We walked through the Western compound, the expanse of the academy sprawling before me. The training grounds were vast, scattered with various obstacles and dummies designed to test every aspect of combat and endurance. The library loomed ahead, a towering structure rich in ancient knowledge, its guarded walls exuding an almost sacred aura. Ember led us to the building that housed our classrooms, where we would study subjects like Fae History, Fae Diplomacy, and Magical Control and Combat—essential classes, but none that felt as weighty as the real training we would undergo.
He explained how we would patrol the academy's massive walls, working alongside our seniors, walking along the high stone parapets, always alert, ever vigilant.
"The Wilds," he said, his voice thick with meaning. "The dark forest surrounding the academy. It's not a place to venture into lightly. There are wards in place to keep us safe, but don't let that fool you. The Wilds are home to things far darker than anything you've encountered. Never forget that."
Whispers broke out around me, and a chill ran down my spine. My eyes involuntarily darted toward the shadowy expanse beyond the wall. The Wilds. When I had glimpsed it from my balcony the day before, it hadn't seemed so menacing, but seeing the unease on the faces of my fellow recruits, I wasn't so sure anymore.
"However, there's a special place in the Wilds where all our familiars come from. That's where we go to prove we're worthy of one. Not just the Elites, but every Fae must go through this trial, as you all know. But unlike an ordinary Fae, whose familiar would seek them out, we have to seek ours."
The murmurs increased in volume, disbelief lacing the recruits' voices.
"You mean we have to go into the Wilds? The same Wilds you just warned us about?" one recruit exclaimed, his pale face filled with terror, his pointed ears twitching.
"That's correct," Ember replied, his expression hardening. "We do this because we want powerful familiars—familiars that can amplify our powers and fight beside us on the battlefield."
"But we could die!" another voice piped up from the crowd.
"And you could die on the battlefield. Wouldn't you rather have a powerful familiar at your side to increase your chances of surviving?"
A ripple of murmurs swept through the recruits. Ember rolled his eyes, exasperated, then raised his fingers to his lips and whistled sharply.
Silence fell over the crowd as we all turned to look at him, confusion clouding our faces. Then we heard it—the unmistakable sound of enormous wings flapping, growing louder and closer until we could finally see what was causing the ruckus.
The creature soaring high above us was the most magnificent being I had ever seen. A griffin. I read about them before in The Underground. Golden-skinned and winged, it shone like the sun itself. It roared, a mighty sound that reverberated through the air, before landing beside Ember with a ground-shaking thud, kicking up dust with its landing. It was so massive that Ember looked tiny in comparison, and the power radiating from it nearly took my breath away.
A few recruits scrambled back, fear evident on their faces, but none could look away from the creature, not even me.
"This is Inara," Ember said, his voice softening as he stroked the griffin's mane. The beast purred under his touch, like a cat seeking affection. "She's my bonded familiar, and the last of her kind. Isn't she magnificent?"
The recruits stood in stunned silence, eyes wide, taking in the sheer size and grace of the griffin.
"I, too, had to go through the familiar rite," Ember continued. "Every Elite you see here did. Even our general. But it was worth it. I found a powerful griffin who decided I was worthy of her loyalty, and now she's dedicated the rest of her life to me. The kind of loyalty you'll get from your bonded familiar? You'll never find it anywhere else, except maybe from your soulmate. They'll die for you, and you for them." He turned back to us, his eyes sharp and unyielding. "Now, I've shown you what you'll be risking your life for. It's not just for the realm, it's for yourself. If any of you still has reservations about this, you're free to leave. The portal is that way."
There was a collective pause as the weight of his words sank in. But no one moved. The air was thick with the unspoken understanding that, for better or worse, we were in this together.
"Alright then," Ember said with a nod. "The familiar hunt will take place in the middle of the semester—about four months from now. You'll have time to prepare." He waved his hand, and Inara lifted off into the air again, her mighty wings slicing through the air as she returned to the Wilds. My heart skipped a beat. Why was she heading back there?
"Lastly," Ember said, his voice shifting to a lighter tone, "I'm sure you've all been waiting for this—The Weapons Choosing ceremony."
