Morning sunlight spilled across Aurevale's courtyard, catching on banners fluttering in the wind. Students gathered in clusters, whispering excitedly as Professor Daren strode forward, coat snapping behind him.
"Today," he said, his voice booming, "you'll finally put your skills to the test. You'll be leaving the academy for a field assignment."
A hush fell over the crowd.
"The western ruins," Daren continued, "are full of illusions and hidden traps. Your instructors will be waiting there, using concealment spells. Your goal is simple — find and tag as many as you can before sundown three days from now."
He paused, letting the tension build. "The team with the highest count will receive special rewards — a rare magic tome, a forged weapon set, and merit points that will reflect on your academy records."
Cheers broke out instantly.
Kael stood quietly among them, hands in his pockets, eyes sharp. A field test. Perfect cover to scout Syndicate activity outside the walls.
Ryn elbowed Kael with a grin. "Bet you're gonna end up with Lady Elara?"
He barely listened to the pairing list until he heard—
"Kael and Elara."
A wave of laughter and teasing rolled through the courtyard.
Ryn nearly doubled over. "I called it! The quiet assassin" (a nickname whispered by the students) and the golden princess. Fate is hilarious."
Kael just sighed again. "Or bad luck."
Elara approached, her soft boots clicking against the floor. She looked calm as ever, sunlight catching in her golden hair.
"Well," she said, folding her arms, "looks like we're partners now."
Kael's mouth twitched. "Guess so."
"Try to keep up," she said lightly, a teasing spark in her tone.
"I'll do my best not to get blinded by your glowing ego," Kael replied.
Ryn snorted so loudly he almost fell over. "Oh, this is definitely going to end in flames."
Elara rolled her eyes but smiled. "Come on, partner. Let's win this thing."
The Western Woods
The western woods were quiet — too quiet. The sun filtered through old oaks as Kael and Elara stepped over roots and moss-covered stones.
"Stay close," Kael said simply.
"Are you always this cheerful?" she asked, adjusting her cloak.
"Only before dangerous times."
She gave him a look. "So, all the time?"
Kael didn't answer, though his lips curved faintly.
They followed a narrow trail until it opened into the ruins — tall arches, broken pillars, vines twisting through stone. Magical symbols faintly glowed on some surfaces.
"Beautiful," Elara murmured.
Kael knelt beside a half-buried rune. "Also dangerous. Step on one wrong sigil, and it'll fry your nerves."
She crouched beside him. "You've been here before?"
He shrugged. "Places like this, yes. This one, no."
They began searching — moving quietly, scanning every shadow. Occasionally, Kael would raise his hand, murmuring low incantations. Small sparks of lightning crawled across his fingertips, revealing faint magical trails.
"You use lightning magic?" Elara asked, curious.
"Sometimes."
"That's rare."
He looked at her. "So am I."
She smiled at that, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
Hours passed as they climbed through cracked halls and winding stairways. Kael stayed quiet, moving like he'd done this a thousand times. Elara, on the other hand, filled the silence with commentary.
"That statue's clearly enchanted," she muttered.Kael:
"No, it's just ugly."
"It's enchanted and ugly."
"I'll give you that one."
When a trap rune flared beneath her boot, Kael reacted first — lightning snapping between his fingers, neutralizing the sigil before it exploded.
Elara blinked. "You— you disarmed it with lightning?"
Kael stood, brushing dust from his sleeve. "Or we'd both be ash. You're welcome."
"I had it under control."
He glanced at her boot, still smoking faintly. "Sure."
By sunset, the class had spread across the forest ruins, each pair finding a base camp. Kael built theirs quietly, stacking stones and lighting a small, smokeless fire. Elara unpacked their supplies — rations, maps, and mana crystals.
"You're good at this," she admitted.
"Survival?" Kael looked up. "It's easier than conversation."
Elara laughed softly. "That might be the most honest thing you've said all day."
She warmed her hands by the fire while Kael checked the perimeter. His eyes caught faint boot prints in the dirt — too deep, too heavy. Instructors wouldn't leave these kinds of tracks.
He glanced toward the trees, muscles tensing. Then he heard Elara's voice behind him:"Kael? You're staring at shadows again."
He forced a smile. "Habit."
"Bad one?"
"The kind that keeps you alive."
They ate in silence for a while. Then Elara asked quietly, "Why do you always act like the world's out to get you?"
Kael didn't answer right away. "Because sometimes it is."
Her gaze softened. "You're not wrong. But you don't have to face it alone."
He looked at her then, the firelight dancing in her golden eyes — steady, confident, unafraid.
For the first time, Kael didn't have a comeback. He just said quietly, "You should rest. Long day tomorrow."
Elara smiled faintly. "Goodnight, Kael."
"Night," he said, leaning back against a stone wall. Lightning flickered faintly along his fingers as he watched the darkness beyond the campfire's reach.
The shadows shifted — something moving far off among the trees — but not close enough to strike.
Let them watch, he thought. I'm watching back.