Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series-Chapter 135: A Night of Whispers

The common room was alive with energy. The first-years had thrown together a makeshift celebration, led by none other than Adrian Caleena. Someone (and by someone, meant Adrian) had managed to smuggle in snacks from the Kibbers, while someone (Aiden) else had brought out drinks, and even music played softly in the background. Laughter echoed through the room, filling every corner with warmth.

It wasn't anything grand, but it was enough

to take the edge off the losses, enough to make them forget for just a little while the weight of the tournament.

Aiden sat near the back, watching as Adrian animatedly retold a very exaggerated version of Aiden's fight, waving his hands dramatically.

"And then- bam! Lochan didn't even see it coming! Our dear Aiden slapped the victory right out of his mouth!"

The room erupted into laughter, but Aiden barely reacted. His gaze flickered toward Sevan, who sat a little ways away, quietly sipping his drink.

Sevan had congratulated him earlier, same as Adrian. He had even joined in on the celebration, smiling and laughing in all the right moments. But something was off.

It was in the way he held himself. It wasn't bitterness nor was it

jealousy.

It was something heavier.

Even Adrian, for all his loud, reckless energy, kept glancing in Sevan's direction. But instead of saying anything, he just kept talking, kept joking, kept pouring drinks like he was trying to fill the space around Sevan so that the silence wouldn't creep in.

Aiden took another look around the room. Almost all the first-years were here.

The only ones missing were Lochan, Ambrose, and Shiloh.

They hadn't been invited. Adrian had made sure of that. Not like they would go, anyways.

From what Aiden had heard from Adrian, which was probably exaggerated and around half true, the three had actually asked about the party- probably expecting an invitation. But Adrian, with his usual smugness, had just grinned at them and said, "Oh? You want to come? Sorry, I only invite people I like."

That was the end of that.

Aiden wasn't going to lie, it was satisfying.

Then, at some point, Sevan stood up.

He didn't say anything but just left his drink on the table and quietly made his way toward the terrace doors.

Aiden didn't hesitate to follow.

The moment he stepped outside, the cold air hit him. The sounds of the party faded behind him, replaced by the quiet hum of the night.

Sevan stood by the railing, arms resting against the stone as he stared out over the academy grounds. The lanterns along the pathways flickered, casting long shadows across the courtyard.

Aiden leaned against the railing beside him. "You're not enjoying the party?"

It's not that."

Aiden didn't push.

Finally, Sevan spoke. "I just… I keep thinking about my fight with Shiloh." He let out a quiet, humorless chuckle. "I could've won. I almost won. But I let my guard down."

Aiden frowned. "That trick he pulled- "

"I should've expected it," Sevan interrupted. His fingers curled against the stone railing. "I should've known he'd try something like that. I should've been better."

Aiden studied him for a moment before speaking, "It's not fair."

Sevan looked at him, slightly surprised.

"What he did," Aiden continued. "You should have won."

Yeah, well. The world doesn't care about 'should haves.'"

"Still. It doesn't change the fact that you did better than him. Everyone knows it."

Sevan was quiet, staring up at the stars.

"I just don't want to be left behind," he admitted softly. "You won today. Adrian's still climbing. And me?" He let out a short laugh. "I'm just the guy who lost and despite being the smartest, wasn't able to win against a cocky kid."

"Don't say that. You're not 'just the guy who lost.'" Aiden's voice was firm. "You're Sevan. You're the guy who went up against the second-strongest first-year and almost won. And next time? You will win."

Sevan exhaled, a half-smile tugging at his lips. "You're really bad at pep talks."

"Then stop sulking and go enjoy the party."

Sevan huffed but finally, his shoulders relaxed.

"Alright, alright." He turned back toward the door, then hesitated.

"…Thanks, Aiden."

Aiden simply nodded.

They stepped back inside, where the warmth of the party wrapped around them again. Almost immediately, Adrian noticed them and smirked.

"Oh? Are my two favorite losers done with their emotional moment?"

Sevan groaned. "Shut up, Adrian."

Adrian threw an arm around him, dragging him back into the crowd, and just like that, the conversation between them became a quiet memory.

But for the first time that night, Sevan really smiled.

-----------------------------

Something was wrong.

Aiden didn't know what, but the feeling gnawed at the edges of his consciousness, pulling him from the depths of his sleep.

The dorm was silent except for the sound of steady breathing. Adrian was sprawled on his stomach, one arm dangling off the side of his bed, while Sevan lay on his back, his expression peaceful, the faint rise and fall of his chest visible in the dim light.

But something was off.

Aiden...

The voice wasn't loud. It wasn't a whisper either. It was soft, almost as if it was speaking directly into his mind.

His eyes snapped open.

His room was still the same, bathed in the dim glow of the moonlight filtering through the window. The shadows stretched long and thin, shifting slightly with the flicker of their light.

Aidennn....

There was no one else awake, no one standing over him, yet the voice called again, pulling him forward. He sat up slowly, his limbs heavy, his head swimming with something thick and muddled.

Slipping out of bed, he barely registered the cold floor beneath his feet as he padded across the room, then the hallway, through the common area, past the fireplace...

