The evening sun had just begun to dip below the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue over the Academy's courtyard. The air felt thick with the promise of something to come—an undercurrent of change that Eryx couldn't quite place his finger on. He walked slowly through the open space, his boots quiet on the cobblestones. He felt the weight of his sword at his side, its presence oddly grounding as the world around him seemed to pulse with tension.
It had been some time since Eryx had allowed himself to relax. The mornings had become filled with intense lessons in magic, combat, and strategy. By afternoon, it was all physical training—sparring matches with fellow students, where the instructors watched closely, as if waiting for the slightest mistake. The nights had been the quietest, but it was during these moments of solitude that the quietest thoughts would surface. His thoughts always returned to the trial—the upcoming test that would determine who would move forward in their journey at the Academy, and who would fall behind.
But it wasn't just the trial that weighed heavily on his mind. It was the growing sense of unease that had settled over him in the past few days. There were whispers among the students—rumors about a student named Alistair Faelith, someone who was gaining attention in a way that seemed… unnatural. Eryx hadn't seen him in person yet, but the stories were beginning to circulate about his power, his presence, and the way he carried himself. Alistair was someone to be watched.
Eryx's footsteps slowed as he spotted Liora sitting on one of the stone benches near the edge of the courtyard. Her posture was relaxed, but he could sense the tension in the way she held herself, as if she too were waiting for something.
He approached quietly, unsure of what to say. The past few days had been quieter than usual between them, though he wasn't sure if it was because of his own reticence or if she, too, was feeling the strain of whatever was simmering beneath the surface of the Academy.
Liora looked up as he neared, her expression unreadable. "You've been quiet," she observed, a hint of concern creeping into her voice.
Eryx shrugged, offering a half-hearted smile. "Just thinking."
"About the trial?" she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she leaned forward.
He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he glanced around the courtyard, taking in the students that passed by, their faces flushed with excitement and anticipation. They had heard the rumors too—the whispers of Alistair's name, the rumors of what he could do.
"The trial is only part of it," Eryx said, his voice quieter than usual. "But there's more going on here. Something… I can't explain it, but it feels like the Academy is full of secrets. Secrets that I don't think I'm ready for."
Liora's eyes softened, and for the briefest moment, there was a flicker of something—empathy, understanding? She didn't respond at once, though she didn't look away from him.
"I understand," she said quietly. "But you have to trust that not everything here is as it seems. Some students play the game of power better than others. You're strong, Eryx. I know that. But you'll need more than strength if you want to survive here."
Eryx didn't ask what she meant. He knew. Survival at the Academy wasn't just about magical power—it was about strategy, alliances, and knowing when to act and when to hold back. But there was one student in particular who seemed to be above all that.
"What about Alistair Faelith?" Eryx asked, the name slipping from his lips without much thought.
Liora stiffened slightly at the mention of the name, though she quickly masked it with a calm expression. "Alistair…" she trailed off, as though weighing her words carefully. "He's one of the top students here, but his methods are… questionable. He's not one to play by the rules, if you know what I mean."
"Is he dangerous?" Eryx pressed, his tone serious.
Liora hesitated, then nodded slowly. "In a way, yes. He's always been a bit of a wildcard. Some students admire him, others are afraid of him. You'll hear about him more, soon enough. Trust me."
Before Eryx could ask anything more, a loud cheer echoed across the courtyard. He turned toward the sound, his body tensing instinctively. A crowd had gathered near the fountain, their voices rising in excitement.
"What's going on?" Eryx asked, his gaze fixed on the commotion.
Liora's eyes flicked toward the scene, and for a brief moment, something akin to wariness crossed her face. "That's Alistair. He's doing something again."
Eryx's curiosity piqued, he followed Liora as she led him toward the gathering. As they drew closer, Eryx could see a tall, striking figure standing at the center of the crowd. His dark hair hung loosely over his shoulders, and a long scar ran across his left cheek, but it was his confidence—his unshakable aura—that drew everyone's attention.
Alistair held a small crystal sphere in his hand, its light flickering and shifting in strange, rhythmic patterns. The crowd around him was mesmerized, watching as he manipulated the crystal with a kind of ease that seemed almost unnatural.
"This is how you control power," Alistair's voice rang out, smooth and commanding. "Not through brute force, but through finesse."
The students around him murmured in agreement, their eyes wide with awe. Eryx's stomach tightened. There was something unsettling about the way Alistair controlled the crystal—like he was toying with it, testing the limits of its power.
"He's showing off," Liora muttered under her breath. "But there's more to it than that. He's always like this—too confident, too sure of himself. It's almost like he's… invincible."
Eryx couldn't take his eyes off the scene. The way Alistair moved, the way the students looked at him—it was as though he had already earned their respect, their fear. It wasn't just his skill with magic. It was his control over the room, over them.
The crowd grew louder, chanting his name in a frenzy. Eryx could feel the pressure building in the air, as though the very ground beneath him was charged with a current of energy.
Liora pulled him back, guiding him to a quieter part of the courtyard as the crowd continued to cheer. She glanced over at him, her face tense. "I told you. Alistair's power isn't just in his magic. It's in how he manipulates people."
Eryx nodded slowly, his mind racing. It was clear now. The Academy wasn't just about magic. It was about understanding the game—the game of power, influence, and survival. And Alistair Faelith was already playing it like a master.