The mood in the crowd shifted instantly, excitement buzzing through the air like static. Murmurs and whispers broke out among the recruits.
"The ceremony will take place tonight," Ember continued, his eyes scanning the group. "It's a rite exclusive to the Elites. Your training cannot even begin until you are chosen by a weapon. But let me make one thing clear: If you are not chosen tonight, you will be sent home. That means the weapons didn't sense any Elite qualities in you. You don't belong here."
The atmosphere changed in an instant. Some of the girls beside me exchanged anxious glances.
"Wait, we'll be sent home if we're not chosen by a weapon? Even after all the tests we took to get here in the first place?" one of them whispered, her voice trembling.
They took tests?
"I heard some of the weapons are sentient—very powerful. The blacksmith who forges them is a Fae rumored to be blessed by the gods themselves. He makes weapons only for the Elites." the guy behind them answered.
"Gods, what if I'm not chosen?" another whispered, voice barely audible.
Ember chuckled dryly, cutting through the tension. "For now, you can go get your schedules from the admin building. You'll find out where your classes are, which training groups you're in, and which patrol groups you're assigned to." He paused, his expression growing serious again. "Oh, and one more thing—no one, and I mean no one, goes near the Eastern Compound unless invited by an official Elite. And even then, you better have a pass. Break that rule, and you'll wish you hadn't."
The weight of his words hit everyone hard, making the recruits straighten up a little more, their steps more deliberate as they processed the gravity of Ember's warning.
"Alright," he said, his tone lightening again. "That's all for now. I'll see you all tonight. Good luck."
With that, the recruits scattered toward the admin building, their voices full of nervous excitement. I followed the crowd, feeling a mixture of anticipation and dread settling in my chest. This wasn't just another academy. This wasn't just some training ground. This was the place where everything would either fall into place—or fall apart.
We got our schedules and I scanned mine. It pretty much encompassed what we would do throughout the week, except on weekends:
---
Monday
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Fae History
Location: History Hall, Room 10
Instructor: Professor Caelis
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Fae Diplomacy
Location: Diplomatic Chambers, Room 2
Instructor: Ambassador Iren
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch Break
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Weapons and Combat Training
Location: Training grounds, Section 5
Instructor: Elite Raith
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Patrol
Location: Eastern Wall Parapets
Patrol Group: Squad A
Group Leader: Senior recruit Draxon
---
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Fae History
Location: History Hall, Room 10
Instructor: Professor Caelis
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Magical Control
Location: Arcane Lab, Room 6
Instructor: High Mage Anya
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch Break
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Magical Combat
Location: Training grounds, Section 8
Instructor: Elite Ellira
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Patrol
Location: Western Wall Parapets
Patrol Group: Squad B
Group Leader: Senior recruit Draxon
---
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Fae Diplomacy
Location: Diplomatic Chambers, Room 2
Instructor: Ambassador Iren
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Fae History
Location: History Hall, Room 10
Instructor: Professor Caelis
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch Break
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Weapons and Combat Training
Location: Training grounds,Section 5
Instructor: Elite Raith
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Patrol
Location: Northern Wall Parapets
Patrol Group: Squad A
Group Leader: Senior recruit Draxon
---
Thursday
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Fae Diplomacy
Location: Diplomatic Chambers, Room 2
Instructor: Ambassador Iren
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Magical Control
Location: Arcane Lab, Room 3
Instructor: High Mage Anya
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch Break
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Magical Combat
Location: Training grounds, Section 8
Instructor: Elite Ellira
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Patrol
Location: Southern Wall Parapets
Patrol Group: Squad A
Group Leader: Senior recruit Draxon
---
Friday
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Fae History
Location: History Hall, Room 10
Instructor: Professor Caelis
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch Break
1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Weapons and Combat Training
Location: Training grounds, Section 5
Instructor: Elite Raith
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Patrol
Location: Eastern Wall Parapets
Patrol Group: Squad A
Group Leader: Captain Draxon
---
The Fae handing out schedules called out, "For those of you with Weapons and Combat training scheduled today, you won't need to attend. Since none of you have weapons yet, you'll begin attending after tonight's Weapons Choosing Ceremony. Once you have your weapon, join the class when it appears on your schedule again."
