The Oyxia Chronicles: Shadow of Lorian

“These are your quarters,” the guide said, opening one of the doors.

Elissa stepped inside and froze, overwhelmed by mixed feelings. The room was spacious, its air saturated with magic, just like the rest of the castle. In the center stood several beds covered with simple yet neat blankets. Around them were tables, benches, and chairs, as if designed specifically for students. Everything here was simple, yet at the same time majestic, like the place they had found themselves in. A sense of coziness and mystery filled the space, creating an atmosphere that was both calming and exciting. There was something special here, something that spoke of the strength and antiquity permeating everything around.

I’m going to live here! It’s modest, sure, but tasteful, Elissa thought, feeling a slight disappointment. Life in her family’s house had been much more comfortable.

But at least no parents – you’re on your own now! a mischievous thought flashed through her mind.

The mages’ quarters were on the second floor of the fortress, from where one could see the vast inner courtyards. Training sessions often took place there; the ringing of smiths’ hammers could be heard, and the walls, seemingly saturated with ancient magic, recalled the time when this fortress had been built. A few steps led into spacious rooms, yet there was no sense of “home” here – it was rather a place for study and focused work. The walls were adorned with magical runes that came alive at night, glowing softly and lighting the way.

A quiet fire in the hearth warmed the room, creating a cozy atmosphere. The flame was no ordinary fire – it pulsed like a living creature, responding to the presence of people. The fire in the fireplace didn’t just heat the air, it granted strength, as if guarding its guests. Elissa felt its warmth gently drawing her in, filling the space with gentle light, and her inner turmoil began to subside under its influence.

Everything in this space was harmonious: stone fireplaces with magical fire stood in the corners, gently heating the room, and the walls were decorated with runes that glowed in the dark. Personal magical lights, responsive to emotions, changed their brightness and color, giving the room a special mood depending on the time of day or the state of its inhabitants. In the corners stood small magical “umbrellas” that created an aura of calm and shielded from external magical influences. Everything was infused with magic; every element had been carefully designed to provide comfort and protection in this magical place.

The room was full of life.

Students sat in the corners, absorbed in their activities. Some laughed, animatedly discussing something, swapping jokes and stories about their first successes in magic.

Nearby, several students sat at a table, intently turning the pages of ancient books, their eyes burning with the desire to learn more about their craft. A few boys and girls stood by the window trying to create sparks of fire, shouting spells and watching magic crackle in their hands.

One boy, a concentrated expression on his face, tried to release flame from his palms, but so far his efforts produced only thin streams of fire that quickly vanished in the air.

Wow! So many kids here and they’re all studying magic! Soon I will be too! Leonard thought joyfully, looking around the hall.

A group of students walked up to another wall, and one of them, cupping his hands, slowly brought them toward a kettle standing on the table. His hands radiated a soft flame, and he easily heated the water, using his magic. His friends watched the process with interest, as the fire flowed effortlessly from his palms.

In the corner of the room near the fireplace, a small group of students sat together. They drank warm mulled wine, which gave off a pleasant aroma of cinnamon and oranges, warming them after a long day. Their laughter and conversation sounded cheerful and confident, creating an atmosphere of belonging.

Elissa, watching them, felt a twinge of envy. It seemed they had already found their place here, had already become part of something she did not yet fully understand. Confidence shone in their eyes, and their voices carried that same magical energy that filled the castle.

Yet despite this outward atmosphere of joy and freedom, Elissa felt a faint unease. There was still something uncertain in her soul. This place gave her a sense of strength, knowledge, and assurance, but she still couldn’t shake the thought that she wasn’t prepared enough for this world. The fear of the unknown continued to haunt her, though she tried not to show it. Here, among these people, she was supposed to become part of something great.

Leonard, on the other hand, felt more detached. All of this was something enormous and incomprehensible to him. He watched the other students, the ease with which they used their magic, how simply they created sparks or manipulated fire, and knew that he would have to work long and hard to reach their level. A feeling of insecurity grew in his heart. Here he was an outsider, and that thought wouldn’t leave him.

