I woke with the first light of dawn. The air still clung to its chill, and the walls continued to release the cold they had soaked up through the night, letting it seep into my skin. As I washed my face and hastily tied my hair into a ponytail, a sudden knock on the door jolted me upright. My heart, for a few seconds, launched into an unnecessary alarm.
When I opened the door, Kael stood there in his black attire. He looked at me with a smug smile curling on his lips.
"Morning, princess. Missed me?"
I rolled my eyes. I had just started my day—far too early to be testing my patience.
"What do you want?"
He leaned against the doorframe. Though his eyes held a trace of boredom, his voice was laced with its usual mockery.
"Celene ordered me to bring you to her chambers. I've basically turned into a glorified errand boy lately. Leader or lackey… who knows anymore."
I raised an eyebrow, mockery dancing on my own face.
"Someone's very fond of their rank, apparently."
My tone was sharp, but my eyes had already begun to study him without permission. The way he looked in black, the artful mess of his hair that somehow appeared deliberate… It was unfair that someone so arrogantly insufferable could look this good. Thankfully, my expression remained impassive enough to annoy him.
He shrugged. "Exactly. Get your laughs in. But looks like I'm still taking orders. Let's not push Celene's patience."
Whatever he said, it worked—my curiosity was burning hotter by the second. I quietly followed behind him. We passed long, stone corridors and stopped in front of a room with tall wooden doors. Without knocking, Kael pushed them open and walked in.
In his usual style—blunt, but self-assured.
Celene stood in the center of the room. Her long, dark dress, upright posture, and sharp gaze filled the space effortlessly. When she turned her head toward me, her voice carried both softness and an irrefutable authority.
"Come."
I stepped inside. Kael flung himself into a chair and stretched lazily. Celene cast him a short, piercing glance. That was all the attention she spared him before returning her gaze to me.
"I know what it is that brought us here together, Vaelis," she said.
The moment the words left her mouth, something knotted in my throat.
"They never told you the full truth about the night you were born. But I know."
I held my breath.
"The night you were born, the elements chose you. But not just one… two of them."
The air shifted—its weight becoming almost palpable. My heart began to race.
"Within you lives both fire and air. Throughout history, no elemental has ever held the two together. Because if they merge… no one can stop them."
My hands moved instinctively toward my gloves. The burn marks… the pain still smoldered in my soul.
Celene's eyes flicked to my hands.
"Those marks are remnants of raw power. Fire burned you because you didn't know how to control it."
I swallowed hard.
"What if I never learn?"
A subtle smile crept onto Celene's lips.
"That's why you're here. This is the only place where you'll learn to tame it."
She took a deep breath. Then began speaking in an old tongue, something ancient and reminiscent of Latin. The words echoed through the room, each syllable carving itself into my chest.
"Ex umbris veniet et lux obscurabitur.
Terrae et mentis dominam portabit, et regna tremescunt.
Ubi flamma tangit, cinis renascetur.
Sed obscura anima sui ipsius devorabit."
A shiver ran down my spine.
"My prophecy…" I whispered, the words slipping from my lips without permission.
Celene nodded.
"She will rise from the shadows, and the light shall be buried in darkness.
The bearer of sky and mind shall carry her, and kingdoms will bow.
Where fire touches, ash shall be reborn.
Yet the shadow within will try to consume her soul."
"Your prophecy, Vaelis."
Each word shattered a chain inside me. I had finally accepted it.
I was… different.
I paused, eyes locked onto hers. The question that had been echoing in my mind finally tore itself free through the lump in my throat.
"But… how do you know all this?"
Celene tilted her head slightly, her gaze drifting far off for a heartbeat—then snapping back to imprison mine once more.
"Because when you were born… the stars went silent, Vaelis."
My heart pounded violently in my chest. It was as if I had forgotten how to breathe.
"The night you were born, every star vanished from the sky. Not a single one shone. As if the universe itself had held its breath for just one moment. That was when I knew the book my family had sworn to protect for centuries was real."
Her voice grew heavier with each word.
"That book is passed down from one mentor to another. Only one may read it in each generation. My mentor gave it to me before she died, and when I opened it, I found the prophecy:
'When a child with silver eyes is born, the sky will fall into silence.
Night and day will mark her hair.
And the storm within her will remind the gods of balance.'"
My lips parted, but no words came.
