Eclipse of Fate

Raine could still feel the cold stone under his fingertips as he and Aldric stepped out of the underground chamber. The weight of what they had learned sat heavy on their shoulders. The Eclipse Prophecy was no longer just a tale—it was a force shaping their fates.

The night air was crisp as they emerged onto the academy grounds. The distant hum of the city beyond Veythar's walls was a reminder that the world moved forward, unaware of the storm brewing beneath its surface.

Aldric ran a hand through his dark hair, exhaling sharply. "This changes everything."

Raine nodded, still deep in thought. "If the academy is hiding this, imagine what the noble houses know. Or worse, what they don't."

Their conversation was interrupted as a figure emerged from the shadows—a woman draped in a long, hooded cloak. Selene Veymar.

"I was expecting you both to take longer," she said, her silver eyes gleaming in the moonlight.

"You knew about this?" Aldric asked, his voice edged with suspicion.

Selene smiled faintly. "I knew pieces. But I also knew that knowledge must be earned. And now you know why you're both in danger."

Raine folded his arms. "Who else is after this knowledge?"

Selene hesitated before answering. "There are whispers of factions moving in the dark—some noble-backed, others… less so. But they all have one thing in common: they believe the Eclipse Prophecy is coming to pass."

A cold wind swept through the courtyard. Aldric tensed. "And they think one of us is the harbinger."

Selene's gaze met his. "Not think. They are convinced."

A sudden clang of metal rang through the air. Raine's hand shot to his sword. From the far side of the courtyard, figures in dark armor emerged—silent, methodical, and closing in fast.

"Looks like the whispers have turned to action," Aldric muttered, drawing his weapon.

Raine took a steady breath, the tension of the moment coiling in his muscles. The first battle for the truth was about to begin.