Elias sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the gauntlet resting in his hands. The metal plating was still faintly warm from the last test, the runes barely glowing in the dim candlelight of his dorm room. It had worked. It had actually worked.
He had won the duel, proven that his invention could stand against magic, and left an entire audience of students questioning everything they thought they knew. And yet, instead of feeling victorious, a familiar sense of unease settled in his chest.
Lira sat on his desk, her boots resting on a pile of discarded blueprints. She toyed with a small dagger, flipping it between her fingers. "So, when are you gonna start panicking?"
Elias smirked but didn't look up. "I don't panic."
Lira scoffed. "Right. Because you totally haven't been staring at that thing for an hour, looking like you just realized you kicked a hornet's nest."
Elias exhaled, setting the gauntlet on the table. "Alright, maybe I'm slightly concerned."
Lira sat up. "Good. Because you should be."
Elias leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "I knew this would get attention, but I didn't think it would happen this fast."
Lira raised an eyebrow. "You beat a trained mage in front of half the school using a machine. The Academy is built on magic, Elias. You just walked in and basically said, 'Hey, maybe we don't need spells to be strong.' You shook the system. You think the nobles are just gonna ignore that?"
Elias let out a short chuckle. "I was kinda hoping they'd be too busy being rich and entitled to care."
Lira shook her head. "You're so dumb sometimes."
Before Elias could respond, a sharp knock echoed against his door.
He and Lira exchanged glances.
"You expecting someone?" Lira whispered.
Elias frowned. "Nope."
Slowly, he stood and opened the door.
Standing there was a tall man in dark blue robes, the crest of the Academy's faculty embroidered on his chest. His expression was unreadable, his gaze sharp and cold.
"Elias Graham," the man said.
Elias tensed. "That's me."
"The Headmaster has requested an audience with you. Immediately."
Lira exhaled. "Yep. You're in trouble."
Elias didn't argue. He just grabbed his gauntlet, strapped it to his wrist, and followed the instructor into the halls.
Summoned to the Headmaster
The walk through the Academy's upper corridors was silent. The faculty member didn't say a word, and Elias wasn't dumb enough to start asking questions.
Lira trailed behind him, whispering, "If they execute you, can I have your stuff?"
Elias shot her a look. "Not helping."
They reached a massive arched doorway lined with golden runes. The instructor waved his hand, and the doors opened silently, revealing a grand office lined with towering bookshelves and floating crystal lanterns. At the center, behind a desk of polished stone, sat Headmaster Dorian Valcrest.
A silver-haired man with piercing golden eyes, radiating an aura of controlled power. His presence alone was enough to make most students freeze in their tracks.
Elias forced himself to keep his expression neutral.
Dorian studied him for a long moment before speaking. "Sit."
Elias obeyed. Lira, to his mild surprise, followed and leaned casually against the wall.
The Headmaster laced his fingers together. "You have caused quite a stir, Mr. Graham."
Elias shrugged. "Not my fault people are bad at handling surprises."
Dorian's lips twitched slightly, though whether in amusement or disapproval, Elias couldn't tell. "You understand the implications of what you've done?"
Elias exhaled. "I have a feeling you're about to tell me."
Dorian leaned forward slightly. "The Academy is built on a centuries-old foundation of magic. Every student here is trained to refine their abilities, to push the limits of spellcraft. And yet, in the span of a single duel, you have introduced something… different."
Elias met his gaze. "You mean I proved that magic isn't the only way to fight."
Dorian nodded. "Precisely."
Elias folded his arms. "And that's a bad thing?"
Dorian studied him. "Not necessarily. But it is… dangerous."
Lira scoffed. "Oh, here we go."
Dorian ignored her. "The noble families are watching you now, Elias. Some are intrigued. Others are… concerned."
Elias smirked. "Let me guess—concerned that a magicless nobody is proving that they aren't as untouchable as they think?"
Dorian's eyes gleamed. "Something like that."
Elias exhaled. "Look, Headmaster. I didn't come here trying to start a revolution. I just want to survive in a world that wasn't exactly built for me."
Dorian nodded slowly. "And yet, survival is rarely simple. Especially when your existence challenges the order of things."
Elias frowned. "So what happens now?"
Dorian was silent for a moment before saying, "That depends on you."
Elias blinked. "Wait… what?"
Dorian stood, walking over to the large window behind him. "You have potential, Elias. A different kind of potential than most students here. That makes you a valuable asset—and a liability."
Elias narrowed his eyes. "So, what? You're giving me a warning?"
Dorian turned back to him. "I am offering you an opportunity."
Elias raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
Dorian clasped his hands behind his back. "You will be given access to certain resources—materials, workshops, knowledge. But in exchange, I expect you to refine your craft. Prove that what you are doing is not just a trick, but a legitimate path of power."
Lira whistled. "Well, that's new. Usually, people just try to kill disruptive forces, not fund them."
Dorian smirked. "The Academy is about progress. We do not ignore what we do not understand. We study it." His gaze sharpened. "Do you accept?"
Elias sat back. Access to resources? Permission to keep building? He had expected to be reprimanded, not handed an advantage.
He grinned. "Yeah. I accept."
Dorian nodded. "Then I look forward to seeing how far you can go."
Elias stood, still processing what had just happened. Lira followed, shaking her head.
As they walked out, she muttered, "I can't believe you just got sponsored by the Headmaster."
Elias smirked. "Neither can I."
Lira sighed. "This is either the best or worst thing that could've happened."
Elias flexed his fingers inside his gauntlet. "Guess we'll find out."
He had stepped into something much bigger than himself. And now?
There was no turning back.