Aiden's second day at the academy had more challenge. He'd barely slept the night before, the candle kept burning to the essence he couldn't control. Resulting to him losing an entire night of sleep.
His entire class of newcomers were brought to the roam the academy. They were yet to be classified so their upperclassmen toured them around the academy. They were lead to a the back of the academy, where a passage opened up that lead to the mountains. Aiden didn't notice there were loggings on the side of the mountains, like scattered cottages that served as the students quarters.
"Freshies are allowed to stay off campus," Dean Martha said. "But once you pass the initiation, you will be provided logging."
Explaining that once you are classified as a class, any student will be provided lodging within the academy.
Aiden's eyes lit up. This was the key he wanted. The key to escape from that mansion that held him hostage for his entire life.
The crowd murmured, and Aiden looked up to see the white-haired senior who stole the attention of all his classmates. Without even understanding what they were whispering about, he knew from their giggles that they looked up to this person, almost as if idolizing him.
Their gray-haired senior approached the group. His face painted with a smile that exposed his good manners and good personality.
"Blah blah blah blah blah blah the senior said, earning a few laughter from the students.
"If you're curious," Lucius said. "That gray-haired guy just said he can't wait to be your neighbor. Though, he misses his mom's home cooking."
Aiden nodded his head.
Caelum chimed in. "Maybe it's the key to being the greatest student," he sighed. "Someone's homecooking."
"Don't you worry, Bastardsson," Caelum said. "When you die, I'll visit you in the underworld and eat lunch with you."
Aiden gave a wry smile. "Thanks," he said, his stone sarcastic. "I look forward to it."
They were about to finish the tour, but a glistening boulder caught Riven's attention. The boulder was situated at the entrance of the student's village, behind the signage that welcomed the students. He flew toward the boulder, pulling the attention of the other three.
"What happened?" Lucius said. "A glistening boulder?"
Riven's glow revealed his curiousity. "I feel strange. Something sparkled from this direction."
"What's this boulder anyway?"
Aiden immediately ran after the upperclassmen that led them on the tour, the group had already gone far but he was able to catch up, tapping the upperclassmen in his shoulders, interrupting his ending speech.
The upperclassmen asked him a question, he guessed was asking him what he needed so he pointed the boulder they were curious about.
The upperclassmen's eyes glistened, as he ushered the group to the glistening boulder as if it was a spot he had clearly forgotten.
"This glistening boulder creates the mist that covers our academy," Caelum said, relaying the explanation of their senior. "It masks our presence from dem--rebels. protects us from rebels." The senior laughed nervously, which Caelum copied perfectly.
"Demons?" Aiden said, "Why are they hiding the fact that there are demons?"
He turned to the wisps, the three of them shrugged.
"Maybe because you're still babies?" Lucius said. "Like how adults would tell you that nightmares aren't real but you wake up to find you've peed on yourself for real."
Aiden rolled his eyes.
"Aiden," Riven called out to him as he was about to walk follow his group. "Stretch your hand out to this boulder."
Aiden was about to do what he was told, but before he could lay his hand on it, he pulled it back. "No..." he said. "What if I absorb its energy and removes its powers. The demons will come rushing in.
Riven mumbled something to himself before facing Aiden. "It's okay, its not filled with essence. It's an enchantment, it can't be absorbed. I just want you to feel it."
Aiden had a doubt, he didn't want to be the freshy who would bring this academy to ruins. Not when it held the key to leaving that mansion. Still, he listened to Riven and touched the boulder. As Riven said, he didn't feel like absorving anything. Except, he felt a low hum inside the boulder. Like a heart slowly beating.
"There's something inside," Aiden told the wisps. "This is not a boulder," he said. "It's... it's an egg?"
Lucius flared up. "An egg?"
They hovered around the egg, scrutinizing every inch of it. "There are only a few things that could bear an egg this huge!" Caelum said. "Either dragons, or... dragons?"
Aiden shook his head. "It doesn't feel like a dragon," he said. "It's like, a human is trapped inside, waiting to come out of his shell."
The three wisps buzzed, the shivers going up their forms. "There's too much going on in this academy," Riven said. "You better pass that initiation so we can snoop around."
Aiden nodded his head. "You don't have to tell me that," he balled his fist, "I'll do everything to get away from those eight-year-old kids. And to leave that mansion."
Even if he had to get punched a hundred times, he was willing to do everything just to pass the initiation.
"I'm glad to hear that," Riven said. "Now hurry up. We're losing them already."
They ran after the group, and they were back into the academy's premise in no time. After a tour to the back mountains, the senior brought them to the Principal's Office. The lady who wore an extravagant dress on Aiden's first day at the academy greeted them. Her smile stern but welcoming.
"Welcome, everyone," she spread her arms, "Tomorrow, you will be classified based on your natural potential."
She took a step closer to the students, checking them one by one, until her eyes paused at Aiden. He didn't know if it was a play of the mind, but Aiden could swear the principal snarled at him. As if she hated his existence, and would do anything to get him off her sight.
"Do your best, students," she said. "The academy does not welcome the incapable. If you're weak, you have no place here."