All Chapters of THE CROWN THEY HID FROM ME: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

110 Chapters

Chapter 1 — The Summons

Aera Vale had always known she was ordinary.Ordinary hair, ordinary height, ordinary magic.Magic that barely flickered, magic that barely obeyed. In the village, everyone laughed politely when her spells fizzled. Even her own guardian said, with a sigh, “You’ll never be anything extraordinary.”Yet here she was, standing in the small clearing behind her cottage, staring at a golden seal that bore the crest of Astryss Royal Academy—the academy that ordinary girls could only dream of… because they were forbidden from entering.A messenger knelt before her, cloak rustling in the wind. His face was sharp, expression unreadable.“Miss Vale,” he said, bowing. “You are hereby summoned to the Astryss Royal Academy. Attendance is mandatory.”Aera blinked. Her hands trembled as she reached for the letter.It burned.Not physically, but beneath her fingertips, a warmth pulsed through her palm. The crest glowed faintly—her heartbeat matching the glow.“Impossible,” she whispered.Her guardian

Chapter 2 — Astryss Royal Academy

They passed beneath the grand archway, and the courtyard opened up before her. Students were everywhere—some practicing spells in midair, some gliding across the stone paths, their magic leaving shimmering trails behind them. Aera stopped, overwhelmed.The Academy was alive.Whispers followed her like shadows. “Did you see her?” one girl muttered to another. “She has no rank… how is she here?”“They say she’s… the Chosen One,” another replied softly, eyes wide.Aera swallowed. Chosen One? She doesn’t even know how to make fire appear properly.Kael steered her toward a massive stone staircase. “You’ll need to register with the Headmistress before the first lesson.”As they walked, she noticed other students staring at her. Some curiosity, some fear. She tried to ignore it.But then a voice rang out, calm and precise.“You shouldn’t be here.”Aera turned sharply. A young woman, clad in dark emerald robes, approached. Her expression was cold, sharp. “Common-born students don’t enter Ast

Chapter 3 — The First Lesson

Aera followed Kael, trying not to stumble, her heart thudding like a drum. Every student’s gaze felt like a weight pressing on her shoulders. Whispers trailed her as they entered:“Did you see her sigil?”“She’s the Chosen One…”“Is that even possible?”Kael leaned close, his voice low. “Ignore them. Focus on yourself. This is just the first test.”Aera nodded, though doubt gnawed at her. A test? She could barely make sparks appear in her village.The instructor, a tall man with silver hair and eyes that seemed to pierce through thought, stepped forward. “Welcome, students, to your first practical magic lesson. Today, you will summon your familiar energy.”Aera blinked. Familiar energy? She had no idea what that meant.Other students raised their hands, chanting incantations with precision. Light shot from their fingers—sparks, fire, orbs of color. Aera tried to mimic them, but nothing happened.Her cheeks burned. She felt the eyes of every student on her. Even Kael’s calm gaze felt

Chapter 4 — The Forbidden Wing

The halls of Astryss Royal Academy were quieter at night. Or perhaps it was just that the students who weren’t meant to be here were finally gone. Aera’s footsteps echoed softly on the polished stone, her heartbeat louder than any sound.Kael had warned her—never go near the Restricted Wing. He hadn’t explained why, only that she should stay away. But something about the warning made her curiosity flare. And after the events in the first lesson, her curiosity had teeth.She paused in front of a long corridor veiled in shadows. Torches flickered in iron sconces, but even their light seemed to avoid the end of the hallway, which was sealed by a massive oak door carved with symbols that twisted and shimmered under her gaze.This is it, she thought. The Forbidden Wing.The pull in her chest wasn’t fear; it was something deeper, magnetic. Like the wing itself was alive, calling her.Aera glanced behind her. The Academy was silent. Even Kael, usually never far, was nowhere in sight. “He mus

Chapter 5 — Bloodlines and Power

The next morning, the Academy hummed with life. Aera awoke in her assigned dormitory—a small room with high ceilings, whitewashed walls, and a single window that let in the first pale rays of dawn. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her palm. The sigil from the relic burned faintly, a steady pulse that she couldn’t ignore.Kael sat across from her, leaning against the wall. His expression was unreadable, but his dark eyes lingered on her hand.“You didn’t sleep,” he said softly.“I couldn’t,” Aera admitted. “It’s… the sigil. I don’t understand it.”Kael stood and walked toward the window, hands behind his back. “You will. But not here. Not yet. Today, you’re meeting the Headmistress formally. And… others. People who will judge you, test you, and, in some cases, fear you.”Aera’s stomach twisted. She had thought the first lesson was overwhelming. This sounded worse.⸻The main hall of the Academy was already bustling with students. Many were gathered in groups, practicing minor

