Elijah's eyes lingered on the Pile Academy poster, the spark within him growing brighter. Could this be his chance to change?
The poster was informing the general public about the resumption of a new term and an assessment of some sorts would take place to determine if a vampire was fit for the academy.
All vampire parents, want their kids to attend the academy because it was a really prestigious academy. Even Elijah would have been enrolled in the academy this year if his father were still alive.
Pile academy was an academy for young vampires to train in order to become strong warriors in combat and they would learn how to control their vampiric powers to become deadly.
But looking at the poster, Elijah was worried if he would even be allowed to enter the gate not to talk of enrolling into the academy.
'I might have luck actually. Considering who my parents were.' Elijah sighed and then he heard the toll bell again.
Elijah quickly walked away from the alley, then his thoughts drifted back to his parents. Aurélien and Eliane Valois – their memories haunted him still.
He recalled his father's strong presence, the way he'd smile when teaching Elijah about vampire history. His mother's gentle touch, the way she'd soothe his fears.
Elijah's footsteps slowed, his heart heavy. He couldn't shake the feeling that he'd failed them.
The city's bells tolled, signaling the late hour. Elijah quickened his pace, knowing he had to find shelter before dawn.
After a few minutes of quick and painful walking, Elijah finally got to his apartment.
He arrived at his small apartment, a modest dwelling in the outskirts of Tenebrous. The rooms were sparse, but clean.
Elijah collapsed onto his tattered bed, exhaustion claiming him. Sleep, however, eluded him as the memories of the past haunted him.
Memories of his parents' murder flooded his mind. The screams, the blood, the desperation.
Elijah's eyes snapped open, his heart racing. He couldn't keep living like this. Living in fear and in poverty, something needs to change soon.
Determined, Elijah rose and approached the small mirror that had cracks on it hanging on his wall. His reflection stared back – gaunt, haunted.
"I will change," Elijah vowed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I will become strong. Strong enough to avenge my parents, strong enough to defend myself against bullies like Viktor."
The resolve ignited within him, Elijah began to pace his room, planning his next move.
"Pile Academy, this academy is said to be a tough and competitive one." Elijah said.
He'd heard rumors of its rigorous training, its esteemed instructors. If he could join, perhaps he could learn to defend himself, to avenge his parents.
But what about Viktor? Would he dare to confront Elijah again?
Elijah's fangs bared in a snarl. This time, he wouldn't back down.
The first dim light of dawn crept into the sky, casting a pale glow over Tenebrous. Elijah's eyes locked onto the Pile Academy poster, now crumpled on his floor.
With newfound determination, Elijah stood, his eyes burning with purpose.
Today marked the beginning of his transformation.
Elijah slowly made his way to the academy as he wore his best clothes that was less tattered like the rest of his outfits. As he made his way to the academy, walking on the streets of tenebrous, all the vampires threw a glance at him while some people were pointing their fingers at him.
"Isn't that the heir of the Valois?"
"Yes, he is the one."
"Where had he been all this while?"
"Who knows. We even thought he had died or ran away like he did when his parents were getting murdered."
Elijah was hearing every comments about him as he kept his head down with his fist clenched and still kept on walking towards the academy.
Vampires had advanced hearing, so Elijah could easily hear all the conversations about him from afar even though some of them were whispering.
The reason for the people's surprise was that Elijah hadn't been seen around at all because in the early hours of the day, He always quickly make his way out of his modest house for his meanial job.
Then he always came back at late night so no one would sight him. But for some reason, Viktor always knew how to find and torture him for one reason or the other.
Finally, after a few minutes of brisk walking, Elijah found his way in front of the academy that towered hugely in front of him with a huge metallic black gate in front of him.
Elijah was awed at the size of the academy. Then Elijah managed to rummage through his pants and pulled out some coins from his pocket.
"This is the amount I managed to save up. It would have been more than this but if it wasn't because of Viktor and his gang." Elijah said as he clenched his hand.
Then Elijah tapped the gate lightly then it slowly opened up to reveal lots of people standing there either chatting or just standing around.
Walking in, Elijah could see so many young vampires in front of him. No doubt waiting for the assessment to start. Looking at them all, Elijah could see that all of them were well dressed than he was.
While some of them stood there with confident and strong postures looking straight ahead as if they knew that they would pass the assessment.
Elijah was now worried as he didn't know what the assessment was going to be about and whether he would even pass it and gain entry into the academy.
But his thoughts was interrupted by a loud voice.
"What is a beggar like you looking for here? Who allowed you in?" A young vampire was seen heading towards Elijah.
"Beggar?" Elijah asked pointing to himself as he was shaking furiously.
"Yes you." The vampire that was now in front of Elijah said. "This is the prestigious pile academy, no beggars allowed."
"How dare you call me a beggar!" Elijah shouted as he threw his fist at the vampire but the vampire had easily avoided it.
The commotion attracted everybody's attention as they were now looking at what would happen next.
"How dare you try to strike me!" Elijah heard a voice coming fro
m his side and he quickly turned around but his face was met with a foot that sent him flying.