The grand Orientation Hall of Aethermoor Academy buzzed with anticipation. The first-year students gathered, filling the ornate space with hushed excitement. High above, the enchanted chandeliers cast soft, golden light across the vast hall. Banners representing each school of magic—Abjuration, Evocation, Conjuration, and others—hung proudly from the walls, their colors vibrant against the white marble backdrop. Liam stood near the back of the hall with Ethan and Sarah, his heart thudding with a mix of excitement and anxiety.
Today was the day—the start of the spring semester and the moment every first-year had been waiting for. The announcement of the Ascension Trials.
Ethan nudged Liam, a grin splitting his face. “You ready for this? They say the Ascension Trials can get wild.”
Liam gave a faint smile, though his mind was elsewhere. The hum of the West Tower had been growing stronger, and the looming presence of The Shadow Court weighed heavily on his thoughts. Still, this was their chance to prove themselves—to take the next step in their magical education.
The room quieted as the towering doors at the front of the hall swung open, and Archmaster Caelus Eryndor entered, his silver robes trailing behind him like a shimmering cloud of power. He moved with a quiet grace, his face stern and commanding as he approached the dais. The weight of his presence alone silenced the whispers that had filled the room only moments before.
With a simple gesture of his hand, the air in the room shifted, and the golden banners rippled as if stirred by an unseen wind. His deep voice resonated through the hall, filling every corner. “Welcome, first-years. Today marks the beginning of a pivotal journey for each of you—your Ascension Trials.”
A ripple of excitement surged through the crowd. Liam could feel the tension rise around him. Ethan was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet, his eyes gleaming with excitement, while Sarah remained more composed, though Liam noticed her tightening her grip on her cloak.
Archmaster Caelus continued his voice calm but carrying an undeniable sense of gravity. “The Ascension Trials are not simply tests of your magical abilities, but of your resolve, your character, and your ability to navigate the complexities of both the magical and non-magical worlds. Each trial will push you beyond your comfort zone, forcing you to draw on everything you have learned during your time here.”
Liam swallowed hard. The non-magical world. He had known it was coming, but hearing it spoken aloud sent a shiver down his spine. For all the magical mastery he had started to develop, the idea of facing unknown dangers outside the academy walls was daunting.
“These trials,” the Archmaster said, his silver eyes scanning the room, “must be undertaken in the non-magical world, where the boundaries between our world and theirs blur. You will be tested as never before. Fail, and you may never return to these halls. Succeed, and you will prove yourselves worthy of continuing your magical education.”
A quiet murmur spread through the hall. Some students exchanged nervous glances, while others stood straighter, their expressions filled with determination.
The Archmaster raised a hand, and with another flick of his wrist, a large shimmering board appeared in the air behind him, its surface glowing faintly with magic. Names began to materialize on the board—rows and rows of student names, divided into groups. Beneath each name, scrolls of parchment floated, tied with golden ribbons.
“Each of you will be assigned to a group,” Archmaster Caelus explained, “and each group will be tasked with completing a trial that will test your skills and fortitude. Report to the Master assigned to your group for details.”
Liam’s eyes darted to the board, his heart pounding in his chest. He scanned the names, searching for his own. Finally, he found it—his name, alongside Ethan’s and Sarah’s, glowing faintly beneath the inscription: Report to Master Galen Murrow.
The scroll beneath their names floated gently toward them. Liam caught it, his fingers brushing over the elegant gold ribbon. He quickly unrolled the parchment, and the words shimmered into focus.
“Meet with Master Murrow for your Ascension Trial briefing.”
“Well, that’s that,” Ethan said, clapping a hand on Liam’s shoulder. “We’ve got Murrow. This is going to be interesting.”
Liam nodded, his mind racing as they made their way towards Murrow’s office.
The wooden door to Master Murrow’s office creaked open, revealing the familiar interior. The room smelled faintly of old parchment and magic, the walls lined with shelves filled with ancient texts, enchanted artifacts, and flickering orbs of light. Liam, Sarah, and Ethan stepped inside, finding Murrow standing by his desk, his expression as serious as ever.
