The Pyreptar Academy was a privately owned institution that was attended by a select few students who were gifted in unique ways. The academy stood like a lone sentinel atop a hill.
It had been founded in the early 18th century by the Brotherhood of Shadows.
It was also a front that the Brotherhood used to nurture the scions of the Great Assassin families without the governnt’s interference.
Needless to say, the governnt was a puppet of the Praesagius and the Brotherhood. But only those among the higher echelons knew this fact. This allowed them to manipulate events and obscure knowledge from the rest of the world as they saw fit.
In a sense, the Brotherhood and Praesgius shaped the worldview from the shadows without ever revealing their existence.
The dark, stony walls of the ancient academy had withstood the test of ti. New buildings were being constructed and renovations were underway to accommodate the influx of new students.
The academy had been founded to create a place where children from the great houses could mingle and grow together side by side.
But most recently, the Brotherhood’s alliance with Praesagius had brought in more students, the talented.
It was an unprecedented event since the founding of the academy.
This endeavour was supposed to foster a mutual relationship between the talented and the assassins.
A black SUV sped down the nearly deserted highway at blistering speed, overtaking the few other vehicles at breakneck speed. It relentlessly weaved in and out of lanes with ease.
A young dark-haired boy dressed in a black uniform sat in the back of the car, staring listlessly through the window. The brown eyes of his reflection stared back at him emotionlessly.
Despite his outwardly calm appearance, Morgan’s mind was in turmoil.
His thoughts kept drifting back to his conversation with Conrad in the library the previous evening.
***
"So will you help ?"
Conrad stared at him for a while, then leaned back, reclining on the couch.
"No."
Morgan stared at him in surprise.
" Why not?"
Conrad frowned slightly. He stood up and walked to the shelf, picking out a book.
"How do I say this? Listen, kid, it’s complicated. Everyone who awakens does so differently. It varies from person to person. Therefore, the way we utilize our power is different."
"Like this book, for example," He sat back down.
"It’s different from the others, different story, different information, it’s unique."
Conrad sat, took off his glasses, and lazily crossed his legs.
"Its size, weight, the texture,"
He brought it to his nose and lightly inhaled, "Its scent, these individual characteristics together, make it unique."
Conrad placed the book on the tip of his finger and began to spin it. The book began to rotate faster and faster.
"It’s sothing you discover on your own. I could teach you my technique, but it would probably be useless to you. And if you sohow managed to learn how to use it, you would probably hate for it in the future."
"Why?"
Conrad pierced him with a cold gaze, his black eyes growing darker.
"It would cripple you, smother you, it would prevent you from reaching your full potential."
At this point, the book was a blur.
"Those of us able to awaken do so in different circumstances, so it affects how we’re able to tap into our abilities. So need rage, others fear, and for others, it cos naturally. I can channel my ability by drawing on my rage."
The darkness around his irises swirled slightly.
He stood up and put his sunglasses back on.
" Only you can discover what works for you. I guess you’ll have to walk your path, kid."
In the next mont, he disappeared without a trace.
Rebecca turned to Morgan, her eyes flickering in amusent.
" So much for asking for help then."
Morgan shook his head and leaned back in thought.
***
The black SUV made its way towards the imposing gates of the academy. A burly uniford guard strolled out, clad in the dark red uniform reserved for the academy staff.
Simon Grant had worked at the academy for most of his life. He watched the black vehicle slowly roll to a stop outside the gate. He frowned slightly and made his way to the car.
It was rare for any student to enrol in the academy this late in the year.
He briefly glanced at the insignia of the snarling lion that was etched on the car’s side before lightly rapping on the driver’s window.
The window slowly lowered, revealing a grey-haired man with dark sunglasses.
"May I have a look at your docunts, please?" He grunted, nodding his head at the man.
"One mont, please," Luke said, smiling widely, revealing neat rows of pearly white teeth.
A few seconds later, he passed the guard an envelope that had the academy’s stamp on it.
" House Thane? It has been a while since anyone who carried that na walked into this academy," he thought.
Simon quietly stole a glance at the dark-haired boy in the back.
"Is there a problem?"Luke asked with a smile.
"No, sir, I’ll finish my inspection of your vehicle and let you in shortly."
After a short while, Simon signaled for the gates to be opened.
"It seems things are about to get interesting."
The well-grood lawns of the academy sprawled endlessly, creating a maze that eventually rged to form two parallel hedges that led to the reception hall.
Luke Sanguine, the McAllister’s butler, got out to open the passenger door. However, the door swung open before he could get a hold of it, and the young dark-haired boy who had been seated in the back stepped out.
A slight scowl was etched on his handso face.
Morgan had been mulling over Conrad’s answer during the entirety of the trip.
"I have to find my own path, a way to trigger my ability that’s unique to ."
He sighed and subtly straightened his uniform.
He filed away the information in the recesses of his mind. It was one more piece added to the jigsaw puzzle that was his life.
First, he had to get through his first day at the infamous Pyreptar Academy.
"Calm yourself, master Morgan."
"I’m perfectly calm, Luke. You shouldn’t concern yourself with that." Morgan said. Luke smiled slightly before circling the car to open the other passenger door.
Rebecca Kingsley stepped out clad in a brown suit, her red hair tied back into an austere bun.
Her green eyes coldly swept over the academy’s reception hall.
She cast a furtive glance at Morgan, observing his reaction to arriving at the academy.
"Are you ready, Morgan?"
He looked impassively at the students moving through the school through the gilded glass tunnels that ford the arches bridging the buildings, then turned to her indifferently.
"Let’s get this over with, Rebecca," he said, making his way into the building.
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