The Avatar of Chaos

The wooden door creaked open behind them as the final rune on the board faded with a dull shimmer, releasing the class from its academic grip. Lilith stepped into the hallway first, flexing her fingers with a quiet grimace.

"My wrist is going to fall off," Tamsin muttered, shaking her hand as if to dispel the lingering ache of writing. "I swear, if Professor Haldevir makes us copy one more passage in that twisty script, I'll start chanting curses in the old tongue just to spite him."

Lyra rubbed her forearm gingerly. "It's not just the writing… my eyes feel crossed from staring at those runes for so long." She adjusted her glasses and sighed. "At least it was interesting."

"I'd find it more tolerable if my quill didn't decide to act possessed halfway through the assignment," Lilith said dryly, her voice calm despite the complaint. "Still, I suppose deciphering ancient languages is essential if we're expected to navigate long-lost ruins in the future."

The trio's steps echoed down the corridor as they turned a corner and entered the main hall. Just ahead, Elias was leaning against a column, chatting animatedly with Raffin, who already had a smudge of something suspiciously hay-colored on his sleeve.

"There you are!" Elias waved, his usual grin in place. "We were about to head to the stables without you."

"You wouldn't dare," Lilith said with a faint smirk.

Raffin nudged Elias. "He would. The moment he saw the horses, he nearly bolted ahead."

Together now, the five of them made their way along a gravel path that led toward the Academy's eastern fields, where the Riding Grounds stretched out like a painting. Wooden fences enclosed lush green pastures, and rows of sleek, well-groomed horses stood tethered under the watchful eyes of stable hands and instructors. The air smelled of fresh hay, polished leather, and open skies.

Lilith's expression remained thoughtful but composed, her fingers brushing over the silver trim of her academy jacket. She'd ridden horses before—her family kept fine steeds at the manor—but it had been formal, refined. This, by contrast, was practical training, and judging by the way some of the students nearby were already struggling with saddles and reins, not everyone was prepared.

Tamsin sighed dramatically, adjusting her gloves. "I was hoping this would be optional," she muttered. "I've barely kept myself upright on a horse without magic."

Lyra, ever gentle, gave her an encouraging smile. "We'll be fine. It's beginner's class, after all."

Elias, however, was already bouncing slightly on his heels, his earlier swordsmanship lesson leaving him in high spirits. "I'll race you, Raffin," he challenged with a crooked grin.

"Not until they actually teach us something, you idiot," Raffin muttered, but the faint grin tugging at his mouth gave him away.

A sharp whistle cut through the field as their instructor—a striking woman with windblown chestnut hair and an air of cavalry precision—strode toward them. Her confident bearing spoke of years in the saddle, her voice carrying over the students with ease.

"Welcome to Mounted Combat and Equestrian Basics," she announced. "I am Madame Isolde Marrec. You will address me as Madame Marrec, and you will listen carefully. The horse is not just a tool. It is your companion, your partner, and in times of battle, your lifeline. Those who fail to respect the mount beneath them," she added with an arched brow, "often find themselves tasting dirt."

The group exchanged amused glances—except Lilith, who remained composed, and Lyra, who looked mildly terrified. The gentle sway of horses in their pens, the soft sounds of hooves and snorts, set a strangely peaceful contrast to the instructor's formidable presence.

"Before we begin," Madame Marrec said, her voice clear as a bell, "all of you are to change into stable attire. You'll find the necessary uniforms and gloves in the lockers to your left. You will not be riding today. Today, you meet your partners—the horses you will care for, train with, and eventually ride in future lessons. You will be responsible for them in every way: brushing, feeding, mucking their stalls, and daily exercise. That includes cleaning up after them."

A collective murmur of discomfort rippled through the class. A few students looked aghast, including several nobles who, judging by their curled lips and furrowed brows, had never lifted anything heavier than a silver spoon in their lives.

"But Madame Marrec," a haughty boy in velvet-trimmed sleeves protested, "surely there are stable hands for such work—"

The woman's sharp eyes fixed on him like drawn steel. "And surely you can lift a brush without fainting. This academy trains battle-ready mages and knights, not pampered children. If any of you have a problem with that," she added, one scarred brow arching, "there's the gate."

Silence.

