My stomach growled with hunger, and my eyelids grew heavier with each step I took. I hadn't slept properly in days. The time I'd spent in the forest had stretched into something that felt eternal, but now a different world unfolded before me. A village made of small, crumbling houses stood ahead—nothing about it felt friendly.
A frail cat caught my eye, darting between alleyways like a living shadow before vanishing from sight. Gray smoke curled upward from the chimneys, a sign that warm meals were being cooked inside. My stomach twisted again, this time loud enough to protest on its own. I pressed my hand to it instinctively as I walked deeper into the village.
A few villagers noticed the dirt smeared across my face and the dust clinging to my clothes. Their gazes were suspicious. I was supposed to go unnoticed, yet it seemed I'd already drawn too much attention.
Some old men sat slumped in tired chairs in front of their doors, talking quietly with tobacco clenched between their fingers. On the opposite sidewalk, a small boy ran with a broken toy in his hand, joy lighting up his face. He paused from time to time, eyeing me with innocent curiosity.
I approached a bread stall I had marked with my eyes. The golden crust of the loaves crackled under the sunlight, and my gaze drifted longingly across each one. Not a single coin weighed down my pocket. In my escape, I'd forgotten to take anything. Honestly, that night had spiraled so fast, I hadn't even thought about money. All I wanted was to get out—without being caught.
I wandered a bit further and settled into a shaded corner, watching people once again. If I was lucky, I could catch someone in a careless moment and grab something. But just then, a chill crawled down the back of my neck.
Someone was watching me.
When I lifted my head, I locked eyes with three men standing at the far end of the village square. Their dark cloaks and sharp facial features were all too familiar to me. My heart began pounding rapidly in panic.
My father's guards.
They had found me. Were my escape plans already falling apart?
My body moved in panic. I jumped to my feet and headed into a narrow alley. They reacted quickly. I tried to disappear into the crowd, but it was already too late. The footsteps behind me were speeding up.
"There! Don't let her escape!"
When a firm hand grabbed my shoulder, I lost my breath. I struggled, but my strength was gone. Another man grabbed my wrist. I couldn't move.
"Your father is waiting for you, Princess Vaelis."
I couldn't even stand being called a princess.
As anger, fear, and helplessness tangled in my mind, I took a deep breath. It felt as if something inside me that had lain still and breathless for years suddenly awakened; as if a door buried in darkness had opened and the sky had poured in.
Then my body started to tremble. The eyes of the men standing before me widened, their irises expanding.
The power inside me felt as if it had broken free from its chains. The wind rising beneath my feet kicked up dust. The men were thrown backward. People began fleeing with screams.
But I wasn't even moving.
The wind was spinning around me, moving like it was a part of me.
My palms tingled, and the storm swirling around me grew stronger.
My hair lifted, my cloak billowed in the wind. For a brief moment, I saw my reflection in a puddle on the ground and lost my breath.
That wasn't me. I looked too extraordinary to be myself.
My eyes… my face… my skin was glowing. I was hallucinating.
It felt like there was someone else inside me. But I couldn't resist them.
The wind had gone wild. Stones lifted into the air, stalls were toppling over. People were screaming in fear. Even my father's guards stood frozen in shock. When I reflexively flung my hand to my face to shield myself from the dust storm rising from the ground, I unknowingly caused something huge.
With the motion of my hand, a metal stall in the corner shattered and struck the back of one of the guards' knees like a sword.
His scream filled me with horror. I couldn't have done this.
As my eyes widened in shock and fear, I flinched with the sudden feeling that someone had touched my shoulder. My vision blurred, my knees gave out. As the wind slowly calmed, I found myself collapsing to the ground.
I couldn't stay here any longer. I had to run—immediately.
I pulled myself together and started running toward the edge of the village. I had no idea where I was going. All I knew was that I had to get away from here.
By the time I reached the forest, I was out of breath. I leaned against a tree, closed my eyes, and waited for my breathing to calm. This adrenaline was too much for me.
Just knowing I had hurt someone made me afraid of myself. As I struggled to grasp what had happened, I realized someone was standing in front of me.
My eyes, which had closed on their own, opened.
Standing before me was a boy, looking at me with a smug smile.
"Wow. That was the most impressive escape scene I've ever seen."
"Who are you?" I asked, breathless.
"If you're asking for my name, introduce yourself first." He raised his eyebrows in amusement. "Honestly, I'm also curious—what's your issue with the guards?"
The boy's eyes stayed locked on mine, still waiting for an answer. He tilted his head slightly, as if evaluating me. My breathing still hadn't settled, and I hadn't fully suppressed the storm raging inside me.
He must have realized I wouldn't answer, because he kept talking:
"You were pretty impressive. But if you don't want to kill someone, you need to learn to control that power."
