The Dominion Elite Academy was a place that challenged not only physical strength but also the mind and heart of each student. Day by day, Rael observed the vast spectrum of human nature—mirroring power, ego, and loyalty. Here, rivalries grew like entangled roots, creeping into every corner of the academy, transforming the dynamics between students and mentors from each house. The students were forced to learn not only how to endure but also how to read, assess, and navigate every intention hinted at in movements and words.
Among the prominent students was Mira Kasari of House Auctoritas, a figure impossible to ignore. Tall, solidly built, with a sharp, often caustic tongue, Mira always valued raw strength and skill in leadership. To her, that was the path to success in Dominion. For anyone willing to listen, Mira often voiced her opinions on stealth and infiltration training, which, in her view, were cowardly tactics. She dismissed exercises that required intelligence or patience, labelling them as the choice of those "afraid to fight head-on." Her remarks created tension between students from House Auctoritas and House Umbra—yet for Rael, Mira's words were easily deflected with patience. He merely responded with a small nod and an unruffled calm whenever Mira taunted him, choosing to focus on his own training.
However, one morning, things changed drastically. The academy announced a cross-training exercise incorporating elements of strategy and tactics, where students from different houses would face off in a simulation mission. This time, it wasn't only strength or agility being tested but also wisdom and the ability to devise plans. Each student was tasked with crossing an obstacle-laden area, a space filled with traps and barriers, without being detected by simulation guards placed throughout. They needed to combine trickery with stealth techniques to complete the exercise—a concept foreign to those more accustomed to direct attacks.
That day, fate seemed eager to test Rael, for in this exercise, he found himself pitted against Mira. From a distance, Rael could see Mira, who was usually bold and unflinching, displaying signs of unease. Though Mira tried to appear composed, her gaze betrayed discomfort with an exercise that demanded subtlety and precision.
When the exercise began, Mira stepped forward with steady, confident strides, but Rael could see that her confidence wasn't accompanied by expertise in this domain. Mira might have been an excellent warrior in open combat, but this exercise wasn't the sort of open battle she excelled in. Her mission this time was to move silently, avoiding simulation guards programmed to respond to any sound or movement that fell short of complete precision.
Rael, accustomed to silent techniques and careful, measured steps, started with intense focus. With his agile body, he moved within the shadows, slipping through without a trace, his footsteps nearly soundless. Meanwhile, Mira repeatedly displayed signs of impatience—her movements, though cautious, were still too heavy to go undetected. Each step Mira took echoed faintly in the training room, and each time she stumbled or made a sound, the simulation guards stirred, signalling a weakness in her blunt approach.
Rael took advantage of this with a keen sense. Capitalising on Mira's impatience and her lack of stealth tactics, he advanced ahead, moving like an invisible shadow. He evaded each trap with precision, using all the senses and skills he had honed to navigate the obstacle-filled space. Second by second, Rael inched closer to the finish line, leaving Mira struggling in the middle, entangled by obstacles she couldn't overcome.
Eventually, Rael crossed the finish line undetected, reaching it well before Mira. When Mira finally appeared at the finish, her face was flushed with restrained anger and dissatisfaction. Her expression reflected the turmoil within—a mixture of shame and resentment. She approached Rael, her gaze blazing with anger, her voice low yet sharp, laced with simmering displeasure.
"Don't think you'll keep winning, Rael," she said, her voice a whisper but firm. "Real strength doesn't hide in the shadows. Real strength is visible, felt by all."
Rael listened to Mira's words with unshaken calm. He merely offered a small smile, replying with a nod that conveyed confidence rather than mockery. Mira's words, though delivered with edge, did not disturb his faith in the principles he held close. To Rael, brute strength was only one aspect of this world brimming with subterfuge. Umbra, with its stealth and tactics, might seem weak to those reliant on physical power, but Rael knew that in the world of Dominion, it was not strength alone that would carry them forward—it was wisdom, intelligence, and the ability to read hidden intentions.
