The stony paths of Arcania echoed with hurried footsteps and laughter as four figures raced through the busy streets, their cloaks billowing behind them. The excitement in the air was almost electric today with the Ranking Ceremony, the moment every young mage waited for, where their magical class would be revealed.
"Come on, slowpokes!" Anya called, her long braid whipping behind her as she ran ahead.
"I'm going to pretend you didn't just say that" Leo shot back, barely out of breath despite his lanky frame. "I'm obviously conserving energy for the big reveal."
"Big reveal?" Xander scoffed, his broad shoulders tense as he ran beside Emeney. "You mean when they confirm you as a D-Class mage?"
Leo smirked. "Oh, Xander, always so encouraging. I'd think you were jealous if I didn't already know you're in love with Emeney."
Xander nearly tripped over his own feet, his face flushing a deep shade of red. "I—What? That's ridiculous!"
Emeney bit back a smile. She had known Xander long enough to see how he looked at her when he thought she wasn't watching. But her gaze drifted to Leo, the boy she wasn't supposed to care about this much. He was trouble, sharp-tongued, too smart for his own good, and impossibly charming despite his scrawny build.
Anya nudged her. "You're staring" She whispered.
"I am not" Emeney muttered, tearing her gaze away.
"Sure" Anya winked before turning back toward the massive golden doors at the end of the corridor. "Now hurry up! We're here."
The four of them skidded to a stop before the entrance to the Main Hall. Beyond the doors, magic pulsed in the air, crackling with anticipation. Inside, every sixteen-year-old in Arcania was about to learn their fate.
Xander took a deep breath and pushed open the doors.
Today would change everything.
***
The Mage Level Building stood at the edge of the city, its towering structure bathed in the cool glow of the evening sun. A steady breeze rolled through the open courtyard, carrying the hushed murmurs of anticipation. The line of sixteen-year-olds waiting to learn their mage ranking stretched from the entrance, each one shifting anxiously as they inched closer to their fate.
Emeney stood just outside the line, watching her friends. She was the only one among them who couldn't participate yet, one more year before it was her turn. But that didn't stop her heart from pounding as she watched the process unfold.
Anya was the first of their group to step forward. She placed her hand on the crystal ball, and the entire sphere pulsed with a deep, golden glow.
"Anya Farrow, B-Class Mage" The ranking mage announced.
Anya grinned, stepping back with a triumphant flick of her braid. "Not bad" She said, rejoining Emeney while Xander approached next.
The moment Xander touched the crystal, the magic flared, swirling with raw power before bursting into a brilliant red hue.
"Xander Gray, A-Class Mage."
Xander smirked. He had expected nothing less. Stepping back, he shot a glance toward Leo, a flicker of satisfaction in his gaze.
Then, it was Leo's turn. He hesitated for just a second before pressing his palm to the orb. The glow came slower than the others, flickering uncertainly before settling into a muted blue light.
"Leo Ryder, C-Class Mage."
A heavy silence followed.
Leo withdrew his hand, stuffing it into his pocket as he stepped back toward the group. His expression was unreadable, but Emeney could see it in his eyes, the faintest flicker of disappointment, the kind only someone who knew him well would notice.
"Well, well" Xander said, his voice thick with self-satisfaction. "Guess not everyone's cut out to be great."
Leo rolled his eyes, forcing a grin. "I'd rather be a C-Class legend than an A-Class bore, but hey, you do you."
Xander's smirk widened as if he had just won a battle. "We'll see who's laughing when we start real combat training."
Emeney shifted uncomfortably. She wanted to say something to Leo, to offer comfort, but the words never came. Instead, she just fell in step beside him as they turned back toward the palace, Anya chatting beside them while Xander continued flexing his newfound superiority.
Then came the screams.
The ground trembled. In the distance, a thick wall of smoke curled into the sky. Magic flared in the air, dark and crackling. The cloud suddenly became darker and an fearful energy swept through the land.
Then they saw them.
Dark Mages. Cloaked figures, moving like shadows, cutting down anyone in their path as they advanced toward the palace.
The attack had begun.
***
Chaos swallowed the streets of Arcania.
Screams filled the air as dark magic tore through buildings, sending debris crashing into the panicked crowds. People ran in every direction, dodging the onslaught of destruction. Fires burned high, casting eerie shadows against the stone walls. The scent of smoke and blood thickened with every passing second.
Through the mayhem, four figures ran as fast as their legs could carry them.
Leo ran back to where Emeney was seated on the ground after tripping, and grabbed her hand, pulling her up. Leo's grip on Emeney's hand was tight, unrelenting, as he pulled her forward, weaving through the frantic civilians and dodging spells that cracked the ground beneath them. Xander ran beside them, his jaw clenched, his fists tight. His eyes darted to their intertwined hands, rage flickering beneath the terror. Anya kept pace ahead, leading them toward the palace gates, the only safe place left.
A blast of ice shot across their path, forcing them to leap over it before it could solidify beneath their feet. A Dark Mage appeared from the shadows, his hands raised, conjuring a wave of fire.
Leo yanked Emeney to the side just as the flames erupted past them. "You better start running faster, princess" He quipped, though his voice was strained.
"I swear…." She panted, barely keeping up with his speed.
"Save it for when we're not about to die" He shot back.
The palace was in sight.
The massive gates were already shifting, the guards pushing them shut to keep the Dark Mages out. The magical barrier was flickering to life, its shimmering energy sealing off the palace from the outside world.
"We have to make it before they close those gates!" Xander yelled.
