The room was dimly lit, with only the faint light of the moon seeping through the windows. Dorian lay sprawled on his bed, his eyes half-closed but mind still wide awake. He'd just returned from retrieving his forgotten items at the training grounds and could still feel the lingering strangeness of his encounter with Elena. Something about her had unsettled him, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.
He glanced over at Caelan, who was sitting on the edge of his own bed, staring out of the window. Caelan seemed lost in thought, his eyes distant as if he were seeing something far beyond the academy grounds. Aldric, was at his desk, polishing his sword, though his movements were slower than usual, his mind clearly preoccupied.
The silence in the room was thick, not uncomfortable, but filled with the weight of the day's events. It had been a long day for all of them, filled with new faces, unexpected encounters, and moments of realization.
Dorian exhaled deeply, shifting his position to lie flat on his back, his hands folded behind his head. His thoughts drifted back to Elena, the quiet girl he'd met earlier. She had said so little, yet there was something about her presence that felt... heavy, almost like a burden she was carrying but chose not to share.
She's different, he thought. Not like the others. And what did she mean by waiting for the right time?
His mind replayed their brief conversation, and he found himself curious, wanting to know more about her. She seemed to be hiding something, but what that was, he couldn't begin to guess.
Across the room, Caelan's thoughts were elsewhere. He was replaying the sparring match from earlier in the day, specifically Seraphine's effortless swordplay. Her fluid movements, her control, the way she disarmed her opponent with such ease—it had captivated him. She was a mystery too, but in a different way. Seraphine didn't hide anything, at least not on the surface. She was confident, poised, and strong. Everything about her seemed intentional, like she knew exactly what she wanted and how to achieve it.
I wonder what drives her, Caelan mused. She's clearly skilled, but there's something more. What is it?
Meanwhile, Aldric's mind wasn't on Seraphine or Elena. Instead, his thoughts wandered back to the library and to Lysandra Elowen, the girl who had helped them find their books. Her sharp intelligence had been evident from the moment she spoke, and he had been intrigued by the casual confidence with which she handled their questions. It was rare to meet someone so young with such a clear sense of purpose, and it had left an impression on him.
She's a researcher, too. And a student, Aldric thought, his hands pausing in their work. She mentioned studying ancient artifacts. I wonder how much she knows... or how much she's already uncovered.
The night grew quieter, the sounds of the academy fading into the background as the three friends, lost in their own thoughts, slowly drifted to sleep. Each of them, in their own way, replaying the encounters of the day and wondering what the future might hold for them.
The next day arrived with the sound of the morning bell ringing through the academy grounds. Dorian and Aldric had no classes scheduled for the morning, and they were more than happy to stay behind, relaxing in their dorm. Caelan, however, had a seminar to attend, so he left early, making his way across the campus.
The lecture hall was already buzzing with activity by the time Caelan arrived. Students were filing in, talking amongst themselves as they found their seats. Caelan scanned the room, noticing that it was nearly full, with only a few open spots remaining. He sighed, realizing he wouldn't have much choice in where to sit today.
After a moment of searching, he found a seat near the middle of the room. He sat down, pulled out his tablet and notes, and waited for the seminar to begin. The professor, an elderly man with spectacles perched on the tip of his nose, was setting up at the front of the room.
A few minutes passed before the door at the back of the hall opened again, and in walked Seraphine. Caelan noticed her immediately. Her black hair was tied back in its usual braid, and she moved with the same confident grace that had captivated him the day before.
Seraphine scanned the room, her eyes searching for an available seat. To Caelan's mild surprise, she began walking toward him. As she approached, it became clear that the only available seat near him was the one directly next to him.
Without hesitation, Seraphine sat down beside him. She glanced at Caelan, offering him a small nod of acknowledgment before pulling out her own materials for the class.
"Seems like there aren't many seats left," Seraphine said casually, her voice soft but firm.
Caelan nodded; a bit unsure how to start a conversation. He cleared his throat. "Yeah, this class fills up fast. Popular seminar, I guess."
