"Exams."

Everhart announced one afternoon in the Elements class. She sounded sadistically delighted as the class groaned. She raised a hand, silencing the class as she continued. "They are just a way to evaluate your progress up till today. Nothing to panic, if you've studied hard enough."

She started pacing around the room. "After this exam, you will be promoted onto the second year in training, and your focus will be shifting majorly into practicals. You will each also be studying certain mortal subjects that have turned out to be extremely useful."

She dismissed the class after a while as I felt cold panic in my chest. I was lagging ages behind everyone else with my late admission and one-week suspension, adding to the burden. I noticed Aris and Nia walking ahead. I purposefully slowed down.

"What's up with you and Aris?"

I turned around quickly and saw Aahan, staring at me curiously.

I sighed. "Nothing. Er...he's mad at me."

He raised his eyebrows. "Aris doesn't get mad, Hunt. Your argument is flawed," he declared.

I shook my head. "It's nothing really."

I turned around to leave. He didn't say anything as I walked away from him, feeling considerably worse than before.

Social relationships, owing to the lack of them, were difficult for me. I had come to the conclusion that I didn't need them. I had already spent sixteen years of my life with minimal socialization and was confident that I could do it for the rest of it as well. However, I spent the entire day stealing glances at the three of them through every class. I felt pathetic. Needy. Maybe I just wasn't used to it, but the rumours and whispers in Asteria seemed worse without the company. I thought multiple times about apologizing to Aris, but something kept stopping me. I told myself that I simply needed time to get used to it.

That evening, I made my way to the library, aiming to distract myself and also doing something fruitful along the way. I decided to start with history since the syllabus seemed to be vast and picked up a heavy book titled, 'Veiled Obscura and Everything You Need To Know.' I opened the first chapter and started reading.

'The Chasm: Creation

At the beginning of the days, the shadow creatures lived in harmony with the creatures on Obscura. Soon power corrupted them, and they set out to control the earth, possessing the weak-willed humans and wreaking havoc. It was then that the Sentinels rose. Seven Nuvues of extreme powers who were set to annihilate the shadows and their morbid activities. Helios, one of the only surviving Asterius at that time absorbed power from the Ultimaria (known as Strange Star in the mortal world) and used it to seal the void.'

"Erm...Ezekiel?"

I looked up from the book at a mousy haired girl standing across me. Her cheeks turned bright red as she sputtered. "Er...someone is there to see you in the meet room."

"Who?" I asked, wondering who it could be. My first thought was my father, but I didn't think he would be able to come and see me during this hour and so far from the Palace.

"He said he is from the Palace. I didn't get a name," She replied hurriedly.

I nodded and thanked her for the message as she sputtered incoherently and walked away. I stared after her for a while, curiously. I shut the book, marking the page and walked outside the library.

The meet room was situated on the ground floor in the central building. I entered into the reception area and turned right along the sleek, modern corridors as the massive window of the room came into view. I could see Aidan sitting on the desk as I approached him and entered the room. He saw me and got up, giving me a little bow as he spoke. "Good afternoon, Ezekiel."

"Good afternoon, Aidan," I said as I took a seat across him, still confused. He looked around as if making sure that nobody could hear him before he leaned forward and spoke.

"Your father sent me here to inquire about you. Are you keeping well?"

For a few moments, I didn't know what to say. Eventually, I decided to nod. "Yes."

He nodded before he leaned back and spoke again. "I hear the Selections have taken place. Your father wants to know which guild you are in."

"Incandesco." For now.

"The Fire Guild," Aidan said in mild surprise. "Meredith is in the same one, isn't she?"

I shrugged. I saw a different tenderness in his eyes when he spoke the words, but they were gone, almost immediately replaced by impassiveness. I wondered if I had imagined it.

"How about everything else? Have you been having any..." he didn't say anything, looking suddenly uncomfortable.

"No. I haven't had hallucinations for years and am not having them now either," I spoke softly.

Aidan was quiet for a while. "I believe you Ezekiel."

I stared at him, wondering what he could possibly mean. His brown eyes were full of understanding as he spoke in a voice barely above a whisper.

"About the assassin. I believe you."

I blinked at him, an unexplained feeling in my chest. "You...you do?"

He was the first one who had believed me, I could see the sincerity in his face as he nodded. "I believe...things can get messy. I believe desperation can drive man to great lengths."

For a minute, I wondered if I should tell him about Elijah but decided against it.

"Which is why I am going to warn you," he continued. "There is...a lot of talk going around the court. The entire nobility."

I blinked again. "Me, About me?"

He didn't say anything. "I believe you do form an integral part of the conversation."

I wasn't sure I wanted to know what was being talked about. "The entire nobility is entranced by your enigma Zeke."

I scoffed. "What?"

He shook his head. "There are rumours..." he took a deep breath. "I can't tell you anything yet. But...I know your father cares deeply for you so, on his behalf I wanted to inform you to be on your guard. Tread with caution. Think twice before going anywhere alone. Stay close to your friends."

I felt a pang in my chest at his words, disguising it by nodding. I was already aware of the fact that I wasn't safe, but the constant attacks were making me wary and almost impatient.

"Focus on training. Hone your skills. Be on the lookout and...don't pay heed to what people say."

I nodded again as he finally stood up. "I'll be leaving now. I'll be back soon, take care until then."

