The night at the academy was quiet, but Arin's mind was anything but. He returned to his small room after a long day of observations and surveillance. The room barely fit a worn wooden bed and a dilapidated desk with a few papers and a book on the history of the races. The only round window in the room overlooked the academy courtyard, where ancient statues stood as a testament to the races' victory over humans.
Arin sat on the edge of the bed, placing his ancient sword beside him. The moonlight glinted off the sword's edges, making it seem as though it pulsed with life with every touch. He reached for the hilt and whispered softly:
"How many secrets do you hide from me?"
The place was cold, and the gray stone walls gave a sense of isolation, but Arin didn't mind. He had grown accustomed to solitude and had learned to sleep with caution, his hand always near his sword, as if expecting an attack at any moment.
His thoughts that night were scattered:
"Will they notice the truth about me? Will I be able to face the entire world?"
Despite these heavy thoughts, he closed his eyes, ready for the next day.
The next morning, the students gathered in the central courtyard where the first training session would begin. The instructor, Irsond the gentle, oversaw the groups and spoke in a commanding voice:
"Today, you will face opponents from different races. Learn their weaknesses, as they will learn yours."
The students were split into pairs, but Arin was the only one who had no partner.
The instructor looked at him with disdain:
"It seems no one wants to duel with the strange orphan. Fine, we'll pair you with a training creature."
The instructor struck his staff on the ground, and a shadow wolf appeared, a massive dark creature with glowing red eyes. The shadow wolf was known for its ability to sense fear and strike with lightning speed.
Arin walked steadily toward the wolf. Some students whispered:
"He's as good as dead."
"Even trained warriors have difficulty with the shadow wolf."
But Arin was not like any other student. When the wolf charged, Arin moved with incredible speed and agility. He raised his sword, and in an instant, the wolf was split in half.
Silence fell, and everyone's eyes widened in shock. Even the instructor looked at him with unexpected astonishment.
"Where did you learn this technique?" the instructor asked.
Arin smiled faintly and replied:
"When you're alone, you have to learn to survive."
But the instructor was not satisfied. He raised his magic staff and summoned a large magical circle. Suddenly, a massive ice serpent appeared, coiling around itself as its icy breath froze the air around it.
The instructor said:
"Let's see if you can survive this, orphan."
Arin stared at the massive creature and tightened his grip on his sword. But he didn't attack immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes, as if calling something within himself. The sword began to glow brighter, and the air around him grew charged with energy.
He opened his eyes and spoke calmly:
"You said humans are weak, didn't you? Let me show you real power."
Arin charged toward the serpent faster than anyone expected. The sword shone with ancient energy, and a single strike split the serpent into pieces. When it was all over, there was nothing left but Arin standing, his glowing sword in hand.
One of the students whispered:
"What is this? This can't just be an orphan... who is this boy?"
That night, Arin returned to his room, exhausted but filled with determination. He sat by his round window, gazing out at the dark courtyard, and whispered to himself:
"Every step brings me closer to the real return."