Seraphine smirked slightly, her eyes flicking to the front of the room. "I don't think it's the topic. I think it's the professor. He's known to be one of the best historians in the kingdom."
Caelan glanced at her, surprised by how much she already knew. "You seem to know a lot about the academy."
"I like to be prepared," Seraphine replied, shrugging lightly. "Knowing who you're learning from is half the battle."
He couldn't argue with that logic. "Fair enough. What made you decide to take this seminar? You don't seem like the type who'd be interested in history."
Seraphine tilted her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I wouldn't underestimate the value of knowing the past, Caelan. History has a way of repeating itself. Better to learn from it before it catches you off guard."
Her words struck a chord with Caelan. There was something about the way she spoke that suggested she'd seen more of the world than most people their age.
Before he could ask more, the professor began the seminar, launching into a discussion about ancient civilizations and the lost technologies that had been sealed away in the ruins scattered across the continent. Caelan found the topic fascinating, though he couldn't help but steal glances at Seraphine throughout the lecture. Her focus was intense, and he could tell that she was absorbing every word the professor said.
By the time the seminar ended, Caelan felt like he had learned more in an hour than he had in the entire previous week. As they gathered their things, Seraphine stood and glanced at him.
"You handled yourself well in the sparring match yesterday," she said, surprising him again. "I'll be keeping an eye on you."
Caelan blinked, taken aback. "You too. You were... impressive."
Seraphine gave him a brief, enigmatic smile before turning and walking out of the room. Caelan watched her go, feeling both intrigued and challenged by her presence.
While Caelan was attending his seminar, Aldric had decided to explore the academy grounds. With no classes that morning, he found himself wandering aimlessly, until he happened upon a familiar face in one of the quiet courtyards.
Lysandra Elowen stood beneath a large oak tree; a stack of books balanced in her arms. She was engrossed in a small notebook, scribbling notes furiously as she leaned against the tree trunk. The scene struck Aldric as oddly peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos of the previous day.
"Doing some more research?" Aldric called out as he approached.
Lysandra looked up from her notebook, her eyes brightening when she saw him. "Ah, Aldric. Yes, always. There's so much to uncover, and so little time." She gestured to the books in her arms. "I'm trying to cross-reference some ancient texts for my latest project."
Aldric raised an eyebrow. "Ancient texts? Sounds fascinating. What exactly are you researching?"
Lysandra's eyes lit up with excitement as she launched into an explanation. "I'm studying ancient artifacts and their connection to the lost technologies from before the Great War. There's so much we don't know, so many mysteries hidden in the ruins and tombs across the continent. I'm hoping to find some clues that will lead to a better understanding of how those technologies worked—and why they were locked away."
Aldric listened intently, impressed by her passion. "You're not worried about what you might uncover? Some of those technologies were sealed for a reason."
Lysandra smiled softly, though there was a hint of determination in her eyes. "I believe knowledge is power, Aldric. We can't afford to live in ignorance just because something is dangerous. If we understand it, we can control it. Or at the very least, be prepared for it."
Her words reminded Aldric of something his father had once said about combat—how knowing your enemy was half the battle. It seemed the same could be said for knowledge.
Over the course of the next few weeks, Caelan, Dorian, Aldric, Seraphine, Lysandra, and Elena all began to cross paths more frequently. Whether it was during classes, training sessions, or chance encounters in the library, the six of them gradually grew closer. There was a natural chemistry between them, a sense of shared purpose even though they all came from different backgrounds and held different goals.
It wasn't long before the opportunity for an expedition arose. The academy frequently sponsored student-led explorations into nearby ruins, allowing young researchers and knights-in-training to gain practical experience. When the call for volunteers was announced, it was only natural that the six of them would form a team.
The ruins they were tasked with exploring weren't far from the academy, but they were old—dating back to the early days after the Great War. No one knew exactly what lay within the ruins, only that they were believed to hold some remnants of the lost civilization.
As the six of them prepared for their first joint expedition, there was a sense of anticipation in the air. This was more than just a school project—it was the beginning of something much larger, something that would test their skills, their courage, and the bonds they had only just begun to form.