A Game of Power and Secrets

  Arvanya's POV:

  Sofia’s fingers trembled as she passed the book to me. A flicker of something—fear, anticipation—flashed in her eyes before she glanced away. I took the book, the worn leather cool against my fingertips, its weight heavier than it should have been. The title still pulsed in my mind, an echo that wouldn’t fade, but the seconds were slipping away.

  I flipped the cover open.

  The library swallowed the sound, its silence thick, pressing against us like unseen hands. The air carried the faint scent of old parchment, dust, and something sharper—something electric. I ran my fingers over the pages, the paper whispering secrets against my skin as I turned them, faster now.

  Then—

  Sketches. Ancient and sharp, staring back at us from the faded ink.

  A jagged shard, frozen mid-explosion. Lightning fractures laced through its surface, veins of raw power locked in stone. The Tempest Shard. My breath hitched. Notes beside the drawing murmured of storms that shattered illusions, winds that peeled away deception like fragile paper. My fingertips tingled, as if the air itself carried the ghost of a static charge.

  Another turn.

  Molten cracks bled across the surface of a stone, its glow like embers waiting to consume. The Emberstone. Heat radiated from the page—not real, but real enough that I swore I felt it prickling at my skin. The scrawled text warned of its purpose: to burn through barriers made of shadow, to consume the darkness that swallowed entire places whole.

  I swallowed hard and turned again.

  A medallion. Blacker than ink, its center a swirling abyss, as if the artist had tried to capture emptiness itself. The Obsidian Talisman. My pulse stuttered. This one didn’t shatter spells. It fed on them. A void, drinking in magic meant to hide, to protect. It had no fire, no storm, no force—only silence. The air around us felt colder, like the book itself had drawn the warmth from the room.

  Next.

  A pendant, delicate, its silver lines forming spirals that mimicked the currents of a restless sky. The Sylph’s Heart. It didn’t destroy. It listened. Felt the pulse of hidden magic and unraveled it thread by thread, peeling back secrecy like wind parting the mist. The ink strokes were so fine, so impossibly intricate, it seemed as though the drawing itself might vanish if I breathed too hard.

  One more.

  A crown. Jagged. Cruel. Its twisted spikes clawed upward like something alive, something that had been forged in nightmares. The Abyssal Crown. Even in ink, it loomed, its presence coiling like a shadow stretching beyond the page. The artist’s strokes were frantic, almost desperate—like they’d wanted to be done with it as quickly as possible. This one didn’t simply break enchantments. It commanded them to fall. Every veil, every spell, every secret—it would demand surrender.

  I exhaled slowly, my fingers stiff where they clutched the edge of the book.

  These weren’t just relics.

  They were weapons against the unseen.

  But before we could process it, a sharp crackle burst from the speakers, slicing through the hush of the library like a blade.

  Master Orin’s voice followed, steady and commanding.

  “Attention all students. All students from every year, each elemental will come to the arena.”

  My pulse stuttered. No time.

  “We have to go. Now.” My voice was low, urgent. I shoved the book toward Sofia, fingers tight around the worn leather.

  She hesitated, her grip uncertain, gaze flicking from me to the cover. “We can’t just leave it here.”

  Before I could answer, Esme stepped forward, swift and sure. “Give it to me.”

  Sofia passed it over wordlessly. Esme’s hands barely trembled as she flipped her bag open, slid the book inside, and secured the clasp. The weight of it vanished beneath the fabric, but the weight in my chest did not.

  “Move,” I muttered.

  No hesitation now. We ducked beneath the velvet rope, steps quick and precise. The silence of the library pressed against us, thick as fog, our breaths barely audible over the rustle of turning pages in the distance.

  Then—footsteps. Quick. Light. Purposeful.

  I turned sharply just as Nico and Kai emerged from between the towering shelves, their figures weaving through the bookshelves like phantoms. Nico’s usual grin was nowhere to be seen, his expression taut with urgency. Kai’s sharp gaze swept the library before locking onto me.

  “Master Orin’s calling for everyone,” he murmured, voice barely above a breath. “Arena. Now.”

  Dante shifted beside me, his fingers flexing at his sides. “We found something on the relics. What kind they are, but nothing about where to find them.”

  A heavy pause settled between us, thick with the weight of unfinished answers.

  Then—a flicker of movement beyond the shelves. My breath hitched.

  Alina.

  She strode past the rows of books, her steps measured, deliberate, heading straight for the restricted section. The candlelight caught in the deep red of her cloak as she moved, her expression unreadable. My stomach coiled. Too close. Too soon.

  Sofia let out a quiet, urgent breath. "Shh."

  We stilled. Not a breath. Not a movement.

