BECOME MORE

The scent of damp earth filled the air as Rael stood at the edge of the *Black Hounds'* camp. The familiar sounds of mercenaries sharpening their weapons, tending to wounds, and laughing over their spoils faded behind him.

He gripped the travel bag slung over his shoulder. It was light—only the essentials. A change of clothes, rations, a spare dagger. His sword, however, remained at his hip. That would never leave him.

Darius stood nearby, watching him with arms crossed.

"You look like you're about to charge into battle," the old mercenary chuckled.

Rael didn't answer immediately. In a way, he was.

For years, he had trained under the Black Hounds, sharpening his instincts, learning to read his enemies, and forging his own way of fighting. But the battlefield had always been simple—kill or be killed.

Now, he was stepping into a different kind of war. One where blades weren't the only weapons.

Darius walked up to him, his voice quieter now. "You're not going there to make friends, Rael. The nobles will look down on you. They'll test you, challenge you. Hell, some might even try to kill you."

Rael smirked. "Nothing new, then."

Darius grinned, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "Good. Remember what I taught you—strength isn't just in the body. It's in the mind."

Rael nodded. He understood. He had seen men far stronger than him fall because they fought with nothing but muscle.

"Here," Darius said, reaching into his coat and pulling out a small metal emblem. It was a dark silver wolf's head, the insignia of the Black Hounds.

Rael took it carefully.

"A little reminder of where you came from," Darius said. "And if you ever need work… you know where to find us."

Rael curled his fingers around the emblem. A piece of home.

But now, it was time to leave it behind.

With a final nod to Darius and the others, Rael turned and walked toward the dirt road leading away from camp.

Toward Imperius Academy.

---

The Arrival

The academy's gates were unlike anything Rael had ever seen.

Towering spires of dark iron stretched into the sky, engraved with ancient runes that pulsed with faint blue light. The walls, impossibly high, were built from enchanted stone that shimmered under the sun. The entire structure seemed to hum with power, as if the very air inside was charged with magic.

Rael adjusted his grip on his bag and exhaled. No turning back now.

Around him, carriages lined the entrance, carrying young nobles dressed in fine silks and polished armor. Some stepped out with the confidence of warriors, their family crests proudly displayed on their cloaks. Others, likely fresh recruits, glanced around nervously.

Rael, on the other hand, wore no crest. No noble colors.

Just simple dark leathers and a sword at his hip. And from the looks being thrown his way, it was obvious he didn't belong.

"Who let a street rat in?" a voice sneered.

Rael didn't react. He'd heard worse.

A group of young warriors, dressed in finely embroidered uniforms, stood nearby. Their leader, a blonde-haired noble with sharp blue eyes, looked him up and down like he was filth.

"You lost, mercenary?" he smirked. "This isn't some bandit's hideout. This is Imperius Academy."

Rael met his gaze with calm, unreadable eyes. "Then you should know better than to underestimate a mercenary."

A flicker of irritation crossed the noble's face. "Watch yourself, mongrel."

Rael's fingers twitched near his hilt, but he didn't move. Not yet.

A sudden wave of power washed over the courtyard, and all conversation stopped.

The air itself seemed to thrum with energy, making the hairs on Rael's arms stand on end. A figure approached from the academy gates—a tall man draped in flowing black robes, his presence demanding attention.

One of the instructors.

"Newcomers," the man's voice boomed, calm yet commanding. "Welcome to Imperius Academy."

His sharp, calculating gaze swept over the students. For a brief moment, his eyes landed on Rael, lingering slightly longer than the others before moving on.

"You are here because you seek strength," the instructor continued. "Some of you were born into it. Some of you have earned it. But know this—Imperius does not tolerate weakness."

His tone hardened.

"Your families mean nothing here. Your titles mean nothing. Only skill, intelligence, and willpower will keep you standing."

He turned toward the massive iron gates, which rumbled open with a deep, echoing groan.

"Step forward," the instructor ordered. "And prove you belong."

Rael tightened his grip on his bag and exhaled.

This was it.

His first real test.

Without hesitation, he walked through the gates of Imperius Academy.

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