The rain drizzled softly outside the academy's arched windows, blending with the murmurs of students in the library. He sat by the farthest window, flipping through the pages of an old book with care. His eyes searched the text, though his mind wandered far from the printed words.
No one really knew much about him. A student with decent grades, polite enough to keep out of trouble, and quiet enough to remain forgettable. He preferred it that way—being just another face in the academy's endless crowd. The less attention, the better.
"René," the librarian had said earlier that week. "You're always buried in books. Don't you have friends to study with?"
He'd only shrugged in response, offering a faint smile before slipping away to his usual corner. It wasn't that he disliked people, not exactly. He just found it easier to keep his distance. People came with expectations, and he preferred the simplicity of solitude.
The rain picked up for a moment, pattering harder against the window before settling again. Rene closed his book, resting his chin on his hand as he gazed outside. The courtyard was nearly empty, except for a few students rushing to escape the downpour. A small group huddled under an umbrella, laughing as they navigated the puddles. He wondered briefly what they were talking about—likely exams or rumors, the usuals.
A sigh caught his attention, bringing him out of his thoughts. Around the corner, two students searched the shelves, frustration clear on their faces.
"It had a red dragon and swords on the cover, right?"
Upon hearing her description, his fingers skimmed the titles until they landed on the one she was looking for. He pulled it out and approached her quietly.
"Here." he said, holding the book out to her.
One of the girls turned, eyes lighting up. "Oh! Yes, that's it. Thank you."
He gave a small nod and left before the conversation could stretch further. It was just another brief, forgettable interaction. Just how he liked them. He intended to head straight for his dorm, but something caught his eye as he went to return his book. The archives door was ajar.
His steps slowed. The lock lay broken on the floor, splintered metal and shattered wood. Of course, it was too tempting for someone like him to not see what was going on. Slowly, he peered into the room, looking down at the singular page on the floor. The words were barely legible beneath the violent smears of black ink. Only one line remained clear:
"A name no longer spoken. A fate worse than death."
He rubbed his finger over the ink, realizing it was fresh. Then a chill ran down his spine. He turned around, almost believing someone was watching him, but there was no one to be seen. His grip on the paper tightened for a moment before he forced himself to release it, placing it back as if he had never touched it. He turned, stepping out into the hall as unease filled him.
He climbed the stairs to his dorm, passing by the common area where he could overhear snippets of their conversations. More rumors, he assumed.
She's odd, don't you think?" someone said in a low voice.
"Never goes to class. Always wandering."
"I heard she's a genius, though."
He paid no attention. Rumors came and went, and he had no interest in whatever strange student had caught their attention this time. everyone at the academy had their quirks, himself included. If this new student was anything unusual, it wasn't his concern. He continued making his way to his room.
This was Lux Eterna Academy, an academy unlike any other. To outsiders, it was the world's most prestigious academy, and the heart of an entire nation's knowledge. To its students, it was more—a labyrinth of history, magic, combat, and academia, open even to alumni and visitors. A place where each and every student could learn about any subject that interested them. A place to succeed.
Looking towards the floor as he walked, René nearly bumped into someone
"Ah, sorry." he muttered, taking a step back.
"You're René, right?" he asked.
He froze for a moment, his brow furrowing. "Do I know you?"
"Not yet." he said, his smile widening ever so slightly. "But I'd like to change that. Would you mind coming with me for a moment? Somewhere private."
"Why?"
"It's important. Just come with me. It wont take long."
René exhaled through his nose, weighing his options. "Fine. But if this is some weird club recruitment pitch, I'm walking."
He laughed softly before bringing him over to a vacant classroom nearby.
"All right." he said, crossing his arms. "What's this about?"
"I need information," the boy said. "Where is she?"
René's grip on the hem of his uniform tightened slightly.
"You're being awfully vague. I know a lot of 'she's.' You'll have to be more specific."
"Don't waste my time."
"Truly, who are you speaking of?"
The man tilted his head slightly, as if considering the response. Then, in a blur of motion, his hand shot forward. Pain ripped through René's abdomen as a blade struck him.
For a moment, his mind refused to register what had happened. His body, too stunned to react, simply existed around the burning sensation spreading from his core. A dull, sickening warmth pooled beneath his fingertips as he instinctively grasped at the blade now buried in his stomach.
The boy didn't speak. He didn't flinch. He didn't hesitate to drive that blade into him. In fact, he was still smiling a bit.
"Unfortunate." the boy said before he wrenched the dagger free.
René staggered. Blood—hot and crimson—spilled freely from the wound, dripping onto the academy's pristine floor as he fell to the ground, unable to keep himself standing any longer.
The intruder took a step back. Then, without another word, he turned and disappeared using some sort of magic, his form swallowed by the shadows.
René tried to move.
Tried to think.
But the world was already fading.
Then,
A pure dark void. He blinked once, a being now appearing before him. There, a writhing mass of wings and eyes. He had no doubt. It was a Seraphim. A divine being, or an All-Defying Being as some called them, due to their ability to defy the natural laws. No gravity could pull them, no force could bind them, and nothing could stop their power to create something out of nothing. The being looked down at him, collecting his every memory in order to judge him.
Just as he thought it was all over—the Seraphim convulsed.
A sickening crack resounded through the void. Its towering form burst. Not with light. Not with fire. But with decay. The radiant wings withered into nothing. What had once been divine collapsed, its body crumbling like ash.
And from within the fading embers of the Seraphim, a figure emerged. The Seraphim's remains disintegrated completely, revealing a girl, her hair a mix of dark blue and black. The judgment had been severed.
She too looked down at him, as if observing his body. His orangish-amber eyes, his tousled black hair, the wound on his body.
"How do I start?" the girl said, looking away for a moment before black wings unfurled from her back. "I am Nihara, the Void Angel. The only of my kind."
Rene quietly cleared his throat. "Why... why did you... or was I... did you save me? What's going on?"
"Yes, I did. I cannot let you die. I have a deal to propose to you. I gain power by absorbing dark energy, so I request you help me cleanse the world. But here's the thing—I'm not thinking of disposing of you once my goals complete. Nor do I wish to use you for purely my own gain. You get a say in the deal, too. For weeks I have been searching through documents. You were the previous user of the Dusk Blade, correct?"
"I..." he tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat. This was all too sudden. Was this his chance to find a purpose? He gave up the blade so he couldn't witness death anymore. But was this worth it?
"Don't stress. You have two weeks to come up with a decision. In that time, you can get comfortable with me."
He took deep breaths in and out as his mind raced.
"We are in the void," she continued. "Don't worry, I can send you back to the real world completely healed, okay? We can talk later if you would like."
He nodded. "May we meet in the cafeteria after the classes end tomorrow?"
"Mhm, I'll see you then." With that, he slowly faded back into reality.
The pain in his abdomen was gone. No blood. No wound. Slowly, he pushed himself up, his hands trembling against the rough ground. Nihara. The Void Angel. The only of her kind. A deal. The Dusk Blade. It was too much, too fast.
His fingers curled into fists. He needed answers. But for now, he needed to rest. Standing up, he adjusted his uniform and headed to his dorm room.