Chapter 2
Two
SIMON
For some reason, the air feels heavier this year, thick with the promise of danger. A raven’s caw echoes in the distance, its sound cutting through the silence of the academy like a warning.
The Rogues are growing bolder, and with each passing day, the stability of the realm slips further out of reach.
We’ve been here before.
Seventy-five years ago, the realm was almost torn apart by the Rogues’ creator—the Dual. The Keepers fought hard to preserve the Balance with Predators and Preys by their side, eventually forcing the Dual and the Rogues to retreat.
Despite the absence of their leader, the Rogues have managed to regrow their numbers and work tirelessly in their efforts to destabilize the peace.
That struggle has brought us to where we are today. Protectors’ academies have sprouted up across the realm, all focused on one thing—guarding the Keepers and preserving the Balance. Among them, Obsidian Academy remains one of the most prestigious, with growing expectations each year.
After delivering my welcoming speech to the students and showing them to their shared dorm, I make my way to a meeting with Headmistress Bennett. The echo of my boots on the stone floor feels too loud in the empty hallway.
If they’ve finished their tasks, Vaughn and Kai should already be there. Kai’s always on time—like clockwork—but Vaughn?
Well, he’s always a bit of a wildcard.
As for me, I’ve been tasked with doing a quick assessment of the new students. This year, the academy’s taking in more than ever, trying to make up for the losses we’ve suffered against the Rogues.
Headmistress Bennett has led the academy steadily for the past seventeen years, but this past year has been particularly challenging. The gray streaks in her hair and the fine lines around her sharp, calculating eyes tell the story of her struggle.
But she firmly believes we can put an end to the recent tragedies, starting right here at Obsidian Academy.
Bennett has implemented numerous changes to develop the most capable Predators and Preys, yet one of her greatest achievements remains a closely guarded secret.
Four years ago, when we first arrived, she recruited Vaughn, Kai, and me, along with a few others from our class. At first, she didn’t reveal the full extent of the Rogue threat. Instead, she carefully explained that she needed a select group of Protectors—people she could trust for the most sensitive assignments related to the realm’s safety, and that we would have to operate discreetly.
Thus, Operation Nightfall was born. Only its members and her most trusted advisors know of our existence. Now, she hopes my ability to read people will help her identify more recruits for our cause.
I knock on the tall, arched wooden door, waiting momentarily before the headmistress invites me in. The heavy oak door swings open, revealing Bennett’s office, dimly lit by the warm glow of floating candles throughout the room. Tall bookshelves line the walls, filled with ancient texts that stretch up to the ceiling. In the center, a large desk is cluttered with papers that I swear she’s always working through.
The walls are decorated with framed portraits of former Headmasters, their expressions a mix of sternness and wisdom. The faint light from the window filters in, illuminating dust motes that dance in the air, while shadows deepen the corners of the room.
As predicted, Kai and surprisingly, Vaughn are present and ready to get this meeting over with.
“You? Simon Blake, late? That’s unheard of,” Vaughn jabs, arching a thick, black brow as I sit beside him. He places a hand on his chest, feigning shock.
“Look who’s talking,” I retort. “Some of us have important things to do.”
A smug smile tugs at the corners of his mouth, and his icy blue eyes sparkle with that familiar glint of mischief. He runs a hand through his messy black hair, pushing a few errant strands back, his casual confidence only adding to the aura of effortless charm he’s always had.
Vaughn and I go way back—long before we stepped through these academy gates. He’s never been one to hold back, even when the situation calls for it. I suppose that’s part of his charm, though. He always knows how to lighten the mood, even when we’re supposed to be all business.
Kai leans a shoulder against the windowsill, his eyes narrowing as he watches something out the window. Moonlight spills over his sand-toned skin, casting shadows across his face, while a faint frown tugs at his lips. He remains silent, as always, his focus entirely on the outside world rather than our banter.
Vaughn never shuts up, and Kai barely ever speaks.
It’s all about balance in the universe.
Bennett leans back against her leather chair, so used to our back and forth she doesn’t bother chastising us anymore. Her Shadow, a burning crow, perches on her shoulder, its fiery eyes watching us without missing a detail.
“Any potential candidates found in tonight’s newcomers?”
I can’t help but feel like she’s giving me too much credit.
Yes, I’m good at reading people and assessing their abilities, but sitting on a boat while they give off varying energy levels isn’t enough for me to do my job properly. I need to see them in action and interact with them, which is why I made the suggestion for everyone to start self-defense classes right away this year.
With the Rogues getting closer and their numbers growing every day, we need to make sure all our students know the basics of self-defense. If the Rogues attack, we have to be sure they can defend themselves as best as possible.
