Chapter 14 – The Colors of Destiny
Night had fallen over Etheria. Crystals hanging from the vaulted ceilings lit up the dorms with a soft, almost unreal glow. October 21st, Year X545.
The tower struck the seventh hour as the newcomers were invited to the baths and the welcome banquet. Everything breathed luxury: pools carved in white marble, waters scented with astral flowers, servants moving with precise gestures. Even silence seemed sculpted into opulence.
In his room, Seth was arranging his things when his roommate, Damian, broke the silence with the kind of confidence only those raised in nobility could have.
Standing tall, sharp as a blade, he said in a polite but cutting tone:
— Tell me, Seth… Where does your confident stride come from? Your name has never been heard here, and your deeds, if you have any, are unknown.
Seth met his gaze, calm, without arrogance:
— That confidence comes from walking a long, dark road. As for my name… it belongs to no glory.
Damian raised an eyebrow, amused:
— Sounds like a riddle. You talk like someone hiding his past.
Seth replied in a steady voice:
— It's not about hiding. It's just silence. And sometimes silence protects better than any fortress.
Damian leaned closer, his stare as heavy as a sword hanging above Seth.
— Silence, huh? That's also what the arrogant love to wear. The two look alike, you know.
Seth gave a faint, almost sad smile:
— If you think you see pride, Damian… maybe you're just looking at your own reflection.
Damian's lips tightened.
— So you think you're above others?
Seth shook his head slowly:
— No. I'm above no one. But I don't need to expose my scars to prove who I am.
A heavy silence fell in the room. Damian kept staring for a moment, then turned his eyes away.
— Fine. But remember this, Seth: one day, I'll test that mask of yours.
Seth, impassive, calmly replied:
— Then let time judge. Actions always speak louder than words.
---
In the next room, Kael and Teddy shared a much colder silence. Kael tried to speak, but Teddy only gave him a haughty look, saying nothing. The air vibrated with unspoken disdain.
---
At nine o'clock, the students were led to the baths. The air smelled of incense and light steam. Marble basins glimmered like a starry sky. After washing, they were invited to a grand banquet: roasted meats, rare fruits, sweet wines, nectars spiced with fragrance. Etheria wasn't just an academy—it was a fortress of prestige.
On his way out, Seth accidentally bumped into a young girl.
She staggered slightly, then recovered her balance with grace. Her blond hair with silver highlights caught the light, and her blue eyes shone like the oceans of Atlantis.
Seth, embarrassed, bowed his head slightly:
— Sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you.
The girl gave him a gentle smile:
— It's alright, don't worry. My name is Alma, daughter of the King of Atlantis.
Seth froze for a second, then breathed out:
— You're… the heiress of Atlantis.
Alma tilted her head lightly.
— Yes. But I don't want to be just "the king's daughter." And you, newcomer… who are you?
Seth glanced away a little.
— Let's just say I'm a newcomer. Still searching for a shore.
Alma answered softly:
— Then… maybe Etheria will be that shore.
---
Not far away, Kael had met Tara. They shared their impressions: the cold welcome from the students, the harshness of this new beginning.
Tara spoke without hesitation, Kael listened carefully.
Nearby, Teddy froze. The moment he saw Tara, his eyes lit with a deep, unshakable feeling. He, who always seemed cold and distant, was suddenly struck silent by her beauty.
The silence broke when a man entered. Draped in a black cloak lined with runes, silver hair flowing over his shoulders, and sapphire eyes piercing straight into souls.
It was Luxrius Valence, the rector of Etheria. His presence was extraordinary: he never appeared for mere novices.
He approached Seth, Kael, and Tara.
— I've heard you are connected to His Majesty Arthur, King of Britannia. His name carries immense weight here.
His eyes seemed to see through them, each word pressing down with chilling gravity.
— May your stay be rich, in trial as in victory. Honor this bond.
All the students held their breath. Damian, hearing Arthur's name, clenched his jaw, his face tight with unspoken reproach.
---
The next day
The grand hall of Etheria Academy buzzed with excitement. Golden frescoes glimmered under torchlight, and students from all over stood in line, waiting for their evaluation. The white marble floor reflected the flames like a sacred altar.
At the center, a massive crystal towered: the Heart of Etheria.
It revealed each student's true color:
White for the unfit,
Yellow for Rank C,
Blue for Rank B,
Red for Rank A, the rare elite.
The Ceremony of the Capes.
A solemn silence fell when Rector Luxrius raised his hand. His deep voice echoed through the hall:
— Children of the future, step forward. Let your strength be revealed before Etheria and its eternal archives.
One by one, the students placed their hands on the crystal. Light burst forth, coloring their white capes instantly.
Tara went first. Her cape turned to bright yellow: Rank C. She accepted it with a confident smile, knowing she could grow stronger.
Then came Kael.
He stepped onto the stage, breathing a little fast but determined. His eyes searched for Tara's, as if to draw courage. He reached for a cape with azure reflections. But when he touched it… nothing. The fabric stayed dull, without glow, without runes. A chilling silence fell.
— …He's rejected.
— Is that even possible?
— What a disgrace…
Whispers cut through the air like knives. Kael's fingers trembled. He tried to put on the cape, but it slid right off his shoulders, refusing to stay. Stifled laughter echoed in the crowd, each sound piercing him like a blade.
Why me? Why here? he thought, heart sinking.
Luxrius stared at him, unreadable, eyes heavy with meaning. Kael clenched his fists, but nothing changed: the rune remained silent. Tara stepped forward, worried. Seth, meanwhile, frowned, feeling a strange pain—as if he too carried part of that burden.
Luxrius raised his hand, his voice silencing the hall:
— Even a silent rune has its hour. Today's rejection is not an end, but a trial.
Kael descended, capeless. Each step echoed like a sentence. But a small warmth brushed him: Tara's hand grazing his, and Seth's eyes holding no judgment, only a silent promise: You are not alone.
The ceremony went on. Teddy stepped up: his cape turned yellow, and he clenched his teeth in frustration.
Damian, confident, placed his hand on the crystal. Light burst: pure blue, Rank B. A satisfied smile spread on his lips.
Finally, Seth advanced. Everyone watched him, curious about this "newcomer" already whispered about.
When he touched the crystal, blue light exploded, identical to Damian's. Murmurs spread through the hall: a newcomer had equaled the heir of one of Atlantis's greatest families. Damian turned his eyes away, tense.
But the hall was shaken when Roy Lenchester stepped forward. The instant his hand touched the crystal, red light erupted, setting the entire hall ablaze. His cape flared, eclipsing all others.
A first-year student, Rank A: a prodigy unseen for generations.
---
TO BE CONTINUED…