The next morning, the summons came not from Selene, but from the highest authority in Sunveil Academy—and perhaps the most feared figure in the entire Spirit Hall.
The Mistress.
Even the name was enough to silence the halls when it was spoken. No one called her by her birth name anymore; she had long since outgrown it. She was the Spirit Hall's ruling hand within this region, a strategist who could make kingdoms bend and spirit beasts bow.
---
The Ascent
Selene herself escorted Singh, Xue Lan, Meira, and Ryven through the central tower of the academy. As they climbed, Singh felt the weight of spirit energy pressing against him, thicker with every step.
The walls were lined with black crystal panels that pulsed faintly, and he had the strange sensation they were watching him.
Meira broke the silence. "Think she'll test us?"
Ryven scoffed. "She won't need to. She already knows what we can do."
Xue Lan's voice was soft but cutting. "She'll want to see how we work as a unit. And more importantly—how we follow orders."
Singh kept his thoughts to himself. He had no intention of being anyone's pawn… but if this Mistress was as dangerous as her reputation suggested, playing along might be the smartest move for now.
---
The Mistress of Spirit Hall
The doors to the Mistress's audience chamber opened with a low groan.
She sat upon a throne of white spirit jade, her long robes shimmering between black and silver as if made from woven moonlight. Her hair was pure black, streaked with gold at the tips, and her eyes… her eyes seemed to strip away every layer of your soul until only the truth remained.
"Approach," she said.
The four of them stepped forward. Singh felt the weight of her gaze on him immediately—lingering just a heartbeat longer than on the others.
"You are here because you are rare," the Mistress began. "Four twin-soul prodigies gathered in one generation is an omen the Spirit Hall cannot ignore. But talent without structure is wasted. Therefore…"
She raised her hand.
A side door opened, and three more figures entered.
---
The Older Talents
The first was a tall young man with dark bronze skin, his eyes burning with a predator's focus. Two yellow and one purple ring glowed faintly around him as he stepped forward. His voice was low and confident. "Darius Vorn. Martial souls: Thunder Fang Spear and Stoneguard Shield."
The second was a girl with flowing midnight-blue hair and a lean, dancer's build. She moved with the grace of water, her rings—two yellow and one purple—flashing briefly. "Ilyra Wavecrest," she said simply. "Martial souls: Tidal Serpent and Moonlight Chain."
The last was a wiry boy with ash-gray hair and piercing amber eyes. Unlike the others, his aura was… unsettling, like a blade hidden beneath silk. "Kerric Vale," he said. "Martial souls: Phantom Crow and Shadow Thorn."
They were all clearly older—seventeen instead of sixteen—and each carried one more ring than Singh and his current peers.
---
The Mistress's Declaration
"You seven," the Mistress said, her voice echoing through the chamber, "will form the Eclipser Unit—an elite strike and reconnaissance team directly under my command. You will train together, fight together, and live together until you learn to function as one."
Ryven frowned slightly. "With respect, Mistress, why mix us with those already stronger? Would it not be more efficient to train by rank?"
The Mistress's gaze sharpened, and Ryven lowered his head.
"Because, child," she said coolly, "power is not measured in rings alone. You will learn from them, and they will learn from you. If you cannot keep pace, you will be left behind. If you cannot lead when required, you will be replaced."
Her eyes shifted to Singh.
"And some of you… have qualities that go beyond the count of rings."
Singh didn't flinch, though he could feel the weight of her words digging under his skin.
---
First Sparks
As the Mistress dismissed them, the group left the chamber together. The tension was immediate.
Darius walked at the front with the casual authority of someone used to command. Ilyra moved beside him, her expression calm, but her eyes never leaving the younger prodigies. Kerric trailed behind silently, almost blending into the shadows of the corridor.
Meira broke the quiet first. "So, do we start with a friendly spar, or do we skip to the part where we all try to prove who's better?"
Darius didn't even look back. "You wouldn't last three minutes."
Meira's grin widened. "Guess we'll have to test that theory."
Singh kept his pace even. He didn't care about proving himself through petty words. But as he glanced at Xue Lan, Ryven, and the older three, he realized one thing—the Mistress hadn't just created a team. She'd created a cage.
One where every beast inside was sharpening its claws.
---
Selene's Warning
That night, as Singh settled into the new Eclipser Unit quarters, a soft knock came at his door.
It was Selene.
"You've been thrown into the lion's den," she said softly. "Don't waste time trying to be friends. Watch them. Learn their habits. Every single one of them will be weighing you just as you weigh them."
Singh leaned against the doorframe. "And you? Which side are you on?"
Her violet eyes gleamed in the lamplight. "The winning side. Make sure that's yours."
Then she was gone, leaving him with the knowledge that from this moment forward, every step, every choice, and every word in the Eclipser Unit… could be the difference between survival and being forgotten.