He grabbed his uniform, quickly dressing for the day ahead. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was changing—something big. Between the strange encounter with Celeste and his tense moments with Amelia, things were getting complicated.
As he walked through the halls of the academy, Ethan noticed people whispering about him again. The Luminary, the boy chosen to lead, was already becoming the talk of the academy. Some students admired him, while others seemed jealous or wary. It was hard to ignore the stares, but he tried his best.
When he entered the cafeteria for breakfast, he spotted Lila sitting at their usual table. She waved at him with a grin.
"You look like you've been run over by a cart," she joked, noticing his tired face. "Did Celeste keep you up all night?"
Ethan sat down with a groan. "You could say that. She's a lot to handle."
Lila raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"
Ethan hesitated. He didn't know how much to tell her about his talk with Celeste. She'd been serious, almost too serious, and that only made him more curious about her intentions.
"I'm just trying to figure her out," he said finally, pushing his food around his plate. "There's something off about her. She keeps talking like there's a bigger picture I'm supposed to see."
Lila's smile faded, and she looked at him with a more serious expression. "Be careful with her, Ethan. She's not like the others. She has her own plans, and you might be part of them whether you want to be or not."
Before Ethan could respond, a voice cut through the conversation.
"Well, well. The Luminary and his little group." It was Amelia, standing at the edge of the table, arms crossed. Her icy demeanor was as sharp as ever.
Ethan looked up, not sure what to say. He had spent enough time with Lila already, but Amelia always seemed to be watching, always looking for something.
"What do you want, Amelia?" Lila asked, her tone light but tinged with annoyance.
Amelia's gaze shifted from Lila to Ethan. "I just wanted to remind you that we have another class today. Combat session. Don't forget."
"I won't," Ethan said, already standing up. He didn't want to deal with any more tension between them, especially not in the middle of the cafeteria.
Amelia didn't say anything else as she turned and walked away, her cold presence still lingering even as she disappeared into the crowd.
Ethan let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "What's her problem?"
Lila laughed softly. "She's always like that. Don't let her get to you. You have enough to worry about."
"..."
"..."
By the time Ethan entered the combat training hall, he felt the familiar pressure return. The room was filled with students, and Professor Greystone was at the center, preparing for another intense lesson.
"Alright, everyone, gather around!" Greystone's booming voice echoed off the walls.
Ethan joined the group, his stomach still uneasy from the tension earlier. He had no idea what to expect this time, but it wasn't going to be any easier than last time.
Greystone's eyes scanned the group before landing on Ethan. "Valmont. Ready to show us some real progress today?"
Ethan nodded, trying to ignore the nerves building up. He had to prove something today—not just to Greystone, but to himself.
"I'm ready," he said, his voice firm, though he still felt the weight of the academy's expectations on his shoulders.
Greystone gave him a sharp look, then pointed to a training dummy in the center of the room. "Let's see what you've got."
Ethan took a deep breath and walked forward, grabbing the sword from the stand beside him. The weapon was heavier than he expected, but he quickly found his balance. With one swift movement, he sliced through the air, hitting the target dummy with precision.
The students watching him seemed impressed, and even Greystone gave him a nod of approval.
"Not bad," Greystone said. "But you're still holding back."
Ethan frowned, feeling frustrated. "What do you mean?"
Greystone crossed his arms, studying him. "You have the potential, but you're too cautious. In combat, hesitation can be fatal. Trust yourself."
Ethan took those words to heart. He swung again, this time with more confidence, and felt the blade cut through the air with more ease.
"Better," Greystone said with a smile. "But don't stop now. Keep pushing yourself."
After the class ended, Ethan made his way back to the dorms, his muscles aching but his mind sharper than before. He was starting to understand what Greystone meant about trusting himself, but there was still a long way to go.
As he walked through the hallway, he spotted Celeste standing near the stairs, her purple eyes glowing in the dim light. She seemed to be waiting for him.
"Ethan," she said softly, her voice low and almost secretive. "We need to talk."
He stopped, feeling a twinge of unease. "About what?"
Celeste glanced around, making sure no one else was nearby before stepping closer. "About you, and what you're really meant to do here."
Ethan felt his heart race. "I don't understand."
"You will soon enough," she said cryptically, her smile both comforting and unsettling. "But for now, trust me. There's a bigger purpose for you at this academy. And it's not just about combat or leadership. You have a role to play—one that will change everything."
Ethan swallowed, his throat dry. "What do you want me to do?"
Celeste's smile widened, though it was filled with mystery. "All in good time, Ethan. All in good time."
As she turned and walked away, Ethan was left standing there, unsure of what was coming next.