My hair… my eyes… everything she said mirrored me perfectly.
It was as if I'd been living inside a story written long before I was born.
Celene stepped closer.
"That night, it wasn't just the stars that fell silent. I saw something… a vision. The sky was shrouded in darkness, but out of it walked a girl. Her hands were aflame, but there was no fear on her face. Her eyes—they were yours. Burning in the light. And in that moment, I knew. You were meant to find me, and I… was meant to guide you."
My knees threatened to give out beneath me.
Something cracked open inside—a deep, unnamed loneliness trembled at its core.
I wasn't alone.
At least… someone had known me long before I ever knew myself.
Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at Kael. He was still sitting silently, but his gaze was fixed on me. His brows were furrowed. That usual mocking smirk had vanished, replaced by something I couldn't quite name—like he was truly seeing me for the first time.
Seeing him look at me like that felt as disarming as everything Celene had just said.
As I tried to process it all, the panic I'd forgotten came roaring back.
"My father's guards were chasing me. What if they follow me here?"
Celene's gaze sharpened like a blade.
"This place is beyond the reach of any kingdom. They won't find you here."
The tightness in my chest began to loosen, just a little.
Celene gave a small, assuring nod.
"Now, don't miss breakfast. Go meet your new companions."
Kael, shaking off whatever cloud he'd been under, jumped to his feet with sudden energy.
"Finally! We'll make it to breakfast for once."
I wrinkled my nose but followed him. As we descended the stairs, it was impossible to ignore the stares around us. Some held curiosity. Others… envy.
A group was whispering nearby:
"Who's that girl walking with Kael?"
"She must be the new one."
"Did you see her hair?"
"How is she even standing next to him?"
Their eyes clung to me like frost on skin. One murmur in particular clung to my ears:
"Kael never gets close to anyone. Who the hell is she?"
I realized then that everyone in the school already knew who he was. Not just because he was striking—but because of that cold, unreachable aura. Like he came from somewhere untouchable. Even just walking beside him was too much. Sharing space with him… made people stare.
I glanced sideways at him.
"Why do they look at you like that?"
He shrugged, clearly unbothered.
"How should I know? I guess I'm just… interesting."
I rolled my eyes again.
"I still can't believe people tolerate your ego."
He lifted a brow.
"Forget me. You've already made it onto their radar—with that hair of yours."
The hum of the breakfast hall buzzed around me as I turned my head. Eyes were still locked on me.
"So… you're keeping track now?" I asked, voice flat.
I grabbed a tray and made my way to an empty table in the corner. I didn't want to attract any more attention. I was just starting to eat when Kael plopped down across from me.
"Lucky you. I'm gracing you with my presence on your first day. Not sure if I'm afraid you'll be lonely, or just enjoy watching you squirm."
I raised a brow. "Do you actually believe that?"
He chuckled with a shrug. "None of your business. But you don't know how things work here yet. Just trying to make your first day less miserable."
Just then, three people approached our table. Two guys and a girl. The way they carried themselves—and the way they looked at Kael—made it clear they were close.
The girl—Lyra—was petite, with wavy dark auburn hair that almost shimmered like copper. Her smile was warm, her voice gently teasing but inviting.
Riven scanned the room with an ease that was almost lazy. But the sharpness in his eyes made it clear—what he didn't say was just as important as what he did.
Darian was quiet and steady. Broad-shouldered, with a calm in his stance that was undeniably grounded.
"Kael, aren't you going to introduce us to your new friend?" Riven's voice was light, but the teasing undertone was clear.
"Yes, Kael?" Lyra turned her eyes to me, then smiled.
"I'm Lyra. The musclehead next to me is Darian, and the other one is Riven. The three of us pretty much came here with Kael, so we've been around a while."
She held out her hand.
"Vaelis," I said, shaking it.
Darian gave a slight nod. Riven chuckled, resting his chin on his hand.
"Don't take Kael's sulking too seriously."
Kael sighed, stirring his spoon with a bored expression.
"You all talk too much. Am I complaining?"
Lyra ignored him, her attention back on me as she looked at my hair. "Your hair is absolutely perfect. I've never seen two-toned hair like that. Is it natural?"
I hesitated. "Since birth."
She tilted her head with a playful pout. "Unfair. I'd kill to have that. It's really beautiful."
