Echoes of Twilight - The Riftwalker Chronicles

Chapter 1: Luminescent Dawn

It's happening again.

That familiar pain from the side of my head, pinching and twisting my mind awake. The pain fades momentarily, temporary relief as I attempt to continue my rest.

There it is again.

My eyes open to a room full of light. For the better part of a month, this pain has been encroaching on my sanity.

I sit up slowly, hugging my knees to my chest and resting my forehead on them. Go away, go away, go away, I think over and over again, rocking myself like a child. When will this just go away?

A sudden knock at my door draws my attention away from the pain. "Leora, you better be awake in there! Master Marrit will have our heads in we're late for class again." I roll my eyes, swinging my legs over the side of my bed to stand.

The knocking continues at a steady beat as I sleepily step towards the door and open it. At the other side, Shea stands almost bursting with energy, "Sorry, I'll be ready in a minute" I sign as she steps through my doorway. I force a slight smile to not worry her further.

Shea's face changes from her normal peppy self to a look of concern as she looks over me, "Leora, are you ok?" She asks, her eyes searching mine for the truth. "Yes, it's just another headache. I'll be fine once I get some fresh air."

Shea lets out a slight sigh and moves towards my door to wait outside, I can tell she doesn't believe me, "Ok, I'll be waiting. But don't take too long, it's our last class before exams." Right, I think, as if I could forget.

As the door closes behind her with a slam, I let out a frustrated sigh. These headaches have been plaguing me for weeks now, getting worse with every passing day. I've tried everything to soothe the pain, herbal remedies, healers, everything.

The only thing that seems to quell some of the pain is when I'm not in the city but on the outskirts of the wall near the forest.

I finish dressing and grab the rest of my belongings, determined to push through the pain for another day. I cannot be late for class, especially not today, I remind myself.

As I exit Shea is standing, leaning against the wall tossing a small ball of light in her hands. She locks eyes with me for a moment before the ball disappears.

We step out into the bustling halls of the academy, I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong - that this pain is just the beginning of something much bigger.

I quicken my pace to catch up with Shea, who's already miles ahead of me. The sound of the students filling the halls reverberates off the polished marble floors creating a never-ending echo of voices. I try my best to suppress the ominous thoughts swirling through my head and direct my attention towards today's lessons.

"Are you ready, did you study the texts I gave you?" Shea asks, glancing in my direction. I've spent all night going over the information and spells of Luminokenisis. Despite everything I've read, I still can't wield light the way I should. "I've read it all, still doesn't change the fact that I can't wield." I sign quickly.

We reach the door of the classroom as Shea stops, grabbing the nook of my arm. "You're making progress Leora, it takes time to master these skills." I nod, thankful for the reassurance but still feel the heavy weight of failure on my shoulders. It's not just about mastering the skill of light-wielding anymore, it's a matter of surviving our exams.

The classroom is buzzing with energy and anticipation as students take their seats ready for our last lesson. I take a deep breath as I walk down the aisle and find a seat near the back. Shea plops down beside me and begins taking out her notebook.

The lesson begins and I try to focus, but my mind keeps drifting, do the headaches have something to do with my inability to wield light? I can feel the frustration growing inside my stomach, I can't wield at the same level as the others.

The teacher demonstrates a simple yet complex spell at the front of the room. I watch in awe, noting every slight body movement made in an attempt to identify how to fix my problem. We are given time to practice the spells on our own.

The classroom lights up with energy again as students begin creating beams of light that illuminate their faces and the space around them. The room turns into a yellow paradise within seconds.

Beside me, Shea creates a beam effortlessly, changing its width and length as she moves her hands around in circles, finally closing her hands to make the beam disappear.

She catches my eyes with hers and looks towards my hand which is resting in my lap. "Give it a try, it gets better every time you wield," she says with warmth and comfort in her voice.

I sigh, lifting my hands and moving my fingers the same way the teacher did. I can feel the tingling of energy coming through my chest, into my arms, and finally through my fingertips.

I watch, discouraged as the beam I create is visible, but faint, leaving a slight burning sensation on the palms of my hand. I hold it for a few seconds, moving my hands to manipulate the shape, before closing my hands and lowering them back to my lap.

"It's ok, that was better than last time," "Last time I barely made a spark, now my beam is barely noticeable and weak." I sign below the desk, "I'm not going to pass these exams at this rate."

Shea turns her head back to her notebooks, searching for an answer that won't be there. I raise my hands towards my temples and rub them in circular motions.

Why is it that this pain comes every time I wield light, I wonder.