Fractured

A sudden, resonant chime echoed through the air, sharp and commanding, silencing the chatter in the room. Heads turned instinctively, and a wave of anticipation swept over the apprentices as Ezekiel strode purposefully to the front of the classroom.

His movements were fluid yet authoritative, his crimson hair catching the ambient light like embers in a dying fire.

"Attention, everyone," Ezekiel called, his voice steady but firm. The room fell into an almost unnatural silence, the weight of his presence palpable. Once satisfied that all eyes were on him, he raised a hand, his fingers splayed.

A gasp rippled through the room as a flame erupted in his palm, roaring to life without consuming him. The fire danced wildly, yet it seemed to obey him completely, as if it were alive and tethered to his will.

"Now that all the apprentices have officially entered the Guardian Realm," Ezekiel began, his tone almost casual despite the dramatic display, "I'll be handing out the updated school manual."

The murmurs of awe turned to silence again as the flames in his hand expanded, casting flickering light across the room. With a subtle flick of his wrist, the fire separated into dozens of smaller flames, each shooting toward an apprentice. They moved with precision, hovering in front of every student.

Silvermist tensed as one of the fiery apparitions floated toward her. She braced herself, expecting heat or pain, but when the flame dissipated, it left behind a neatly bound manual, suspended mid-air.

Gasps and exclamations filled the room as apprentices cautiously reached for their manuals. Silvermist hesitated for a moment before grabbing hers. It was cool to the touch, entirely unmarred by the flames from which it had emerged.

Adeline, seated beside her, tilted her head, her small hands tracing the edges of her manual as though marveling at its impossible existence. Around them, other apprentices flipped through their books, the sound of rustling pages blending with murmured speculations.

"How is this even possible?" someone whispered.

Silvermist's heart raced, though she tried to keep her expression neutral. There was a strange elegance in the way Ezekiel wielded his power, yet it only made her feel more out of place. What if they noticed her oddity? What if they discovered what she had done?

Ezekiel's gaze swept across the room, as if to ensure everyone had received their manual. He lingered for a moment, his piercing eyes locking with Silvermist's. Her stomach twisted, but he moved on, seemingly uninterested.

As the initial wonder settled, Adeline leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "They'll figure out who you are soon."

The words hit Silvermist like a blow. Though Adeline's tone was soft, it carried an ominous weight that made her blood run cold. Her fingers tightened around the edges of the manual as an icy chill crawled up her spine.

"Is that a warning or a threat?" Silvermist whispered back, her voice laced with unease.

Adeline said nothing, her enigmatic gaze fixed on the manual in her lap. The silence stretched, leaving Silvermist to grapple with the uneasy feeling that her secret was hanging by a thread.

From the front of the room, Ezekiel's voice broke through her thoughts. "Your manuals outline everything you need to know about life in the Guardian Realm," he explained, his tone calm yet commanding. "From your duties to the laws of this academy. I suggest you study them carefully. Ignorance is not an excuse here."

The fire in his hand flickered out, plunging the room into a softer, more subdued light. Silvermist swallowed hard, her hands trembling slightly as she held the manual. Around her, the other apprentices murmured in agreement, seemingly eager to dive into its pages.

To Silvermist, the manual felt less like a guide and more like a silent judgment. As far as she knew, Adeline was the only one aware of her secret. Yet, the extent of Adeline's powers remained a mystery—whether she could read minds, glimpse the future, or something else entirely, Silvermist couldn't be sure.

Ezekiel dismissed the class, along with all other sessions, instructing the apprentices to head to their respective dorms. He explained that their room numbers and directions were conveniently embedded within their manuals.

Silvermist was relieved to discover that she'd be sharing a room with Adeline, Mila, and three other girls they hadn't met yet. It felt comforting to have familiar faces around, even in such an unfamiliar place.

As they walked out of the classroom, Silvermist's attention was glued to her manual. She couldn't help but marvel at its craftsmanship—the intricate design of the cover, the shimmer of the pages, and the way every letter seemed to pulse with a faint, magical glow. It was almost hypnotic.

