Chapter 2 — The Start of My Plan
Title: The Start of My Plan
A
The pentagram on the floor glowed faintly in the candlelight. Three crystalline orbs floated in a slow orbit above the center. A woman sat in the middle of the sigil—blindfolded, silent. Her hair was hidden entirely under a dark shroud, and a pale cloth covered her eyes.
She whispered something—symbols, indecipherable. The crystals responded, pulsing red. Her consciousness slipped into the orbs, and the world shifted.
The first thing she saw through them was a blood-red moon. Cold, distant. Then she moved.
She drifted toward an ancient altar, buried within an abandoned sanctuary. Hidden beneath the stone was a rare artifact—its presence pulsed like a heartbeat. As her mind reached for it—
"You don't appreciate your life, mortal."
She screamed.
Darkness.
Suddenly, her body convulsed. The crystals shattered. She fell backwards from the circle—shoulder dislocated, a deep scar etched freshly along her left arm.
"Seems it won't be easy…"
She exhaled through her teeth.
"But I will have it."
---
Somewhere else, under that same blood moon…
Ashenix descended the snowy mountain. Step by step, slow at first, then with speed. He jumped.
A pair of black flaming wings erupted from his back, lifting him through the cold air.
"I guess I'll never be free of this curse."
The crimson moon hovered above him—still, uncaring.
"That moon… it's always there. Whether it's a hero's rise or a villain's fall, it just watches. Maybe… maybe I can be like it."
He landed on a rocky hill and looked toward a caravan of lights below.
"They call me Ashenix."
He removed his mask.
"But here… I'm Joe."
He smiled faintly.
"A normal student at the Central Magic Academy."
---
Morning broke.
The city stirred with life as students gathered near a towering structure that rose into the clouds. It resembled Notre-Dame—cathedral-like spires etched with magical runes, stained glass glinting in the rising sun.
Joe walked toward the gates, hands in his pockets.
"There it is..."
He stopped and looked up.
"The perfect place to hide. The first step of my plan."
---
The great hall was filled.
Students stood silently as a woman took the stage—her robes regal, her hair silver, her gaze sharp.
"Welcome to the Central Magic Academy."
She paused.
"Some of you will be given special attention. Privileges. Power."
Gasps, whispers.
"But only the exceptional. The rest will fade."
She turned.
"Now—"
She raised a hand.
"A magic test. Immediately. All of you—proceed to the training hall. Did you think your first day would be easy?"
Another silence.
Then her final words:
"Losers will be cut."
---
Far away, someone unseen watched the gathering through magical means. Their left hand bore an old scar.
They smirked.
"Looks like this will be fun…"