Lilith, who had spent much of her life surrounded by polished manners and fine living, gave the faintest breath of amusement. She caught Tamsin's glance—half grin, half horror—and allowed herself a small, rare smile.

"Move," Marrec ordered, and the class scattered to change.

Minutes later, in more practical, loose-fitting clothes—dark tunics, simple boots, and leather gloves—the group reassembled in the stables. Elias, looking far too excited for someone about to shovel manure, clapped Raffin on the back. "Try not to fall into one of the manure patches, will ya?" he whispered with a grin.

They were led through the long rows of stalls, where horses of various breeds and colors shifted and stamped their hooves. Marrec explained briefly that each student would be partnered with a single horse for the entirety of their time at the Academy—bonding with one mount, growing alongside it—and quite possibly, they would be taking that horse with them to their homes after graduation.

Lilith paused by a stall where a sleek black mare stood, her dark coat gleaming like polished obsidian in the slanted afternoon light. The mare's emerald-bright eyes—intelligent, steady—met hers with unspoken understanding. There was something prideful in the way the animal held herself, something almost regal.

"This one," Lilith murmured softly, resting her gloved hand against the wooden gate. The mare gave a soft huff of breath, then stepped forward, nudging Lilith's palm.

"Good choice," Madame Marrec's voice came from behind, unexpectedly approving. "She's clever. And she's stubborn. Treat her well, and she'll carry you through fire. Fail her, and she'll throw you into the dirt without blinking."

Lilith nodded, quiet but resolute. She wasn't afraid of a challenge.

Further down, Elias had already found a tall, spirited bay gelding, beaming as he brushed its nose with open enthusiasm. "We're gonna get along, huh?" he murmured to the horse. Raffin, less thrilled, eyed a sleepy dun-colored mare and muttered something about missing swords already.

Tamsin, giggling despite herself, struggled to keep her chosen chestnut from nibbling her sleeve, while Lyra cautiously patted the neck of a soft-eyed palomino.

"Right," Marrec barked after the last student had made their selection. "Time to get to work. The first step in battle readiness is knowing how to respect the lives that carry you there. You'll start by cleaning your horses' stalls. Tools are by the wall. And yes—before any of you ask—yes, you'll be doing this every week."

There were audible groans. Even Lilith, graceful as she was, had to pause for half a second before moving forward to grab a rake and pail. Elias shot her a helpless grin, raising his eyebrows. "Guess even nobles have to get their hands dirty sometimes, huh?"

Lilith allowed herself a dry chuckle. "It builds character," she murmured, rolling up her sleeves.

And so they began—shoveling, brushing, and wiping down stalls, the scent of hay and earth thick in the air, hands blistering, boots soiled. Yet beneath it all, something unspoken settled between them: a sense of shared effort, of sweat and grit beyond bloodlines.

For some, it was their first taste of real work. For others, the first hint that this Academy would shape them into something more than mere heirs.

As the final flecks of dust and hay were swept from the stalls and the scent of polished wood and damp earth settled into the air, Madame Isolde strolled down the stable aisle like a commander on parade inspection. Her boots clacked against the cobbled floor, pausing only briefly as she glanced into each cleaned stall.

"Good," she said, with a rare nod of approval. "Now, dress your mounts. A stable boy will join your stall and guide you through the dressing proces. Halters, reins, and lead lines—let them feel your hands. They are not just beasts to be commanded. They are your partners. "

Lilith gave a quiet nod, stepping into the stall where the black mare awaited her. Soon after a young stable boy with ruffled brown hair and dark brown eyes entered her stall. He gave a polite bow. The mare had already begun to shift restlessly, nostrils flaring, head bobbing slightly as if sensing her rider's thoughts. There was intelligence in her eyes—cunning, patient, but proud. She was a creature that would not obey out of fear or habit, but trust.

With the stable boy's help, Lilith lifted the halter carefully, murmuring soft words under her breath to calm the mare. Her fingers moved with precision, practiced but gentle. Once the tack was secure, she led the mare out of the stall and into the warm light pouring in from the open stable doors.

While the others were still brushing down their horses or fumbling with reins, Lilith led her mount toward the far end of the field, near the border of a tree line. There, under the shade of a broad oak, she gently touched the side of the mare's neck and called the wind to her aid, casting a sound barrier, like the one Alaric did before, cocooning the space around them.

