Chapter 14: The Unknown Mage

Kaelen’s thoughts kept drifting back to the boy with unfamiliar markings. The academy rarely welcomed new students mid-term, and the council wouldn’t take risks with outsiders without purpose. This new arrival was not here by chance; he was part of something planned, something calculated.

Over the next few days, Kaelen quietly observed, studying the boy from a distance while maintaining his regular training. The newcomer’s movements were deliberate, his eyes sharp and quick to catch on to the nuances of his surroundings. Kaelen noticed the boy exchanged words with a few instructors, but none of the exchanges seemed overly friendly. It was as if he, too, was wary of everyone around him.

Then, during an afternoon class on particle manipulation, Kaelen saw an opportunity. The new student was seated alone, his focus on his notes, seemingly uninterested in conversation. Kaelen carefully approached, taking a seat nearby. The boy didn’t react immediately, though Kaelen noticed a faint glance in his direction—a flicker of awareness.

“New here?” Kaelen asked, keeping his tone casual.

The boy looked up, his gaze clear but guarded. “Yes. Only arrived recently.” His voice was calm, almost too measured, as though each word had been carefully chosen.

Kaelen extended his hand, maintaining his usual polite facade. “I’m Kaelen.”

The boy regarded him for a moment before accepting the handshake. “Alden,” he replied, his grip firm. There was a pause, and then Alden tilted his head slightly, as if measuring Kaelen. “They say the academy has… a unique way of training its students.”

Kaelen’s curiosity deepened, sensing an underlying meaning. “It does,” he agreed, carefully. “It’s not like other academies—there’s a certain intensity here.”

Alden’s eyes flickered with interest. “Is that so?”

They exchanged a few more words before Alden shifted his attention back to his notes, ending the conversation as abruptly as it had begun. Kaelen returned to his own work, but his mind buzzed with questions. Alden’s responses had been cautious, almost rehearsed, as if he had an agenda he was guarding closely.

That evening, Kaelen recounted the interaction to Mara. They met in a secluded alcove of the Tower of Shadows, where they often gathered to discuss their observations.

“He’s not here by coincidence,” Kaelen said, keeping his voice low. “He’s too cautious, and I have a feeling he’s observing everyone around him.”

Mara frowned. “The council could have brought him in for any number of reasons. If he’s aware of the council’s inner workings, he might be here to gather information on us.”

Kaelen nodded thoughtfully. “Or perhaps he’s here to test something—or someone.”

They lapsed into silence, each lost in thought. The council’s actions were becoming increasingly layered, and Kaelen couldn’t shake the feeling that Alden was here as part of some new plan. Whether Alden would be an ally or an obstacle was yet to be seen, but Kaelen intended to find out.

The next few days passed quietly, with Kaelen focusing on his training and studies while keeping Alden in his sights. The council, however, seemed intent on adding new layers of complexity to his life. Early one morning, Magister Lorn summoned him with instructions for another mission.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“We’ve detected irregular energy activity near the eastern training grounds,” Lorn said, his tone curt. “You’ll investigate with a small group. Find the source, and report back with any findings.”

Kaelen inclined his head. “Understood.”

The mission seemed straightforward, but he suspected there was more to it than Lorn had let on. Nonetheless, Kaelen prepared himself, gathering his supplies and meeting his assigned team in the eastern grounds.

To his surprise, Alden was among the group. Their eyes met briefly, and Kaelen nodded a greeting, careful not to show his intrigue. Alden nodded back, his expression calm.

Alongside them were Taron, who had assisted Kaelen on previous missions with his fire magic, and Lira, a water mage with a reputation for her defensive abilities. They made a balanced team, but the council’s inclusion of Alden was an unusual move.

As they walked into the forested area beyond the training grounds, Kaelen felt a familiar prickle of energy—Dark particles drifted through the air, faint but present, guiding him deeper into the forest. He could sense that Alden was also attuned to the particles, his steps steady and unfazed by the growing energy.

