The morning sun bathed the academy arena in golden light, but the air felt heavy, charged with anticipation. The Trial of Embers was no ordinary test—it was the academy's first true judgment, where every student displayed their strength before instructors, nobles, and peers.
Students crowded the stands, banners fluttering, cheers and laughter ringing. But whenever Elian walked by, the voices shifted.
"That's him… the boy from the Rift."
"He glowed like an angel, they say."
"Or a demon."
"Does he even belong here?"
The whispers slid into his ears like daggers. Elian kept his head down, his staff gripped tightly, heart pounding against his ribs.
When his name was called, the noise swelled. He stepped into the wide, stone-floored arena, sunlight blinding his eyes for a moment.
And there, waiting for him, was Daren.
Tall, broad, his armor polished to gleam, and a flaming sword resting on his shoulder. He smiled, but it wasn't friendly—it was hungry.
"Well, well," Daren's voice echoed across the arena, sharpened by mana so everyone could hear. "Look who they paired me with. The orphan freak himself."
Gasps rippled. Some students laughed. Others went silent, watching.
Elian's jaw tightened. "Let's just fight."
Daren's smirk widened as he paced, circling him like a wolf. "Fight? Oh, I'll fight. But everyone here deserves to know the truth about you."
The horn sounded.
Daren came at him instantly, his blade blazing with fire. Elian raised his staff, blocking the strike, the heat scorching his arms. The clash rang across the arena.
"You don't even know who your parents are, do you?" Clang!
Elian shoved back, swung, missed.
"Maybe your mother was some demon's whore." Crash!
Gasps filled the stands.
Elian's eyes burned, anger flaring. "Shut up!"
But Daren pressed harder, each word another strike.
"Or maybe your father—" his flaming blade whirled, sparks flying— "was a fallen angel. A traitor. Who dumped you in this world to rot!"
Elian stumbled, teeth clenched, blocking desperately.
Daren's voice cut like venom. "No wonder they abandoned you. Who'd want a cursed thing like you for a son?"
The crowd murmured louder, whispers feeding the fire.
Cursed… abandoned… demon spawn…
Elian's chest burned. The seal flared, heat and light racing through his veins.
"Enough!"
A blinding flash burst from him. White and black wings spread wide behind his back—ghostly, half-formed, one glowing feathers of light, the other trailing smoke and shadow.
The arena froze.
Screams erupted from the stands.
"What is that?!"
"Wings—angel and demon both!"
"He's not human!"
Daren staggered back, eyes wide, his fire dimming. "W-what… what are you?"
Elian's vision blurred, breaths coming heavy, raw power coursing through him. For one terrifying heartbeat, he wanted to end it. To crush Daren. To silence every voice that called him cursed.
The wings flared brighter—
"Elian!"
Lyra's voice pierced the storm. She was on her feet in the stands, her violet eyes locked on him, strong and unafraid.
"Don't let him win!" she shouted. "You're not what he says you are!"
Her words struck deeper than Daren's poison.
The wings flickered. The light dimmed. Slowly, painfully, the seal calmed.
Elian collapsed to his knees, chest heaving, sweat dripping down his face. The wings vanished like smoke in the wind.
The duel ended. No victor declared.
But no one clapped. No one cheered.
Only whispers. Harsher than before.
"Did you see those wings?"
"Both angel and demon…"
"He's cursed. Dangerous."
Elian staggered out of the arena, Kael rushing to his side. "Don't listen to them, brother. You're stronger than their fear."
But Elian barely heard him. Daren's words still echoed inside, poisoning him.
No wonder they abandoned you.
Up in the instructor's box, the teachers exchanged grim looks. One leaned toward another, whispering words that sealed Elian's fate:
"The Council of Light must be told."
That night, Elian sat in his room, the world muffled and distant. His hand touched the faintly glowing seal on his chest.
"Mother… Father…" His voice cracked. "Who were you? Why… why did you leave me?"
The silence of the room gave no answer. Only the weight of wings he didn't understand, and a fate that felt heavier with every beat of his heart.