The field beyond bustled with other students and neighs and laughter, but here… there was only stillness. She gave a soft smile to the beautiful horse.

"Hello there. My name is Lilith. And from this day on, I will be your partner, if you have me."

The mare let out a warm breath out of her nostrils as she lowered her big head towards her. Lilith's rare smile widened. But then, she let out a long, quiet breath and pressed her forehead gently to the mare's.

"…It's strange," she began softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've been preparing for this for so long. Father's expectations, Caelum's lessons… and of course, Her gift."

The mare didn't stir, save for a flick of her ear.

"I knew the Academy would be demanding. But I didn't expect it to feel so… exposed. Like I'm walking into every room with a blade pressed to my back." Her voice faltered for a moment. "I hate how they look at me—whispers when I don't chant, glances when I cast."

She stepped back, stroking the mare's sleek coat. Then turned around and started to lead the mare around the open field. "I don't blame them. If I were them, I'd stare too. A twelve-year-old who manipulates the 'great' four elements without even opening her mouth? That's not normal. That's not safe."

Her emerald eyes narrowed slightly. "And yet, I have to keep doing it. I have to stand out, rise above—because I owe her. I owe the Goddess of Chaos everything. My life, my strength… my future. And I don't even know what that future is supposed to look like yet."

She fell quiet, gripping the reins tighter.

"I'm scared," she admitted finally. "Not of failing. Not even of the gods. But of what I might have to become to do what She wants of me. What if the girl who walks into this Academy isn't the one who walks out?"

The mare blinked slowly, brushing her soft muzzle against Lilith's arm. A comfort, perhaps.

"And then there's Elias," Lilith murmured, her tone gentler now. "He hides behind jokes, but I see it—how hard he's trying. He's watching me. Always has. But he doesn't realize what being next to me might cost him. He thinks protecting me is his duty, but what if the real danger is me?"

She looked out across the field at the distant figures of her friends, her classmates. "Alaric… I'm not sure what to make of him yet. There's honesty in his eyes, but also duty. We're both playing roles we didn't ask for, aren't we? I fear that we will end up becoming enemies..."

Lilith sighed and let the silence linger, her eyes landed on where Lyra was, gently coaxing a soft-eyed palomino forward, her quiet voice lost beneath the breeze. "Lyra… so soft-spoken, so timid—and yet so brilliant. She knows far more about magic theory than I ever will. But she's hiding, just like I used to. Still, she watches me like I'm something out of a legend. I hope one day she learns to trust her own power, not just admire others."

Not far off, Tamsin was laughing under her breath as her chestnut stallion stubbornly refused to move, already covered in stray bits of hay. "And Tamsin… clever and curious, always eager to learn. She reminds me of what I might've been if life had been simpler. She looks at the world with wonder, not wariness. I envy that. Part of me wants to protect it… to keep her light from being dimmed by what's coming."

Closer to the stable wall, Raffin was leaned against his horse with one arm, chatting with Elias animatedly while trying to look aloof. "Raffin's honest. Grounded. There's strength in that easygoing attitude of his. He watches Elias's back already, not because he has to, but because he wants to. That kind of loyalty… it's rare. I hope he never loses it."

Lilith turned her gaze to the mare next to her. "After my mission, will I still be allowed to call them my friends? I want to believe I can carry this burden and still be me. Still laugh. Still feel the wind in my hair, the warmth of friends, the calm of a day like this. But how much of me will be left when the world finally sees what I am?" She pursed her lips in annoyance. 

The mare stepped forward, brushing her head into Lilith's shoulder, perhaps trying to comfort her in her own way.

Lilith gave a soft chuckle and leaned her forehead against the horse once more.

"Thank you. I think I'll call you… Elaris. You feel like an Elaris."

The mare gave a soft snort, accepting the name.

With a slow breath, Lilith waved her hand and ended the sound barrier. The field's bustle returned around them. But something had shifted within her. Not quite peace, but clarity. A moment to breathe, at last.

"It was nice to let out what was in my mind." She said as she led Elaris towards her friend group. "Would you mind if I come and talk with you?" She then gave a wink to the horse. "You must promise me to not share it with others!"

Elaris let out a soft whinny and bobbed her head. Lilith, for the first time in a long time, let out a genuine laugh.