Chapter 2: Settling In

Red Fountain loomed ahead, an imposing fortress of glass and stone that stood proudly against the sky. Its sleek design gave it a futuristic feel, but the magic that radiated from within made it clear that this place was anything but ordinary. The sight of it stirred something inside me—excitement, nervousness, maybe a mix of both.

As we reached the entrance, I tried not to gawk at the students bustling in and out of the academy. Most of them wore the same kind of armored uniforms I had, though some were dressed in more casual attire, clearly off-duty. Specialists-in-training, preparing for battles they didn't even know were coming.

Riven led me through the main courtyard without saying much, his sharp eyes scanning the crowds. He moved with a confidence that suggested he'd been here for a while. That made sense—Riven was always the loner, but he was skilled, even if his attitude left something to be desired.

"So, you just show up out of nowhere, huh?" Riven asked, breaking the silence. "Red Fountain doesn't just take anyone. You gotta have some kind of skill to get in."

I hesitated. I had no idea what my skills were yet. I barely understood the magic I had somehow awakened, and while I seemed physically capable, I hadn't tested my limits. "I'm still figuring that out," I said honestly. "But I've got magic. I think that counts for something."

Riven stopped in his tracks, turning to face me fully. His eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought I'd said the wrong thing. "Magic?" he repeated, his tone laced with skepticism. "Specialists don't use magic. That's fairy stuff."

I shrugged. "I don't know how to explain it. But it's there." I raised my hand, concentrating on the faint hum of power I could feel just beneath the surface. A small, blue spark flickered to life between my fingers before fading. It wasn't much, but it was proof enough.

Riven raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. For a second, I thought he might brush it off, but then his smirk returned. "Interesting. Might wanna keep that under wraps, though. Some people here don't take kindly to things that don't fit the norm."

He didn't elaborate, but I got the sense that he knew more than he was letting on. Riven always had a complicated relationship with magic, especially when it came to his interactions with witches and fairies. Still, the warning was clear. I nodded, deciding to keep my newfound abilities on the down-low for now.

As we entered the main hall of Red Fountain, I couldn't help but marvel at the grand architecture. The academy was a mix of high-tech training facilities and traditional magic-infused structures. Giant banners of past Specialist victories lined the walls, and holographic displays flickered overhead, showcasing current missions and challenges. This was a place where warriors were made, where heroes were forged.

Riven led me to the registration area, a large room bustling with new recruits. A woman behind a desk glanced up as we approached, her eyes scanning me before settling on Riven. "Another one?" she asked, her tone bored but efficient.

"Yeah," Riven replied. "Name's Evan. He's new."

I stepped forward, feeling a bit awkward under the woman's scrutinizing gaze. "Uh, hi. Evan. Just got here."

She tapped a few keys on the holographic interface in front of her before nodding. "Welcome to Red Fountain. You'll be assigned a dorm and given a basic orientation." She handed me a small device, about the size of a wristwatch. "This is your communicator. It'll give you access to your schedule, missions, and assignments. Make sure you don't lose it."

I slipped it onto my wrist, the sleek design fitting perfectly. "Thanks," I muttered, still processing everything.

Before I could say anything else, a loud voice echoed through the hall. "Alright, recruits! Gather up!"

A tall, muscular man in a sharp uniform strode into the room, commanding attention with his presence alone. His fiery red hair was unmistakable—this was Sky's mentor, Codatorta, the head instructor at Red Fountain. He was tough, strict, and didn't tolerate nonsense.

The recruits immediately fell into line, myself included. Riven gave me a nod before slipping away, blending into the crowd. I stood there, trying to absorb as much as I could. The air around Codatorta practically buzzed with authority.

"Listen up!" Codatorta's voice boomed. "You're all here because you've shown potential. But potential means nothing if you don't put in the work. Here at Red Fountain, we don't just train Specialists—we train the best. You will learn discipline, combat, and strategy. You will be pushed to your limits and beyond. If you think this is going to be easy, you're in the wrong place."

He paced in front of us, his gaze sharp. "Some of you might be skilled with weapons. Others might rely on brute strength. But here, we mold you into something greater. A Specialist is more than a fighter—he's a protector. And if you can't handle that, leave now."

No one moved. The weight of his words hung in the air, heavy and uncompromising.

"Good," Codatorta said, his tone softening just a fraction. "Now, you've all been assigned your dorms. Training begins tomorrow at dawn. Get settled in tonight, because once we start, there's no turning back."

With that, the crowd began to disperse. I stood there for a moment, taking it all in. This was real. I was really here, about to start my training as a Specialist. A mix of excitement and fear churned in my stomach, but I pushed it down. I didn't have time to be afraid. I had to focus.

I found my dorm assignment on the communicator—a small room shared with two other recruits. When I arrived, my roommates were already there. One of them, a tall guy with short black hair, glanced up as I entered. "You must be the new guy," he said. "I'm Tristan."

"Evan," I replied, offering a small wave. The other guy, a short but muscular kid with sandy blond hair, gave me a nod from across the room.

"I'm Nate," he said simply before turning back to unpacking his things.

The room was simple but functional. Three beds, a couple of storage lockers, and a shared bathroom. It wasn't much, but it was home for now.

As I settled in, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was on the edge of something big. I had magic, something that set me apart from the others. But that also made me different, and in a place like this, different wasn't always good.

Still, I couldn't let that hold me back. I had to figure out what I was capable of, and I had to do it fast. The timeline of events from the Winx Club series raced through my mind. Soon, Bloom would arrive at Alfea, and that meant trouble wasn't far behind.

The Trix were out there, biding their time. Dark forces were at play, and if I didn't step up, I'd be caught in the crossfire. I wasn't just some spectator in this world anymore. I had a role to play, even if I didn't know what it was yet.

For now, though, I needed to focus on surviving Red Fountain's training. The rest would come later.

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End of Chapter 2