Chapter 10
A week passed.
Winter clouds drifted lazily above the Academy, covering the skies in a veil of gray. The elemental towers of Aflety pulsed faintly with magic—one for each of the Twelve Elements. Their colors spiraled into the sky: emerald green for Nature, sapphire for Water, crimson for Fire, silver for Wind, and so on.
Inside the grand marble Hall of Echoes, the first-year students were gathered once more—this time for a far more serious announcement.
Dean Lord Gawain, the living legend himself, stood before them, cloaked in flowing indigo robes that shimmered like stars.
His beast—a massive golden lion with six wings and flaming eyes—sat behind him like a silent guardian.
"Students," Gawain said, voice calm but powerful. "You have survived your first month at Aflety. But surviving is not thriving."
The hall grew still.
"Your first semester exams will be held in one moon's cycle," he continued. "You will be tested in three areas: Theory, Magic Combat, and most importantly… Beast Affinity Trials."
A ripple of excitement—and dread—ran through the crowd.
"Your scores will determine your ranking. Your rank determines your future. Those who fall in the bottom 20%…" He paused, eyes scanning the crowd.
"…will be expelled."
Silva's gaze sharpened.
Cassia's lips twitched upward.
Gareth grinned like it was a challenge.
Evan stood quietly, heart beating louder than he liked.
But it wasn't fear.
It was resolve.
After the assembly, students poured out into the open courtyard, buzzing with tension. Snow had begun to fall lightly.
"So," Gareth said, cracking his knuckles beside Evan. "Wanna make a bet?"
Evan raised an eyebrow. "You'll fail first?"
Gareth smirked. "Nah. If I rank higher than you, you owe me a duel. One-on-one. Winner gets bragging rights."
Cassia leaned against a pillar. "Childish. But entertaining."
"I'm in," said Silva flatly, brushing snowflakes from her cloak. "Top five or nothing."
Lilith looked at Evan, her red eyes thoughtful. "If you win," she said softly, "I'll grant you one favor. Anything."
"That's unfair," Gareth barked. "What if he asks you to—"
"Then I'll consider it," she replied coolly.
Evan glanced between them all—his rivals, his strange group of companions.
"I accept," he said simply. "Let's make it interesting.
That night, in a place far beneath Aflety, where sunlight never touched and torches burned with blue flames—they watched.
The Black Nest.
In a chamber veiled in shadow, masked figures knelt before a tall figure wrapped in black feathers and mist.
Shade Cardinal.
"The Serpent King's egg has hatched," said a voice. "We confirmed it. It chose the Rochel boy."
Shade tilted his head, expression unreadable beneath his obsidian mask.
"Then it begins," he said. "The old bloodlines awaken again. The past repeats."
"What of the academy?" another figure asked.
"We let them prepare," Shade whispered. "But when they gather for the exams… we strike."
Lightning crackled from the ceiling as the room dimmed to complete darkness.
Later that night, Evan sat at his desk, a stack of books before him. Magical diagrams, elemental runes, affinity cycles—all memorized, all burned into his mind.
Nyx was curled beside him, watching his every page turn.
"I don't know what's coming," Evan murmured. "But I won't lose."
Nyx blinked, then gently coiled around Evan's wrist—warm and protective.
From outside the window, snow fell like silent feathers, blanketing Aflety in fragile white.
He wasn't the same boy from the banquet.
Not anymore.
This time, he wasn't alone.
This time, he would fight.
⸻
Chapter End