Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Academy of The Ascendant - Book 1 Marked by Starlight: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

(Lyra’s POV – Earth)The world never really fit around me.The broken pavement under my tattered sneakers didn’t matter. I didn’t belong in foster homes where peeling paint covered the walls and artificial smiles hid microwave dinners. I was surrounded by individuals who treated me as an unwanted error they desperately wanted to erase from memory.I wasn’t angry anymore. Just tired.I was exhausted - from forcing myself not to experience everything so profoundly. See things I couldn’t explain. Know things I was never taught.The wind often carried unfamiliar names in its soft murmurs. Whenever I reached my breaking point the streetlamps would either start sparking or break apart. My nighttime visions weren’t true dreams but experiences of a different nature.Fire. Oceans. Storms. A palace carved from starlight and obsidian.The vividness of my dreams made me wake up sensing salt on my tongue and smoke drifting through my hair.None of it made sense.The morning of my sixteenth birthda

(Cassian’s POV)“She arrived early,” I murmured to myself so softly that the sound blended into the whispering leaves of the shadowy glade. I remained uncertain whether my remark was intended for Talon who maintained his complete attention, Riven who perpetually hovered near mischief or maybe the anxious part within me that sensed a threat more disturbing than the start of a new day.Talon responded with sharp precision as his voice chilled the atmosphere between us like the dark forest surrounding us. “She doesn’t belong here.” The declaration came from a place of undeniable conviction that mirrored our previous encounters with imminent dangers lurking on the outskirts of our vision.Talon never missed—he never overlooked details, never miscalculated the timing of an event, and he certainly never misjudged a potential threat. If he labeled this newcomer a mistake, then it was likely she represented some form of chaos we hadn’t anticipated, some anomaly in a world where order was para

(POV split: Talon / Riven)TalonShe shouldn’t exist.The balance of nature in this world depends on four elemental affinities of earth, air, fire, and water because each element possesses both weight and legacy. Each elemental affinity serves as a fundamental thread that binds together family history and the power of a House with deep-rooted traditions. The families take great pride in their control of one element which they mastered to bring honor to their community.She possessed complete control over all four elemental forces within herself.The reality presented a complex disturbance that caused societal disruption through its conflicting forces. Her existence stood as an enigma because she embodied multiple contradictions unlike others who represented a singular legacy.Beneath these four complex elemental layers existed a deeper entity that many believed belonged only to history.Something older and darker.We had entombed it deep within our past, reducing it to murmurs and war

(Cassian’s POV)Hours later the mark remained behind my eyes as a continuous reminder of the chaotic scene I had witnessed. The intensity felt as if it burned my mind with a searing mark which kept reminding me of my terrifying experiences while leaving an indelible stamp of dread.Four elements. The primal forces that shaped our world form the very foundation of our existence. Each element holding its own mysteries, its own dangers: Fire possessed the dual nature of providing illumination while holding the power to consume. The elements performed a deceptive waltz which concealed a sinister truth hidden beneath their surface.And something worse. This ancient power existed beyond both natural laws and logical reasoning. The primordial chaos reverberated as a reminder about destruction that lacked both mercy and compassion.Void. The slightest mention of it caused my stomach to churn. This force presented itself as a threat that demanded respect because it represented the total absenc

(Talon’s POV)Control is everything.In combat, it’s about timing—the precision of a well-timed strike, the instant when everything aligns for victory. In politics, it revolves around perception—how you present yourself to others, how you shape narratives and influence opinions. In survival, it demands restraint—the ability to hold back when your instincts scream to act, to conserve your energies for the right moment.I had mastered all three concepts through years of rigorous training and razor-sharp discipline. I had approached this academy as if it were a chessboard, playing each piece with meticulous care. Every move was calculated, every word I uttered was purposeful, and every expression I wore was either thoughtfully chosen or intentionally absent.Because real power doesn’t need to scream to be heard.Real power observes quietly.It learns from every interaction, every encounter.And it strikes with precision when the moment is right.So, why then, after all this practice, was