The Silver Dawn

Ariel's arms ached. His lungs burned. His entire body felt like lead.

And yet, the knights still watched.

Still waiting.

He gritted his teeth, pushing himself off the ground for what felt like the hundredth time that morning. His mana refusedto obey him. Every attempt at control ended the same way—failure.

The instructor's voice cut through the training field. "Again."

Ariel forced himself up.

The Weight of a Curse

The sun hung high over the Citadel, its heat merciless against the stone walls. Training had begun at dawn, and yet, Ariel was still here.

Still struggling.

The exercise was simple—draw mana, circulate it through the body, release it outward in controlled bursts.

Every other initiate had done it effortlessly.

Ariel?

Every time he tried, his mana fought him.

It lashed out. Rejected him. Burned through his veins like fire.

And every time, he failed.

The instructor sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Again."

Ariel's hands curled into fists.

From the sidelines, Arthur and Erik stood watching.

Erik, arms crossed, smirking. "Pathetic."

Arthur? His gaze held something else. Not sympathy. Not amusement.

Curiosity.

Ariel ignored them. He focused.

He reached inward, pulling at the energy locked deep within his core. The weight of it was suffocating, like trying to grab a raging storm with bare hands.

It resisted. Pushed back.

But Ariel refused to let go.

He clenched his teeth, forcing the mana through his veins. His body shook as the energy fought against him, barely contained—

And then—

It snapped.

A pulse of raw, uncontrolled force exploded outward.

The impact sent him sprawling backward. The ground cracked beneath his feet.

And just like that—the silence returned.

The knights exchanged glances. The instructor exhaled slowly.

"Enough." His tone was final.

Ariel sat there, breathing hard. His entire body ached.

The instructor turned, looking toward a figure standing on the far edge of the training grounds. "Elder Isolde gave her orders." His gaze flickered back to Ariel. "Take him to the overseer."

Ariel's breath hitched.

Overseer?

Before he could question it, another knight stepped forward.

"Come."

Ariel hesitated.

Arthur gave him a long look.

Then, he grinned. "Try not to die."

Ariel didn't have the strength to respond.

The Overseer

The walk was long.

Ariel was led through the upper halls of the Citadel, where only the high-ranking knights trained. The air was thicker here—the weight of authority pressed into his chest with every step.

Finally, they stopped before a set of massive iron doors.

The knight knocked once.

The doors swung open on their own.

Ariel stepped inside.

The chamber was unlike any other he had seen. It was vast, lined with ancient runes that pulsed faintly with golden light.At the far end of the room, a lone figure stood beneath a massive, floating orb of silver energy.

The woman was tall, draped in flowing white robes. Her long silver hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes gleamed like molten light.

She didn't turn.

"You are the one they call an anomaly."

Ariel stiffened.

Her voice was calm. Cold.

Like she already knew everything about him.

She finally turned, and her gaze pierced through him like a blade.

"I am Elder Isolde's overseer, the one assigned to evaluate you."

Ariel's fingers twitched.

The woman studied him for a long moment before gesturing to the space in front of her.

"Come," she said. "Let us see what you are."

The Test

Ariel stood across from the overseer.

The weight in the air shifted.

The runes around the room began to hum, glowing with faint silver light. The air grew thick with mana.

The overseer lifted a hand. "Defend yourself."

Ariel barely had time to process the words before a wave of energy surged toward him.

He tried to move—too slow.

The force slammed into him, sending him skidding across the floor. His back hit the stone, pain flaring across his ribs.

The overseer didn't pause.

A second wave of mana rushed toward him.

Ariel gritted his teeth, pushing himself to his feet. His muscles screamed in protest, but he ignored them.

He had one chance.

He reached inward—grasping for his power.

For a moment, it resisted.

But this time, he forced it forward.

Silver light flared around him. His body moved without thinking.

And then—the world shifted.

One moment, he was in the overseer's chamber. The next, he was…

Somewhere else.

The Moon's Shadow

A vast, endless void.

And above him, the moon.

Watching.

Waiting.

Ariel's breath came sharp.

This wasn't the Citadel.

It was his Inner Soul.

And in the distance, she stood.

The Moon Goddess.

She didn't speak. She simply… watched.

Ariel's chest tightened.

"What do you want from me?" he demanded.

Silence.

A whisper.

"The same thing you want from yourself."

Ariel's heart pounded.

Before he could respond, the world shattered.

Awakening

Ariel gasped.

He was back in the Citadel.

His knees hit the stone floor, his body trembling.

The overseer stood above him, eyes unreadable.

Then—she smiled.

Faint. Barely there.

"…Interesting."

Ariel's breath came fast.

His hands were still shaking.

Not from exhaustion.

But from something else.

Because for the first time…

He felt it.

The power was no longer resisting him.

It was waiting.

And it was hungry.