All Chapters of THE CROWN THEY HID FROM ME: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The Academy was alive with whispers the next morning, though most students were oblivious to the storm gathering beneath their feet. Aera had barely slept, her mind replaying the events of the previous night—the betrayal, the shadowy traces, the hidden magic. The knowledge that someone among them sought to manipulate her, to use her sigil for their own purposes, pressed down like a stone on her chest.Kael met her at the entrance to the training grounds, eyes sharp and wary. “I’ve tracked the traces from last night,” he said, voice low. “They lead to the Northern Wing—the restricted section. Someone is experimenting with forbidden spells there. We need to move carefully. They know we’re watching.”Aera nodded, her resolve hardening. “Then let’s go. I won’t let them manipulate me—or anyone else—again.”Kael’s lips twitched, almost a smile. “Good. But remember, we’re walking into danger. Not all enemies wear a mask. Some hide behind smiles and polite words.”⸻The Northern Wing was cloa

The morning air was crisp and biting, carrying the scent of dew-soaked stone and the distant smell of burning incense from the Academy’s lower courtyards. Aera rose before the sun, her mind racing with the knowledge of The Veil and their ever-looming threat. The betrayal, the shadowy conspiracies, and the manipulations all converged in her thoughts, pressing her to action.Kael was already awake when she reached the training courtyard, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, scanning the horizon. “You’re early,” he remarked, voice low. “Good. We don’t have time to waste.”Aera adjusted the strap of her training satchel, her heart beating in anticipation. “Where do we start? How do we awaken the sigil fully? The Veil won’t wait for me to be ready.”Kael nodded. “The sigil is a part of you, Aera, but it has layers—layers even you haven’t accessed. The key is not just control, but harmony with it. You must understand its instincts, its reactions, and its limits. Only then will you be abl

The Academy was quiet that evening, but the calm was deceptive. Aera moved through the shadows, Kael at her side, both cloaked in black to blend with the dim corridors. The events of the previous night—the betrayal within her inner circle and the awakening of her sigil—had changed everything. The Veil’s reach extended beyond students, teachers, and even the Headmistress’s aide. Every corner of the Academy could hide an enemy.“Are you ready?” Kael whispered, his dark eyes scanning the empty hallway. “This is more dangerous than any training or confrontation we’ve faced so far.”Aera nodded, her hands glowing faintly with sigil energy. “I am. We need answers—and the only way to get them is to step inside their world, even if it’s treacherous.”Kael gave her a firm look. “Be careful. Trust no one. The Veil thrives on manipulation and deception. One wrong move and we could be trapped—or worse.”⸻Their destination was a hidden chamber beneath the Academy’s western towers. The cloaked fig

The dawn broke over Astryss Royal Academy with deceptive serenity. Birds sang in the courtyards, and the wind stirred the banners above the towers. But beneath the calm surface, the Academy was a powder keg. The Veil had learned of Aera and Kael’s intrusion into their hidden network. The residual energy the sigil had left behind had been detected—a silent alarm only a faction like The Veil could recognize.Aera awoke to the faint tremor of magic in the walls, the sigil on her palm pulsing almost urgently. Kael was already at the training courtyard, his expression tense.“They’re coming,” he said simply. “The Veil won’t sit back. Tonight, they strike at the Academy itself.”Aera’s pulse quickened. “Then we need to prepare everyone. Students, allies… anyone capable of fighting. We need defenses, wards, and a strategy.”Kael nodded. “Agreed. But this is more than just defense. It’s a test of leadership, quick thinking, and mastery over your sigil. If we fail, The Veil gains control of th

The sun had barely risen over the city, casting pale light over narrow streets and cobblestone alleys. The morning calm was deceptive; whispers of unrest had already reached Aera Vale. The Veil’s network was active, and intelligence from the ledger indicated that gifted civilians—those who had not yet been recruited or monitored—were being targeted.Aera stood atop a rooftop, sigil glowing faintly on her palm, surveying the city below. Kael appeared beside her, his dark eyes scanning every shadow.“They’ve begun,” Kael said quietly. “This isn’t just a test—they’re taking hostages, coercing the gifted. If we don’t act fast, lives will be lost.”Aera clenched her fists. “Then we stop them. No hesitation. No mistakes.” The sigil pulsed stronger in response, as if attuned to her resolve. “We move carefully. Their traps, wards, and ambushes will be intricate. We can’t underestimate them.”⸻The first target was a small enclave of gifted artisans living on the outskirts of the city. Using t