BLOOD & SIGILS

Chapter 7: Secrets Beneath the Surface

Kael sat at his desk, the candlelight flickering as he carefully turned the pages of the ancient book on rune magic. The worn leather cover was cracked with age, and the ink had faded in some places, but the knowledge it held was unlike anything he had ever seen before.

Unlike the Crimson Sigil, which burned through mana rapidly, these runes were meant to last—to be layered, strengthened, and even modified over time. The book described techniques that required precision over power, intelligence over instinct.

It was a different way of using magic, one that the Veyrin family had long abandoned.

And Kael wanted to know why.

A knock on his door nearly made him drop the book.

"Kael? Are you still awake?" His mother's voice drifted through the wood, soft yet impossible to ignore.

Kael panicked. He shoved the book beneath a pile of boring noble etiquette manuals—something no one would ever suspect him of reading—before taking a breath to steady himself.

"Yes, Mother," he called back. "You can come in."

The door opened, and Isolde Veyrin stepped inside, her elegant black gown trailing behind her like a shadow. Her presence filled the room effortlessly, her mischievous crimson eyes taking in everything at once.

Kael had seen many noblewomen in the empire, but none carried themselves quite like his mother.

She was playful yet sharp, affectionate yet ruthless.

And right now, she was looking at him like she knew he was up to something.

"You look guilty," she said casually, closing the door behind her.

Kael forced a smile. "I was just reading."

Isolde raised an eyebrow. "At this hour? Since when are you so studious?"

Kael shrugged, trying to appear casual. "Since I decided to stop embarrassing the family name."

His mother snorted. "Oh, please. If you wanted to stop embarrassing us, you'd start by winning a duel at least once."

Kael grimaced. "Thanks for the support, Mother."

She only grinned, stepping closer. "I'm only being honest, dear. But that's not why I'm here."

Kael tensed slightly as she sat on the edge of his bed, watching him with that knowing expression.

"I just returned from the capital," she continued. "And the court is quite lively these days. Did you know the Emperor is considering an expansion into the eastern territories?"

Kael hesitated. "No, I—"

"Of course you didn't," Isolde cut in smoothly. "Because while your brother is out training, and your father is handling imperial matters, you are hiding in your room reading… something."

Kael's breath caught. She knew.

Or at least, she suspected.

His mother was too sharp, too perceptive. It was impossible to keep secrets from her for long.

But she didn't press further. Instead, she leaned in slightly, her voice dropping into something softer.

"I don't care if you want to study magic, Kael," she said. "But if you're going to do it, do it properly."

Kael's eyes widened. "You… you don't mind?"

Isolde smirked. "Why would I? Do you think I follow the same rules as your father?"

Kael wasn't sure how to respond to that.

His father was strict, disciplined, and completely devoted to the Veyrin way. His mother, on the other hand, had always been more… unpredictable.

She sighed, standing. "Just don't get caught sneaking around, dear. You're terrible at lying."

Kael watched in stunned silence as she moved toward the door.

Before she left, she glanced back at him, her mischievous grin returning.

"And for the record… hiding books under etiquette manuals? Too obvious."

The door closed behind her, leaving Kael sitting there—heart pounding, mind racing.

His mother knew.

And she wasn't stopping him.

A slow smile crept onto his lips.

Maybe this wasn't going to be as impossible as he thought.