"Relax," They Said. "It'll Be Fun," They Said.
If you think a magical academy field trip would involve relaxing carriage rides, scenic mountain views, and polite conversations… you're adorably mistaken.
It began with Headmaster Veylan's announcement during breakfast.
"Tomorrow," he said, sipping tea as if he wasn't about to ruin our lives, "all first-year advanced students will visit the Ruins of Varellon for practical history and artifact retrieval."
Aria choked on her toast. Luna dropped her tea. Sage looked excited. I, meanwhile, remembered something.
The ruins were rumored to be haunted.
You know, normal field trip stuff.
---
The Road to Trouble
The next morning, our group—me, Aria, Luna, Sage, Astrid, Selene, Eira, Elizabeth, Amy, Kez, Alexa, Vinny, Yuta, Caspian, Asher, and Lysander—set off in enchanted carriages.
Naturally, the moment we departed:
Alexa froze the window shut accidentally.
Sage tried to alchemize breakfast in a bottle.
Aria and Astrid argued over who got the window seat.
Vinny yelled, "ARE WE THERE YET?" every five minutes.
"I'm surrounded by toddlers," I whispered.
Selene, seated beside me, smirked. "You love it."
I didn't deny it.
---
Arrival at the Ruins of Varellon
By midday, we arrived.
The ruins were older than any book described — towering stone arches twisted with vines, half-fallen obelisks covered in runes, and a heavy mist that seemed to whisper.
As we walked through the central courtyard, a sudden shiver passed through me.
A memory flashed—the voice from the crown ceremony.
> "The seal cracks…"
"Kian?" Amy said, noticing my pause.
"I'm fine," I lied.
---
Team Assignments and Chaos Ensues
We were grouped to explore different zones.
Group A – Me, Aria, Sage, Amy
Group B – Astrid, Selene, Caspian, Alexa
Group C – Luna, Vinny, Yuta, Kez
Group D – Lysander, Elizabeth, Eira, Asher
We were to retrieve magical relics, sketch rune structures, and definitely not break anything.
So naturally…
Within the first hour:
Vinny set off a trap and got stuck in a levitating cage.
Eira touched a glowing orb and turned blue for ten minutes.
Sage summoned a squirrel. The squirrel stole Aria's notes.
Caspian fell into a shallow pit, yelled, "I REGRET NOTHING," and climbed out dramatically.
Aria muttered, "How are we still alive?"
---
Deeper Into the Shadows
Our group found a crumbling chamber hidden behind a false wall.
"Feel that?" Sage whispered.
Amy nodded. "The spirit energy here is… off."
We entered.
The runes here pulsed. The air felt thick. At the center was a sealed pedestal with a stone tablet on it.
And when I approached—
> "You again…"
The voice.
Amy's eyes widened. "Kian, step back!"
I couldn't. My feet were rooted.
The runes lit up in blood-red light.
A hologram flickered above the tablet — an ancient mage with hollow eyes.
> "The Demon Emperor stirs… the seal weakens… and the vessel walks among you."
Then it shattered into dust.
I stumbled back, cold sweat dripping down my neck.
Sage caught me. "Kian! Hey—what was that?!"
I swallowed. "A warning."
And a terrifying realization: someone among us might be the vessel.
---
Back at Camp: Laughter, Flames, and Crushes
Despite the haunting experience, the professors insisted we "continue as normal" and camp at the ruins overnight.
Because of course they did.
So we ended up around a magical bonfire.
"Truth or Dare?" Selene suggested.
Vinny smirked. "I'm in."
Aria rolled her eyes. "We're so going to regret this."
It went as expected:
Sage was dared to drink a glowing potion. He turned into a rabbit for two minutes.
Aria confessed she once tied Vinny's shoelaces together during a duel.
Amy was asked who she liked. Her face turned red. She glanced at me. So did Elizabeth.
Then it was my turn.
"Kian," Luna said sweetly. "Truth or dare?"
"…Truth."
"Who do you like?"
Internal panic intensifies.
I stared into the fire. "I like… breakfast. Hot chocolate. Not dying."
Lysander chuckled. "Coward."
---
The Dream
That night, I dreamed of fire and frost clashing.
A dark tower.
A throne of bones.
And a figure cloaked in black mist, whispering,
> "The vessel awakens. The Emperor shall rise. The academy shall fall."
I woke with a jolt, hand glowing faintly with elemental magic.
Outside, the ruins pulsed softly — as if watching