Chapter 2: First Trials, First Falls
1040 Words
The grand doors of the Academy of the Twelve closed with a solemn clang, sealing the fate of the children who had been chosen. The echo of metal reverberated through the white quartz corridors, and Morgana knew, in that instant, that there was no turning back.
The first days were marked by silence and uncertainty. None of the children fully understood what it meant to be there. For some, like Brianna and Nerys, it was an opportunity for ascension, a privilege they were willing to embrace with ambition and pride. For others, like Morgana, Cerys, Rhys, and Ária, it was a deprivation, a forced separation from what they knew, a mystery shrouded in vague words and promises of greatness.
The first major lesson came when they were divided.
— From today onwards, boys and girls will train separately — announced Elyria, her silver eyes assessing each of them. — Your paths are different, but the goal is the same. You will be shaped for the future. And, as you know, weakness is not tolerated here.
Kael, standing beside her, addressed the boys.
— With me, I will be your forge. You will be swords sharpened by discipline. Follow me.
And so, the boys departed, following Kael through a corridor illuminated by enchanted torches. Morgana felt a tightening in her chest. Donovan, Tristan, Alec, Gareth, Blake, and Finn had disappeared from her sight, and at that moment, she realized that she might not see them again for a long time.
Cerys swallowed hard.
— I don’t like this at all.
— Neither do I, — Rhys whispered.
But no one dared to challenge Elyria.
The first week of training was a test of survival. They awoke before dawn, and each day began with strengthening rituals. The girls ran across the courtyard, their feet pounding against the polished stone, their lungs burning with the effort.
— Greater speed means greater control over the body, — Elyria said. — If you cannot master your own body, you will never master anything else.
Morgana struggled to keep pace. Cerys and Rhys stayed by her side, determined, but it was clear that some had an advantage. Brianna ran effortlessly, a satisfied smile on her lips. Nerys, always close to her, mirrored her rhythm like a faithful shadow. Ária, with her delicate features and expressive eyes, ran with difficulty but remained determined.
The next training focused on energy control. Although they did not yet possess magic, Elyria taught them how to feel the energy around them, to perceive the mystical currents that flowed through Atlantis. The exercise required them to close their eyes and rely solely on perception.
— Some of you will have a natural gift for this, — the instructor stated. — Others will need twice the effort. But all of you will learn.
Morgana’s first failure happened there. While Cerys, with her dark hair and light eyes, and Rhys, with her serious and sharp posture, showed some ease in sensing the mystical vibrations, Morgana felt only emptiness. Brianna noticed and smirked.
— Maybe if you tried harder…
— Enough! — Elyria cut in. — Each of you learns at your own pace.
But Morgana felt the impact of Brianna’s words more than any reprimand from the instructor.
On the other side of the Academy, Kael tested the boys differently. Their training focused on physical, mental, and mystical discipline. Tristan and Donovan quickly stood out for their strength and endurance. Tristan, with his sharp, always-alert gaze, was fearless, while Donovan, with his easy smile and relaxed energy, excelled in agility. Alec, calm in expression and dark-haired, proved to be a natural strategist, while Gareth maintained an analytical gaze, always attentive to details. Finn, the warmest of the group, observed the others with a reassuring smile, and Blake, ever impatient, drummed his fingers, eager for the next challenge.
Beyond physical endurance, the boys were trained in controlling mystical energy. Kael taught them to sense the flows of magic around them, to shape them, even though they could not yet cast powerful spells. The first exercise involved sensing the presence of others without using sight, relying only on the energy they emanated.
— War is not just a battle of swords, — Kael said. — It is a battle of minds and spirits. If you cannot sense the enemy before they strike, you are already at a disadvantage.
Tristan showed great aptitude for this training, able to pinpoint his peers with precision. Donovan, on the other hand, compensated for his lack of sensitivity with quick reactions and strategy. Alec and Gareth were excellent at calculating energy patterns, while Finn and Blake struggled to reach the same level.
Draven, however, observed everything without intervening. His eyes assessed each child as if they were pieces in a game that only he understood.
— Not all of them will survive what is to come, — he murmured to Kael in a warning tone. — And that is fine. Only the strongest deserve to ascend.
Days later, the girls faced their first real test—hand-to-hand combat with no weapons.
Morgana was pitted against Brianna. Her heart pounded in her chest, knowing the other girl would not waste the opportunity to humiliate her. The fight began, and Brianna attacked without hesitation. Morgana tried to defend herself, but each strike was calculated, precise. Within moments, she was on the ground.
Nerys’s quiet laughter echoed through the silent courtyard.
— You need to learn how to fall and get back up, — Elyria said, without a hint of pity. — But Brianna, your arrogance will one day be your downfall.
Brianna smiled but did not respond.
Morgana felt her face burn, not just from the fall but from the humiliation. Sweat trickled down her forehead, mixing with the dust from training, making her skin feel even hotter. However, that night, as she sat in the gardens with Cerys and Rhys, she found some comfort.
— You’ll get better, — Cerys said. — We all will.
— And one day, we’ll return the favor to Brianna, — Rhys added, determined.
Morgana did not respond, but for the first time, she allowed herself to believe that perhaps she was not alone in this fight.
- Writer
