The dim lantern light of the archive flickered, casting distorted shadows on the stone walls. Aelric's breathing was ragged as he stared at his trembling hands. The relic's searing pain had faded, but an eerie warmth lingered beneath his skin, as if the crystal had ignited something within him.
"What… happened to me?" he whispered, his voice barely audible in the stillness.
He pushed himself to his feet, his legs shaky as if he'd run for miles. The archive, once a silent haven, now felt suffocating. The shadows in the corners seemed alive, twisting and writhing in response to his unspoken fear.
As Aelric reached for the nearest lantern, the light flickered violently, then extinguished. Darkness swallowed the room.
---
The Shadows Awaken
A cold shiver ran down Aelric's spine. He fumbled in the pitch-black, his heart pounding. Then, he felt it—a tug, subtle at first, pulling at his chest like an invisible thread.
"Help…" he whispered, unsure if he was calling to anyone or just to himself.
The pull grew stronger, and without thinking, Aelric raised his hand. To his shock, the shadows obeyed. Tendrils of darkness unfurled from the corners of the room, converging around him like a living cocoon.
"No… no, stop!" he cried, but the shadows didn't listen. They coiled tighter, their presence both exhilarating and terrifying.
Images flashed through his mind—a battlefield cloaked in darkness, a towering figure wreathed in shadow, his enemies falling one by one. The vision left him breathless, a pounding headache erupting as the shadows receded.
He collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. "What… what am I becoming?"
---
A Dangerous Encounter
The sound of footsteps snapped Aelric out of his daze. Someone was approaching.
"Who's there?" a familiar voice called out.
It was Drennan. Of all people, it had to be him. Aelric scrambled to his feet, panic rising in his chest. The last thing he needed was for Drennan to find him like this.
"What are you doing here, weakling?" Drennan sneered as he entered the archive. His green eyes narrowed when he saw Aelric's disheveled state. "Wait… what's that on your chest?"
Aelric glanced down and froze. The faint glow of the relic's mark shone through his shirt, pulsing like a heartbeat.
"None of your business," Aelric said, stepping back.
Drennan's grin widened. "Oh, this is interesting. Did you find something you shouldn't have? Maybe I should report you to the Headmaster."
Aelric clenched his fists. For years, he had endured Drennan's torment. But now, something was different. The warmth in his chest flared, and the shadows around him stirred, responding to his rising anger.
"Leave me alone," Aelric said, his voice trembling but firm.
Drennan laughed. "Or what? You'll—"
Before he could finish, a tendril of shadow lashed out, striking the lantern in Drennan's hand. The glass shattered, plunging the room into darkness.
"What the—?!" Drennan shouted, stumbling back.
Aelric stared at his hand, horrified. He hadn't meant to do that. The shadows had acted on their own—or had they obeyed his unspoken command?
"Stay away!" Aelric said, his voice shaking.
But Drennan wasn't listening. "You… you freak!" he yelled, his voice tinged with fear. "I'm telling the Headmaster!"
Drennan turned to flee, but before he could reach the door, a barrier of shadow rose in his path. The darkness seemed alive, pulsing and shifting like a living wall.
"Stop it!" Aelric shouted, clutching his head. "I didn't mean to—just stop!"
The barrier dissolved, and Drennan stumbled out of the archive, his footsteps echoing as he fled.
---
A Fateful Decision
Silence returned, but Aelric's mind raced. He had always longed for power, to prove himself worthy of the Shadow Academy, but this… this was something else. The shadows were alive, responding to his emotions, his thoughts.
He looked down at his hands, still trembling. The relic's mark on his chest continued to pulse faintly, a constant reminder of what he had unleashed.
"I can't stay here," he muttered. Drennan would surely tell the Headmaster, and if the professors learned about the relic…
No. Aelric couldn't risk it. He had no idea what the relic had done to him or what it might mean, but one thing was clear—staying in the Academy would only lead to disaster.
Gathering his courage, Aelric left the archive. The corridors were quiet, the other students long gone to their dormitories. He moved quickly, keeping to the shadows, which now seemed to welcome him like old friends.
As he stepped into the cool night air, a sense of both dread and anticipation settled over him. He didn't know where he would go or what awaited him, but for the first time in years, he felt a spark of hope.
Whatever this power was, it had chosen him. And Aelric was determined to prove he could control it—before it controlled him.