Should I go in, or not? Should I... or shouldn't I?
Chast stood frozen in front of his room's door, hesitating to attend class. It wasn't that he didn't want to go, it was that he knew his team neither liked him nor accepted him as one of their own.
Ugh! Why do we have to be separated into smaller rooms instead of joining the other classes? He groaned inwardly. It was easier to disappear in a large crowd than to sit with just the Enigmatics. Especially since the Enigmatics had fewer than twenty teams in total compared to the other teams.
"Chosen... go! Go!" Nottie squeaked, tugging at his robe to catch his attention.
Chast glanced down at the tiny elf and managed a faint smile. "Can't I just escape the class?"
Nottie growled and shook its head. "No! No!" Then pushed Chast. Nottie's first try failed, Chast was way bigger and heavier than Nottie.
Chast chuckled. "You're tiny, you ca—" He stopped mid-sentence when Nottie suddenly shoved him with a burst of magic.
The next thing he knew, he was stumbling inside, crashing to the floor. Every head in the room turned toward him.
Fuck! Heat rushed to Chast's face, burning red. He froze. What a grand entrance! All I need is a red carpet, and it'd be perfect.
The students stared at him in disbelief, their expressions speaking louder than words:
Is he putting on a show?
Ewww. That's embarrassing.
Let's see what he does next.
He's a total disaster.
Chast scrambled up, rubbing his forehead as if in pain, trying to hide his face behind the act. Just you wait, Nottie...
He turned toward the door, desperate to escape, only to freeze again—there was no way out. No knob. No latch. Just smooth wood.
He sighed, rubbing his head before turning back toward his team, who were doubled over in laughter at his expense.
"What a good morning, young man!" Professor Vrynth called out, prompting a wave of laughter from the room.
"Ughh..." Chast groaned under his breath, forcing a smile at the professor before dragging himself toward his team.
"Chast, here!" Turquoise waved him over, one hand beckoning while the other pointed at the empty cushion on the floor.
Chast sighed. Guess it's better to sit with Turtle than anyone else. He made his way over and dropped onto the cushion beside him.
"How are you now? Feeling good?" Turquoise asked.
"Yes, of course," Chast replied, though his eyes wandered around the room. The walls were plain gray, bare of any decoration. No furniture, just rows of cushions. This room is boring!
"That's good," Turquoise said with a stretch of his legs. "You were out for two days. That's enough rest."
Chast stared at him in surprise. "You... knew?"
Turquoise nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You scared all of us. I thought you were going to die."
"What!? What happened?" Chast blurted, taken aback. What really happened back then?
"You don't know?" Turquoise sighed, his expression softening. "You should be thanking Professors Morrwynn and Valkiery. They were the ones who saved you."
Chast nodded and glanced toward the two professors. Professor Valkiery was leaning close, whispering something to Professor Morrwynn, who only smiled and absently rubbed his round belly. Thank you for saving me! He whispered while looking at the two professors.
To his surprise, both professors froze mid-conversation. Their laughter faded as their eyes darted around the room until they found him.
They offered him a polite, almost too-sweet smile, followed by a single nod. A nod that carried more meaning than words ever could.
Chast blinked. Did... did they actually hear me? Chast returned a small, sheepish smile of his own.
Professor Vrynth rose from his cushion, and the room immediately hushed. He strolled slowly among the students, as if memorizing their faces, until he stopped right where Chast sat.
What now? Chast forced a polite smile.
To his horror, the professor grinned back and gave him a wink before continuing past.
Ugh! Is he... gay? Chast groaned inwardly, shifting in his seat.
Once Vrynth had made his round, he stopped at the front of the room and clapped his hands together. "Good morning, young Enigmatics!" His wide smile flashed as his voice carried across the cushions. "Isn't it exciting? Today marks our first official class!"
The room erupted with excitement. Even Chast found himself curious about what their first lesson would be.
"Now," Professor Vrynth announced, summoning a mystical, gleaming sphere wreathed in mist. It floated effortlessly above his palm, glowing with otherworldly light. "It is time to test your strength."
He waved his hand with graceful precision, and the students shifted, almost compelled, into a circle around him. Stepping into the center, he set the sphere gently to float in midair.
Each of you shall approach and touch the Aether Crystal. In its light, your resonance will be revealed, the current of magic woven into your very soul. Call upon no spell, force no power. Touch only, and the crystal will shine with your truth."
"And state your name when you touch the Aether Crystal!" He added.
The students exchanged nervous glances, but their hesitation quickly turned into eager smiles. Confidence lit their faces; they were Enigmatics, after all—failure was unthinkable.
Chast, however, sat stiffly on his cushion, dread twisting in his gut. His hands trembled in his lap. I already know how this ends... another embarrassment. Ugh. Might as well get used to it—it's practically the story of my life.
"Now," Vrynth continued, spinning slowly with his eyes closed, before stopping and pointing directly at Turquoise. "You will go first, young man!"
"I can't. I'm really scared." Turquoise pouted, his fists clenched tight.
Seriously, how old is this kid? Chast groaned. "Go!" He gave Turquoise a shove, nearly sending him stumbling onto the floor.
