A/N: For those who have read this chapter already, this has been massively changed. Enough that it is worth reading this again. May Your Mancing Never Fail!

Sebastian sat at the table on the raised dais with the King, Queen and at the opposite end, High Gold Mancer Silas. Silas met his gaze and straightened. Sebastian realised he was slouching, so he adjusted himself and called for a servant to push him closer to the table. A Prince scooting his chair across the floor would make a mockery of the entire Royal family. So would a slouching Prince.

He looked down over the Court of lords and ladies who had gathered in the Great Hall for this occasion. They chatted politely, a sweet perfume masking their foul plots. Even the young girls who looked his way- his potential suitors- were playing for power. They acted completely differently in a group than how they acted alone with him.

His scanning eyes finally found who he was looking for. Lawrence Holt, son of Lord and Lady Holt. Best friend of the Prince.

Lawrence seemed to notice his gaze and smiled at him. But only Sebastian noticed the slight eyebrow raise and pull of the lip that suggested his current conversation was not enjoyable. Sebastian subtly smirked back. He'd been there before- too often.

Finally, the Queen rose, tapping a spoon against her gold-rimmed crystal goblet. Those in attendance immediately fell quiet. It was the moment everyone had been waiting for: Sebastian's Inquisition and Coronation.

On Inquisition Day, tradition stated that a potential prince or princess would be tested for their power, evidence of blood purity, and to display to the masses the right to rule. It dissuaded those who wished to overthrow the Royal Family and strengthened the respect for them too. Eventually, he would father a daughter or son with the same power. It was his duty to his people.

"We will now commence the Inquisition of Prince Sebastian." The Queen said, and everyone in the room stood. High Gold Mancer Silas looked to Sebastian, giving the cue. They walked around the table to stand before the Queen and King. A servant came forward with a black velvet pillow. Nestled on top was a metal orb, intricately carved with layered bands that latticed its surface. A swirling symbol was indented in these layers, revealing a solid core.

Silas bowed his head to the servant, took the orb, and stood in front of Sebastian. The man towered over the teenage boy, blocking the view of the crowd below. Sebastian was tall, but he only came up to the shoulders of the bear-like Silas. As he looked up, the High Gold Mancer gave him a slight nod of encouragement, before placing the metal ball on the Prince's forehead.

The symbol glowed, shining on Silas' face. The sunflower gold flame sparkled off his Mancer robes as it rose, coming to a stop a mere hands-length above the Prince. Sebastian looked up at it, and when he looked down, he saw that Silas had moved to stand behind him.

"I present to you, Gold Flame Sebastian." He announced. The audience clapped politely. Silas retreated and the King stepped forward. The King crowned the Princes, and the Queen crowned the Princesses. Such was the way it had always been. Another servant came forward with a black velvet pillow and a small golden circlet on top. The King took the crown and stood before Sebastian. He wasn't as large as Silas, so Sebastian came up to his father's nose. The King's face was set in hard lines, and he didn't make eye contact. Sebastian matched his serious expression. This was an important ceremony. It was what he was born for. His entire life had been leading to this moment. In the books he read when he was younger, the Prince was either crowned and married a beautiful girl, or he ran away to escape his life. His parents told him the stories were unrealistic and promoted desertion- he was on the throne to serve his people. And then they took the books away.

"Do you swear to uphold your responsibilities as Prince, to guide your people with a just hand and wise counsel?" The King asked.

"I do."

The circlet was placed on his head, and then the King moved around to stand behind his son. "I present to you, Crown Prince Sebastian."

The audience clapped again, then the band resumed and Sebastian returned to his seat confused and dejected. Was that it? Did anybody even care he was a Gold Flame? Sure, it was expected of him, but that didn't mean it was any less special.

He sought out Lawrence in the crowd, who was beaming at him and giving a secret thumbs-up. All the other faces were turned away, resuming the conversation that had been halted previously. Sebastian sighed. He wouldn't be able to talk to Lawrence until the ball was done, and that seemed to be a long time coming, now that the song had changed and people get up to dance.

Crown Prince Sebastian straightened his posture, and prepared himself. No matter how much he disliked them, he had responsibilities to uphold. Life is not a fantasy.

"Oh, you should've seen the look on her face when she realised I heard what she said. I never knew someone could run that fast in a dress!" Lawrence said with a cheeky grin, prompting Sebastian to laugh out loud. He hadn't been able to see Lawrence after the ceremony, so he had to meet the day after. A knock on the door cut through their mirth, and a servant came in, bowing.

"Her Majesty requests your presence, Your Highness."

