The dim light of Raven House's corridors cast long shadows as Jorel, Jain, and Ryen approached the entrance after a grueling day of trials. Their bodies were weary, but there was a sense of accomplishment among them. They had passed the Strategic Combat trial, outmaneuvered their opponents, and reached the center of the maze. But as they neared the entrance to their dormitory, that sense of triumph quickly faded.
A group of older students was waiting for them, leaning casually against the stone walls with expressions that were anything but friendly. There were five of them, all from Raven House, their dark uniforms almost blending into the shadows. Their eyes gleamed with a predatory glint, and Jorel immediately sensed danger.
"Looks like you had a rough day," one of them said, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Why don't we… help you relax?"
"We gotta take care of Raven House's lil heros," one of the older students sneered, pushing off the wall to stand in their path. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a smug grin that made Jorel's blood boil. "Heard you did well in the maze today. Too well, if you ask me."
Jorel stopped, his muscles tensing. Ryen moved slightly closer, his hand instinctively tightening around the shaft of his spear. Jain's expression remained impassive, but Jorel could see the way her eyes flicked from one older student to the next, assessing the situation.
"We're just trying to get back to our dorm," Jorel said evenly, though his heart was pounding in his chest. He didn't want to escalate the situation, but he knew that backing down wasn't an option either.
The older student who had spoken stepped closer, his grin widening. "Oh, I'm sure you are. But see, there's a problem with that. We don't take kindly to dirty physical users who somehow find their way into our esteemed house."
The insult hit Jorel like a slap. He could feel the blood rushing to his face, anger flaring up inside him. But before he could respond, the older student continued, his tone dripping with contempt.
"Raven House is for the elite," he sneered. "The best of the best. And you, Jorel, are nothing but an embarrassment. A physical pain user in our ranks? It's disgusting."
Ryen bristled at the words, his grip tightening on his spear. "Back off. We're all in the same house, aren't we?"
The older student laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "In name only. You think you're one of us just because you passed a few trials? You're nothing, and it's time someone reminded you of that."
Another looked over at Jain with pure distain, "And you, I thought we already taught you enough of a lesson... guess I was wrong. This time we are going to make sure you drop out and never come back."
Before Jorel could react, the older student lunged at him, his hand crackling with pain magic. The attack was swift and brutal, aimed directly at Jorel's chest. Jorel barely had time to raise his arms in defense, and the force of the blow sent him staggering back, pain lancing through his body.
From the second the students fist connected, Jorel could feel nothing but an overwhelming desire to give up. Why was he here? Why did he think he could do this? Didn't he almost fail the entrance exam? There must have been a fluke.
While Jorel's mind reeled, the other older students sprang into action, surrounding Jorel, Jain, and Ryen. It was an ambush, and they were outnumbered.
Two of the older students sprang backwards and recited something just before the feeling of barbed wire began to tear into Jorel's flesh. Jorel gritted his teeth, fighting through the pain as he tried to regain his footing- but the spark of pain was enough to shake him from the thoughts of failure. Now with his mind working properly he figure out what was going on. This wasn't just about putting them in their place—it was an attempt to break them.
"Jain, watch out!" Ryen shouted as one of the older students moved toward her, his fists glowing with the same crackling energy that had hit Jorel.
Jain reacted instinctively, raising her hands to create a shimmering barrier of defensive pain magic. The barrier absorbed the brunt of the attack, but the force still knocked her back a step and the punch connected, her breath hitched as she struggled to maintain her focus.
Ryen swung his spear in a wide arc, trying to create space between them and their attackers. But the older students were relentless, their attacks coordinated and vicious. They were more experienced, more powerful, and they were using every advantage they had.
The floor beneath them had turned into a field of barbed wire and an eerie blue aura had surrounded them, pressing into the them as if grief had taken a physical form. The combined attack shoved them to their knees, shoving them into the barbed wire.
Jorel forced himself to stand, drawing on the pain that surged through his body. He channeled it into his arms, using it to fuel his strength as he deflected another blow aimed at his head. The older student attacking him was fast, his movements precise and calculated. Jorel could feel himself being pushed back, his mind and defenses faltering under the relentless dual assault.
Just as it seemed the fight was tipping against them, Jain stepped in. She had recovered from the initial attack, and now she moved with a fierce determination. She deflected another strike aimed at Jorel, her barrier flickering briefly before solidifying around them. The older students cursed as their attacks were deflected, the energy dispersing harmlessly against the barrier.
But Jain couldn't hold the barrier forever, and they all knew it. Jain was barely hanging on after already being exhausted from the maze.