Turquoise sighed in defeat and lowered himself before the crystal. He wiped his sweaty palms against his trousers, shook out his hands as if to scatter the fear clinging to them—but the tremble wouldn't stop. Finally, with a deep breath, "Nico Valyrianth," he pressed his quivering palms to the cold surface of the Aether Crystal and squeezed his eyes shut. Okay, crystal... Don't embarrass me!
Nico? His name is Nico? I thought his name was Turquoise? Chast's eyes widened after hearing Turquoise's real name.
The Enigmatic students stirred, whispers erupting at once.
"Valyrianth?"
"He's a prince!"
What!? That turtle is a prince!? Chast slapped his temple, squeezing his eyes shut. Shit! Are the royals going to kill me for how I treated him?
Gasps filled the room. The Aether Crystal sparked wildly, streaks of multicoloured light bursting from within. The sphere spun so violently that it looked ready to shatter. Students leaned back, shielding their eyes from the chaotic glow.
Nico panicked, yanking his hands away and stumbling back. His fingers still shook as if they'd been burned. Slowly, the crystal steadied, its erratic glow settling into a strange, flickering brilliance.
The three professors clapped as they stepped into the circle.
"That was remarkable, Prince Nico!" Professor Vrynth beamed, giving him a hearty thumbs-up.
"You hold Chaos Sorcery," Professor Morrwynn announced proudly, her voice carrying across the room. "Unstable, but powerful beyond measure."
"Worthy of a prince," Professor Valkiery added coolly.
The students erupted in applause. Cheers echoed through the room as Nico straightened his back and flashed a bright, beaming smile.
Chast shook his head, smirking. The turtle became a proud prince.
"You saw that? Aren't I amazing?" Nico beamed at Chast, expecting applause.
"Yeah, not a turtle anymore," Chast snorted between laughs.
Nico pouted. "I told you, my name is Turquoise!"
"Oh, yes! A turtle prince!" Chast teased.
Professor Vrynth cleared his throat, grinning as the students settled. "Who's next? Anyone brave enough to volunteer?"
Several hands shot up. "Me! Me!" a few students shouted eagerly.
Vrynth stroked his jaw, eyes scanning the raised hands. "Let's see..."
"I'll do it!" A boy stood before he could choose.
Spiky? Chast narrowed his eyes, remembering the messy-haired boy from orientation.
"You know him?" he muttered to Nico.
"No."
"What do you mean, no? You're a prince. You should know."
Nico rolled his eyes. "I'm a prince, not a census taker. I don't know everyone in Labrynthia."
Before Vrynth could reply, the door creaked open. All heads turned.
Professor Draven stepped inside—dragging Luke with her.
Luke looked pale, his hands trembling as he stared at the floor, scuffing his shoe against the stone.
"Luke?" Chast blinked. What the hell is he doing here?
"Professor Draven," Morrwynn greeted politely, though her brows arched. "Is there a problem?"
Draven's gaze was sharp. "You need to see this." She tugged Luke forward.
Whispers rippled through the circle. "What are they doing here?" "Isn't he in another class?"
"Do it," Draven commanded, her eyes never leaving Luke.
Luke swallowed hard. "D-do what?"
Draven pointed straight at the Aether Crystal.
Did their crystal break? Are they borrowing ours? Chast frowned.
Luke's legs shook as he approached. His palms were slick with sweat, his breath shallow. With a trembling hand, he touched the crystal.
Instantly, the Aether Crystal convulsed. Erratic sparks of multicolored light exploded inside, the sphere spinning out of control. Shadows bled across its surface, and for one breathless moment—the entire room went silent. The air, the orbs, even the hum of magic itself muted into nothing.
Then slowly, the chaos calmed. The crystal's glow dimmed to a steady, abyssal violet.
The room froze. Nobody spoke. Nobody moved. All eyes locked on Luke.
Luke's entire body shuddered with goosebumps. What was that? That was terrifying!
Damn, Luke, Chast thought, unable to stop himself from clapping. The sound cracked the silence. "That was cool!"
Professor Vrynth broke into a broad grin. "Wow! That was intense!"
Morrwynn's voice trembled, her usual composure slipping. "You... you wield Void Manipulation! Powerful... and dangerously rare."
The Enigmatics erupted. First hesitant claps, then loud cheers. "Magicalist! Magicalist!" they chanted.
Luke managed a sheepish smile, scanning the crowd. His eyes landed on Chast, who gave him a wide grin and mouthed, Cool. Relief washed through him.
When the cheering subsided, the professors regrouped, murmuring in hushed voices. Finally, Vrynth stepped forward. "Your name, young man?"
Luke drew a steady breath. "Luke Valkiery."
Gasps cut through the room.
"Valkiery?"
"Isn't he... the adopted son?"
"So it's him?"
Luke winced. Yeah. I know. I'm adopted. You don't have to remind me in front of everyone. Tsk.
Chast's brows shot up. He's a Valkiery... like me?
The three Enigmatic professors rose to their feet, their smiles broad and approving. Their voices rang out in unison, carrying authority and pride:
"Welcome to Enigmatics, Luke Valkiery!"