Crestfall: Darkness Unveiled

"That's quite a bold statement." Caldus leaned back in her chair, her sharp eyes narrowing as she considered the words. After a moment, she exhaled softly. "Very well. Leave the documents with me—I'll give you my answer soon. Now go. I have work to attend to."

Aleron leapt to his feet, his enthusiasm spilling over like an unchecked spell. "You won't regret this! I've been observing them for a while now, and their potential is unmatched!"

As he reached the door, he hesitated, glancing back with a grin. "They could be the next greats. Maybe even future High Council members." With that, he disappeared, the door clicking shut behind him.

Caldus sighed, rising from her chair with measured grace. She crossed the room to the grand window, her gaze sweeping over the sprawling campus below. Students filled the courtyards, their chatter faint but constant, while her staff moved purposefully between halls.

For a moment, the headmistress lingered, hands clasped behind her back. "Future High Council members," she murmured, the weight of the claim pressing against her thoughts. A small, unreadable smile tugged at her lips.

Veylore Academy

Sosuke reached for the handle, and pulled the door wide open and letting the bright sunlight pour in. From the corner of the room Rin groaned in her bed. "Give me another thirty minutes. We don't have to do this now, do we?"

Rin wouldn't budge, muttering something incoherent. Sosuke walked toward her bed and shook her back and forth. "Yes, we do! Do you not realize what an opportunity we got!? You should feel grateful."

He looked up at her side of the room. Papers scattered, clothes in strange places, and a weird odor. Sosuke stepped backwards, grimacing. "You… really have a lot to clean up. We can't leave this dirty."

Rin groaned again, she sat up rubbing her eyelids. She blinked and stared at Sosuke. "Whatever," She took the covers and yanked them off herself. Rin stretched and she stood up, relieving fifteen hours of sleep. Sosuke shook his head in disappointment and walked over to his own side of their room.

"I can't say I'm going to miss this place." Rin yawned as she surveyed the place.

"It's not that bad here, other than the stupid students themselves. It's not so bad." Sosuke pulled open the drawers of his dresser, rifling through everything inside. "If you hate it here so much, why aren't you more eager to leave?"

"It's like you said, I have a lot to clean. I really don't want to do all of—" Rin turned to look at her own mess that amassed over the years. "That." She said, pointing toward the mess. "Maybe I could set it on fire and call it a day."

Sosuke stood up from his crouched position and looked at Rin. "Fine, I'll help you. You could ask instead of complaining about it."

Astralis School of Magic

Sosuke hurried up the wide stone steps, his heart pounding with a mix of nerves and excitement. Two suitcases in hand, he strode through the grand arched entrance of the academy. The building loomed above him, a masterpiece of ancient architecture. Its towering spires seemed to pierce the sky, while intricate carvings of mythical creatures adorned the stone walls. The massive oak doors, reinforced with shimmering runes, opened into a vast hall illuminated by floating orbs of golden light.

Behind him, Rin lagged, one hand dragging a scuffed duffel bag while the other lazily tugged her suitcase along.

"Welcome. I've been expecting you." The voice echoed softly through the hall, drawing Sosuke's attention. Standing at the center of the ornate space was a tall woman with an air of authority. Seraphina Caldus. Her warm smile softened the sharpness of her features, but her piercing eyes gave away her keen intellect.

Sosuke paused, staring for a moment before stepping forward. "You're Seraphina Caldus, aren't you?" His tone betrayed his awe. "I've read about you. The Battle of the Abyssal Leviathan, the party you led alongside my father—"

"Yes, yes," Caldus interrupted with a faint laugh, waving a hand. "We can discuss all that later." She glanced past him, her smile faltering slightly. "Is your companion… all right?"

Sosuke followed her gaze to see Rin hauling her luggage one agonizing step at a time, muttering curses under her breath. He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Y-yeah, she's fine. Just… a little slow sometimes."

"Hmm," Caldus said, her lips curving into an amused smile. "Well, no matter. Come along. I'll show you to your rooms—she'll catch up eventually."

She clasped her hands together, her tone suddenly bright with enthusiasm, and turned to lead him deeper into the academy. Sosuke cast one last glance over his shoulder at Rin, who shot him an exaggerated glare before resuming her slow climb.

As they walked, the grandeur of the academy unfolded around Sosuke. Marble floors gleamed underfoot, and arched ceilings stretched impossibly high, supported by columns etched with glowing arcane symbols. Paintings of legendary mages adorned the walls, their eyes seeming to follow him as he passed. A faint hum of magic lingered in the air, like the heartbeat of the building itself.

Caldus led Sosuke through the wide hall, her footsteps echoing softly against the polished marble floors. Sosuke trailed behind, his eyes darting around as he took in the grandeur of the academy.

"These halls have stood for over a thousand years," Caldus said, her voice brimming with pride. "Built by the founders of the Arcantheum, each stone enchanted to endure the passage of time. Every corner you see is steeped in history and magic."

The air was charged with energy, a faint hum that seemed to resonate from the walls themselves. Sosuke's gaze lingered on a massive tapestry depicting a fierce battle between robed mages and a monstrous dragon. The golden threads of magic woven into the fabric seemed to glow faintly, as if alive.

