The hall, once alive with murmurs and anticipation, now sat in reverent silence as Chancellor Aelric Starfall stepped forward once more. His gaze swept across the sea of newly sorted students, his blue eyes holding their attention effortlessly.
“You have taken your first step into this institution,” he said, his voice calm yet commanding. “What lies ahead for you is everything else, which you will figure out with time. Remember, the guilds you now belong to are not merely houses—they are legacies. Respect them, grow within them, and honor their names.” He took a deep breath and continued, “Now, the new students will be helped by the respective guild guides to your dormitories, where you will be given further instructions. That is all. You are dismissed.”
Without further ceremony, he turned and descended from the dais, his robes flowing behind him. A ripple of motion followed as professors and older students began organizing the exit.
“Move in an orderly fashion,” instructed a stern-looking faculty member standing near the main doors. “No pushing. Follow the paths assigned to your guild.”
Ronan let out a quiet breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. The scenes of the ceremony still lingered, but after all that, he couldn’t muster the energy to join in the anticipation buzzing through the crowd. Slowly, the students began to file out, murmuring to one another in hushed tones.
He followed the flow of the crowd, his eyes darting around as they spilled out into the cool evening air. The massive doors of Arcadia Hall stood open behind him, and the golden hues of sunset bathed the campus in a soft, enchanting light.
Ronan’s attention, however, was elsewhere. He scanned the dispersing groups of students, his heart beating faster than it should. Where is Suri? His thoughts raced. Just as a flicker of worry began to form, he caught sight of the familiar figure in the distance.
There he was—jumping up and down, waving both arms frantically above his head like he was trying to signal a passing airship.
“Ronan!” Suri’s voice rang out, cutting through the chatter of the dispersing crowd. “Over here!”
Ronan couldn’t help the faint smile that tugged at his lips. Suri’s enthusiasm was like a beacon, impossible to ignore. Pushing through the crowd, Ronan made his way over, a reluctant sense of relief settling in as he approached the little guy.
“Ronan! Over here! Over here!” Suri’s voice rang out above the hum of students dispersing, his enthusiasm drawing amused glances from a few passing by.
Ronan made his way toward the boy, who looked like he might burst if Ronan didn’t hurry. As soon as he got close enough, Suri bounced on his toes, his wide eyes full of anticipation.
“What happened? What did they do there? What’s your guild? Did they make you do something scary? Were there monsters?” The questions spilled out in rapid succession, his voice high-pitched with excitement.
Ronan raised a hand to calm him. “One question at a time,” he said, though his words lacked any real sharpness. He couldn’t be annoyed with the boy, not when he was so genuine.
“But you’ve been gone forever!” Suri exclaimed, tugging at Ronan’s sleeve. “I’ve been waiting and waiting, and you didn’t even tell me what they were gonna do yet. You have to tell me everything!”
Ronan sighed. He knew Suri well enough to realize the boy wouldn’t stop until he got answers. “Fine,” he said, crouching slightly so they were on the same eye level. “I got into the Eclipse Veil Guild.”
Suri’s eyes widened, his mouth falling open in a dramatic ‘O.’ “Whoa! That sounds so cool! Is that the one with the shadowy name? Oh, oh, do they teach you how to turn invisible? Or sneak around like a spy?”
“Maybe,” Ronan said with a faint smirk. “I don’t know yet. They didn’t exactly give me a handbook yet.”
Suri tilted his head, his face scrunching in thought. “But the name’s super famous! Everyone says the Eclipse Veil people are really clever and sneaky. I bet you’re gonna be the best one!”
“Sure,” Ronan said dryly. “We’ll see.”
“But how did they know? Did you have to, like, fight someone? Or take a test?”
“No,” Ronan replied, straightening up again. “It was a mirror. You stand in front of it, and it shows you… things. Then it sorts you.”
“A mirror?” Suri’s nose wrinkled in confusion. “That’s it? Just a mirror? That’s kinda boring.”
Ronan huffed a quiet laugh. “It wasn’t boring when it took forever for mine to work. Everyone else got sorted in seconds. I was starting to think the thing was broken.”
“Maybe it was trying to figure out how cool you are,” Suri said earnestly. “Like, too cool to decide!”
“Yeah, let’s go with that,” Ronan muttered, shaking his head.
