Umbra Rising

The sun rose over the Solaris estate, casting golden light across the pristine white stone towers and courtyards. It was a day of celebration, a day of legacy. A day that would define the rest of Drake Solaris's life.

Drake adjusted the cuffs of his ceremonial tunic, his fingers trembling slightly as he stood in the mirror of his quarters. He should have felt excitement, maybe even pride, but instead, unease gnawed at him like an unseen force lurking in the shadows.

He had spent his entire life preparing for this moment. Every Solaris before him had wielded Light magic, the element of healing and purity. His father, Lord Solaris, was one of the most powerful Light mages in the kingdom, his golden aura a symbol of their family's strength. Drake had always assumed he would follow in that path.

And yet, doubt whispered in the back of his mind.

A knock at his door made him flinch. He exhaled sharply before answering. His sister, Celia, stood there, her expression softer than usual. Unlike him, she had already passed her Mage Trial two years prior, proving her affinity for Light magic. She was everything their father wanted—strong, disciplined, worthy of the Solaris name.

"You're going to be fine," she said, offering him a rare smile. "We both know what the orb will reveal."

Drake nodded, forcing himself to believe it. "Yeah. Light magic. Just like you."

Celia hesitated before reaching for his wrist. "Just… don't hesitate when you step forward. Father hates hesitation."

Drake swallowed and nodded again.

She gave his arm a reassuring squeeze before stepping back. "It's time."

The courtyard was packed with nobles and scholars, all gathered to witness the next generation's attunement. The Orb of Attunement rested atop a marble pedestal, its faint glow a beacon of fate. The ancient artifact had decided the paths of countless mages before him, marking their elemental affinity with absolute certainty.

Drake kept his shoulders squared as he stepped into the ceremonial space, but his heart pounded against his ribs like a caged beast. His father stood at the head of the gathering, flanked by the high mages of the kingdom. His golden gaze was unreadable, but the weight of expectation pressed down on Drake harder than any spell ever could.

"Drake Solaris," the elder mage announced, voice carrying across the courtyard. "Step forward and receive your truth."

Drake forced his legs to move, each step echoing through the silent courtyard. He approached the orb, its faint pulsing light reflecting in his uncertain eyes. He had seen dozens of initiates do this before. A single drop of blood was all it took to reveal one's element. It was simple.

It was supposed to be simple.

He drew a small ceremonial dagger from the pedestal, slicing his palm just enough to draw a single drop of crimson. It fell onto the surface of the orb.

A heartbeat passed.

Then another.

The orb ignited—but not with golden light.

Shadows erupted within, swirling like ink in water, writhing and shifting as if alive. A cold sensation crawled up Drake's arm, unlike anything he had ever felt before. Dark magic.

The gasps from the crowd came like a rolling wave, horrified whispers hissing through the air. Drake's breath hitched in his throat, his gaze locked onto the orb as if it had betrayed him. This wasn't right. This wasn't what was supposed to happen.

His father remained frozen, his expression unreadable. But then—his jaw tightened.

"This must be a mistake," Lord Solaris said, his voice cutting through the murmurs.

The elder mage overseeing the trial frowned but remained firm. "The orb does not lie, my lord. The trial is absolute."

The murmurs grew louder, panic and revulsion spreading like wildfire.

"A Dark mage?"

"Impossible."

"The Solaris heir? Cursed?"

Drake took a step back, his stomach twisting into knots. He looked to his father, hoping, praying for reassurance. Instead, he found only cold, unwavering eyes.

Lord Solaris's expression darkened, his voice low and final. "No son of mine wields Dark magic."

Drake felt the world tilt around him.

Everything he had ever known had just been ripped away.

The morning of the Mage Trial dawned bright and clear, the sun spilling golden light over the white stone walls of the Solaris estate. It should have been a perfect day, a day of celebration.

Drake Solaris adjusted the cuffs of his ceremonial tunic, trying to still the tremor in his hands. Today, he would step into the light of his family's legacy. Today, he would prove himself worthy of the Solaris name. He had trained for this, dreamed of it. He had no reason to feel this gnawing doubt.