  Alina’s gaze flicked in our direction, sharp as a blade. For a moment, I braced myself for the worst. Then—just the briefest nod before she disappeared deeper into the library.

  I didn’t exhale until her footsteps faded into the distance.

  Then I turned to my friends, my voice steady despite the urgency pressing against my ribs. “We stick to the plan. Orin first. We come back for the books later.”

  “Let’s move.”

  We slipped into the hallway, blending seamlessly into the flow of students heading toward the arena. The flickering sconces cast long shadows against the stone walls, the uneven light playing tricks on my vision. My pulse hadn’t settled.

  Sofia’s phone buzzed.

  She barely hesitated, slipping it from her pocket and lifting it to her ear. “Yeah?” A pause. “Alright, we’re coming.”

  The call ended with a sharp tap. She turned, her expression unreadable. “Zane called. They’re already waiting for us.”

  The words hit like a stone dropped in water, ripples spreading through my already restless thoughts.

  Waiting for us.

  My mind wrenched back to the conversation I’d had with Lucian.

  Our conversation isn’t over.

  His voice coiled in my memory, sinking deep like iron chains tightening around my chest. He knew I was hiding something. And now, I’d have to face him.

  The bond between us thrummed, a constant pull, demanding, unraveling me piece by piece. And with suspicion darkening his gaze, with the weight of his unspoken questions pressing down on me, the battle had only grown harder.

  We neared the arena. The grand archway loomed ahead, the low hum of voices swelling, anticipation thick in the air.

  As we stepped inside, the charged energy wrapped around us, alive, waiting.

  The arena pulsed with restless energy. Rows upon rows of students crowded the seats, shifting in anticipation, their murmurs weaving together like the low hum of a brewing storm. Some leaned forward, elbows braced against their knees, eyes locked onto the center of the stage. Others whispered, half-smothered grins flashing between them, the weight of something unknown pressing against the air.

  At the front, Master Orin stood motionless, arms crossed, his piercing gaze sweeping over the crowd like the eye of a tempest. He didn’t speak. He didn’t need to. The sheer gravity of his presence was enough to still the air, to send an unspoken command rippling through the assembled students..

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  Lila nudged me lightly, the motion small but sharp enough to snap me from my thoughts. “I saw Ryker,” she murmured, barely moving her lips, her chin tipping ever so slightly toward the seating area.

  I followed her gaze.

  And then—him.

  Lucian.

  Even from a distance, he was impossible to mistake. The way he sat, composed yet predatory, exuding an effortless authority that set him apart from everyone around him. But before I could even register the sight of him, I realized—

  He was already looking at me.

  His stare was unwavering, sharp as a freshly honed blade. The cool, detached mask he always wore remained intact, but beneath it, something flickered. Something unreadable. A quiet intensity curled behind his eyes, a weight that settled over me like an iron chain.

  A silent question. A challenge.

  A reminder.

  Our conversation isn’t over.

  A chill coiled down my spine, and I forced my gaze away, wrenching my attention toward the shifting bodies around me. Stay away. I told myself. You have to stay away.

  But the bond defied logic, defied reason. With every step I took with my friends, it felt as if I were walking through water, fighting against a current stronger than me, pulling me back to him.

  The others moved ahead, weaving through the packed seats, but my pace faltered.

  A familiar sensation prickled against my skin—his gaze, still locked onto me, burning against my body like a silent demand. My breath felt too tight, but I kept my face smooth, my posture unshaken, pretending I didn’t feel it.

  Kai’s voice cut through the noise. “Aria! Sit here.”

  I turned, relief washing over me at the sight of him gesturing toward the empty seat beside him. Far from Lucian. Without hesitation, I slid into the space between Kai and Nico, exhaling softly.

  Finally.

  But the pressure of that unseen weight didn’t fade.

  I clenched my hands, nails pressing into my palm. Ignore it. Ignore him.

  Lila leaned forward, her voice low. “You met Master Orin earlier,” she said, her words laced with curiosity and the faintest edge of impatience. “Do you know what this is about?”

  Beside her, Sofia turned to Zane, arms crossed. “Yeah, why did he call everyone here?”

  I shifted slightly, casting a glance toward Ryker and Zane, waiting for their answers. But the second my gaze moved—

  I found him again.

  Lucian had shifted, his posture as effortlessly composed as ever, but his gaze… Unrelenting. This time, the frustration in his eyes was unmistakable. Like he knew exactly what I was doing. Like he could see through my pathetic attempts at avoidance.

  Heat rushed to my face. I snapped my eyes away, pinning them onto Ryker instead.

  A smirk ghosted over his lips, his arms crossing lazily over his chest. “We’re not going to tell.”

