*Date: 33,480 Third Quarter — Chalice Theocracy* - A month ago
Aris was back at the academy.
He hadn't waited for everyone to finish the dungeon or see the official results. He had demanded, confidently and furiously, that they take him back to the Academy immediately. Finally, before his outrage could reach the High Priestess herself, Headmaster Kerapha had ordered Rathvoss to escort him through the portal.
Fox was napping alone on Aris's bed when he arrived. The black fox's ears perked up at the sound of the door, and when he saw the bloodied, dirt-covered figure standing in the doorway, he jumped in disbelief.
"What happened to you?"
Aris's robes were torn. Char marks blackened the fabric across his chest and arms. Blood, some his own and some not, had dried in streaks across his face. His hands were trembling, though whether from exhaustion or rage, even Aris couldn't tell.
"This forsaken hellhole of a school happened." He walked past Fox to his closet. He looked at his belongings, searching for anything worth taking. But almost everything had been given to him by the academy. Their clothes. Their books. Their tools. None of it was truly his.
He grabbed his oldest shirt and pants, the ones he'd worn when he first arrived, and shoved them into a cloth bag. Then he slammed the closet shut with enough force to rattle the walls.
"What is going on? Talk to me, Aris." Fox jumped down from the bed, his dark eyes fixed on the young man.
"We are leaving. I quit." Aris turned to face his companion. His eyes were red-rimmed but dry. No more tears. He had used them all up in that arena. "Before they kill me." He gestured for Fox to follow. "Before they kill us."
"Will they let you?"
"I don't care if they let me. I'm leaving." Aris paused at the door. "But first, I need to take Marduk's book from the alchemy room."
Fox's ears flattened. "The blood magic book? The one written by a necromancer?"
"It's mine. I'm the only one who practices that abomination skill."
"So you know it's evil. That's good." Fox smirked, a disturbingly human expression on his vulpine face. "What about Lyra?"
Aris's jaw tightened. The question cut deeper than any blade. Lyra, who had guided him. Lyra, who had lost her memories. Lyra, who was trapped here without even knowing she was trapped.
"I'll save her later."
---
They descended the stairs from the dormitory to the first floor, then toward the basement where the alchemy rooms were kept. The stone corridors were empty at this hour, most students still recovering from the dungeon trials or celebrating their survival.
But when they reached the main hallway, they came face to face with Rathvoss and Headmaster Kerapha Vale.
The headmaster was a halfling, barely four feet tall, but his presence filled the corridor. He wore robes of deep crimson trimmed with gold, the colors of Chalice, and his eyes held the weight of someone who had seen too many students die under his watch.
"Aris." Kerapha's voice was sympathetic, gentle even. "It's a shame what happened to you. But you should reconsider quitting."
Aris stopped. His hands clenched at his sides. "Sorry, Headmaster, but I have been bullied and attacked again and again. I held my ground every time. But when everyone knew they would attack me at the dungeon, you still let them form that party."
"It was an unforeseen—"
"No."
"Aris," Rathvoss intervened, stepping forward. The brutal instructor's face was uncharacteristically soft. "You're rushing into—"
"Sir." Aris cut him off too. He was done being interrupted. Done being talked over. Done being told what to do by people who had failed to protect him. "Once again, I will take my potion ingredients and leave." He looked at both their faces, searching for any crack in their resolve. "Please."
The headmaster's friendly expression hardened like cooling iron. "I'm afraid we can't let you do that. Those ingredients belong to the academy. If you're leaving, you leave as you are."
"What?" Aris's voice cracked with disbelief. "I gathered those. Almost every day. I dried them myself. Picked them out one by one."
"From the academy forest."
"No one else is practicing alchemy!" Aris pressed forward, his voice rising. As he argued, he tapped Fox's leg twice with his foot, hoping the fox would understand. Act on your own.
"Doesn't matter." Kerapha shook his head slowly. "Come now. Let's send you away in a good manner. You might want to join our ranks later as an auxiliary."
"As a what?"
"Come." The headmaster placed one hand on Aris's back and the other on Rathvoss's, guiding them both toward the grand hall. In the commotion, Fox slipped past them and darted toward the basement stairs.
"You know, Aris," Kerapha continued as they walked, "we are aware our curriculum is hard. The dungeons are harder still. There is a reason for that."
"There is no reason to sacrifice your students. Physically and mentally."
"There is a war coming." Kerapha's voice dropped low. "For our true freedom. The last four years have been borrowed time. The players will make a grand push."
Aris felt ice crawl down his spine. "When?"
"I don't know exactly. But High Priestess Aeloria works with the Great Covenant. She says we need to be ready, no matter what." Kerapha turned his sincere smile back on. "If you endure just a little longer, you will be grateful later."
"No need."
The deep voice came from behind them.
When they turned, they saw Crusader Kurgodan striding toward them in full gleaming armor. His breastplate was etched with holy symbols, and his face was carved from stone. No warmth. No sympathy. Just cold duty.
"Chalice doesn't need those who don't commit to the High Priestess and her cause." Kurgodan stopped before them, towering over even Rathvoss. "High Priestess ordered me to oversee his expulsion. In case he were to change his mind."
"Holy Crusader, let me speak once more with—" Kerapha tried to intervene.
"No need." Kurgodan pointed at the main doors. "Aris Orvellis. Leave. Now."
"I'm leaving. But first I want to say goodbye to the library." To Lyra, he meant. One last goodbye.
"NO." Kurgodan crossed his arms. "You will not. Leave now. We don't need you."
Aris was furious. His blood boiled, and he could feel the heat rising to his face. But there was nothing he could do to people like Kurgodan. The crusader could crush him with one hand.
Rathvoss was trying to mask his frustration, but it was slipping through the cracks. He caught Aris's eye and gave the smallest nod. Go.
Aris turned and walked toward the entrance. They had commandeered months of his gathering. And now they were blocking him from saying goodbye to Lyra.
When he passed through the entrance gate, the academy grounds spreading behind him one final time, he saw Fox panting at the corner of the outer wall. Something was clenched in his jaws.
As Aris got closer, he saw what it was.
The book.
Fox dropped it on the ground, breathing hard. "Did you say goodbye to Lyra?"
"No." Aris swung his fist at the air, fury and grief mixing into something toxic. "Kurgodan showed up and wouldn't let me. Did you only get the book?"
"Yeah. They almost caught me. One guard saw me, but I was faster."
Aris picked up the saliva-stained tome. Marduk's teachings. Dark alchemy. Forbidden knowledge.
"Thanks." He tucked it into his bag. "We'll need this to get the Locke. I have a feeling it won't be easy."
Fox tilted his head. "The Locke? The relic Lyra needs?"
"The same."
"And you know where it is?"
Aris shook his head. "Not yet. But I know who does."