Ethan walked out of the great hall, his boots clicking softly against the polished stone floor. The echoes of departing students faded behind him, swallowed by the vastness of the torch-lit hallway. A small sigh escaped his lips as he glanced at the branching corridors ahead.
"Guess I better find my room then," he murmured to himself, his voice nearly lost in the expanse of the stone corridors.
The corridor stretched endlessly, lined with towering statues of past Academy heroes, their eyes seeming to follow him as he passed. Glass cases held relics of unknown legends—ancient books, gleaming weapons, and enchanted artifacts. Each item whispered stories of great battles and powerful mages, battling for dominance of elements long forgotten. He passed beneath archways carved with intricate runes, the soft glow of mage-lamps casting dancing shadows along the worn stone. Occasionally, another student would walk past him, chatting excitedly or peering curiously at room numbers, but no one paid him much attention.
After taking a turn near a spiral stairwell, he descended into the residential wing. He stopped before a simple wooden door marked with a brass plate engraved with the number .
"Finally found it," he exhaled, rolling his shoulders and cracking his neck. The stillness inside troubled him; there were no voices, no movement. It was silent.
Reaching for the doorknob, he pushed it open slowly.
The room inside was modest but well-maintained. The light of the setting sun spilled in through a wide window, casting a golden hue over the stone walls and wooden floor. Three narrow beds were lined up neatly against the far wall, each with a chest at the foot and a small stand beside it. A wardrobe stood to one side, and a wooden table sat near the window, its surface bare except for a single candle and a glass orb used for magical communication.
He stepped in, letting the door shut gently behind him. The scent of polished wood and faint lavender—probably from the cleaning spell—greeted him. The room felt untouched, clean, and waiting. He smiled faintly.
"Looks like I'm the first one here," he said aloud to himself. A small wave of relief washed over him. It gave him time to breathe, to adjust, to be alone before meeting whoever fate decided to pair him with.
He dropped his pack on the bed nearest the window and sat down, letting his fingers trail across the soft linen blanket. A long sigh escaped him as he lay back, staring up at the intricately carved wooden ceiling. The sounds of the Academy outside the room seemed distant now—the clang of weapons from the training field, distant laughter, the tolling of a bell marking twilight.
A part of him wanted to stay like this, just for a while; alone, quiet, processing everything that had happened.
He closed his eyes.
---
The tranquility was short-lived, as footsteps echoed outside. They grew louder, closer. Ethan sat up as the door swung open with a casual thud.
Two boys strode inside, laughter spilling forth as they jostled each other like they were already the best of friends. One of them stopped mid-step, blinking.
"Huh? Look at that," the boy with messy dark hair and vivid purple eyes said, his grin wide. "It's that boy from the hall! Guess he's our roommate. Isn't that funny?"
The other boy, slightly taller with striking blue hair that seemed to shimmer in the candlelight, chuckled. "Hahaha! Guess fate has a weird way of introducing people."
The blue-eyed boy stepped forward, setting his travel bag beside one of the unclaimed beds. "Name's Nick," he said with a friendly nod. "And that's my friend Asher," he added, pointing to the blue-haired boy who tossed his own belongings onto the third bed.
"Hi, I'm Asher," the blue-haired boy said with a wave. "You must've arrived today, right? We got here yesterday."
Ethan nodded slowly, a bit taken aback by their energy but not entirely uncomfortable. "Yeah… I'm Ethan. Came from the far west. Still trying to figure everything out."
"Well, welcome to the madness," Nick said cheerfully, already stretching out on his bed like he owned the place. "So, Ethan. You have any idea what to expect tomorrow?"
Ethan shook his head. "Not really. I assume it'll be something important. Everyone's been talking like it is."
Nick propped himself up on one elbow, his grin unwavering. "Most likely the affinity test."
"Affinity test?" Ethan echoed, curiosity piqued.
"Yeah," Asher chimed in, tossing a pillow into the air and catching it with ease. "Tomorrow's when they test us to see which element we're attuned to—fire, water, wind, earth, or lightning."
Ethan frowned slightly, processing the information. "How do you know that?"
Nick smirked and pointed at himself. "Because I'm from the Wind Clan. I kinda grew up knowing this stuff."
"Wind Clan?" Ethan blinked, the name barely ringing a bell.
"Guessing from your expression, you don't know much about the great clans," Asher said, sitting on the edge of his bed, hands clasped together. "There are five major clans—each tied to one of the core elements. Fire, water, wind, earth, and lightning."
Nick nodded, his excitement palpable. "There are smaller clans too, but they're not as influential. Each year, the big five send a few of their kids to the Academy to fulfill the First Lord's wishes. Kinda like tradition—and a bit of legacy preservation."
"So you already know your element?" Ethan asked, intrigued by Nick's ease and confidence.
"I know I'm likely attuned to wind, yeah, but that doesn't mean I've awakened it."
"Awakened?"
Nick adjusted himself, leaning forward as he explained. "You can have an affinity without being able to use magic. The test tomorrow isn't just about identifying your element—it's also the catalyst. You have to awaken it. If it doesn't awaken… well, you're just an ordinary kid with cool ancestry."
Ethan couldn't help but feel a knot tighten in his stomach. "And if I can't?"
"Hey," Asher interrupted gently, sensing the worry clouding Ethan's features. "Everyone has their doubts. It's completely normal. Just remember, it's not just about the test. It's about discovering who you are and what you can do."
Ethan let that sink in, his gaze drifting toward the window where the last rays of the sun were beginning to fade into twilight.
"So awakening is the key to becoming a caster?" he asked, trying to keep the conversation flowing, even as anxiety bubbled within him.
