Blade institute: the unseen prophecy

40

The weeks that followed were a blur of intense training, grueling days that pushed me to the brink both physically and mentally. The Headmaster and the other instructors at the Institute left no room for error, no margin for weakness. They were determined to hone my abilities, to sharpen the raw power within me into a weapon that could be wielded with precision and control.

Rian was by my side every step of the way, his presence a constant source of strength. He trained with me, fought alongside me, and when the days grew too long and the burden too heavy, he was there to remind me why I was fighting. Our connection had deepened, our bond forged in the crucible of shared struggle. We were no longer just friends, no longer just partners in battle. We were something more, something that defied easy definition but felt as essential as the air I breathed.

But even as we trained, even as we prepared for the battle that was sure to come, the shadow of the prophecy loomed over me. The knowledge that I was the last of my kind, that my power could bring either salvation or destruction—it was a weight that never fully lifted. And the demons, they were always there, always lurking at the edges of my mind, waiting for their moment to strike.

It was during one of our evening training sessions, after a particularly brutal day, that the first signs of the coming storm appeared.

The sky above the Institute darkened suddenly, the wind picking up with a ferocity that sent shivers down my spine. I looked up, sensing a shift in the atmosphere, a change that was both subtle and profound. The air crackled with energy, the kind that heralded something terrible and inevitable.

Rian, who had been practicing his swordsmanship nearby, paused and followed my gaze. "Do you feel that?" he asked, his voice tense.

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. "Something's coming."

As if on cue, the Headmaster appeared at the edge of the training field, his expression grim. He didn't need to say anything; the look in his eyes told us everything we needed to know.

"The demons have broken through our outer defenses," he announced, his voice carrying across the field. "They're coming for us—and they're coming fast."

Panic surged through the gathered students, but the Headmaster's voice cut through the rising tide of fear. "This is what we've trained for. This is why we fight. Everyone, prepare yourselves. We will meet them at the gates and hold the line."

The students scattered, rushing to arm themselves and take their positions. Rian and I exchanged a glance, the unspoken understanding passing between us. This was it. The battle we had been preparing for, the one we had feared, was here.

——

"Stay close," Rian said, his voice low but steady. "We're stronger together."

I nodded, the fear in my chest giving way to a steely resolve. We had trained for this, sacrificed for this. Whatever came, we would face it together.

As we made our way to the northern gate, where the first wave of demons was expected to hit, I could feel the darkness inside me stirring, rising in response to the approaching threat. But this time, I wasn't afraid. I had trained, I had learned, and I was ready to face whatever was coming.

When we reached the gate, the scene that greeted us was nothing short of chaos. The demons were already there, their numbers vast, their movements a blur of shadow and malice. The Institute's defenders had formed a line, their weapons raised, their expressions grim but determined.

And then, with a deafening roar, the battle began.