Chapter 3: A Soul in the Moonlight

Ariel barely remembered falling asleep.

The moment he closed his eyes, he had expected nothingness. A void of silence, a temporary escape from reality. But the darkness that swallowed him was not empty.

It was watching him.

Something lurked within the black—a presence, silent and cold, neither welcoming nor hostile. He couldn't see it, couldn't feel it, but he knew it was there.

Waiting.

Ariel's breath came slow and shallow. He stood, or at least, he thought he did. There was no ground beneath his feet. No sky above. Just an endless expanse of shadowed light, tinged with the distant shimmer of something silver.

And then—a whisper.

A voice, smooth as silk, delicate as a thread of moonlight.

"Come."

Ariel tried to move. The world around him shifted, pulling him forward, guiding him deeper into the dark. And suddenly—

He was awake.

The Citadel – A Caged Existence

Ariel's body jolted upright, his breath sharp as he gasped into the cold morning air. His limbs trembled. A thin sheen of sweat clung to his skin.

He wasn't in the void anymore.

He was in his room.

If it could even be called that.

The chamber was small, empty, and barren, with stone walls that swallowed warmth and a single cot barely wide enough for him to lie in. A single slit of a window let in a pale streak of early dawn, casting long shadows across the room.

He sat there, trying to catch his breath. His heart wouldn't slow down.

That dream.

Or… was it even a dream?

He gritted his teeth, fingers curling into the thin blanket draped over him. It had been three days since he arrived at the Lightbound Citadel, and in that time, he had been watched.

Everywhere he went, eyes followed him.

Whispers filled the halls when he passed.

He wasn't a student. Not yet. Not officially.

The knights had locked him away, tested him, examined him. They had tried to force his mana to react, tried to study him like an artifact. But nothing worked. His power—whatever it was—refused to emerge.

That only made them more suspicious.

Ariel felt the weight of their judgment.

He had no home. No family. No allies. And if the Order decided he was dangerous…

Then he wouldn't leave this place alive.

A sharp knock rattled his door.

Ariel stiffened.

"Get up." A deep, commanding voice.

He recognized it.

A knight. One of the men assigned to observe him.

"Today, you train," the voice continued. "If you fail, the Elder Council will decide what to do with you."

Ariel exhaled slowly.

So that's how it was.

No kindness. No introductions.

Just a test. A trial. A verdict waiting to be delivered.

He swallowed the bitterness rising in his throat and swung his legs off the cot. His body still felt sluggish, but he forced himself up, ignoring the faint ache in his bones.

He had no choice.

The Training Grounds – An Unwanted Rivalry

The training field was nothing like he expected.

The Citadel's Initiate Grounds were massive—an open-air courtyard lined with rows of sparring rings, combat dummies, and wooden platforms meant for agility drills.

But that wasn't what caught Ariel's attention.

It was the people.

Dozens of trainees, squires, and young knights filled the area, dressed in the white-and-gold robes of the Lightbound Order. They moved in fluid formations, sparring, practicing footwork, honing their skills.

For the first time since arriving, Ariel felt small.

He had always been faster than the other boys in Eldrin. Stronger, sharper. But here?

Here, he was nothing.

And the others knew it.

As soon as he stepped onto the grounds, whispers followed him like a shadow.

"That's him?"

"The survivor?"

"He doesn't look like much."

Ariel clenched his fists, but he didn't stop walking.

A group of older trainees stood near one of the rings, their eyes narrowing as he passed. One of them—a tall, broad-shouldered boy with dark eyes and a confident smirk—stepped forward, blocking his path.

"So you're the 'special case,' huh?" The boy's voice was amused, but his gaze wasn't friendly. "They say you destroyed an entire town."

Ariel stopped. He didn't reply.

The boy tilted his head. "What? No words?"

Silence.

"Tch." The boy rolled his eyes. "Just another freak who doesn't belong."

Ariel's jaw tightened. He forced himself to keep walking.

It didn't matter. These people weren't his concern.

Not yet.

First Training – The Breaking Point

They led him to a secluded sparring circle.

Elder Isolde stood there, her expression unreadable. Beside her stood another figure.

A boy his age.

He had messy brown hair, sharp green eyes, and a casual, lopsided grin. He was dressed in standard training gear, his posture relaxed, yet his stance balanced.

A knight motioned between them. "You will spar. Prove your ability."

Ariel stared at his opponent.

The boy grinned. "Name's Arthur."

Ariel didn't reply.

Arthur stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders. "Man, they really threw you straight into the fire, huh? No warm-up?"

Ariel remained silent.

Arthur sighed, rubbing his neck. "Alright, alright. I get it. You're the quiet type." His grin widened. "Let's change that."

The knight raised his hand. "Begin."

Arthur moved first.

Fast.

Faster than Ariel expected.

Before he could react, a fist slammed into his stomach.

Pain exploded through his ribs. His breath vanished. He staggered back, gasping.

Arthur didn't stop. He pressed forward, attacking in a flurry—punches, kicks, sharp jabs. Ariel tried to dodge, but he was slower. Untrained.

Another strike. A sharp impact to his shoulder. His vision blurred.

Then—a leg swept beneath him.

Ariel hit the ground. Hard.

The world spun. His body screamed.

Arthur stepped back, lowering his stance. He wasn't even breathing heavily.

"Damn." He exhaled, shaking his head. "You weren't kidding. You really don't know how to fight."

Ariel coughed, his hands trembling against the dirt. His breath was uneven. His vision swam.

But somewhere deep inside him—something growled.

A flicker of silver light danced at the edge of his mind.

A whisper.

"Come."

Ariel's body shuddered.

And then—the world shifted.

The Citadel vanished.

The ground beneath him was no longer dirt and stone.

He was somewhere else.

Somewhere… beyond.

And she was waiting.