Cinders of Conquest

Chapter 9: The Gathering Storm

The academy felt different in the days that followed the Trial of Ascension. The students whispered of strange occurrences—unexplained magical surges, creatures seen in the shadows of the forest beyond the academy walls, and rumors of dark forces gathering in the east.

Elowen walked the halls with a sense of unease. She had earned her place among the academy's elite, but something felt wrong. The air was thick with tension, and even the professors seemed more guarded, their usual lessons tinged with urgency.

Seraphina had been similarly distant since the trial. Their rivalry had shifted into something neither of them fully understood. The tension was still there, but so was the respect. They had faced the labyrinth together, and though they hadn't spoken much since, there was an unspoken bond between them now. A bond that neither of them knew how to handle.

It was on a stormy evening, as the skies darkened with rolling clouds, that Elowen found herself summoned to the Tower of the Mages, the highest point in the academy. She climbed the winding stairs, her heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and dread. At the top, the door creaked open, revealing Master Arithan, standing by a window overlooking the academy grounds.

"Elowen," he said without turning around. "Come in."

She stepped into the chamber, her eyes drawn to the arcane symbols etched into the stone walls, glowing faintly with magic. The air was thick with power, and Elowen could feel it pressing against her skin.

"I won't waste time with pleasantries," Arithan said, his voice cold and direct. "You and Seraphina are strong, perhaps the strongest students this academy has seen in decades. But strength alone is not enough."

He turned to face her, his eyes gleaming with something dark, something dangerous. "There are forces moving in the shadows, forces that seek to destroy everything we have built here. The darkness I spoke of—it is real, and it is coming."

Elowen felt a chill creep down her spine. She had heard the rumors, the whispers, but she hadn't believed them. Not until now.

"What do you want me to do?" she asked, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her.

Arithan's lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. "You and Seraphina are more than just students now. You are weapons. The council will expect you to fight when the time comes. But more than that, I need you to be ready—to face whatever comes, without hesitation, without fear."

He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "You have potential, Elowen. Great potential. But potential means nothing if it is not realized. When the darkness comes, you must be willing to do whatever is necessary. Do you understand?"

Elowen swallowed hard, her mind racing. She had always known her path would lead to great things, but this... this was something else. Something darker.

"I understand," she said at last, though the words felt heavy on her tongue.

Arithan nodded, satisfied. "Good. Then prepare yourself. The storm is coming, and when it does, we will see if you truly are as powerful as I believe."

He turned back to the window, dismissing her with a flick of his hand. Elowen hesitated for a moment, then turned and left the chamber, her heart pounding.

As she descended the tower, the wind howled outside, and the first drops of rain began to fall. She couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen, something that would change everything.

And as the storm gathered over the academy, Elowen knew that her true trials were only just beginning.