrik Solis and his Dark Suns slayed 2,996 souls, including murdering twenty-five members of royalty. Many of whom were young children sleeping in their beds.”
The room starts to spin. Solis, my house, my family, is responsible for all that death. I can’t seem to keep my breathing even, my chest rises and falls in staccato movements. I grip the edge of my seat, focusing on the way the smooth wood grain feels under my palm.
“But then we got the fucker!” a man a few rows down from me says. His jarring voice does nothing to pull the eyes of my peers from where they stick to my skin.
“And fulfilled the Son Prophecy that united the realm,” Lyam adds.
Without taking his eyes from me, Professor Komarov agrees, “Yes. Adrik Solis was a zealot who believed it was his destiny to unite the realm under one ruler. In some ways, the prophecy he believed in was right. The Son Prophecy foretold that a son who was never expected to rule would unite the realm. Solis’s war, and eventually his death, brought together the four kingdoms. War between the kingdoms ceased, and the Cross-Kingdom Council was established.
” He finally turns away and gestures to Boden and Callum, who are both looking straight ahead with fierce expressions.
“And five progeny who were far down the line of succession came together as a united front and will now rule each kingdom. We have since had twenty-two years of peace. With many more years to come.”
The conversation continues with students asking questions about the upcoming three years of Challenge Epochs, but I don’t hear anything else.
My mind is on a family I never knew, engaging in acts I would never condone.
How many of my classmates lost family members?
How many grew up without parents, like me?
This is it, this is why they hate me. It makes sense. I’d hate me too.
“Miss Solis.” Professor Komarov’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “Is there a reason your book isn’t open?”
I give him a blank stare, having completely missed his directions.
“I instructed the class to read the section on the Challenge Epoch. You of all people should be respectful of this tradition.”
Embarrassment colors my cheeks, and shame forms a lump in my throat. “I don’t have my books yet,” I stutter out.
“Miss Solis, as your syllabus clearly states, you are required to bring your textbook to class.”
“I know but—” I try to explain, but he doesn’t let me get it out.
“Miss Bonnaire, please share with Miss Solis.”
I scoot closer to Gemma. If my books had been delivered, I could have been prepared for this.
At the end of class, I pack my things slowly, waiting for the crowd to thin out. There are quite a few students lagging, likely hoping for a front row seat to my verbal lashing. I make my way to Professor Komarov’s desk while he texts on his phone. My jacket and backpack are still dripping water.
“Miss Solis, you are leaking on my floor,” he drones, eyes glued to his screen.
“I’m sorry, sir. I’m wet,” I stutter. He raises one eyebrow, his attention still on his phone. “And sorry about my books. They haven’t been delivered yet.”
“This isn’t a human cyber school. This is an elite institution. You’re required to be prepared.”
I nod vigorously even though he’s still not looking at me. “Yes, sir.”
“The conditions of your scholarship require you not just to get by but to excel. Furthermore”—he finally looks up—“given your family history, you should be grateful that a legal loophole allowed your admittance.”
“I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t—”
But he continues without stopping, “I will not tolerate your disrespect of me or your fellow classmates. In consideration of the other students, I encourage you to keep your head down and do your best to fade into the background. You’re dismissed.”
I slump my shoulders and drag myself out of class and into the rain.
I am not a ray of fucking sunshine.