The boy's name was Aerys Aurelyon.
He belonged to House Aurelyon , the ruling lineage of the Central Empire. The Aurelyons formed the backbone of imperial dominion over the continent: feared, respected… yet behind the public tales, they were only one of five major houses of the empire ,above the others yes but bound to the Dukes's houses of the Dominions by oaths and alliances.
Aerys was the son of a simple servant, Lady Selenia, who worked in the Emperor's private chambers. His blood tied him to the imperial lineage, but in practice, he had no real chances to claim the throne.
What made him most vulnerable was his mother. The Emperor, indifferent to ducal marriages, had fallen for Selenia. The other wives swore vengeance. Throughout his short life, Aerys had been the target of countless disguised assassination attempts. In the past week, these attacks had intensified: the imminent opening of the Imperial Magical Academy would bring a decisive test — or death.
If he entered the Academy, he would learn military arts, magic, and the mastery of Essence. He could recruit his own power, and the Academy's walls, forbidding most intrusions, would ensure his safety. That was why the attacks had suddenly grown more frequent.
Lying in his small family manor, Aerys murmured to the voice that had been whispering in his mind:
— "D-did you… save my life?"
The answer came like an ancient breath:
— If mean from men who struck you, no. But if mean your injuries, yes: the healing has begun.
"W-what… healing?" Aerys frowned. The words seemed to waver, ancient and strange, feeling their way through time to be understood.
Then visions flooded his mind: ancient ritual scenes, glowing filaments running along his body, patterns of energy weaving an invisible network. Aerys staggered, bent over, and vomited.
The voice, now clearer, spoke softly:
— Fear nothing. Your body is being purified.
A gentle warmth coursed through him. Something under his skin seemed to lift invisible weights. A long-blocked flow of Essence resumed its course. On his palm and shirt, sweat thickened, then ran like a purge, expelling the old impurities.
Aerys sat up, dazed. His muscles regained strength and flexibility. The voice finally answered the question he hadn't dared speak aloud:
— I am neither god nor demon. I am an ancient fragment, now bound to you.
The words resonated deep within his soul. The artifacts and relics he had heard of had nothing to do with this. The fragment was alive, speaking of filaments of Essence and energy knots woven to support his latent nexus in his chest. It was ancient, mystical, and profound.
The door cracked open. Ighoras— his loyal guardian — held his breath at the sight of Aerys awake. Behind him entered Master Baelus, the "Shadow doctor" of the imperial court, solemn and measured in every gesture.
— "The Prince…!" Ighoras exclaimed, moving forward and taking Aerys' still-damp hand.
Baelus laid his fingers on the boy's wrist, gauging the Essence flow. His brows furrowed, then rose in curious surprise.
— "Intriguing… Prince Aerys, you were in grave danger. What happened?"
Ighor summarized the ambush. Baelus observed Aerys' body, the newly awakened circulation, the expelled impurities. His eyes shone with a mix of professional interest and awe.
— "Excellent. Your body has been cleansed and harmonized. Did you take any remedies, Prince?"
Aerys shook his head. Then the voice slid into his mind again, soft and soothing:
— I expelled what blocked your strength. I reshaped your body, strengthened your tendons, and prepared your latent nexus to awaken during your training.
Ighoras turned to him, worried:
— "Is this… magic? Who did this?"
Aerys had no answer. He could only Thought, eyes wide:
— "Who… are you?"
The voice responded, calm, deep, like a breath from the heart of the world:
— I am bound to you, Aerys Aurelyon. I will not serve you as a mere servant. I will guide your body, awaken your potential, and open paths that only you can follow.
Baelus took Aerys' hand once more, both physician and witness to an extraordinary phenomenon. He smiled:
— "Your body is now fit for magical training, Prince. If this comes from an ancient relic… you bear a rare favor. Use it wisely, and learn quickly."
Ighoras bowed his head, relieved but anxious. Aerys, still dizzy from the pain of the internal awakening, finally understood: this was more than a rescue. The fragment had answered to him. The Emperor, the Dukes, and soon the Academy would discover that the son of servant Selenia was no longer the boy who fled through the forest.