Academia - Ability Wielders

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 - The Night the Academy Burned

The first explosion shattered more than the academy barrier.

It shattered every student's illusion that Academia was untouchable.

A crimson alarm lit up every tower as bells rang across the campus.

DONG! DONG! DONG!

The peaceful academy that had felt like a dream only hours ago transformed into a battlefield.

Smoke rose into the night.

Students screamed.

Professors rushed through the courtyards, shouting orders.

"FIRST YEARS TO THE SHELTERS!"

"SECOND-YEARS, DEFENSIVE FORMATION!"

"MEDICS TO THE SOUTH WING!"

The Girls' Dormitory

"What do we do?!" Mira cried, clutching Fin's arm.

"I—I don't know!"

Another explosion rocked the building, throwing everyone off balance.

Glass shattered across the hallway.

Girls ran in every direction.

Some were crying.

Others tried activating abilities with trembling hands.

Fin's heart pounded against her ribs.

This wasn't training.

People were really getting hurt.

Suddenly—

The dormitory doors burst open.

"FIN!"

Zanne.

He was breathing heavily, his tie crooked, glasses slightly askew.

"I've been looking everywhere for you."

"What happened?"

"The Ravens attacked three entrances at once."

"Why?"

"They're looking for you."

Fin's stomach dropped.

"...Me?"

"They know you're here."

Mira looked between them.

"We need to move. Now."

Outside

Chaos.

Buildings that had stood for centuries burned with blue flames.

Students fought alongside professors.

The sky was filled with winged beasts circling above the academy.

One Raven landed directly in front of them.

His crimson mask reflected the firelight.

"There she is."

He smiled beneath the mask.

"The Princess."

Fin instinctively stepped back.

"I'm not a princess."

"You are."

His voice carried certainty.

"You simply haven't remembered."

He lunged.

Before Fin could react—

CLANG!

A sword blocked the attack.

Sparks exploded.

"Touch her."

The familiar voice was cold.

"I dare you."

Priston.

He stood between Fin and the Raven, sword resting against the enemy's blade.

For once...

He wasn't smirking.

His amber eyes were sharp.

Focused.

Deadly.

The Raven laughed.

"So the academy's little champion."

Priston twirled his sword once.

"You talk too much."

First Battle

The Raven struck first.

His blade glowed crimson.

Priston moved faster than Fin could follow.

CLANG!

CLANG!

CLANG!

Steel collided repeatedly.

Every swing sent shockwaves across the stone courtyard.

"...He's incredible," Fin whispered.

Zanne nodded.

"He's the strongest first-year."

Priston ducked beneath another strike before driving his elbow into the Raven's ribs.

CRACK.

The masked man stumbled backward.

"You've improved."

"I don't remember asking."

The Raven grinned.

"Good."

Dark energy erupted from his body.

His strength doubled.

Priston's confident expression vanished.

The next attack sent him crashing through a marble pillar.

BOOM!

Dust exploded everywhere.

"Priston!" Fin shouted.

He groaned, slowly standing.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"...That actually hurt."

Despite everything...

He smiled.

Fin blinked.

"Is he insane?"

"A little," Zanne admitted.

Zanne's Secret

The Raven suddenly disappeared.

"He vanished!" Mira gasped.

"No."

Zanne closed his eyes.

"I can see him."

"What?"

"The shadows."

Before anyone understood—

Zanne pointed behind them.

"LEFT!"

Priston trusted him instantly.

Without even looking—

He spun around and blocked the invisible attack.

CLANG!

The Raven's eyes widened.

"...Impossible."

Priston smirked.

"Told you."

He kicked the Raven backward.

Fin stared at Zanne.

"...How did you know?"

He hesitated.

"My ability."

"You can... see invisible people?"

"I perceive magical signatures."

"You never mentioned that."

"You never asked."

"I literally asked what your ability was yesterday!"

"I said I'd show you."

"...Fair enough."

The Enemy Changes Targets

The Raven realized he couldn't get past Priston.

So...

He smiled.

"If I can't kill the guardian..."

