Morning came, but it felt different. The usual cheer of academy life—chatter, rushing footsteps, the clanging bells—was dulled, heavy. Elian noticed it the moment he stepped out of his dormitory with Kael and Lyra.
Whispers followed him everywhere.
"That's him… the boy from last night."
"He closed the Rift."
"No, he caused it, didn't he? Why else would it appear here?"
"Did you see the light? That wasn't magic… that was something else."
Elian's throat tightened. He walked with his gaze fixed forward, but the weight of every stare pressed against his skin. His secret—the one he had guarded his entire life—wasn't a secret anymore.
Kael scowled, cracking his knuckles. "Cowards. If not for you, half these mouths would be full of shadow claws instead of gossip." He raised his voice deliberately so nearby students flinched. "Let them whisper. You saved them."
Lyra, more thoughtful, walked closer, clutching her ever-present book against her chest. Her violet eyes flicked nervously between the crowd and Elian. "Kael's right, but… fear spreads faster than gratitude. People don't understand what they saw. And when people don't understand, they assume the worst."
Elian's hand instinctively brushed against his chest. The faint burn of the seal had dimmed after last night, but its memory lingered—like a brand that wouldn't fade.
Before he could reply, a voice cut through the whispers like a blade.
"Elian Ardent."
The corridor fell silent.
Headmaster Orin stood at the far end, tall and composed, robes trailing with every deliberate step. His silver hair caught the morning light, but his eyes—sharp, calculating—fixed only on Elian.
"You will come with me."
No explanation. No request. Just command.
Kael stepped forward. "Wait—"
Orin's eyes flicked toward him. Kael froze, his words dying in his throat, as though the air itself had thickened.
Lyra bit her lip, whispering, "Be careful…"
Elian nodded faintly before following the Headmaster. Every student's gaze burned into his back as the heavy door of Orin's office closed behind him.
The office was vast, lined with shelves of ancient tomes and scrolls. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, but the air was heavy with enchantments. Wards shimmered faintly, sealing the room.
"Sit," Orin ordered.
Elian obeyed, hands trembling slightly on his knees.
For a long moment, Orin only studied him. The silence was worse than accusation. Finally, the Headmaster leaned forward.
"That seal upon your chest… it is no ordinary mark." His tone was calm, yet edged with iron. "Do not insult me by pretending otherwise."
Elian's mouth went dry. "…I don't know what it is."
"Perhaps," Orin said smoothly. "Or perhaps you were taught to say that."
He rose, pacing toward the window, hands folded behind his back. "What you displayed last night was no common warding spell. That was ancient light—a force thought lost since the Sundering War."
Elian blinked. "The… Sundering War?"
A story every child knew. A war of gods and mortals, centuries ago, where entire kingdoms were shattered, and forbidden magics sealed forever. A story, not reality.
Orin's gaze snapped back to him. "Do you think fairy tales leave scars upon the world? That war reshaped everything we know. And what I saw last night… was not forgotten legend. It was truth resurfacing."
Elian's chest tightened. He had no answers, only confusion.
The Headmaster stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You have brought questions into my academy, boy. Questions dangerous enough to draw the wrong eyes. I will protect this place. But if you lose control of that seal…" His gaze sharpened. "…no one can protect you."
Before Elian could speak, a knock at the door broke the tension.
A robed instructor entered, bowing quickly. "Headmaster, the Council emissary has arrived. They demand to speak with the boy who closed the Rift."
Orin's jaw tightened. He dismissed the teacher with a wave before turning back to Elian.
"You must understand something," he said quietly. "Your secret is no longer yours. The world has seen you. And now… it will come knocking."
When Elian stepped out of the office, the corridor seemed narrower, the students' stares sharper. Lyra and Kael rushed to him.
Lyra's eyes searched his pale face. "What did he say?"
Elian hesitated, his throat dry. His friends deserved the truth, but even words felt heavy now. He glanced at the crowd of onlookers, whispers sparking again as soon as he appeared.
"…He said," Elian murmured, "this is only the beginning."