Jorel was jolted awake by a soft shake. His sleep had been restless, filled with fragmented dreams of the ambush and Serik's stern warnings. As he blinked the sleep from his eyes, he saw a shadowed figure standing over him.
"Get dressed, and follow me," came Serik's voice, low but firm.
Jorel's heart pounded in his chest as he quickly pulled on his uniform, trying to shake off the lingering fog of sleep. He wasn't sure what to expect, but the urgency in Serik's tone left little room for hesitation.
Once dressed, Jorel quietly followed Serik out of the dormitory and into the dimly lit corridors of Raven House. The silence was thick, broken only by the faint echo of their footsteps on the cold stone floor.
As they walked, Serik finally spoke, his voice a calm contrast to the tension Jorel felt. "I'm your mentor, Jorel. It's a tradition in Raven House as I am sure Serina told you. Upper-level students like myself guide newer recruits, helping them navigate the challenges of E&R University. But understand this: mentorship here is not just about guidance—it's a test. A test of your loyalty, your resolve, and your ability to survive."
Jorel absorbed Serik's words, a mix of curiosity and unease bubbling within him. The idea of having a mentor was both reassuring and intimidating, especially with someone as formidable as Serik.
They exited the dormitory and stepped out into the open grounds of the campus. The night air was crisp and cool, and the moonlight cast an eerie glow over the gothic spires and ancient stone buildings. The campus was hauntingly beautiful at night, its shadows hiding secrets that Jorel was only beginning to uncover.
Serik led Jorel down a winding path, pointing out various buildings as they walked. "That's the Hall of Rituals," he said, gesturing to a tall, narrow building with a single spire. "It's where advanced pain rituals are conducted. Only the highest-level students and faculty are allowed inside. You'll hear stories about what goes on in there, but trust me, the reality is much darker."
Jorel shivered slightly, imagining the rituals that took place within those walls.
They continued along the path, passing by other mysterious buildings. Serik pointed out the "Ward," a low, squat building with thick stone walls. "That's where they take students who are injured or deemed unfit. It's a place you want to avoid at all costs. Rumor has it that some who enter the Ward never come out the same."
Jorel's unease deepened as they approached the edge of the campus, where the dense, dark forest loomed like a living entity. Serik stopped for a moment, his gaze fixed on the treeline.
"Beyond those trees lies the Forest of Lost Souls," Serik said quietly. "It's a place steeped in pain and sorrow. Some say it's haunted by the spirits of students who failed their trials and were left to die. Others believe it's a place where the school's darkest secrets are buried. Either way, do not go there. There will come a time for you to venture beyond the tree line, but you need to be able to withstand it first."
Jorel stared into the darkness of the forest, feeling a chill crawl up his spine. There was something deeply unsettling about the place, something that made him instinctively want to turn back- even without Serik's warnings.
Serik led him away from the forest and back toward the central campus. As they walked, he began to talk about the staff at E&R University, providing insights that Jorel knew would be invaluable.
"Headmaster Jorgan Allen is a man of principle," Serik began, his tone respectful. "He's a descendant of Edgar Allen, the first known pain user. Jorgan is a master of emotional pain magic, specializing in guilt. It's said that he can bring the most hardened student to their knees with a single glance, forcing them to relive their worst regrets."
Jorel listened intently, picturing the stern figure of the headmaster. He had heard stories about Jorgan Allen, but hearing it from Serik made it all the more real.
"Vice Headmaster Rene Kilbe is someone you should be wary of," Serik continued, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "He's responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school and is known for his prowess in physical pain magic. Kilbe is strict, almost to the point of cruelty. Cross him, and you'll regret it."
Serik then mentioned the Trioge twins, Geo and Boro, who were known for their mastery of spiritual pain magic. "The twins are… unsettling. They specialize in creating delusions, bending reality to their will. Most students avoid them, and for good reason. There are rumors that they're involved in some of the school's darker experiments, but no one's been brave enough to confirm it."
Finally, Serik spoke of Raven Chen, the dean for entry-level students. "Raven Chen is strict but fair. She specializes in emotional pain magic, particularly in inducing depression. She's tough on newcomers, expecting them to adapt quickly or break under the pressure. You'll need to be on your guard around her- however if you are on her good side, she will help you navigate through your early years. She is the one who administers your exams to move on to the middle level- are you aware of how you move up within the school?"
Jorel just shook his head and Serik nodded before continuing, "In order to move between the levels, you take an exam at the end of a school year. When to take it is up to you, but should you fail you are expelled- so do not take it lightly. Some finish their entry level within a year, others four or five. Once you finish your entry level studies you move on to middle level, from there high level, then you are able to try and graduate. Should you want to further your studies you can move to the masters level- which is the requirement for teaching here at E&R. The highest level of pain magic one can achieve is expert level- but that is not something offered, you must find that yourself. The only expert level on campus is the headmaster."
