Morning light bled through the high glass arches of Arcanis Academy, painting the halls in soft gold. The world looked peaceful—too peaceful.
Rivan knew better.
His hands still trembled faintly from last night.
Even now, when he focused, he could feel it—the hum beneath his skin, the echo of that heartbeat that wasn't entirely his. The mana inside him felt… awake.
Students passed him in the corridor, whispering under their breath. Their eyes darted toward him, then away again. He caught fragments—"the surge," "runes lit up," "someone saw light near the observatory."
He forced himself to keep walking. They can't know it was me.
Liora waited for him near the training grounds, arms folded, expression unreadable. The faint shimmer of her silver uniform caught the sunlight, sharp and cold as her gaze.
"You vanished last night," she said quietly. "The surveillance wards detected a mana spike near the old observatory. Care to explain?"
Rivan swallowed hard. "I was just walking. Couldn't sleep."
"Walking."
Her tone was flat, but her eyes told a different story—she didn't believe him. Not entirely.
For a moment, neither spoke. The hum in his chest pulsed once, hard enough that he had to clench his fists to hide it. He prayed she wouldn't notice the faint golden shimmer at the edge of his sleeve.
Liora finally sighed. "If you feel anything unusual again, report it immediately. The Academy doesn't take kindly to… anomalies."
She turned to leave, but Rivan caught her arm. "Liora. If something's wrong with me, I need to know."
Her gaze softened slightly. "There's always something wrong with power, Rivan. It's just a matter of who sees it first."
Then she walked away, leaving him alone in the courtyard.
The day dragged by in uneasy silence.
Everywhere he went, he felt eyes on him—professors watching too long, students avoiding his path. Even the floating crystals in the lecture hall flickered when he passed, their glow bending toward him as if drawn by an unseen current.
By evening, the tension in his chest was unbearable.
He needed air.
Rivan slipped out after sundown, cutting across the inner gardens. The twin moons hung above the towers, pale and watchful. He could still feel the hum in the ground—deeper now, spreading through the Academy like roots.
"They're searching for you," the voice murmured faintly. "But not all who search wish you harm."
He froze. "Who—"
Before he could finish, a burst of energy rippled across the sky—like a pulse of lightning, silent but blinding. For a second, the entire Academy shimmered, its runes glowing bright gold before dimming again.
Gasps echoed from distant windows. Bells began to ring.
Guards scrambled through the walkways, shouting orders.
Someone yelled, "A surge! Containment protocol, now!"
Rivan stumbled back into the shadows, heart racing.
He didn't need anyone to tell him—the surge had come from him again.
High above the chaos, on one of the spire balconies, two figures watched the courtyard below.
One of them lowered their hood, revealing silver hair that glowed faintly under moonlight. Their voice was calm, almost reverent.
"So… the seal finally stirs."
The other figure turned slightly, eyes burning beneath a mask of black glass.
"Then it's time," the masked one said softly. "The Starborn has awakened."
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Author's Note:
The Academy's starting to unravel… and Rivan's no longer the only one aware of it.
Those watching from the shadows have finally spoken—the Starborn has awakened.
Things are about to shift fast from here.
What do you think—can Rivan still hide what's inside him, or is it already too late?
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