Arcane Dominion: The Rise of Shadows

"First Lesson"

Third Person Pov-

The heavy doors of the Obsidian Tower closed with a low, resonant thud, sealing out the murmurs of the enchanted forest. Lyriana stood motionless, her gaze lingering on the faint echoes of Nerina's footsteps as the girl was led deeper into the labyrinthine halls by one of her summoned shades. Nerina Faelan. A name Lyriana had plucked from the whispers of the ley lines themselves, threads of destiny entangling them long before the young mage had set foot within these walls. Raw potential. Reckless ambition. And that fire in her eyes—so fierce, so fragile. Lyriana's lips curled into a faint, knowing smirk.

She turned, her robe flowing behind her as she ascended the spiral staircase to her private chamber. Each step resonated with the weight of her centuries, the stones beneath her feet attuned to her presence. As she entered the chamber, the wards shimmered, acknowledging her arrival, and the air grew colder—a reflection of her mood.

A rebellious apprentice. She allowed herself a small, derisive laugh as she settled into a chair carved from obsidian and inlaid with runes that pulsed faintly with ley energy. This was not the first time a young mage had arrived at her door, desperate to learn, defiant in the face of her authority. Yet, something about Nerina gnawed at her.

Lyriana closed her eyes and reached out to the ley lines, her consciousness sinking into the unseen rivers of magic that coursed beneath the world. In her mind's eye, she saw Nerina's thread—a vivid, chaotic spark of energy against the dark currents. It flared and danced with an intensity that felt almost alive, resisting her probing touch. Fascinating. And dangerous.

"She doesn't understand the cost," Lyriana murmured to the empty room, her voice barely a whisper. Her hands moved, tracing symbols in the air as she conjured a vision of their earlier encounter. Nerina's defiance replayed before her: the way the girl had met her gaze without flinching, the sharp edge in her words. A fledgling eagle daring to challenge the storm.

Lyriana's smirk faded, replaced by something colder, sharper. She had tolerated Nerina's insolence, but only because it amused her. The girl's defiance would need to be tempered—broken, if necessary. There was no room for weakness or rebellion in the pursuit of true power. But even as the thought settled, something deeper stirred within her. Beneath the layers of annoyance and calculated indifference, Lyriana felt... curiosity.

Nerina was different.

Most who came to her sought power for power's sake, their desires laid bare in trembling hands and eager pleas. But Nerina's defiance was not born of fear or greed. It was a challenge. A spark of something Lyriana had not seen in centuries—a force that could either burn out in a flash or ignite into something unstoppable.

"Foolish, but not without promise," she said, leaning back in her chair, her fingers steepled before her. "If she survives, she could be... useful."

The wards on the chamber flickered again, sensing her shifting emotions. She dismissed the vision with a wave of her hand, the room falling into a still, heavy silence.

Lyriana stared into the void beyond her window, the stars above Eldrasil twinkling faintly through the enchanted mist. She could feel the ley lines beneath the tower, restless and surging, their energies more volatile than usual.

The world was changing. The balance of power was shifting. And Nerina, whether she realized it or not, was now a piece on this dangerous board.

"Let's see how far you're willing to go, little one," Lyriana whispered, her voice laced with quiet resolve. "Let's see if you're strong enough to stand beside me... or if you'll crumble like the others."

As the shadows deepened around her, Lyriana allowed herself a rare moment of anticipation. The game had begun, and she intended to win.  

Nerina's Pov-