The late afternoon sun poured golden rays across Black Haven, it lit up the empty corridors and towers.
Kael followed the instructor who had been assigned to show him to his dorm. The academy still felt foreign to him. He had spent so much of his life in decay and Blight that the luxury of his new surroundings was almost dreamlike.
He lost himself as they passed rows of fancy doors, each with a metal plaque with the occupant's name in fancy script.
Black Haven didn't spare any expense in reminding its students of their place in a world divided between Etherion and Blight. Kael wondered how many of them even knew what privilege meant.
"This is your dorm," the instructor said, stopping. He pointed to the door on their right. "Room 703. Everything you need is in there. Curfew is 10 p.m. sharp and noise complaints will result in penalties. Got it?"
Kael nodded.
"Good. Your roommate will be arriving later today. Try not to cause any trouble." And with that the instructor turned and walked down the hall, leaving Kael alone.
Kael pushed the door open and stepped inside. His new room was big. Bigger than anything he'd ever lived in. Two twin beds against opposite walls, each with a small desk and chair.
A shared wardrobe in the back and a door to the left that led to a bathroom. The walls were a dull gray and the shelves and lighting gave the room a nice, modern feel.
He dropped his bag on the bed by the window and let out a soft breath. The view was of one of the academy's courtyards, where a group of students were lounging on benches, laughing and chatting. Kael watched them for a moment, their freedom a contrast to his life.
"Luxury," he said under his breath, shaking his head.
He forced himself to focus and unpacked his meager belongings: academy issued uniforms, a few personal items and a worn journal he had found in the slums.
The journal was empty, its pages clean and blank. He didn't know why he had kept it but the idea of writing down his thoughts appealed to him.
Once everything was unpacked Kael allowed himself to look around the room. The desk drawers were empty except for a few standard issue items: a notebook, pens and a small crystal lamp that hummed for some reason, perhaps it too was imbued with Etherion.
He scowled at the lamp, its glow was almost taunting. Etherion felt foreign to him, its energy was unwelcoming.
Blight was different.
Kael closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He could feel it, even here, deep within him: a dark, pulsing energy that beat in time with his heart. It was his secret, his curse and maybe his greatest asset.
He sat on the bed, his hands on his knees. The memories of the A-rank Void Breach surfaced and with them the image of the weapon he had claimed—Ather'valis, the God-Killing Blade.
He hadn't summoned it since then, wasn't sure if he could. The blade felt like a part of him but it was bound by rules he didn't understand. But he had to try.
He closed his eyes and focused on the dark energy within him, letting it flow through his veins like blood made fire. He breathed slow, each exhale a piece of himself.
"Ather'valis," he said.
The room grew colder, the air thick with an oppressive weight. A soft, unnatural hum filled the space and a crackle of black and violet energy formed in his hand. Slowly the energy solidified and took the shape of a blade unlike any other.
Ather'valis was deadly beautiful.
The black steel of the blade seemed to suck in the light around it, its edge glinting sharp. The runes carved into the metal pulsed a faint purple glow and the hilt fit perfectly in Kael's hand as if it was made for him alone.
Kael looked at the blade, a mix of wonder and fear in his eyes. This blade had killed gods. It was a reminder of who he used to be and who he could be again.
He stood up and held the blade out in front of him. It felt weightless but its presence was certain, like a shadow over everything. He swung it cautiously, the motion smooth.
"It's been a while," he said, his voice barely audible.
The blade seemed to respond, the runes flashing before settling into a steady glow. Kael wasn't sure if it was alive but it certainly felt… conscious.
A knock at the door broke the silence. Kael jumped and the blade was gone in an instant as he released his hold on its energy.
The door creaked open and a boy stepped inside, dragging a suitcase behind him. He was tall and lanky with messy brown hair and a easy smile that didn't quite go past his mouth.
"What's up?" the boy said, his voice relaxed as he looked around the room. He dropped his suitcase by the other bed and flopped down on the mattress with a contented sigh.
Kael raised an eyebrow as he turned to him.
"You're my roommate?"
"Yup," the boy said, propping himself up on his elbows. "Name's Adrian. And you must be Kael, the dead-last ranker."
Kael's eyes narrowed but he kept his voice even. "And you must think i asked. You could have stopped talking at 'yup' "
Adrian laughed, unabashed. "Fair enough. But hey, don't take it personally. Everyone starts somewhere, right?"
"Shut up and unpack buddy..." Kael turned away.
"Ha, I have a feeling we'll get along well" Adrian smiled.