Chapter 4: Masks and Monsters
Lucien didn't forget things.
Not faces. Not numbers. Not words spoken in passing or glances shared in silence.
Every detail was a thread — and in his mind, he wove them all into a tapestry of absolute clarity. That was the curse and gift of his photographic memory. His mind, even at thirteen, was a living archive.
Tonight, it served him well.
The Night of Inheritance had begun.
The Grand Hall of House Valtore was unrecognizable. Chandeliers floated midair like stars, soft blue flames illuminating noble heirs in velvet and silk. Laughter, lies, and half-truths danced through the air like perfume.
But Lucien saw past the masks.
He saw the cracks in every fake smile. He counted the seconds each guest took to respond, read their eye movements, posture shifts — all patterns feeding into his mental web.
"Prince Ardan of the Elorian Empire," the herald announced.
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
One of the seven world-level empires. Eloria — a kingdom built on bloodlines and old magics, ruled by a council of seers. Officially, neutral in global politics. Unofficially, the largest backer of the world's underground black crystal trade.
He stored the prince's gait, speech rhythm, and ring crest instantly.
Target for later influence. Weak-willed. Daddy's leash still tight.
Next came the Ashen Delegation, heads of a legal world organization called The Consortium of Order. They supposedly maintained balance between empires and regulated war-level artifacts.
Lucien knew better.
The Consortium had ties to an illegal guild called The Gravedust Circle — assassins, curse-smiths, and memory thieves. The same Circle that had once erased an entire city's population overnight.
He had the documents. Memorized. Hidden in his mental vault.
"You're not enjoying the party," a voice said behind him.
Lucien turned.
She wore a silver mask and a blood-red dress that hinted at nobility — but he knew her instantly.
Celestine Ravien.
Second daughter of the Ravien Dynasty. Another of the seven world empires. But more importantly, rumored to be a Strategist-Class Gifted — a rare mind-type awakened ability.
"Not much to enjoy when you already know how it ends," Lucien replied coolly.
Celestine tilted her head. "You think you know everything?"
"I remember everything." He let the words linger.
Her smile didn't fade, but her pupils contracted slightly — just enough to betray a spark of interest. Or fear.
Lucien had no intention of being seen as a child here.
He came to dominate this room.
"Soon, the world will belong to new blood," she said.
Lucien lifted his glass. "Then I'll drain the old veins dry."
---
Elsewhere — Unknown Location
Deep beneath the black mountains, inside the Council of Smoke and Chains, masked figures watched Lucien through a floating crystal.
"He's ahead of schedule," one said.
"He's only a child," said another.
"Wrong," said a third. "He's a monster with perfect memory and ambition in his bones. And he just walked into the lion's den with a blade made of silk."
A pause.
"What do we do?"
Silence.
Then: "We watch. For now"