The Avatar of Chaos

The morning light slipped through the tall windows of Lilith's dormitory room, casting soft gold over her polished black-and-silver uniform. She buttoned the last of her silver-trimmed jacket with steady hands, tugged her gloves on, and gave her reflection a final glance. Her crimson hair framed her face neatly, her emerald eyes calm and distant. Today, her first full day at Serrian Academy of Magic and Blade, was just another step—one of many.

Her fingers brushed the ruby pendant at her neck. The weight of her hidden mission settled quietly over her shoulders like an invisible cloak, but she pushed the thought aside for now. It was far into the future. Now, was the time for breakfast.

The dormitory corridors were already bustling with students in identical uniforms, voices echoing in excited chatter. Lilith moved through them with her usual composed pace, untouched by the morning rush. She arrived at the grand cafeteria—a massive open hall filled with rows of tables beneath chandeliers of crystal and spell-lit lanterns.

She moved to the food line to receive her tray and breakfast before turning around to search for her brother. Which didn't take long for she spotted Elias immediately.

Her younger brother was already seated near the center of the hall at a long table, waving her over enthusiastically. Beside him sat Tamsin Roskey, chatting animatedly while waving a fork for emphasis; Raffin Jorde, leaning back with his usual easygoing smile; and the quiet Lyra Vance, who gave Lilith a shy but warm nod as she approached.

"Morning, Sis!" Elias grinned as she took the seat beside him.

"Good morning," she greeted softly, setting her tray down. Her gaze swept the table—and the room beyond—but one figure was conspicuously absent.

"Where's Alaric?" she asked without much emotion, more curiosity than concern.

Tamsin shrugged, balancing a slice of fruit on her fork. "Didn't see him since yesterday. Maybe he likes to sleep in?"

"Or he's got breakfast delivered to his room," Raffin added with a chuckle. "Wouldn't surprise me."

Lilith hummed, unconcerned. If the boy wanted privacy, it wasn't her problem. She took small, precise bites of her food while the others chatted. Tamsin was sharing a funny story about her family's clumsy hunting dogs, and Elias laughed easily, already fitting into this new world of companions.

Lyra, quietly nibbling at her bread, glanced at Lilith with wide, curious eyes. "Are you excited for today's classes?"

"I'm prepared," Lilith replied simply, her voice serene. "Excitement doesn't change outcomes."

Tamsin gave a playful grin. "You really are the serious type, huh? We'll balance you out eventually."

Lilith allowed the smallest curve of her lips in response, but said nothing. As the group finished their breakfast, the lively chatter continued—Elias cracking jokes that made Tamsin giggle and Raffin grin while Lyra listened with a quiet smile. Lilith sat calmly, sipping her tea, her mind already ticking through the schedule ahead.

It was Tamsin who paused mid-bite, her cheerful expression faltering slightly as her gaze drifted across the bustling cafeteria. "Ugh," she muttered under her breath, setting her fork down. "Trouble just walked in."

Lilith followed her glance casually without turning her head too much. Near the far end of the hall, three students entered—each wearing the same Academy uniform, yet carrying themselves with unmistakable arrogance. The girl at the center led them, her silvery ash-blonde hair catching the light as she walked with practiced grace. The boy to her right—tall, broad-shouldered, with slicked dark hair—followed lazily, while the pale girl to her left moved with eerie quietness, sharp eyes scanning the room like a hawk.

"Who are they?" Lilith asked softly, setting her cup down.

"That's the Halden girl and her shadows," Tamsin murmured, leaning in. "Her family's noble, but not high enough to act like she does. Still… no one really stops her because her father has close ties to the Church of the Four. She's Wind element—pretty strong with it, from what I've heard."

"Her lackeys?" Elias asked, peering with mild interest.

"Callen Veyre and Selene Morcant," Raffin supplied, his usual playful tone softening. "He's from a knightly house, good with swords but thick as a rock. The girl is… strange. Very quiet. No one knows her magic."

