The wind rustled through the tall trees surrounding the Ventus dormitory, carrying with it the hum of life from the academy grounds. Caden Vernhart stood by his window, his violet eyes narrowing as he gazed out at the setting sun. The events of the day swirled in his mind—the crystal’s reaction, the headmaster’s words, and Darren’s arrogant challenge.
Despite his calm exterior, Caden’s thoughts were a storm of conflict. He had expected some attention, but not this level of disbelief and scrutiny. Everyone had already placed expectations on him—some full of jealousy, others with doubt. Yet none of them knew the weight of his own expectations. He wanted to prove himself, but to who? To his family? His brothers? Or was it simply to himself?
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Caden turned, exhaling softly before walking over and opening it.
Standing in the doorway was a girl around his age, with short auburn hair and green eyes that glimmered with curiosity. She wore the Ventus uniform, though hers was tailored in a way that suggested she wasn’t one to follow the rules too strictly.
“You’re Caden, right?” the girl asked, not waiting for an answer before pushing her way into the room. “I’m Lira. I saw what you did back there with Darren. That was impressive.”
Caden raised an eyebrow at her abruptness but didn’t protest. “Thank you,” he said, closing the door behind her. “But it was hardly worth mentioning.”
Lira grinned, leaning casually against his desk. “You’re awfully modest for someone who lit up the crystal like it was some kind of festival lantern.”
Caden shrugged. “I don’t see the point in boasting.”
“Boasting? No, no.” Lira’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “You’ve got everyone talking, you know. Half the academy thinks you’re some kind of prodigy. The other half thinks you’re just lucky.”
“I don’t care what they think,” Caden replied, his voice firm. His eyes darkened as he glanced out the window again. “I’m not here to impress anyone.”
Lira’s smile faded, and for a moment, her playful demeanor softened. “Then why are you here?”
Caden hesitated. That question had echoed in his mind all day, but even now, he wasn’t sure how to answer it. Why was he here? He had grown up in a household where power was everything—where his older brothers had always outshone him. He was tired of being in their shadow, yet the weight of their expectations followed him to this academy.
“I suppose,” Caden finally said, turning back to Lira, “I’m here to find out if I’m more than just the youngest Vernhart. More than just my family’s name.”
Lira studied him for a moment, her green eyes searching his face as if trying to read the emotions he kept buried beneath the surface. “Well,” she said after a beat, her tone lighter again, “you’ve certainly started on the right foot. Just… be careful. This place, it’s not like anywhere else. The stronger you are, the more people will try to take you down.”
Caden nodded. He understood that well enough already. He didn’t need Lira to remind him.
Before either could speak again, a sudden commotion from outside drew their attention. Voices, growing louder, echoed up from the courtyard. Caden frowned, moving towards the window again, Lira following behind him.
Below, Darren stood surrounded by a group of students, his face red with frustration as he argued with another boy—one with dark hair and a lean frame. From their body language, it was clear that things were escalating quickly.
“Looks like Darren’s picking another fight,” Lira muttered, folding her arms. “He’s got quite the temper, doesn’t he?”
Caden didn’t reply immediately. His gaze was focused on the dark-haired boy standing defiantly in front of Darren. The boy’s posture was relaxed, but there was something about the way he held himself that suggested he was more dangerous than he appeared.
“Who’s that?” Caden asked.
Lira glanced at the boy and grimaced. “That’s Finn. He’s not in Ventus, but he’s got a reputation for being… difficult.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s a rogue mage,” Lira explained. “Not officially affiliated with any house. He’s powerful, but he doesn’t play by the rules. Rumor has it he was kicked out of another academy for getting into one too many fights.”
As if on cue, Darren’s patience snapped. “You think you’re better than me, Finn?!” he shouted, his voice carrying across the courtyard. “I’ll show you who’s in charge here!”
Before Finn could respond, Darren unleashed a burst of wind magic, the air around him swirling violently. But Finn didn’t flinch. Instead, he moved with surprising speed, sidestepping Darren’s attack and retaliating with a sharp gust of his own. The force of it sent Darren stumbling back, his pride clearly wounded.
Lira winced. “This isn’t going to end well.”
Caden’s eyes narrowed. “No, it’s not.”
Without another word, Caden pushed open the window and leapt down into the courtyard, using a controlled burst of wind magic to soften his landing. He landed gracefully between Darren and Finn, his presence immediately drawing the attention of the crowd.
“What do you think you’re doing, Vernhart?” Darren spat, glaring at Caden. “This doesn’t concern you!”
Caden met his gaze with a calm, steady expression. “You’re making a fool of yourself, Darren. Do you really want to be known as the top student who lost his temper over a petty argument?”
Darren’s face flushed with anger, but before he could respond, Finn stepped forward, his dark eyes flicking between Caden and Darren. “You should listen to him,” Finn said coolly. “You’re embarrassing yourself.”
The tension between the three of them was palpable, the air crackling with latent magic. Darren’s fists clenched, but after a long, tense moment, he exhaled sharply, letting his magic dissipate. “This isn’t over, Vernhart,” he muttered, shooting one last glare at Finn before storming off.
The crowd slowly began to disperse, murmuring amongst themselves about the confrontation. Finn, however, remained, his eyes lingering on Caden.
“You didn’t have to step in,” Finn said, his voice low but firm.
Caden turned to face him fully, his expression unreadable. “I didn’t do it for you. I did it because this academy doesn’t need more pointless fights.”
Finn raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a half-smile. “Noble words from a noble son. But I don’t buy it.”
“I don’t care what you buy,” Caden replied, his voice steady. “Just try not to make a habit of provoking people.”
Finn’s smile widened slightly. “You’re interesting, Vernhart. I’ll keep an eye on you.”
With that, Finn turned and walked away, leaving Caden standing in the courtyard, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts. He didn’t trust Finn, but there was something about him that intrigued Caden—something dangerous, yet oddly familiar.
Lira, who had watched the entire exchange from a safe distance, approached cautiously. “Well, that was… eventful,” she said, her tone light but her eyes serious. “You know, getting involved in fights like that isn’t exactly the best way to stay under the radar.”
“I wasn’t trying to stay under the radar,” Caden replied, his gaze still fixed on the spot where Finn had disappeared.
Lira sighed, running a hand through her short hair. “You’re really something, aren’t you?”
Caden didn’t respond. His mind was too preoccupied with the day’s events—Finn’s sudden appearance, Darren’s anger, and his own growing sense of isolation. He had come to the academy to escape the shadow of his family, but it seemed like no matter what he did, he was destined to stand out.
That night, as Caden lay in bed, his thoughts churned. He had already made enemies, but he didn’t care. Darren was nothing more than a spoiled brat, and Finn… Finn was an enigma, one that Caden couldn’t quite figure out.
Yet despite the uncertainty, one thing was clear: this academy was only the beginning. The road ahead was fraught with challenges, and Caden knew he couldn’t afford to let his guard down.
As he drifted into an uneasy sleep, a single thought echoed in his mind.
*I will prove myself. No matter what it takes.*