A Glimpse into the Unknown

Arvanya's POV:

I slipped back into the room from the balcony, still feeling the whisper of the cool night air against my skin. The chill was grounding; it reminded me of why I was here, of the hidden purpose that set me apart, despite all attempts to blend in.

Then a knock echoed through the room. Esme looked at me curiously, her gaze soft but sharp, as if she sensed the mix of emotions I was trying to hide. Without a word, she crossed the room and opened the door, revealing Calen, who stood there with his usual easy smile.

"Ready for dinner?" he asked.

I nodded, doing my best to push down the strange blend of anticipation and nerves churning inside me. Esme gave him a playful nudge, adding, "Perfect timing, Calen; we were just ready," with a smirk. He shrugged with that nonchalant charm of his, and the three of us headed down the dimly lit hallway toward the mess.

The academy felt different tonight. The shadows seemed to stretch a little longer, the whispers in the air a little sharper. As we walked, I could feel eyes turning toward us, lingering on me. Each gaze felt like a touch, cool and cautious, sizing me up. By the time we entered the mess hall, the quiet hum of conversation had shifted; it seemed like everyone had something to say about the girl who had dared to beat Reed, one of the academy's strongest Air Elementals, on her very first day.

"Why are they all staring?" I muttered under my breath, feeling a tension I couldn’t shake.

Calen leaned in, his tone serious now. "It's because of the match. You beat Reed," he said softly. "Air Elementals aren’t usually expected to stand up to someone like him, let alone win. People respect that kind of power." He gestured subtly to a group of Air Elemental students across the hall. They were whispering among themselves, eyes flicking toward me, appraising.

"And then… you made him apologize." Calen’s eyes held a hint of admiration, but his tone was wary. "Reed's a big deal around here. Getting him to admit defeat in front of everyone? That’s not something they’ll easily forget. You've not only shown strength, but you’ve also undermined someone they look up to."

I swallowed, realizing the weight of what had seemed like a simple victory.

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle heavily on me. I couldn't afford to make any more mistakes. I needed to find out about those visions and the dragons I kept seeing in them, but if everyone was watching me, it would be even more dangerous.

We moved through the mess hall, grabbed our plates, and selected a quiet corner. But even here, I could feel the weight of their glances. The fire and earth students, in particular, kept looking our way. My shoulders stiffened. Was it intimidation? Or maybe the fear that someone as unknown as me might disrupt the delicate balance of alliances here at the academy?

Esme tried to lighten the mood. "At least they're not hiding their interest!" she said, attempting to make me laugh. But it was hard to ignore the curious and wary gazes aimed right at me.

Just then, a group of Air Elemental students approached our table. The girl in the lead had a friendly smile, but her eyes were sharp, taking in every detail of my face. "Hey, you must be Aria," she said, and I realized Esme must have introduced me by my fake name to them. "I'm Sia," she continued, her smile widening. "We heard about your match today. You really showed Reed what an Air Elemental can do."

The others with her murmured in agreement, nodding approvingly.

"Thanks," I said, keeping my voice polite but measured.

Before I could respond further, two familiar faces approached—Nova and Finn, who I remembered meeting earlier with Esme. Finn waved enthusiastically. "Well, if it isn't the star of the day! Seriously, you've got everyone talking."

I managed a small laugh, though inside, my anxiety was only growing. This wasn't what I wanted. All I'd done was defend myself. But it seemed like that one act had turned me into some kind of anomaly.

Nova leaned against the table, eyes glinting with curiosity. "You'll have to watch out for the other elements now," she said, though her tone was more playful than serious. "They might feel a little...threatened."

I sighed, feeling a headache coming on. "Great," I muttered under my breath, earning a laugh from Esme.

As the conversation continued, I realized that the match had indeed placed me at the center of attention. And if I wasn't careful, I could find myself surrounded by people who either wanted to be close to me for their own advantage or who wanted me gone because I didn't fit in.

But I wouldn't let their stares or their whispered suspicions throw me off. I had to stay focused on my real goal.

As the chatter around us continued, the weight of the stares made my skin prickle with discomfort. I leaned over to Esme and Calen, keeping my voice low. "Let's finish our food quickly. I still have a ton of assignments to work on tonight."

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Calen gave a knowing nod, and Esme caught on instantly, seeming relieved at the idea of leaving the crowded mess. We turned back to our plates, making casual conversation as we ate, but I couldn't shake the feeling of being under a microscope.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we finished eating. The three of us stood up, gathering our trays. As we stepped out of the mess, the stares seemed to follow us until we were safely in the hallway.

Calen flashed us a warm smile as we reached our rooms. "Good night, both of you" he said, addressing me by my alias with a teasing smirk. "I'll see you both in the mess tomorrow morning."

"Good night, Calen," Esme and I chimed in unison, and he gave a little wave before heading to his room.

As soon as Esme and I stepped back into our room, she let out a long breath, flopping onto her bed. "I swear, Aria, you really know how to make a scene," she teased, a mischievous grin on her face. "Half the academy was staring at you like you had two heads!"

I laughed nervously, running a hand through my hair. "Tell me about it. I didn't mean to draw that much attention... but I guess that match didn't help."