Lyra fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve, nodding slightly. "They're… not kind. Mostly target students who can't fight back."

Tamsin gave Lilith a wry smile. "Just—be careful. You're a Silford, so you're automatically going to draw attention. Especially from people like them."

Elias huffed, folding his arms. "They can try something if they want," he said, voice laced with childish bravado. "See what happens."

Lilith gave a soft exhale, her expression unreadable. "I'm not concerned," she murmured. "But thank you."

Her fingers brushed the ruby pendant at her throat absently. Trouble was inevitable in any court—noble children were no different. She would deal with it when the time came.

Soon the group of friends finished their breakfast and got up from their seats, leaving the massive hall. The bell's soft chime echoed through the vaulted halls, signaling the start of the academic day. The group gathered just outside the cafeteria, each clutching their class schedules.

"Looks like we're splitting here," Tamsin said cheerfully, glancing at her parchment. "Magicians this way, sword-wielders that way."

Elias gave Lilith a wide grin, nudging her shoulder lightly. "Guess I'm off to swing a blade. Don't have too much fun with your books, yeah?"

Lilith gave him one of her rare, faint smiles, adjusting her gloves with practiced precision. "Try not to get yourself expelled on the first day."

"Tch. I'll behave," he muttered, flashing her a thumbs-up before trotting off with Raffin at his side, both boys already chatting about swords and dueling grounds. Lilith noticed through the corner of her eye that, Caspian, ever the grump, followed the two boys with a huff, dragging his feet.

Lilith, Tamsin, Lyra, and a few others from the incoming first-years began making their way toward the east wing where the Magic Evaluation was to be held. The halls here were quieter, the stained-glass windows casting shifting patterns of colored light across polished stone floors. Magical sigils glowed faintly along the walls—wards and protective charms woven into the very bones of the Academy.

"I'm a little nervous," Lyra murmured beside her, clutching her satchel tightly. "The evaluation... it's important, right?"

"It's just formality," Lilith replied softly, her voice calm. "They need to measure our affinity, but we already know our elements. It won't change anything."

Tamsin, ever the cheerful balance, nudged Lyra playfully. "Don't worry. If we all explode, we'll do it together."

That earned a small chuckle from Lilith.

The evaluation chamber hummed with quiet anticipation as the first-year students filed in, their eyes immediately drawn to the massive crystal sphere standing at the center of the room. Nearly two and a half meters tall, the flawless orb pulsed faintly with inner light, resting atop an ornate silver stand etched with ancient runes.

"In pairs, please," announced the instructor, a sharp-eyed woman in deep indigo robes. "Approach, place your hands upon the crystal, and it will reveal your elemental affinity and the strength of your bond."

Lilith stood quietly at the back with Tamsin, Lyra, and to her mild surprise, Alaric—the boy she and Elias had befriended earlier who still hadn't shared his full name. He offered a quick, boyish smile when he caught her gaze.

"You didn't tell me you were in the magic division," Lilith murmured, her tone casual.

Alaric gave a small shrug, hands tucked behind his back, and offered one of his easy smiles. "I've got a little talent," he said modestly. "Figured I'd take both magic and swordsmanship classes. No harm in learning everything I can, right?" His tone was light, but Lilith sensed the careful choice of words beneath it—an intentional balance, neither drawing attention nor revealing too much. 

The first few students stepped forward, and one by one, the crystal responded—shifting in color and intensity. Some flickers were faint; others blazed brightly.

When Tamsin Roskey's name was called, she gave Lilith and Lyra an encouraging grin before hurrying up. The moment her palms touched the glass, the crystal swirled yellow-gold, forming soft ripples of earth magic. The light was steady, not blinding, but warm and reliable—much like Tamsin herself.

"Earth," the instructor murmured, nodding. "A solid bond."

