Chapter — Shadows Beneath the Academy Lights
The forest had settled into a deep, cool hush, the last amber light of day fading beyond the treeline. The Shadow Wolf padded beside them, its dark fur rippling faintly as if holding a piece of the night within it.
Kael glanced at the sky, his expression shifting from mild contentment to quiet urgency.
"We should head back," he said, keeping his tone calm. "If we stay out here any longer, we'll get caught… and the last thing we need is explaining this to a patrol."
Liora chuckled softly. "You're probably right. The academy does have… rules." She crouched, resting a hand against the wolf's head one last time. "Stay here, alright? And don't follow us. We'll come see you again."
The wolf tilted its head as if understanding, then turned and melted into the shadows between the trees.
The walk back to the Astral Academy gates was quiet but not tense. The air smelled faintly of pine and damp soil. The faint glow of the academy walls grew stronger with each step, the towering spires catching the last shimmer of twilight.
By the time they slipped through the main archway, the dorm lamps were already lit, casting soft pools of light on the stone pathways.
The next morning came with the low chime of the academy's bell. Kael sat at his desk in Class Wing B, the sunlight spilling through the tall arched windows. The room was lively, filled with the quiet buzz of students talking before lessons began.
At the back, two boys were whispering about yesterday's sparring results.
"Did you see Kael's match?" one said. "His footwork was clean, like… too clean for a casual bout."
The other shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe you're just impressed too easily."
Kael heard them but kept his gaze on the open book in front of him. He wasn't sure whether to feel amused or wary — attention could be dangerous here.
Across the aisle, Liora slid into her seat. Her hair caught the morning light for just a second, and she gave him a small nod. It was the kind of nod that said last night stays between us.
When the instructor entered — a tall man in a deep blue robe — the room settled instantly.
"Alright," he began, "today we'll be reviewing combat theory before the next practice matches."
At the mention of matches, the atmosphere shifted. A few students straightened in their seats, others exchanged knowing smirks. For some, these bouts were just training; for others, they were the stage to climb the academy's social ladder.
Kael, however, just picked up his pen. The day would move forward whether or not he made a spectacle of it.
During the lunch break, the open courtyard was crowded. Groups sat beneath the old white-leafed trees, their voices mingling into a soft backdrop of chatter. Kael took his usual spot on the stone bench near the fountain. The water sparkled in the noon light, the sound of it masking stray bits of gossip from nearby tables.
Two upper-rank students walked past, one of them glancing at Kael with the faintest smirk. "He's the one who fought that clean duel yesterday, right?"
"Yeah," the other replied, "but we'll see how he does against a real opponent."
Kael didn't look up. Instead, he took another slow bite of bread and thought of the Shadow Wolf. Compared to the quiet intelligence in that creature's eyes, the games here felt… smaller.
That afternoon's combat drills brought more eyes on him. Kael moved with measured precision, never showing more than he needed. Liora watched from the far side, her expression unreadable — though he noticed her subtle nod when his bout ended.
And through it all, Kael played his part — another student in the academy's web of rivalries and alliances — while keeping the real stories, the real bonds, far from the classroom walls.