Esme sat up, propping herself on her elbows. "Are you kidding? It was amazing! You took Reed down with style. No one expected it, especially not the Air Elementals." She paused, then gave me a knowing look. "But seriously, Aria, you might need to watch your back. Not everyone's going to be happy with the new girl stealing the spotlight."

I nodded, feeling a pang of anxiety. "Yeah, I got that feeling too. Calen mentioned that the Air Elementals would probably try to get close to me now... but the other elements? They might just see me as trouble."

Esme raised an eyebrow, her expression softening with concern. "So... are you okay with all this? I mean, the sudden attention, the stares... Are you really alright?"

I thought about it for a moment, choosing my words carefully. "Honestly? It's a lot. I didn't come here expecting to be... well, noticed. I just wanted to get through my classes, make some friends, and figure things out quietly."

Esme laughed, shaking her head. "Quietly? That's rich, coming from the girl who wiped the floor with one of the academy's best Air Elementals on her first day."

I groaned, but her teasing made me smile. "I didn't plan it that way! Reed was just so arrogant; he practically begged me to put him in his place."

Esme grinned, settling back into her bed. "Well, if you ask me, you did the academy a favor. Reed needed that humbling. And besides, I think it's cool that you're already making waves here. Just... don't get lost in it, alright? Remember what you came here for."

As she said that, I gave her a small smile, though my thoughts drifted elsewhere. You don't know, Esme, I thought to myself, but I know exactly why I'm here—because of those vision dragons. I nodded, letting her think her words were simple advice, but inwardly, I felt a surge of determination. Thank you for reminding me, Esme, I thought, even if you have no idea what you're helping me with.

"Don't worry," I said aloud, keeping my tone light, "I won't lose focus. You'll probably have to remind me about these assignments more than anything else."

She laughed, curling up under her blanket. "Well, that, I can do. Goodnight, Aria."

"Goodnight, Esme," I replied, turning to my desk, thoughts churning as I opened my books. My mind was only half on my assignments; the other half was on those dragons and what they wanted from me.

I'd barely started on my first question when everything around me seemed to blur and darken.

Another vision was pulling me in.

An Air Elemental dragon appeared before me, its outline shimmering faintly, almost like a ghost, with no solid form—just a suggestion of movement, like wind in mist. Its voice echoed in my mind, soft and desperate, like a distant breeze.

"Help me," it whispered, the words laced with urgency. "My human part is struggling. He's trapped... can't control himself anymore."

The dragon's gaze held a haunting intensity, piercing through me, its plea a cry for help that reached deep into my core. This wasn't just a creature in need; it was a soul in turmoil, calling out for someone who could understand.

The vision faded, leaving me breathless and slightly shaken. I glanced over at Esme, worried she might have noticed, but she was still sound asleep, her breathing soft and even, a soothing rhythm in the quiet room. I sighed in relief; the last thing I wanted was to explain these visions. They'd only bring questions I wasn't ready to answer.

Needing fresh air to clear my head, I slipped out onto the balcony, feeling the cool night breeze wash over me. I closed my eyes, letting the wind calm my racing thoughts.

The visions... they were growing more intense, and I was beginning to sense an unfamiliar urgency behind them. It wasn't just about the dragons; there was something more to it, something that reached beyond any previous connection I'd felt with these beings.

As I stood there, the stillness of the night should have been calming, but I couldn't shake a feeling of unease. Scanning the courtyard below, my eyes stopped on two shadowed figures moving quickly, almost silently—too silently. They were dragging something heavy between them, their movements calculated and cautious.

I squinted, trying to make out more detail, but the midnight shadows twisted their forms, making them appear like dark, fleeting shapes. My heart quickened as I watched, tension knotting in my chest. Whatever they were doing, it felt far from ordinary.

An undeniable urge to uncover what was happening surged within me. Whatever the figures were up to, it was something I couldn't ignore. I took a deep breath, pulling myself away from the railing as my pulse raced with a mixture of fear and determination. There was a mystery here—one that was calling me to investigate.

Without wasting another second, I grabbed my hoodie from the closet, slipping it over my head to blend into the night. I needed to be quiet, unseen.

Moving silently, I slipped out of the room, careful not to wake Esme. My mind was a storm of questions, each one more pressing than the last. What were they dragging? Why the secrecy?

The dormitory halls were eerily silent as I made my way toward the courtyard, every step amplifying the tension building inside me. When I reached the open space, the path was empty, the cobblestones lying quiet under the soft glow of the lanterns. But then, I caught it—a faint rustling, coming from the direction of the forest.

My heart skipped a beat. They were heading toward the trees. The rustling seemed louder, as if the forest itself was urging me to follow, whispering secrets in the stillness of the night.

A thread of anxiety pulled at me, but beneath it was something even stronger—a resolve I couldn't deny. I had to know. This was my chance to find answers, to understand the visions, the dragons, and perhaps something even bigger than I'd imagined. My curiosity, my need for truth, overpowered any fear that gripped me.

I moved toward the trees, my steps quick and steady. The closer I got, the denser the air felt, heavy with the weight of the unknown. The forest loomed before me, dark and impenetrable, shadows swallowing everything in their path. But I didn't stop. What was waiting for me beyond those trees? And what secrets was I about to uncover?

I didn't have all the answers yet, but I was ready to find out just how far I was willing to go to reveal the truth.