FROST
Chapter 51: Levi Ashenfall

Chapter 51: Levi Ashenfall

Levi tugged gently at the hem of his crisp sleeve, smoothing out imaginary creases. His fingers brushed the fine embroidery of silver thread lining the cuffs — delicate patterns that shimmered subtly in the soft glow of the chamber’s enchanted lights. The very chamber he will be staying into while he’s here in the academy.

He glanced up, catching his reflection in the tall, ornate magical mirror before him. The mirror glistened with a faint, swirling mist along its edges, responding to his presence like ripples on water.

The Blue Victorian uniform fit him perfectly, tailored as if it had known his measurements long before he ever set foot in this realm. The dark navy fabric hugged his frame with elegance and precision, gold buttons running down the front like little stars, each one engraved with an insignia he still didn’t fully understand.

The high collar brushed against his neck, crisp and regal, making him feel both royal and ridiculously out of place at the same time.

He exhaled slowly, taking a moment to admire the chamber he stood in — and truthfully, to stall. Unlike the other apprentices who had bustling attendants or partners chatting away with them, Levi stood completely alone. The chamber was vast and circular, carved from smooth marble with veins of soft blue light running like currents.

Floating lanterns drifted lazily near the domed ceiling, casting soft rays of warmth and flickering shadows that danced over the polished floor.

Glass shelves displayed tomes that hummed with sealed magic, their titles shifting in ancient script that changed depending on which angle he viewed them from.

Levi swallowed, his reflection staring back at him — uncertain eyes, furrowed brow. He didn’t feel like the other apprentices. They belonged. They had purpose, direction, and connections.

He had... questions. Too many of them. His mind reeled with the conversations he’d had with Fall and then there’s East and Cullen.

He shifted his weight awkwardly, listening to the faint echoes of voices from the corridor beyond the chamber door. Laughter, footsteps, snippets of conversations about elemental control, runic exams, and potion testing — all things that seemed so far removed from his reality.

He was here. He was wearing the uniform. But inside? He still felt like an intruder in someone else’s dream.

"She’s also here..."

Levi bit his bottom lip, the impact of Cullen’s teasing words still clinging to him like an itch he couldn’t scratch. His voice had been mocking, playful, but it cut deeper than Levi cared to admit.

He gripped his head in frustration, fingers threading through his already tousled hair. It was shameful, but true — before even thinking about talking to Gail, he had wandered the corridors searching for Silvermist.

As if seeing her would somehow untangle all the chaos in his head. But East had casually mentioned she’d gone somewhere else. Somewhere he couldn’t follow. He didn’t say where though, and Cullen was as interested as he is.

He exhaled sharply through his nose. He didn’t even bother showing up to Gail after that. He’d seen her in the hallway, surrounded by her newfound circle — Amethyst and a few other apprentices who looked like they belonged in royal portraits.

They’d been talking in excited, animated whispers, comparing notes from the exhausting trial East had forced on them earlier — opening blooming peonies to reinforce the academy’s barrier.

Everyone had scattered afterward, told to train however and with whomever they pleased. It gave Levi a rare pocket of time to breathe, to process everything — or so he thought.

But even that felt like borrowed peace. He felt like he was being dragged into a current that only grew stronger with every hour, with every new face and secretive glance.

His gaze wandered to his reflection one last time — the brickle uniform, the sharp lines, the heavy expectations. His stomach twisted.

A soft, deliberate knock echoed through the chamber. Levi turned toward the door.

"How long do you need to get dressed into your uniform, lover boy?" came Cullen’s familiar voice from the other side, laced with impatience and his trademark snark.

Levi sighed, brushing his bangs aside and forcing his feet toward the door. The polished wood opened with a faint hum of magic, revealing Cullen’s face — a picture of exaggerated annoyance.

"I can’t believe I’m babysitting you," Cullen groaned, throwing his head back dramatically. "I’ve been forced to transfer into Azurite Section because of you. Do you know how annoying that is?"

Levi blinked, confused. "Why? What does that have to do with me?"

Cullen sighed, pointing a finger at Levi’s chest. "Because someone refuses to stop lurking after Silvermist and ignoring Gail — and East decided the perfect punishment was to stick me in the same section as you and watch you from up close. He literally told me, ’If he crashes and burns, you’ll crash and burn with him’. Can you believe that?"

Levi shrugged, stepped forward, and closed the door behind him. He gestured for Cullen to lead the way toward the Azurite Section, and without a moment’s hesitation, Cullen fell into step beside him.

With Ezekiel absent, Levi had no choice but to rely on Cullen’s trusty, enchanted GPS school handbook. After everything he’d seen and endured, Levi was hardly surprised anymore.

As they made their way through the corridor, a few apprentices passed by, stealing curious glances at Levi. Their eyes spoke volumes: they knew, almost instinctively, that he was new.

