The city of Aeloria pulsed with life, though not in the way one might expect from a typical metropolis. Smoke rose from chimneys of quaint houses, twisting with strands of magical light that hung above cobblestone streets like invisible ribbons. Humans, elves, and strange magical creatures moved in uneasy harmony, their lives intersecting only at the edges, and even then, mostly by accident. To a casual observer, the city seemed peaceful, almost ordinary. But beneath the surface, hidden in shadowed alleys, abandoned towers, and dense forests surrounding the city, ancient and dangerous forces stirred.
Eiryn Vassir walked calmly along the main thoroughfare, hands tucked in the pockets of his dark coat. To anyone glancing his way, he looked like a typical eighteen-year-old man—unremarkable, even boring. But those who dared to look closer would notice something more: his eyes. Calm, sharp, observant. Every movement around him analyzed, cataloged, and understood in the blink of an eye.
As he passed a cracked sidewalk, he noticed a faint blue glow emanating from a sprig of herb growing stubbornly between the stones. Most people wouldn't even see it, much less know its purpose. Eiryn bent down, plucking it and sniffing its faintly metallic scent. Useful for fatigue, improves reaction time slightly, poisonous if overdosed. He pocketed it casually. Another habit no one would notice—until it mattered.
The Arcane Academy loomed ahead, a sprawling mix of white marble towers and twisted black spires. Its gothic architecture contrasted sharply with the vibrant city around it. Students in colorful robes rushed through the gates, some summoning glowing orbs, others conjuring enchanted scrolls that floated beside them. Eiryn didn't belong here. Not officially. But the Academy called to him in subtle ways, promising answers he didn't yet fully understand.
A faint shimmer in a nearby alley caught his eye. Not the usual magical residue left by practicing students, but something jagged, dark, and irregular. He narrowed his eyes. Curious… dangerous.
Before he could investigate further, a young mage practicing levitation stumbled into the alley, a circle of floating candles above her head. A dark, shadowy creature lunged at her from behind. Its form twisted and shifting, like smoke trying to take a solid shape.
Eiryn reacted instantly.
"Hey!" His voice cut through the alley, sharp and calm. The shadow turned toward him, its red eyes narrowing. It moved unnaturally fast, too fast for ordinary humans to dodge.
Eiryn didn't panic. Calmly, he scanned his surroundings: a pile of wooden crates, a broken lantern, a water fountain. With a flick of his wrist, he traced a dagger's shape in the air. Metal, balanced, lethal. The dagger materialized in his hand, warm to the touch, as if alive.
The shadow lunged, claws extended. Eiryn sidestepped, letting it pass, then hurled the dagger. It struck the creature's shoulder, eliciting a hiss but not enough to stop it.
The mage scrambled backward, eyes wide. "Who… who are you?" she stammered.
"Someone who doesn't like monsters attacking people unprovoked," Eiryn said flatly, stepping forward. "Stay behind me."
He moved like water. Improvised weapons flew—broken pipes, shards of glass, and fragments of crates. He struck the creature's legs to destabilize it, blocked claws with conjured shields, and finally drove it into the wall with a solid kick. The shadow dissipated into black smoke, leaving behind a scorched residue and a small metallic locket.
Eiryn picked up the locket, studying the strange symbols engraved on its surface. The aura around it hummed faintly, whispering secrets he couldn't yet understand.
The young mage approached him, trembling. "Th… thank you! I… I don't know how I survived…"
Eiryn shrugged, slipping the locket into his coat. "Lucky you. Shadows like that don't often leave witnesses." His calm tone contrasted sharply with the panic radiating from the mage. "Do you know where it came from?"
She hesitated, glancing around nervously. "The… Obsidian Veil. They've been taking rare talents, experimenting on them. Nobody sees them coming… until it's too late."
Eiryn's eyes narrowed. Obsidian Veil… A name whispered in the shadows of Aeloria. An organization that operated in secret, feared even by the city's most powerful mages. A network of predators seeking rare abilities for unknown purposes.
"Interesting," he murmured. "Try not to tell anyone else about this. Curiosity attracts… unwanted attention."
The mage nodded and ran off, leaving Eiryn alone with the locket. He turned his gaze to the Academy, its spires piercing the darkening sky. This city, this Academy—it hid far more than the students realized.
Night fell, bringing a chilling breeze and the faint scent of smoke and ozone. Eiryn moved silently through the Academy grounds, observing students practicing spells under moonlight. Some were skilled, their magic precise; others clumsy, their orbs sputtering and flickering. Most of them didn't notice the creeping shadows that slithered along the edges of the gardens.
The creatures attacked without warning. They emerged from the shadows like ink in water, surrounding students who screamed in panic. Eiryn didn't hesitate.
He conjured weapons from memory and observation—a metal rod here, a jagged shard of glass there. He improvised shields from chalk dust scattered across the floor, turning classrooms into arsenals. Every movement calculated, every strike precise.
A young fire mage cried out, flames spiraling wildly. One shadow lunged at him. Eiryn was already there, intercepting with a conjured blade that sliced through the darkness. "Control your magic," he muttered dryly. "Or you'll burn yourself before I burn them for you."
The battle raged through the Academy gardens. Shadows fell one by one, leaving scorched earth and scorched memories behind. Yet even after the last shadow dissolved, the city felt different—heavier, darker, like the night itself was aware of the battle that had just passed.
Alone on the Academy steps, Eiryn examined the locket again. Something inside it resonated with his own power, almost as if it were calling him. His mind drifted briefly to his past—years of observation, of staying unnoticed, surviving by understanding the world better than it understood him.
A small flutter of wings caught his attention. A tiny magical creature, no bigger than a sparrow, hovered near his shoulder, trying to steal the herb he still carried.
"Really?" he said flatly, brushing it away. "After all that, you want my herbs?"
The creature chirped indignantly and zoomed off, leaving a faint trail of sparkling dust.
Eiryn smirked faintly. "Persistent little pest. You'll learn someday that I don't share."
A note drifted down at his feet, carried by the wind as if guided by invisible hands. He picked it up, reading its elegant script:
"Your talents are not meant to remain hidden. Seek the Eclipse Tower at midnight. Answers await."
He smiled faintly, the shadows of the Academy stretching long behind him. "Finally… something worth my time."
And with that, Eiryn Vassir vanished into the night, unseen, the whispers of shadow and steel following him silently.