The carriage jolted over the uneven cobblestone road, its wooden wheels creaking beneath the weight of nervous anticipation. Seraphina Vale sat clutching the edge of the seat, her breath shallow as the sprawling silhouette of Ember Academy came into view through the morning mist. Towering stone walls wrapped around the massive fortress like ancient guardians, banners fluttering with vibrant colors — the sigils of the realm's great factions.
Around her, the other recruits murmured quietly, some stealing furtive glances, others lost in their own thoughts. The air buzzed with a mix of excitement and dread. Today was the day their lives would change forever.
Beside Seraphina, a tall girl with quick eyes and an easy smile nudged her. "I'm Mira," she said softly. "Stormcallers are where I'm headed — wind and lightning. Fast and clever, the scouts of Veyra."
Seraphina returned the smile, though her heart hammered against her ribs. "I'm Seraphina. I… don't know where I'll end up."
Mira's grin widened. "That's the best part, isn't it? The sorting."
Across the carriage, a broad-shouldered boy spoke quietly to himself. "Stonewardens," he muttered. "Steady and strong. That's who I am." His voice was low but sure.
Seraphina looked toward him. His name was Talen, she'd overheard earlier. A Stonewarden hopeful, he said.
The carriage slowed as they approached the grand gates. Soldiers clad in gleaming armor stood at attention, their eyes sharp, unblinking. A horn sounded from the walls above, its deep call echoing through the valley.
The massive gates creaked open, revealing the vast courtyard beyond. Dragons soared overhead, their majestic forms casting fleeting shadows on the stone below. The crowd of recruits spilled out, a sea of cloaks and wide eyes.
The massive courtyard of Ember Academy stretched out like a sea of stone beneath a vast sky. Hundreds of recruits poured through the great gates, their footsteps echoing sharply against the walls. The crowd was alive with murmurs, whispered hopes, and nervous glances.
Seraphina moved with the flow, her eyes wide as she took in the sheer scale of it all. There must have been a thousand recruits gathered—young men and women from every corner of Veyra, each clutching their belongings, their futures balanced on the edge of a single choice.
Rows upon rows of stone benches circled the central platform where the Ember Flame sigil hovered, glowing faintly with ancient magic. Recruits scrambled to claim their places, some staking spots early, others arriving late and forced to stand along the outer edges.
Mira slipped her hand into Seraphina's, pulling her gently through the crowd. "Come on, we need a good spot. You don't want to be at the back for this."
Seraphina nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat as they pushed forward. Around them, the air was thick with the scent of smoke and wild herbs, carried on a gentle breeze that rustled the banners above.
They found a space near the center, nestled between two clusters of hopefuls. Talen was already seated a few rows ahead, his broad shoulders unmistakable even from this distance. Eira Moonshade lingered near the edge, her dark cloak blending almost seamlessly with the shadows.
The noise rose as the last recruits found their seats. Above, dragons wheeled in the sky, their calls echoing like thunder — a reminder of what was at stake.
Seraphina took a deep breath and sank onto the cool stone bench, her heart pounding as she glanced at her new companions. The moment had come. The fate of each recruit would soon be revealed.
The murmur died as Master Varric stepped onto the platform, his voice booming across the courtyard.
"Welcome, young warriors, to Ember Academy! Today, your journey begins."
The crowd fell into a heavy silence as Master Varric raised his hand, the Ember Flame sigil hovering and pulsing above the stone platform at the center of the courtyard. The ancient magic shimmered with an amber glow, casting flickering light across the faces of the recruits.
"Each of you will step forward when your name is called," Master Varric announced. "The Ember Flame will reveal the faction that suits your heart, your strength, and your soul. Do not fear the choice, for it is not just a path — it is your destiny."
A ripple of whispers ran through the recruits. Some nodded confidently, others swallowed hard, faces pale.
The first name echoed through the courtyard.
"Alaric Fenwick!"
A tall boy with unruly dark hair and fierce green eyes stepped forward, his shoulders squared. The crowd watched as he approached the sigil, heart pounding. The flame flickered — then blazed bright red.
"Drakesworn."
Cheers erupted from the crowd, and Alaric bowed his head with pride before returning to his seat near the front. His dragon-themed cloak marked him as one of the elite.
Next came Dara Emberfall, fiery-haired and quick-tongued. The sigil glowed a fierce orange — Emberborn — and a smirk tugged at her lips as she strode back with fiery confidence.
One by one, the recruits stepped forward: Riven Ashwood, selected by the flickering gray light of the Stonewardens; Selene Nightshade, her eyes dark and unreadable as she claimed the shadows of the Shadowveil.
Seraphina's pulse quickened as more names were called — her friends, strangers, rivals — each revealing their place in this harsh new world.
Mira's name was called with a bright silver-blue flash. She smiled wide, stepping forward proudly as the sigil marked her a Stormcaller. Talen was called shortly after, the Ember Flame turning a deep stone-gray as he accepted his place with the Stonewardens.
The crowd thinned as the sorting continued, tension growing thick in the air. Seraphina sat rigid on her bench, every name bringing her closer to her own fate.
A murmur rippled near the back.
"Vale," someone whispered, the name carrying through the rows.
Seraphina's gaze flicked upward to see a boy with sharp gray eyes and a cruel grin—his voice dripping with disdain.
"Let's see if the poor girl can hold her own."
Kaelen Stormfire stood beside him, tall and commanding, his presence like a storm ready to break. His eyes locked on Seraphina for a heartbeat—challenging, unreadable.
The Ember Flame pulsed again, names called, destinies chosen.
The courtyard fell into a heavy hush as the last names were called and the Ember Flame sigil pulsed steadily above the stone platform.
Then, the voice came—clear, steady, impossible to ignore.
"Seraphina Vale."
A thousand eyes turned toward her, sharp with curiosity, doubt, and something else—expectation.
Her heart pounded like a war drum as she stepped forward, each footfall echoing in the vast space. The weight of every gaze felt like a thousand stones pressing down, but she didn't falter.
The Ember Flame shimmered, waiting.
Seraphina reached out her hand, palms sweaty, breath catching.
The sigil flickered—soft orange, then deep gray—then settled on a fierce red glow.
Drakesworn.
A ripple of shock washed through the crowd.
Whispers broke free like wildfire:
"From the slums…"
"No way she belongs there."
"Drakesworn? The dragon riders? Impossible."
Kaelen Stormfire's eyes narrowed as he stepped closer, voice cold and sharp. "You don't even have a dragon yet. What makes you think you belong here?"
Seraphina's gaze met his, steady and unwavering. "I'll prove it."
From the shadows, Lorian Nightshade watched silently, a faint smirk playing on his lips — curious, calculating.
Mira squeezed Seraphina's hand, a fierce spark of loyalty in her eyes. "They don't see what you're capable of. Yet."
The Ember Flame continued to glow, a silent promise that Seraphina's true power was still waiting to ignite.