Without preamble, Murrow gestured to the map spread across his desk. “Your Ascension Trial is unlike the others,” he began, his tone measured but intense. “While your classmates may be tasked with retrieving minor artifacts or investigating disturbances, your trial will be far more significant.”
Murrow’s gaze locked onto Liam’s, and for a moment, it felt like the weight of the entire room was pressing down on him. “The wards protecting Aethermoor are weakening. If they fall completely, The Sovereign will be released—and there will be no stopping it. Your trial is to retrieve the Heart of Eryndriel, an artifact powerful enough to restore and strengthen any ward.”
Ethan let out a low whistle. “The Heart of Eryndriel? I’ve heard of that—ancient, powerful, and supposedly lost for centuries.”
Murrow nodded. “It’s not lost. It’s hidden in the non-magical world, beneath the city of Chicago, guarded by an ancient creature known as the Gorrusk.”
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Liam’s stomach twisted at the mention of the Gorrusk. Sarah’s brow furrowed as she spoke up. “The Gorrusk? Isn’t that a creature of shadow magic?”
Murrow’s expression darkened. “It is. The Gorrusk is a creature born from the merging of magic and shadow, ancient and deadly. It guards the Heart, ensuring it remains hidden from those unworthy of its power. Your task is to retrieve the Heart and bring it back to Aethermoor before the wards fail.”
Liam swallowed hard. “And if we fail?”
Murrow’s gaze didn’t waver. “Failure is not an option.”
For a moment, silence hung in the air, heavy with the enormity of the task ahead. Then, Murrow handed Liam a small, glowing compass. “This will guide you to the Heart, but be warned—the Gorrusk is not the only danger you’ll face. The Shadow Court is also after the Heart, and they will stop at nothing to claim it.”
Ethan clenched his fists, the tension clear on his face. “So, no pressure, then?”
Murrow’s lips twitched in the faintest hint of a smile. “You’ll need all the skills you’ve learned, and more. But I believe in the three of you. Prepare well. You leave at dawn.”
The armory was a quiet sanctuary, filled with the soft clink of weapons and the hum of enchantments. Liam, Sarah, and Ethan moved through the room, gathering supplies—enchanted daggers, potions of healing, and protective charms. The weight of the mission pressed down on them, but there was also a sense of unity between them.
Sarah slipped a protective charm into her pouch, her fingers tracing the intricate runes. “We’re really doing this, aren’t we?” she said quietly, glancing at Liam and Ethan.
Ethan grinned, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. “Facing off against a shadow creature, in the middle of a non-magical city? It’ll be an adventure.”
Liam, who had been silent, finally spoke up, his voice steady. “We’ve faced worse. And this time, we know what’s at stake.”
Sarah nodded, her gaze softening. “We’ll watch each other’s backs. Like we always do.”
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the academy grounds, the trio made their way to the portal room. The swirling magic of the portal shimmered before them, glowing with a faint, otherworldly light.
Liam stood at the edge, his heart pounding. This was it—their chance to prove themselves, not just as students of Aethermoor, but as protectors of everything they held dear. He glanced at Sarah and Ethan, who stood ready beside him.
“We’ll come back with the Heart,” he said, more to himself than anyone else.
Together, they stepped through the portal, leaving the safety of Aethermoor behind and plunging into the unknown world beyond.
The sensation of stepping through the portal was like being swept up in a whirlwind of magic and energy. Liam felt a brief moment of disorientation, the familiar world of Aethermoor vanishing in a swirl of colors and light. When his feet touched solid ground again, the cold wind hit him, sharp and biting.
He blinked, adjusting to his surroundings. The magical world had been left behind, replaced by the bustling streets of Chicago. The towering skyscrapers loomed overhead, their glass surfaces reflecting the gray winter sky. The hum of the city was a stark contrast to the quiet, enchanted halls of Aethermoor—the honking of car horns, the chatter of pedestrians, and the distant rumble of a train.
