The classroom was dimly lit, the air heavy with the scent of ink and parchment. Students sat at their desks, shifting impatiently as the lecture room buzzed with quiet conversation.
Ronan sat near the back, his eyes fixed on the large blackboard at the front of the room.
The academy's head instructor, Professor Lyne, a stern woman with sharp eyes and an even sharper mind, stood at the center of the room, waiting for the chatter to die down.
Ronan glanced around. Most of the students seemed relaxed, confident even. He could hear snippets of conversations: some were discussing training strategies, others were already speculating about the upcoming Fable.
Ronan hadn't heard of the Fables before coming to the academy, but from what he gathered, they were another reality—strange, shifting worlds with rules and stories of their own. The only thing that was clear was that they were important.
And if you made a name for yourself in one, you could evolve. You could upgrade your abilities.
The class finally quieted, and Professor Lyne's voice rang out, calm and commanding.
"Good morning, class," she began, her tone leaving little room for nonsense.
"Today's lecture will be about the Fables. I'm sure most of you have heard about them. But in case you haven't, let me make one thing clear—this is not an opportunity you can afford to take lightly."
The professor turned to the blackboard, where an image appeared—a swirling, multi-colored vortex surrounded by symbols and ancient runes.
"A Fable is not a training exercise," she continued.
"It's a parallel world with a narrative of its own. When you enter a Fable, you become part of its story. The rules are different. The timeline is different. The stakes are often far higher than you could imagine. It is a place where you can forge your own destiny, but also a place where failure can cost you more than just pride."
Ronan leaned forward, listening intently. This was the first time he'd been given any real details about the Fables. His mind raced with possibilities.
A chance to upgrade his ability? To make himself stronger? That was the one thing he needed more than anything.
Professor Lyne paused, letting the weight of her words settle into the room.
"When you enter the Fable, you will be given an objective. A role to play in its story. To advance, you must contribute to the narrative—either by completing tasks or by making a mark on the world. This is where your abilities will truly be tested. The stronger your impact on the Fable, the more you will be rewarded."
Ronan's heart raced. He could barely contain the excitement building up in his chest.
He was used to being overshadowed by others with more powerful abilities, but in the Fable, he could make a name for himself. He could prove that his ability—[Whisper]—had a purpose, a place where it could be useful in ways no one expected.
But there was a catch.
"As you may have heard," Professor Lyne continued.
"This opportunity doesn't come without risk. The Fables can be dangerous. The storylines are unpredictable, and while you can earn strength, you can also lose it. Your progress in the Fable depends on the choices you make, on the impact you have within the story. If you fail to make a name for yourself, your abilities may remain stagnant."
Ronan's stomach tightened. The idea of his abilities staying stuck, unable to evolve, was a real fear. He could already feel the doubt creeping back in. [Whisper] was weak, after all.
If he couldn't make a mark in a Fable, would it ever be worth anything?
The professor's eyes scanned the room, catching his gaze for a moment. She continued.
"The Fables are not just about battles or glory. They are about the narrative, about what you do to shape the world you're in. Do not expect everything to be handed to you. You must work for it. And above all, you must learn to make the right choices."
She paused, allowing the students to process what she had said.
"For some of you," Professor Lyne said, her voice lowering.
"This will be the moment that separates you from the rest. If you succeed in the Fable and make your mark, you will not only gain new abilities but also advance in ways that cannot be replicated in the real world. You may evolve beyond what you once thought possible."
The room was silent now. Ronan could feel the weight of the words. He wasn't the only one with dreams of greatness. The other students had abilities far beyond his own. Some had already been preparing for this moment, no doubt.
They were the ones who stood out in the trials, who made the biggest impact in their training. But if [Whisper] could work in the right way, if it could help him create openings in the story of the Fable… maybe he, too, could make a name for himself.
Professor Lyne turned to the class again, her voice firm.
"There is one student here, who has already experienced the Fable firsthand. Someone who can speak from experience. Alexan, would you care to share?"
A soft murmur spread through the class as Alexan, sitting near the front, straightened in his chair. Ronan felt a flicker of tension.
He hadn't spoken much to Alexan, but he knew that the older student was widely regarded as one of the most talented—one of the top fighters in the academy.
His [Paladin's Armor] ability was legendary. It was a nearly impenetrable defense, capable of nullifying most attacks, and Alexan had become a figure of awe for many students.
Alexan stood, his posture relaxed but commanding. His presence alone seemed to fill the room, drawing everyone's attention. With a nod to Professor Lyne, he spoke, his voice smooth but matter-of-fact.
"The Fable I entered wasn't like anything I'd ever experienced. It was a world where everything seemed to shift with every step. The story was fluid—constantly changing, and it wasn't something you could just fight your way through. In the Fable, I wasn't just facing monsters or enemies. I was facing a shifting narrative, one that could turn against me if I didn't pay attention."
The students hung on his every word. Even Ronan, who felt the pang of his own insecurities rise, couldn't help but listen.
"During my time there," Alexan continued.
"I was given a choice: fight a battle I couldn't win or make a deal with a figure who promised me something much more powerful. It was a gamble. In the end, I chose the deal. And that's how I evolved my ability—my [Armor] became [Paladin's Armor]. The story rewarded me for making a bold decision. It wasn't just about the battles or the people I fought. It was about shaping my own narrative, about making the right choices when it mattered most."
Alexan paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, locking eyes with a few students, including Ronan.
"It wasn't easy. I didn't win every fight. But I learned that in a Fable, your ability to adapt is just as important as raw power. It's about knowing when to act and when to hold back. When to trust yourself."
He gave a small smile, the first real one Ronan had ever seen from him. Then he sat back down.
Ronan felt a surge of something unfamiliar. Hope, maybe. If Alexan, with his sheer strength and power, could evolve in the Fable, then maybe—just maybe—there was hope for him too.
His ability wasn't the most flashy. It wasn't the most impressive. But maybe the Fable was where he could make it something more.
Professor Lyne nodded at Alexan, then turned back to the class. "Thank you, Alexan. Your experience is a valuable lesson for all of us. Remember, the Fable doesn't care about your starting point. It cares about your story. What will you do with the chance you're given?"
The bell rang, signaling the end of the lecture. Ronan sat there, staring at the empty space where Alexan had been. The Fable.
A world where he could shape his own destiny. He didn't know exactly how, but he felt it in his chest—he couldn't afford to fail.