Merritt had always known his place in Velyria's twisted order. He wasn't supposed to exist. Fourth-born children weren't just illegal; they were condemned. Merritt had always understood his place in Velyria's twisted hierarchy. Fourth-born children weren't just illegal—they were cursed. His mother had concealed her pregnancy for as long as she could, but when Merritt was born, the enforcers came. They executed her for her defiance, and Merritt, as a living reminder of her transgression, was condemned to live as a pariah.
Raised in an orphanage, Merritt learned quickly that his existence was a burden in the eyes of society. But instead of being broken by it, he became determined to prove his worth. By the age of fifteen, he had become one of the top students in the Academy of War, second only to the prince, Augustine.
Yet, despite his talent and dedication, General Varn, the head of the military, despised him. No matter how well Merritt performed, the stain of his birth was one he could never erase.
"Training begins now!" General Varn's voice thundered across the courtyard. Merritt's fists clenched as he felt the cold disdain in the general's gaze.
"You'll never rise in the ranks, Merritt," Varn sneered. "You don't belong here."
Merritt said nothing, though the fire inside him raged. He knew what it meant to be discarded, to be unwanted. But every harsh word only fueled his resolve to prove them all wrong.
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