"Ah, yes, this is a sign that the Choosing Ceremony is over." Lienad said in response to the question I asked.

"Great, so there's just a random eye in the sky now forever?"

"Nope, it goes away after a couple days, usually 2 to 3. It's the eye of Derox, the God of Knowledge, and Observing is one of his other titles." As Niasuh said that, he also crossed his fingers and thumped his chest. "May the Observer guide us."

Looking at him, I felt awkward. "Hm, yes. Amen." They both looked at me in confusion.

Lienad and Niasuh exchanged a glance, clearly puzzled by my response.

"What's 'Amen'?" Niasuh asked, his brow furrowed.

I hesitated, realizing that I'd just thrown out a word from my previous life without thinking. "It's, uh, a word I just came up with to say after a prayer. Feels more special, I guess."

Niasuh's eyes widened slightly, curiosity flickering in his gaze.

"What is it supposed to mean?"

I was about to answer when the sky seemed to darken, and the ground trembled slightly beneath our feet. Lienad immediately tensed, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword. Niasuh, too, grew serious, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the horizon.

"What's going on?" I asked, my heart starting to race.

Lienad's voice was low, almost a growl. "Something's coming. The Choosing Ceremony must have drawn the attention of more than just Derox."

Niasuh nodded, his expression grim. "It’s rare, but sometimes when the Eye appears, other beings take notice. We need to be on guard."

As if on cue, the air grew heavy, and a distant roar echoed through the valley.

A dragon.

A damn dragon.

The dragon’s roar was still echoing in the distance when a sudden, intense pressure filled the air, as if the atmosphere itself had grown thicker. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I instinctively took a step back, sensing that something—or someone—immensely powerful was approaching.

Lienad and Niasuh both went rigid, their eyes darting toward the source of the pressure. A moment later, the air shimmered, and with a sound like a distant bell tolling, a figure appeared before us.

He stood tall, his presence dominating the space around him. His armor was intricately crafted, shimmering with a dark, otherworldly light that seemed to absorb the surrounding sunlight rather than reflect it. A long, flowing cape trailed behind him, embroidered with symbols that pulsed faintly, as if alive with their own magic. His face was sharp, with piercing eyes that seemed to see straight through me, and his hair was a deep silver, flowing like liquid metal down his back.

Niasuh immediately dropped to one knee, bowing his head. "Lord Vaelios," he intoned, his voice filled with reverence.

Lienad followed suit, though his eyes never left the imposing figure. "My lord," he said, his tone cautious.

I stood frozen, unsure of what to do. It didn’t take long for me to realize that this was no ordinary nobleman. The raw power radiating from him was almost suffocating, and even the earth seemed to tremble beneath his presence.

Lord Vaelios’s gaze swept over Lienad and Niasuh before settling on me. His eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of curiosity flickering in their depths.

"You must be the outsider," he said, his voice deep and resonant, carrying an authority that brooked no defiance. "The one who has drawn the Eye of Derox to linger longer than usual."

He studied me for a long moment, his gaze inscrutable. Then, without warning, he extended a hand toward me. The air around us crackled with energy, and I felt a strange pull, like an invisible force was tugging at my very being.

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"You possess potential," Lord Vaelios said, more to himself than to anyone else. "Untrained, raw, but it is there."

He lowered his hand, and the pressure eased, though the lingering sense of his power remained. He turned his attention to Lienad and Niasuh, his expression unreadable.

"The Academy has need of new talent," he declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I have come to collect those who show promise."

Lienad and Niasuh exchanged a quick glance before nodding in unison. "We are at your service, my lord," Lienad said.

Lord Vaelios nodded once, then turned back to me. "You will come with us," he said, his tone making it clear that this was not a request. "The Academy will shape your potential, refine it. You may yet become something worthy of the attention you have drawn."

"What, b-but I can't. I have a family—my friends. I can't leave them all behind!", I exclaimed, trying to sound more assertive, but failing in the process.