And in that moment, surrounded by strangers, something in my soul quietly stirred—like I might finally belong somewhere.
In the middle of my thoughts, I felt someone's gaze burning gently through them. I turned—and Kael was watching me. Our eyes met. The world paused.
There was something in his gaze that pulled me in.
Lyra's voice snapped the moment like a thread. Kael quickly looked away.
I swallowed the flutter in my stomach and took my last bite.
Just as I pushed my tray forward, Riven leaned in with a sly twitch of his eyebrow.
"Now that breakfast's done, how about we give you a tour of the academy? Prevent you from getting hopelessly lost on day one?"
I caught the familiar edge of sarcasm in his tone—but this time, it wasn't irritating.
In fact, somewhere deep inside, I felt a smile threatening to bloom.
Lyra clapped her hands in delight, as if the start of a long-anticipated game had just been announced.
"Perfect! Let's take our new girl on a tour," she said, moving to my side.
Kael still hadn't moved. His eyes were fixed on the empty plate in front of him.
Lyra turned toward him, eyes narrowing.
"You're not coming?"
Kael lifted his head slightly. His eyes met mine—just for a second.
But when he answered, it was to the space between us, not directly to my face:
"You go on ahead. I'll catch up."
His voice was firm, but I caught a flicker of hesitation in his gaze—like he was trapped between staying and following.
Without saying much more, we all picked up our trays and made our way to the dish return.
The clinking of metal on porcelain followed us as we stepped out of the hall, crossed the courtyard, and entered the inner parts of the academy.
Riven gestured toward a broad stone passage. "This is the main corridor. Most morning sessions start here when the bell rings. Announcements and class notices are read out in the courtyard—at least for those who make it past the first level."
Darian crossed his arms as he spoke. "Every now and then, Celene selects students to go to nearby villages—for observation, aid, or to interact with people struggling with elemental imbalance. Sometimes even the instructors go to the border towns."
Lyra smiled. "But so far, only one of us has ever been sent."
Darian turned his head toward the space Kael had left behind. "Kael. That was the mission where he found you and brought you here."
His words caught me off guard. I said nothing and kept walking.
As we moved through the stone-paved corridors, Lyra opened her palms toward a large wooden door.
"And this… is the library."
The moment we stepped inside, my breath caught in my throat.
Ancient tomes… towering wooden shelves that reached the ceiling… Candles set into iron plates, carefully placed in rows. The air was thick with the scent of parchment and time.
And at the center, an old man leaned against the body of a book, quietly writing.
Riven stepped forward with a casual greeting. "Morning, Richerd. We're showing our new friend around."
The old man lifted his head and peered at me through his spectacles.
His eyes were tired—but warm.
"Welcome, child."
I dipped my head with a soft smile. "Thank you."
My steps drew me toward the shelves. As my fingertips brushed the dusty covers, a thrill moved through me.
Lyra called out from behind me. "There's everything here—from poisonous and healing herbs to the history of ancient elemental masters, even the journals of wandering spirits. This place is a bottomless well of knowledge."
I struggled to keep my excitement in check and whispered, "I could spend a lifetime here…"
As Darian wandered between the shelves, he murmured, "Come on, this place smothers me. Let's show you the spots you absolutely shouldn't enter—unless you want real trouble."
Once outside, Darian led us toward the northern corridor. At its end stood three large doors, pressed into timeworn stone walls. All were locked, marked with ancient symbols.
He stopped at the first. Its seal was faded, the chain loops broken and rusted.
"These are the Silence Chambers. Old cellars underground. Back when students couldn't control their power, they'd isolate them here. But over time, the energy inside became unstable. It's still filled with echoes of repressed elemental force. Those who enter… sometimes return silent. Sometimes, not at all."
His words lodged like a knot in my throat.
I wanted to peer inside, but even the darkness behind the door was enough to unnerve me.
Next, we reached a ruined staircase. Half-collapsed. The walls were stained with soot.
"This is the West Tower. Nearly destroyed years ago by an elemental explosion. The energy inside is still volatile. Even the stones look like they're whispering warnings."
Lyra wrinkled her nose. "Some tried to enter. Only one ever came back. And they never spoke again."
The last door opened toward the gardens. The area was walled off with wire fencing, paved with stone—yet the earth within seemed to belong to another darkness entirely.
"The Old Ritual Garden," Riven said, voice lowering to a whisper.
