Lightless

At Elmhurst University, mastery of the elements defines one's future. From the graceful power of Halo to the raw might of Blaze, students from across the realm gather to train in their elemental arts. But among the prestigious colleges of Aqua, Terra, Gale, Blaze, and Halo, one name has been erased from history: Noctis, the dark element. Its students, its power, and its legacy have been reduced to little more than a ghost story whispered through dormitory halls.
For Alden Solen, a prodigious Halo student, life at Elmhurst is a chance to live up to his family's legendary name. Yet as rumors of a secret Noctis student on campus spread, Alden and his newfound circle of friends are drawn into a dangerous conspiracy. Their search for the truth leads them to long-forgotten secrets about the university, the elements, and the dark ties between their ancestors and the fall of Noctis.
At the center of it all stands Kael Draven, a sharp-tongued, enigmatic student whose very presence feels out of place. As Alden gets closer to Kael, drawn by a connection he cannot explain, he begins to question everything: his own beliefs, his ancestors' role in history, and whether the light he's been taught to revere can truly exist without darkness.
Caught between loyalty to his friends, the growing tension of an enemies-to-lovers bond with Kael, and the unrelenting pressure of Halo perfection, Alden must decide: Will he stand for the truth, even if it unravels the very foundation of his world?