The moment Kaelith's eyes locked onto Aurelia, the world seemed to stop. Eight years of longing, of pain, of relentless training had all led to this moment. She was here. Aurelia was here. Her fiery red hair, her emerald green eyes, the way she sat with a quiet determination—it was her. Kaelith's chest tightened, a strange warmth spreading through her despite the cold void where her emotions once resided. She took a step forward, her heart pounding, her mind racing with the words she would say, the promise she would fulfill.
But before she could take another step, the air around her crackled with energy. A booming voice echoed through the auditorium, cutting through the chatter and laughter of the students.
"Welcome, new students of Veylan Academy!" The headmaster's voice was deep and commanding, his presence filling the room as he stepped onto the stage. "Today marks the beginning of your journey here, and to start, we will conduct a little… test."
Kaelith froze, her glowing red eye flickering beneath the glamour as a sense of dread washed over her. She didn't care about tests or academies or any of this. She had one goal, one purpose, and it was standing just a few feet away.
"This is a battle royale," the headmaster continued, his tone almost gleeful. "You will be teleported to random locations within the academy grounds. Your objective is simple: survive. The last student standing will be granted a special reward. Begin!"
Before Kaelith could react, the world around her twisted and warped. The auditorium dissolved into a blur of colors and light, and then she was standing in the middle of a dense forest, the air thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. Her glowing red eye flickered, the glamour slipping for a moment as her anger surged.
"No," she whispered, her voice low and dangerous. "No, no, NO!"
Her fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as the rage boiled inside her. She had been so close. So close to Aurelia, to fulfilling her promise, and now she was here, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by trees and strangers. The warmth she had felt moments ago was gone, replaced by a cold, seething fury.
She didn't care about the exam. She didn't care about the rules. All she cared about was finding Aurelia, and anyone who stood in her way would regret it.
Kaelith's glowing red eye burned brighter as she began to move, her steps quick and purposeful. The forest around her was alive with the sounds of battle—shouts, screams, the clash of steel against steel. But Kaelith paid no attention to any of it. Her mind was focused on one thing and one thing only.
Find Aurelia.
It didn't take long for her to encounter the first obstacle. A group of students, their faces filled with determination, stepped into her path. They were armed with swords and staves, their eyes narrowing as they saw her.
"Out of my way," Kaelith growled, her voice low and menacing.
The students hesitated, but only for a moment. Then, with a shout, they charged.
Big mistake.
Kaelith's right arm shifted, the glamour dissolving as her skin turned black, glowing red cracks spreading across her flesh. Her fingers elongated into sharp claws, and with a flick of her wrist, shadows erupted from the ground, wrapping around the students and lifting them into the air. They struggled, their weapons falling from their hands as the tendrils tightened around their throats.
Kaelith didn't even look at them as she walked past, the shadows crushing their bodies before dropping them to the ground like discarded puppets. She didn't care about them. They were nothing. Obstacles. And she had no patience for obstacles.
She moved through the forest like a storm, her anger fueling her every step. Students who crossed her path didn't stand a chance. Some tried to fight, their spells and weapons useless against her eldritch power. Others tried to run, but they were too slow. Kaelith was relentless, her glowing red eye scanning the forest for any sign of Aurelia, her claws tearing through anyone who dared to get in her way.
It wasn't long before she encountered someone who actually posed a challenge.
Selene Veyra stepped into her path, her bright amber eyes gleaming with excitement. She was smaller than Kaelith, her platinum-blonde hair tied back in a playful pixie cut, but there was a confidence in her stance that made Kaelith pause.
"Well, well," Selene said, her voice light and teasing. "If it isn't the villainess herself. Kaelith, right? I've heard so much about you."
Kaelith's glowing red eye narrowed, her claws twitching at her sides. "Move," she said, her voice cold and emotionless.
Selene smirked, her fingers twirling a small, glowing orb of energy. "Oh, I don't think so. You see, I've been waiting for this. I've read about you, about what you can do. And I have to say, I'm excited to see it for myself."
Kaelith didn't respond. She didn't have time for this. With a flick of her wrist, shadows erupted from the ground, lashing out at Selene with terrifying speed.
But Selene was ready. She dodged the first tendril with ease, her movements quick and precise. The orb in her hand grew brighter, and with a flick of her fingers, she sent a blast of energy toward Kaelith.
The blast hit Kaelith square in the chest, sending her stumbling back a few steps. But it didn't stop her. Her glowing red eye burned brighter as she lunged forward, her claws slashing through the air.
Selene dodged again, her movements almost too fast to follow. She was quick, Kaelith had to give her that. But speed alone wouldn't save her.
The fight was brutal and fast-paced. Selene's spells and energy blasts were powerful, but Kaelith's eldritch power was on another level. Her shadows twisted and writhed, blocking Selene's attacks and countering with devastating force. Selene's confidence began to waver as she realized just how outmatched she was.
"Okay, okay," Selene said, her voice breathless as she dodged another shadowy tendril. "Maybe I underestimated you a little."
Kaelith didn't respond. She was done playing games. With a roar, she unleashed a wave of shadows, the tendrils slamming into Selene and sending her flying into a tree. Selene groaned, her body slumping to the ground as the orb in her hand flickered and died.
Kaelith stepped forward, her glowing red eye fixed on Selene's trembling form. But before she could finish her off, Selene raised a hand, her eyes wide with fear.
"Wait!" Selene gasped. "I yield! I yield!"
Kaelith hesitated, her claws twitching at her sides. She didn't care about Selene. She didn't care about the exam. All she cared about was finding Aurelia.
With a growl, she turned away, her shadows retreating as she continued her search. Selene watched her go, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.
"Okay," Selene muttered, her voice trembling. "Note to self: do not mess with Kaelith."
Kaelith moved through the forest like a force of nature, her anger burning brighter with every step. She didn't know how long she had been searching, how many students she had defeated, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered except finding Aurelia.
And then, she felt it.
A warmth, faint but unmistakable, spreading through her chest. It was the same warmth she had felt when she first saw Aurelia in the auditorium, the same warmth that had kept her going through the darkest times. It was close. So close.
Kaelith's glowing red eye flickered as she turned, her steps quickening as she followed the feeling. The forest around her seemed to fade away, the sounds of battle distant and unimportant. All that mattered was the warmth, the promise, the hope.
And then, she saw her.