The wind curled through the valley like a secret brushing the silver leaf tree until they bowed in hush, between cliff and cloud. The dark structure of the velcrid sanctum loomed - silence, pride, and the unknown. Not a school, A crucible.
Every year, thousands crossed it's obsidian gates even now. A sea of black-uniformed teenagers stood before the towering hate of the academy - Velcrid sanctum, not just any academy but the sanctum of survival, despair, and evolution.
In velthria, strength is not given. It's carved. Forged in fire, molded by fear, awakened by pain.
Within every human lies a Nexus - a sleeping core. It doesn't stir with time, no. It opens when the soul breaks. From it's awakening flows nethera, the invincible current that binds life to element.
And with nethera comes affinity - the gift to manipulate flames, shatter stones, steal light and go beyond. Most, awakened one, a rare few two. Let me introduce you to someone even rarer.
A guard at the academy gate squinted against the most. A black transport hovered to a stop and a blonde haired boy stepped out, the guard was supposed to see him, he welcomed him with respect, soon after the boy had gone in another boy soon came to view, about 5'5, long lashes, lean, black hair but his standout features was his grey glass-like eyes.
The guard had not seen or sensed his presence, he was a little surprised. Looking at the boy in a dark hoodie emotionless expression, his eyes almost translucent, they didn't blink.
"Name?" The guard simply asked, raising the scanner in his hand. The boy's lip lifted slightly
" Damian, Damian Quin"
The scanner flickered. Buzzed- then died.
" Hmmm, no much information" he said looking at the tab displaying the results of the scan " 15yrs, awakened at 14.... Late bloomer I see, no family, or guard. That's about it even your region isn't shown here. You must really have a tough..."
Damian had already entered the gate, leaving the guard talking to himself.
" Hmm... Whatever" the guard brushed it off as he saw Damian departing figure
Damian walked slowly on the academy campus, amazed at the huge building and nethera flow.
A group of people passed by discussing and laughing. Looking at their black uniforms, Damian noticed a golden crest indicating they are nobles. One saw damain and sneered at him
" Another stray" he said " let's hope he doesn't die in the first week"
Damian ignored their words and kept moving like he heard nothing. This made the passing nobles angry but they kept moving.
In a near buy arena a silver haired girl was trying to form an ice cube on her finger tips when she saw Damian pass by, her ability soon broke.
She did not know why
Damian walked past her like a shadow passing through glass. He kept on moving and soon arrived at a stairs but soon paused at the dormitory steps.
Just for a breath
And in that breath, came the past.
A field of white flowers.
Burning.
Children laughing.
No screaming.
Then..... Then nothing.
Taking a deep breath he continued. Soon he arrived at a room stating "Nexus Assessment". Walking in he saw a woman on glasses, not a lot of students where here despite it being the first day.
"Hello, can you place your right hands on the orb" she said politely.
The Nexus Assessment orb activated, there where about 50 of this small spherical ball in this hall with about 40 children present. The Nexus forged through trauma and pain, this orb merely recorded the nature of what they had become. The orb pulsed, whirred, blinked. Then one word appeared.
Affinity: Shadow
Not a rare affinity but not common either, not the most powerful ability but by no means weak.
She asked him to give her a second while she take his records. Damian waited patiently while breathing a sign of relieve. That day he felt three but only 1 has been detected. This was good.
" Ok, hear you go, that shows how many affinity you have" the instructor gave him a wristwatch with a bronze glow that shows the No. 1 " and have this key card, your room is at hall 17"
...
Hall 17 has three beds, modest but functional. The walls pulsed with faint runes- light enchantments and ambient shields. Damian went to the bed closest to the widow and his as he did his roommate arrived. Two boys about 5'10 and 5'11 both seem older than he was and one of them had a golden crest indicating his a noble and the other just had a white crest indicating his from a middle class household.
Damian minding his business started unpacking but one of the boys seem to approach him.
"Hey" the boy said as Damian turned he saw a white haired boy waving at him with a warm smile "I'm sky, that's Elias" he said pointing at his friend who just gave Damian a glance and said nothing, his noble blood unmistakable. He didn't give Damian a thought.
"What's your name"
"Damian" not wanting to annoy anyone he answered
" Hey don't be scared of us ok, we're your roommate, we might be a year ahead of you but you can still talk to us or come to us for help ....ok" Damian just gave a slight nod as he continued to unpack with precise hands. Few clothes, few belongings.
"Light traveler?" Damian gave no answer he just wanted to be alone but sky just keep asking questions.
" You don't have a crest on your uniform, does that mean your parents are dead?"
Still nothing
" Sorry if that offended"
Nothing
A bell soon echoed across the academy, indicating time for classes. Hearing the sound, Damian immediately left his dorm room not even caring about his exposed bag cause he knows there's nothing valuable inside. Following the sound and a few students that seemed his age, he entered a large hall, where students gather, he joined.
At the center stood professor. Mo. Her robes were elegant, laced with a sharp sigil-stitching. A myric shade without a doubt, powerful and grounded.
" Good day" she said, her voice heard all around the room "Today, we begin where every warrior begins: The Origin"