His fingers brushed the door handle. The door creaked softly as he pulled it open.

"Where are you going?"

Aiden froze.

The voice was quiet but firm, breaking through the haze clouding his thoughts.

He turned around, blinking as the world felt like it tilted back into place. Sevan stood a few steps away, his arms crossed, though his sleep-mussed hair made him look a little less intimidating.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Aiden looked at the door, then back at Sevan, his mind catching up to the situation.

"The moon looked nice," Aiden finally muttered, voice rough from sleep. "Thought I'd take a walk."

Sevan didn't move, just studied him with those sharp, perceptive eyes of his. He wasn't buying it.

Aiden shifted under the weight of his gaze. He wasn't sure why he felt caught, like he had been about to do something dangerous without realizing it.

"If you want," Sevan finally said, his voice lighter, "I'll wake up Adrian, and the three of us can go. You know he'd love an excuse to sneak out."

Aiden scoffed, shaking his head, the last remnants of his daze fading. "Never mind. Let's go back to bed."

Sevan didn't move immediately. He lingered for a second longer, as if debating whether to push, but eventually nodded.

"Alright," he said. But as he turned to leave, he added, "If you wake up again… wake me up too."

Aiden didn't answer.

He let the door click shut as he stepped away from it, running a hand through his hair before trudging back to bed.

But even as he lay there, staring up at the ceiling, his heartbeat slow but restless, the whisper still echoed in his ears.

Aiiideeennn... come home....

The days blurred into a cycle of training, eating, and sleeping- though Aiden had been cutting back on the last part.

The Solstice Trials were looming closer, and after securing his spot, he knew he couldn't afford to be complacent. If he wanted to stay in the competition, he needed to sharpen every skill, refine every technique, and ensure that no one would be able to take him down easily.

So, he trained.

Even when Adrian and Sevan weren't in the mood to spar, Aiden kept going. When the others went back to their dorms to relax after a long day, Aiden stayed behind in the training hall or with Professor Anwar, practicing his fire whip and sword strikes against the dummies until his arms ached and his magic wavered from exhaustion.

But despite how much he pushed himself, he wasn't unaware of the way Sevan and Adrian had been watching him.

Sevan, especially, had started bringing it up in small, offhanded comments.

"You're not sleeping much, are you?" Sevan asked one evening as they walked back from the training grounds.

"I'm fine."

"You always say that," Sevan muttered. "Even when you're not."

Aiden didn't respond. He didn't know how to explain that he needed to do this, that slowing down wasn't an option.

And then there was Adrian.

Unlike Sevan, Adrian wasn't as direct. His concern came in the form of mockery, poking fun at Aiden's relentless training.

"Wow, I didn't know I was rooming with a training dummy," Adrian said one afternoon, watching as Aiden stretched before yet another sparring session. "You gonna start calling yourself 'Aiden the Unmovable' next?"

"That's the worst title I've ever heard."

"Yeah, well, you're acting like some tragic protagonist in a one-man show." Adrian flipped his butterfly knife between his fingers. "You do know the Trials aren't literally life or death, right?"

Aiden clenched his fists, ignoring the irritation curling in his chest.

"I know what I'm doing," he said simply.

Adrian scoffed, but he didn't push further. He just twirled the knife once more before flicking it shut and standing up.

"Whatever, mate. Just don't drop dead before the actual competition, yeah?"

Aiden didn't respond.

He hated the way they kept looking at him like he was fragile, like he was overdoing it, like they were expecting him to break. He wasn't broken. He was just getting ready.

That night before the Trials, the dormitory was silent, save for the soft crackling of the enchanted torches outside their room. Aiden had stirred awake again. His mind was sluggish, caught in that hazy space between sleep and awareness, but something was calling him.

He sat up, his movements quiet.

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Adrian was sprawled across his bed, one arm over his face, while Sevan lay on his side, his breathing slow and even. Neither stirred as Aiden swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood.

He didn't know where he was going.

But his body moved on its own, as if drawn by some invisible force. He reached the door, his hand hovering over the handle.

"Aiden."

He turned, only to see Sevan sitting up in bed, his pale blue eyes sharp despite the darkness.

"Where are you going?"

Aiden hesitated. "Nowhere. Just needed some air."

"It's the middle of the night."

"Yeah, and?" Aiden muttered, gripping the doorknob.

Sevan's frown deepened, but before he could say anything else, there was another rustle of blankets, and Adrian groaned.

"You've got to be kidding me," Adrian muttered, voice thick with sleep. He propped himself up on his elbows, blinking blearily. "Aiden, it's one night. Can you not wander off like some ghost for once?"

Aiden exhaled, feeling the weight of both their stares.

"I just-"

"Stay." Adrian cut him off.

He wasn't sure what was happening. He wasn't sure why this kept happening.

But Sevan and Adrian were still watching him, and for once, Aiden didn't fight it.

He sighed, letting go of the door handle. "Fine."

Sevan nodded, visibly relaxing, while Adrian groaned and flopped back onto his bed, muttering something about dramatic idiots.

Aiden climbed back into bed, his thoughts swirling before closing his eyes.

And before they knew it, it was time for the Solstice Trials.