I frowned. "And who are you?"
He rolled his eyes, looking as if he was already tired of the question. "You can call me Kael."
He looked me over again, crossing his arms over his chest. "You need to leave here. You know that, right?"
I let out a frustrated breath. "I don't need to be told that. I already know they're still after me."
Kael smiled. "Of course they are. You turned the entire village upside down. And on top of that, you injured a guard."
"Then tell me, where can I go? Do you have any ideas?"
He shrugged. "Maybe."
I narrowed my eyes. Just minutes ago, I'd lived through the most terrifying moment of my life. Discovering I had a power I didn't understand, losing control over it, even my face seeming to change… I didn't know what any of it meant.
But this much I knew: my father's guards would return, and I had nowhere to hide.
Kael stepped closer. "Follow me. Trust me, where we're going is much safer than here."
His words should have brought comfort, but the ease in his voice made me feel the opposite. I didn't know if he was someone I could trust. But the flicker in his eyes… it made me feel like I wasn't the one causing the storm—that the real darkness was in him.
Yes, I had no other choice. I would either go with him for now, or risk being caught alone on unfamiliar paths.
I took a deep breath and fixed my eyes on him. "If this is a game…"
Kael smirked. "What are you going to do? Unleash a storm on me?"
I didn't respond. But deep inside, I thought, "If I have to."
When Kael turned around and started walking, I followed without hesitation.
The cold night air stung my skin as I walked behind him. Hours had passed since my escape, yet the unease inside me hadn't faded. First Fire at the palace, and now Storm… and that glow that had appeared on my face. Feeling that power in my bones…
Kael suddenly stopped and looked at me from the corner of his eye. "There's a storm in your head, isn't there?"
I didn't turn my head. "No."
He smiled. "Everyone says that at first."
We walked in silence for a while. Eventually, curiosity won.
"Where are you taking me?"
Kael shrugged. "To Shadowvale."
I frowned. "Can't you be more specific?"
"I was just wondering," he said with a faint smile, "have you ever met someone like you before?"
I stopped. "What do you mean?"
"Someone with powers. Like me. Like you."
His words planted seeds of hope inside me. So I wasn't alone. I had always felt isolated—different, foreign… I had always been seen as a threat in the palace. A monster in my father's eyes, a curse in my mother's.
Kael started walking again, and I followed him.
"No one will accept us. That's why we made our own place."
Something stirred inside me. "Us?"
His eyes turned to me. "Yes, us. The ones who are different. The ones with powers."
"How many are you? Do all of you have powers like mine? And this place… what is it?"
He looked toward the horizon. "It's called Shadowvale Academy. It's a very old structure. Built from stone, ancient. It used to belong to a kingdom, but it no longer answers to anyone. Only those like us live there."
I slowly nodded. "So it's your home?"
He smiled. "Yes. It's our home."
A home… That word stirred something inside me. All my life, I had wanted a place to belong.
"Of course… every 'home' comes with a price. But don't worry," he added with a wink, "we're not going to sacrifice you on your first night."
I narrowed my eyes and took a slight step back, trying to figure out how serious he was. A crooked smile spread across his face.
"A joke… sort of," he said, but that untrustworthy seriousness still lingered in his voice.
His gaze shifted from my eyes to my hair.
"But can I tell you something…" he said slowly.
"I've seen a lot of girls in my life. Fiery red hair, ash-pale, pitch black… but a hair color like this? Black as night, white as ice. Strangely captivating."
Without taking his eyes off me, he asked, "Is it natural?"
For a moment, I found myself holding my breath. His eyes didn't just seem to look at my hair—they felt like they touched a part of me I'd kept hidden. The detail people always missed, ignored, or found strange… he looked at it without hesitation.
"Yes," I said simply, brushing back a white strand that had fallen over my shoulder. "It's natural. Sometimes… it feels like the mark of a curse."
I didn't want to look away, but he stared at me with such intensity that it felt like he was listening not to my answer, but to the story beneath it.
Kael tilted his head. "I wouldn't call it a curse. I'd call it a sign. Maybe a color meant to remind you who you are."
His words felt like a balm—soothing, but painful all at once. Before I could let myself fall deeper into that, I asked the first thing that came to mind.
"What's your power?"
I couldn't be sure if he heard me. He only glanced at me and kept walking. I decided to stay quiet until we reached our destination.
After walking together for hours, a massive structure appeared between the trees.
A massive structure appeared between the trees. It was made of stone and carried the air of something that had stood for centuries. Towers, a wide courtyard, walls that reached toward the sky… But what stood out the most was the atmosphere. It felt as if nature had made peace with this place. Climbing ivy had overtaken the stone walls, and the air was filled with the scent of lavender and sage. Butterflies fluttered around the tower windows. Tiny white birds wandered among the delicate, thin-petaled flowers at our feet. The sky seemed bluer here. The air, lighter. This wasn't just a school—it felt like a gateway to another world.