Anya and Xander, unburdened, sprinted ahead. Leo, still gripping Emeney's hand, felt the weight of her slowing him down, but he refused to let go. She wouldn't make it without him. The gap in the gate was closing. Anya and Xander dashed through just in time, turning back to see Leo and Emeney still outside.
"Wait! Hold the gate!" Anya pleaded.
The guards hesitated but stood firm. "We have orders! The gate must close!"
"That's the princess!" Anya shouted, pointing desperately at Emeney.
It was too late. The gate groaned, mere inches from closing completely.
Leo made his choice.
He tightened his grip on Emeney's wrist, then, with all his strength, hurled her forward. She gasped as she was flung through the last opening, hitting the ground hard.
The gate slammed shut behind her.
Emeney scrambled to her feet, her hands pressed against the cold metal. "Leo!"
But he was on the other side.
"Open the gate!" She screamed, but the guards held her back.
Beyond the barrier, Dark Mages swarmed. One of them emerged from the chaos, his blade glinting in the firelight. Before Emeney could scream again, the sword plunged through Leo's back.
"No!"
She struggled against Xander and the guards holding her, her vision blurring with tears as the Dark Mage wrenched the blade free. Leo staggered. Blood spilled from his lips, but even in his final moments, his gaze found hers.
Then, a second hand, cloaked in dark magic, ripped into his chest. A sickening crunch. A flash of red. Emeney's world shattered as she watched the Dark Mage pull Leo's heart from his body. His form collapsed, lifeless, hitting the bloodstained ground.
Her screams echoed through the palace walls as the guards dragged her away, her cries drowned beneath the chaos of the attack. The magical barrier sealed the palace, locking out the horror beyond.
Leo Ryder was gone.
***
(Three Days Later)
The grand throne room of Arcania was silent except for the grim voices of the guards delivering their reports. The golden chandeliers, once symbols of elegance and peace, now flickered with an unsettling dimness. The air felt heavier than usual, thick with the weight of loss.
Seated on the throne, King Snow listened with a hardened expression as his men recounted the full extent of the Dark Mage attack. Next to him, Princess Emeney sat in silence, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. She barely registered the voices around her, her mind was still trapped in the moment the palace gates had shut. The moment Leo had been taken from her.
"The number of casualties have been confirmed, Your Majesty" One of the guards reported. "We have recovered all the bodies of the fallen and identified them."
Emeney inhaled sharply, her fingers digging into the fabric of her dress. She had been dreading this moment, but she needed to hear it.
She lifted her gaze, her voice quieter than usual but firm. "Did you find Leo Ryder?"
The room stilled for a brief moment before the guard shook his head. "No, Princess. There was no body matching his description among the dead."
Emeney's breath caught in her throat.
No body.
Her heart twisted painfully. She had seen him die. Seen the blade pierce his back. Seen his heart torn from his chest. Yet, there was nothing left of him? No remains?
A flicker of something, confusion, denial, flashed through her, but it was quickly overshadowed by grief.
King Snow turned to look at his daughter, the sadness in his gaze unmistakable. He had watched her grow up with her four friends by her side. He knew how much she had cared for him, even if she had never said it out loud. Losing a friend at such a young age was a cruel burden to bear.
He let out a slow sigh before straightening in his seat. His voice carried the weight of a king. "Summon my right hand and the generals. We have much to discuss."
As the guards bowed and exited the chamber, Emeney remained still, her mind a storm of emotions. Leo was gone. And yet, he had left no trace.
****
(Unknown Location)
The cave was silent, save for the steady dripping of water against stone. Shadows danced along the cavern walls, cast by the dim glow of magical fire. The air was thick with ancient power, a force both raw and untamed. At the center of the cave lay a lifeless body. Leo Ryder.
His form was still, his skin pale. A gaping hole marred his chest, a haunting reminder of the fate he had suffered. Around him stood three massive dragons, their scales shimmering under the flickering light. The largest, a behemoth of dark crimson, narrowed its glowing golden eyes at the boy before it.
"He's too fragile" The dragon rumbled, its deep voice echoing through the chamber. Slowly, it lifted a glowing, pulsating heart in one of its massive claws. "But we must try."
With precise movements, it lowered the heart into the empty cavity in Leo's chest.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then…His body convulsed violently. Muscles spasmed, veins darkened, his fragile bones twisting under the pressure of the raw power being forced into him. His skin split in places, dark energy seeping through the cracks. The dragons watched as his body buckled under the strain, unable to contain the strength of the heart.
With a quick motion, the leader pulled the heart out.
Silence.
"He can't handle it" The dragon muttered. "His body is too weak. Too scrawny. If we push this power into him now, he will be torn apart."
A moment passed before one of the other dragons, silver-scaled with piercing blue eyes, took a step forward. "Then I will give him my heart instead."
The leader turned its massive head toward the silver dragon. "If you do this, you will die."
The silver dragon's eyes softened, glancing down at Leo's still form. "That is the sacrifice we must make if we are to stop the dark storm that is coming."
A heavy silence fell upon the cave.
Then, with solemn acceptance, the two nodded.
The silver dragon exhaled deeply, its body glowing with ancient energy. It reached within itself, pulling out its own heart, pulsing, vibrant, filled with power. As its body began to dim, it handed the heart to the leader.
With a careful motion, the crimson dragon placed the new heart into Leo's chest.
For a moment, there was nothing.
Then….A pulse.
Leo's fingers twitched. His breathing hitched.
Then his eyes snapped open, glowing with a new, untamed fire as he gasped awake, and the first breath of his second life filled his lungs.