Chapter 6 — Shadows in the Courtyard

The courtyard stretched before her like a stage for some cruel play. The morning sun, pale and hesitant, caught the edges of the Academy’s spires, but even the light could not chase away the shadows that had gathered below.Aera’s pulse thundered in her chest. The sigil on her palm pulsed as if alive, reacting to the figure at the center of the courtyard. Shadows twisted unnaturally around them, moving with intent, coiling and writhing in ways that made her skin crawl.Kael was right behind her, but his grip on her shoulder was light. He had learned—somehow—that this was her fight, and while he would intervene if necessary, he knew the shadows had chosen her.“Who are they?” Aera whispered, her voice trembling.Kael’s jaw tightened. “I don’t know. But they’re tied to the sigil you carry. And they’re dangerous.”Aera’s legs moved before her mind could catch up. She didn’t know why she was running down the stairs toward the courtyard, only that something inside her—something deep in her

Chapter 7 — Secrets Among Shadows

The aftermath of the courtyard attack left the Academy buzzing, though most students had only caught glimpses of the chaos. By mid-morning, whispers filled every hallway:“She has a sigil.”“Did you see the courtyard?”“The Chosen One… or worse.”Aera tried to move through the corridors unnoticed, but it was impossible. Every turn brought curious stares, awe, and thinly veiled envy. Her magic, once hidden, had now been revealed. There was no returning to anonymity.Kael walked beside her, silent but alert, a shadow in human form. He didn’t speak much, letting her navigate the social currents herself. He had warned her before: visibility in the Academy was dangerous. Power drew attention—both friendly and hostile.Aera’s hand brushed the sigil lightly. It pulsed faintly, alive beneath her skin. The morning’s events had left it restless, as if it knew the danger was far from over.⸻The Headmistress summoned her to her office again. Aera followed, heart pounding, knowing that the prev

Chapter 8 — Trial of Fire

The next morning, the Academy was shrouded in mist, the towers rising like ghostly sentinels above the sleeping grounds. Aera moved silently through the hallways, the sigil on her palm pulsing faintly. Its rhythm seemed tied to her heartbeat, a reminder of the power now flowing through her veins. She could feel its weight, its presence, a constant companion she could neither ignore nor fully control.Kael walked beside her, silent as always, but his eyes were sharp, scanning every corner, every shadow. “Stay alert,” he said finally. “You’re about to begin your formal training. And this isn’t a lesson like the others. The Trial of Fire is not a test of strength alone—it’s a test of control, endurance, and instinct. You will be pushed to the limit.”Aera nodded, swallowing the tightness in her chest. “I’m ready,” she said, though her voice trembled slightly.Kael’s lips pressed into a thin line, and he didn’t answer. He simply led her to the training grounds—a vast arena ringed by high

Chapter 9 — Whispers of Betrayal

The sun rose pale over Astryss Royal Academy, filtering through the towering windows and casting long, golden shadows across the training grounds. The Trial of Fire had left Aera exhausted but alive with a new energy—her control over the sigil improving, her confidence growing. Yet even as she walked through the morning mist, she felt it: eyes following her. Whispers in the corridors. Shadows twisting just slightly too long.She wasn’t alone.Kael walked beside her silently, as he always did. She had long ago accepted that he was both protector and observer, a guide whose words were often sparse but whose presence was a constant reassurance.“Today will not be easy,” he murmured, his tone low. “The students are aware of your sigil. And some of them… don’t take kindly to you being here.”Aera’s pulse quickened. She had seen whispers and sidelong glances before, but she had hoped that her victory in the Trial of Fire would command some respect. Instead, tension clung to her like a shado

Chapter 10 — The First Betrayal

The morning sun filtered weakly through the Academy towers, barely piercing the mist that clung to the courtyards. Aera had spent the night restless, the warning from the cloaked figure echoing in her mind. Betrayal was already here, lurking among those she had trusted. Every glance, every whisper, every sidelong look now seemed loaded with hidden intent.Kael had insisted she stay close to him, but even his presence couldn’t shake the gnawing sense of danger that threaded through every hallway, every classroom.“This feels different,” Aera said quietly as they walked through the corridors toward the main training hall. “Something… someone is planning. And it’s not just the shadows or the intruders from before. It’s… someone here.”Kael’s dark eyes narrowed. “I know. That’s why you must remain alert. Watch everyone—but trust almost no one. Even a friend can be a threat.”Aera swallowed, her pulse tightening. The idea that someone she thought was an ally could betray her was almost wor

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