  Zane chuckled, tilting his head at Sofia, amusement dancing in his expression. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

  Lila huffed, shooting a pointed look at Sofia. “Oh, come on. Just a hint?”

  Sofia narrowed her eyes at Zane. “Yeah, you clearly know something.”

  I let their banter fade into background noise, my heartbeat still unsettled, my hands curling into fists on my lap.

  Because no matter how much I tried to shut him out—

  I could still feel his eyes on me, heavy and unyielding, like a weight pressing down on my chest.

  Ryker leaned back, his body relaxed, his expression unreadable, as if this was just another passing moment. Zane, too, dismissed Sofia’s questioning gaze, his attention already drifting toward the center of the arena, where something was about to unfold.

  Before Lila or Sofia could press for more—

  The ground trembled.

  A deep, low rumble echoed through the arena, cutting off the low hum of conversations, the fidgeting of students halting in an instant. A sharp, commanding voice cut through the stillness.

  “Good evening, students.”

  Master Orin’s words boomed like thunder, drawing every pair of eyes toward him, silencing the restless murmurs. The weight of his presence settled over us, the air thick with expectation, as if the very space around us was holding its breath.

  My mind flickered back to my conversation with Lucian, the still-raw tension between us, but it was quickly drowned out by the buzz of excitement filling the arena. Whispers darted through the crowd like sparks, each student leaning forward in anticipation, the air practically crackling with curiosity.

  Master Orin’s voice cut through the hushed whispers, effortlessly filling the massive arena. “Today, we are here to discuss the annual Elemental Sovereign competition,” he announced, his tone measured and commanding. “This is not just any competition. It’s a test of skill, strategy, and elemental power. Every year, students have the chance to prove themselves, and only the strongest team will claim victory.”

  He paused, allowing the words to settle before continuing. “But this year will be unlike any before it. The competition will be grand, with royals and esteemed figures from across the realms coming to witness the battle for supremacy. The stakes have never been higher.”

  A ripple of unease passed through the crowd, and I could see the same mixture of excitement and anxiety on the faces around me.

  I exchanged a quick look with my friends, confusion flashing across all our faces. A competition? None of us had heard a thing about this before.

  Nico leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper. “Did any of you know about this?”

  “No,” Esme murmured, her brows pulled together in a frown. “I didn’t even know something like this happened here.”

  I couldn’t say I was surprised. We were freshers, after all. We hadn’t had the time to learn the ropes of the academy yet. And by the way some of the older students were watching with quiet smirks, it was clear they knew exactly what was coming.

  “As always,” Master Orin continued, his voice unwavering, “the winning team will receive the Sovereign’s Crown. But this year… there is an additional reward.”

  He gestured to the side, and the crowd grew hushed, anticipation thick in the air.

  A ripple of curiosity spread like wildfire, snaking through the crowd. I sat up straighter, a strange, unsettling feeling twisting in my stomach.

  Master Orin’s gaze swept across the arena, then motioned to the exit. Every set of eyes followed the direction of his hand, and there, walking toward us with quiet grace, was Alina, carrying something small, draped under a cloth.

  The air seemed to constrict, pressing in on me, and a strange, familiar pulse of recognition surged through my veins. I wasn’t alone in the feeling.

  Lila tensed beside me, her fingers gripping her sleeves. Esme’s back went stiff, and Kai’s gaze snapped to the object, sharp and intense. No. It can’t be.

  We had only just seen it in a book, a mysterious object we’d known existed but had no idea where it was or how to find it. But now—

  It was right here.

  Master Orin’s hand moved smoothly, lifting the cloth away with a single motion.

  The Obsidian Talisman.

  I felt my breath catch, the air in my lungs vanishing as I stared at it. The sleek, dark surface of the artifact shimmered faintly under the arena lights, exuding a subtle but undeniable power. A chill crept up my spine as its presence seemed to command the space around it, pulling every ounce of attention toward it.

  I wasn’t the only one who reacted.

  Dante, usually the easiest-going among us, had gone completely still, his body tense. Calen’s mouth parted slightly, his eyes wide with disbelief. Sofia’s grip tightened on the edge of her seat, her knuckles going white.

  We had read about it. We had wondered about it. Speculated. Imagined.

  But to see it? In the flesh? It felt unreal.

  “This,” Master Orin announced, his voice thick with gravitas, “is the Obsidian Talisman. An artifact of great historical significance. The team that wins this year’s Elemental Sovereign will not only claim the Sovereign’s Crown but also this talisman.”

  A wave of murmurs rolled through the crowd. Most of the students didn’t seem to fully grasp the significance of what was before them. To them, it was just a rare, valuable object—a piece of history, perhaps. But to us, it was everything.

