The following week passed in a blur of uncertainty for Eryx. He couldn't stop thinking about the words Malcor had said, the promises of power and the looming question of his future. Despite his internal struggles, life in the slums seemed to carry on as it always had—relentless and unforgiving. But Eryx couldn't ignore the growing tension inside him. The closer he got to the decision, the more it felt like something was drawing him forward, like an invisible thread pulling him toward an uncertain fate.
Ila's Warning
The day after his encounter with Aleron, Eryx found Ila waiting for him by the old stone bridge that spanned the stream cutting through the slums. Her expression was serious, and there was a hardness in her eyes that he hadn't seen before.
"You've made your decision," she said, her voice softer than usual but no less intense.
Eryx hesitated, his gaze flickering toward the bridge's edge. "I don't know, Ila. It's not that simple."
"I can see it in your eyes," she continued, her tone unwavering. "You're leaving, aren't you?"
Eryx bit his lip, torn between his loyalty to her and the pull of something greater. "I don't want to. But… there's something inside me, Ila. A part of me that wants to know more. I can't keep running from this power. It's not just a gift—it's something I need to understand."
Ila's jaw tightened, and she stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "And what about us, Eryx? What about the people you leave behind? You can't just leave everything and expect things to stay the same."
Her words struck a chord, and Eryx felt a pang of guilt. He didn't want to abandon his friends, especially not Ila. But there was something inside him, a restless urge, that demanded he move forward. Still, her question hung in the air, and for a moment, he found himself at a loss.
"I'm not abandoning you," he said, his voice barely above a murmur. "But I need to see where this path leads."
Ila studied him for a long moment before nodding, though her eyes were clouded with something deeper, something that looked almost like resignation. "Just promise me one thing."
"What?"
"That you'll remember us," she said, her voice steady despite the emotions swirling beneath the surface. "When you're out there, in that Academy, with all the magic and the power… don't forget where you came from. Don't forget the people who were with you when you had nothing."
Eryx swallowed hard, fighting back the lump in his throat. "I won't forget. I swear."
The Echoes of Aleron
Later that day, as Eryx made his way back through the winding alleyways, he ran into Aleron again. The sight of his old rival brought back the sharp edge of their last conversation, and Eryx felt a flicker of unease.
"So, you've made up your mind, huh?" Aleron asked, his tone lighter than it had been before, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that hinted at something more.
"I haven't decided yet," Eryx replied, but he couldn't keep the uncertainty from his voice.
Aleron raised an eyebrow. "It doesn't look like it. You've been acting different. It's like you think you're destined for something bigger. But you're not. Don't forget where you came from, Eryx. This world doesn't care about your magic or your destiny."
Eryx's brow furrowed, and he looked away. "I know that. But if I don't take a chance, what am I supposed to do? Stay here forever? Just because it's familiar?"
"I'm not saying you have to stay," Aleron said with a shrug. "But don't think you can walk into the Academy and everything will be sunshine and rainbows. You'll face things out there you can't even imagine. People you can't trust. If you think this is some kind of game, you'll lose."
Eryx met his gaze. "I'm not playing a game. I'm just trying to figure out what's next."
Aleron's expression softened for a brief moment before his usual smirk returned. "Then figure it out quickly. I'm not the one who'll be left behind."
The Arrival of the Messenger
That night, as Eryx sat alone in his room, going over his thoughts for what felt like the hundredth time, he heard a soft knock at the door.
His heart skipped a beat. No one came here—not unless it was important.
Opening the door cautiously, he was met by an unfamiliar figure—a tall man with silver hair that shimmered faintly under the dim light. He wore a long, dark cloak, and his eyes glowed with an unsettling intensity.
"I'm here to deliver a message," the man said, his voice smooth but distant, as though it was an effort to sound human. "A message from the Academy."
Eryx felt a surge of excitement and trepidation all at once. He stepped back, his mind racing. "The Academy? What message?"
The man's expression was unreadable as he handed over a sealed letter. "They've been watching you, Eryx. Your potential has caught their attention. The Academy offers you a place, a chance to be among the greatest. Will you take it?"
Eryx took the letter, his fingers trembling as he broke the seal. Inside, there was a single line of elegant script:
"The Academy awaits you, Eryx of the Slums. Your place has been secured. Come and claim it."
The weight of the words hit him all at once. This was it. The choice he'd been struggling with for so long was no longer just a decision—it was a call to action. The Academy was offering him a chance to prove himself, a chance to change his fate.
The man with the silver hair stood silent as Eryx read the letter. When he finished, the man nodded, his voice barely a whisper. "The choice is yours. But remember, this is not a chance you'll get again. Not everyone is given such an opportunity."
Eryx's heart raced as he thought about the path ahead. He had his doubts, his fears, but deep down, he knew he couldn't turn away from this. It was his moment to step into the unknown and claim the future that awaited him.
"I'll go," he said, his voice firm. "I'll go to the Academy."
The silver-haired man gave a subtle nod, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Then prepare yourself, Eryx. The journey begins now."