Yet it clung to him like a shadow.

He had seen what happened to those who failed their trials. They weren't outright exiled, but they became lesser. Weak. Forgotten. He told himself he had no reason to worry—he was a Solaris. His family had always produced powerful Light mages. The magic of healing and purity. There was no reason his fate would be any different.

The courtyard was filled with nobles and scholars, gathered to witness the next generation's attunement. The Orb of Attunement, resting atop a marble pedestal, pulsed with faint energy, waiting to reveal the truth of his magic.

Drake's father, Lord Solaris, stood tall at the head of the gathered mages, his golden eyes unreadable. His presence alone was enough to steal the breath from Drake's lungs. To fail here would be unthinkable.

"Drake Solaris," the elder mage called, his voice firm. "Step forward."

Drake swallowed hard and obeyed, his boots echoing against the stone as he approached the pedestal. He extended his hand, hesitating for only a moment before pressing his palm to the orb's smooth surface.

A single drop of blood was all it took.

The orb ignited—but instead of the golden brilliance of Light magic, shadows bled through the sphere, swirling like ink in water. A cold, creeping sensation crawled up Drake's arm, the energy dark and alien.

A ripple of gasps spread through the courtyard.

Drake jerked his hand away, his pulse pounding in his ears. The shadows remained, twisting within the orb as if alive, refusing to be ignored.

Dark magic.

The murmurs grew louder, shock and disgust lacing the voices of those who had moments ago smiled at him.

His father's expression remained unreadable for a heartbeat longer—then, slowly, his golden eyes hardened into something cold and distant.

"This must be a mistake," Lord Solaris said, his voice void of warmth.

The elder mage shook his head. "There is no mistake, my lord. The test is absolute."

Silence pressed down on Drake like a crushing weight.

"No son of mine wields Dark magic," his father declared.

And just like that, the world he had known was gone.

The morning of the Mage Trial dawned bright and clear, the sun spilling golden light over the white stone walls of the Solaris estate. It should have been a perfect day, a day of celebration.

Drake Solaris adjusted the cuffs of his ceremonial tunic, trying to still the tremor in his hands. Today, he would step into the light of his family's legacy. Today, he would prove himself worthy of the Solaris name. He had trained for this, dreamed of it. He had no reason to feel this gnawing doubt.

Yet it clung to him like a shadow.

The courtyard was filled with nobles and scholars, gathered to witness the next generation's attunement. The Orb of Attunement, resting atop a marble pedestal, pulsed with faint energy, waiting to reveal the truth of his magic.

Drake's father, Lord Solaris, stood tall at the head of the gathered mages, his golden eyes unreadable. His presence alone was enough to steal the breath from Drake's lungs.

"Drake Solaris," the elder mage called, his voice firm. "Step forward."

Drake swallowed hard and obeyed, his boots echoing against the stone as he approached the pedestal. He extended his hand, hesitating for only a moment before pressing his palm to the orb's smooth surface.

A single drop of blood was all it took.

The orb ignited—but instead of the golden brilliance of Light magic, shadows bled through the sphere, swirling like ink in water. A cold, creeping sensation crawled up Drake's arm, the energy dark and alien.

A ripple of gasps spread through the courtyard.

Drake jerked his hand away, his pulse pounding in his ears. The shadows remained, twisting within the orb as if alive, refusing to be ignored.

Dark magic.

The murmurs grew louder, shock and disgust lacing the voices of those who had moments ago smiled at him.

His father's expression remained unreadable for a heartbeat longer—then, slowly, his golden eyes hardened into something cold and distant.

"This must be a mistake," Lord Solaris said, his voice void of warmth.

The elder mage shook his head. "There is no mistake, my lord. The test is absolute."

Silence pressed down on Drake like a crushing weight.

"No son of mine wields Dark magic," his father declared.

And just like that, the world he had known was gone.