The Last of Their Kind

The teacher's words hung in the air, and just as Ezra was about to process them, a voice interrupted.

"Wait," a boy with round glasses and fluffy brown hair asked, raising his hand. "You said resonance flows through life, that every person should have resonance—the life force of all living things. But… what about—"

Before the boy could finish, the teacher cut him off, his tone smooth yet authoritative as though he'd known the question was coming.

"There are some unusual exceptions," the teacher replied, his gaze distant, like he was reflecting on something beyond the classroom walls. "The cause of these is still unclear, but they exist."

"Why?" the boy asked, pressing for more information.

The teacher's expression hardened, his voice taking on a more final tone. "I'm not sure. Now, back to the topic."

"The Blood Moon Trial is expected to be at the end of the year," he said, his eyes scanning the room, locking onto the students one by one. "It is an event that will test everything you've learned. Every single one of you will face challenges that push you to the brink. Some of you may not come back."

The room fell silent. Even the usual whispers were stilled by the weight of the teacher's words. Ezra could feel the pressure mounting, the realization that this school was not just about learning. It was about survival.

"And for those who do," the teacher continued, his voice hardening, "the rewards will be immense. Mastery of the elements, deeper understanding of your resonance, and the strength to face whatever comes through those rift zones." He paused for a moment, letting the words sink in. "This is your purpose here. You are not just students. You are soldiers. Remember that."

"Class dismissed for today," the teacher concluded, his voice cutting through the silence that had settled in the room.

Students began to stir, some already packing up their things, others lingering to chat quietly amongst themselves. 

Ezra stood slowly, gathering his things, feeling the tension in the room still hanging in the air. As he looked around, he noticed a few students giving him curious glances, some lingering longer than others, as if trying to figure him out.

Asli and Silas were already heading towards the door, their casual pace a stark contrast to the intensity of the class. 

Ezra stopped in his tracks as a boy, jogged up to him. He had an eager, slightly nervous energy about him, and his large glasses only accentuated his youthful appearance. Ezra noted how his ears poked out from under his hair, adding to the boy's distinct look.

"Hello," he said, smiling broadly, his braces catching the light as he spoke. "I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Milo. You're Ezra, I presume?"

Ezra gave him a small nod, surprised by the sudden attention. "Yeah, that's me," he replied, offering a faint smile in return.

Milo's smile widened, and he looked as if he were trying to gather his thoughts before continuing. "I heard you're the new guy, and I just wanted to say, it's really cool to meet you! I've heard a lot about you… though, I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not," he said, letting out a nervous laugh.

Ezra chuckled softly, feeling the tension of the day start to ease just a bit. "Yeah, I've heard a lot about me, too. Don't know if it's all true, though."

Milo shrugged, his eyes bright with curiosity.

"Well, I hope we can be friends. It's tough around here with all the, uh, rumors and stuff, but I think we can make it work!" He seemed genuine, but the unease still lingered in his voice.

"Is it true you're roommates with the Duskborn? I've just been hearing rumors and wasn't sure…" Milo's voice trailed off as he looked at Ezra, his eyes wide with curiosity.

Ezra blinked, his confusion clear. Milo seemed taken aback by his reaction.

"You… really don't know?" Milo asked, dropping his voice slightly, as though making sure no one else overheard.

Ezra shook his head, still puzzled. "I've heard the term a few times, but I don't really know what it means. I just got here, after all."

Milo took a moment, considering how to explain it. "The Duskborn…" he began, his voice lowered as he glanced around nervously. "They're a group of people, kind of a clan, who have a unique connection to the elements—especially shadows and darkness." He looked to make sure no one else was listening, then leaned in closer.

"They're rare, and there's a lot of mystery surrounding them. They come from the Isle of Noctis, a small island not far from here."

Ezra felt a flicker of recognition at the name of the island but said nothing, letting Milo continue.

"They have very distinct features," Milo continued. "Dark skin, pitch-black hair, and eyes that look like the galaxy—swirling with stars. Some say they can switch their gender at night. It's weird… but those are the rumors."

Ezra frowned, unsure of how much to believe, but the mention of the Duskborn being able to change their gender struck him as particularly odd. 

Ezra nodded slowly, piecing things together. The Duskborn were more than just an anomaly; they were almost like legends. And he had to live with one of them as roommates.

"Wait," Ezra said, his voice growing more curious. "How many of them are left, then?"

Milo sighed softly, casting another glance around before responding. "There's only two Duskborn left now." He paused, letting the weight of the words sink in, his gaze lingering on Ezra as if measuring his reaction. "That's all that's left of their kind… the rest are… gone."

Ezra's brow furrowed. "Who's the other one?"

Milo's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "Soren Nightingale. Fourth year. Wild one, that one."

Ezra's curiosity spiked. "Why are they called Duskborn?"

Milo's expression grew distant for a moment, almost reverent. "Because every one of them is born at dusk. When the light's fading… when the shadows grow long."