Shadows in Flame

Sweat beads roll down my forehead as I continue my assault on the thick wooden post. The relentless summer sun pressing at my back, glinting off the steel of my sword. The sunset casts long shadows as it sets behind the wall of trees lining our plot of land, inching its way down to give way to the darkness of night.

Left side, right side, upper left, upper right- a symphony of practiced strikes and slices resound throughout the fading daylight.

I pause my attack, surveying the surroundings with a heavy heart and disbelief. This is my last evening with the family that raised me. My last solitary practice with just this post as my companion.

My uncle did what he could to help me, but between the farm and his work in the Aurelia military he hasn’t had much time to spend training with me like he used to. The sun finally succumbs to the horizon as I watch, knowing that when it next rises, my life will never be the same.

“Aria! Dinner’s ready!” my aunt calls from the modest house, pulling my attention away from the sunset. I sheath my short sword and start heading back to the place I’ve called home for the past thirteen years, ever since the night my parents’ lives were ripped from them way too soon, leaving me as the sole survivor.

Ever since that night, I had looked forward to Manifesting an elemental power just for the purpose of avenging their deaths and ensuring nobody else goes through what I did. Infernals are not regularly seen anywhere except a battlefield, so that means my only chance of being able to end them is by joining the ranks of the Aurelia military. But before that, I must survive the brutal challenges and rigorous training of the esteemed Aurelia Wielding Academy.

I shuck my boots off at the door, dropping my sword next to them as I tie my sweat-soaked copper hair into a knot on top of my head. My little cousin Sammie runs up to me with his wooden sword. “Aww you’re already done training?” he pouts, sticking out his bottom lip.

I ruffle his hair and laugh. “Your mom made us a good dinner for my last night. How about we go eat that first and then we can go out and train together after, hm?” Aunt Camilla clucks her tongue disapprovingly. “I don’t think so. You need your rest before being shipped off to the Academy in the morning,” she says, pointing her wooden spoon at me as emphasis.

“But mom,” Sammie whines, drawing out the vowel as he begs to try changing her mind. We both know that isn’t going to happen, but it never deters him from trying. If people think I’m stubborn, it’s just because they haven’t met Camilla yet. You’d have better luck teaching a frostbear to wield fire.

“Sammie quit your whining and come eat your food before it gets cold,” my other cousin Lina snaps from the table “and put your toy away before you knock something over!”

“It’s not a toy it’s my sword!” Sammie corrects, sticking his tongue out at his older sister, who promptly sticks hers back at him through her missing front teeth. I grin at their bickering and roll my eyes as I sit down at the table, taking in the smells of all the herbs and spices that always seem to fill the small home.

“Well, how are you feeling?” Camilla asks me as she takes a seat across from me. “Just a bit sore from my workout, but nothing I can’t manage,” I say, rolling my shoulder. She gives me a look that means she knows I know what she’s referring to.

I sigh. “Okay fine. I’m a little nervous because I don’t know what to expect. They’re so good at keeping things different every year that nobody ever knows what to prepare for,” I take a bite of my food. “But I’ll be fine. I can handle anything thrown my way, thanks to Dairn.” At the mention of her husband’s name, her eyes soften. “I know. I wish he could be here to see you off in the morning.”

“At least this will be his last deployment before he comes home for the harvesting season,” I reply. Dairn has been deployed since the beginning of the year, only able to return to our village in Verdant to help with the fall harvest each year.

We finish up dinner and I head to my room to finish packing. It isn’t like I can bring much; we only get one bag and the rooms there are pretty small. I look at my bookshelf, debating how many books I could comfortably fit without tearing my bag. I decide on three that have been the most cherished and well-loved. One about ancient forms of magic, another with the history of Aurelia, and the last being my favorite romance novel.

Once I fit everything in my bag, I lay back on the bed and stare at the ceiling. Two years. I just have to make it through the next two years until I become a Wielder in the Aurelia Royal Military - the most prestigious and sought after positions in the entire military branch for over a millennium.

Wielders from every part of the country come to this academy, all vying for a position of respect only granted to the strongest. The Royal Military only accepts the most promising prospects, with half of the schools’ students getting dismissed after the first year if they aren’t ranked in the upper half- that is if they don’t die before making it to their second year.

Every student has Manifested abilities related to one of the four elements; Earth, Fire, Air, or Water. Most people have some level of affinity towards an element, but not all fully Manifest. My uncle Dairn is in the Royal military as an earth Wielder, but my aunt Camilla never Manifested so her affinity to the earth element is minimal, with the ability to only enhance growth of small plants.

According to ancient textbooks, it had been people in her situation thousands of years ago that are the reason demon Wielders exist; they craved more power and sacrificed their souls for it. The beings that took those souls are the Infernals- high demon lords that mean almost certain death to anyone unfortunate enough to come across them.

I roll to my side and stare out the window, watching the winking stars as I drift off to sleep.

***

The steam train unleashes a piercing whistle, signaling its departure as I embrace my family one last time. Sammie’s tear-filled eyes meet mine, while Lina averts her gaze, no doubt to hide her own emotions. Camilla gathers her children close, then proceeds to pull me into another hug.

“Be brave and show them what you’re made of,” she whispers, pressing a tender kiss to my head. I muster a smile, now fighting back my own tears threatening to spill. Taking a deep breath, I slip my bag over my shoulder and board the train bound for Crestfall Island, home to both Crestfall Castle and the renowned Wielding Academy.