He did feel a slight sense of calm, however, at Elissa’s side. Her confidence and composure were like a solid support, allowing him not to get lost in this universe of magic and power. His eyes unconsciously returned to her, and he felt her calm slowly spreading to him. It was a small spark, but in that moment it warmed him.

When the guide pointed out the free spots prepared for them and said goodbye, they were left alone, as if beginning a new stage of their lives.

Elissa quietly sat down on one of the beds, feeling a slight fatigue, and at the same time the thrill of knowing this was not just a new stage in their travels, but a new step in their lives as mages. She looked at the bed, tested the softness of the blanket, and relaxed a little, settling down and sinking into thought.

Leonard, unable to find a place for himself, went to the window. He tugged on the heavy curtain, and a breathtaking and at the same time frightening view of Lorian opened before him. He stood in the window’s shadow and squinted, peering into the landscape.

Castle Lorian truly was majestic, rising at the very peak of an ancient volcano like a crown upon the fiery lands. Its walls, black as the night sky, seemed alive, as if sculpted from flame itself, holding heat and power within. The inner light emanating from the castle walls flowed smoothly, casting soft fiery reflections across the surroundings. These walls seemed both eternal and fragile, like the magic that fed Lorian.

The slopes of the volcano, like the castle itself, were alive. Rivers of lava spread across the searing ground, carving new channels only to plunge back with a bright glow into the depths of the dark earth. Smoke rose into the sky, merging with heated clouds and painting them in golden-red shades. Everything around was filled with pulsing heat that permeated the air – it felt as if the castle and the land merged into a single untamed force.

On the distant horizon, where the earth met the sky, Lorian resembled a mighty dragon, forever hungry for fire. The castle towers seemed to reach into the flames, as if they were part of the volcano itself. In the very heart of the castle lay an ancient source of magic, a flame that never went out, not even in the dead of night, sustaining the flow of magical energy streaming through the veins of the land.

Leonard stood at the window, feeling the full greatness and might of this place. It was terrifying and mesmerizing at the same time. He sighed, and his gaze couldn’t help but latch onto the lights of a distant city.

Far away, against the bright fiery glow, he could barely make out small lights. He knew that city. It was Pyrenholm, Elissa’s home city. His heart gave a jolt, and for a moment it seemed to him that in that light was hidden an entire life he did not know, a life he could not understand.

Pyrenholm really is a big city, Leonard thought, his gaze still lingering on the flickering lights in the distance. He didn’t know what to feel. On the one hand, he knew this place was full of opportunity and strength; on the other, he couldn’t shake the sense of alienation and separation from his own home.

Pyrenholm was an old and powerful city, spreading at the foot of an even older volcano that formed the foundation of the castle. Its breath could be felt everywhere – in the hot caves, the warm springs, in the heated wind that wandered the streets. The city was alive, breathing, and in that breath one could feel not only the energy of magic, but also the skill of the people who lived there.

Pyrenholm was renowned for its blacksmiths, for its ability to create magical artifacts that were then tempered in fire, transforming into something more than mere objects. Houses were built of stone, and their walls were decorated with patterns burned directly into the rock. This city was full of life, traditions, and strength. Everything there felt almost eternal.

But Lorian – that was something else entirely. In his mind Leonard compared these two places and felt two worlds merging inside him. The Fire magic that connected and filled them both remained a mystery to him.

“This is where we’ll live,” he said quietly, almost to himself, “with the other students. But what if they… are better than us?”

Elissa, sitting on the bed, listened to his words, and her heart tightened slightly. She couldn’t give a clear answer to that question. On the other hand, she knew that this castle was a place where anyone could find their destiny – if only they accepted it.

The land outside the window was now bathed in golden rays of sunlight, and Elissa rose and came to stand beside Leonard. Together they looked at the ancient towers and the softly glowing runes surrounding them.

In that moment there was something magical in how everything around them was beginning to become part of their new reality. But they still did not know what awaited them ahead.

Chapter 9. The First Lesson with Ella Vilstir

Elissa slowly opened her eyes, feeling the cool morning air slip in through the slightly open window. The thin light of dawn lay softly on the wooden walls of their shared dormitory. Something twisted inside her – a strange mixture of excitement and anticipation. Today would be their first real magic lesson.