Bennett’s crow tilts its head at me, its beady eyes boring into mine and snapping me out of my thoughts. “I’ll have an initial report for you tomorrow after my first class with them.” She arches an eyebrow, prompting me to elaborate. “But I think it’s going to be a good year.”
Vaughn shoots me an assessing glance. I know my response is a bit formal, but it’s all I can offer right now. I don’t want to lie or get ahead of myself with anyone. First impressions are important, yes, but they can also hold secrets.
“Very well,” Bennett says, her lips pursed as though she expected more from me, but she doesn’t press the issue.
She stands, her crow still perched on her shoulder, and turns to gaze out of the massive window behind her, overlooking the forest. “Some days it feels as though we’re hanging by a thread.” She sighs heavily. “Something must be done. The future depends on it.”
Kai finally speaks, his voice low and dangerous. “We’ve been keeping a closer watch on the academy’s borders. Lately, the Rogues have been showing up on the northern shore more often. I’ll patrol there more, just in case.”
“They know we’re bringing in new students,” I add. “They could strike at any moment to sabotage this generation. It’s crucial we keep most of our forces here.” The ravens, sent by the Rogues, have been appearing more frequently. Their presence always signals that the Rogues are watching us, waiting for the right moment to strike. “We need to be ready to protect the academy. Twenty-five first-year students hardly stand a chance at protecting themselves.”
“They’d be fools to attack us now with the upcoming ceremony next year,” Vaughn points out.
He’s right. If they attack us here, whether they win or lose, they’ll inevitably lose people too, lessening their numbers—numbers they’ll need in order to successfully sabotage the Keepers’ ceremony.
Every ten years, new Keepers are selected to help maintain the Balance. That’s where we’ll be next year—by their side, protecting them.
Bennett locks her eyes with mine. “Well, that’s why you’re in charge of training the new students, Simon. They should at least have the basic ability to protect themselves until the Shadowing.”
It’s an honor to be entrusted with such a task, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel immense pressure. Everyone has heard about the attack that took place six years ago where twenty-seven students died. I’m determined to never let that happen again.
The next morning, all twenty-five new students stand at attention on the training grounds, lined up and ready to begin. The sun is just beginning to rise, casting a warm, golden glow over the group. They all wear the same gear: fitted, long-sleeve tops with high collars, form-fitting pants with leather panels along the sides and knees, and combat boots.
I clear my throat, my voice echoing across the open courtyard. “Good morning. My name is Simon Blake, and I’ll be your trainer this year at Obsidian Academy.”
An echo of various greetings follows, some tentative, some enthusiastic. My gaze sweeps over the students, noting their expressions. A tall guy stands slightly in front of the group, arms crossed, chin tilted upward. He radiates false confidence, and I can already tell he’s going to be a problem.
A second male, standing in front of someone else whose back is hunched, seems to be hiding the weaker student, possibly worried they won’t make it through the Shadowing.
“I haven’t had the chance to meet each of you yet,” I continue, “but that will soon change. I’ll be working closely with each of you to discover your unique strengths and hone them for combat.”
The group stays quiet, though I see a range of emotions flicker across their faces: wariness, determination, eagerness, and even a hint of fear.
“Before we get started, I need to make one thing clear. There’s been a recent curriculum change, which means we’ll begin with basic self-defense training right away.” Some students shift nervously, while others practically bounce with excitement. “This is only the beginning of our journey together at Obsidian Academy, and I’m determined to make it a successful one for each of you.”
As I pace in front of them, I reflect back on my own first day at the academy. Professor Crowell was a brute of a man who made all our lives a living hell. He turned self-defense into the worst kind of torture and called us any and every humiliating remark he could think of if our performance wasn’t up to his standards.
Thinking of him now reminds me of everything I don’t want to be. I want to be stern, but I also want them to keep their will to live. Nurture it even.
I vowed during my darkest days, that if I ever found myself in a position of power and influence, I would implement positive change.
And here I am.
I pause in front of a student, a flicker of recognition passing through me. I remember seeing her last night, and now I can’t seem to look away. She has sleek black hair, pulled back into a ponytail with subtle purple streaks. Her gray eyes, edged with hints of purple, are striking against her pale skin. She’s staring straight ahead, avoiding my gaze.
“May I have your name, student?” I ask. My tone is firm, but the last word comes out softer than I intended, surprising me.
Her eyes meet mine, and she responds, “Lilith Knight, Sir.”
A small smile tugs at the corners of my lips. “No need for the formalities. I’m not a professor–just an assistant. You can call me Simon.” I gesture toward the center. “Come. You’ll be my sparring partner today. Everyone else, find yourselves a partner.”
With a moment of hesitation, she steps forward. Behind her, a confused-looking guy with round glasses remains, shifting his weight nervously as he searches for a partner. A weird, and unexpected, part of me is slightly smug about stealing her away.
