The halls of Academy Caelum felt like a living, breathing organism, its ancient walls pulsing with an energy that made Violet's skin crawl. Each step she took echoed in the vast corridors, reminding her of how small they were in this sea of powerful creatures. Every corner of the academy was filled with beings who could tear apart an army with the flick of a wrist—or, worse, a thought.
And yet, the whispers followed them.
"The twins... they're not like us."
"Vampire and Phoenix? Werewolf and Dragon? They don't belong here."
Ash walked beside Violet, his posture stiff, his golden eyes scanning the students who passed them with wary glances. His wolf instincts were on edge, while the dragon blood inside him thrummed, yearning to rise. Violet could sense the struggle, the tension in his muscles as he tried to keep it all in check. She knew this wasn't easy for him.
They had only just arrived, and already the academy was throwing its first challenge at them.
"Keep your head down," she muttered, her own senses heightened. "Let's just make it to our dorm without causing trouble."
"I don't know if that's possible," Ash replied under his breath, his eyes narrowing as a group of vampires—young, brash, and clearly looking for a fight—stared them down from the far end of the hall.
Violet's fangs lengthened instinctively. Her vampire side was always ready to act, especially when provoked. But she resisted the urge to show her power, focusing instead on the task ahead. They were here to learn—not fight.
But before they could take another step, a loud, commanding voice rang out across the hall, freezing them in place.
"Twins!"
A figure emerged from the shadows, walking toward them with purpose. It was Professor Kaelen, a gargantuan half-werewolf, half-troll hybrid who had the intimidating presence of a boulder rolling downhill. His eyes were a piercing shade of blue, glowing faintly in the dim light, his long, clawed hands clasped behind his back.
"Professor Kaelen," Ash said, standing a little straighter. He knew the reputation of the man well. Kaelen was one of the academy's most formidable instructors—a beast in his own right, with strength that could crush stone and magic that could render anyone helpless.
"You two have been assigned to my class." Kaelen's voice was gravelly, like boulders scraping against each other. "The first lesson begins now."
Violet's heart skipped a beat. She had expected the academy to be full of lessons, but nothing had prepared her for the way Kaelen's presence seemed to drain the air around them, making everything feel heavier, more dangerous.
Ash growled softly under his breath, and Kaelen's eyes glinted with amusement. "Relax, pup. This isn't a battle you need to fight yet."
Kaelen turned and walked toward a large stone door that stood in the middle of the hallway. With a single, swift motion, he shoved it open, revealing an enormous arena carved into the very heart of the academy—a place where students trained, sparred, and learned what it truly meant to wield their powers.
Violet felt a twinge of anxiety. This wasn't a simple classroom; it was a battlefield.
"Follow me," Kaelen ordered, stepping inside the arena.
Violet and Ash exchanged a brief glance before following him, the floor beneath their feet rumbling as they walked. The arena stretched out before them, an open expanse with stone walls that seemed to rise toward infinity. At the center of the room, a glowing crystal pulsed with energy, casting an eerie light across the space.
"This is your first test," Kaelen said, stopping in the center of the arena and turning to face them. "A trial of control. A trial of power."
Violet's stomach twisted. "Control?" she echoed. She already felt the pulse of her phoenix side stirring restlessly within her, the flames of her spirit eager to escape. She could feel her fangs threatening to elongate, and the power inside her—it never stayed dormant for long. Ash, she could tell, was equally struggling with the dragon and wolf inside him, his fists clenched, his breath shallow.
Kaelen's expression hardened. "Here, in this arena, you will face a challenge. Your first test will be to hold your power in check. You will each be given an opponent, and you will face them with only one rule: control. Do not let your beast rise."
Violet's breath caught in her throat. "And if we lose control?"
Kaelen's smile was a thin line. "Then you fail."
The ground trembled beneath their feet as two figures materialized across from them. Two students—one with pale skin and glowing silver eyes, the other with dark, almost obsidian hair and a hulking frame—stepped into the arena. Both were clearly hybrids, both radiated power.
"You two," Kaelen said, nodding toward the pair. "Meet Cassius and Lilith. Cassius is a vampire-werewolf hybrid. Lilith is a dragon-shifter. They will be your opponents in this test of control. I trust you all understand what's at stake."
Violet felt her heart skip again. This wasn't a simple sparring match. This was a test of everything—control, restraint, and strength. If they couldn't hold back, they would lose. She glanced at Ash, who nodded, his expression a mixture of determination and uncertainty. They had to get through this. Together.
"You will each face one of them," Kaelen said, raising his hand. "Go."
Without another word, the battle began.
Violet faced Lilith, her opponent's stance almost too relaxed as she cracked her neck, a lazy smirk curling on her lips. Lilith was tall, her dragon half obvious in her sharp eyes and the faint scales visible along her arms. But her true power was hidden, waiting to explode, just like Violet's own.
Ash faced Cassius, a hulking figure whose vampire and werewolf blood clashed in the air with a feral intensity. His claws were visible, extending slightly, and his sharp fangs peeked from beneath his lips.
Violet's hand clenched into a fist as she drew in a deep breath. She felt the fire stirring beneath her skin, urging her to release it. But she had to hold back. She couldn't let the Phoenix power take over. Not yet.
Lilith took a step forward, her dragon eyes flicking to Violet with interest. "You think you can control that power of yours?" she asked in a voice that was both mocking and intrigued. "I'm curious to see if you last longer than your brother."
Violet's heart thudded in her chest, but she didn't respond. She couldn't afford to waste time on words. She had to focus—control, control, control.
The moment Lilith lunged, Violet sprang into action, blocking her attack with a sharp sweep of her arm. The energy between them crackled like lightning. Every instinct in Violet screamed to fight, to unleash the flames within her, but she held herself back—barely.
She could feel the power inside her pulling, scratching at the edges of her restraint. But she couldn't let it go. Not yet.
Across the arena, Ash was struggling just as much. Cassius's strength was overwhelming, and the beast inside Ash—both wolf and dragon—snarled in frustration. His hands were shaking, the dragonfire threatening to burst through. He could hear the wolf growling deep within him, urging him to tear Cassius apart.
But Ash, like Violet, fought to hold it in check.
The test had begun, and their control would determine whether they lived to fight another day.