Chapter 8: THE SPARK WITHIN
The morning air was crisp as Logan walked to the training grounds. The earth crunched beneath his boots, dew still clinging to the grass. He couldn’t believe it had only been a day since his core was unsealed. For the first time in years, he felt something stir inside him—a warmth, a pulse, a presence that had been locked away for a long time.
Today, that feeling would be tested.
The training field lay at the edge of the inner courtyard, surrounded by ancient obsidian walls engraved with runes for magical safety. It was a place where elite members of House Smith honed their talents—and a place Logan had never been allowed to set foot in.
Until now.
He stopped as he reached the edge of the field. Standing in the center was a tall man clad in silver-gray robes trimmed with deep cobalt. A long black scar trailed down from his temple to his collarbone, giving him a permanent look of quiet menace. Strapped to his back was a wand holster and a dual-bladed spear with glowing runes etched into its shaft.
A few meters away, Rudeous stood watching, along with a handful of house elders and magic enforcers. Even Alice was present, her expression radiant with hope.
"Logan," Rudeous said calmly, "meet your instructor—Ardyn Vex."
Logan’s eyes widened. "The Ardyn Vex? The Thunder Reaper?"
The man smirked. "So you have heard about me. Haven’t heard that name in a while though," he said, stepping forward. "You must be Logan. Heard you knocked a few people flat without even touching mana. Colour me curious."
His voice was gravelly, the kind forged by years of war cries and stormy battlefields.
"I was just lucky. That’s all," said Logan in a simple and humble tone.