Chapter Five – The Reckoning Begins

(Lyra’s POV)

They paraded us like offerings, a procession of fate laid bare beneath a sky that seemed to hold its breath in anticipation.

The crescent-shaped courtyard overflowed with students whose dark cloaks billowed around them like animated shadows. The garments featured elaborate embroidery of celestial sigils which emitted a supernatural glow while forming a tapestry of stars and mystical symbols that conveyed tales of ancient power and forgotten wisdom. The black stone underfoot shone with silver veins resembling frozen lightning which emphasized our insignificance against the institution’s magnificence. The academy’s towers rose above us as towering silent deities whose sharp spires stretched upward toward the heavens in an attempt to tear through the universe’s fabric. Above everything stood a dome of stars which rotated slowly across the heavens and appeared to shimmer and twinkle as if it possessed life.

A constellation map. A moving sky. The tapestry observed us with its endless gaze. Judging. The stars assessed both our value and the destiny we carry.

I took position at the rear of the assembly where shadows danced with light, feeling like an uninvited guest amidst the opulence and privilege.

No cloak. No sigil. No House to claim. In this world where symbols and allegiances set the rules I moved as a ghost among the living, standing out as an anomaly.

I stood alone with the glowing mark on my wrist which I never wanted and served as a glowing pulse that revealed my uniqueness. The atmosphere was like a silent countdown to a mysterious event that no one had informed me about while an ominous reckoning loomed overhead like an oppressive storm cloud.

All of the people moved around me with graceful steps while maintaining a substantial distance. They retreated from me as if my misfortune could spread through physical proximity. Their fate would become sealed by the same uncertainty that enveloped me entirely.

Despite my efforts to remain on the outskirts of their attention I still perceived the intense gaze of their eyes which held both curiosity and fear making the hairs on my neck stand straight.

Cassian. Talon. Riven.

The Triad.

The Triad stood at the forefront projecting power and reverence through their heavenly patterned cloaks while each member embodied their House’s legacy. Their existence exerted powerful influence through a commanding presence that demanded respect. Their presence attracted others who moved toward them as if pulled by an invisible force similar to how moths are drawn to light.

And me? My presence lingered as a shadow at the edges of their glowing excellence while I remained an unrecognized outsider in their world. I lived under their continuous scrutiny which hammered home my role as a mere footnote in their majestic stories. The night sky spun overhead while I felt an uncanny awareness from the universe that observed my struggles, anticipating the moment when my trial would reveal an extraordinary significance beyond my comprehension.

The marble dais seemed their rightful place as they stood upon it. Like everything here belonged to them. It seemed likely that they belonged here because students would flinch whenever one of them made a slight movement.

Although every uniform had a unique cut and style, all of them displayed a woven band of silver light which served as the Ascendant mark. Reserved for those with multiple elements.

The elite of the elite.

The judgmental stares from people around me made me feel like I was an ugly spot on the ground that didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as others or even remain in the courtyard. I contemplated the idea of burning down the entire place to remove the self-righteousness from their faces. I chose to maintain my position while keeping my chin elevated and straightening my posture.

A powerful woman stepped from the crowd displaying an intimidating presence that combined her tall stature and ancient power into a truly terrifying force. Her silver hair displayed complex braids resembling starlight while her robe displayed animated runes whenever I looked at her for too long. Her eyes served as her most striking feature because they were white and glowing with an endless depth that radiated with otherworldly wisdom.

The moment she spoke her voice filled the courtyard with solemn prophetic resonance. She proclaimed with authority “Welcome,” she declared, “to the Academy of the Ascendant. A place where the chosen rise, and the weak fade into oblivion.”

“Well, that’s not ominous at all.” I muttered under my breath, casting a glance around me. The cavernous space was filled with hundreds of faces, all staring intently at the stage where a woman stood, delivering her speech. I didn’t see who snorted at my muttered comment, but the sound echoed through the hall, a stark contrast to the heavy silence that had fallen over the crowd.