Next came Lyra Vance, who approached hesitantly. When her fingers brushed the surface, the crystal shimmered faintly with pale silver-white specks—small drifting motes of Aether, like dust caught in moonlight. Then, a soft green hue of Air joined the glow, gentle and calm. The two colors twined delicately, subtle but undeniable. The instructor raised an eyebrow, her expression thoughtful as she marked her parchment.

"Aether and Air," she murmured. "Rare and promising."

Then came Alaric Valtorin. The moment his name was called, whispers stirred through the room—eyes flickering his way. Everyone knew that name.

Though he gave no outward sign of discomfort, Lilith noticed the slight tension in his shoulders. He stepped forward with practiced elegance, set his hands on the crystal and it blazed with a vibrant green, the color of Air magic. The winds swirled visibly within the glass, swift and graceful. The strength of the glow was unmistakable. The instructor gave him a professional nod, though Lilith caught the subtle recognition in her eyes.

"Strong connection to Air," she noted aloud.

As Alaric returned to his place, Lilith's sharp eyes followed him with quiet calculation. The way he carried himself—controlled, graceful, with the practiced ease of someone born to attention—did not match the casual, easygoing boy she'd first met. His speech, too, carefully chosen, polite without being overly formal, hinted at years of etiquette drilled into him.

It all clicked into place when she factored the name. The instructors' glances, the ripple of whispers. He hadn't said it outright, but she knew. He was the Crown Prince. Lilith said nothing, simply filing the information away, her expression unreadable as always. If he wished to keep his identity unspoken, she would respect it—for now.

At last, the instructor's eyes settled on Lilith, calling out her name. The room stilled. Even the other students leaned forward slightly.

Lilith approached without hesitation. She placed her hands on the crystal—calm, precise, her face unreadable.

The sphere flashed yellow. Red. Green. Blue—one after another, until all four colors swirled together inside the glass, weaving through each other in a mesmerizing display. The brightness was blinding—so much so that a few students shielded their eyes. The instructor took an involuntary step forward, eyes wide.

"All four," she whispered, almost breathless. "A perfect attunement to all four elemental forces…"

The moment stretched. And then, just faintly, a thin pulse of deep crimson-black—the barest hint of something foreign—flickered at the core of the sphere before vanishing entirely. No one but Lilith noticed. She kept her hands still until the light faded, then stepped back silently.

The room buzzed with whispers. 

"Did you see that? She didn't even bat an eye," someone murmured.

"All four elements… Is that even possible?" another whispered, wide-eyed.

"I thought only the High Priests could manage more than one with that level of mastery."

Tamsin's voice was soft as Lilith returned to her friends: "That was… incredible."

Lilith only offered a faint smile. "It's just magic," she murmured. But her fingers flexed thoughtfully at her side.

Lilith kept her face neutral, as if none of it reached her ears. But she felt the weight of their gazes—the hushed awe, the quiet suspicion, the first seeds of curiosity being sown. She lifted her chin slightly, hands folded neatly in front of her, her expression as still as stone.

Tamsin, standing beside her, leaned in and whispered with a half-grin, "I think you broke the instructors."

Lilith didn't answer but the faintest glimmer of amusement flickered in her emerald eyes. Even Lyra was staring at her with quiet admiration, her hands pressed nervously in her lap.

Across from them, Alaric gave a low, almost inaudible whistle, his lips tugging into an impressed smile. "Remind me not to get on your bad side," he murmured under his breath, his violet eyes glinting with quiet amusement.

I do not think that will be possible, Crown Prince.

Lilith thought to herself. Yet Lilith, sharp as ever, caught the flicker of something deeper—respect tinged with careful curiosity. He held her gaze for a moment longer than necessary, then looked away with deliberate ease, as if slipping back into the role of the ordinary student he was so clearly pretending to be.

By the time the last student finished their evaluation—none even close to what Lilith had shown—the whispers still hadn't faded.