31. Theon

In transit, Tessa learns Luka can shift into a dragon and serves as Theon’s Guardian. Theon and Luka outline Luka’s orphaned past, rare Sargon bloodline, and their rebellion against Valter’s plan to bond Luka to him. They reveal Arius’s connection to the Underground beneath the Ozul Mountains and that Witches, not Priestesses, facilitated Theon and Luka’s intended Guardian bond.

Amid Tessa’s curiosity, practical limits surface: Luka can breathe fire but at great magical cost. Theon then discloses a darker truth—Legacy without Sources replenish reserves using weekly rations of Fae blood collected after Selection—alienating Tessa further.

They arrive at the Arius townhouse in the Acropolis, where Pen greets them. Theon gives Tessa a tour and quietly tightens precautions. On the balcony, they argue about autonomy and visibility; Theon frames her safety and optics as reasons she cannot be alone. He pushes her to claim the previously bargained phone call, challenging her tendency to refuse on principle.

Reluctantly, Tessa video-calls her friends: Dex, Lange, Corbin, and later Oralia. Theon observes, assessing their dynamics. The conversation shifts from light topics to concern for Tessa’s stability, hinting at a severe incident two years prior. When Tessa voices hopelessness, her friends reaffirm support.

Overwhelmed, Tessa ends the call and retreats into silence. Theon achieves his aim—insight into Tessa’s ties and wounds—but the emotional cost deepens her mistrust, setting the tone for their training and political maneuvering at the Acropolis.