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Chapter 12: Fleeing the Storm
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The academy had always been a symbol of safety, of opportunity, of a future where magic could be mastered. For Nathan and Quinn, it was supposed to be their ticket out of poverty, a chance to prove themselves. But now, after what had happened in the dungeon, the academy had become a prison.
Quinn sat on the edge of his bed, his eyes staring at the wall. The weight of everything that had happened in the past few days was starting to sink in. His fingers twitched as the raw power of his newly awakened affinities still buzzed beneath his skin—Blood, Time, and Space—dangerous, volatile forces that the academy would never allow to go unchecked.
Nathan paced the room, his brows furrowed in thought. The storm had begun brewing the moment they unlocked their forbidden arts. Nathan could feel it—a growing tension in the air, a sense of being watched. It was only a matter of time before the academy would come for them.
"It's over, isn't it?" Quinn's voice broke through Nathan's thoughts. "The academy knows. They're going to come after us."
Nathan nodded grimly. "They've been watching us ever since we got back from the dungeon." His hands clenched at his sides. "We're too dangerous now."
Quinn stood up slowly, his face pale. "We've got to leave, Nathan." His voice was quiet, but firm. The weight of the decision was clear in his eyes. "We can't stay here. Not anymore. They'll try to control us. Or worse… they'll lock us away."
Nathan looked out the window, his mind racing. The academy had been their only hope, their path to a better life. But now… now they were on the verge of becoming its enemies. With the forbidden arts awakened in both of them, the academy's leaders would see them as a threat—too dangerous to keep alive.
The silence in the room was broken by the sudden sound of hurried footsteps outside the door. Quinn's eyes widened. "They're here."
Nathan turned toward the door. They had no time left.
Without another word, he rushed to the window and yanked it open. The night air hit him like a cold slap, but he didn't hesitate. They couldn't afford to be caught. Not now.
"Quinn, we're leaving. Now." Nathan grabbed his friend by the arm, pulling him toward the window. They had to move fast—before the academy's guards, or worse, the Magisterium—the elite group that controlled the academy's most dangerous secrets—arrived.
"Are you ready?" Nathan asked, his voice steady, though a storm brewed in his chest. This was no longer just about survival. They had crossed a line.
Quinn nodded, his face set with determination. "I don't have much choice."
Together, they climbed through the window and dropped down into the shadows of the academy's courtyard below. The sound of voices and footsteps grew louder, and Nathan knew they had no time to lose.
They ran.
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In the Streets of Galtris
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The two friends weaved through the alleys, their footsteps muffled by the night air. The city of Galtris was alive with the quiet hum of nighttime, but to Nathan and Quinn, it felt as though the entire city was watching them, waiting for them to slip up.
"Where do we go now?" Quinn whispered as they ducked into another alleyway. The streetlights flickered ominously above, casting long shadows over their path.
Nathan glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting to see academy guards chasing them. But so far, they seemed to have avoided detection. The academy's reach was long, but so were the streets of Galtris. If they could get far enough away, they might have a chance to survive—at least for a while.
"We need to get out of the city." Nathan's voice was low, almost inaudible. "Head to the forest. There's a safehouse there."
Quinn's brows furrowed. "The forest? Nathan, are you sure?"
Nathan nodded. "There's no time to explain. Trust me."
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The Dark Path Ahead
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The night stretched on, and they ran through the streets until the familiar skyline of the academy faded into the distance. Their breath came in ragged gasps, and their legs burned from the strain of running. Nathan's mind raced, trying to plot their next move. The forest beyond the city would be their best bet—but there was no guarantee of safety. The academy's reach was vast, and their new powers made them too noticeable. They couldn't hide for long.
The Magisterium would stop at nothing to capture them—both for their forbidden arts and the potential danger they posed. Nathan felt his stomach churn at the thought of their cold, calculating faces. They had already seen too much. They wouldn't rest until Quinn and Nathan were brought back into the fold.
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After hours of running, they reached the forest's edge. The trees loomed ahead, casting long shadows in the moonlight. The scent of pine and damp earth filled their senses as they slipped into the cover of the dense woods.
"Do you think they'll follow us?" Quinn asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Nathan shook his head. "Not yet. But they will. And when they do, we'll be ready."
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The Truth of Their Powers
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As the forest swallowed them whole, Nathan couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The academy had trained them, yes—but it had also watched them. And now that they had unlocked the forbidden arts—lightning, space, blood, and time—they were no longer students. They were threats.
And the academy would hunt them.
Quinn sat down on a fallen log, looking weary but resolute. "I can feel it. The power, it's not just inside us." He paused, looking up at Nathan. "It's calling to us. Like it wants us to do something. But what?"
Nathan took a deep breath. His own lightning flickered at the edges of his fingertips as he concentrated. They weren't just running anymore. They were in control of their destinies. They had the power now, and it was only a matter of time before they figured out what to do with it.
But the academy wouldn't let them walk away. Nathan knew that.
"We'll figure it out. Together." Nathan said, a glint of determination in his eyes. "But for now, we survive."
And with that, the two of them disappeared deeper into the forest, knowing that their journey had only just begun.
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End of Chapter 12