As Eryx left the forest, still feeling the strange weight of the Source Stone's magic, his thoughts were not on his newfound power. Instead, they lingered on the people he'd left behind in the slums—the friends, the faces, the life he was slowly starting to abandon. It was a difficult thing to reconcile. Even after everything Malcor had said, even after the power that had coursed through him, Eryx couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't quite ready to leave it all behind.
As he approached the outskirts of the slums, the familiar hustle and bustle of the marketplace greeted him, the sounds of vendors calling out and children running through the streets. He slowed his pace, not quite ready to go back to the noise and chaos. But he had to. There were still things left undone.
Eryx's Slum Friends
He found Jorik first, the lanky boy who had been his friend since childhood. Jorik was known for his quick wit and even quicker hands—an adept pickpocket who could slip in and out of places unnoticed. He always seemed to be two steps ahead of everyone else, which made him an invaluable ally in the streets.
"Eryx! You're not seriously leaving, are you?" Jorik said, leaning against a post and giving him a once-over, his eyes narrowing. He could always tell when something was different about his friend.
"I'm not sure yet," Eryx answered, the words hanging heavy in the air. "There's a lot I need to think about."
Jorik grinned. "Well, if you're really leaving, don't forget about the rest of us down here. We might not have magic, but we've got our ways of looking out for each other."
Eryx's gaze softened. Jorik wasn't wrong. The bond between them, formed in the harshest of conditions, was something neither of them could easily break. He had no idea what his future held, but he couldn't completely sever these ties.
"I won't forget," Eryx promised, though deep down, he knew that everything was changing.
Before he could leave, Ila appeared from the crowd. She was a fierce girl with a sharp tongue and a heart as tough as stone. But beneath her tough exterior, Eryx knew she cared deeply for those close to her. Ila had always been by his side, even when things got rough.
"Eryx," she said, her voice calm but steady. "You're not going to the Academy, are you?"
Eryx felt his heart skip a beat. How did she know?
"I don't know yet," he said, glancing away. "But… I might."
She crossed her arms, her brows furrowing in a way that made her seem older than she was. "If you do, you won't come back, will you?"
Eryx didn't answer immediately. He wanted to say that things would change, that he would come back and visit, but the words felt hollow. The truth was, he didn't know what would happen next. His magic was growing stronger, and there were things out there beyond the slums that he had to face.
"I'm not sure," he admitted, meeting her eyes.
Ila's gaze softened for a moment before she smiled faintly. "Just don't forget where you came from. Not everyone gets out, Eryx."
As she walked away, Eryx's heart tightened. He knew she wasn't just talking about the slums. She was talking about him—how he had always been one of them, how they had survived together. If he left, he wasn't sure he would ever be the same.
The Rival and Friend
As Eryx was lost in thought, he didn't notice the tall figure approaching him until it was too late. Aleron was someone Eryx had known for years—a boy with a silver tongue, always quick to challenge and fight. The two had always been competitive, their rivalry stretching back to their earliest days in the slums. But something about Aleron was different now. There was a fire in his eyes, a gleam of ambition that had never been there before.
"So, the great Eryx is thinking about the Academy, huh?" Aleron's voice was teasing but edged with something else—something darker, more serious. "Thought you were just one of us, Eryx. What happened?"
Eryx glanced at Aleron, his brow furrowing. "What's it to you?"
Aleron smirked, but there was something in his expression that Eryx couldn't quite place. "Nothing. Just didn't expect you to get all high and mighty on us. It's like you think you're better than us now."
Eryx shook his head. "You're wrong, Aleron. I don't think I'm better than anyone. But you wouldn't understand."
The words stung, and Aleron's smile faded for a moment. He took a step closer, his posture shifting from mockery to something more serious. "Maybe I understand more than you think. Just be careful, Eryx. The path you're on—whatever it leads to—has a price."
"I'm aware," Eryx replied, his voice low. "But it's a path I have to take."
For a long moment, Aleron said nothing, just studying Eryx with a conflicted look in his eyes. Then, finally, he spoke, his tone less mocking. "Just don't forget us, alright? If you make it out there, don't forget who was with you when you had nothing."
The Whisper of the Academy
That night, as Eryx lay in his bed, the weight of the day's conversations pressed down on him. He had always thought he knew what he wanted. The Academy. Power. Magic. But the more he thought about it, the more unsure he became. The friends he had left behind were the ones who had always been there, even when the world seemed against them. Could he truly leave them behind for a life in a place full of elites, filled with dangers and politics he didn't understand?
Just as Eryx closed his eyes, the whispers of the Academy echoed in his mind—talk of incredible mages, powerful spells, and rivalries that would shape his future. He didn't know whether he was ready to take that step, but one thing was certain: there was no turning back now.
The world outside was waiting.