“All right, everyone,” I say as the rest pair off, stepping back to put space between me and Lilith. “Good defense isn’t only about blocking—it’s about anticipating your opponent’s next move. That takes time. For now, let’s focus on the basics.” I glance at Lilith. “I’ll attack slowly, and you’ll try to counter.”
She nods lightly, a few stray strands of her dark hair falling loose around her face. I step back, my muscles tensing as I begin to throw slow punches toward her, giving her a chance to warm up. Her eyes track my movements, studying them with keen focus.
I try to ease her into it, even though she’s likely covered this before. A refresher never hurts. But she surprises me by blocking all of my punches easily. Her posture is fluid and graceful, as if she’s been training for years. I can’t help but admire her abilities.
Until she stops, arching one perfectly shaped eyebrow at me, and I’m snapped out of my perusal of her.
“Sorry,” she says. “This just feels counterproductive. With magic being so prevalent, wouldn’t it make more sense to focus on defending against that instead?”
My lips tug upward again as I fight my amusement. That’s precisely the question I asked four years ago during my training. It seemed pointless then too. It wasn’t until much later that I discovered the importance of the connection between mind, body, and magic.
“Good question,” I reply, rolling my sleeves up slightly. Her gaze follows my movement, and I catch her looking away quickly. I clear my throat. “Your magic is far less effective if it’s not in sync with your body. Mastering that coordination takes years.”
An invitation to the academy never comes without an in depth assessment of one’s powers, so I already know her magic should be decent for this practice.
I take a deep breath, focusing on my own magic. It’s instinctual by now, no need for words. I exhale softly, calling it forward. “Now, we switch. You’ll attack, and I’ll defend.” I flash her a smile. “Give me everything you’ve got.”
Before I can even finish the sentence, she’s moving—fast. Her eyes are locked on mine, lips whispering an incantation. A burst of purple energy explodes from her hands. I instinctively raise my palm, a shield forming in front of me, but the force is stronger than I expected, and I stumble back.
Well, well. I think I’ve found a potential recruit for Operation Nightfall. She’ll need some training, but I have no doubt she’ll be a strong candidate. Headmistress Bennett will be pleased.
She’s already readying to attack again, no instruction needed. A flick of her wrist sends another bolt of energy my way. This time I dodge, narrowly avoiding it as it slams into the stone wall behind me, leaving a deep crack.
“As you can see,” I say, circling her, “my magic guides my body. I don’t have to think through every move because my powers are doing it for me. I can focus on you—my opponent.” I leap out of the way of another blast. “Your magic will be more effective if you learn how to work with your body.”
She strikes again, her focus sharp. I evade it, but this time, she follows me like a predator hunting its prey. Her determination is obvious, and I can see the hunger to prove herself in her eyes.
“Is that all you’ve got?” I ask, pushing her to think faster on her feet. “Come on, don’t hold back.”
She hesitates for a second, her eyes locked on mine, then surges forward with a burst of energy, a purple haze trailing behind her. This time, I don’t block the attack—partly because I don’t want to risk hurting her.
Lilith crashes into me with full force, sending us both to the ground. We roll twice before I end up on top of her, pinning her wrists above her head with my magic. Almost instinctively, I wrap my hand around them, just to be sure.
“Another lesson,” I tell her, my eyes glued to hers. “As a beginner, focus on long-range attacks. It’ll take time before you master close combat with your magic. In situations like this, you’ll need your Shadow to cover your back. You never know what might sneak up behind you.”
Lilith’s pupils are blown, her chest rising and falling against mine. Her soft breasts brush against me with every harsh pant. Only then am I aware that I’m still on top of her and my rapidly awakening dick is pressed firmly between her thighs.
Shit.
I quickly stand, needing to put some distance between us. The links around her wrists vanish, and she accepts the hand I offer her to help her get back to her feet.
“Well, it was worth a shot,” she says, her voice carrying a hint of frustration. “My dad always said the key to winning is keeping your opponent guessing, making them question every move. But understood. Lesson learned—coordination is crucial.”
As she strides past me, heading back to her position, I can’t help but admire the ease in her movements, the quiet strength she carries with her. She’s got grace, and despite the small setback, she walks with a confidence that makes you forget she’s still a student.
I follow her lead, turning my attention back to the rest of the class. They’re frozen in place, staring at us like they’ve seen a ghost or something.
I clap my hands together sharply, the sound echoing across the training courtyard. “All right, that’s enough gawking. Let’s see what the rest of you are made of.”
The students snap out of their daze, quickly refocusing on their partners. A few still glance toward Lilith, clearly impressed, and I can’t blame them. She’s already raised the bar, and now they’re all feeling the pressure.
As they get back to work, I keep an eye on them, but my thoughts keep drifting back to Lilith. There’s something about her—something raw, untapped. And I have a feeling she’s only getting started.