As they walked, Serik suddenly stopped and turned to Jorel, his expression serious. "Now that you know more about the school and its staff, it's time I show you something else—something that will help you survive here."
Serik reached into his coat and pulled out a small, worn book. "This is a collection of haikus, passed down through generations of emotional pain users. Each poem is designed to evoke a specific emotion, which can then be harnessed to fuel our pain magic."
He opened the book to a specific page and handed it to Jorel. "Read this haiku aloud. Let it sink in."
Jorel took the book, his hands trembling slightly as he read the haiku:
Beneath winter's sky,
Tears fall like frozen whispers,
Loneliness descends.
As the words left his lips, Jorel felt nothing. It was clear he was supposed to feel an overwhelming wave of sadness or depression, but the words evoked nothing from him.
Serik watched him closely, his eyes narrowing seeing that the haiku had no effect. "Jorel, did you not feel anything reading that? Even a physical user should be able to use this emotion script."
With a shake of his head Jorel responded, "No, the instructors at my test said that I was emotionally numb and unfit to perform emotional pain magic. I don't think I can use these... but could you explain to me how it works? I want to get a feel for what people might throw at me."
Serik squinted at him as if trying to get a read on what exactly he was made of before nodding in approval. "Good. It's always a good instinct to try and get ahead of your enemies. However, never tell that secret to anyone else. It would mark you as weak. While physical pain users are focused on physical pain magic, they still typically enhance themselves with a little emotional pain with scripts like what I just showed you. Also, even though you are emotionally numb, you are susceptible to emotional pain magic- let me show you."
Serik concentrated, gripping the short blade at his side while reading the Haiku out loud. He then looked up at Jorel, "Now, I channel the sadness elicited from the poem into my weapon. Focusing on the tears in the poem—the frost, the cold—and let it manifest."
He closed his eyes and focused on the sadness that enveloped him, picturing the frost of winter, the frozen tears. Jorel gasped as slowly, the blade in Serik's hand gave off a frighteningly cold aura, the metal coated in a thin layer of ice that shimmered in the moonlight.
When Serik opened his eyes, the blade was encased in a delicate layer of frost, the edge glistening with a faint blue light. It was beautiful, yet deadly—a weapon born from the depths of sorrow.
With a delicate touch, Serik placed the tip of the sword on Jorel's chest and made a tiny cut, exposing Jorel's skin to the blade and drawing the faintest beads of blood.
The emotion hit Jorel like a hurricane. It was a deep, bone-chilling sorrow that seemed to seep into his very soul. He shivered as the emotion took hold, his breath catching in his throat. He hadn't felt true emotion in so long he had forgotten what it felt like to truly feel sadness.
Serik nodded again, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "That's the power of emotional pain magic. By harnessing your emotions, you can enhance your abilities, turning something intangible into a tangible weapon. But remember, this power comes with a cost. The more you use it, the more it takes from you. In order to use this, I must channel a deep depression which eats away at my mental stability."
Jorel stared at the frosted blade, a mixture of awe and fear coursing through him. The weight of the sadness still lingered, heavy and cold in his chest, and he could feel the weight it had pressed on him.
Serik sheathed the blade and then continued walking. "There's more to learn, and this is just the beginning. As your mentor, I'll guide you through the basics, but it's up to you to master it."
They returned to Raven House, the gothic spires looming overhead as the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon. Before they re-entered the dormitory, Serik stopped and turned to Jorel, his expression grave.
"One last thing," Serik said, his voice low. "The trials you've faced so far are nothing compared to what's coming. Some of these trials are designed to test more than just your skills—they test your loyalty, your morality, and your very essence as a pain user. Be prepared for anything. They use these first few weeks to weed out the unskilled or weaker candidates. Soon enough the real schooling will begin and you will learn how to channel your physical pain into something tangible."
Jorel nodded, his mind spinning with everything he had learned that night. Serik's words echoed in his mind as they entered the dormitory, the shadows of Raven House closing in around them.
Before parting, Serik placed a hand on Jorel's shoulder. "Remember, I'm here to guide you, but you must prove yourself worthy of this mentorship. Stay vigilant, and trust your instincts- those friends of yours will keep you alive, continue to trust them."
With that, Serik turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Jorel standing alone in the corridor. The silence of the dormitory was almost suffocating, but Jorel felt a renewed sense of purpose.
As he returned to his room and lay down on his bed, Jorel's mind raced with thoughts of the night's revelations. The power of emotional pain magic, the secrets of the school, and the cryptic warnings from Serik all weighed heavily on him.
But with Serik as his mentor, he knew he had a fighting chance.