LOGINLily POV
It had been five days since Lila returned from the Rite of Elderwood.
I sat in the academy’s main dining hall with Julianna and Lyra, pushing food around my plate. The usual chatter filled the room, but my eyes kept drifting toward the entrance.
“She’s been… different,” I said quietly.
Julianna looked up. “Still no improvement?”
Before I could answer, the doors opened.
Lila walked in.
She was
Lily POVIt had been five days since Lila returned from the Rite of Elderwood.I sat in the academy’s main dining hall with Julianna and Lyra, pushing food around my plate. The usual chatter filled the room, but my eyes kept drifting toward the entrance.“She’s been… different,” I said quietly.Julianna looked up. “Still no improvement?”Before I could answer, the doors opened.Lila walked in.She was dressed entirely in black — a sleek, high-collared outfit that made her look older and more imposing. Her posture was straighter, her steps confident and measured, almost regal. The usual warmth in her face was gone.She didn’t even glance in my direction.With a casual flick of her hand, she used telekinesis to pull plates and utensils from three different tables at once, arranging them neatly in front of her as she sat down alone. Several students whispered, staring o
Lila POVThe Worldroot Tree stood before me like a god.It was colossal — easily the height of the academy’s tallest tower. Its trunk was ancient, gnarled, and pulsing with deep emerald and golden light that flowed like blood through veins. The air around it vibrated with raw, primordial power. Fallen branches lay scattered at its base like offerings. Safe. Traditional. The choice every other candidate had made for centuries.I stared up at the living branches still attached to the tree, glowing with immense energy.My body was screaming.Blood dripped from multiple cuts across my arms and side. My legs trembled with exhaustion. My mana reserves were nearly empty, flickering dangerously. Every breath burned.But the anger… the anger was still there.Burning hotter than ever.I took one shaky step forward.You’re powerful enough on your own.Lily’s cold voice echoed in
Lila POVThe portal closed behind me with a soft, final thrum.I stood alone in a world that felt alive.The Aetherwood Realm. Towering trees stretched endlessly upward, their bark pulsing with faint veins of emerald and gold light. The air was thick, humid, and heavy with raw, the sky blood red, untamed mana. Roots moved slowly across the forest floor like living veins. Leaves whispered even though there was no wind. Everything felt aware. Watching.I took a deep breath and started walking.The Rite of Elderwood had began. My last real chance to prove I wasn’t just Lily’s lesser twin.The forest resisted me almost immediately.Vines slithered toward my ankles like serpents. I burned them away with a sharp burst of flame. The moment I used the magic, the trees around me seemed to shudder. Shadows detached from the trunks — creatures made of darkness and hunger. They lunged at me, drawn to the mana I had rele
Julianna POVThe morning of the staff test felt heavier than usual.I stood with Lyra near the edge of the main courtyard, watching students gather around a large ceremonial platform. The air hummed with anticipation and nervous energy. In the center stood Lila. She hadn’t smiled once since arriving.“She’s been training like a demon for weeks,” I said quietly to Lyra. “What exactly is this Rite of Elderwood? Why does it matter so much to her?”Lyra crossed her arms, her expression unusually serious.“It’s not just a test, Julie. It’s one of the most important rituals for mages. The Rite of Elderwood determines whether you’re worthy of wielding a Staff — a physical symbol that you’ve reached a higher class of magic. It’s like earning a badge that says ‘I’m on another level.’”She nodded toward Lila. “Lily got hers when she was really y
Lila POVThe training yard was empty when I stormed back into it, the sun already dipping low behind the academy walls. My boots kicked up dust with every angry step. My hands still trembled from the confrontation with Lily. The words kept replaying in my head like a curse I couldn’t shake.Better things.I stopped in the center of the yard, chest heaving. The dummy I had destroyed earlier still lay in pieces around me. I stared at the wreckage, breathing hard, feeling the familiar burn of humiliation and rage twisting together in my stomach.She had promised.She had looked me in the eye and said she would help me prepare for the Rite of Elderwood — the one I had failed every single year. This was supposed to be my year. My chance to finally prove I wasn’t just the lesser twin. The spare. The one who tried hard but never quite measured up.And she hadn’t even shown up.I clenched my fists. Mana crackled
Lila POVAlone in the training yard, my shadow stretched thin under a slanting sun. Cracks webbed through the stones beneath me. A sharp tang lingered - ozone, burnt soil - the leftover breath of old magic. Time crawled past sixty minutes before anyone showed.Lily never showed up like she said she would. She should have been around by now.She had promised.It started three days back when I spotted her among the shelves, quiet like always. Not rushing it, I approached with a question held tight between my teeth. Careful wording mattered more than luck that afternoon. Would she help me prepare for the upcoming test? Each previous try ended the same way - failure. Year after year, nothing changed until now. This round felt different even if hope usually burns too fast. Losing wasn’t an option anymore, not this time around.Her head dipped slightly, eyes still fixed on the page. "Fine. I will come."But she didn’t.Pacing back and forth across the dirt, each step stirred tiny puffs of d







