Rae van Daleon – The Roots of the Storm
by Lea von Löwenstein
Chapter 2: A New Morning
The cold morning cast the Scola Progenium in a pale gray light, while the shrill sound of a bell tore the novices from their sleep. Rae opened her eyes, taking a moment to orient herself. The events of the previous night weighed heavily on her thoughts, but she shook them off. It was time to prepare for the day.
The communal hall where breakfast was served was a chaotic mix of clattering trays, hushed conversations, and the occasional sharp command from an instructor. Rae balanced her simple meal—a bowl of porridge and a piece of bread—and searched for an empty spot. Alric, already holding a tray, waved her over to a table at the edge of the room.
“This is going to be our new regular spot,” he said with a crooked grin. “Away from the chaos.”
Rae sank onto the bench and began to eat, her senses remaining alert. Marcus and Tyren joined them shortly, both quiet and seemingly lost in thought. Celestine was the last to approach, her gaze sweeping the room as if searching for something.
“Over here,” Tyren called, patting the bench beside him. Celestine rolled her eyes briefly but sat down, setting her tray on the table with precise movements.
The peace didn’t last long.
A chair scraped loudly across the floor, and Rae felt the tension at the table shift. A group of older novices approached, their posture confident and challenging. The leader, a tall boy with a sharp gaze, stopped directly in front of Rae.
“You’re the new ones, aren’t you?” he asked, his voice quiet but full of condescension. His followers grinned, exchanging knowing looks.
“Yes,” Rae replied calmly, not lifting her eyes from her food.
“Well, there are a few rules,” he continued, his voice growing louder, ensuring others in the hall could hear. “For instance, this table… is ours.”
Alric looked up, his face tense. “It doesn’t look reserved to me.”
A brief, tense laugh came from one of the others. “Funny,” the leader said, leaning forward and placing his hand on the table. “But I don’t think you understand how things work here. The weak make way for the strong.”
Rae finally looked up, her eyes meeting his. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. “Strength isn’t defined by a choice of seating,” she said calmly, her voice like a blade wielded with precision.
A moment of silence followed before the leader straightened, a mocking smile on his lips. “Interesting,” he murmured. “But words alone won’t help you survive here.”
Rae remained silent, her composure unchanged. Alric opened his mouth to say something, but Celestine spoke first.
“Perhaps you should find another table,” she said with cold composure. “Before you waste more time on meaningless games.”
The leader’s smile vanished, but before he could respond, Marcus stepped forward. His imposing stature and determined expression formed a shield between the group and the table.
“Leave us alone,” Marcus said in a deep, steady voice. “We’re not here to challenge you, but we won’t be intimidated either.”
The leader hesitated, glancing between Rae, Marcus, and the others at the table. His smirk returned, though tinged with frustration. “This isn’t over,” he said, stepping back and motioning for his group to follow.
As they left, the tension in the hall slowly eased. Rae took another bite of her bread, her expression neutral, though her mind was racing.
“That was close,” Alric said quietly, glancing at Rae.
“Not close,” she replied. “A test. And they passed it, not us.”
The others exchanged glances but didn’t argue. Rae knew this was just the beginning—the real challenges were yet to come. But she felt ready for whatever lay ahead.
The table settled down, the soft clinking of dishes and hushed conversations returning. Yet Rae remained vigilant. Her gaze wandered across the hall, past the older novices who had regrouped and seemed to be targeting someone new.
At the far end of the room, a scrawny boy sat alone at a table. His head was bowed, his hands trembling slightly as he tried to eat his porridge. Another group of older novices had gathered around him. Their movements were casual, but the tension was unmistakable. The leader of the group spoke softly, but Rae could see the mockery in his posture.
“Looks like he doesn’t even have the guts to look at us,” someone in the group said, followed by a short laugh.
“Leave him alone,” Alric muttered, his gaze fixed on the scene.
“He won’t manage on his own,” Rae said calmly, pushing her tray aside.
“That’s not our problem,” Celestine interjected, her voice cool. “We’ve already drawn enough attention today.”
Rae looked at her, her eyes steady but resolute. “It’s not just his problem. If we look away now, we’ll be the next targets tomorrow.”
Without another word, she stood and moved through the hall. Her steps were quiet but purposeful. The atmosphere shifted as she approached. The leader of the group—the boy with the sharp gaze—noticed her first.
“Oh, the new girl’s back,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Didn’t finish your breakfast?”
Rae stopped in front of the table, her eyes briefly scanning the group before settling on the boy they were tormenting. “Is everything all right?” she asked, her voice calm but clear.
The scrawny boy looked up, his eyes a mix of uncertainty and gratitude. Before he could respond, the leader stepped forward, positioning himself between Rae and the boy. “This doesn’t concern you,” he said quietly, though his words carried an unspoken threat.
Rae held his gaze. “It concerns everyone. Anyone who watches in silence is complicit.”
A brief silence followed, during which the hall seemed to grow quieter, as if all other conversations had paused, drawn to the unfolding scene.
The leader stepped closer, his face inches from Rae’s. “Do you think you can tell us what to do?”
“No,” Rae said, her voice still calm. “But I can make sure you stop.”
The tension was palpable, but before it could escalate, Marcus suddenly appeared behind Rae, his massive frame like a wall. “That’s enough,” he said with quiet authority. “Find another hobby.”
The group hesitated. The leader’s gaze shifted from Rae to Marcus, then to the others standing behind her—Alric, Tyren, and even Celestine, who leaned against the wall with her arms crossed.
“This isn’t over,” the leader finally said before turning away with a dismissive wave. His group followed, their faces full of unsaid threats.
The scrawny boy looked up, his eyes wide with relief. “Thank you,” he said softly, barely more than a whisper.
“You should learn to defend yourself,” Celestine said as she approached. “Otherwise, you’ll always be a target here.”
Rae nodded slightly. “We can show you how,” she said, her tone not unkind.
The boy looked at her in surprise, then nodded. “I… thank you. My name is Soren.”
“Soren,” Rae repeated, a faint smile on her lips. “Starting tomorrow, you’ll begin to learn.”
As they returned to their table, the tension in the hall remained, but Rae felt something else—a quiet, invisible bond between those willing to stand for one another. She knew the path at the Scola would be long, but she was determined not to walk it alone.
