First Day of Class

The next day was the worst.

Ezra had woken up early, managing to get himself ready just in time. As he followed his new roommates out of the dorm, he couldn't help but notice the difference in their uniforms.

The uniform itself was quite simple—a pair of black trousers, a crisp white shirt, and a tie—but each roommate had their own personal twist.

Asli had thrown on a dark red hoodie that matched the school's uniform, the emblem emblazoned on the back. The hoodie was swung over his head, covering his hair, and headphones were firmly placed over his ears, the wires disappearing into the fabric as if he was in his own world, untouchable.

Silas, on the other hand, wore a sweater over his shirt, the sleeves rolled up neatly, giving him a more relaxed and effortless look. His casual demeanor was still striking, the kind that made him seem in control without even trying.

Ezra, however, simply wore the standard white shirt and black trousers. His hoodie was similar to Asli's, except the color was a deep blue rather than red.

"Since you're in the same class as us," Silas continued, his voice low, "we mainly study six subjects. Combat is the biggest category. A lot falls under that: basic combat training, strategy of war, weapon handling… you get the point. There's also lore, history and politics , and arcane studies."

As they walked down the hallway, Ezra couldn't help but notice how students quickly moved out of their way, their eyes shifting toward him with a mix of curiosity and fear. The whispers started again, loud enough for him to catch snippets of the conversation.

"It makes sense why he'd hang out with those freaks…"

"The Duskborn… he looks scary…"

Silas glanced over at Ezra, his face a mask of indifference, but the slight tightening of his jaw was noticeable. "Don't mind them," he muttered, "you'll get used to it. People here don't exactly… welcome the unknown."

His first class of the day was held in a large lecture hall . The room was dimly lit , with large ancient stone pillars stretching up to a high vaulted ceiling . Shelves of old times lined the walls , smell of aged parchment and ink permeating the air .

The door at the front of the room swung open with a soft creak, and in walked the instructor—an older man with graying hair and sharp, calculating eyes. He wore a dark robe embroidered with symbols Ezra didn't recognize. 

They entered there first class of the day as he followed them to their seats . Silas had his arm wrapped around Aslis wrist as he pulled him to back of the class . They sat down pulled out their books as Ezra did the same . 

Their teacher walked in—a man older in age, his graying hair framing sharp features. He wore a dark robe adorned with symbols Ezra didn't recognize.

The air seemed to shift as the teacher's piercing gaze swept over the students, lingering for a moment on Ezra. Ezra shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny, feeling the weight of his stare.

"So, you're the new student," the teacher said, his voice carrying authority. "Why are you sitting at the back? Come forward."

Ezra blinked, then looked around, realizing that all the other students were seated closer to the front. He noticed Asli and Silas at the back—though it wasn't entirely clear who had chosen to sit there first. Asli had his forehead resting against the window, slouched with one arm propped up lazily.

Silas, on the other hand, appeared absorbed in his sketchbook, his pencil moving quickly across the pages. Were the students avoiding them or was it the other way around. He really wasn't sure .

"I'm alright sitting at the back," Ezra muttered, more to himself than to anyone else, hoping the teacher would let it go.

"Hm. You sure?" The teacher's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that made Ezra feel like he was being evaluated.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Ezra shrugged, trying to brush off the attention as he shifted his focus away from the teacher and toward the front of the room.

The teacher raised an eyebrow, but didn't press the matter further. He turned toward the board, chalk in hand, and started writing down a few symbols that Ezra didn't recognize.

As the teacher's back was turned, Ezra felt the eyes of the students on him. A few whispered snickers filled the room, and for a moment, he felt like he was back in the spotlight, unsure of what had just happened. The subtle laughter made him uneasy, but he kept his gaze focused on the board, pretending it didn't bother him.

As the teacher continued writing on the board, he spoke again, his voice cutting through the lingering tension in the room.

The teacher's voice grew more intense as he delved deeper into the topic.

"Resonance," he continued, "is the life force of all living things. It's the foundation of all elemental powers, the energy that ties everything together. Understanding how your resonance interacts with the elements is key to manipulating them, to tapping into that raw power."

He paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the room, ensuring everyone was paying attention. Ezra sat straighter, trying to absorb the new information.

"Now, rift zones," the teacher went on, "are anomalies in space and time, where the very fabric of reality tears open. These zones are unstable, dangerous, and unpredictable. When they open, they bring forth powerful energies that can warp the elements and even create new ones. As students, you'll be trained to understand these zones, how to react to them, and how to control their influence."

Ezra's mind churned with the teacher's words, the pieces slowly falling into place. The dread reaver, the monstrous creature Eli had mentioned—it had come from a rift zone. And the bird-like monster that had attacked him?

'The one that had manipulated ice, twisting and distorting its form—could that have been influenced by a rift zone too?'

He could feel his heart race, and the room seemed to blur slightly as his thoughts spiraled. If these rift zones were the cause of such creatures, then they weren't just random events. They were potentially dangerous, unpredictable pockets of power that could bring unimaginable horrors with them. And now he was being thrust into a world where these rift zones were part of the curriculum.

He looked around the room, trying to mask his growing unease. The other students seemed unfazed, their eyes focused on the teacher, absorbing the lesson without a hint of fear.

'Were they used to this kind of knowledge? Had they been training for this their entire lives? '

Asli and Silas were not even paying attention as Asli had dozed off and Silas was flipping through his book.

The teacher's next words snapped him back to attention.

"Rift zones are not just places where the elements go wild," he said, a small, almost imperceptible grin crossing his face. "They're windows into other realities. Sometimes they bring more than just monsters. They can open doors to knowledge, power, and, unfortunately, chaos."

Ezra felt the weight of those words settle on him like a dark cloud. He had no idea how he was supposed to control something so volatile. How was he supposed to face something as unpredictable as a rift zone?

"Control will come with time," the teacher said, his voice firm but measured, almost as if he'd anticipated Ezra's thoughts. "You'll learn to harness your resonance, to bend the elements to your will. But remember, the moment you believe you have control is the moment you'll lose it." He paused, locking eyes with Ezra for a brief moment, his gaze intense. "Stay humble. The rift zones are merciless."