"This is the Great Hall," Caldus continued, gesturing to the vaulted ceilings above. Floating chandeliers hung in midair, their crystal flames casting shimmering patterns across the room. Rows of enchanted windows lined the walls, showing breathtaking views of forests, mountains, and oceans that Sosuke suspected weren't really there.

"Wow," he breathed, barely able to contain his awe.

"Don't get too distracted," Caldus teased with a smile. "You'll be seeing plenty of it during assemblies and ceremonies."

A loud thud behind them broke the moment. Rin had finally caught up, dragging her bags with a huff. "You could've waited, you know."

"You'll have to pick up the pace if you want to keep up here," Caldus said, a note of amusement in her voice.

Rin scowled but said nothing, brushing a strand of hair from her face as she glanced around. Her annoyed expression softened slightly as she took in the sheer scale of the hall. "Okay, fine. This is… pretty cool."

"Let's move on," Caldus said, leading them through a pair of towering doors engraved with glowing runes. Beyond lay a long corridor lined with statues of legendary mages. Each figure was carved in exquisite detail, their eyes fixed ahead with a mix of determination and wisdom.

"This is the Hall of Heroes," Caldus said. "Every mage who has left an indelible mark on history is honored here. Perhaps one day, your statues might stand among them."

"Not bad," Rin muttered, pausing to inspect a statue of a mage with a jagged staff. "Do they move or talk?"

Caldus chuckled. "Some of them, yes. But only when they feel it's necessary. They don't waste their time on idle chatter."

Sosuke glanced at the nearest statue, suddenly feeling as if its gaze was following him. He quickly turned back to Caldus as she led them up a spiraling staircase.

"Your dormitories are in the North Tower," Caldus explained as they climbed. "This wing houses all first-year students. Your training halls and lecture rooms are nearby, so you won't have to run too far when you're late—which I suspect might be a habit for one of you." She cast a knowing glance at Rin, who rolled her eyes.

At the top of the stairs, Caldus stopped in front of a pair of wooden doors marked with glowing sigils. She pressed her hand to the door, and the sigils flared brightly before fading away. The doors creaked open to reveal a cozy common room with plush chairs, a crackling fireplace, and shelves lined with books.

"Your quarters are through those doors," Caldus said, pointing to a hallway branching off from the common room. "Each of you has a private space, furnished with all the essentials. You'll find your uniforms inside, along with your schedules for the week."

"Uniforms?" Rin groaned.

"Yes, uniforms," Caldus replied firmly. "And I expect them to be worn properly."

Rin opened her mouth to retort but stopped when Sosuke elbowed her lightly.

Caldus turned to face them both, her expression softening. "You've worked hard to get here, and the Arcantheum demands much of its students. But remember, this is your chance to grow—to become something great. I trust you'll rise to the challenge."

With that, she turned on her heel and headed for the door. "Get settled in. Dinner will be served in the dining hall at sunset. Don't be late."

As the door closed behind her, Rin collapsed onto one of the plush chairs with a sigh. "This place is insane."

Sosuke smiled faintly, setting his bags down. "Yeah. It is."

Caldus walked off, her footsteps echoing in the empty hallway as the doors shut behind her. Rin dropped her things and let out a huge sigh of relief. "I can finally do nothing again." Rin hopped onto her bed and yanked the covers over herself.

Sosuke sighed, reaching into his bag and pulling out a book. "I might as well enjoy the rest of this place myself." Sosuke tucked the book under his arm and walked over to the hub area for first years. He surveyed the room, a few kids standing around and chatting, nothing different from the academy. Sosuke found the perfect spot and sat down on a comfortable blue chair.

Sosuke looked up from his book as a shadow fell across the table. The boy standing before him was sharp-featured, with a piercing intensity in his storm-gray eyes. His white hair, messy, covering his forehead, caught the flickering glow of the nearby lanterns, giving him an almost ethereal appearance. Despite his calm expression, there was a weight to his posture, like someone carrying an invisible burden. His academy cloak was spotless, his appearance exuding… perfection.

"You're Sosuke Estrella, right?" the boy said, his voice cool and measured, but not unfriendly.

Sosuke, who looked back onto his book after spotting the boy, peered over again. "Uh, yeah. Might I ask why you care?"

"I'm Ren Natsume, honor student. You would soon hear about me even if I hadn't approached you. You're the Sword Saint's boy, aren't you? It must be nice knowing things naturally as his son. Unfortunately I, like many others, are not as blessed as yourself. I heard you and your buddy even had a special spot reserved for you."

Sosuke's eye twitched, but he held back, turning his attention back onto the pages of his book. Ren forcefully pulled the book out of his hand and tossed it across the room.

"I expect an answer when I speak to you. It's called respect."

Sosuke stood up, slightly taller than Ren, he looked down at him. Ren's brow furrowed at the sight.

"What's your problem? I just got here today I've literally done nothing here! What could possibly be hurting you right now?" Sosuke spoke projecting his voice enough for the entire room to hear. The students around the hub were now staring at the two.

Ren scoffed. "Whatever, you have to learn what respect is, newbie." Ren stared into Sosuke's piercing violet eyes for a moment, before walking back to his group of "friends".