  Kai’s voice was tight, barely a whisper as he leaned closer. “How… how is this possible?”

  “I don’t know,” I whispered back, my pulse quickening, my thoughts scrambling. “But it’s real.”

  Lila’s voice trembled as she muttered under her breath, “We just saw it in the book... we had no idea where it was…”

  “—And now it’s a prize for some competition,” Esme finished for her, her voice shaky as she tried to process what was happening.

  I couldn’t look away from the talisman. My thoughts spun wildly, each question sharper than the last. Why was it here? How had they found it? Did they even know what it was?

  The answers hung in the air, just out of reach, like something buried deep beneath a thick fog of uncertainty.

  Then it hit me—like a wave crashing down, overwhelming and inevitable.

  We have to win.

  Before, the competition had seemed irrelevant to me. It had been something distant, something for the upperclassmen to worry about. But now, with the talisman within arm's reach, it felt like the stakes were higher than I could have ever imagined.

  My fists clenched, the pressure in my palms tight, almost painful. We have to win this game. We have to get that talisman before it falls into the wrong hands.

  But there was one glaring problem.

  We had no idea how to play.

  I tore my gaze from the talisman, feeling its pull even as I looked away. My eyes shifted, landing on Lucian.

  Unlike everyone else—whose faces were still full of shock or curiosity—he sat perfectly relaxed, utterly composed, like this whole situation was nothing new to him. His expression gave nothing away, a calm mask that made my chest tighten.

  Zane and Ryker sat beside him, mirroring the same impassive calm. It was like they already knew what was coming.

  Sure, they were seniors, in their final year, so they'd probably seen this kind of thing before. But the question still gnawed at me—did they know about the talisman too?

  And that unsettled me.

  I leaned toward Sofia and Lila, my voice dropping to a whisper. “Zane, Ryker, and Lucian went to meet Master Orin before all this,” I said, keeping my tone casual even as my heart raced. “That means they already knew about the competition. But…” I hesitated, glancing back at the talisman, its dark surface catching the light, gleaming like it held secrets. “Do they know about the talisman too?”

  The reaction from my friends was immediate, instinctual.

  Sofia gripped her knee, jaw tight. Lila stiffened, breath hitching. Dante exhaled slowly, fingers twitching against the armrest. Nico sat in silence, eyes narrowed. Calen’s jaw clenched, Esme’s fingers trembled as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Kai sat rigid, fists clenched in his lap.

  Sofia turned toward Zane, her expression carefully controlled. "So," she began, voice light but pointed, "you guys knew about this whole competition, huh?"

  Zane stretched lazily, his voice laced with mock indifference. “Would’ve been awkward if we didn’t,” he mused, a half-smile tugging at his lips. “Imagine finding out in front of everyone.”

  His tone, so casual, made my skin crawl.

  Lila was the first to bite. She crossed her arms, her eyes sharp as daggers. “And what about that?” She jerked her chin toward Alina, still standing with the talisman in her hands. “You know what it is?”

  A beat of silence passed—just long enough to make my heart pound faster.

  Then Ryker glanced at the object, a faint flicker in his eyes before he shrugged. “Yeah. Just an old artifact. Expensive. Rare. Bet it’d fetch a nice price at an auction.”

  The weight lifted from my chest—just a little.

  They don’t know.

  But as quickly as the relief settled in, something else took its place. A strange pressure, as though the air around me had thickened. I felt it before I even looked up—an unmistakable sensation of being watched.

  My gaze snapped to Lucian’s.

  His expression was unchanged—still calm, still composed—but his eyes were locked on me. The intensity in them wasn’t excitement or curiosity. It was something darker. Something… waiting. Watching.

  I swallowed, the chill creeping down my spine, making my skin prickle.

  Beside him, Zane and Ryker remained perfectly still, almost too still—like they had known this moment was coming. Like they had been waiting for it.

  I wanted to look away. I should have, but something in Lucian’s gaze held me in place, anchored to the spot.

  Before I could breathe, Kai’s voice broke through the tension, low and tight. “Doesn’t matter what the competition is.” His fists were clenched so hard I thought his knuckles might split. “We have to win.”

  I finally tore my eyes away from Lucian and focused on the talisman again. Its presence loomed larger now—heavier. More than just a prize. More than an artifact.

  It was a turning point.

  The only way to save those elementals.

  I drew in a shaky breath, feeling the burn of my lungs as I steadied myself. My fingers curled into fists, nails biting into my palms. “We will win,” I said, my voice calm and resolute.

  Because we had to.

  Because we weren’t going to lose.

  Not now. Not ever.