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 sat in silence, his fingers tapping lightly against the wooden table in the dimly lit chamber beneath the academy. Across from him, Selene Veymar's violet eyes gleamed with unreadable intent. Aldric leaned back against the stone wall, arms crossed, waiting for an explanation that had yet to come.

"The Eclipse Prophecy has been twisted by those in power," Selene finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "It is not simply about one person or one event. It is a chain reaction, a catalyst for upheaval."

Raine frowned. "You speak as if you know more than the rest of the world."

Selene gave him a wry smile. "Because I do. And so do those watching us from the shadows."

Aldric scoffed. "Then why bring it up now?"

She slid a small, intricately carved box toward them. "Because pieces are already moving. I intercepted this message before it reached its intended recipient. Inside is a token of recognition—one used by a faction that should have been extinct."

Raine lifted the lid, revealing an obsidian coin engraved with the symbol of a broken sun.

"The Eclipse Syndicate," Aldric muttered under his breath.

Selene nodded. "Their existence was erased from history. And yet, here we are."

Raine's mind raced. The Eclipse Syndicate—an organization whispered about in outlaw circles, known for their involvement in forbidden magic, assassinations, and political manipulation. If they were truly active again, then the prophecy was no longer just an old tale used to manipulate the masses.

A knock at the chamber door shattered the silence. A voice came through, urgent and tense. "Urgent summons. Headmaster Mordain requests your presence—immediately."

Selene exchanged a glance with Raine and Aldric before standing. "We are running out of time."

The three of them left the chamber, stepping into the cold corridors of the academy, where the shadows seemed to grow darker with every passing moment.

Beyond the academy walls, in the heart of the kingdom, the ruling houses convened in secret. And above them, the moon hung in the sky, its light eclipsed by gathering storm clouds

The Looming Storm