His eyes shifted toward Fin.

"...I'll kill the girl."

Dark chains erupted from the ground.

They wrapped around Mira's legs.

"Mira!"

She screamed as the chains dragged her across the courtyard.

"No!"

Fin ran toward her.

Another chain wrapped around Fin's wrist.

Cold.

Painful.

It burned against her skin.

The Raven laughed.

"The Starborn blood."

He pulled harder.

"Come with me."

Fin struggled.

"I said—"

She yanked against the chains.

"LET!"

Silver light flickered beneath her skin.

The chain cracked.

The Raven froze.

"...Already?"

BOOM!

The chains exploded into glowing fragments.

A pulse of silver energy erupted outward.

Everyone within twenty feet was thrown backward.

Even Priston.

Even Zanne.

Even the Raven.

Fin looked at her hands.

"I..."

She hadn't meant to do that.

The power had acted on its own.

The Courtyard Falls Silent

Every battle nearby stopped.

Students.

Professors.

Enemies.

Everyone turned toward Fin.

Silver particles floated around her like tiny stars.

The academy's enormous clock tower chimed once.

Then...

Every lantern on campus lit simultaneously with silver flames.

Professor Seraphine arrived, sword drawn.

She looked at Fin.

Then the glowing lights.

Her face paled.

"...No..."

The Raven slowly stood.

His voice trembled.

"She's resonating."

Another Raven landed beside him.

"We have to retreat."

"Not without her."

"If she fully awakens—"

The second Raven grabbed his arm.

"You know the prophecy."

Silence.

Then—

The first Raven reluctantly lowered his weapon.

He looked directly at Fin.

"We'll meet again."

His voice echoed across the battlefield.

"When you remember who you truly are..."

"...You'll come to us willingly."

The Ravens disappeared into black mist.

One after another.

The battlefield became eerily quiet.

Aftermath

The academy was scarred.

Several buildings had collapsed.

The infirmary overflowed with injured students.

Professors worked through the night.

Fin sat alone on the academy steps, knees pulled to her chest.

Everything felt...

Too big.

Too fast.

A shadow appeared beside her.

Priston.

He sat without asking.

"You okay?"

Fin stared ahead.

"...No."

"...Understandable."

Silence settled between them.

"You fought for me."

He shrugged.

"You would've done the same."

"You barely know me."

He looked at the stars.

"I know enough."

Fin glanced sideways.

"So..."

"You don't think I'm weak anymore?"

He chuckled.

"I think you're reckless."

"That's not an answer."

"No."

"It isn't."

Another pause.

"...I think I underestimated you."

Fin smiled.

"I'll take that as an apology."

"It wasn't."

"It definitely was."

"...Keep dreaming."

For the first time...

Their conversation ended with both of them smiling.

Across the Courtyard

Zanne watched from beneath an old oak tree.

Professor Seraphine approached quietly.

"You should tell her."

Zanne looked away.

"...Not yet."

"She deserves to know."

"I know."

Seraphine sighed.

"You've carried that burden long enough."

"I made a promise."

"And promises can become prisons."

Zanne didn't answer.

Midnight

Fin couldn't sleep.

She opened Queen Elara's journal again.

This time...

A folded letter slid from between the pages.

The paper was old.

Fragile.

It was addressed simply to:

My Little Star

With trembling fingers, Fin unfolded it.

The ink shimmered faintly.

If this letter has reached you...

Then I am already gone.

A tear landed on the page.

More words followed.

There is something I have never told anyone.

Not even your father.

Fin's heartbeat quickened.

The man hunting you...

Was once my brother.

Her eyes widened.

The page continued.

Your uncle.

The room suddenly felt ice cold.

At that exact moment—

Someone quietly opened her dormitory window.

A cloaked figure slipped inside without making a sound.

Fin looked up.

Their eyes met.

The stranger slowly removed their hood.

It wasn't a Raven.

It wasn't a professor.

It was a young woman, perhaps twenty, with long silver hair and eyes almost identical to Fin's.

The woman smiled sadly.

Then whispered—

"Hello... little sister."