As we approached the gate, the movement inside caught my eye. People of various ages were present—some training, some reading, some speaking quietly, and others laughing out loud. They looked… happy.
In one corner, three youths were playing a game with small polished stones placed on symbols drawn on the ground. They took turns placing the stones into specific patterns, using a spinning wooden disk instead of dice. I couldn't understand the rules, but the seriousness on their faces told me it wasn't just for fun.
I lightly tapped Kael's arm.
"What are those kids playing?"
Kael turned his head and smiled.
"Oh, that. The game's called Ruva. It's a very old strategy game. The stones represent fire, water, earth, and air elements. The goal is to disrupt your opponent's elemental balance."
I raised my eyebrows.
"Never heard of it."
Kael looked surprised.
"Really? Then again, I don't know why I'm surprised. I didn't know it either until I got here."
I nodded slightly, just enough to show I understood, though in that moment, a sharp pang rose in the emptiness inside me. They felt familiar to me, but I was completely foreign to them. For the first time, I was seeing people who were truly like me.
A few people noticed me and began whispering. I couldn't detect any mockery in their eyes, but perhaps because of my disheveled appearance, they looked at me with pity.
Just then, the great door opened, and a tall woman stepped out. She had a stern yet noble presence. Her dark hair fell to her shoulders, and her sharp gaze made it clear she was a figure of strength here.
As she walked toward me, a mixture of surprise and understanding appeared on her face. She paused for a moment. Then, taking a deep breath, she spoke slowly.
Latin words filled the air:
"Ex umbris veniet et lux obscurabitur. Terrae et mentis dominam portabit, et regna tremescunt."
A chill ran through me. That was my prophecy.
The woman's eyes met mine. "I've never seen you before. But I know you."
I couldn't breathe.
"I've been waiting for you."
The woman took one more step toward me and extended her hand. After I took it, she began to speak:
"I'm Celene. The head instructor of this academy. I've been waiting for you since the day you were born."
I swallowed. How was that possible?
I was silent, unsure what to say to Celene.
As if trying to break my silence, she continued:
"Do you know that your prophecy is not just a curse, Vaelis?"
As my astonishment grew, her voice softened:
"This is a great power. A miracle born of darkness but carrying the light."
Kael turned his head toward me and crossed his arms.
"So all that grumpiness comes from nobility, huh… Now everything makes sense."
I rolled my eyes, but I felt my cheeks flush.
Even his sarcastic tone touched me differently now—as if it helped ease the tension.
"To be honest, I don't know what to say. I'm pretty shocked," I found myself saying.
The woman gestured toward a door with her hand.
"Take her to one of the empty rooms, Kael. Let her rest. She needs it."
Turning to me, she added, "We'll talk plenty, Vaelis. For now, just rest."
Kael raised his eyebrows, tilted his head slightly as if to brush off everything he'd just heard, and chuckled sarcastically.
"Seriously? I'm running errands now?"
The woman shot him a sharp look.
"Being a leader doesn't mean you can question my orders. Drop the arrogance and do what I say."
Kael's smile faded, but the amusement in his eyes remained.
He tilted his head toward me.
"Well then, princess. Come on, let me show you your new home."
But I was still fixated on what I'd just heard. As I followed Kael, I locked my eyes on him.
"You're the leader here?"
He shrugged. "Yeah?"
I frowned. "Why didn't you tell me that?"
He grinned annoyingly. "You didn't ask."
I sighed and shook my head. Since the beginning of our journey, Kael had shared only a few details. But at least now, I had some idea of where I was and who I was dealing with.
As Kael led me through a long stone corridor, Celene's voice echoed behind us:
"Clear your mind and get some rest."
Already, the questions inside me were growing louder.
Kael muttered as he walked ahead. I followed him, breathing in the air of the place. The faint smell of mold from the heavy stone walls mixed with the smoky scent of the torches we passed. The place was cold and grim, but strangely… it felt safe.
As Kael walked down the long stone corridor, he began to speak:
"Training here progresses in stages. First, we start with basic exercises. Then we move on to real lessons. It takes time for everyone to learn how to use their powers."
As I listened carefully, I realized once again how serious this place truly was.
"So, what kind of lessons are there?"
He tilted his head back with a careless attitude:
"Basic physical training, power control, strategy classes, solo and group training… Be patient. You'll learn all of it in detail soon enough."
When we reached the end of the corridor, he stopped and pointed to the door on the right.
"This is your room."