Lord Vaelios' eyes began to glow a faint yellow. I immediately drew in a breath. This was power. Raw, unfiltered strength, Something I've never felt before. My knees felt shaky, and all I wished to do with every fiber in my being was to submit to him and to follow his will.

No. This was nothing. I've faced a being much more powerful than him. Whole entities. And for some reason, my soul was not letting him control me. I felt the tug of force, and I pulled back.

Vaelios' eyes widened in shock, and he grimaced. "You either come with me, or I must eliminate you."

For a moment, everything seemed to stand still. The weight of Lord Vaelios's words hung in the air, a threat as cold and unyielding as steel. My mind raced, torn between the fear of what he could do and the strange, inexplicable defiance that bubbled up from deep within me.

Lienad and Niasuh both turned to look at me, their expressions a mix of worry and confusion. It was clear they didn't understand what had just happened between me and Vaelios—hell, I didn't fully understand it either. But I knew one thing: I couldn't just submit.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "I won't be controlled," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "If you want me to come with you, it'll be because I choose to—not because you force me."

Lord Vaelios’s gaze hardened, and for a moment, I thought he might actually strike me down right then and there. But then, something in his expression shifted. The harsh, commanding presence he had exuded softened ever so slightly, replaced by a look of grudging respect.

"You resist my will," he said slowly, as if testing the words on his tongue. "That is... unexpected."

He lowered his hand completely, the oppressive pressure in the air easing further. "Very well. If you wish to come of your own accord, then so be it. But understand this—if you choose to join the Academy, you will be bound by its rules and its demands. There will be no room for hesitation or defiance there."

I swallowed hard, weighing my options. Staying here, where I barely understood the world around me, seemed like a dead end. But going with Vaelios, to this Academy where I could learn and maybe even grow into whatever potential he saw in me... it was terrifying, but also tempting. I could find answers—maybe even a way back home. If not, perhaps I could carve out a new path here.

After what felt like an eternity, I nodded. "I’ll go. But not because you threatened me. I’ll go because I want to understand my place in this world, and how I can grow. But on one condition", looking back at my two friends, I steeled myself, "You must take these two with us to enroll in this Academy."

Lord Vaelios raised an eyebrow, clearly not used to being given conditions from townfolks like us. His piercing gaze flicked from me to Lienad and Niasuh, assessing them with the same cold, calculating scrutiny he had used on me earlier. The tension in the air thickened once more, as if the very atmosphere held its breath, waiting for his response.

Lienad and Niasuh both looked stunned, their eyes widening as they realized what I was asking. Niasuh opened his mouth as if to protest, but Lienad placed a hand on his shoulder, a silent gesture to let me speak.

"You dare to make demands of me?" Vaelios's voice was as sharp as a blade, cutting through the stillness. "You are in no position to negotiate."

My heart pounded in my chest, but I forced myself to hold his gaze. "You said the Academy needs new talent. These two are skilled, and their loyalty to this town is unmatched. If you want me to reach my potential, I'll need allies I can trust. Take them with us, and you'll have three promising candidates instead of just one."

For a moment, Vaelios remained silent, his expression unreadable. The weight of his power pressed down on me, and I felt like a mouse staring down a lion, but I refused to back down. I could feel Lienad and Niasuh’s eyes on me, their tension palpable, but I didn’t dare break eye contact with Vaelios.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Vaelios inclined his head slightly, a gesture so small it was almost imperceptible. "Very well," he said, his voice colder than before. "They may accompany us, but know this: their progress will depend entirely on their own merits. If they fail to meet the Academy's standards, they will be cast out without hesitation."

Lienad and Niasuh exchanged a brief, startled look before quickly bowing their heads. "We understand, my lord," Lienad said, his voice steady but filled with respect.

Niasuh nodded as well, though I could see a flicker of something—perhaps gratitude or worry—cross his face before he schooled his features back into their usual calm.

Lord Vaelios turned his gaze back to me, and the faintest hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You have chosen your path, outsider. See that you do not falter on it."