VALOR_30

At the Academy of Veythar, where nobles and commoners clash in duels of steel and 
sorcery, Raine Vaelor, a former outlaw, becomes an unexpected contender for power. 
When an ancient prophecy claims he is destined to shape the world’s fate, nobles seek to 
control him, rivals vow to break him, and unseen forces move in the shadows. 
But what if the prophecy is wrong? 
As assassins close in and forbidden magic resurfaces, Raine must uncover the truth before 
he becomes a pawn in a game centuries in the making. In a world where power is an 
illusion, will he forge his own path—or be destroyed by a destiny that was never his to begin 
with?

Eclipse of Fate

Raine tightened the wraps around his hands, flexing his fingers as he observed the combatants stepping into the arena. The evaluation was nearing its final phase, and the atmosphere in the coliseum-like structure was thick with tension. Students who had scraped through the earlier rounds now faced their toughest challenges yet.

The stands were packed with spectators—students, professors, and even a few nobles who had come to witness the raw talent on display. Among them sat Headmaster Alden Mordain, his keen eyes scanning the field with quiet intensity. Beside him, various instructors murmured about potential recruits for their specialized classes.

Raine exhaled slowly. Across from him stood a lean, dark-haired opponent—Kael Draymoor, a prodigy of the Phantom Steps sword style. Quick, precise, deadly. Kael's movements were almost unreadable, his footwork designed to create illusions and strike from unexpected angles.

"You're the outlaw noble, right?" Kael asked, rolling his shoulders as he assessed Raine. "Let's see if the rumors about you hold any weight."

The instructor overseeing their match raised a hand. "Begin!"

Raine's instincts screamed as he twisted to the side, barely avoiding a slash aimed at his ribs. Phantom afterimages flickered around him, making it difficult to track Kael's true position. But Raine had spent years fighting in lawless territories where illusions and feints meant the difference between life and death.

He closed his eyes for half a second, relying on pure instinct. A shift in the air—there!

Raine pivoted, slamming his knee into Kael's side just as the real attack came. The impact sent Kael staggering, his expression momentarily shocked before it shifted into exhilaration.

"Not bad," Kael muttered. Then he grinned. "But not good enough."

The fight resumed, a clash of steel and footwork, each combatant pushing the other to their limits. Meanwhile, in the stands, nobles whispered among themselves, their interest in Raine growing.

Unbeknownst to Raine, a shadowy figure watched him from a secluded balcony—someone who had been waiting for this moment.

And far beyond the Academy, in the heart of the kingdom, a messenger knelt before a cloaked figure.

"The Eclipse Prophecy's harbinger has emerged," the messenger reported.

The cloaked figure's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Then the wheels of fate have begun to turn."

Shadows in the Arena