The air was thick with the scent of rain, the clouds heavy and dark above the Academy grounds. The students, usually bustling with energy between classes and training, had quieted as the sky threatened a downpour. A storm was coming—not just in the weather, but in the air around them, a palpable tension that hung over the Academy.
Eryx stood at the edge of the training grounds, watching the heavy clouds gather above. His thoughts were a storm of their own, swirling with everything he had heard and seen in the past weeks. The upperclassmen, their cryptic conversations, Liora's warnings—it all felt like a puzzle with pieces just out of reach. The only thing he knew for certain was that whatever game they were playing, it was one that would change the Academy, and probably more, forever.
A voice behind him broke through his thoughts.
"Thinking too hard, or just staring at the sky?"
Eryx turned to find Rona walking up to him, her usual playful smile on her lips. She wasn't one to take things seriously—at least not most of the time—but there was a hint of concern in her eyes today.
"I wasn't thinking," he replied, though the words didn't quite sound convincing even to his own ears.
"Right," she said with a smirk, crossing her arms over her chest. "You've been off lately. What's going on?"
Eryx didn't immediately respond. Part of him wanted to confide in her, but he knew better than to drag her into the mess he was wading through. Rona might be his friend, but she didn't belong in this world of whispers and shadowy figures. And besides, he wasn't sure where the lines were drawn anymore. He wasn't even sure who he could trust.
"I'm fine," he said, keeping his tone light. "Just… thinking."
Rona didn't seem convinced, but she didn't push him either. She glanced up at the dark clouds, then back at him. "You know, the storm's coming. They say it'll hit by the evening."
Eryx raised an eyebrow. "You're still going to train, even with the storm?"
Rona gave him a playful wink. "Of course. What kind of fighter would I be if I ran from a little rain?"
Eryx felt a faint smile tug at the corner of his lips. "You're something else."
Before she could respond, a shout cut through the air. "Rona! Eryx!"
They both turned to see another first-year student rushing toward them. It was Bastian, one of their classmates—a tall, stocky boy with wild, unkempt hair and a grin that never seemed to leave his face. He was always running around with the energy of someone who had just been let loose from a cage, and today was no different.
"What is it, Bastian?" Rona called out, her tone a little more serious than usual.
Bastian reached them, breathless, his face flushed from the run. "You two need to come with me. Now. It's happening."
Eryx frowned. "What's happening?"
Bastian didn't waste any time with explanations. "Just follow me. You'll see."
With little more than a glance exchanged between them, Eryx and Rona followed Bastian across the training grounds, their boots kicking up dirt as they hurried through the courtyard. The storm was closing in, the first heavy drops of rain falling from the sky. But that wasn't what had them on edge.
As they approached the main courtyard, Eryx spotted the crowd. Students were gathered in tight circles, some whispering among themselves, others looking uncertain. At the center of it all stood a small platform, and atop that platform was a figure—a tall, regal student whose presence commanded attention even from a distance.
"Who's that?" Rona asked, her voice barely audible over the growing din of murmurs from the crowd.
"An upperclassman," Bastian said, his voice tense. "Second-year. They call him Zephyr. He's part of the group that's been… organizing things. You'll see."
Eryx felt his stomach tighten. He had seen Zephyr around before, but never like this. The crowd was drawn to him, as if they were waiting for something.
As they pushed their way to the front, Zephyr raised his hand, silencing the group with a single motion. The murmurs died down, and every eye in the courtyard was on him.
"There's something you all need to understand," Zephyr's voice rang out, carrying easily across the space. "The time has come for us to prove who's truly fit to lead, who's ready to take the next step. The trials will begin soon—but there's more to this than just passing tests. There's power at play here, and you'd better be ready for it."
Eryx felt a chill run down his spine. The words echoed in the stillness of the courtyard, and for the first time since arriving at the Academy, he realized just how much was riding on what came next. The stakes weren't just about personal achievement—they were about something much larger.
Zephyr's gaze swept over the crowd, his eyes locking with Eryx's for a split second. For just a moment, there was something in his gaze—a challenge, an unspoken warning. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone, replaced with the same confident smile he wore for the rest of the students.
"You'll have your chance," Zephyr continued, "but remember this—only the strong will survive. The rest of you? Well… we'll see if you're worth keeping around."
With that, Zephyr turned and stepped down from the platform, the crowd breaking into hushed whispers as he disappeared into the shadows of the courtyard. Eryx stayed where he was, his mind racing. The unease he had been feeling only grew stronger.
Rona's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "You think he's serious?"
"I don't think he's joking," Eryx replied quietly.
They stood in the midst of the crowd as the storm gathered around them, the weight of the words still hanging in the air. The trials, the challenges—they were all a test, but it wasn't just about magic or strength. It was about survival.
And for Eryx, the true test was just beginning.