"HEY ETHAN, wake up!" Madam Bailey shouted lazy looking boy who had his his head on the table whiles she was teaching. "This is why I always say children like you shouldn't be admitted into this prestigious school." Madam Bailey said with disgust. " In fact, get out of my class. The other started laughing aloud making mockery of the boy.
Ethan was a sixteen years old teenage boy with shiny white hair that spiked up but partly disheveled. His blue eyes and round nose complimented the shape of his face. He was 5.8ft tall with a fairly muscular body structure. Ethan was quite a lazy boy who had no interest in what being taught in class and what other took joy in learning. Ethan's hobby was reading about bows and arrows, katana-like swords and ice and lightning. Any free time he got was spent in the school's library.
"Were you sacked out of class again?" The school's librarian, Clarke Shawn asked Ethan right when he steeped foot into the library. "Yes" Ethan said casually. "coming to read your normal books?" Shawn asked. "Yes" Ethan replied. "There they're I got you new ones" Shawn said with a smile. "Thanks, Shawn" Ethan said happily and dashed towards Shawn's table.
Shawn was in his early twenties with his height 6ft. His hair was dark brown, short and stylishly messy. His face had chiseled features, strong jawline and a small scar above his left eyebrow(from a past battle) with an olive toned skin with subtle tan.
"Just hope those things you read influence your lexicon." Shawn said undertone.
In the world, every book was more than just a collection of words. It was a vessel of latent energy, imbued with ancient knowledge and untapped potential, people could unlock special abilities by reading books but power depended on emotional and intellectual resonance of the person with the books he or she read. The more understanding you had about the books you read, the more stronger you get. The power could be gained after awakening a lexicon.
Lexicons were leather-bound tome adorned with intricate golden filigree and strange symbols that shimmer in the light. The cover was worn, with cracks and creases etched into its surface like the lines on a wise elder's face. The lexicons were large measuring approximately 12 inches tall and 8 inches wide. The color of the leather binding was a deep, rich brown, while the pages within were soft, creamy yellow.
The first lexicon was said to have been made by an ancient order of mystics, who infused the book with their collective knowledge and power. Over the centuries, sorcerers created ritual techniques to create personal lexicons where people's knowledge gained through the books they read became their power. Slowly and steadily the personally created lexicons drew knowledge from the minds of its wielders and molded it into their power.
There were three types of lexicons; the ones that contained magical text, the ones that contained fictional text and the ones that contains non-fictional text and historic text.
Among these three main types of lexicon there were rare lexicons which came with unique powers, world-altering powers. In spite of of all these books came the forbidden lexicons that were mostly not awakened but learnt. The forbidden lexicons were hated by societies and were banned from use of people.
There were also limits and risks with use of awakened lexicons which was termed 'lexicon fracture'. It was experienced when people had mind breaks from wrong usage of their awakened lexicons.
"Do you think all what I can really like can influence the lexicon I'll awaken in after the ritual?" Ethan asked Shawn. "Well it depends on you." Shawn responded with a straight face. "Just make sure your mind is ready to take whatever the lexicon ritual will grant you tomorrow. It might be possible but as long as I have lived, nothing like a Quadra-lexicon user has existed yet. But there are myth that says "the great one" could use any type of lexicon he wished to but I still don't know about that." Shawn narrated.
"Is that so?" Ethan questioned. "Yeah" Shawn also responded. "Good luck on your lexicon ritual." Shawn said with an outstretched hand for a handshake. Ethan also stretched forth his hand and handshake Shawn before running out of the library for his bag since the school was over for the day.
Knock!! Knock!!
Ethan went knocking on the mother's door. "Mom, are you alright?" Etan asked his mother but got no reply. "Mom, will you be fine by yourself?" Ethan asked again. "Yes" He heard his mother say in a low tune. "Are you really sure about this?" Ethan asked desperately wanting his mother to come out of the room. "Yes" The mother replied in a low tone again. "Ok then, I'm leaving for my sword practice." Ethan announced to the mother before leaving to his room to change into his training suit the father had left for him.
Mia, Ethan's mother had always been depressed since the day her husband, Ethan and Rhea's father started studying about forbidden lexicons and got involved in an accident. It was rumored that Logan Fen, Mia's husband had died but his body was still not found and this made Mia more depressed.
* Bladewright Academy *
Bladewright Academy was an imposing yet elegant fortress, built with stone and iron, radiating both power and refinement. The academy sat atop a hill, surrounded by a thick forest of ancient, towering oaks, which gave it an air of isolation and mystery. The main building was constructed of dark grey stone, with high walls etched in intricate carvings of legendary swordsmen and mythical beasts. Tall, narrow windows punctuate the stone walls, letting in thin beams of light that cast long shadows across the training halls within.
The entrance to the academy was marked by massive iron gates bearing the academy's sigil: two crossed swords over an anvil, symbolizing both the creation and wielding of blades. Inside, a sprawling courtyard filled with training dummies, sparring rings, and weapon racks extends in every direction. Students clad in varying shades of armor practice relentlessly, their shouts echoing through the open space. Paths of cobblestone weave between sparring areas and connected to separate wings of the academy.
