The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the academy grounds as Caden walked back toward the dorms. His heart still raced from the confrontation with Darren, but the victory brought him no relief. The buzz of murmurs from the students faded as he left the courtyard behind, replaced by a deafening silence in his mind. Despite winning the duel of wits, a gnawing feeling had begun to settle inside him. 
*Was it enough?* 
As much as he hated to admit it, Darren’s words still stung. *You’re still nothing!* Darren had spat those words with such venom that Caden couldn’t shake the feeling. Winning hadn’t felt triumphant; it felt like barely keeping his head above water.
Lira and Finn walked beside him, their earlier smiles fading as they sensed his inner turmoil.
“You alright, Caden?” Finn asked quietly.
Caden’s gaze remained fixed on the ground. “I don’t know,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair.
Lira stopped, grabbing Caden’s arm gently but firmly. “Hey,” she said, her voice soft but commanding. “You did great. Everyone saw what you’re capable of today. That was the whole point, wasn’t it?”
Caden met her eyes, a storm of doubt brewing in his chest. “But what if Darren was right? What if I’m just hiding behind my intellect? Maybe I’m not strong enough to face everything this academy throws at me.”
Lira’s brow furrowed, her grip on his arm tightening. “Caden, you’ve always been hard on yourself, but you’ve got to stop doubting what you’re capable of. You’ve already proven you’re not just a book-smart noble’s son. You stood your ground today, and that’s what matters.”
Caden sighed, pulling away gently. “Maybe... but it doesn’t feel like enough.”
Finn stepped forward, his usually playful demeanor more serious now. “Look, Darren’s been running this place like he owns it for years. He’s a bully. The fact that you didn’t stoop to his level—didn’t let him get to you—that says more about your strength than any magic duel could.”
Lira nodded, stepping in front of Caden to block his path. “And don’t forget, you’re the youngest son of a duke. Everyone’s watching you, judging your every move. But you didn’t crumble. You proved that you’re more than the expectations people have for you.”
Caden clenched his fists, feeling the tension in his muscles. The weight of his family name bore down on him constantly, and it only seemed to get heavier with each passing day. Being at the academy was supposed to give him a fresh start, a place where he could carve out his own path. Yet, every day, it felt like he was living under a microscope—every action scrutinized, every mistake amplified.
“I just... I don’t know how to shake it,” Caden admitted quietly. “No matter what I do, I can’t get out from under my family’s shadow. Even today, half of those people were probably thinking I only won because I’m a duke’s son.”
“That’s not true, and you know it,” Lira said, her voice firm. “You won because you’re smart. Because you worked for it.”
Caden shook his head, frustration building in his chest. “But what if that’s all I have? What if when it comes down to it, I’m just—”
Before he could finish, Lira grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to stop and face her. “Stop it. Just stop.” Her voice was sharp, but there was a deep concern in her eyes. “You’re not *just* anything. You’ve never been. And if you keep doubting yourself like this, you’re going to lose sight of everything you’ve worked for.”
Caden opened his mouth to argue, but Lira’s words hit him harder than he expected. He took a shaky breath, letting her grip on his shoulders ground him. She was right—he had been doubting himself for far too long. Every step he took at this academy was weighed down by his fears, by the expectations he felt he could never meet.
But he wasn’t alone.
“Thanks, Lira,” he said quietly, his voice softening. “I guess I needed to hear that.”
She smiled, releasing her hold on him. “You always do.”
Finn clapped a hand on Caden’s back, his grin returning. “See? This is why we’re here, man. To remind you that you’re not in this alone. So how about we head to the dining hall, get some food, and talk about something that *isn’t* Darren for once?”
Caden chuckled despite himself, the tension in his chest easing just a little. “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”
The three of them made their way to the dining hall, the air between them lighter now. As they walked, Caden found himself thinking about what Lira had said. Maybe he had been too hard on himself. Maybe he had been so focused on proving something to everyone else that he had lost sight of why he was really here.
They grabbed their trays and found a table near the back, away from the buzz of conversation that filled the room. Caden picked at his food, still deep in thought, when a familiar voice cut through the noise.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the academy’s newest star.”
Caden looked up to see Alex, a fellow first-year and one of Darren’s loyal followers, standing at the edge of their table. His smirk was infuriatingly smug, and Caden could feel the tension creeping back into his body.
“What do you want, Alex?” Lira asked, her tone flat and unamused.
Alex shrugged, his smirk never wavering. “Just thought I’d congratulate our boy Caden here on his... *victory* today. Quite the show you put on. Solving riddles like a proper noble.”
Caden clenched his jaw, but before he could respond, Finn spoke up.
“Jealous much? Or are you just mad Darren got shown up for once?”
Alex’s smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. “Oh, I’m not mad. Just making sure everyone knows what kind of game Caden’s playing. You might’ve won today, but don’t think that means you’re safe. Darren doesn’t forget, and neither do we.”
Caden met Alex’s gaze, his heart pounding. He knew this wasn’t over—not by a long shot. Darren and his lackeys would come for him again, and next time, it wouldn’t be a battle of wits.
“I’m not afraid of Darren,” Caden said, his voice steady. “And if he has a problem with me, he knows where to find me.”
Alex chuckled darkly, shaking his head. “You’re going to regret that attitude, Caden. But hey, enjoy the peace while it lasts.” With that, he turned and sauntered off, leaving a trail of tension in his wake.
Lira sighed, pushing her tray away. “Why do they always have to make everything a threat?”
Finn grunted, stabbing at his food with his fork. “Because that’s all they’ve got. They know they can’t win on brains, so they use fear instead.”
Caden remained silent, his mind racing. Alex’s words lingered in his thoughts, a constant reminder that Darren wasn’t done with him. He had known this would happen—that standing up to Darren would paint a target on his back. But now, the weight of that realization settled heavily on his shoulders.
He couldn’t show fear. Not now. Not when so much was at stake.
Lira reached across the table, placing a hand on Caden’s. “We’ll figure it out. Together. You’re not alone in this.”
Her words, simple as they were, brought a sense of calm to Caden’s storm of emotions. He squeezed her hand gently, offering her a small, grateful smile.
“I know,” he said quietly. “I’m just... trying to figure out what to do next.”
Finn leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “What you *shouldn’t* do is let Darren control your next move. He thrives on that kind of power. Just keep doing what you’re doing, and don’t let him get in your head.”
Caden nodded slowly, Finn’s words resonating with him. He had spent so long trying to prove something—to Darren, to the academy, to himself—that he had lost sight of the bigger picture.
Maybe it wasn’t about winning every battle. Maybe it was about standing his ground, no matter what came next.
As the evening wore on and the dining hall began to empty, Caden found himself feeling lighter, more focused. Darren might not be done with him, but Caden wasn’t going to let that stop him from becoming the mage he was meant to be.