I froze for a moment, realization hitting me like a blow. What day was it? Shit! My heart sped up as I glanced around, trying to make sense of the situation. How was I supposed to figure out which class I was supposed to attend?
Murmurs filled the air as recruits shuffled away, some already heading toward their assigned locations. I strained to catch snippets of conversation, hoping someone would drop a clue about the day.
Just as I was still trying to piece together fragments from the voices around me, a group of Fae stopped in front of me. Three girls and three boys, all looking distinctly confident—or cocky, depending on whatever words came out of their mouths next.
The tallest girl, a statuesque blonde with ice-blue eyes, stepped forward with a smirk sharp enough to cut glass. "Lost already, newbie?" she sneered. "Or do you not even fucking know what day it is?"
I blinked, my brain scrambling to keep up. Was I that obvious? Fuck.
Before I could figure out an answer, another girl—a shorter brunette with raven-black hair and a cruel smile—piped up. "Maybe she's too busy trying to kiss ass to read her damn schedule." Her voice was saccharine sweet, but the venom behind it stung.
"Or," the redhead chimed in, lounging against a stone pillar, "she's just a clueless little shit who thinks looking all wide-eyed and pathetic will save her ass." She gave a nasty laugh, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
My confusion deepened. What the hell were they on about? And why were they here?
The blonde didn't wait for me to respond. She stepped closer, her smirk turning downright nasty. "You know, I've been wondering… How the fuck did someone like you get Ember's attention?"
That hit me like a punch to the gut. "Ember?" I echoed dumbly, my confusion only growing. Ember? Of course, that's what this is about. Why are they so obsessed with him?
"Oh, don't play fucking dumb," the redhead snapped, rolling her eyes. "Everyone's seen it. He's been hovering around you like you're the godsdamned sun or something."
"You must've done something," the brunette added, her voice dropping to a mocking lilt. "What was it, huh? Did you beg? Or maybe you just batted those freaky-ass eyes and hoped he was dumb enough to fall for it."
I stared at her, trying to process the rapid-fire accusations. Beg? Freaky-ass eyes? Really?
The blonde gave an exaggerated laugh. "Oh, please. Like Ember would actually be interested in this." She waved a hand in my direction, looking me up and down like I was a piece of trash someone left lying around. "He's powerful. Gorgeous. Fucking perfect. And you? You're just… what? Some charity case?"
My jaw tightened, but before I could get a word in, the green-haired boy—lean and smirking like he thought he was god's gift to the world—chimed in. "Charity case is putting it fucking lightly. Ember's probably just bored. You're a shiny new toy for him to play with. When he gets tired, you'll be out on your ass like the rest."
The redhead laughed, loud and sharp. "Exactly! He's second-in-command to Aethera. He doesn't need some little nobody tagging along. You're lucky he even looked your way. Fuck knows why he bothered."
I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. I didn't even know where to start. I sure as hell wasn't about to explain myself to this people.
"Oh, she's fucking speechless!" the brunette crowed, laughing like she'd just won something. "Guess she finally realized she's way out of her depth."
I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes at the group. "You seem awfully interested in who I hang out with," I said coolly. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were jealous."
The blonde's face flushed, her haughty demeanor cracking for a moment. Then she leaned closer, her voice dropping into a hiss. "Jealous? Of you? Don't flatter yourself. Ember's probably just keeping you around for entertainment. You're a novelty, nothing more."
The shorter brunette girl giggled, her voice light and mocking. "Yeah, a little toy to keep him distracted. When he gets bored, you'll be tossed aside like the rest."
The green-haired boy, chuckled, adding fuel to the fire. "And let's be real, newbie—someone like you could never keep up with someone like Ember. He's not just powerful; he's perfect. Do you even realize how many people would kill to be in your shoes? Not that it'll last."
The blonde leaned in, "Here's the thing, newbie. You're nothing. You don't deserve to breathe the same air as Ember, let alone get his attention. So enjoy it while it lasts—because it won't."
