The days after the Sigil Chamber evaluation passed in a blur for Lucian. The whispers in the corridors grew louder—some curious, others wary, and a few openly hostile. Yet none dared confront him directly.
Classes resumed, but Lucian felt the weight of eyes on his back wherever he went. His wings, though still hidden beneath his cloak, seemed to hum with restless energy.
In his wind magic class, Master Joren observed him carefully.
"Your control is improving," Joren said one afternoon, "but your other powers—fire and earth—they're unstable. You must learn discipline, or they will consume you."
Lucian nodded, determined but frustrated. He wanted to understand why these powers surged within him.
During lunch in the grand dining hall, Lucian noticed groups forming by kingdom and status: nobles laughing together, skilled fighters sharing tales, and underdogs like himself scattered in smaller clusters.
One group caught his attention—three students seated at a polished oak table, their posture and expression radiating arrogance. The tallest, a girl named Seris with ice-blue sigil markings on her face, smirked as she whispered to her companions.
She glanced at Lucian and scoffed, "A boy with three Sigils? More like a walking disaster waiting to happen."
Her words stung, but Lucian held his ground.
Nearby, Maren leaned close. "Don't mind them. Seris has always looked down on anyone she thinks isn't 'pure' Syntari."
Lucian's jaw tightened. Purity, status, power—it was clear these divisions ran deep.
That evening, in the quiet of the library, Lucian found an ancient text describing the legendary Pillars—elite warriors chosen by the six Constellations themselves. The text mentioned how rare it was for one person to hold more than one elemental power.
"One with multiple Sigils is a sign… a harbinger of change or doom," the passage read.
A shiver ran down Lucian's spine.
He wasn't just different—he might be something the world feared.
But he would not be broken.
The school tournament was still months away, but the seeds of rivalry and destiny were already taking root.