Golden Strings

Orders from above

I walked into the Emperor's Coven, showing the guards my sigil before stepping through the tall golden gates. The air smelled faintly of smoke and metal — familiar, almost comforting by now. My boots echoed against the polished floors as I made my way down the main hallway, nodding to a few passing guards until I reached the garden.

It was worse than I expected.
Half of the flowerbeds were torn apart, vines shredded and trampled. Belos really did a number on it this time.

I sighed and squatted down, placing my hands over a patch of wilted flowers. A faint golden glow pulsed from my palms as I whispered a small healing spell. Slowly, the petals began to lift again, regaining color. I replanted the yanked-out ones carefully, one by one.

Still... I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching me.
The back of my neck prickled with unease.

When I glanced over my shoulder, there was no one there — just the wind brushing through the broken leaves.
"...Weird," I muttered, brushing the dirt off my hands.

By the time I finished, the sun had dipped lower in the sky. My limbs ached from crouching so long. I dusted myself off, headed back to my quarters, and flopped onto the bed with a groan.

After changing into something more comfortable (insert outfit of your choice here 👀), I checked my scroll — 5 minutes before the library closed. Perfect. That meant peace and quiet for once.

I tucked my scroll into my pocket and headed down the dimly lit corridor toward the library. The massive wooden doors creaked as I pushed them open. Empty. Just how I liked it.

I took a seat at one of the tables and spread out my books. Only one class's worth of homework — Illusions. I opened my notebook, tapping my pen against the page as I started sketching out light patterns.

The silence was perfect. Almost too perfect.

A faint sound made me pause — the scrape of boots against marble.
I frowned, looking up.

Someone was walking between the shelves, tall and poised, their gold-trimmed cloak catching the faint glow of candlelight.

The Golden Guard.

Hunter.

My heart jumped before my brain caught up.
What was he doing here this late?

He turned slightly, as if he'd noticed me too. For a second, our eyes met — his sharp and calculating, mine probably wide and startled.

He tilted his head. "You're out late." His voice carried easily across the room, calm but curious.

I blinked, quickly closing my notebook. "I could say the same to you."

He stepped closer, gloved hands folded behind his back. "I had orders to check on a few things before tomorrow's report. Didn't think I'd find anyone else here."

"Well, I like studying without the noise," I replied, trying to sound casual but feeling my pulse race.

A smirk tugged at his lips, just for a second. "Diligent. I'll keep that in mind."

With that, he walked past my table toward the restricted section. His cloak brushed against the floor as he disappeared between the shelves, leaving behind only the echo of his footsteps — and the uneasy flutter in my chest.

I stared after him, whispering to myself,
"...What's his deal?"

Little did I know, that wouldn't be the last time our paths crossed.