I opened the door and stepped inside. The room was bigger than I expected, but quite simple. The walls were made of gray stone, and in one corner there was an old wooden desk and a chair. An old book sat on the desk. The shelves were filled with books of various sizes. The bed was wide and comfortable, but far from luxurious. In another corner of the room stood a wardrobe.
Kael leaned against the doorway and glanced around the room.
"These rooms are standard for everyone. Your training clothes are in the wardrobe. They're custom-made to allow freedom of movement. Don't expect dresses or anything."
I opened the wardrobe and looked inside. Dark-colored pants, tunics, sturdy boots… Everything was highly functional. My eyes landed on a parchment lying on the desk. I picked it up and examined it.
It was written in large capital letters on thick-edged paper:
SHADOWVALE ACADEMY – BASIC RULES
1. Powers may only be used in training areas and under instructor supervision.
2. Entry into restricted zones is strictly forbidden.
3. The student is personally responsible for the consequences of any power usage.
4. The hierarchy within the academy is not to be questioned; the word of the head instructor and the leader is final.
5. After midnight, it is forbidden to leave the courtyard or the library.
Note: Violating these rules may result in suspension from training or expulsion from the academy.
As I put the parchment back in its place, the unease inside me rose once again. There was no turning back now. This wasn't just a training facility—it was the beginning of a new order that would shape me.
And at the center of that order, there was someone who had been waiting for me since the moment I was born.
Celene.
Kael had turned toward the door when I gently touched his arm.
"Wait… there's something I'm curious about."
He looked at me, one eyebrow slightly raised, but his voice was softer this time.
"Go ahead, ask."
"Celene… how does she know everything?"
He leaned against the door. His eyes drifted into the distance for a moment.
"Celene is the living memory of the Academy. They say she's been here since the very foundation was laid. She's believed to be the only one who can interpret prophecies. That's why some don't call her the head instructor—but the last guardian…"
I opened my mouth to speak, but he was already finishing his sentence, shaking his head and sighing:
"But when it comes to giving orders, she's a total hardhead."
"Where's your room?"
Kael pointed down the hallway. "Second door from the end. If you need anything, I'll do you one favor. Just one. Then forget it."
I rolled my eyes. "How generous of you."
Kael chuckled lightly. "Exactly. Goodnight, grumpy princess."
He closed the door, and I took a deep breath. I turned back into the room and looked around once more. I must have been truly lucky to end up in a place like this. Even imagining the alternative made my skin crawl.
Before putting on the clean clothes, I took a refreshing shower. The water eased some of the weariness in my body, but it couldn't do anything for the questions racing in my mind. Then I pulled out a pair of pajamas and a tunic from the wardrobe and changed. The new clothes made movement easier, but I'd never worn anything like them in the palace, so I felt a little strange.
I threw myself onto the bed. I only planned to lie down for a while, but the loud growl of my stomach broke the silence. I was starving.
I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the hunger, but it was useless. Eventually, I gave in and got out of bed, opening the door. I was glad I had asked where Kael's room was. As my feet carried me there, I mumbled to myself:
"Hopefully he won't mock me tonight."
When I reached his door, I hesitated for a moment. Then I knocked lightly. Within a few seconds, the door opened and Kael appeared in front of me.
When he saw me, he raised his eyebrows and chuckled softly.
"At this hour? Are you going to tell me you missed me?"
I rolled my eyes. "I can't sleep because I'm starving."
He tilted his head and let out a light laugh. "Dinner time's over."
"Probably," I mumbled. "But I doubt I'll die of hunger here."
He sighed, then opened the door wider and stepped inside. He opened his cabinet and took out a few things.
"Everyone goes through this rookie phase when they arrive here. But luckily for you, I'm a kind soul, and I won't watch you starve."
I frowned. "Ever tried being polite?"
He turned his head and winked. "Not really my style. Now go to your room."
I looked at him, surprised. "Why?"
He smiled, showing what he held in his hands. "I'm going to make you a sandwich. But you're not going to sit and watch. Go wait."
With a sigh, I turned away, wondering what kind of food he even kept in his room. The gods must have taken pity on me—I wasn't going to starve tonight. I headed back to my room.
A moment later, Kael entered, holding a plate, and placed it on the table.
"There it is—the magnificent sandwich that's going to save your life."
I really needed it. I was about to faint from hunger. I glanced at Kael and thanked him sincerely.
He smiled and headed toward the door. "From tomorrow on, make sure you know the meal schedule."
Once the door closed, I took a deep breath and picked up the sandwich. I could already tell that the days I'd spend here would be difficult—but at least now, my stomach was full.
After devouring the sandwich, I threw myself onto the bed. It was soft and comfortable, like it wrapped around and cradled my body. I hadn't slept comfortably in a long time on the road, so it didn't take me long to drift off.