“Are you familiar with Dark particles?” Kaelen asked, keeping his tone casual as they walked.

Alden gave a small nod. “I’ve studied them. They have… unique properties. It’s a challenging element to master.”

Kaelen didn’t press further, noting the boy’s guarded response. Alden’s knowledge of Dark energy intrigued him, but he didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention to himself.

They reached a clearing where the Dark energy felt stronger, condensed around a small, crumbling stone shrine. Vines and moss covered the stones, but Kaelen could sense a pulse of power emanating from within—a relic, similar to the one they’d encountered on the previous mission.

Lira approached the shrine, her hand raised as water particles swirled around her fingers. “The energy here feels… different,” she murmured, her brow furrowed.

Taron nodded. “It’s stronger than what we’re used to. We should proceed carefully.”

Kaelen stepped forward, studying the shrine, his energy heart reacting to the condensed particles around him. He turned to Alden, who seemed equally intrigued.

“What do you make of it?” Kaelen asked.

Alden’s gaze was thoughtful. “It feels like the energy is concentrated, as if it’s waiting to be released. But this is only a fragment—something larger was here once.”

Kaelen’s suspicion deepened. Alden was observant, and he spoke with the confidence of someone who had encountered Dark relics before. The council must have known about his knowledge when they assigned him to this mission.

Kaelen focused, letting his energy heart sync with the particles, feeling the subtle hum of the relic’s energy. Just as he extended his hand, the energy flared, and a sudden pulse of dark mist shot from the shrine.

“Get back!” Kaelen shouted, pulling Lira and Taron back as the mist coalesced, forming a dark, twisted figure in the center of the clearing.

Alden stepped back, his expression calm as the shadowy creature formed. It let out a low growl, advancing toward them with clawed hands raised.

Taron immediately summoned a wall of fire, blocking the creature’s path, while Lira conjured a protective barrier of water. Kaelen activated Dark Shroud, blending into the shadows as he assessed the creature’s movements. Alden, however, remained still, watching the creature intently as if studying its every move.

“Attack it from a distance,” Kaelen instructed, launching a pulse of dark energy to destabilize the creature.

Taron and Lira responded in kind, releasing bursts of fire and water that struck the creature, forcing it back. The creature staggered, but it seemed unfazed, its form shifting and reforming with each blow.

Alden finally stepped forward, raising his hand as shadows coalesced around his fingers. With a single motion, he released a wave of dark energy that hit the creature, disrupting its form more effectively than their combined attacks.

Kaelen’s eyes widened as he watched. Alden’s control over Dark energy was advanced, his mastery of shadows precise and powerful. It was clear that Alden had experience with Dark magic beyond what the academy usually allowed.

“Interesting technique,” Kaelen said, his tone cautious.

Alden gave a slight nod, his gaze never leaving the creature. “I’ve had practice.”

They worked together to weaken the creature, each using their respective elements to contain it. Finally, with a combined push of their energies, they managed to disperse the creature, its form dissolving into mist that faded into the ground.

The silence that followed was heavy, each of them catching their breath.

“That was more than we signed up for,” Taron muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.

Kaelen glanced at Alden, his curiosity now sharpened. Alden’s skill with Dark energy was rare, even among advanced students. It was a power Kaelen understood well, one that required a strong energy heart and an even stronger will.

As they made their way back to the academy, Kaelen remained quiet, his thoughts racing. Alden was clearly more than he appeared, and the council’s motives for bringing him here were no longer a mystery. Alden was a tool, a weapon trained in Dark energy and likely brought to test Kaelen.

When they returned to the academy grounds, Alden parted ways with the group, offering Kaelen a nod that held an unspoken understanding.

As Kaelen watched him go, he felt a mixture of intrigue and caution. Alden might be a potential ally, or he could be an obstacle planted by the council. Either way, Kaelen would be prepared.

If Alden was indeed connected to the council’s hidden plans, then Kaelen would find out—and he would use every advantage he gained to stay one step ahead.