Lumenfall Academy, Night — One Month After The Battle
The moon hung low over Lumenfall, casting silver light across the quiet courtyards. The air was calm and placid, though whispers floated through the dormitories.
Student 1: "Did you hear about Zephyr and his friends? They actually survived an Essenz surge…"
Student 2: "I heard they destroyed the forest… all of it…"
Zephyr sat on the edge of the academy's rooftop, arms resting on his knees, staring at the faint glow of the city below. Lya and Aron had returned to their rooms hours ago. Fenrir, however, lay resting beside Zephyr.
A faint breeze brushed past him; it carried a scent he didn't recognize. It was cold and metallic, like the edge of a blade.
He didn't notice the letter at first, until he did.
The paper was thin, black, and smooth. No seal. No signature. Only a symbol of an island burned into the corner.
Zephyr cautiously opened it.
[Congratulations, Zephyr. You have been invited to the life-or-death tournament. Come to the island beyond borders. Prove your strength. You and a hundred other handpicked contestants will participate and compete against one another to see who will come out on top. Lest you warn or try to show this letter to anyone, you will be blacklisted and considered a direct enemy. We will not hesitate to enforce our might.You will meet at Ashwater Wharf in the coastal city of Lunaria at exactly midnight tomorrow. The city is 80 miles from your current location. Make haste, for glory awaits. ]
Zephyr's fingers tightened around the paper. He looked out into the moonlit sky, for something compelled him to go.
He slid the letter into his pocket and headed back to his dorm room.
The next morning, he headed for the training grounds and found Lya training in the yard. Aron was also there, leaning against a pillar, staring off into space.
Lya noticed Zephyr approaching and gave a quick nudge to Aron.
Lya: "Did you sleep, Zephyr?"
Zephyr didn't answer right away. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the letter, showing it to them.
Aron's gaze hardened, then he spoke.
Aron: "So you got it too, huh?"
Zephyr, in a surprised tone, asked, "Wait, you guys also got it?!"
Lya: "Yeah. We found it beside our pillows when we woke up."
Zephyr stared at the letter for a bit longer before shoving it into his pocket. He didn't know why, but he had an irresistible urge to join the tournament.
Lya watched him, her expression slightly worried.
Aron, on the other hand, looked like he was already annoyed.
Aron: "So… what do we do? Do we join it?"
Lya: "Aron—"
Zephyr: "This is dangerous, Aron. I'm sure you guys also read the contents, but as clearly stated, this is a life-or-death tournament."
Aron's gaze hardened once more. "Yeah, you're right, Zeph, but it might be a great opportunity for us to grow. I mean, c'mon, look back at Sylvaris! We almost died there because we were too weak, and we've hit a stump here at Lumenfall."
Lya: "Aron, you seriously can't be considering this!"
Zephyr: "I know, Lya. This seems like a reckless idea, but Aron's got a point. We're not going to get stronger if we just lay around all day."
Aron smirked, his eyes glinting with excitement.
Aron: "Exactly. And besides… we're not exactly bad at surviving. I doubt the other contestants went through what we did, so we might have an edge over them."
Lya frowned, her voice strained.
Lya: "This isn't about surviving, Aron. This is about walking into something that's going to kill you."
Zephyr's gaze drifted. He could feel the weight of the letter in his pocket, like it was pulling him.
He then quickly shook his head and spoke up.
Zephyr: "Something about this just feels important. It's like I have to do this."
Lya scoffed.
Lya: "Everything feels important to you, Zeph." She then sighed before continuing, "But if we do go… we're going to need a plan."
Zephyr nodded.
Zephyr: "We'll go, but we go together, and we make sure we don't underestimate it."
Aron raised his chin.
Aron: "Good choice. Anyhow, if I die, I'll make sure to haunt the organizer." He smirked.
Zephyr and Lya both exchanged a look.
Lya spoke up, her voice soft, "None of us are dying, Aron. Get that stupid thought out of your thick skull."