The Soul Mark is a mystical sigil, etched into one's essence at birth—or during moments of profound emotional upheaval. It represents an individual's unique bond with the world's Aether, shaping not only their abilities, but also their nature, temperament, and destiny.
Each Soul Mark carries within it a slumbering power—one that may only be awakened through deep understanding and attunement. It is not merely a symbol; it is a fragment of the world's will, fused into flesh and spirit.
Over time, a Soul Mark can evolve—gaining new facets in response to personal growth, life-altering decisions, or the binding of ancient relics and aether-forged artifacts. Some Soul Marks even merge with enchanted items or sacred weapons, altering both the bearer and the object.
No two Soul Marks are ever alike. Some glow like starlight when awakened. Others pulse like fire, shadow, wind, or crystal. Some never fully awaken at all, remaining dormant, locked behind emotional walls or forgotten truths.
Sameer's mark had always been incomplete. Faint and unstable, it had never revealed its nature, nor granted him a whisper of its strength. Yet tonight, under the starlit sky, it pulsed with a strange intensity—as though something deep within it had begun to stir.
Sameer awoke early—not because his Soul Mark was hurting, but because for the first time in his life, it wasn't.
The ache that had haunted him since birth—an ever-present sting beneath the skin—was simply… gone.
He sat up in confusion, hand brushing over the spot where the mark resided. A strange emptiness lingered, not painful, but unfamiliar. Still half-asleep, he chose not to dwell on it. There was no time for mysteries this morning. He dressed quickly in his standard blue-robed attire and made his way to his next lecture.
Today's class was Alchemy—his most despised subject.
He had always hated it, perhaps because he hailed from Lowgate, a small backwater village near Quickswitch in Alchemorra—a region famed for its eccentric alchemical cities. Everyone back home expected him to excel in alchemy, especially since it was the craft of his people.
He was only enrolled in this academy because his childhood mentor, an old alchemist and friend of his father, had written him a recommendation.
Now, he had yet another reason to loathe the subject.
Prince Kael Ardentis—the royal heir he had met under the stars last night—was in this very class. And to his utter disbelief, Kael turned toward him and said:
"Sameer, let us be partners. We can help each other."
Sameer blinked, confused and unsure how to respond. "You have so many friends. Why do you want to partner with me?"
He wasn't wrong. Kael was the golden star of their year. Anyone would leap at the chance to work with him. Refusal was nearly unheard of.
Kael smiled faintly. "I've made many acquaintances in the academy, but most of them are only close to me because of my title."
Sameer raised a brow. "But why me, then?"
Kael's gaze turned serious. "Because everyone else I meet shows me hollow respect. They agree with everything I say, even when I'm wrong. You… you didn't treat me like a prince. You spoke to me like an equal."
Sameer fell silent. He remembered how casually he had spoken the night before. He hadn't bowed, hadn't addressed him with honorifics—he had treated him like just another student.
The realization hit him like a brick.
His eyes widened, and he suddenly blurted, loud enough for others to hear, "I'm sorry! Please forgive me! I didn't mean any disrespect, Your Highness!"
Kael stared at him for a second—then burst into laughter.
Sameer blinked, confused again. But Kael's laughter was warm, genuine—not mocking, but amused.
"Calm down," the prince said between chuckles. "I didn't come here for apologies. I came here to find someone real."
After hearing what Kael said, Sameer relaxed. A soft chuckle escaped his lips—he couldn't help laughing at his own reaction. The idea of grovelling in front of the prince, only to be laughed at in return, now seemed absurd in the best way.
The class continued, with everyone listening attentively as the professor discussed the volatile balance of Aether compounds and their elemental resonance. Sameer, however, was barely paying attention. Most of this material he already knew—basic alchemic theory from his village days in Lowgate. But something else was tugging at his thoughts.
Why wasn't his Soul Mark hurting?
It had always been there—a constant sting beneath his skin. Yet now, there was only silence. A strange silence. One that wrapped around him like a fog.
Time felt slower. The voices in the classroom became distant echoes. He could no longer hear the professor, nor the soft chatter of the students around him. Even Kael's voice became a fading murmur.
And then—everything began to blur.
The only thing that remained clear… was the window.
Beyond the shimmering glass, a small, blue butterfly fluttered in, its wings glowing faintly with aetheric shimmer.
Sameer's eyes locked onto it.
Time held still.
The butterfly hovered silently, then vanished out of sight.
In the next breath, the world snapped back into place.
Kael was leaning slightly toward him, a hint of concern on his face.
"Are you even listening?" Kael asked.
Sameer blinked, pulling himself back to the present.
"Sorry," he said quickly. "Just spaced out for a bit."
After the alchemy lecture ended, they parted ways for their remaining classes. Kael offered a casual farewell and disappeared down the corridor with his usual graceful stride.
That night, Sameer lay on his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling. The events of the day replayed in his mind—the stillness of his mark, the strange trance, and most of all, the glowing blue butterfly.
What was that thing? Was it real? Or a vision?
He didn't have the answers. Just questions, stacked like bricks in his chest. Eventually, the weight of the day dragged him into sleep.
Elsewhere, in the quiet of his royal dorm chamber, Kael sat by candlelight, pen in hand. A soft journal lay open before him—its cover stamped with the sigil of House Ardentis.
He dipped the quill into ink and began to write.
"Today, I think I made my first real friend at the academy."
His hand paused. Then, with a small smile, he added:
"His name is Sameer."