The following morning, the castle gates opened to reveal the sprawling grounds of the prestigious Elysium Academy. It was a place only the elite could attend, where the most powerful families sent their children to hone their talents. For Zaryth, it felt more like a prison—a reminder of his inadequacies.
He trailed behind his siblings, keeping his head low. As always, the academy's bustling halls buzzed with conversations. Everywhere he went, he could feel the weight of mocking stares and the occasional giggles from students who thrived on his misery. His siblings—Dorian, Ruby, and the others—walked with confidence, the kind that came naturally to those born with power.
Zaryth? He had none.
---
When Zaryth entered the classroom, the whispers began.
"There goes the 'empty heir,'" someone sneered from the back.
"I heard he couldn't even beat a basic dummy yesterday," another laughed.
Zaryth tightened his grip on his book, doing his best to ignore them. But the words burrowed into his mind like needles. He could practically feel the sneers from every direction.
"Hey, Zaryth!" a voice called out. He turned to see Lukas, the son of a wealthy merchant family, flashing a sly grin. "How does it feel to be the least useful member of your family?"
A ripple of laughter spread through the room. Zaryth clenched his fists but forced himself to stay quiet. Any outburst would only fuel their mockery.
Ruby, seated near the front, turned her head, her eyes locking onto his. She gave him a small, encouraging smile. But that only made it worse. He hated being pitied, especially by her.
The rest of the day was no different—snide remarks during lessons, whispers in the halls, even teachers who subtly ignored him in favor of his more talented classmates. Every glance and snicker gnawed at his mind.
---
By the time lunch came around, Zaryth could feel the tension building inside him like a pressure cooker about to burst. He wandered aimlessly across the academy grounds, eventually finding himself beneath a large oak tree at the edge of the training field.
He sank to the ground, burying his face in his hands. His mind spiraled with thoughts of inadequacy.
I'll never be enough. I'll always be in their shadow. I'm just... useless.
The whispers in his mind grew louder, and this time, the voices of the archons returned. Faint, yet persistent.
"Awaken... the chains cannot bind you forever."
Zaryth shook his head violently, as if trying to drown them out. No. I'm not whoever you think I am. I'm just... Zaryth. I'm nobody.
---
As the school day neared its end, Zaryth wandered toward the training grounds. His siblings were already there, practicing their magic. Ruby stood at the center, effortlessly conjuring whirlwinds of air and bolts of lightning. The crowd of students around her clapped and cheered.
"Ruby's a prodigy, just like everyone expected," someone whispered.
"And Zaryth? He couldn't light a candle if his life depended on it," another snickered.
Zaryth stood on the sidelines, his fists clenched. His heart burned with jealousy and rage, but beneath it all was an overwhelming sense of helplessness. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't escape the shadow of his siblings.
Suddenly, Ruby noticed him watching. She waved, a bright smile on her face. For a moment, Zaryth felt a flicker of warmth—until Lukas's voice cut through the moment.
"Looks like even your sister feels sorry for you, huh?" Lukas taunted, standing far too close.
Zaryth snapped. He grabbed Lukas by the collar and slammed him against the nearest wall. "Say one more word," Zaryth hissed, his voice trembling with suppressed fury.
Lukas only laughed. "See? You're not just weak. You're a joke."
Zaryth's grip faltered, and the other students laughed louder. Humiliated, he shoved Lukas away and stormed off, his heart pounding in his chest.
---
By the time the sun set, Zaryth found himself back at the academy gates, alone. The cold wind bit at his skin, but he welcomed it—it dulled the ache inside him.
As he stared at the darkening sky, a strange unease crept over him. It wasn't the usual dread of being mocked or the constant weight of failure. No, this felt... different.
A cold shiver ran down his spine. For a moment, it was as if the entire world had gone silent. And then, out of nowhere, a voice—soft, sinister—whispered in his mind.
"She's in danger."
His heart skipped a beat. Ruby.
Zaryth spun around, his eyes scanning the empty street. But there was no one there. The voice had disappeared as quickly as it came.
Yet the feeling of dread remained, tightening around his chest like a vice. Something was wrong. He didn't know how, but he knew—deep in his gut—that Ruby was in danger.
Without a second thought, Zaryth sprinted back toward the academy. The whispers of the archons grew louder with every step, and for the first time, he didn't try to block them out.
"Awaken... before it's too late."
---