The main hall of the Asterian Academy towered above them like the spine of a great cathedral, stretching high into the sky and framed by soaring marble columns veined with silver and blue. At its peak, an ancient crest glinted—an eagle clutching a scepter and scroll—symbol of the pursuit of knowledge through power. The four teens slowed their pace as they stepped through the wide arched entry, now just another cluster of hopefuls among the dozens, maybe hundreds, pouring into the hall from various entrance points.
Reed, Trent, Prin, and Cath remained close together, their group a loose knot in the river of new students. The hall was wide, lit by enormous windows that let the golden afternoon sun pour in, warming the stone tiles. Murmurs and whispers echoed everywhere—excited voices, nervous laughter, quiet bragging. A few older students, distinguishable by their more elaborate robes and posture, moved through the crowd, occasionally eyeing the new arrivals with amusement or indifference.
"This place is… intense," Trent muttered under his breath. "Feels like a castle and a war camp rolled into one."
Cath gave a small nod, her golden hair catching the light. "It should. They say the best mages in the kingdom train here. Even nobles get nervous on their first day."
Reed's eyes flicked toward a balcony overhead, where a few robed figures—likely instructors or administrators—stood observing the crowd. One of them, a tall woman with steel-gray hair tied back in a braid, seemed to glance in his direction for a second too long.
Prin let out a sharp exhale and whispered, "They're probably scanning for outbursts. Makes sense. We're all newly awakened. No one has proper control yet."
Before Reed could respond, a sharp chime echoed through the hall. The sound wasn't magical, just an old brass bell mounted at the end of the chamber, rung by a man in an ash-gray coat. He raised a hand to speak, and the room began to quiet.
"Welcome," he said, his voice clear and practiced. "You stand within the heart of the Asterian Kingdom's greatest academy. You are here because your Blessings have marked you as people of potential—and it is our job to ensure that potential is realized safely and properly."
A few more instructors emerged from the sides of the room and began calling names. Students were being divided into groups, presumably for registration or preliminary evaluations.
"I guess this is where we split up," Cath said softly. Her expression was unreadable. "Good luck."
"You too," Reed replied, catching a flash of something in her eyes—maybe uncertainty, maybe concern. Before he could be sure, she turned to follow the instructor who had called her name.
Soon, Reed's name was called as well. A man with long auburn hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a fitted jacket with blue embroidery, waited for him at one side of the hall. The man had a narrow face, and though he smiled, it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Reed, yes? Follow me."
They walked down a quieter corridor adjacent to the main hall. Reed noticed that, unlike most of the groups he'd seen forming, this one had only two other students already waiting—one boy, one girl.
The boy was tall, with a sullen, narrow-eyed face and jet-black hair that hung messily over his ears. The girl had light silver hair braided over one shoulder, her eyes a pale violet, her expression aloof. Neither looked particularly thrilled to be there.
The instructor turned and gestured to them. "This will be your Orientation Cell for the duration of your preliminary testing and MAR evaluation. I am Instructor Halren. You three will be trained, tested, and assessed together."
Reed blinked. "Only three of us?"
Halren smiled faintly. "Specialized groups. Uncommon lights, unknown Blessings, and… rare traits. You'll find the Academy prefers to observe such cases with care. You fall into that category, Reed."
The black mark on his back prickled at the mention. Reed nodded slowly, saying nothing. The other two were already eyeing him, though the boy looked away when their gazes met.
"Introductions," Halren continued, as if checking off a box. "This is Lannis, blessed with a silver-light variant, a mix between gold and white light. Her magic seems to relate to controlling gravity, though it's not yet clearly defined. And this is Marek—dark blue-light, unusually dense. His mana flow is compressed, abnormally so."
Marek crossed his arms, glancing at Reed with visible suspicion. "And what about him?"
Halren tilted his head toward Reed. "That is precisely what we're hoping to find out."
Reed tried to offer something. "I… don't know exactly what I can do yet. My skin can harden. I have a sort of shadow—mist—thing. It comes from a mark on my back. It only moves when I will it." Reed showed them a demonstration by moving a small portion to one of his arms.
Marek didn't look impressed. "Does it do anything? Other than look creepy?"
Lannis, to her credit, remained quiet, but her gaze lingered. She was clearly studying him, as if looking for details she could pick apart.
Halren clapped once. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. You'll have ample opportunity to demonstrate. For now, you'll settle in your dormitory, meet your assigned mentor, and rest. Your first MAR trial is tomorrow."
"What's the MAR trial?" Reed asked.
"Magical Aptitude and Resonance. A full-body diagnostic, of sorts. It scans your mana flow, physical potential, elemental alignment—if any—and your compatibility with various types of spells. Don't expect flashy lights or showy combat. It's a quiet process, and it tells us what you're capable of, not what you think you can do."
Reed's heart sank slightly. He had hoped to show something dramatic. Something undeniable. But it made sense—they were professionals here, not village mages impressed by a flickering flame.
Halren led them through a narrow stone corridor that opened into an open-air courtyard, framed by ivy-covered walls. The sound of water trickling from a nearby fountain gave the area a calm, serene atmosphere. A few students sat on benches, reading books or chatting in hushed tones. Most of them didn't look like they were fresh from the ceremony. They held themselves with more confidence, wore refined versions of the Academy uniform, and spoke like they knew what they were doing.
Reed felt the weight of their stares as they passed—some subtle, others not.
"Hey, is that the one with the black light?"
"I thought that was just a rumor. What kind of magic is that even supposed to be?"
"He doesn't even have a marking on his hand. Is he fake?"
Reed clenched his jaw but kept walking.
Eventually, Halren pointed to a three-story building with arched windows and a small tower sprouting from one corner. "Your dorms. Rooms are shared—pairs. Reed, you're with Marek. Lannis, your roommate hasn't arrived yet."
Marek groaned audibly. "You're joking."
"I am not," Halren said simply. "Best to learn cooperation early."
Reed followed Marek up the stairs, neither saying a word. Their room was simple—two beds, a desk, and a pair of wardrobes. A window opened toward the outer forest that bordered the Academy.
As Marek flopped onto one of the beds, Reed stood in front of the mirror mounted on the wardrobe. His eyes were darker than he remembered—was it just exhaustion? Or something else?
"Hey," Marek said from the bed. "You seriously don't know what your Blessing does?"
"No," Reed answered. "Not exactly."
"Figures." Marek rolled over. "Just don't freak out and become a shadow or something in your sleep or something."
Reed didn't respond.
He moved to the window instead, leaning against the frame. Far below, the Academy stretched wide, with spires, courtyards, and training yards as far as the eye could see. He could make out another group of students lining up near a gate, and further still, the edge of the forest where strange birds circled the treetops.
This was where it all began.
He didn't know what his power meant. He didn't know how to explain the black skull on his back, or why it pulsed with his thoughts. He didn't even know if he could control it completely.
But he would learn.
Because fear or not, mystery or not, he was here.
And he would show them what a Death Mage could do.