Cursed By Fate

The first Battle

Chapter 13: The First Battle

The following morning, the Academy was buzzing with rumors. Whispers of the beasts in the forest and the tension surrounding the royals were on every student’s lips. But none of it fazed Aria. She continued her training, moving through her daily routines with the same silent efficiency she was known for. Swordsmanship, magic theory, and physical conditioning were her primary focuses. Her cursed powers, however, remained a mystery she didn’t share with anyone.

In the training grounds, groups of students were paired off, sparring with one another under the watchful eyes of their instructors. Aria was left to her own devices, as usual. The other students avoided her, some out of fear, others out of suspicion. It didn’t matter to her; she preferred it this way.

Her sword moved like an extension of her body, fluid and precise. Each strike was calculated, but her thoughts were far away, replaying the encounter with the beasts in the forest. There was something unnatural about them, something familiar in the way they had responded to her presence. It was as if they had been drawn to her cursed energy.

As her blade met the training dummy with a solid thud, she sensed a presence behind her. She didn’t turn, but she already knew who it was.

"You fight like someone with something to prove," came the voice of Master Kaelan, her old mentor. His tone was calm, but there was an edge to his words, a challenge.

Aria didn’t respond immediately, wiping the sweat from her brow and turning to face him. "I fight because I must."

Master Kaelan watched her, his sharp eyes assessing her every movement. "That’s not what I taught you. You should fight with purpose, not desperation."

"Perhaps I’ve found a new purpose," Aria said, her voice flat.

Kaelan raised an eyebrow. "Purpose can be dangerous when it’s fueled by anger."

Aria held his gaze, but she said nothing. There was truth in his words, but she wasn’t ready to acknowledge it. Not yet.

Before Kaelan could press her further, a loud horn echoed through the training grounds, drawing everyone’s attention. The students froze, their faces filled with confusion and growing alarm. The instructors exchanged uneasy glances.

Kaelan’s expression darkened. "That’s the alarm for an attack."

The air in the Academy grew thick with tension as students and instructors alike scrambled to prepare. Aria’s hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of her sword. She didn’t have to ask; she already knew the attack wasn’t from the usual enemies. Something darker was coming.

"They’re here," Kaelan muttered under his breath, his tone grim.

"Who?" Aria asked, her voice calm but demanding an answer.

"Beasts from the dark forest—monsters that shouldn’t exist outside their realm," he replied. "Get ready. This will be your first real battle."

As the students gathered in formation, the gates of the Academy trembled. The ground shook beneath their feet, and from the forest came a low, menacing growl that made even the bravest students falter.

Aria, however, remained still, her face as expressionless as ever. The cursed energy inside her stirred, sensing the danger. She welcomed it. Her body felt lighter, her reflexes sharper as the beasts began to emerge from the shadows.

Massive, hulking creatures with glowing red eyes and thick, scaly hides charged toward the Academy, their roars echoing across the grounds. Their claws tore through the earth, their jaws snapping at anything in their path.

"Defensive positions!" one of the instructors shouted, but the fear in their voice betrayed them.

Chaos erupted as students scrambled to follow orders, some raising magical barriers, others drawing their swords. The beasts tore through the outer defenses with ease, and soon, they were inside the gates.

Aria moved like a shadow, her sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. One of the beasts lunged at her, its fangs bared, but she dodged effortlessly, driving her blade deep into its side. Black blood sprayed across the ground as the creature howled in pain.

More beasts followed, but Aria was ready. She fought without hesitation, her cursed powers simmering just below the surface, waiting to be unleashed.

Kaelan joined the fight, his blade a blur as he cut down the monsters with practiced ease. "Don’t get cocky, Aria," he called out. "These things are only the beginning."

As the battle raged on, a sudden explosion rocked the Academy grounds. A massive creature, far larger than the others, appeared from the shadows. Its body was covered in black scales, and its eyes burned with unnatural hatred.

"It’s a corrupted beast!" one of the instructors shouted, panic evident in their voice.

The students hesitated, fear gripping them as the monster advanced. But Aria didn’t flinch. She could feel the cursed energy rising within her, feeding off the chaos and bloodshed.

With a single step forward, she raised her hand, and for the first time in front of her peers, she unleashed her true power. Dark tendrils of energy erupted from her fingertips, wrapping around the corrupted beast. The creature roared in defiance, but it was no match for the overwhelming force of Aria’s curse.

The students watched in stunned silence as the beast was slowly torn apart by the dark energy, its body disintegrating into ash.

When the battle finally ended, the courtyard was littered with the remains of the fallen beasts. The students were bruised and bloodied, but they had survived.

Aria stood in the center of the carnage, her breathing steady, her expression as cold and unreadable as ever. The other students stared at her with a mix of awe and fear, but she didn’t care.

Kaelan approached her, wiping the blood from his blade. "You’re stronger than I remember," he said, his tone almost impressed.

Aria met his gaze, her voice as calm as ever. "I had no choice."

Kaelan’s eyes flickered with something unreadable before he turned away. "There’s always a choice, Aria. Don’t forget that."

As the dust settled, a shadow moved at the edge of the forest. Aria’s eyes narrowed as she caught a glimpse of a figure watching them from the trees. But before she could react, the figure disappeared, leaving only the faint echo of their presence behind.

Aria knew this was only the beginning. Whatever darkness had sent the beasts was still out there, waiting. And next time, it wouldn’t stop at the gates.

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