The moonlight filtered through the stained glass of the academy's towering spires, casting fractured beams of light across the marble halls. The memories of betrayal replayed in my mind like a haunting symphony; each faces more damning than the last. Seraphine, her sweet smile a mask for her treachery. Thalen, silent when he could've warned me. Lysandra, who had once sworn loyalty, was now a shadow of the ally I thought I knew. Their laughter echoed in the dark corners of my thoughts, mingling with the mocking voices of the demigods who thought me dead. But I wasn't dead—not yet. And they'd regret underestimating me.
"This place reeks of mediocrity," I muttered under my breath as I stalked through the empty corridors of the academy. The body I now inhabited—Aiden Thorne—was the son of a duke, but he was nothing more than a laughingstock in this so-called elite institution. Pathetic, but his weakness served me well. No one suspected the truth about who I was. Let them laugh while they still could.
"Lord Aiden?" A hesitant voice pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see Eliot, the boy assigned as my attendant. His wide, nervous eyes darted from my face to the floor, as if afraid to meet my gaze for too long. "I—I brought the books you requested from the restricted section."
"Good," I said curtly, taking the dusty tomes from his trembling hands. "Leave me. And next time, don't skulk around like a frightened mouse. It's irritating."
"Yes, my lord!" Eliot stammered before scurrying away.
I sighed, shaking my head as I opened the first book. A boy like Eliot would never survive in the world I'd come from. Not that it mattered. I had no use for weaklings anymore—not after what happened. The only allies worth keeping were those who wouldn't hesitate to kill for you… or die for you.
Hours passed as I pored over the ancient texts. The pages spoke of forgotten spells and relics of immense power, one of which was hidden within the academy itself. The Nexus Orb—a crystalline artifact capable of amplifying a mage's power tenfold. It had been sealed away in the catacombs beneath the academy, locked behind wards that even the most skilled Archmages struggled to breach. But for me, it was a mere inconvenience. I would have it.
"Still awake, Lord Aiden?" The familiar, lilting voice of Lysandra broke the silence. She stood at the entrance of the library, her green eyes glittering with curiosity—and suspicion.
I didn't bother looking up. "Is there a reason you're here, Lysandra? Or have you taken up lurking in the shadows for fun?"
She chuckled, the sound grating on my nerves. "It's just surprising, that's all. The Aiden Thorne I knew avoided books like the plague. Now you're holed up in the library, devouring ancient texts like a scholar. People are starting to talk."
"Let them talk," I said flatly, turning a page. "Perhaps they'll learn something worthwhile for once."
Her smile faltered for a moment before she masked it with a shrug. "Just don't forget, knowledge comes at a price. I'd hate to see you bite off more than you can chew."
She left before I could respond, her parting words hanging in the air like a veiled threat. A part of me wanted to confront her, to demand answers for her betrayal, but I forced myself to stay calm. There would be a time for vengeance, but it wasn't now.
By dawn, I had everything I needed. The texts had revealed the location of the Nexus Orb and the spells required to bypass the wards guarding it. As the first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon, I made my way to the academy's catacombs. The entrance was hidden behind a tapestry in one of the lesser-used halls, and as I stepped into the cold, damp tunnel, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of anticipation.
The wards were impressive—layers of enchantments designed to deter even the most skilled mages. But they weren't designed for someone like me. As I channeled my power into the first barrier, I felt it resist, pulsing against me like a living thing.
"You think this will stop me?" I muttered, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. "Pathetic."
With a sharp twist of my wrist, I unleashed a surge of magic that shattered the barrier like glass. The energy dissipated with a low hum, leaving the path ahead clear. One by one, I dismantled the wards, each one falling faster than the last.
Finally, I reached the heart of the catacombs—a small chamber carved from black stone. In the center stood a pedestal, and atop it rested the Nexus Orb. The artifact shimmered with an ethereal light, its surface swirling with colors that seemed to shift and dance like a living thing.
As I reached out to claim it, the power within the orb surged toward me, wrapping around my hand like a welcoming embrace. A rush of energy coursed through me, filling me with a strength I hadn't felt since my old life. It was intoxicating, overwhelming, and utterly magnificent.
"I knew it," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the hum of the orb. "This… this is the beginning."
But my moment of triumph was cut short by a voice that echoed through the chamber.
"Well, well. Look who finally decided to grow a spine."
I turned sharply, my eyes narrowing as Marcus stepped out of the shadows. His silver and blue robes marked him as one of the academy's elite, and his smirk was infuriatingly smug.
"This doesn't concern you, Marcus," I said coldly, the orb's power thrumming in my veins. "Leave now, and you might live to regret your arrogance."
He laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. "Big talk from the academy's weakest mage. I don't know what trick you pulled to get past the wards, but you're not walking out of here with that relic."
"Try and stop me," I said, my voice low and dangerous.
The chamber exploded with light as our magic collided. Marcus was skilled, but he was no match for the power I now wielded. Within moments, I had him on his knees, his spells unraveling beneath the weight of my assault.
"W-wait!" he gasped, his confidence shattered. "This isn't over! The Academy—"
"Won't save you," I finished, my tone icy. "Consider this your only warning, Marcus. Cross me again, and you won't live to regret it."
As I left the catacombs, the Nexus Orb safely in my possession, I couldn't help but smile. The road ahead would be long, but I was no longer the broken man they had left behind. I was Aric, the Primordial Mage. And I would make them all pay.
One by one.