I push open the towering doors to the great hall, the heavy wood groaning as if reluctant to let me pass. The air inside is thick with anticipation, with a murmur of excitement rippling through the gathered students.
The walls of the hall soar above us, lined with banners of past World Keepers, their eyes seeming to follow me as I step inside. It is as if they know what I have done and the darkness I have unleashed. And yet, they remain silent, their judgment held in the shadows.
As I walk down the central aisle, my mind drifts back to Dustin—how close I have come to ending him. The image of his broken body, barely clinging to life, haunts my memory. I see the fear in his eyes and feel the weight of my power crushing him. I don't want to be that person again—the one who loses control and destroys without thinking.
The Principal Keeper stands at the front of the hall, his presence commanding. He speaks, his voice carrying over the crowd with practiced authority.
"Welcome, students, to Keeper Academy," he announces, his tone almost regal. "You stand at the threshold of greatness, where we will forge you into the protectors of our nation and our world."
I glance around, catching sight of Ivy McKinley in the crowd. When she sees me, she waves and smiles. I wave and smile back at her. I wonder if she knows what I am feeling—this churning mix of fear and determination, this desperate need to prove myself, to gain the power I need to tear down the very walls that imprison us all.
Even though I may be the only one to know it.
The Principal Keeper continues speaking, "Today marks the beginning of your journey, a tradition that has shaped generations of World Keepers. But not all of you will follow the same path."
He pauses, letting the weight of his words sink in.
"All students of nobility, please proceed to the adjoining chamber," he says while pointing to the area to the right.
The room stirs as the nobles file out, holding their heads high as if they are already assured of their superiority. My stomach twists in disgust. Nobles. The very word leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. They are born into privilege and given everything on a silver platter, while the rest of us are left to fight for scraps.
As the last of the nobles disappears, the principal's eyes scan the remaining students.
"Nico Lotus, Ivy McKinley, Colin West, and Leena Grey," he calls out, his voice ringing clear. My heart skips a beat as he speaks my name. "The rest of you, please proceed to the far side of the hall," the Principal Keeper announces.
The room empties quickly, leaving only a small group of us standing before the principal keeper. The lack of noise adds to the pressure.
"You four have been chosen for the Noble Class Placement Exams," the Principal Keeper announces, his gaze lingering on each of us. "This is a rare opportunity, given only to those with exceptional magic and combat abilities. You will duel each other, and the top two will join the Noble class. The others will remain in the normal classes."
A chance to join the noble class.
The thought fills me with a mix of dread and desire. I have no love for the nobles, but I need the power that comes with their status. If I want to take down Keeper Academy, I need to be where the power is concentrated, among those who wield it like a weapon.
"The first duel will be between Nico Lotus and Colin West," the Principal Keeper declares. "You have until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow to prepare. Use your time wisely."
Colin's eyes meet mine, and I see the same fire in them that I feel burning in my chest. He is strong, no doubt about it, and his mastery of water magic is renowned even among the upperclassmen. But I have something he doesn't—dark magic, a power so feared that people have forbidden it.
I'm not sure if I can control it, but I know I can't afford to hold back.
As the Principal Keeper dismisses us, I linger for a moment, staring at the spot where he had stood. This is it. My chance to prove myself is to rise above the station I was born into. The cost could be more than I am willing to pay.
I make my way back to my room, the corridors of the academy twisting and turning like a maze. My thoughts are a whirlwind of doubts and determination, of fear and fury. I can't stop thinking about Dustin and how close I have come to killing him. And now I am supposed to fight again, to unleash that same power that almost destroyed him.
I can't let that happen. I won't.
But as I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at the flames dancing in the hearth, I know I need to win this duel. I need to join the noble class, to be where the power is, and to gather allies who can help me bring down the academy from the inside. But to do that, I might have to become the very thing I fear.
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. Tomorrow, I will face Colin. And I will win. But at what cost? That question haunts me as I drift into a restless sleep, the shadows of my past creeping into my dreams.
What if you can't control it? What if you hurt him, too?
The voice in my head screams at me while I see flashing images of Dustin's burned body in my mind. Waking up suddenly in bed, I am sweating profusely. I get out of bed to grab myself a glass of water. I shake my head and turn to look out of my bedroom window.
The night sky is so beautiful, and the moon shines so brightly.
It would have almost been a beautiful moment if it hadn't been for the nightmarish thoughts I am having.
I think back to when I was a child. Blurry images of my mother and father laughing with me as I played in the grass filled my mind. They made me feel like having dark magic wasn't a bad thing after all.
I remember that my mother said that darkness can be not only a weapon but also a shield to protect the things you love. With darkness, I can create stars.
I stare at my hands while I think to myself, Can I create something beautiful with this power I hold? Can I go from being born into nothing to being something noble, powerful, and important to create a paradise?