The central hall, known as the Hall of Honed Steel, was an immense space filled with banners bearing the colors and crests of past graduates. Swords of historical significance hang on the walls, each accompanied by a plaque that tells its tale. Torches line the hall, casting a warm but fierce glow across polished armor displays and statues of famous warriors.
In the east wing, The Forge of Blades is housed, where students are taught the art of crafting their own weapons. Here, blacksmiths work alongside students, the air thick with the smell of burning metal and the rhythmic clang of hammers.
The west wing houses the Library of Combat Arts, filled with ancient tomes on sword techniques, strategy, and the philosophies of warfare. Each book is bound in leather and stamped with the academy's crest, its pages worn from generations of eager hands.
At the highest point of Bladewright Academy stands The Tower of the Blade, where the masters hold advanced dueling sessions. From here, one can look over the entire academy and beyond, as though seeing all the challenges and battles that await students once they leave these hallowed grounds.
It was the place where Ethan always went after school to learn his sword arts. "FIGHT!" A blademaster, Silas Crow shouted as he raised two fingers to signify the start of the spar between Ethan and Rowan Gale. Rowan Gale was rumoured as the weakest student in the Bladewright Academy among the four hundred and fifty two students of which Ethan wasn't part since Ethan just went there after school to practice.
Both Ethan and Rowan held wooden swords and faced each other waiting for who to attack first. "If you won't come then I'll bring the fight to you?" Rowan said and dashed towards Ethan at high speed. "Thundering slash" Rowan said immediately when he reached Ethan. Rowan landed a downward, hammering blow with massive impact using his wooden sword which sent Ethan to his knees and making Ethan leave his wooden sword. Immediately the blademaster pointed his finger at Rowan and shouted, "5 points to Rowan!"
Right after this, the blademaster made a circular motion with his hand signifying the reset of stance of the students sparring. Rowan extended his hand to Ethan to help him up and Ethan complied and held Rowan to stand up. The blademaster hit his chest twice to signify a good work done by Rowan to help his opponent up. Ethan the picked up his wooden sword and took his stance with the right foot forward and the left foot also backwards whiles holding his wooden sword in front of him with both hands. Rowan also did the same and waited for the signal from the blademaster again.
Again the blademaster raised two fingers to start the match and this time Ethan rushed for the first attack. "Even if I'm the weakest in this school you don't stand a chance against me with such weak skills." Rowan stated showing no sympathy for Ethan. Ethan jumped up and struck down at Rowan immediately he also got near Rowan but it was as if the strike had no power, Rowan quickly deflected Ethan's sword and slashed him across his chest and additionally hit his head. "Two points awarded to Rowan." The blademaster said as he pointed his hands at Rowan awarding him some point.
Quickly, the blademaster made the same circular motion just like the first with his hands again making Ethan and Rowan take their stance again. "You've got this Rowan. This small fry can't defeat you in a thousand years." A student in the gathered crowd shouted taunting Ethan. "Start!" The blademaster shouted again to start the sparring among the two students. Although the students taunted Ethan he knew it was the truth, this was his fifteenth fight against Rowan and he had never won a single match not even in his dreams has it ever happened.
In spite of all the taunting Ethan never got angry and always maintained his composure. "Let's go!" Rowan shouted as he dashed towards Ethan holding his sword to his right side. With a horizontal slash Rowan tried hitting Ethan's left arm but this time Ethan saw it coming and gripped his sword with much more strength block the attack in a go. "Nice block. What about the next attack?" Rowan asked but before Ethan could even react Rowan had already gone. Immediately Rowan swept Ethan's feet of the ground making Ethan fall on his left arm. "You're too weak." Rowan said after sweeping Ethan's feet off the ground and was awarded three points for his success.
"This is the last round." Rowan said after they had taken their stance again. "Start!" The blademaster gestured and instantly Rowan dashed forward again. "Spiral thrust!" Rowan shouted with a quick, spiraling thrust aimed at Ethan's torso. With Precision and speed Rowan delivered the final blow. Rowan's speed was so high that Ethan couldn't follow up. "I told you. You're weak." Rowan said in cold tone. "Winner, Rowan!" The blademaster shouted declaring Rowan the winner of the match.
"Lost again." Ethan said and stood up. "You must train harder." The blademaster said before passing by Ethan to leave the sparring ring. "It might not be today but I know for sure I'll one day defeat you." Ethan said undertone and disgracefully left the the sparring ring as the other students cheered for Rowan and others also booed at Ethan himself.
Livia Fenn and the friend, Nia Whisper chuckled as Ethan got out off the sparring ring. "He couldn't stand just five minutes against the weakest student. he has no future." Livia said whiles looking at Ethan. "Well, I don't think he'll even be able to awaken a lexicon." Nia also said and then started laughing loudly. Ethan then turned and saw them but there was nothing he could do about the mockery. Slowly, Ethan packed his bag and the school.
"I'll continue fighting till I become the strongest." Ethan said bravely before walking out of the gates of the Bladewright Academy's gate.