Wrath's Virtue

Vespera paused, a smile returning to her lips. "Loyalty... that is not a word I'm very familiar with, little light," she said, watching his reaction closely.

Aurelion continued to look at her with the same unwavering seriousness. The weight of his gaze seemed to make Vespera's own expression turn serious in return.

"You are a valuable source of information, little light, yes. But what makes you truly interesting is your attitude. The look on your face when I held a knife to your throat is still in my mind.I still remember what you meant that time..."

She took a step closer to him, her eyes locking onto his. "I will not betray you, little light. And I will not trade information about you with others, but..."

She was now right in front of him. "You must show me the truth behind those eyes. You must not disappoint me, little light."

Aurelion did not step back. "A time may come when you can see that truth, Vespera, and it will not disappoint you. But when that time comes... will depend on you."

Hearing this, Vespera's lips curved into a smile. She stepped back and stood up. "See you, little light,"

She took a few steps toward the shadow of the large pine tree and simply vanished into it.

Aurelion watched her go, then turned his gaze to the city and mountain before him, a slow smile spreading across his face.

"Void Focusing was useless against her," he thought. "But if I can achieve infrared vision, perhaps I can detect her. She will come around to the temper I want in time, but its better to be cautious."

He stood up and started walking toward Roric's home.

As he walked, he held his hand up, watching its shadow stretch and contract on the stone path before him. He entered his state of Void Focus.

He took a few drops of energy from its core and tried to guide it, to pour it gently into the dark shape of his hand's shadow on the ground.

The result was immediate failure.

His aggressive, energy refused to be contained by the simple absence of light. It spilled over the edges of the shadow, causing the outline of his hand to shimmer with a faint glow.

It was the exact opposite of stealth.

Aurelion stopped the flow calmly. "This isn't a matter of power or quantity. It's a matter of quality. Of nature. To fill a shadow, my energy cannot be a light. It must become a shadow itself."

He knew this would require a level of control he had not yet even begun to comprehend.

When he arrived at Roric's home, he went straight to the living room. He found the Captain sitting in an armchair by the cooling fireplace and he took the seat opposite him.

"Have you cleared your head, brat?" Roric asked without looking up.

"I have a plan, Captain," Aurelion replied.

"Good for you."

Aurelion raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to ask what I'm planning, Captain?"

Roric shrugged, finally looking at him. "Right now what you do now is not my problem, brat. Whatever it is, Ulrich's problem now."

Aurelion smirked slightly. Roric added, "Still, don't do anything stupid. Most of those children at the college have powerful people behind them."

"I don't do stupid things, Captain," Aurelion said. "But... I am going to piss off the clan leaders a little."

"Don't say any more,"

Roric cut him off, raising a hand. "I don't even want to hear what you're planning."

He then leaned forward with a serious expression. "Watch out for your friends. It has been two years. They will use them against you."

Aurelion's smirk widened. "What will they do, Captain? Challenge me to a duel? Stand by my side and leak information about me? Put something in my food?"

He shook his head. "Those are simple tricks."

Just then, Brynja and Sigrid entered the living room, each carrying one of Aurelion's baggage.

Sigrid was visibly upset. Brynja maintained her professional expression, but she, too, was subdued.

Aurelion looked at them, then turned back to Roric. "I'll see you later, Captain," he said, standing up.

Roric nodded, his gaze returned to the fireplace. "Take care of yourself."

Aurelion approached Brynja and Sigrid, reaching for the baggages.

While her voice trembling slightly "We can carry them to the door for you, Aurelion," Sigrid said.

Aurelion simply extended his hand and took the baggage from Sigrid's grasp, then held his other hand out to Brynja.

Brynja let out a soft sigh and handed him the second baggage.

Aurelion looked at their sad faces and clicked his tongue. "Cut it out with those sad faces," he said gruffly.

He turned and walked toward the main door, leaving them behind.

He opened the door and when about to step out, he paused and looked back at them. "I'll come visit sometimes," he said.

