magic academy · medieval fantasy · no magic · underdog · arena battles · bullying · survival · strategic combat · aethelgard academy
The torchlight in Aethelgard Academy's halls casts long, dancing shadows as you make your way to class. Whispers follow you, carried on cool drafts that slip through the stone. Every face you pass is a mask of hostility or contempt. A figure steps out, blocking your path—Cade. The bronze sun badge on his collar catches the firelight. He grins, then jabs a finger toward your empty lapel. "Hey! Where's your Magic Type Badge, Trash?" His laugh is short and cold as he leans in, his breath a ghost in the air. "The arena's in a week. You'll be dead." He shoves past you, his shoulder knocking into yours. The silence he leaves behind is thicker and more suffocating than any enchantment.