XCER

Chapter 01

As Ms. Corla's voice fades into the background, I find myself lost in thought, absently twisting the ring on my finger. The last day of school—a deceptive farewell to the familiar. In a few weeks, I'll step into the shadowed halls of the School of Veridian, where power is currency and secrets are a second language.

Veridian—an academy shrouded in mist, both figurative and literal, isolated amidst treacherous waters. Its prestige is measured not just by academic success, but by the hierarchy of power. Perala, Alakai, Emerson, and at the apex, Xcer—a place reserved for the most powerful, the most dangerous. A place where royals like myself are both expected and unwelcome. But to ascend to Xcer, one must first survive the trials—grueling, merciless tests that sift the strong from the weak, the worthy from the disposable.

"Lira, stay after class. We need to talk." Ms. Corla's voice pulls me from my trance. I straighten, a thread of tension tightening in my chest. What could she possibly want?

After class, I watch my classmates filter out, exchanging hollow farewells. Jax waves before he disappears through the door. I approach Ms. Corla, my pulse steady, my mind bracing for whatever comes next. "You asked for me?"

She offers a small smile, though it doesn't reach her eyes. "Congratulations on your acceptance into Xcer. Your piece on the war—it was... haunting. You captured the horror, the reality, as if you were there."

I nod, masking the turmoil within. "Thank you."

"You've been a remarkable student, Lira. It's been an honor teaching you." There's something unsaid in her tone, a lingering doubt perhaps.

"Likewise. I should go—my brother is waiting." My words hang in the air, a polite dismissal.

I step outside, taking one last look at the school—the etched names, the echoes of laughter that now seem distant. Valance waits, leaning against the car. "Lira, let's go."

I narrow my eyes at him. "Where's Ethan? You're rarely here."

He smirks, a hint of mischief in his gaze. "Disappointed to see your brother?"

I roll my eyes, but a smile tugs at my lips. "You know that's not what I meant."

As we drive away, I let my gaze linger on the school, the familiar corridors slipping away. "Lira, it's time," Valance's voice cuts through my thoughts, grounding me in the present.

The drive is quiet, save for the hum of the engine. I stare out the window, Ms. Corla's words replaying in my mind. "It made it sound like you were really there." The truth is bitter, a memory that stings—because I was there.

"Irelia," Valance's voice interrupts my thoughts. "Are you ready for Xcer?"

I force a shrug. "It's just another step, right? Expected, inevitable."

He glances at me, his expression unreadable. "We've talked about this."

I sigh, my frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "I know. But it's not like I have a choice."

That night, sleep is elusive. The clock glows 2:14 a.m., mocking my restless state. Tomorrow, Veridian Academy awaits—a new beginning, or perhaps the beginning of the end. Needing air, I slip out of bed, my bare feet cold against the wooden floor. The balcony doors open with a quiet groan, and I step into the night.

The air is sharp, filled with the scent of salt and distant rain. As I peer into the darkness, an unfamiliar light catches my eye—a flicker of something, someone, watching. I start to turn back when a whisper cuts through the silence. My breath catches.