Zhen walked forward. "So, what brings you back here after all this time?" he asked as he stopped.
"I want information from a book, one I'll be able to find in the academy," Bryce replied in a calm but straightforward tone.
"You came all the way here, to a place you were banished from, just for a book?" Zhen said. "That book must be very important."
Bryce remained silent. He was still trying to figure out what Zhen was up to.
Zhen slowly stretched out his right hand. Something began to form from nothing. As it continued to take shape, it became visible, it was a staff.
The staff finished forming. It was golden, with unique carvings etched into it.
"A divine weapon," Bryce said. "So you finally got it."
"Yes. It was passed down to me a year ago."
Without warning, Zhen rushed toward Bryce to attack him. Bryce wasn't fully expecting it, but his guard was up. Still, with the speed Zhen was moving at, dodging the attack seemed impossible.
But right before the strike could land, Zhen froze completely.
"Transcendent—Temporal Dilation," Bryce said.
Just before the attack connected, Bryce activated Temporal Dilation, causing time to slow down. Everything around him decelerated, Zhen, the guards behind him, the air itself.
Bryce was impressed that Zhen had almost managed to catch him off guard.
But hen, Zhen broke free.
He continued moving at normal speed.
That shocked Bryce. Zhen had broken through the technique. The attack was still coming, and Bryce knew he had to act fast.
He pushed himself backward, avoiding contact at the last second. Bryce successfully evaded the strike, and time immediately returned to normal.
The guards looked confused. It took them a moment to understand what had just happened.
This time, Bryce was ready. He had expected resistance but he didn't think it would come from Zhen.
Zhen returned to his normal stance and said calmly, "I'm done. You can come into the citadel."
The staff dematerialized slowly as Zhen placed his hands behind his back.
There was no confusion on Bryce's face. He was thinking, trying to understand what had just gone through Zhen's mind. He had a few guesses. Bryce relaxed, no longer prepared to fight.
Zhen turned to the guards. "Return to your positions. Everything is fine here."
At his command, the guards ran back into the citadel, this time without teleporting.
Zhen began walking slowly into the citadel, waiting for Bryce to follow. Bryce stood there for a moment before speaking.
"Why did you attack me?"
Zhen continued walking, a faint smile on his face. "I was testing something. Nothing more."
It wasn't a satisfying answer, but Bryce knew he wouldn't get anything else. He followed Zhen.
They both walked through the entrance. As they crossed the barrier surrounding the citadel, Bryce felt his energy reduce. The sensation was familiar, and it didn't bother him.
Inside, the citadel resembled a city. Different Exorts moved about, and at its center stood the academy, Bryce's destination.
Zhen stopped. "I think it's time we go directly to the academy," he said.
After that, he disappeared.
So did Bryce.
THE PAST
All eyes were on Bryce, which made him slightly uncomfortable, but he didn't mind. Most things didn't bother him anymore, his mind was already set on something else.
The eyes he noticed the most were Zhen's. Even Jace was looking at him.
"You must be the new student," the instructor said. "Why don't you take a seat?"
Bryce scanned the room, the students, the instructor, every corner. Then he searched for a place to sit. He wanted a seat that was isolated, somewhere he wouldn't have to be close to anyone.
There was an empty desk near the back. The desk beside it was also empty. It was perfect.
He walked over and sat down, choosing the one closest to the wall.
Someone entered the room. Bryce slowly turned to see who it was.
It was a girl. She wore a white top, a short brown jacket, and blue jean shorts. Her long black hair flowed freely, and flowers were woven into her hair like a crown. Around her neck were beaded necklaces, one of them bearing a peace sign.
There was something about her presence that made Bryce stare, but he quickly pushed the feeling aside and faced forward again.
The girl walked closer, and sat at the desk beside him.
That wasn't what Bryce had planned.
"You can stand and introduce yourself," the instructor said to Bryce.
He had no interest in doing that, but he remembered what Father William had told him about controlling his emotions.
Bryce stood up slowly. He stayed silent.
"Well… let me start, then," the instructor said. "I am Joy Ayomide. I am one of your instructors here at the academy. I will be teaching mostly theoretical subjects." She smiled. "Now, what about you?"
"I'm Bryce," he said after a brief hesitation.
"Anything else?"
"Just Bryce."
"Alright. Nice to meet you, Bryce. You can take your seat."
Joy was dark-skinned, with long black braided hair. She wore a simple shirt and jeans.
Bryce sat down, relieved the attention was off him.
"Hi there, Just Bryce," the girl beside him said.
He turned toward her. She had a bright smile. Up close, he noticed her green eyes and the many bracelets on her wrist.
He didn't know how to respond, he wasn't even sure he wanted to.
"I can already tell you're not much of a talker, which is fine," she continued cheerfully. "My name is Gabriela Pereira. And… I don't know, there's something about you. Your energy feels different."
Joy cleared her throat. "Now, where were we? Yes, we were talking about demons."
The class focused on her.
"It's important to learn how to fight demons," Joy said, "but it's just as important to understand what you're fighting. Knowledge can be just as powerful as strength."