The speed of the train takes my breath away, making a journey that would have been at least seven days of travel on horseback only half a day. We arrive at the Aquaria station, unloading onto the platform where a boat awaits to ferry us to the island.

My eyes widen in awe as I take in my surroundings. The cerulean waters of the ocean bordering Aquaria shimmer and dance, while the white stone floors and columns of the station glimmer under the afternoon sun. A refreshing, salty breeze sweeps across the expansive platform, as if beckoning me towards the unknown. It feels surreal to be standing here in the land of water. I wish I could stay long enough to see the temple of the water goddess, Varu.

Suddenly, I’m jolted forward as someone collides into me from behind, nearly causing me to lose grip of my bag. “Oh, my Gods I am so sorry!” I turn to find a girl my age, her emerald eyes wide, apologizing profusely. Another girl comes running up behind her, elbowing her way through the bustling crowd. “Morgana! Slow down, you’re going to knock someone over,” she admonishes, before her sapphire gaze meets mine. “Well, it appears you already have.”

I offer a reassuring smile. “It’s fine, there’s a lot of people on this platform so it’s bound to happen.” The first girl stretches out her hand and I take it. “I’m Morgana,” she introduces herself. “And this is Lyra. We’re both going to be first-years at the Academy.”

“I’m Aria, also a first year. Are you two sisters? You look a lot alike,” I inquire, my gaze shifting between them. Their sun-kissed skin and cascading golden locks giving a sense of familiarity, the only discernible difference lying in their eyes.

They laugh and Lyra says “Not by blood, but we have adopted the title of sisters since we grew up together. Morgana’s family took me in when I was nine, after my parents passed. Our families were incredibly close.”

“I’m so sorry to hear about your parents. I’m glad her family was able to take you in though,” I say, feeling a pang of empathy at hearing such a similar story to my own. Lyra nods and Morgana asks “Did you come here by yourself? You can sit with us on the boat ride to the island if you’d like.” My heart warms at the offer and I gladly take it, boarding the boat together, talking and laughing the whole ride to the island.

“Wait, so you can actually freeze the water you control? Not just manipulate it like other Wielders?” I ask in awe.

Morgana holds up her arm, flexing it playfully. “Yeah, it’s no big deal, but I can even turn that frozen water into arrows for my bow,” she laughs and leans back in her seat. “The only downside is I need to be near a body of water to do that more than just a few times, and I can’t exactly carry a barrel of water around with me on a battlefield,” she frowns.

“Okay, but that’s still amazing,” I exclaim. I’ve rarely heard of Wielders able to do things like that with their element, so it makes me even more excited to see what everybody is capable of at the Academy. In the back of my mind, a twinge of apprehension nags at me, knowing I’ll be competing against those very individuals.

I glance across the bench at Lyra. “And what about your wind abilities? What can you do with them?” She gives a nonchalant shrug and says “I’m not as advanced as Morgana. I can still only manipulate the air to throw a dagger or two.”

“Yeah, but she’s dead accurate every time,” Morgana interjects, grinning mischievously as she nudges Lyra’s side. I can’t help but smile at that, appreciating the camaraderie between them. I turn my gaze out over the edge of the boat, observing the approaching dock.

The island exudes vitality and vibrancy, with bustling townsfolk and stone pathways lining the beach. Children frolic along the sandy shores as the sun sets, painting the sky with hues of amber and gold, while kites of various shapes and sizes soar through the air.

We disembark, walking towards the towering stone buildings that appear to have stood for millennia. Vines and moss cling to the weathered surfaces, and massive spires pierce the heavens, as if reaching to tear apart the very fabric of clouds.

Dozens of second-year academy students await us at the entrance of the school grounds, clad in official uniforms of dark grays and blacks. The only splashes of color come from their school patches, which also serve as emblems of their respective wielded element.

We file into the grassy courtyard and are instructed to await the commandant’s address. Once everyone is present, a woman with a short gray bob and an authoritative presence crosses the raised platform to the central dais. Her dark eyes scan the new students with a calculating expression before she begins to speak.

“Welcome to Aurelia Wielding Academy. I am Commander Shale, and I will be overseeing your progress.” She clasps her hands across the dais. “This academy is not for the weak, but I trust you are well aware of that. We are not here to teach school children to control their elements; we are here to train men and women in the art of wielding and killing. Many of you will not survive to witness the next year.”

I shift my weight, uneasy at hearing that despite already knowing the odds before arriving. “By the end of this year, at least half of you will either be dead or dismissed. Only the finest and strongest are permitted to progress. Segment leaders will also be selected based on previous school records and our own assessments. Best of luck, initiates.” Commander Shale walks off the stage, making way for a younger man with a shorn head and a pronounced scar that traces a path from his temple down to his chest, vanishing beneath his shirt.

I straighten my spine, feeling confident in my chances of being a segment leader. At my previous school, I had been the leader of my class, exceling in hand-to-hand combat as well as academics and strategy. Those selected to be segment leaders are guaranteed to be promoted to the most coveted positions immediately after graduation. Both my parents were segment leaders, as well as my uncle Dairn when they were in school, so I must continue their legacy.

The man clears his throat before addressing us. “I am Corporal Kiernan Lancaster and will be directly in charge of all first-years. You will be shown to your rooms and then expected to promptly meet in your assigned training room for initial assessments. After that, dinner in the mess hall and lights out by midnight. Tomorrow morning, you will receive your segment assignments, and those will be the teams you must work with for the duration of your time at the academy- assuming they don’t die.” He grins at his own attempt at humor. “Dismissed.”