Page 5 of Secrets and Shadows

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 togetherat 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.

---