Chapter 5: Revelations in the Dark
The safe house felt even smaller as the hours dragged into the night. Shadows danced across the walls, cast by the flickering flame of a single lantern perched on the table where Selene worked. Aeryn sat on her cot, pretending to be asleep but unable to keep her mind still. The weight of their earlier conversation lingered, pressing against her chest like a heavy stone.
Selene had apologized. That alone was unsettling. But it wasn't just the apology; it was the way Selene had looked at her, as if she saw something beneath the scars and mistrust. Aeryn couldn't decide if that terrified her or made her want to believe in something she'd long since given up on.
The quiet scratch of Selene's pen pulled Aeryn from her thoughts. She opened her eyes a fraction, just enough to see the noblewoman's silhouette hunched over the table, her hair spilling over her shoulders like liquid midnight. Selene's focus was unyielding, her movements precise. Aeryn wondered what kind of life could create someone so sharp, so disciplined—and so cold.
The pendant beneath her shirt pulsed faintly, as if sensing her unease. It had been doing that more often, reacting to her emotions like a second heartbeat. She'd tried to ignore it, but the warmth was impossible to overlook. Tonight, it felt stronger, more insistent.
Unable to stand the silence any longer, Aeryn swung her legs off the cot and sat up. The creak of the old wood made Selene glance up, her expression unreadable in the dim light.
"Can't sleep?" Selene asked, her tone devoid of judgment.
"Not really," Aeryn admitted. She hesitated, then added, "What are you working on?"
Selene's lips twitched into something resembling a smile. "Strategy. Contingencies. The usual."
Aeryn stood and crossed the room, stopping a few paces from the table. The maps and papers were a chaotic sprawl of lines and symbols she didn't recognize. "Looks complicated."
"It is," Selene said simply. She set down her pen and leaned back, studying Aeryn with those piercing eyes. "You're curious about me."
The statement caught Aeryn off guard. "What? No, I—"
"It's fine," Selene interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. "I'd be curious too, in your position."
Aeryn crossed her arms, unsure whether to feel insulted or intrigued. "Fine. What's your deal, then? Why are you here? Why do you care so much about me?"
Selene's expression shifted, her mask of composure cracking just enough for something vulnerable to show through. She looked away, her fingers tracing the edge of the map before her. "Because I see potential in you," she said finally. "You're stronger than you think, Aeryn. And whether you believe it or not, you matter."
Aeryn snorted. "That's vague. And not an answer."
Selene's eyes snapped back to hers, and for a moment, Aeryn regretted her words. But instead of snapping, Selene sighed and motioned for her to sit. Reluctantly, Aeryn pulled up a rickety chair and did so.
"I was raised to believe that power defines worth," Selene began, her voice quieter now. "My family—my entire world—was built on that principle. You either had power, or you didn't. And if you didn't, you became a pawn for those who did."
Aeryn listened, her skepticism warring with a growing sense of understanding. She knew what it was like to be a pawn.
"But power doesn't have to mean control," Selene continued, her gaze distant. "It can mean freedom. It can mean change. That's why I'm here. Why I care. Because I've seen what happens when power is left in the hands of the wrong people. And I've seen what happens when the right people don't realize their own strength."
The pendant's pulse grew stronger, as if responding to Selene's words. Aeryn's fingers brushed against it, seeking reassurance in its warmth. She wanted to believe Selene, to trust that her intentions were genuine. But the scars of her past refused to let go so easily.
"And what if you're wrong about me?" Aeryn asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if I'm not as strong as you think?"
Selene's lips curved into a faint smile. "Then we'll find out together."
The words lingered in the air, heavy with promise and uncertainty. Aeryn looked away, her thoughts a whirlwind of doubt and hope. She didn't trust Selene—not yet. But for the first time, she felt the faintest flicker of something she hadn't allowed herself to feel in years.
Possibility.
The night wore on, the silence between them less oppressive now. Aeryn returned to her cot, lying awake and staring at the ceiling as Selene resumed her work. The pendant's warmth lulled her into a restless sleep, her dreams filled with fire and shadows.
Morning arrived with a sharp knock on the safe house door. Selene answered, revealing a courier dressed in the blue-and-silver livery of the Celestial Academy. He handed her a sealed envelope and left without a word.
"What is it?" Aeryn asked, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.
Selene broke the seal and scanned the contents, her brow furrowing. "It's an official summons. For both of us."
"To where?"
"The Celestial Academy," Selene replied. "It's the most prestigious magical institution in the kingdom. And apparently, we've both been admitted."
Aeryn blinked. "Admitted? Why would they want me?"
Selene folded the letter and tucked it into her pocket. "I have my suspicions, but we'll find out soon enough. Pack your things. We leave in an hour."
The journey to the Academy was uneventful, but Aeryn couldn't shake her unease. The Academy loomed in the distance, its spires piercing the clouds like jagged teeth. As they approached, the grandeur of the place became overwhelming—polished marble, intricate carvings, and an air of superiority that clung to every stone.
Inside, the halls were filled with students in fine robes, their gazes sharp and judgmental. Whispers followed Aeryn and Selene as they were led to the Headmistress's office. Aeryn felt painfully out of place, her simple clothes and unpolished demeanor a stark contrast to the opulence around her.
Headmistress Elira, a woman of imposing stature and piercing eyes, greeted them with a tight smile. "Welcome to the Celestial Academy. You've been granted a rare opportunity, one that I suggest you do not squander."
Her gaze lingered on Aeryn, and for a moment, Aeryn felt as though the woman could see straight through her. "Your rankings will be determined after your initial assessments. Until then, you will be treated as equals, though I doubt that will last long."
Selene inclined her head respectfully. Aeryn remained silent, her mind racing. Rankings. Status. She could already see the disdain in the eyes of the other students, the way they measured her against their own inflated self-worth.
As they left the office, Selene placed a hand on Aeryn's shoulder. "Don't let them intimidate you. They don't know what you're capable of."
Aeryn shrugged her off. "You keep saying that, but I don't even know what I'm capable of."
"Then it's time to find out," Selene said firmly. "We'll face this together."
Their first day was grueling. Classes covered everything from elemental theory to combat training, and the instructors wasted no time separating the promising from the mediocre. Aeryn struggled to keep up, her lack of formal training painfully obvious. But the pendant's warmth never left her, a constant reminder of the power she was beginning to understand.
In the solitude of her dormitory that evening, Aeryn sat cross-legged on the floor, the pendant resting in her palm. She closed her eyes and focused, willing the warmth to grow. Slowly, she felt it respond, a gentle pulse that became a steady thrum. Fire flickered to life in her hand, small and fragile but undeniably real.
The door creaked open, and Aeryn scrambled to extinguish the flame. Selene stepped inside, her gaze sharp as it landed on the pendant.
"So, it's true," Selene said softly. "You really are a hidden gem."
Aeryn's heart raced. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Selene crossed the room and knelt beside her. "Don't play coy. I've seen enough to know potential when I see it. But you need to be careful. Power like that will draw attention—both the good and the bad."
Aeryn looked away, unsure how to respond. Selene's expression softened, but her tone remained firm. "I'm here to help you, Aeryn. Whether you believe that or not."
As Selene stood and left the room, Aeryn clenched the pendant tightly. The flame had been small, but it was a start. And for the first time, she began to wonder if Selene was right.
The Academy's world was one of competition and ambition, but amidst the chaos, Aeryn took her first steps toward understanding her power. And as Selene watched from the shadows, her resolve only deepened.
Aeryn was worth the risk.