The amount of adoration Suri is collecting about him is not good for his heart.
Before Suri could pepper him with more questions, a magical announcement echoed across the campus. The amplified voice was calm yet firm, carrying over the murmurs of the dispersing crowd.
“New students of the Starforge Guild, please proceed to the Arcanum Workshop, located to the east of the Arcadia hall. Starforge guides will meet you at the entrance.”
Both Ronan and Suri glanced around as students began splitting off toward their respective destinations, some calling out to each other while others hurried along in small groups. The announcements continued, each guild being called in turn.
“New students of the Silver Shield Guild, please gather at the Chancellor’s Pavilion for orientation. Guides in Frost Silver robes will escort you there.”
Suri looked up at Ronan, his eyes bright with curiosity. “Where do we go? Do they tell you?”
“Just wait,” Ronan replied, his eyes scanning the crowd.
The voice called out again. “New students of the Crimson Blade Guild, proceed to the Crimson Forge Arena. Guides will meet you at the courtyard in red robes.”
Ronan shifted his weight, feeling Suri tug at his sleeve. How the hell was he supposed to know all these places?
Finally, the voice rang out for them.
“New students of the Eclipse Veil Guild, report to the Shadowsworn Wing, located at the western edge of campus. Guides will meet you at the lantern-marked path.”
He looked around to find a lantern marked path in his vicinity, but was unsuccessful. That was when he saw another new student who he had noticed being sorted into the same guild as him, walking towards a darker area. Following his line of sight, he saw the lanterns.
Good.
Ronan grabbed Suri’s hand. “Let’s go.”
Suri grinned. “I wanna see it! Is it gonna be all shadowy and cool? Do you think they have secret doors?”
“I guess we’ll find out,” Ronan said, letting the boy pull him along.
As they approached the starting point of their path, two figures in deep Midnight Onyx robes stood waiting under the faint glow of the lanterns. Both had their hoods up, their faces partially obscured by shadow, adding to their mysterious aura.
“New students of the Eclipse Veil Guild?” one of them asked, their voice calm and smooth.
Ronan nodded. “That’s us.”
“Follow closely in line,” the guide said, gesturing down the path. “The Shadowsworn Wing is ahead.”
As they walked, the crowd thinned, the path leading them toward darker, quieter grounds. Lanterns flickered softly, casting uneven light across the cobblestones, and the air grew cooler under the canopy of trees. The occasional sound of rustling leaves or distant footsteps echoed faintly, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
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There were almost fifty students walking behind him. He was sure the number of fresher students sorted into Eclipse Veil was thrice the amount, but he wasn’t sure where the rest of those students were.
“This place feels… spooky,” Suri said in a whisper, his earlier excitement dimming slightly as the shadows grew deeper.
“Fitting,” Ronan replied, though his own voice was low.
The guide turned slightly, their hood still concealing most of their face. “You’ll find the Shadowsworn Wing… different. But fitting for what it represents, yes. Keep close, and don’t stray.”
Suri’s grip on Ronan’s sleeve tightened, though he didn’t say anything. Ronan glanced down at him, offering a faint smirk. “Don’t worry, Suri. I don’t think the shadows bite.”
The boy gave him a tentative roll of his eyes. Up ahead, the outline of a structure slowly came into view, its silhouette stark against the faint glow of the moonlight.
It was an extremely large mansion, painted in different shades of grey, white and most prominently back. He would like to say that it had a gothic feel to it based on its structure, but the architecture was too modern and glossy to be gothic. It looked more like a strange amalgamation of grim street art.
The building's walls gleamed faintly under the light of the setting sun. Towering spires reached toward the darkening sky, their sharp tips casting long, jagged shadows across the grounds.
The surroundings complemented the mansion’s ominous beauty. The path leading up to the entrance was lined with tall, dark trees, their twisted branches interlocking to form a canopy that seemed to absorb the last light of the day. Lanterns with flickering violet flames hung at even intervals, casting an eerie glow on the cobblestone walkway. To the sides of the mansion, lush, shadowed gardens sprawled out, filled with dark-leafed plants and pale, ghostly flowers that seemed to pulse faintly with magic. The air carried a cool stillness, broken only by the faint sound of running water from within the mansion.