Ryen lunged at one of the older students, his spear aimed at the man's shoulder. The older student dodged, and smacked Ryen into the ground at his feet.
"We can't keep this up," Jorel panted, his chest heaving as he prepared for the next attack. "We're outnumbered."
"I know," Jain replied through gritted teeth, her focus entirely on maintaining the barrier, it was only deflecting one out of every three or four attacks but it was still keeping them alive. She glanced over at Jorel, "We need to find a way out."
But the older students weren't giving them any chances. They pressed their advantage, their attacks growing more ferocious as they sensed their prey weakening. Jorel could feel his strength waning, the pain in his body becoming harder to control. Every breath was a struggle, every movement a battle against the exhaustion threatening to overwhelm him.
Then, just as the situation seemed hopeless, a commanding voice rang out, cutting through the chaos.
"That's enough!"
The older students froze, their heads snapping toward the source of the voice. Jorel turned as well, his vision swimming with a mix of pain and exhaustion. A figure stepped out of the shadows, tall and imposing with stark white hair, and with an air of authority that made the older students hesitate.
His presence was like a cold wind, cutting through the tension and bringing a sudden, uneasy silence to the corridor.
"Serik," the lead older student said, his voice faltering. "We were just—"
"Attacking your own housemates?" Serik's voice was icy, his gaze sweeping over the scene. "Is that how Raven House conducts itself now?"
The older students shuffled uncomfortably, the arrogance and confidence draining from their faces. Serik stepped forward, his presence commanding their attention.
"Leave them," he ordered, his tone brooking no argument. "Now."
The older students exchanged glances, clearly unwilling to disobey Serik. Reluctantly, they backed off, their eyes lingering on Jorel and his friends with a mixture of frustration and resentment. As they left their magic subsided and the trio collapsed on the ground.
"This isn't over," the lead student muttered as he turned to leave, his eyes locking onto Jorel's with a promise of future conflict. "Watch your back, physical."
With that, the older students retreated down the corridor, their footsteps echoing in the silence that followed. Serik watched them go, his expression hard, before turning his attention to Jorel, Jain, and Ryen.
"Are you all right?" he asked, his voice softer now, though still carrying a weight of authority.
Jorel nodded, though he could barely stand. "Thanks… for stepping in."
Serik studied him for a moment, then nodded. "You handled yourselves well, considering the circumstances. But be careful. Success at E&R University attracts attention—both the kind you want and the kind you don't, especially if you are a physical in this house."
Jain's barrier finally gave out, her hands trembling from the effort. She glanced at Serik, her expression wary but grateful. "Why did you help us?"
Serik's gaze softened slightly. "Because we're all Raven House. We may have our differences, but there are lines that shouldn't be crossed. Besides…" He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I've been keeping an eye on you three. I see potential, and it would be a waste to see that potential snuffed out by petty jealousy."
Ryen let out a shaky breath, leaning heavily on his spear. "Thanks, Serik. We owe you one."
Serik shook his head. "Just watch yourselves. There are forces at work in this school that go beyond what you see on the surface. If you want to survive, you'll need to be smarter, stronger, and more careful than the rest."
With that, Serik nodded at Jorel before he turned and walked away, leaving the trio standing in the dimly lit corridor. The air was heavy with the aftermath of the ambush, but there was also a newfound resolve among them- they weren't as alone as they had thought.
Jorel, Jain, and Ryen exchanged glances, each of them processing what had just happened. The ambush had been a harsh reminder that their success would not go unchallenged, and that they would need to be on guard at all times.
"Let's get back to the dorm," Jorel said finally, his voice weary but firm. "We need to rest… and figure out what our next move is."
Jain and Ryen nodded in agreement, and together they made their way back to the dormitory, the shadows of Raven House closing in around them.
As they entered the dormitory, Jorel couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. He glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting to see the older students lurking in the shadows, but the corridor was empty.
Once inside their room, the three of them collapsed onto their beds, the exhaustion of the day catching up with them. Jorel's body ached, his mind racing with thoughts of the ambush and Serik's warning. He knew that their journey at E&R University was only going to get harder, and that they couldn't afford to let their guard down for a moment.
But for now, they had survived. And that was enough.
As Jorel lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, he couldn't help but think about the forces at work in the school, the hidden dangers that so many different people had hinted at. He had always known that E&R University was a place of challenges and trials, but now he was beginning to understand that it was also a place of secrets—and those secrets could be deadly.
With thoughts of what they saw in the maze swirling in his mind, Jorel finally drifted off to sleep, knowing that tomorrow would bring new challenges, new dangers, and perhaps, new allies.