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𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕣𝕒𝕝 𝕂𝕚𝕣𝕚𝕘𝕒𝕟

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He looked less like his mother than I'd expected. I took in the bruise that stained his Shu-shaped eye. His skin almost completely colourless and his raven hair was desperate for a good wash and trim. I recognised the same ferocity as his mother when he fought against his restraints. He didn't hesitate to look me straight in the eye.

I lifted my hand to the Grisha behind him. "Release his restraints," I ordered. Soon, the boy's hands were free. His eyes flicked left and right frantically and his body was tense as if preparing to run around me to his mother as soon as the opportunity presented itself.

"What's your name?"

His eyes narrowed. "Reagan-"

"Starkov." I finished for him, in case he was planning on using a fake last name. "Yes, I've heard of you. Have you heard of me?" The boy didn't respond but bit his lip sharply. "Has your mother ever told you who I am?"

"Yes. I know who you are, and what you've done." He spat the last part.

I inspected him again, trying to see his resemblance to Mal. But he didn't possess any of Mal's defining features. "General Kirigan," I introduced myself formally, holding my hand out for his. Reagan's eyes stared at it with disinterest. I gave him a slight smile, taking a half-step forward.

He finally reached out to take. "Reagan, don't!" Alina cried, but it was too late. The boy's hand was around mine. My amplifying abilities caused his body to go ridged and I saw panic and confusion spark in his eyes. I could feel him resisting my influence, but as soon as my grip tightened a blinding light illuminated from the boy.

His pale skin glowed warmly. So, it was true. There was now another Sun Summoner in the world. But how far could he go? What were his limits?

When I'd first met Alina her powers could only do so much. I'd been able to sense her strength, but as I continued to push the boy's powers I had yet to find his limit. He was still holding back, and I could see the strain on his face.

The Grisha and sailors around us were blocking their eyes from the light and I had to narrow my own so as to still look at him. "Let go," I ordered, pushing harder. He clenched his fists, his teeth grinding together.

Just when I thought I might never break through the wall he'd put up around himself, Reagan let out a loud cry and fell to his knees. I almost let go as the light disappeared and shadows sprouted out of him, flowing out onto the ship.

I watched the blackness spread, listening to the terrified screams of the crew. I turned a bit, my hand still tightened around his. My eyes caught Alina's before the shadows swallowed her too. They were frightened and sad.

I breathed in the coolness of the shadows then felt his hand slip from mine. The shadows stopped spreading and blew away into nothing. Grisha, men and women were crouching and sprawled all over the deck. They were shaken, but uninjured. 

Reagan was on his hands and knees at my feet, breathing heavily. I took ahold of his arm to help him up but he renched it away, standing up slowly on his own. Some colour had returned to his face, but he was still panting from the exhilaration of using his powers. "Extraordinary." I breathed. It was the only word that would come.

I turned to Alina. From one glance I could confirm the ever-present idea circling in my mind. Could it be? It was.

"You thought you could hide him from me." She was shaking as I allowed my shadow to fall over her. "He's mine as much as he is yours."

"Mum?" Reagan croaked from behind me. "What is he talking about?"

"I'm sorry. I should have told you earlier." Her words were to Reagan. Now that I looked closer at him I could see the similarities we shared. The same black hair, slender figures, clear eyes. There was no denying it, especially seeing as there was only one way he could've obtained his shadow powers.

He was my son. And he was the greatest creation I'd seen in the thousand years I'd lived. I'd thought Alina was Ravka's savior, but I'd been wrong.

"Take her away."

"No!" Reagan jolted forward, but I stopped him with my hand. "What are you going to do? Bring her back!" But she was already being dragged down the stairs, her cries disappearing below deck.

Reagan looked up at me in fury and fear. I moved my hand, gesturing towards the door to my quarters. "Come. Let's talk." 

"I'm not going anywhere with you until you release my mother, and Mal."

"Please," I spoke softly. "Let's talk." I placed my hand on his back, gently leading him to the door, nodding to Ivan to keep watch. He nodded back turning to the crew. "Alright! Back to work!"

Once we were inside the privacy of the room I gestured to one of the seats in front of my desk. "Please, sit. Make yourself comfortable." I gestured. 

He remained standing, glaring at me with his matching quartz eyes. I sighed, pulling out the chair for him to sit. He was almost just as stubborn as his mother. "Trust me, you might want to sit for this."

"What are you going to do with them?"

"The question is," I took the seat beside the still empty chair. "What are we going to do? You've been granted a great gift. A gift that could save all of Ravka."

"You mean like how you saved Novokribirsk." He spat.

"Please... Sit." To my slight surprise, he shuffled over to the seat and sat down, his hands resting on his knees. "Do you know who I am to you?"

"I don't know what you mean-"

"Yes, you do." He flinched, perhaps he was easier to read than I'd initially thought. Good, that'd work in my favour. "Alina may not have told you but, you seem like an intelligent boy. You must've figured it out sooner."

"I..." He wouldn't meet my eyes. He stared down at his lap to where his hands were pulling at the fabric of his pants. He wore peasant clothes that were too small for him. That would have to change. "I guess... I had suspicions. But it's not like she would ever confirm them." 

I reached out to touch his hand, but he flinched away. "Reagan, I don't think you understand just how important a gift you have... Have you been trained?"

"No- I mean, kinda. Mother taught a bit of sun summoning, but I taught myself how to summon the shadows." He grew a little paler.

"Well, I can teach you now."

"So you can use me?" 

"I will admit, I've made mistakes." He didn't look convinced, but this time, when I took his hand, he didn't flinch like before. "But everything I've done has been for the good of my people. Our people. I did it all for Grisha." 

"That's not what mother says-"

"That woman," I said with clear disdain. "Has been misleading you from the very beginning. She never understood the steps that had to be taken to save our kind. She has hidden so much from both of us." I saw my words hit him like bullets, but they were bullets of truth and he knew it. "She's been holding you back. You have the power to change the world, Reagan. But instead, she tried chaining you to a life of running and hiding. But we are not the type to run and hide." I took his other hand, catching his gaze.

There were tears welling up, but his tension had washed away like the waves outside. 

"I can help you, Reagan. I want to help you. I want you to discover your full potential. And I know Alina has told you not to trust me, but what has she done to earn your trust today? I need you to give me a chance." There was silence. The only noises were that of the clock ticking away on the wall, and the slap of waves outside. I could hear the voices of the crew preparing to set sail. "Will you give me a chance?"

"What will happen to them though? What will you do?"

"Nothing that would harm them, I promise."

Reagan took a deep breath in through his nose and held it. "Okay," he exhaled. "Okay. I'll give you a chance."