As they approached, the massive double doors swung open without a sound, welcoming them in. Ronan and Suri exchanged a glance before stepping inside, their footsteps echoing on the golden floor.
The interior of the building was no less grand. They entered into an enormous hall that seemed almost impossibly vast, its design both intimidating and mesmerizing. Dark, glossy furniture lined the edges of the space, each piece polished to perfection and adorned with intricate carvings. Chandeliers hung high above, their designs resembling webs of black crystal, each adorned with glowing orbs of violet light that cast long, shifting shadows across the room.
The floor was unlike anything Ronan had seen before—a golden surface so highly polished that it reflected everything above it like a mirror. It made the hall feel even larger, the reflections adding an almost disorienting depth to the space. Guards dressed in sleek, dark armor stood at attention near the walls, their expressions hidden beneath helmets adorned with faintly glowing symbols.
At the center of the hall stood a grand fountain, the focal point of the room. A statue of a black-robed figure rose from its base, its arms extended outward with hands cupped to form a bowl. Black water flowed from the figure’s hands in a mesmerizing cascade, pooling into a shallow basin below. The water shimmered faintly, as though it contained some otherworldly essence, and the sound of its flow filled the otherwise quiet hall.
Right beside the fountain, was a majestic throne-like chair. The chair’s design was regal but far from traditional. Its dark, glossy frame was carved with jagged patterns that seemed to writhe and shift in the light, and its backrest reached high above the seated figure, resembling a spire.
The individual seated on the throne was shrouded in a black robe that seemed to merge with the shadows around them. Their posture was relaxed but commanding, their presence exuding an air of authority. On one hand, they held a unique staff that immediately drew Ronan’s attention.
The staff looked to be forged from an obsidian-like material that gleamed faintly with dark light. Its surface was adorned with intricate runes that pulsed with faint, rhythmic glows, as though the staff itself were alive. At the top, the staff split into three jagged prongs, each tipped with a fragment of what looked like pure black crystal. Between the prongs, a swirling orb of purple energy floated, constantly shifting and rippling as if it held the essence of darkness itself.
The robed figure sat in silence, their face obscured by the shadow of their hood, but there was no mistaking the weight of their gaze as it swept over the new arrivals.
Ronan waited for him to speak up, but the figure stayed quiet. No one spoke. Suri pulled at his sleeve, but he ignored it. When he heard shuffling of steps, he looked at his back and saw more students entering the mansion. He estimated there to be more than a hundred fresher students standing beside him.
That’s when the robed individual stood up.
His movements were fluid and confident, commanding immediate attention from the hundred or so students gathered in the grand hall. As he rose to his full height, he reached up and pulled back the hood, revealing a face that caught nearly everyone off guard.
Contrary to the somber atmosphere of the mansion, the man standing before them was strikingly handsome, with sharp yet youthful features. His hair was buzzed short along the edges, the top left slightly longer and styled casually, giving him a roguish charm. A long translucent crystal hung as an earring from his ear, and a warm, almost mischievous smile played on his lips, and his eyes sparkled with humor rather than intimidation.
“Well, this is a sight!” he exclaimed, his voice carrying a cheerful lilt that immediately dispelled some of the tension in the room. “Welcome, everyone, to the Eclipse Veil Guild! I’m sure you’ve all heard the rumors—that we’re shadowy, secretive, and maybe just a little bit scary.” He paused dramatically, then leaned forward, winking. “And you know what? Some of it’s true. But not today! Today’s all about you.”
Ronan blinked, momentarily taken aback by the stark contrast between the guild’s vibe and its leader. Suri tugged at his sleeve again, whispering, “He doesn’t look scary at all! He looks fun!”
The man continued, spreading his arms wide, his staff gleaming faintly in the golden light of the hall. “Let me properly introduce myself. I am Calen Veylian, your Guild Leader, professor of many of the subjects you will learn in your classes, and the youngest Guild Leader in the history of Lumenbourg University—thank you very much.” He gave an exaggerated bow, prompting a few chuckles from the crowd. “I’m also a proud graduate of Eclipse Veil, of course. Born and raised right here in Soleas, though I spent a few years exploring the southern part of Ravencia—highly recommend it, by the way. Great food, good people, terrible weather.”