Caught up in her fascination, she didn't notice the figure standing directly in her path until she was nearly upon him. She stopped abruptly, startled, and looked up. Her breath caught in her throat as she came face-to-face with a man whose presence felt oddly familiar.

"Ah, Silvermist," another man said, his voice smooth and deliberate.

Her eyes darted to his side, where Ezekiel stood, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Hey," she mumbled, offering a polite nod before glancing back at the man in front of her. There was something unsettling about the way he looked at her, as if he saw straight through her.

Silvermist turned her head, spotting Adeline and Mila already nearing the exit. A sinking realization hit her—she had gone the wrong way.

"S-Sorry," she stammered, stepping back hurriedly, only to collide with someone behind her.

The impact made her gasp, and she spun around, dread pooling in her stomach when she saw who it was—Sebastian. His mismatched eyes, one icy blue and the other molten gold, glinted as he stared down at her, a brow slightly raised in amusement.

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment as she struggled to find the words to apologize.

She was about to make a swift escape when Ezekiel's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Oh, she's the one I was referring to," he said, his tone casual but laced with intrigue as he glanced at the man standing before Silvermist.

The man—tall, reserved, and radiating an air of quiet authority—didn't respond verbally. Instead, he gave a subtle nod, his expression unreadable.

Ezekiel's lips curved into a thin smile, one that hinted at amusement or perhaps a secret only he was privy to. His gaze flicked back to Silvermist, his eyes gleaming with something she couldn't quite place.

"By the way," Ezekiel said smoothly, gesturing toward the man, "this is West Crystalvein."

Silvermist instinctively nodded, though confusion churned in her mind. Why had Ezekiel gone out of his way to introduce her to him? And more importantly, was this man someone she was supposed to know?

Her thoughts flickered back to what Ezekiel had said moments ago. She's the one I was referring to.

Were they talking about her before this? If so, why? Silvermist's unease grew, though she kept her expression neutral, unwilling to let her uncertainty show.

Silvermist instinctively stepped back when West raised a hand between them, as though silently asking for something she didn't understand. She glanced at Ezekiel for clarity, but he only shrugged in response, offering no help.

Frustration bubbled up inside her, and she shot West an irritated look. "I don't have a dollar—" she started, but her words were cut off as West suddenly grabbed her wrist, his gaze focused intently on the mark there.

"Hey!" Silvermist yelped, trying to yank her hand away, but West's grip was firm.

Sebastian, too, stepped forward, his curiosity piqued by the interaction.

West's voice was low and calculating as he observed the mark. "So, she's indeed the one who's been shattered..." he muttered, as if speaking to himself.

The words felt like a cold wind brushing against Silvermist's skin. Shattered? Her heart skipped a beat, but before she could react, the implication of his words sank in. Was he calling her broken? Or something worse?

She glared at West, not sure whether to feel insulted or confused, but she didn't back down. "What does that mean?" she demanded, her voice sharp despite the unease crawling beneath her skin.

West didn't respond to her question. With a dismissive flick of his wrist, he released her hand and turned, his footsteps purposeful as he strode toward another exit. "Follow us," he muttered, barely sparing her a glance before continuing on his way.

Silvermist stood there, her eyes narrowing in confusion and frustration. Ezekiel sighed heavily and gestured for her to follow. "Come on, Silvermist. We don't have all day."

"What is this all about?" she asked, still unwilling to move.

Sebastian, passing her without so much as a glance, spoke as he trailed after West. "There's something you need to know."

Silvermist looked to Ezekiel, her voice thick with suspicion. "And you're not going to tell me?"

Ezekiel only shrugged, his expression unreadable. "They just want to talk to you," he said, his tone deliberately vague.

"Why?" she pressed, her patience wearing thin.

Ezekiel paused, his eyes narrowing as he regarded her. "You didn't know?" he asked, his voice almost incredulous. "A broken apprentice... is a broken guardian."

The words hung in the air like a weight, the implications sinking into Silvermist's chest like a stone. She was left to grapple with the strange, unsettling truth he had just hinted at.