"Spirits were once summoned here. One day, something answered. No one knows what. Since then, time warps in that place. The moment you enter, you lose your sense of direction. Those who make it out think days have passed… but only minutes ever do."
A shiver crawled up my spine. My steps slowed.
Lyra turned to me and gently touched my arm. "But don't worry. These rules exist to protect us. Most of these places are sealed anyway."
Darian added, "Still, curiosity has gotten the better of some. They've taught us the price."
I nodded silently.
The unease lingered in my bones, yet it was paired with a deep and gnawing curiosity. Who knew what else these walls held—what secrets still pulsed behind stone and silence?
After passing through the academy's stone-paved courtyard, we found ourselves in a vast garden.
Among the dazzling greenery stood a magnificent tree, its leaves shimmering gold. Its roots didn't just burrow into the soil—they felt as though they reached into the very heart of the earth.
As the breeze stirred its leaves in a slow, reverent dance, its shadow cast a feeling that was almost sacred.
Lyra walked beneath the tree and collapsed onto the grass.
"This is my sanctuary," she said with a smile. "Perfect for thinking, escaping… or just being lazy."
Riven lay down beside her, followed by me and Darian.
As the light filtered through the branches and touched my skin, a strange peace settled over me.
"So, how old are you, Vaelis?" Lyra asked, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
"Nineteen," I said. "You?"
"Same," she replied with delight. "Looks like we're the same age."
Darian rested his arm on his knee. "I'm twenty-one. Riven's twenty. Kael's the oldest. Twenty-two."
"I'm curious about your powers," I said, letting my gaze fall on each of them in turn. "If you'd like to share, I'd love to know."
Lyra tilted her head, lips pursed thoughtfully. "I'm an empath. I can feel people's emotions. Sometimes it gets so intense, I can't tell what's theirs and what's mine."
A chill traced down my spine. "That must be hard."
"Sometimes," she murmured. "But sometimes it's incredibly useful."
Riven had his hands in his pockets, eyes fixed on the ground.
"I command shadows," he said quietly.
"Really? Can I see?" I asked, voice full of wonder. "I've never seen anything like it."
I immediately regretted asking. Riven raised his head with a faint smile.
"I'd love to. But it's forbidden—rules and all."
I frowned. "Right… sorry. Forgot."
Darian stretched his arms. "I don't have an element. But the more I fight, the stronger I get. My arms swell up, almost like armor. That's why I'm always at the front lines."
"Seriously?" I asked, my eyes widening a bit. "That's incredible."
Lyra pulled her knees to her chest. "Your turn. We know your age. What about your powers?"
I brushed my hair back, letting it fall behind my shoulders.
"I have both fire and wind inside me. And I have no idea how to control either."
Darian nodded. "That's impressive. Really rare. When did your powers manifest?"
"Not too long ago…" My words faded into shadow, but none of them pressed further. Their eyes showed only quiet understanding.
Lyra scooted closer, her curiosity growing bolder.
"Did you hurt anyone during your first outburst?" she chirped.
The question stung, just a little. "Yes."
Right then, Riven tilted his head toward someone approaching in the distance.
"Look who's coming…"
He dropped the stick he'd been drawing with in the dirt.
"Took you long enough."
Kael shrugged. "I'm here, aren't I?"
He fixed his eyes on me, then arched an eyebrow.
"So, princess? Enjoying the view?"
The word princess was enough to make my eyebrows rise. I wasn't ready to explain that title to them—at least not yet.
Still, I smiled. "Yes… it's beautiful. Everything is."
Darian lifted a brow. "Wait… did you just call her 'princess'?"
Kael turned his head slightly. "Doesn't she look like one?"
He plastered on a grin he probably thought was charming.
Riven and Lyra both let out a long, theatrical "Oooooooh…"
Kael threw his hands up. "Oh, shut up. Get moving. She doesn't even know she's late for her first class."
Lyra giggled as she stood up, Darian rising with a groan beside her.
Riven saluted with a dramatic hand to his forehead.
"Orders from the top," he muttered.
I couldn't help but smile. These people… were strange.
But strangely delightful.
We picked our way back toward the academy, the mood light and buzzing with energy.
As we moved past the eastern corridor, Lyra glanced over her shoulder at me.
"You're going to like training," she said. "Well—except for when you don't."
