Chapter 5: The Announcement

The next thing I knew, I was standing in the middle of a massive assembly hall, surrounded by hundreds of students. The sheer grandeur of the place stole my breath away. Everything about it screamed wealth, power, and exclusivity. High-arched ceilings loomed above, adorned with intricate chandeliers that cast a golden glow over the space. Velvet banners in deep green and black hung from towering marble columns, each embroidered with the academy’s crest—a crescent moon. The scent of polished mahogany filled the air, grounding me in the reality that I was now a part of this world, whether I belonged here or not.

The students filling the hall matched their surroundings, composed, powerful, exuding an effortless confidence that made it clear they were used to being at the top. They moved in tight circles, laughter and whispered secrets weaving through the air like an unspoken language I hadn’t yet learned. But it wasn’t just social. It was something deeper…hierarchy, politics, an unshakable order of power that dictated who stood where. I could feel it pressing against my skin, even as I tried to make myself smaller, to blend in. Standing beside me, Ingrid leaned in, her voice a whisper just for me. “Alright, rule number one: Know who to keep close and who to avoid.”

Her gaze flickered through the crowd, sharp and assessing. I followed her line of sight as she nodded toward a group standing near the grand staircase.

“Those are the Elders' heirs—descendants of the most powerful bloodlines. They’re practically royalty here. Do not get on their bad side unless you have a death wish.” She shifted her attention to another corner. “And those are the Beta elites. Less important than the heirs, but still influential. They love tradition, hate change, and will definitely hate you.”

I swallowed hard, feeling my stomach tighten. But then Ingrid’s expression darkened slightly as she tilted her head toward a lone figure standing near the edge of the crowd.

“And that,” she said, her voice dropping even lower, “_is Theo Voss. Avoid him at all costs.”

I turned my head, and sure enough, there he was. The boy from earlier. The one who had sent me in the wrong direction, getting me into trouble before I’d even had a chance to settle in. His dark eyes scanned the room, as if he was assessing and categorizing everyone within it, deciding who was worth his time and who wasn’t. He looked completely at ease, as if he owned the very air we breathed. And somehow, that effortless confidence made him even more dangerous.

Before I could dwell on it, the sound of a microphone crackling to life cut through the hum of conversation. The room fell into an immediate hush, every head turning toward the grand stage at the front of the hall. A woman stood there, her mere presence commanding attention.

The Headmistress.

Tall and severe, she was dressed in flowing dark robes that made her look like she belonged to another era. Her silver-streaked hair was pulled into a tight coil at the nape of her neck, and the sharpness of her gaze alone was enough to quiet the entire student body.

She tapped the microphone once, letting the silence settle before she finally spoke.

“Welcome, to another year at Ashwood Academy. Here, we do not simply teach—we cultivate the strongest minds, the most disciplined warriors, and the future leaders of our world.”

Her words carried a weight that sent a ripple of unease through me, but I barely heard them because my attention had drifted—to the man standing beside her. Unlike the Headmistress, he did not step forward to speak. He didn’t need to. His presence alone was enough to shift the energy in the room. He stood tall, dressed in dark, immaculately tailored attire, his hands clasped loosely behind his back. His face was strikingly elegant yet severe, his high cheekbones and sharp jawline made even more intense by the quiet detachment in his expression.

And his eyes…his eyes were on me.

A chill ran down my spine. I wasn’t sure why, but the weight of his gaze felt different. It wasn’t idle curiosity, nor was it the condescending scrutiny I’d felt from others. It was something else entirely.

I leaned toward Ingrid, my voice barely above a whisper. “Who is that?”

She followed my gaze, and the moment she saw him, she let out a quiet sigh. “Lucian Blackwood.”

The name alone sent a sharp pulse of unease through me. Blackwood.

Ingrid turned back to me, her voice hushed, as if even speaking about him too loudly was dangerous. “The academy is technically run by the Council, but everyone knows the Blackwoods control this place. They always have.” She hesitated, then added, “And that man? He’s the head of the Blackwood family. One of the most powerful Alphas in existence.”

Our conversation was abruptly cut off as the Headmistress’s voice rang through the hall once more, this time with a sharper edge of authority.

"As of today, the entries for the Aureum Trials are officially open."

A murmur spread through the crowd, a mix of excitement and unease rippling in its wake. I frowned, because I was unfamiliar with the term, but the shift in energy around me was impossible to ignore.

“The trials,” the Headmistress continued, “are not for the weak-hearted. Only those who meet the requirements will be considered. Strength, intellect, and resilience…these are the bare minimum. If you wish to enter, you must prove yourself worthy.”

The air in the room turned electric. I could practically hear the whisper calculations happening around me.

“Who would enter?”

“Who was strong enough?”

“Who didn’t stand a chance?”

I turned to Ingrid, “What’s the Aureum Trial?”

Before she could answer, the Headmistress continued,

“Those seeking to participate must possess….” Headmistress's sentence was cut short because of a sudden bang echoing through the hall.

The massive doors at the far end of the room swung open, the force of their movement sending a gust of air rushing forward. A hush fell over the assembly, heads turning in unison toward the entrance. I tried to get a glimpse of whoever had just arrived, but my view was completely blocked. The sheer number of students standing between me and the doorway made it impossible to see past them.

I shifted on my toes, craning my neck, but all I caught were whispers passing through the crowd like wildfire.

"Is that—?"

"It can’t be."