Desertion: The Chronicles of the Shadow Rebel

"Alex?, Alex? Do you want to wake up or do you want to dream about the graduation ceremony?" My eyes widen, I jump up and almost headbutt Jen, my roommate, in my fury to climb out of bed. The first thing I can focus on is her frowning face and hers brown eyes looking at me in disappointment as she finishes combing her long reddish brown hair. How did I forget to turn on my alarm last night? Good question…as I put on my uniform, Jen keeps berating me for my laziness and complaining about my slowness. "Not only today is the last day of the final year at the most prestigious school in the capital, the Crimson Academy, not only today we finally stop being students and start being knights, not only will the best students of the year tell us, but they will also say what is the element with which we have the most affinity!" and so on, scrolling with similar comments without interruption. In fact, even I can't stand the skin anymore, but at the idea of having to hear even by mistake the noble students bragging about rankings achieved through unconventional means makes me want to go back to bed. Indeed, this academy is without a doubt the best in the kingdom, but it is reserved for the nobles of the highest lineage, while we are simple commoners admitted for the their extraordinary affinity for magic and this has attracted all the worst bullies in the school to us. With so much willpower I ignore this last thought, I leave the dormitory and walk away, with Jen walking around me continuing to talk nonstop, to the gym, where the ceremony will be held.

As always, when I enter the gym I am shocked by the titanic dimensions of the latter, but today what surprised me the most was the flood of people present to assist or take part in the ceremony which was to be held shortly. Having reached the area reserved for final year students, we take our seats just when the principal, nicknamed "The Crimson Closet" among the students due to his size and the color of his usual dress, begins his speech. "Ladies and gentlemen from across the kingdom, we are here today to witness the birth of what will be the heroes who will save our people...".

Ater about an hour, the chairman finishes his introductory speech, during which half the crowd has succumbed to sleep, and an announcement comes from him accompanied by a blast of trumpets which wakes everyone up, bringing attention back to the stars. "Now the classification from worst to best of the final year students will be announced, based on each one's conduct, achievements, perseverance and fairness. Anyone who has reached the second half of the classification, when they hear their name will take the stage, they will receive a medal of recognition and will discover with which element it has greater affinity through a magical test of the latest generation. Let the classification begin!".

I expected to be called last, but halfway through neither my name nor Jen's were called... apparently the nobles failed to put "lineage" in the evaluation list.

When Jen heard: "Third Place, Jen Von Feuer!" she looked at me in disbelief as she was convinced that she was not classified. As she took the stage, she was given a medal, a gleaming bronze disk bearing witness to her third position, and a strange sword. the latter becomes even more unusual the moment it is held by Jen, starting to change shape and size until it takes the form of a two-handed sword. "Jen Von Feuer, this sword was forged to fit you, your way of being and to your character; it is a privilege that only the first three classified can take advantage of. These three swords have the particularity of possessing a secret ability that is currently unknown to us, you will only unlock it when the sword deems you capable. Having said that, grasp the sword and let your magic flow into it and, as happened to all the other students, you will be enveloped in an elemental aura, precisely that of the element to which you are closest". Jen immediately grabbed the sword with both hands, placing herself in front of her as if to challenge an invisible enemy. After a while I realize that a soft light is coming from the sword which gradually increases in intensity, to then flood the whole gym with a warm and serene light. Even without seeing I can tell that Jen's element is Light.

After a while the light withdraws and she returns to sit next to me with the sword in her lap allowing me to admire the peculiarity: despite a handle without thorns, her hilt is composed of three white roses, due to which they form the guard, while from the third rose emerges an ethereal blade so bright and shiny that it seems to be made of light itself. "Do you like it?" The question takes me by surprise and I jump. "The sword? I'd be lying if I said no, it's really beautiful." She smiles at me, then we listen to the second place announcement. "Second Place, Alex Flaming!" At those words my heart skips a beat. I mentally review the possibilities of a homonymous case, then stand up shyly wondering what a student with average grades, average physique, and average ability did so special to deserve second place. This question buzzes in my head as they put the medal around my neck under the deeply angry gazes of the nobles who reached the top places. However, this fades into the background when the headmaster hands me my new sword; I take it in my hand and observe it carefully as it changes shape assuming that of a one-handed sword. It is a sword that is not too light but manageable and is the complete opposite of Jen's sword, from the handle to the tip of the blade. The hilt is in fact completely black except for some dull purple veins that run along the grip. While some branches take on a spiral motif along the guard, most of them converge on what appears to be a black lotus from which a blade as dark as night grows. "If it's true that this sword reflects your element, then I'm sure mine will be a little different from Jen's" I think as I infuse my magic into the weapon.

Suddenly the grooves become a much brighter shade and the blade takes on a purplish hue as well, and then releases a wave of darkness. Without hearing any external sound, I realize that I can accurately sense even what my gaze does not reach, as long as it is in contact with the shadow. The darkness clears under everyone's amazed eyes, then I go back to my seat and whisper to Jen: "I have a vague feeling that my element is the Shadow."