The Academy loomed ahead, a stark fortress of obsidian against the bruised sky. My stomach churned with a mix of apprehension and anticipation. The weight of my uncle's disappointment hung heavy, but a spark of defiance flickered within me. I wouldn't let him break me.
The first day was a blur of activity. Students bustled through the halls, their uniforms a sea of muted grey. Nervous chatter filled the air, punctuated by the barked orders of instructors. Finally, I reached the testing chamber. Inside, a wizened proctor awaited, his gaze sharp behind thick spectacles.
He subjected me to a battery of tests. I channeled my energy, bracing myself for the familiar prickle of light magic. But nothing happened. Confusion clouded my mind. Then, as I touched a glowing orb, a jolt of dark energy erupted from my fingertips, scorching the inscription on its surface. The proctor's jaw dropped, his eyes wide with a mix of surprise and… fear?
News of my potent dark magic spread like wildfire. Whispers followed me through the halls, some laced with curiosity, others tinged with suspicion. Yet, amidst the sea of unfamiliar faces, I found a flicker of warmth. Anna, a girl with fiery red hair and a mischievous glint in her hazel eyes, befriended me. We bonded over shared experiences of feeling like outsiders, united by an invisible thread in this world of rigid expectations.
As days turned into weeks, the Academy's true purpose began to unravel. Lectures on diplomacy felt like a charade, history lessons skewed to glorify the Dark Kingdom. My mission, however, remained shrouded in secrecy. Then, one crisp evening, a coded message arrived from my uncle. My heart hammered in my chest as I answered the call.
"Have you made any progress?" his voice crackled through the receiver, devoid of its usual warmth.
"Not yet, Uncle," I lied, my gaze darting nervously towards the doorway.
"Find him, Raya," he rasped. "The fate of our Kingdom depends on it."
The call ended abruptly. What did my uncle truly have planned for the Academy? A cold dread settled in my stomach. The Academy wasn't just a school; it was a battlefield, and I was a pawn in a game I barely understood.
Suddenly, a strange scraping sound echoed from outside my window. A shadow flitted across the courtyard. Grasping the iron poker by the fireplace, I crept towards the window, heart pounding in my ears. The fate of my mission, and perhaps even Elissa's safety, might depend on what I discovered next.
YOU ARE READING
Shattered Allegiance
FantasíaShattered allegiance is a dark fantasy novel set in a world ravaged by magic-fueled and technology wars. Humanity has learned to control magic, dividing into two rival kingdoms: Light and Dark. Raya, a skilled assassin raised in the Dark Kingdom, f...
