Ryan left the fencing ground, his steps carrying a different rhythm this time. He was no longer just a student who had finished an ordinary training session; he was someone beginning to make a name for himself in a place that showed no mercy to the weak. The glances that followed him through the corridors were not mere passing curiosity — they were looks of respect mixed with caution. Valeria was not just an ordinary opponent; she was a symbol of the elite, and whoever defeated her earned considerable respect, along with countless enmities.
But Ryan did not care. He knew this academy was not a guesthouse, but a battlefield that stretched throughout the year. Every victory here was merely a step toward a greater goal — a goal he had not yet defined, but whose presence he could feel deep within.
The next class on his schedule was Ancient Languages — a new subject he had never attended before. He had heard it taught ancient symbols and inscriptions dating back to lost civilizations, and his curiosity drove him to learn more.
He entered Hall Eleven, where the scent of old books and dust filled the air as if it were part of the place's very fabric. The hall was small, its walls adorned with strange engravings and symbols that had lost their original meanings centuries ago, yet remained carved in stone as a memory of forgotten civilizations. The lighting was dim, causing shadows to play across the students' faces and lending the place an atmosphere of mystery and awe.
The hall was half full. Some students were already seated, while others filed in one by one. Ryan looked for a seat — the third row, near the window overlooking the academy's garden, where autumn leaves were falling like quiet tears. He sat down and took out his empty notebook, waiting for the lecture to begin.
Then he felt a slight movement beside him.
He raised his head and saw Valeria sitting in the adjacent seat. Her long chestnut hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her hazel eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence, not devoid of deep curiosity. She wore the academy's formal uniform, but she was not like any other student. She carried in her posture the confidence of one who knows their place.
Ryan looked at her with some surprise. He hadn't expected to see her here, especially since he hadn't seen her in any other class besides practical fencing.
she said simply, as if justifying her presence.
"This seat is empty."
Ryan replied calmly.
"I didn't say anything."
They sat in silence, but it was a heavy silence, laden with unasked questions. Valeria's glances drifted toward him from time to time, as if she were trying to dissect him, understand him, penetrate that calm that surrounded him. After the duel she had lost to him, it seemed she couldn't stop thinking about him.
Finally, she whispered, her voice soft but sharp as a blade:
"You... read my movements quickly. How did you do that?"
Ryan lifted his eyes from his notebook and looked directly at her, without blinking.
"I focused on your attack pattern. You preferred to attack from the left, and you raised your sword slightly before every strong strike. Your breathing also quickened before complex attacks."
Valeria paused for a moment. She wasn't used to being read so easily. Her expression was a mixture of surprise and curiosity, as if she were seeing something she hadn't expected.
she said, a faint smile forming on her lips. It wasn't a smile of defeat, but a smile of acknowledgment.
"No one has ever noticed that before,You're... different."
Before he could respond, Professor Eldron entered, carrying his old book under his arm, walking slowly as if time itself slowed in his presence. He was an elderly man, his hair white as snow, and his pale blue eyes hid a sea of knowledge. This was the students' first encounter with him, and his presence alone was enough to silence the entire hall.
He stood behind the podium, looked at the students with his pale blue eyes, and began in his weak yet clear voice, which carried the tone of one who whispers the world's secrets:
"Welcome to the Ancient Languages class. This subject is not like the others you study. Here, you will not learn how to fight, or how to use your spark. Here, you will learn how to read what others have left behind. How to understand the secrets of the past."
He paused for a moment, as if letting the words sink into their minds.
"Ancient languages are keys. Keys to understanding the civilizations that came before us. Keys to understanding the myths that some believe are merely stories. But they are not. Every symbol, every inscription, carries a truth."
The professor began explaining basic symbols — symbols of the elements, symbols of ancient tribes, symbols of fallen kingdoms. The students took notes attentively.
In the middle of the class, the professor drew a new symbol on the board. It was a circular symbol, complex, with wavy lines inside that resembled waves but were more intricate. Upon seeing it, Ryan felt a faint chill run through his body, even though he didn't know why.
said the professor, his voice becoming lower and more serious,
"This symbol,is connected to the tribes that lived in the Black Sand Desert. Very little is known about them. But what remains of their traces suggests they possessed ancient knowledge... and perhaps dangerous knowledge. It is said they used symbols to communicate with forces that humans do not understand."
Ryan raised his hand and asked, his voice calm but carrying undisguised curiosity:
"Professor, are these tribes connected to the Shadow Worm that Professor Thorn spoke about in the Legendary Creatures class?"
Professor Eldron looked at him, his pale blue eyes seeming to pierce through him. For a moment, he appeared to be thinking about how to respond.
he said finally.
"Some ancient texts suggest that,The Shadow Worm, according to those texts, was one of their tools. But the knowledge was lost, and what remains has become myth. Nevertheless, there are those who believe these myths carry a fragment of the truth."
Valeria, who had been listening intently, turned her head toward Ryan. She had heard about the Shadow Worm in the Legendary Creatures class, but she hadn't known Ryan was so interested in it. There was something in the way he asked that made her feel he knew more than he let on.
The class ended shortly after. The students began to leave, talking about the symbols and the Black Sand Desert as if they were stories from the night. Some were excited, others indifferent.
But Ryan didn't move. He was still lost in thought when he heard Valeria's voice behind him.
"Ryan."
He turned to face her. She was standing, arms crossed, her gaze filled with relentless curiosity.
she asked.
"Why are you interested in the Shadow Worm? Most students don't pay attention to such myths."
Ryan said, his voice revealing nothing.
"Just curiosity."
said Valeria, a faint smile on her lips, but her eyes were serious.
"Curiosity that drives you to search for symbols that only a few care about? Don't deceive me. You're not the type to do something without a reason."
Ryan looked at her for a moment, assessing her as he had assessed her movements in the fencing ground. Then he said:
"Perhaps. But I don't share my reasons with just anyone."
Valeria smiled, as if she had found what she was looking for.
"If you want to know more about the Black Sand Desert, I have books in my room. Old books, from my family's library. I can lend them to you."
"There's a rule that prevents students from entering the opposite gender's dormitories," Ryan said, as if testing her.
"I know," said Valeria. "That's why we'll meet tomorrow, after dinner, in the library. There's a quiet corner, away from prying eyes. I'll bring the books."
Ryan hesitated for a moment. Valeria was a strong opponent, and now she was offering him help. In a merciless world, such offers were rare, and they carried their own risks.
"Alright," he said finally. "Tomorrow, after dinner, in the library."
Valeria smiled, then turned and walked away, leaving behind a trail of questions.
Ryan returned to his room, sat on his bed, thinking about Valeria. Was she sincere? Or was she hiding something? He didn't know. But he knew one thing: the Black Sand Desert and the Shadow Worm had begun to haunt him.
He lay down on his bed, thinking about tomorrow. About the library. And about Valeria.
He closed his eyes, but he knew the coming days would not be peaceful.