My fists clenched at my sides, anger bubbling under my skin. But I forced myself to stay calm. Let them talk. Let them run their mouths. They didn't know a damn thing about me—or what I'd survived.
But they weren't done. "Mark my fucking words," the redhead said with a sneer, "you'll be forgotten as fast as you showed up."
As the group strutted away, their laughter echoing behind them like the taunt of hyenas, I clenched my fists, forcing myself to take a deep breath. My gaze lingered on their retreating figures—overconfident and overly polished—until they disappeared into the crowd. My shoulders sagged, and I resisted the urge to hurl a sharp retort at their fading silhouettes. They weren't worth it.
"You handled that better than I would've," a soft voice said beside me, making me turn sharply. A Fae girl stood there, her expression kind but tinged with awkward hesitation, as if she wasn't sure I wouldn't snap at her too.
She had an otherworldly beauty and power signature that I recognize as distinctly Spring Court. Her skin was like the golden hue of morning sunlight, with a soft, almost luminescent glow. Her eyes were a delicate lavender, framed by long, dark lashes, and her short, sleek hair was a pale platinum, cut in a chin-length bob that curled slightly inward at the ends. The faintest hint of blush dusted her high cheekbones, as though the warmth of the Spring Court clung to her even here.
She wore the same official uniform I had on but somehow, she still looked regal, as though the uniform was made for her rather than assigned to her. Her pointed ears, a hallmark of all Fae, were small and delicate, with tiny silver cuffs that glittered faintly in the sunlight.
"I'm Elaeya," she said with a small smile, extending a hand. "I saw the whole thing. Don't let those assholes get to you—they think being nobles gives them the right to be jerks."
I blinked, caught off guard by the genuine warmth in her tone. It was disarming after the venom I'd just endured. "Uh, thanks. I'm Jay," I replied, shaking her hand hesitantly. "And… you saw that?"
Elaeya winced apologetically. "Yeah, hard to miss. They're not exactly subtle." She rolled her eyes. "That was Lyris, the tall blonde one. Her mom's some big-shot noble, so she thinks she's untouchable. The other two girls are her little minions, Sia and Renna. As for the guys? Taryk and Joss are just as bad—total lapdogs for Lyris. And then there's Cian, the brooding one. He's only there because he's got some weird on-again, off-again thing with Lyris. Honestly, they're all just full of shit."
I stared at her, trying to process the whirlwind of information. "And… why do they care about me? I just got here."
Elaeya tilted her head knowingly. "Because of Ember."
"Okay? What about him? I mean, I get that he is powerful and popular around here but I don't see why seeing me with him calls for so much....prejudice."
"Oh, come on," Elaeya said, her grin turning mischievous. "He's the second-in-command to Aethera, a damn legend, and basically the most eligible bachelor this side of the realms. You've been seen with him. That's enough to make them jealous. Lyris probably thinks you're trying to steal his attention."
I stared at her, confused by the term, "Bachelor?" What does that even mean? "I don't even–"
"Trust me," she cut in, her voice light but full of sarcasm. "Logic doesn't matter to them. They just need an excuse to be catty . But that doesn't change the fact that you're new, you've caught his attention, and now Lyris is convinced you're out to steal her chance."
I scoffed. What chance? Can't these people be any less confusing? "That's insane." I murmured, not knowing what else to say.
Elaeya chuckled dryly, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Welcome to Fae life. No one cares if it makes sense, as long as they get to be jealous and bitch about it. Anyway," she added, pushing herself off the wall with a casual shrug, "don't let it bother you. It's not worth your time. What you need to worry about is figuring out where you're supposed to be, since clearly you've got no clue."
I blinked, looking down at my schedule again, the reality hitting me. "Yeah… I actually don't know where I'm supposed to be right now."
Elaeya gave me a sideways glance, her lips twisting into a sarcastic grin. "Figures. Alright, let's get you sorted, newbie. I'm not gonna let you embarrass yourself by wandering around clueless."
"You know, last I checked, we are all newbies here." I said as I showed her my schedule.
"Yeah well, you and your rounded ears are more newbie than we are. And today is Wednesday so you have Fae Diplomacy now. Same as me. Come on, let's go. We don't want to be late."