The fire stretched as far as his eyes could follow, swallowing everything in its path. Houses burned in uneven rows, their wooden frames collapsing in showers of sparks. The heat pressed down on him, thick and suffocating, making it hard to breathe.
A young, frail-looking boy lay sprawled on the dirt.
His body refused to move the way he wanted it to. Every attempt sent a dull ache through his limbs, like they weren't really his anymore. Around him, the village had dissolved into chaos. Bodies littered the ground—some still, some twitching weakly. Those who were still alive screamed for help, their voices blending into a horrible, endless noise.
The sky was no longer blue. Ash coated it completely, drifting down like dirty snow and settling on his face, his hair, his torn clothes. He blinked, trying to clear his vision, but the world only blurred more.
His chest felt tight.
Each breath came slower than the last.
He opened his mouth, forcing himself to speak, even though his throat burned.
"Please… help me…"
The words barely escaped. All that came out was a weak mumble, swallowed by the crackle of flames and distant cries. No one turned. No one came.
His eyelids grew heavy.
The sounds around him started to fade, as if the world was pulling away, leaving him behind. The heat dulled. The pain followed soon after. Darkness crept in from the edges of his vision, swallowing the fire, the screams, the village he once knew.
And then his heart stopped thumping.
The air smelled like the sweat you'd get from chopping trees all day.
"His injuries aren't too bad. He should be awake soon."
Sorel slowly opened his eyes to an endless light. Adjusting to the brightness, he realizes he's lying on a hospital bed. Next to him, a man wearing a white coat looks at him and gives him a quick smile. The man has short brown hair and is relatively old. "You woke up." He sighed, crossing his arms. "You're quite lucky, being one of the only sur-"
"Where am I?" Sorel cuts him off. Staring at his void-colored pupils, the doctor's eyes narrowed, and he seemed to pause for a moment before answering.
"You're at the Academies hospital." He answered. "You're a lucky fella, normally nobles are only allowed here," he shrugs. Nobles? Wait. This can't be. Am I seriously... here. "Yes, you're at Crownspire Academy." He clarifies. Confusion swirls in Sorel's mind, the doctor continued, "You might be wondering, why am I here, right?"
Sorel peers at him. "Yeah..." He blinks.
"Well..." The doctor closes his eyes, trying to find a way to explain. "You were one of the only survivors of the Siege Massacre. Your village... and 3 neighboring ones were wiped out. Cattle, Crops. People.." The doctor looks down at the floor with a saddened look.
"Oh.." As the reality of the situation began to sink in, Sorel's mind raced with a mix of emotions. Disbelief, sadness, and anger. The doctor, sensing his confusion, continued to explain the events leading up to Sorel's arrival at the Academy's hospital.
"The reason why you're here, and not another hospital, is because of your reverse." Sorel stared at him with a shocked expression. The reverse is the potential one has for their magical abilities. The more Reverse you have, the bigger potential you have. But Sorel, a common village boy, has enough Reserve to get into this academy? The one where all the nobles get into?
"The Massacre. The people who did it killed everyone using a Hex. It should have killed everyone off, but you and the other 4 other survivors had enough Reverse to survive." He smiles reassuringly. "You're a very lucky kid. God sure did bless you." From the corner of his ear, Sorel hears a click, and the door opens. For a second, he was blinded by the cool, natural light, and his eyes fluttered like a hummingbird's wings. When he opened his eyes, an older lady wearing a black cloak that covered her whole body and a wizard's hat started walking slowly towards him.
As she approached Sorel, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Her cloak billowed behind her like a dark cloud, and her eyes seemed to pierce right through his heart, as if staring at the deepest parts of his soul. Like she was staring at something beyond him. The doctor, sensing his apprehension, quickly intervened. "This is Professor Alistair, the headmistress of Crownspire Academy. She's here to talk to you, I guess?"
Professor Alistair stopped just beside the bed and leaned in close, her voice a low whisper that seemed to carry an unspoken threat. "You are special, child.
The fact that you survived the Hex and made it here is no small feat. But you must understand, you are not here for charity. You have a role to play in our world, and you will fulfill it or suffer the consequences." She seemed to glare at him before turning around and slamming the door behind her. What is with her attitude?
The doctor cleared his throat, trying to dispel the tension that still hung heavy in the air. "She can be... intimidating. But she believes in you, and that is a feat on its own." The doctor assured me.
"Hey doctor, I didn't catch your name." The doctor's eyes twinkled with a hint of amusement as he extended his hand towards Sorel. "Doctor Archibald at your service." He stood up and started writing in his notebook. "6/13/180. Sorel Pax is released from the hospital." He whispers and then looks at me. "You're good to go b-"
"Hey, doc. What happened to my family?"
Doctor Archibald's eyes widened. Slowly, he opened his mouth, but stopped, as if hesitating. His eyes softened as they met Sorel's. "I'm sorry, Sorel. They did their best to locate your family, but the destruction was too extensive. There were no survivors from your family. You are the only... one who made it out alive." His voice was gentle, but the words felt like a punch to the gut. Sorel's heart ached with the loss of his loved ones, and he felt a sudden wave of anger towards the unknown forces that had brought this tragedy upon him.
Doctor Archibald placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "But you have a new family now, Sorel. The Academy is your home now, and the people here will become your new family. You'll have a chance to learn, grow, and make a new life for yourself." He tried to offer some comfort, but Sorel could see the sorrow in his eyes as well. He knew how heavy the burden was that Sorel now carried.
With a deep breath, Sorel nodded, knowing that he was right. He couldn't change the past. He had a responsibility. To honor his loved ones' memory. Looking around the sterile hospital room, he realized it was time to start his new journey. Time to begin the next chapter of his life. Wow. That was cheesy. He pondered.
Doctor Archibald smiled, sensing his resolve. "Come on, let's get you discharged so we can start making arrangements for your new life at the Academy. You have a world to explore, and a destiny to uncover, kid."
Sorel smiles at him, slowly standing up. There is still a slight pain in his right calf, but not to the point where he has to stay there for another day. Sorel says thanks to Doctor Archibald and walks out to explore what there is to offer.
As he stepped out, Sorel immediately knew something was wrong.
This wasn't the academy.
Not even close.
The polished stone floors were gone, replaced by damp earth that sank slightly beneath his boots. Twisted trees loomed in every direction, their bark gray and cracked, branches stretching overhead like skeletal fingers. Not a single leaf stirred. The air was thick, stale, and carried a faint scent of rot.
A withered forest.