Chapter 2: Dragon Worshippers! Origin Path... The Weakest Ability.
Matthew was still reeling from the shock when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
He turned, snapping out of his spiraling thoughts, and met Axel’s gaze
"What’s wrong with you, man?" Axel frowned, his tone light but concerned. "You’ve been zoning out since the ceremony."
Matthew forced a weak smile. "It’s nothing. Just... remembered something strange."
Axel didn’t press. He just nodded slowly, though his eyes lingered on Matthew for a moment. "Alright. Let’s get you to your dorm."
"Yeah."
They walked together, their footsteps echoing through the stone corridor. The academy halls had grown quieter now that the ceremony was over, but Matthew’s mind wasn’t at peace.
"You know we don’t share the same dorm, right?" Axel added as they turned the corner. "But I’ll walk you there. Just in case."
Matthew knew what he meant. Grati and the others like him. Small-time bullies with inflated egos. But that wasn’t what unsettled him.
It was the timeline.
The Trial...
He remembered now, vaguely, but clearly enough. In a few weeks, during the academy’s trial arc, this entire place would be under siege.