His voice was quiet. And with that, he was gone.

A small smile touched Sigrid's lips.

Brynja watched the closed door for a moment. "I suppose he couldn't say a better goodbye," she murmured.

From his chair, Roric spoke without turning. "Brynja, Sigrid. Stop worrying about that brat."

He then look at the door. "He's going to get stronger."

As dusk began to settle over the mountains, Aurelion finally arrived at the place where they had been tested by the Malinger Stone.

He saw no guards in the area and passed through the outer gate, arriving in the empty entrance courtyard. When he reached the main doors of the college building, they swung open, and a single guard emerged.

"You're late, kid," the guard said. "We were waiting for the last student before closing the outer gate."

Just then, another guard in black leather armor appeared from the side.

"Wasn't I supposed to arrive after three days?" Aurelion asked.

"I shouldn't be late."

The newly arrived guard spoke. "The others were here before the sun was high in the sky. You still need to get settled in your quarters, kid."

He turned to the first guard. "I'll take him from here."

The first guard nodded and the second guard led Aurelion through the familiar corridors they had walked before.

This time, however, they descended a different set of stairs, emerging into the vast, green main courtyard.

As they walked, the attention of some of the older students was drawn to them already. Their eyes were lingering on Aurelion.

"Looks like you're already popular, kid," the guard commented with a hint of amusement.

Aurelion smirked slightly as he walked, his eyes were scanning the area. "Not yet," he thought.

"Right now, they're just curious. They've probably heard what I did in the tests from the others and they are hesitant for that."

"What are the conditions for a challenge?" Aurelion asked suddenly.

The guard looked down at him. "Got someone in mind already, kid?"

As he walked, Aurelion's gaze locked onto a Northern boy who was clearly his age, likely ten years old, with short brown hair and a broad build. The boy had been staring at him since he entered the courtyard.

On the boy's leather clothes, Aurelion saw the symbol of a bear claw.

"A public challenge and a referee are all that's required, right?" Aurelion asked. His were eyes still on the boy.

"Yes," the guard confirmed.

When he turned his head to look at Aurelion again, he saw that the elf was already walking away from him, heading directly for the Northerner boy.

"Hey, kid, what are you doing!" the guard called out after him.

Aurelion stopped directly in front of the boy.

The boy looked at him, slightly surprised. "What do you want?"

"What's your name?" Aurelion asked.

In a different part of the courtyard, near one of the large training halls, three figures were walking aimlessly.

"That's it, I'm bored!" Lyra, the fox-girl, shouted.

Elara, looking at the ground, murmured, "He should have been here by now. All the other new students are already settled."

Just then, a dwarf child passed nearby. Lyra shot out an arm and grabbed him by the collar of his tunic.

The boy looked up at Lyra in shock as she leaned in. "When you took the test, there was an annoying elf with you, right?"

"An... annoying elf?" the dwarf stammered.

"Yes! An annoying elf!"

"Y-yes?"

"He passed the test, didn't he?"

"Yes?"

"Then why isn't he here yet!" Lyra demanded.

The dwarf stared at the crazed looking girl in front of him. "I-I don't know."

Kael put a hand on Lyra's arm. "Let the kid go. All the newcomers are already starting to think you're a lunatic."

Lyra released the dwarf, who scurried away with a frightened look back.

At that moment, Elara, who had been focused on the college entrance, took a step forward.

"Where are you going, Woodpecker?" Lyra asked.

"He's here," Elara said, and then she started to run.

Lyra's ears perked up. Without a second thought, she sprinted after Elara.

Kael let out a long sigh. "What's the need to run," he muttered to himself, before jogging after them.

As they got closer, they recognized the Northern boy standing in front of Aurelion.

Lyra scowled. "Erik? What's Aurelion's business with that pig?"

They moved closer to the scene.

Lyra, seeing her chance, pushed forward.

With a fiery and determined expression on her face. "You arrogant elf, I chall—"

She was cut off.

"Erik of the Ursine clan. I am Aurelion and I challenge you!"