Lysander arrived early to the East Tower's seventh-floor study room, taking a moment to survey the space before the others arrived. Ancient tapestries depicting the founding of the empire adorned the walls, while enchanted crystals provided soft, ambient light. The circular arrangement of chairs suggested equality among participants—unusual in a society obsessed with hierarchy.
He sensed another presence before hearing footsteps. "You're early," Elara observed, entering with a wooden case tucked under her arm.
"A habit developed at court," Lysander replied. "Those who arrive last often miss critical information."
"Practical thinking." She placed the case on the central table and opened it, revealing a collection of silver discs similar to the one she'd given him. "Protection devices for our circle. They'll mask our magical signatures during meetings."
"You anticipated my acceptance before extending the invitation."
Elara's smile was unapologetic. "House Silverwind didn't rise through poor planning."
Julian and Sera arrived together, followed shortly by a visibly nervous Marcus. Each wore their faction colors—Arcanum blue for the first three, Terravian green for Marcus.
"The prince's roommate," Julian remarked, eyeing Marcus with poorly disguised skepticism. "I'm still unclear on what qualifies a standard Terra practitioner for our circle."
Before Marcus could respond, Lysander intervened. "Perhaps a demonstration would answer your question." He turned to his roommate. "Marcus, would you mind showing Julian your... particular talents?"
Marcus hesitated, glancing toward the door. "Here? Now?"
"The room is secured," Elara assured him, activating the silver discs. "No magical signatures will register beyond these walls."
After a moment's consideration, Marcus squared his shoulders and extended his hand. Green Terra energy glowed around his fingers—standard for a Thornwood—but then flickers of red appeared, growing stronger until flames danced between his fingers.
Julian's eyes widened. "Ignis and Terra simultaneously? That's almost impossible without specialized training."
"Unless it's in your blood," Sera noted shrewdly. "Drakos heritage, I'm guessing? The red is distinctive."
Marcus extinguished the flames instantly. "If that information spreads—"
"It won't," Lysander assured him. "Everyone in this room understands the value of discretion. We all have secrets worth protecting."
Sera laughed softly. "Some more dangerous than others." She extended her own hand, and pure Umbra energy coalesced—darker and more potent than should have been possible for someone without noble lineage.
"How interesting," Lysander commented. "A commoner with exceptional Umbra affinity. The noble houses would find that... concerning."
"Just as they'd find an imperial prince with unblocked Anima abilities threatening," Julian added smoothly. "Which brings us to the purpose of our gathering." He gestured toward the center of the room, where a small pedestal held a crystalline orb. "The Archive's monitoring device shows Awakening incidents increasing exponentially. Something is changing the magical landscape of Valterra."
"The Covenant is weakening," Elara stated flatly. "House Silverwind's data confirms it. Magical ability is manifesting in bloodlines where it should be impossible."
"Like mine," Sera said, her expression hardening. "My family are tanners. No magical heritage whatsoever. Yet here I am."
"And the weakening accelerated around the same time as your arrival at the Academy," Julian said to Lysander. "Coincidence?"
"Few things involving imperial magic are coincidental," Lysander replied carefully. "Though correlation doesn't imply causation."
"Perhaps not," Elara agreed. "But Professor Thorne's systematic removal of your magical blocks coincides with measurable fluctuations in the Covenant's integrity."
Lysander's eyes narrowed. "You've been monitoring Thorne's procedures?"
"From a distance," she acknowledged without apology. "The magical discharge is impossible to miss with our equipment."
Marcus looked between them, confusion evident. "What exactly are we suggesting? That Prince Lysander's unblocking is somehow connected to commoners developing magic across the empire?"
"Not just connected," Sera said, leaning forward. "Potentially catalytic. The Covenant has always been more complex than official histories admit. The Archive believes it wasn't created merely to regulate magic but to contain something far more dangerous."
"And now it's failing," Julian concluded. "Which brings us to the practical matter at hand—forming a faction that can navigate the coming changes."
"You want to create a faction within Arcanum?" Lysander asked, though he already knew the answer.
"Beyond Arcanum," Elara corrected. "A circle that draws talent regardless of traditional boundaries. Just as the Academy's Twelve Factions once began as study groups before becoming formalized, we propose creating something new."
"With what purpose?" Marcus asked.
"Preparation," Julian replied simply. "When the Covenant fails completely—and it will—Valterra will change irrevocably. Magical ability will no longer be confined to noble bloodlines. The power structure that has maintained imperial control for generations will collapse."
"And we intend to be positioned advantageously when that happens," Sera added with practical bluntness.
Lysander considered them carefully. In his previous life, he had formed a similar group much later—after his powers were more fully developed. This accelerated timeline offered both opportunity and risk.
"You need a name," he observed. "And a leader."
"We thought 'The Awakened' might be appropriate," Julian suggested.
"Too obvious," Lysander countered. "And too easily associated with commoner rebellion." He thought for a moment. "What about 'The Broken Crown'?"
"Treasonous implications," Elara noted with raised eyebrows.
"Only to those who see crowns merely as symbols of authority," Lysander replied. "A broken crown also releases what was contained—letting light pass through the spaces between fragments."
The room fell silent as they considered the multilayered symbolism.
"And leadership?" Sera finally asked.
"Shared," Lysander said firmly. "Each contributing their particular strengths. Julian's diplomatic connections, Elara's technological innovation, Sera's perspective from beyond noble circles, Marcus's dual affinities." He paused. "And my position within the imperial family."
"A radical approach," Julian mused. "But potentially effective."
"Then it's settled," Elara declared. "The Broken Crown begins tonight."
They spent the next hour defining their immediate objectives: recruiting other talented individuals who might otherwise be overlooked, researching the true nature of the Covenant, developing methods to monitor and potentially stabilize the magical changes occurring throughout Valterra.
As they prepared to depart, Marcus asked the question that hung unspoken in the air. "What happens when Crown Prince Darius discovers what we're doing?"
"He won't," Julian assured him. "We'll operate beneath notice."
"My brother has spies everywhere," Lysander countered. "Assuming we'll remain undetected is naïve. Better to prepare for eventual discovery and plan accordingly."
"And how do we prepare for an imperial prince's wrath?" Sera questioned.
Lysander smiled thinly. "By ensuring that by the time he discovers us, we're too valuable to destroy."
The first meeting of The Broken Crown concluded with a magical oath—not of allegiance to any individual, but of commitment to their shared purpose. As Lysander watched their magical signatures temporarily merge in the oath-binding, he felt a sense of destiny unfolding.
This was how empires changed—not through grand battles initially, but through small gatherings of the right people at the right time, setting forces in motion that would eventually prove unstoppable.
The game was accelerating. And this time, he was writing the rules.