He nodded once at me before walking out of the room. It was the second time that he had warned me. I could tell that there was something that he was hiding. Something that he wanted to tell me but was hesitating due to some reason. And something told me that I wouldn't like the reason at all.

*

That day during practice, another heavy blow was dealt.

"Huddle!" Maddison called as I jogged over to the center of the grounds. I could see Aris standing with his arms crossed but didn't talk to me.

"Our quarterfinals are coming up this Thursday," Isaiah said.

Elijah had excused himself from the practice sessions indefinitely. He wasn't going to play in the next match, which automatically made me enter it and leave no extras. A part of me reveled in the idea that maybe he was too embarrassed or even scared to face me. Another part told me that I was being naïve.

I hadn't seen him ever since he had tried to murder me. I wanted to look him defiantly in the eye. See him ashamed. See him cower.

"We are up against Onyx School of The Elite. Also...one thing you should know about them is that they are not Nuvues," Isaiah announced.

"Elves," Justin said, shaking his head. "Arrogant ass toerags."

I knew there were several magical beings in Obscura but had never seen one up close.

"What kind of powers do they have?" I asked.

"Mainly over nature. They can control the topography of a place," Maddison replied, shaking her head. "It will be tough to score, so we need to work on defense. We will be changing our formations. Five of you, will be in defense and the rest in offense. Greenwood-" she called, addressing Aris. "You are the only earth affinity Nuvue we have here. Will you be able to restructure the ground to benefit us?"

Aris' eyes widened. "Er...I've never really done anything like that. If I mess up, it might be detrimental to our own team-"

"Then don't mess up," Isaiah said. "Try to change the terrain, so it benefits our team. We need any advantage we can get."

Aris stared at him wide eyed before he gulped. "Okay."

The practice that day was much more different than I had seen. Aris was trying hard to stop Maddison as she raced along the field on to the other side. I could feel the earth trembling as all at once, there was a loud whinny of protest from the horses, and Justin had to call a stop to the practice. "Okay, so...I think our horses need to be more attuned."

After three hours of practice, Maddison finally called a stop as night fell. The horses were slowly getting used to the lapping tendrils, and trembling grounds as Aris tried to refine his attacks. However, I could see that this match would be very difficult. We made our way back to the locker room, feeling weary and sore. Aris walked determinedly ahead of me, his shoulders stiff. I made up my mind and jogged to catch up to him.

"You're being over dramatic," I said.

He didn't say anything, increasing his pace instead.

"Aris- stop being-" I cursed under my breath as he started running, and I had to sprint to keep up with him, almost out of breath by the time we reached the locker room.

"What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you that fucking childish that you're not going to talk to me or something?"

He removed his gloves, placing them slowly on the rack, and then unzipped his jacket and hung it on the locker with deliberate and frustrating calm.

"Aris-"

"I gave you a clean fucking slate Ezekiel," he said, his jaw set as he finally turned to look at me. The intensity in his gaze made me take a step back as he spoke, his voice trembling with suppressed emotions. The expression was strange on him. Uncharacteristic.

"Do you know that I have never let Aahan or Nia meet my father? And that I trusted you enough to take you there even though I barely know you?" he walked forward as he spoke, "Do you realize that I did not pay attention to all the rumours that I've heard about you? Does your selfish, stuck up ass acknowledge the fact that ever since you got here, we have been nothing but unconditionally supportive even though you don't give a single fuck about people's feelings?"

His words stung me in ways I hadn't thought they would. He shut the door of his locker with a bang.

"I respect the fact that you don't like to become close to anyone. I don't know what reason there is for that. You don't tell anyone anything and then complain about how nobody believes you. You fucking have issues, and if you want to keep being this brooding selfish ass prince, then continue to do so. Good luck, Sunshine."

The mirth in his voice was unexpected and felt like a slap on my face. I was stunned and didn't say anything as he deliberately pushed his shoulder into me on his way out. I stood there for a long time, my heart racing. I knew he was right. I knew they had supported me in ways I knew that I didn't deserve.

I stood there for a long while before changing out of the uniform and walking out. I picked up speed as I made my way towards the mess hall, trying to organize the many thoughts in my head. I knew I was being pathetic. But I had never had friends. Not even close confidantes. The only person I ever felt close to had been my father. And even then, I never told him everything.

I walked into the mess hall as I again felt hundreds of stares on me and almost regretted my decision of walking in. I filled my plate with as much food as I required to survive and quickly shoveled it into my mouth, fixing my eyes on the plate lest I saw anyone staring at me. I left the plate at the washing area and started making my way out, my eyes glancing around as I saw Aris, Aahan, and Nia. Aahan had his eyes fixed on a book he had propped on a glass of water. Nia and Aris were deep in conversation.

As if on cue, Nia's eyes wandered over to mine, and she gave me a small smile. I looked away immediately and walked out of the hall and into the fresh air.

I made my way to my room and lay down on the bed, exhausted and drained. A part of me wanted to talk to them. Wanted to apologize. But I was scared. They had known each other for far longer than I had. Their friendships dating back to childhood days. I didn't want to intrude into what they had.

I fell asleep finally into a merciful sleep. My dreams punctuated by bursts of light, a burning house, and an empty room that looked eerily familiar.