⚔️ Chapter 8 — Shadows in the Hall
The night at Valenhold Academy was unnervingly silent. Moonlight spilled across the stone corridors, tracing the edges of tapestries that told tales of ancient battles. Kael Ardyn's footsteps echoed softly as he made his way back from the training yard, the weight of his sword resting against his shoulder.
He couldn't shake the feeling that eyes were watching him. Not just any eyes—hungry, calculating ones. Kael's grip tightened on the hilt. I'm not imagining it, he thought.
Turning a corner, he froze. A shadow detached itself from the wall ahead. Two figures emerged: one tall, cloaked in black, the other shorter, more agile. Both moved silently, like predators.
"Kael Ardyn," the taller one said, voice smooth and cold, "you've been attracting attention… dangerous attention."
Kael swallowed, trying to keep his fear in check. "Who are you?"
The cloaked figure inclined their head slightly. "Call me Lysander. And this is Mara. We are… observers. We've been following your progress. The Academy does not teach everything. Some lessons, you must learn outside these walls."
Kael's mind raced. Outside the walls? Dangerous attention? He had survived basic sword training, endured harsh drills, and even faced humiliation at the hands of upperclassmen—but this felt different.
"Why me?" Kael asked. "I'm just a student."
Mara stepped forward, her eyes glinting in the moonlight. "Because you're not. Not really. That sword you carry… it belongs to a lineage far older than you know. And soon, powers you can't yet understand will awaken in you. We are here to prepare you—or at least, warn you."
Kael's heart pounded. He had always believed in destiny, in the words of his instructors: that the sword was a tool, not a guide. But now, destiny seemed to have teeth.
Before Kael could respond, Lysander's hand moved in a blur. A small, intricate dagger appeared in his palm, and with a whisper, a shard of dark light shot toward the wall—splintering the stone but stopping just before Kael.
"Training starts now," Lysander said. "You will face shadows you cannot fight with strength alone. Your mind, your will, and your dreams—they will be tested."
Kael took a deep breath, gripping his sword. Shadows weren't just in the hall—they were coming for him, and the path ahead was far darker than any training yard.
The first test had already begun.