The speaker on stage maintained her delivery while her voice filled the space with strong clarity. “Here, you will take part in multiple challenging assessments that aim to test your limits and develop your full potential. Your performance evaluation will determine your position relative to your peers on a structured ranking system. Superior performers will be chosen for transformative opportunities while those who do not meet the criteria will remain unrecognized despite their latent potential.

The symbol that represents your achievements and contributions along with your character will determine what legacy you leave behind. Your achievements will stand as a permanent record that reflects both your identity and your accomplishments for many years ahead. Each step of your path represents more than just abilities or intellect since it mirrors your personal journey and ambitions along with the legacy you establish. The narrative you share with the world along with your legacy for future generations depends entirely on how you tackle this challenge..” The statement lingered in the room as a shiver traveled down my spine. In this place I stood apart as an Earthborn among people who bore visible marks and inherited legacies.

Hushed whispers spread throughout the crowd and I overheard fragments of quiet discussions. “What legacy does the Earthborn have?” one voice asked, curiosity lacing the words.

“She won’t last a week,” another voice replied, a hint of derision in the tone.

Great. I thought with dry amusement that becoming the trending topic was a delightful achievement while I battled against the rising discomfort in my stomach. I was aware of the difficulties ahead but never anticipated facing such direct hostility.

The woman lifted one hand to signal the end of her speech while the audience started cheering and applauding. I remained immobile while the crowd started to move towards the exits in a wave-like surge.

The woman lifted one hand as her speech came to an end.

A scroll materialized in the air surrounded by swirling golden dust. As the scroll unfurled quickly it displayed names written in an unfamiliar language which I inexplicably understood.

“Heirs,” she announced. “Step forward when called.”

Students entered the Pentacle one by one where they stepped into a central courtyard circle carved with celestial designs. They lifted their sleeves. Light flared. The elements rose around them like cosmic greeting cards to present spirals of flame, fountains of water, storms, and stone.

Applause followed. Polite bows. Predictable awe.

The Triad didn’t move.

Of course they didn’t.

They weren’t called.

They didn’t need to be.

I waited.

And waited.

The crowd quieted after the scroll depleted its list of names and her gaze then settled on me.

Locked on. Pinning me in place.

She announced the “Final mark” and her words cut into the tense atmosphere like a sharp blade. “Origin unknown. Summoned during the celestial fracture. Step forward.”

As her words echoed in the vast chamber, gasps rippled through the gathered crowd, a wave of astonished disbelief washing over them. Whispers erupted like a swarm of bees, hissing and buzzing amongst themselves as they struggled to comprehend what had just unfolded before their eyes.

“She’s the Earthborn,” someone breathed, an incredulous awe lacing their tone.

“She’s the one who fell from the sky,” another voice chimed in, excitement and fear intertwining in equal measure.

“Is that even allowed?” a concerned murmur followed, uncertainty hanging in the air like a thick fog.

But before I could succumb to the doubt gnawing at my thoughts, my feet began to move—a visceral response to a primal calling.

Because running wouldn’t save me now.

The moment I entered the Pentacle I felt the air around me undergo a total transformation. The air around me became thick with a charged heaviness as though the magic surrounding this place possessed awareness and scrutinized my presence.

My mark exhibited a rhythmic pulse that was both consistent and intense similar to how a heartbeat can sync with an old-world power. Untold energy made my fingers tingle while the ground beneath my boots pulsed with a deep drumbeat that vibrated through my bones.

Maintaining a steadfast and commanding tone the headmistress demanded that I show my mark. The mark resonated with the accumulated weight of centuries while simultaneously presenting a test and a demand.

I revealed my arm as if it was unavoidable.

Everything around me blew up into chaos at that precise moment.

