Eclipse of Fate

Raine moved through the dimly lit corridors of the Academy, his cloak drawn tightly around him. Midnight had come, and with it, the weight of secrecy. The token Selene had pressed into his hand earlier still rested in his palm—an intricate emblem, its surface cold against his skin. He didn't understand its significance yet, but Selene had been adamant.

"Meet me at the old courtyard when the moon is at its peak," she had whispered. "And come alone."

Raine reached the courtyard, its ancient stone archways casting long shadows under the silver light. Selene stood near a worn fountain, her expression unreadable.

"You came," she murmured.

"I don't ignore summons from nobles without good reason," Raine said, eyeing her warily. "What is this about?"

Before Selene could respond, footsteps echoed from the opposite side of the courtyard. Raine turned sharply, his muscles tensing.

Aldric stepped into view, his usual smirk absent. His gaze flickered between Raine and Selene. "Looks like I wasn't the only one called here."

Raine narrowed his eyes. "You planned this?"

Selene shook her head. "No, but I expected him to show up." She exhaled, glancing at the token in Raine's hand. "What I'm about to tell you isn't just about Academy rivalries. There are forces at play beyond these walls, and whether you like it or not, you're both caught in them."

Aldric crossed his arms. "And what exactly do you mean by that?"

Selene hesitated, then glanced over her shoulder as if sensing unseen eyes. "Before I explain, I need to know—how much do you two know about the Eclipse Prophecy?"

Silence hung between them, heavy and foreboding.

Beyond the Academy walls, far in the heart of the kingdom, a cloaked figure stood before a council of shadowed figures. A single phrase passed through the chamber like a whisper carried by the wind.

"The harbinger has awakened. The pieces are falling into place."