Chapter 2: Whispers in the Dark
The infirmary at Ironclad Academy smelled faintly of antiseptic and sweat. Kade sat on the edge of a cold metal cot, wincing as Mira dabbed a damp cloth against the gash on his forehead. The dim light overhead flickered, casting jittery shadows across the room.
"Hold still," Mira scolded, gripping his chin to keep him steady. "You're lucky it wasn't worse. Jarek could have split your skull."
"I've had worse," Kade muttered, though he wasn't entirely sure that was true. His head throbbed, his muscles ached, and his pride—what little he had—was in tatters.
Mira rolled her eyes. "You say that like it's a badge of honor. You've got to stop getting yourself into these situations."
"It wasn't my choice." Kade's voice was sharp, but it softened when he saw the concern in Mira's eyes. "Thanks for patching me up. Again."
"Someone has to," Mira said with a small smile. She tossed the bloodied cloth into a nearby bin and stepped back, hands on her hips. "Alright, all done. Try not to get into another fight before tomorrow."
Kade gave her a tired nod and slipped off the cot. The academy's curfew bell was still an hour away, and he wanted some air. The infirmary felt stifling, the weight of his loss pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket.
The academy's grounds were eerily quiet as Kade wandered through the shadowed paths between towering stone buildings. The faint glow of lanterns lined the walkways, their light barely enough to push back the encroaching darkness. Most students were still in the mess hall or their dorms, leaving the grounds deserted.
Kade's thoughts swirled as he replayed the fight in his mind. He had seen the opening, exploited it, and yet it hadn't been enough. He wasn't fast enough, strong enough… just not enough.
A chill breeze swept through the air, causing him to shiver. He pulled his jacket tighter and glanced around. That was when he felt it—the strange sensation he'd noticed during the fight. It was subtle, like the prickling of static on his skin or the faint hum of an unseen presence. But this time, it was stronger.
"Who's there?" Kade's voice echoed into the empty courtyard.
No answer. The wind rustled the leaves of a nearby tree, and for a moment, he thought he saw a shadow move unnaturally against the lantern light. His fists clenched instinctively, even though his body was still sore from the match.
"You've felt it, haven't you?" A voice broke the silence, low and rasping. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
Kade spun around, his heart racing. "Who said that?"
The shadows beneath an archway seemed to ripple, and a figure stepped forward. The man was cloaked in black, his face obscured by a hood. His presence was unsettling, as if the darkness itself clung to him.
"You fought well today," the man said, his tone calm and measured. "But you're holding back."
"What are you talking about?" Kade demanded, taking a cautious step back.
The man tilted his head. "The power inside you. It's awakening, whether you realize it or not. That's why you felt it during the fight. Why you're feeling it now."
Kade's breath caught in his throat. He didn't know what this man was talking about, but his words struck a chord. The strange sensation, the whispers at the edge of his mind… he'd been trying to ignore them, dismiss them as exhaustion or nerves.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Kade said, though his voice lacked conviction.
The man chuckled softly. "You will. Soon enough."
Before Kade could respond, the man stepped back into the shadows. The darkness seemed to swallow him whole, leaving no trace that he'd ever been there. Kade stood frozen, his mind racing. Who was that? How did he know about the strange feeling?
The curfew bell rang, jolting Kade from his thoughts. He hurried back to his dorm, his nerves on edge. As he lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, the man's words replayed in his mind.
"The power inside you… it's awakening."
Sleep didn't come easily. And when it did, his dreams were filled with shadows and whispers, pulling him deeper into a mystery he was only beginning to unravel.