After the lengthy and exhausting session, Rael chose to spend his afternoon in the library. The place offered him a sense of peace, tucked away behind rows of thick, dusty bookshelves. The dim light of the setting sun crept in through narrow windows, casting a calming twilight glow. To Rael, the library was a space where time seemed to pause, allowing him to forget the relentless pressures of the academy.
He wandered between the shelves, his fingers trailing over the worn spines, feeling the rough texture of leather-bound volumes. The titles were written in an old language, understood by only a select few at the academy. Even though he didn't grasp every word, there was an inexplicable sense of belonging whenever he was there, as if the library held something more than knowledge—perhaps a secret, or even an answer he'd been seeking all along.
As he reached a corner of the room, Jasper Wren, the library caretaker, appeared behind a shelf, stacking several ancient texts on a wooden table that groaned under their weight. Jasper was a middle-aged man, his face lined with creases, as though he'd experienced more than he'd ever told. His sharp eyes suggested a life of deep experiences, and he often regarded students at the academy with an expression that was hard to decipher—a mix of sympathy and curiosity. Rael had always sensed something odd about Jasper, something difficult to pinpoint.
When Jasper noticed Rael, he offered a faint smile, one that felt more like an invitation to talk than a mere greeting.
"Ah, Rael," he said in a low, easy tone. "A long day at the academy, is it?"
Rael returned the small smile with a nod. "Yes, rather exhausting… but I suppose that's typical here." His voice trailed off, though his gaze remained hopeful, as if seeking reassurance behind his own words. "Sometimes I wonder, Jasper… all of this—the training, the strict rules, the Council's constant surveillance—does it truly lead to a deeper understanding of Dominion?"
Jasper regarded him with a piercing look, then nodded slowly, as if weighing each word. "Of course, you're in the right place for that," he replied, his tone low but laden with meaning. "This academy isn't merely a place to hone strength or physical skill. It's also where your mind is shaped, gradually… whether you realise it or not." His eyes scanned the room cautiously, then he added in a softer voice, "Here, students are prepared not only to face the threats outside, like the Gloomspawn you fear beyond the Aegis Wall. No, Rael. Sometimes, the real danger is much closer than you think."
Rael felt a stir of unease in his stomach at those words. There was something in Jasper's tone that suggested there were more mysteries in Dominion than he'd ever imagined. "What do you mean by 'real danger'?" Rael asked, probing further.
Jasper paused, his gaze distant, as if pondering something difficult to convey. "Rael," he finally said, his voice enigmatic, "in Dominion, not everyone is born equal. Some are protected, others sacrificed, and some, without even knowing it, are chosen for a greater purpose. And you… might be one of them."
Those words struck Rael like a sharp arrow, raising questions he couldn't avoid. He had long felt different, strange, often haunted by dark dreams filled with unfamiliar shadows, places that felt foreign yet somehow close. What did Jasper mean? Could it be true that he was more than just an ordinary student at this academy?
"Why do you say that, Jasper?" he asked softly, as though reluctant to break the library's stillness. Curiosity filled him, but he tried to remain composed, not wanting to appear overly eager.
Jasper merely offered a faint smile, a smile brimming with a thousand secrets. "In this academy, not everything seen is necessarily the truth, Rael. The Council, the mentors, even your classmates… they all may be hiding things you're unaware of. This world is full of veils concealing the truth, and everyone here plays their part carefully. Don't be too quick to believe what you see or hear." He stepped closer to Rael, placing a wrinkled hand on his shoulder, giving him a gentle pat. "In Dominion, truth is a luxury rarely granted. But for those brave enough to seek it, the price to be paid may be beyond measure."
Rael felt a shiver run through him beneath Jasper's touch. The man's words, though failing to answer all his questions, only added a new layer of mystery within him. After a moment, Jasper moved away, leaving Rael seated amidst ancient books that seemed to gaze back at him, as though guarding secrets of their own.