Sebastian smirked apologetically. "Sorry, I've got to continue this later."

Lawrence gave an understanding smile. "I'll see you later, then."

The Queen was waiting for him in her receiving chambers, a spacious and airy room with afternoon light cascading through tall windows. Birdsong trilled from the cage in the corner where an Abiran wren perched, its opalescent feathering standing out from the gold bars.

"Sebastian! Come sit with me." His mother's vast amounts of jewellery sparkled, but she held herself in a way that made them seem more beautiful than gaudy. Once he had joined her, she tilted her head and smiled. "Earlier today, Silas sent me a letter to inform me there is a Black Flame in our midst. Oh, don't worry, you didn't miss any gossip. This is only known to a few at the moment. From what I heard, she's quite powerful."

"She?"

"Yes, this Black Flame is a girl. I want you to get close to her. If she can be persuaded, then you have my permission to do so. If she's a threat... I'll get involved." Her casual tone was a stark contrast to her words. This was his first real intrigue, but for her it was surely not the first nor the last. Sebastian nodded sharply, acknowledging the task.

He travelled to the Academy later that day, escorted by Silas and a few Royal Guardsmen. The structure appeared on the horizon, a three-story square building that looked oddly plain. He shrugged. Not everything could look as beautiful as the palace. Thinking about the palace brought to mind Lawrence, who wouldn't be attending with him because he was born a month after Inquisition Day. I'll just make new friends then. Shouldn't be too hard. There would be people from all over the Queendom. He'd surely find some people he liked.

Silas took Sebastian on a tour of the premises, then left him to his own devices. The rest of the day blurred together as he was introduced to hundreds of fellow students, the struggles of dressing himself in the new uniform, and rowdy mealtimes. Despite this, he never heard a word about the Black Flame.

That was until Sunday morning, when he opened his door to see a girl standing at the door across from him, searching the pockets of her pants. Sebastian thought it very odd for a girl to be wearing pants, but there were no uniform restrictions he was aware of.

"Excuse me, this is the Gold Flame suite. Are you a Gold Flame?"

"No, I'm not."

"Then what are you doing? Peasants are not allowed to sleep in rooms designated for nobles!" Sebastian became angry. Breaking into rooms to get luxury you don't deserve was very wrong.

She pulled out a key and locked the door, saying "Peasant? Then you're a stuck up noble with a head too big for his ego." Before Sebastian could respond, she walked away.

Sebastian scratched his head. Was it actually big? Then he realised he'd forgotten to put his crown on. He went back inside and was putting it on when something clicked. If she had a key to the suite, and she wasn't a Gold Flame... then she must be the Black Flame his mother told him about. Then he sighed and looked up to the ceiling painted with scenes of battling Mancers atop dragons. He was supposed to get close to someone like that? Why couldn't she just be swooning for him like everyone else?

He hurried after her, but she had disappeared into the crowd heading to breakfast. The student body had mostly gotten over being star-struck, so only a few people made up his followers. Sebastian looked around for the girl and spotted her. She was looking right at him, but then quickly looked at her food. He made his way over to her, and cleared his throat to get her attention.

"I apologise. I think we may have gotten off on the wrong foot. I am Prince Sebastian, and you are?"

Her face brightened. "Oh, I'm Tess Bradshaw" she said. Sebastian looked into her wide, adoring blue-green eyes and wondered if this was the same person he met earlier. She looked exactly the same, except for... She was wearing a skirt instead of pants. This wasn't the Black Flame at all.

"I'm sorry, do you have a twin by any chance?"

Her smile faltered. "Yes, but she's not..." Sebastian didn't hear the rest as he began looking around. Girl gossip was rarely truthful enough to be worth his time. He saw Tess' twin chatting with someone, and then get up to leave. Sebastian ran around the tables, intercepting her. The students took notice of his rushed actions and gathered around to see, trapping them in. Even the air above was filled with older peers.

"I'm sorry about this morning. I am Prince Sebastian. I hope we can get along in the future." He bowed low.

"Uh... I'm Kiara" she responded, not moving. Her eyes were wide and startled but remained locked on him.

"Miss Kiara, would you do me the honour of being my partner?"

The entire room exploded into echoing whispers, until an outraged "What?" cut through the noise. Tess pushed her way into the circle, glaring daggers at Kiara. Kiara's eyes snapped to her twin, shook her head and backed away.

"I'm sorry... I can't... I don't..." The wall of students didn't give way immediately. To his surprise, and most likely the rest of the students present, she rose into the air and slipped between the students who let her pass.

All eyes returned to Sebastian, speechless.