Four radiant rings burst outward in shades of red, blue, green, and silver to symbolize the elemental forces that controlled our world: Fire, Water, Earth, Air. Perfect spiral cracks spread across the ground beneath me as fissures wound outward as though obeying some long-forgotten summons. The wind whipped through the air with the eager force of a snapping whip while releasing vibrant energy. The fountain sprays burst alive with water transforming into thin threads that performed delicate dances in mid-air while waiting for an unseen instruction.

Screaming erupted among the crowd as fear and wonder blended into a chaotic noise. People retreated in terror and sought safety from the newly released incomprehensible force. Some individuals demonstrated greater resilience by generating protective ethereal barriers to defend themselves against the powerful energy emerging from inside the Pentacle.

Someone called out through the noise “Stars above—what is that?” as confusion and wonder mixed together.

“She’s not human,” shouted another, as panic spread like wildfire.

“But she’s not fae either—look at her eyes!” There was a hint of disbelief, as if the very idea disrupted the fabric of their understanding of reality.

When the chaos reached its highest point something new appeared from its depths.

The darkness spread through the openings that appeared at my feet. Dark energy veins ran through the stone resembling malignant rot which contrasted sharply with the brilliant lights recently illuminating the room. The temperature dropped sharply and the chill invaded my bones. A resonant energy surged through my bones as a low hum that drowned out all other sensation.

Void.

The way I recognized this elemental force puzzled me because it felt both unfamiliar and deeply known.

Cassian moved forward with his hands surrounded by vivid flames that flickered with an urgency that matched the moment’s intensity. “Back up,” he ordered abruptly with a voice that cut through the air like a command.

Talon’s voice cut through the silence with cold precision like a sharp blade unsheathed. “Contain her.” His command came out sharp and definitive and it sent waves of unease through everyone present.

Riven, standing nearby, couldn’t help but chuckle, his grin revealing a mix of admiration and mischief. “Told you she wasn’t boring,” he remarked, the laughter in his voice contrasting sharply with the gravity of the situation unfolding around us. It was an attempt to ease the tension perhaps, or maybe it was simply the thrill of the impending chaos that exhilarated him.

The headmistress stood upright and authoritative while she lifted both hands above her head. Her commanding movement triggered a radiant golden light to gather around us and form a protective dome that sealed the Pentacle with a shimmering barrier. A wave of relief washed over me as the Void’s oppressive aura vanished into darkness while water ceased its surge and wind died down around us leaving the world eerily silent.

I found myself standing at the center of the chaotic storm inside a protective dome of golden light yet remained separated from the surrounding disorder. A heavy pressure descended upon me as I became acutely aware of my situation through an icy wave of realization.

Alone. A persistent thought echoed inside my head stronger with every beat of my heart.

Even in my solitude my mark glowed against my skin as a stark reminder of the power within me that threatened to erupt. The energy pulsed through me as if alive and commanding me to take the reins and face whatever future awaited. Cassian remained surrounded by dancing flames while a golden light held me in place and I waited endlessly for the next chapter of this developing tale.

The headmistress lowered her arms, expression unreadable.

“Four elements,” she said. “Fire. Water. Air. Earth.” Then, softer, “And something else.”

The courtyard erupted.

“She’s cursed!”

“That’s forbidden!”

“She brought the Void!”

Cassian’s voice boomed above them. “If she stays, she must be bound.”

Talon turned to the headmistress. “You’ll allow this?”

“The stars summoned her to this place,” the woman stated. “She is an Ascendant.”

“But not stable,” Talon pushed.

“Neither were you,” she said calmly. “Once.”

That shut him up.

They didn’t assign me a dorm.

They didn’t assign me anything.

A holding room confined me between walls of stone which bore glowing sigils with a ceiling vibrating from containment spells all while lacking any windows. A prison pretending to be safety.

I remained in the corner with my knees hugged to my chest while the magic under my skin buzzed with indecision about its purpose.

I muttered to myself, “Great start.”

And the walls didn’t answer.

I’m certain that the stars beyond the prison walls laughed at me.