The hallway leading to the participant dormitories was quieter now, the hum of activity having died down as the night deepened. A few attendants moved through the halls, their footsteps soft against the polished stone floor.
Rynar entered his assigned room, the door sliding shut behind him with a faint hiss. The stillness of the space, so different from the charged atmosphere of the tests, felt almost stifling. He sat on the edge of the bed, his green eyes fixed on the glowing mana crystal embedded in the wall.
He thought of Whisperwood—of his father's steady voice, his mother's warm smile, and Lyra's determination. Were they thinking of him now? Wondering how he was faring in this strange, imposing world?
---
The night passed fitfully. Rynar woke before dawn, the faint hum of the mana-lamps flickering as they brightened to signal the start of a new day. He dressed quickly, his movements deliberate as he tied his boots and adjusted his tunic.
The air outside his quarters was cool and still as he stepped into the hallway. A few attendants moved through the space, their clipped voices discussing preparations for the day. One of them, a young woman carrying a stack of datapads, paused when she saw him.
"You're expected in the southern training chamber," she said briskly, gesturing down the hall. "Follow the corridor to the end, take the stairs down, and you'll find it."
Rynar nodded, his expression neutral. "Thanks."
---
The journey to the southern training chamber was a quiet one. The halls grew narrower as he descended, the ornate carvings and polished stone giving way to more utilitarian design. The air carried a faint tang of mana, the result of the training equipment that awaited him.
When he reached the chamber, the doors slid open with a low hiss. Inside, the space was vast and open, lined with reinforced training equipment and glowing runes that pulsed faintly with energy. Kaelis stood near the center, her silver robes catching the light as she turned to face him.
"You're on time," she said, her voice carrying an approving edge. "Good. That's a start."
Rynar stepped forward, his green eyes meeting hers. "You didn't give me much of a choice."
Kaelis smiled faintly, gesturing toward the center of the room. "I'm glad to see you're as perceptive as ever. Now, let's see if you're ready to begin."
The training chamber seemed to hum with latent energy, the mana-powered devices lining its walls casting soft, flickering glows. Rynar stood across from Lady Kaelis Vallin, the tension in the air as sharp as her piercing gaze. She stepped closer, her silver robes shimmering in the dim light, and her golden filigree catching every flicker of illumination like tiny flames.
Kaelis's presence filled the space, her every movement deliberate, her every word measured. But there was an intensity behind her calm demeanor—a weight that pressed down on Rynar as much as her offer.
"I'll be blunt," she said, her voice low but sharp, carrying the kind of authority that could command armies. "The system wasn't made to handle someone like you. And that terrifies the people who live by its rules."
Rynar frowned, his green eyes narrowing slightly. "Terrifies? Why? I'm just—"
Kaelis's sharp laugh cut him off, though it wasn't cruel. It was more like she couldn't believe his naivety. "You're not 'just' anything, Rynar. You're an anomaly—a wild card. And the Dominion doesn't deal well with things it can't predict, measure, or control."
The air in the training chamber felt heavier, almost tangible, as Rynar stood across from Lady Kaelis Vallin. Her sharp blue eyes bore into his, their intensity an anchor in the vast, cold space. She had spoken of the Dominion, of threats from unseen figures, but her words lingered with a weight beyond mere warnings.
Her silver robes shifted softly as she stepped closer, the faint scent of something floral and sharp wafting through the air. "You don't realize how precarious your situation is, do you?" she asked, her voice measured but laced with quiet urgency. "You're not just different, Rynar. You're a disruption—a challenge to a system that thrives on order."
Rynar frowned, his green eyes narrowing slightly. "You keep talking about the system, about people who won't accept me. Who are they? These higher-ups you're so worried about."
Kaelis tilted her head slightly, her silver braid slipping over her shoulder as she considered his question. "They're not names you'd recognize. Not yet, anyway. They're the architects of the Dominion, the ones who decide how the system operates—and how it enforces its balance."
Her voice softened, though her gaze remained sharp. "They watch everything, Rynar. And when something—or someone—falls outside the lines they've drawn, they don't ask questions. They act."
Rynar's fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tightening. "So what? They'll erase me? For existing?"
Kaelis's faint smile returned, though it carried no warmth. "Erase might be too clean a word," she said. "They'll dissect what makes you different. Use it, if they can. And if they can't..." She let the sentence hang, her meaning clear.
---
Rynar exhaled sharply, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "Why are you telling me this? Why not just let them do whatever they're going to do?"
Kaelis's expression shifted, her usual cool composure giving way to something rawer. "Because I've seen it happen before. People who didn't fit the system—who couldn't be measured, categorized, controlled. They were broken, Rynar. And for what? Because they threatened a status quo built on fear of the unknown."
Her voice lowered, and for the first time, there was a flicker of vulnerability in her piercing gaze. "I couldn't stop it then. But I can stop it now."
Rynar studied her, his green eyes searching hers for any hint of insincerity. "And how do I know this isn't just about you?" he asked, his voice steady but cautious. "How do I know you're not using me for your own reasons?"
Kaelis's lips pressed into a thin line, her gaze steady. "You don't," she admitted. "But I'm not asking you to trust me blindly. I'm asking you to think about what happens if you don't. You've felt it, haven't you? The way people look at you—not with curiosity, but with fear. That doesn't go away, Rynar. Not unless you become something more."
Rynar crossed his arms, his posture guarded. "And that's where you come in?"
Kaelis stepped closer, her hand lifting briefly to rest lightly on his shoulder. The gesture was fleeting, almost hesitant, but it carried a weight that made him pause. "Yes," she said softly. "I want you to be my disciple. Not because I want to control you, but because I want to prepare you. The Dominion doesn't forgive anomalies, Rynar. But if you're strong enough—if you're valuable enough—they'll have no choice but to respect you."
Her sharp blue eyes softened slightly, though her voice remained firm. "Under my guidance, you won't just survive—you'll thrive. You'll learn to navigate their world, to wield your strength in ways they can't ignore. And you'll do it on your terms, not theirs."
---
The silence stretched between them, the weight of her words hanging in the charged air. Rynar thought of Whisperwood—of his family, of Lyra, of the simple life he had left behind. That life felt so distant now, almost like a dream. The world he had stepped into was vast, unpredictable, and fraught with dangers he couldn't yet comprehend. But he knew one thing: he couldn't face it alone.
"I'll do it," he said finally, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions churning within him. "I'll be your disciple."
Kaelis's lips curved into a faint smile, one that carried both satisfaction and relief. "Good," she said simply, though there was a depth to her tone that suggested much more. She stepped back slightly, her silver robes catching the light as she moved. "You won't regret this, Rynar. I'll make sure of it."
Rynar hesitated, his green eyes narrowing slightly. "What about the higher-ups? The ones you said would see me as a threat. What happens when they find out?"
Kaelis's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "That's not a matter of if, Rynar. It's a matter of when. But when that time comes, you'll be ready. And I'll be there to make sure they don't touch you."
Her gaze softened again, and for a moment, the sharp edges of her demeanor seemed to blur. "You'll learn, Rynar. Not just about strength or strategy, but about the people who run this world. Their weaknesses, their fears, their limits. And when you're ready, I'll tell you everything."