The academy grounds had returned to their usual calm after the duel, but Elian could feel the difference. Wherever he walked, whispers trailed behind him.
That's the boy who nearly burned the ward.
No first-year should have that kind of power.
Did you see his eyes? For a moment, they weren't normal…
Elian kept his head low, but inside, his chest was heavy. It wasn't just the whispers of the students—it was the faint, strange pulse of the seal mark on his skin. Every day, it seemed to glow a little warmer, as if waking up.
Far above, in the tallest tower of the academy, Headmaster Avelric sat in his study. The room was lined with shelves of ancient scrolls and crystal globes that hummed with magic.
Before him floated a shimmering crystal screen, replaying the duel between Elian and Elira.
The moment where Elian's flames exploded, melting through the ice, was frozen in time. Avelric leaned closer, his sharp gray eyes narrowing.
"That fire… it isn't natural. It reacts too quickly. Too strongly."
The door opened with a soft creak. Professor Malrick, the stern battle instructor, stepped inside. He bowed slightly. "You saw it, Headmaster."
"Yes," Avelric replied, not looking away from the crystal. "That was no ordinary outburst. The boy carries a seal… one that binds something inside him."
Malrick stiffened. "A seal? Are you certain?"
"I've studied such marks before," Avelric said grimly. "This is no student's mistake. It is ancient magic, forbidden in our age. Whoever placed it on him… was powerful. And careful."
The torches flickered, as though the room itself didn't want to hear the words.
Malrick's voice was low. "Then Elian is dangerous. He should be removed before—"
"No." Avelric cut him off, finally turning away from the crystal. His expression was unreadable, somewhere between concern and calculation. "He may be dangerous… but he may also be necessary. We cannot act too soon."
Malrick looked unsettled but bowed again. "As you command, Headmaster."
When he left, Avelric whispered to the empty room:
"Who are you really, boy?"
~In the Library
At the same time, Elian sat in the academy library with Kael and Lyra. The tall windows let in slivers of moonlight, casting the rows of books in silver shadows.
Kael slammed a thick spellbook shut, making Lyra jump. "Enough hiding, Elian. You have to tell us what's happening to you. Back in the duel, you didn't just fight back—you nearly exploded."
Lyra leaned closer, her violet eyes soft but firm. "We're your friends. If you're carrying something dangerous, don't carry it alone."
Elian stared down at the table. His fingers brushed the faint glow of the seal under his shirt. In the silence, he heard it again—that voice inside him.
Break it… release it… let me out.
His chest tightened. He wanted to tell them. He wanted to admit that he wasn't normal, that something ancient and frightening lived inside him. But if he did… would they still look at him the same?
Finally, he whispered, "I… I don't know what it is. It's like something inside me reacts when I'm in danger. But I can't control it."
Kael frowned, unconvinced. "That's not good enough."
But Lyra nodded slowly. "Then we'll help you control it. Before someone else tries to."
Elian gave her a weak smile. For the first time that day, the weight on his chest felt a little lighter.
Elsewhere in the library, long after most students had left, Elira walked between the shelves. Her white hair gleamed faintly in the moonlight. She traced a finger across the spines of books without really seeing them.
Her mind replayed the duel again and again. The boy's power, his sudden burst of strength, the fire that didn't feel like ordinary magic.
"So it's true," she whispered to herself. "He isn't ordinary."
A low chuckle came from the shadows.
Elira spun around. A cloaked figure stood at the edge of the shelves, face hidden beneath a hood.
"Careful, Lady Veylon," the stranger said smoothly. "Curiosity can be dangerous."
Elira narrowed her eyes but didn't step back. "And secrets are more dangerous still. Who are you?"
The figure tilted their head, as if amused. "Perhaps someone playing the same game as you."
Before she could reply, the figure vanished into smoke, leaving only silence.
Elira stood alone, her hands clenched. "Elian…" she murmured. "What are you hiding?"