His grin widened as he launched into a rapid-fire string of facts about himself. “Let’s see… I like card games, love Aether Surge, hate mornings, and have an unhealthy love of honeycakes. Oh! And this—” he held up his staff dramatically, the purple energy swirling in response—“is called Umbra’s Fang. Yes, it’s powerful. No, you can’t touch it.”
The students exchanged glances, unsure whether to laugh or remain serious. Just as Calen was about to dive into another tangent, a sharp cough echoed from one of the corners of the hall. Calen straightened instantly, glancing sheepishly at the source of the interruption. “Right, right. Focus.”
He clapped his hands, the sound echoing through the hall. “Okay, back to business. Eclipse Veil. We’re not just shadows and whispers, though we are very good at those. This guild values strategy, adaptability, and, most importantly, loyalty. We are the planners, the observers, the ones who think three steps ahead while others are still figuring out their first move.”
Calen gestured toward the black-robed statue in the fountain, though his explanation veered elsewhere. “While this statue adds a nice dramatic touch,” he said with a grin, “it’s not our guild’s actual symbol.”
He raised his free hand, a faint glow emanating from his fingers. Shadows seemed to coil and gather above his palm, twisting and writhing until they formed a distinct shape. The gathered students gasped softly as the figure of a creature emerged—a sleek, shadowy form that seemed almost alive.
“This,” Calen said, his voice low and resonant, “is the Umbraven.”
The magical projection hovered above his hand, a striking creature with fur so dark it seemed to absorb the light around it. Its glinting onyx eyes shimmered like black diamonds, piercing and intelligent, as though it could see into the very depths of their souls. Its body was lean and powerful, with muscles that rippled beneath the shadowy fur, and its paws moved soundlessly as it prowled in the air, leaving faint trails of darkness behind it.
The creature’s head turned, its luminous eyes seeming to fix on each student in turn. Even though it was a projection, its presence exuded an aura of mystery and quiet power. Suri tugged at Ronan’s sleeve, whispering, “It’s so cool… and kinda creepy.”
Calen let the projection linger a moment longer, allowing everyone to take it in. “The Umbraven represents everything Eclipse Veil stands for,” he said, his tone serious but not without warmth. “Stealth, cunning, and the ability to influence outcomes without ever being seen. It’s the embodiment of our guild’s purpose—operating in the shadows to shape the future.”
The shadowy creature dissolved back into his hand with a flourish, fading into nothingness. Calen lowered his arm and smiled again, breaking the moment of intensity. “The Umbraven doesn’t hunt with brute strength or loud displays. It watches. It waits. And when the time is right, it moves with precision and purpose. That’s what we teach here—not just to act, but to act right.”
His tone shifted slightly, becoming more serious but no less engaging. “This guild has a long and proud history. We’ve trained some of the empire’s most brilliant tacticians, diplomats, and strategists. And while the rest of the university may see us as ‘the quiet ones,’ we are far from passive. We are the balance between light and dark, working where others cannot, doing what others won’t.”
He let that sink in before flashing another grin. “But enough with the heavy stuff! Let’s talk rules. There aren’t many, but they’re important. First: loyalty to the guild and your peers is non-negotiable. Betrayal is not tolerated, period. Second: discretion is key. What happens in Eclipse Veil stays in Eclipse Veil. And third…” He paused for dramatic effect. “Have fun. We may be a guild of shadows, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy ourselves.”
The students murmured among themselves, a mix of intrigue and amusement in the air.
“Now,” Calen said, pointing toward a large desk off to the side, where several neatly dressed attendants stood waiting. “Everyone, head over there to pick up your orientation pamphlets and the key to your rooms. Nobles—yes, I’m looking at you,” he added with a playful smirk, “you’ll need to register your attendants. There’s a spare room for them in your quarters, so make sure they’re taken care of.”
Suri perked up at that, looking up at Ronan with wide eyes. “I get my own room? Really?”
“Looks like it,” Ronan murmured, half-listening as Calen clapped his hands again.
“Once you’ve got your keys, feel free to settle in or explore. We’ve got plenty of secret doors and hidden passageways for the curious among you.” His grin turned mischievous. “Oh, and one last thing—if you think you’ve already figured us out, think again. The shadows always have another trick up their sleeve.”
With that, Calen gave a theatrical bow and stepped back toward the fountain, leaving the students buzzing with excitement and questions.