"Exactly," Nick confirmed, "but you don't have to put too much pressure on yourself. Many have struggled and found their way at their own pace. We all have our paths."
Ethan nodded, feeling a glimmer of reassurance. Their words provided a slight comfort. "I guess I'll just have to see how it goes."
As the conversation ebbed and flowed, Ethan felt more at ease amidst the lighthearted banter between the two boys. He laughed at Nick's animated gestures as he mimicked an overzealous fire user waving around like a misguided flame.
"You should see them when they lose control!" Nick exclaimed, and Asher added, "They can be quite the spectacle."
Ethan shook his head, joining in their laughter. "It sounds like a whole different type of chaos."
Eventually, the conversation drifted towards stories about their homes, their families, and the experiences that had brought each of them to the Academy. Nick shared tales of windy escapes on obscure adventures, while Asher detailed his life by the shores of an endlessly churning sea.
As they shared, Ethan noticed the growing camaraderie amongst them, a bond forming in the laughter that echoed throughout the modest room. The loneliness he had carried into the Academy began to dissolve.
"Alright, Ethan, your turn," Nick said, setting down his fork. "What's your story? Any wild tales from the west?"
Ethan hesitated, suddenly aware that he might not measure up to their adventures. "Um… not really. I mostly spent my days helping with the farm and learning about the earth from my parents. Nothing as exciting as battling winds or swimming with sea monsters."
"Hey, that still counts," Nick insisted, leaning forward. "Especially if your family has a tradition connected to magic. Tell us more about it!"
With encouragement from his roommates, Ethan opened up about his family's connection to earth magic, the way his father would guide him through rituals that honored the cycles of nature. "We practiced attunements to the earth and learned how to nurture the land," he explained. "But I've never truly understood how to embrace it fully."
"Did anyone ever mention the awakening?" Nick asked, watching him closely.
Ethan nodded, feeling a sense of release pour from him. "He said the first time you connect with your element is everything—it shapes your path and who you will become. But it has to come from within."
"He's right," Asher said, his voice steady. "That's what will make you extraordinary. We all have our doubts, but if you trust yourself, anything is possible."
Ethan felt a warmth spread through him at their encouragement, weaving a thread of hope into the uncertainties that had lingered in the back of his mind.
"Thanks, you guys," he said, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over him. "I really appreciate you sharing your stories and putting up with mine."
As their plates emptied, the ambient sounds of the dining hall shifted like a gentle tide—murmurs of laughter, clinking utensils, and the fragrant aromas of food wafting through the air. Nick gestured towards a group of rowdy students across the hall, their animated discussion about spells growing louder.
"See those fire users? They have a whole different way of doing things. Sometimes, I wonder how they manage to keep their cool—figuratively speaking, of course," Nick joked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Ethan chuckled, his confidence bolstered. "I mean, they might just be a little too fired up!"
Asher laughed, leaning back comfortably. "With all that heat in one room, it's a wonder they don't spontaneously combust!"
"Alright, alright, focus!" Nick said dramatically, waving his hand. "We need to keep our wits about us if we're going to face the affinity test tomorrow. We mustn't allow these fiery distractions to keep us from greatness."
Ethan smiled, watching how the two boys bantered effortlessly. Still, as they ended their meals and gathered their energy to meet the night outside, a tinge of anxiety crept back into his thoughts.
"Are you nervous?" Asher asked, sensing the shift in Ethan's demeanor.
"Little bit," Ethan admitted, avoiding their eyes for a moment.
"Hey, you've got nothing to worry about," Nick reassured. "We're all in this together. Just roll with it, and remember—we're here to support each other. Plus, we'll undoubtedly have plenty of stories to tell after tomorrow."
As they made their way out of the dining hall, the evening air welcomed them with a chill that prickled against their skin. Excitement hung in the air, palpable as the distant sounds of laughter echoed through the corridors, calling them toward the courtyard where lanterns awaited.
"C'mon! You've got to see the lanterns!" Nick exclaimed, leading the way. Ethan followed, feeling the camaraderie bloom between them like the flowers that would soon return with spring.
When they reached the courtyard, the sight took Ethan's breath away. Stars twinkled above like scattered diamonds, while the courtyard itself was aglow with hundreds of lanterns suspended from trees, their warm light flickering gently in the breeze. Students gathered, forming excited clusters as they prepared to release their lanterns into the night sky.
"This is incredible!" Ethan breathed, his earlier worries momentarily forgotten.
"Wait until they begin to rise," Asher replied, a sense of wonder lighting up his expression. "It's a tradition they say symbolizes hope and new beginnings."
As night deepened, students paired off and let their draped lanterns float upward, each carrying with it a whisper of wishes and dreams. The lanterns danced among the stars, illuminating the sky with soft colors of orange and gold—a spectacle both magical and heartwarming.
"See?" Nick said, pointing upward. "Let this remind you that your magic will emerge like these lanterns. It's all about letting go and trusting the process."
Ethan felt a swell of determination at Nick's words. Perhaps awakening his magic wouldn't happen simply through the test, but through the journey, the unfolding of the bonds he was starting to form.
"Tomorrow will be different," Ethan said quietly to himself, feeling a spark ignite within him.
"Indeed it will!" Nick declared with a grin. "But whatever happens, we'll face it together."
As Ethan stood amid the flickering lights, surrounded by laughter and newfound friends, he felt a newfound clarity. Whatever awaited him in the morning, he knew he wouldn't face it alone. And with that revelation, he watched the lanterns rise higher and higher, each one a beacon of possibility and magic reflecting the dawn of a new chapter in his life. Together, they would soar, embracing whatever came next—adventure beckoning on the horizon.