Darian smirked. "Especially the part where Solan pairs you with the person most likely to make you want to set the place on fire."
"Oh wait," Lyra turned to me, grinning. "You actually could."
Kael made a face. "Let's hope she doesn't. I quite like the roof staying where it is."
Their laughter blended with the rustle of the wind.
For a moment, I let myself forget the fear, the prophecy, the weight of truths I hadn't asked for. I was just… Vaelis. Surrounded by people who, somehow, made this strange place feel a little less foreign.
Then, almost suddenly, I felt the familiar pulse of pressure in my chest.
The reminder.
Fire.
Wind.
Fate.
I wasn't here for laughter or comfort. I was here because something inside me refused to stay buried. Because a part of me was dangerous—and a part of me wanted to know why.
Kael fell into step beside me, his voice low.
"You'll be fine," he said, without looking at me. "You've got more control than you think. You just don't know it yet."
I blinked, startled.
"Did you just say something… encouraging?"
He grinned without turning.
"Don't get used to it."
By the time we reached the training fields, the sun had climbed higher, casting long shadows across the stone tiles. The academy's grounds opened wide like a silent coliseum, carved out of rock and discipline. At its center stood Solan—tall, stern, and completely still, as though waiting for the ground itself to breathe before he did.
Students had already begun to gather, forming loose rows. Some chatted nervously, others stretched or checked their gear. As we joined them, Solan's voice rang out—clear, unwavering.
"Line up."
The noise stopped instantly. Bodies moved into formation with the instinct of those who'd done this many times before. I followed Lyra's lead, taking my place.
Solan walked down the row, eyes scanning faces like a commander inspecting his soldiers.
His gaze landed on me for a second longer than the others, then moved on.
"Today, we change partners."
A few groans erupted from the line, but no one dared to speak further. Solan raised a hand, and a roll of parchment unfurled in midair. Names rearranged themselves as though pulled by an unseen current.
"Vaelis—Eryx."
I blinked. I didn't know who Eryx was.
A tall figure stepped forward from the other side of the field. He had the quiet confidence of someone used to winning—and the sharp eyes of someone who noticed everything.
We met in the middle of the arena. Eryx gave a short nod.
"Try not to set me on fire," he said dryly.
"No promises," I replied, forcing a smirk.
Around us, the sounds of sparring began—grunts, footsteps, bursts of elemental energy flashing in the air.
Eryx moved fast. Not recklessly, but with calculated precision. I did my best to keep up, focusing not on attack but on restraint. I couldn't afford another accident.
He circled me once, twice, testing.
"You're not bad," he said after a while, "but you're holding back."
"I have to."
"Then you'll lose."
His words stung more than they should have. I moved forward, flame curling faintly in my palm. Eryx blocked it with a gust of air, his own element whipping around him like a cloak.
"You're not the only one with dual affinity," he said quietly.
That stopped me cold.
Fire and air.
Just like me.
"Relax," he added. "I've had longer to work with mine. You'll get there."
We broke apart at Solan's signal. I was out of breath, but something inside me buzzed with adrenaline—and a strange sort of hope.
By evening, the dining hall buzzed with voices, footsteps, and the clatter of cutlery. I had just picked up my tray when I felt it—eyes.
They were everywhere. Some watched with curiosity, some with caution. A few whispered. I ignored them and walked toward the far corner.
As I took my seat, my eyes scanned the room.
Riven leaned back in his chair at a nearby table, arms crossed behind his head, eyes drifting lazily from one student to the next.
Lyra, on the other hand, was not so subtle.
She was staring directly at Kael. Her mouth moved rapidly as she whispered to Riven, who gave a single blink in reply. Darian merely shrugged, not even pretending to hide the amused roll of his eyes.
Kael sat at a table not far from mine, head slightly lowered, eyes locked on his plate. But every now and then, his gaze flicked upward—toward me.
It wasn't direct. It wasn't obvious.
But I felt it.
And I wasn't the only one who noticed.
Lyra caught my eye and grinned, then gave the most exaggerated wink I'd ever seen. My fork froze mid-air. Darian shook his head with a laugh, and Riven… actually smiled.
Kael, of course, pretended not to notice any of it.
I finished my meal quietly, but something had shifted.
It wasn't just the food, or the whispers, or the watchful glances.
It was the sense that I was no longer invisible.
Not here.
Not anymore.