Liam shivered, pulling his cloak tighter around him, though he knew it would draw attention in the non-magical world. It wasn’t just the cold that made him uneasy—it was the weight of their mission. Here, magic was hidden, carefully concealed beneath the ordinary. They had to be careful not to draw attention, even though they were about to embark on a quest that could decide the fate of their entire world.
Ethan stretched, his breath clouding in the cold air. “Well, this is definitely different. Not exactly the magical ambiance we’re used to.”
Liam gave a small, knowing smile as he looked around. He hadn’t been to Chicago in years, not since his family had vacationed here a few summers ago. It was strange to be back under such different circumstances. He remembered visiting the Bean with Oliver, eating deep-dish pizza, and riding the boat down the river to see the famous architecture. Back then, everything had seemed so normal, so grounded in the non-magical world. Now, he was here on a mission to retrieve an ancient artifact, with shadow creatures and dark sorcery looming over them.
“This feels surreal,” Liam said, glancing down the street. “I was here with my family not too long ago. And now… well, now it feels like everything’s different.”
Sarah stood beside him, her eyes scanning the surroundings. “We’ll have to blend in as much as we can. The Gorrusk is somewhere in this city, but so is the Shadow Court. The last thing we need is for them to realize we’re here.”
Ethan chuckled, though there was a nervous edge to it. “Right, because three teens in cloaks and carrying magical gear will totally blend in.”
Sarah smirked, already rummaging through her satchel. She pulled out a small, unassuming charm—a simple necklace with a stone pendant that shimmered faintly with magic. “I came prepared. This charm should cloak us, at least from casual attention. It won’t help against the Shadow Court, but it’ll keep us from standing out too much to regular people.”
Liam nodded, grateful for Sarah’s foresight. He placed his hand on the charm as she handed it to him, feeling the faint pulse of magic as it took effect. Almost instantly, the cool city air seemed to pull away from him, and the weight of eyes watching them disappeared.
“It’s not perfect,” Sarah warned, “but it should do for now.”
Liam glanced around, his tension easing slightly. “So, where do we start?”
Ethan pulled out the enchanted compass Murrow had given them. Its needle spun wildly for a moment before settling in a direction. “This thing’s supposed to lead us to the Heart of Eryndriel, right? We follow it and see where it takes us.”
Liam took a deep breath. “Let’s get moving then. The sooner we find the Heart, the better.”
They began walking down the crowded streets of Chicago, their cloaks hidden beneath thick winter coats they had conjured just before stepping through the portal. The cold wind whipped around them as they navigated through the city, the compass in Ethan’s hand guiding them through the maze of buildings and bustling pedestrians.
For a moment, it felt like they were just ordinary teens, lost in the flow of city life. But beneath the surface, Liam could feel the magic humming in the air. Somewhere out there, the Gorrusk was waiting, guarding the Heart of Eryndriel. And worse, the Shadow Court was undoubtedly watching, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
They had to find the Heart before the Shadow Court did—before it was too late.
“I never thought I’d be back here for something like this,” Liam muttered as they turned a corner, the needle of the compass pointing them toward a darker, quieter part of the city. “Chicago looks the same, but everything feels different now.”
Sarah nodded, her eyes scanning the streets. “I’ve never been here, but I can already feel the magic pulling at the edges of this place. It’s like there’s another layer to the city, hidden just beneath the surface.”
Liam couldn’t help but agree. He had spent days here with his family, oblivious to the magical world he would later become a part of. Now, he could feel the undercurrent of magic in everything—the faint tremors in the ground, the subtle hum in the air. It was a reminder that even in the non-magical world, magic was never far away.
The compass’s needle began spinning erratically once again. Liam’s heart quickened. They were getting closer.
“Looks like we’re on the right track,” Ethan muttered, his grip tightening on the compass.
Liam exchanged a glance with Sarah. They were close to the Heart of Eryndriel, but the real challenge was just beginning. The Gorrusk would be waiting, and they weren’t the only ones searching for the ancient artifact.