Lyra barely slept.
Every time she drifted off, she saw that tiny floating ember again… glowing like an eye. Watching. Waiting.
By dawn, she sat up in bed with her heart still pounding.
Calm down.
It was only one ember.
It didn't speak… it didn't drag you into a vision…
But she couldn't shake the feeling that it was a warning.
She got dressed in the academy's simple uniform dark trousers, white tunic, and an Emberveil crest pinned to the collar. The fabric felt stiff and strange compared to her village clothes.
A loud bell rang across the campus.
Lyra jumped.
"That… must be the morning bell," she muttered.
She grabbed the map Aerin left and stepped outside.
The Academy Awakens
Students filled the hallways some yawning half-asleep, some levitating books behind them, some creating tiny sparks of magic that fizzled like fireworks.
Lyra tried to walk quietly and avoid attention.
It didn't work.
Whispers followed her like shadows.
"That's her."
"The new girl."
"The one the Headmaster escorted himself."
"She must have some crazy ability "
"Or she's trouble."
Lyra's stomach tightened.
She kept her eyes down and followed the map toward the Assembly Hall.
Assembly Hall — First Gathering
The hall was huge, with banners of each elemental house hanging from the ceiling:
Ignis — red
Aeris — silver
Aqua — blue
Terra — green
Lumen — gold
Umbra —violet
And at the center, hanging above all others, was the academy crest:
a phoenix rising from crimson fire.
Students were seated by house.
Lyra froze.
She… didn't have a house.
She didn't even have an affinity.
Aerin spotted her immediately and waved both arms wildly.
"Lyra! Over here!"
She hurried to him, grateful for the familiar face.
"You okay?" he whispered as she sat. "You look pale."
"I'm fine," she lied.
Before he could ask more, the doors swung open.
Everyone fell silent.
Headmaster Aldric stepped onto the platform.
Lyra straightened instinctively.
Aldric's presence filled the entire hall.
Strong. Calm. Protective.
"Welcome, students of Emberveil," he said. "This year, we stand at the edge of change. The old world shifts, and new powers awaken among us."
Lyra felt her chest tighten.
Was he… talking about her?
Aldric continued.
"This academy was built to guide all magic ordinary or extraordinary. No matter your origin, you belong here."
Students nodded. Some clapped softly.
"And this year," Aldric added, "we accept a student whose abilities remain undetermined. But she is to be treated with the same respect as any other mage in training."
Lyra's heart dropped.
He meant her.
Whispers erupted again.
Aerin elbowed her gently.
"Don't worry. He's being protective."
Lyra didn't feel protected.
She felt exposed.
Aldric raised his hand for silence.
"All first-year students will undergo affinity evaluation this week. Classes begin today. I expect discipline, integrity, and unity."
He nodded once.
"Dismissed."
A Small Problem Called Cinderstep
After the assembly, Aerin guided Lyra through the crowd.
"You'll like your classes! Well, except Transformation. Everyone fails at least one assignment. I once turned my desk into a goose. It never forgave me."
Lyra blinked. "Your… desk?"
"Yep. It honked every time I tried to take notes."
She almost smiled.
They walked toward Runic Studies when a sudden whoosh exploded behind them.
A small creature fiery, fox-like, and glowing leaped across the hallway.
Aerin's eyes widened.
"Oh no. Not again."
Lyra stepped back. "What is that?!"
"That," Aerin groaned, "is a cinderstep. A tiny fire spirit that likes chaos. They escape the labs all the time."
The cinderstep hissed, sparks flying from its tail.
Other students screamed.
Aerin looked around frantically.
"Do you see a containment orb?!"
Lyra didn't.
And the creature was getting more agitated its flames turning deeper orange, close to red.
Lyra's heartbeat quickened.
"Everyone back up!" she called.
Students moved away.
The cinderstep hissed again and then charged straight at Aerin.
"Aerin!" Lyra grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
But the creature kept coming.
Lyra raised her hands instinctively, trying to shield him.
"I don't know what to do!"
A heat flared suddenly across her skin.
Her fingertips glowed,a faint, soft crimson light.
Lyra froze.
No.
Not here.
Not in front of everyone But the light pulsed once, and a wave of heat rolled out.
Gentle. Controlled.
Unlike anything she'd felt.
The cinderstep's flames flickered then dimmed.
It whined softly, calming instantly, and curled up on the ground like a sleepy ember.
The hallway fell silent.
Aerin stared at her.
The other students stared at her.
Lyra lowered her trembling hands.
"I..I didn't mean to—"
Aerin stepped forward slowly.
"Lyra… that wasn't a normal fire spell."
She swallowed hard. "I know."
Before he could ask more, a stern voice cut through the crowd.
"What's going on here?"
It was Instructor Vaelor the tall, intimidating Fire Arts teacher with eyes sharp as molten gold.
He looked at the soot on the floor, then at the calm cinderstep… then at Lyra.
His gaze narrowed.
"You," he said. "Come to my classroom after last period."
Lyra's heart sank.
"Am I in trouble?"
"In trouble?" Vaelor repeated coldly. "We'll see."
He turned sharply.
Aerin whispered, "That is… not a good sign."
Lyra felt the heat inside her chest pulse again.
The ember last night,
The cinderstep today.
The Calamity was getting closer.
And her power was waking up
whether she wanted it to or not.