"So, how much do you know about your skills and abilities, or are you just good at running from your responsibilities?" Cullen snorted.

Levi paused, a wry smile tugging at his lips as he adjusted the collar of his uniform.

As they continued along the corridor, the environment around them shifted. The stone walls gave way to a series of shimmering archways that led into the vast, blue-lit expanse of the Azurite Section.

The air here was crisp and cool, tinged with the subtle scent of ancient magic and salt, as if the very essence of the ocean had been captured within the building.

The atmosphere was at once awe-inspiring and intimidating, but Levi isn’t even pressured by it. He was more worried that he may accidentally walk right in front of Gail.

Levi’s thoughts drifted as he listened to the faint murmurs of other apprentices discussing their own training progress.

The moment they stepped through the tall double doors into the Azurite Section, an eerie hush fell over the room. Conversations trailed off mid-sentence, and the subtle hum of magical practice faded as every pair of eyes locked onto Levi and Cullen. Levi could feel the weight of their stares—curious, scrutinizing, and whispering unspoken judgments.

That must be him.

Autumn’s apprentice, finally here.

Looks ordinary enough. I thought he’d be taller.

The murmurs flickered through the room like sparks in dry grass. Levi instinctively straightened his back but kept his face neutral, doing his best to look composed, even though every muscle in his body wanted to either bolt or melt into the floor.

Levi didn’t know six feet could feel small until he stood next to Cullen, who towered over him at six-foot-two with an effortless kind of arrogance.

It wasn’t just the height — it was the way Cullen carried himself, as if those extra two inches were a royal decree that made him untouchable.

Then, soft but confident footsteps approached.

"So, you must be Fall’s apprentice?"

The voice was surprisingly bright and clear for someone so... small. Levi blinked as he looked down and saw a petite woman standing in front of him. Her presence, however, was anything but small.

Long waves of emerald-green hair tumbled down her back like silk, swaying with the faintest breeze that didn’t even exist. Her eyes were sharp and knowing, glinting with both amusement and challenge.

Levi opened his mouth, hesitated for a second, then closed it and simply nodded.

The woman’s smile widened into something warm but calculated. She then turned her attention toward Cullen, who was still meticulously sliding his magical GPS handbook into the inner pocket of his coat with almost ceremonial care.

Levi nearly sighed — the man clearly had an unhealthy obsession with keeping things pristine, even in the middle of being gawked at.

"Ah," she smirked, "and you must be the section transferee."

Cullen finally looked up, offering her a quick, lazy nod.

"I don’t know," she continued, her grin playful but laced with sharpness, "but you being transferred here feels kind of like a demotion. No offense. All of us here are merely sorcerer apprentices — not fancy grandmasters-in-training. But now..." She motioned lightly between Levi and Cullen. "We have you... and Fall’s chosen apprentice. Interesting times, huh?"

Levi felt his stomach tighten.

The woman extended a small, elegant hand toward him. Her nails were painted a shimmering silver-blue that caught the magical light around them.

"I’m Ericka Crimsonwind," she introduced herself with a wink. "Azurite Section’s representative. Official babysitter, peacekeeper, and occasional referee when tempers flare — which they do. A lot."

Levi hesitated briefly before shaking her hand, surprised by the firm grip that contrasted her delicate frame.

"Hope we get along," she said, though her tone hinted at an unspoken challenge: You better keep up.

Cullen snorted softly beside him. "Oh, trust me," he muttered under his breath, "he’ll have no choice."

Ericka led the two of them toward the space East had designated for them the moment he informed her about the arrival of Fall’s and Cloud’s apprentices. Their little corner was by a tall arched window, bathed in soft afternoon light. Ericka kept the conversation going, asking questions with bright curiosity — though Levi could tell she was carefully fishing for details.

Some of the other apprentices gathered around too, eager to see who these two new additions were. They fired off questions ranging from harmless "Where are you from?" to prying "What spells can you cast without a focus?".

Cullen, true to form, responded with little more than nods, shrugs, or the occasional monosyllable. He seemed far more focused on making sure his coat sat perfectly on his shoulders and that his handbook was aligned flush with the desk’s edge than engaging in chatter.

Levi, meanwhile, struggled between being polite and not wanting to overshare — especially when most of his knowledge felt like it was still in pieces. He answered vaguely, trying not to sound too clueless.

Just when Levi thought he might start sweating from the attention, the door opened with a loud, echoing creak, and blessed relief arrived.

A woman entered — and for a moment, the room fell silent. She looked like she was in her mid-twenties, her presence demanding attention in a way that was both regal and completely scandalous.

Scarlet hair fell in elegant waves past her shoulders, and her crimson eyes glinted with amusement, as if she was always in on a joke no one else knew. But what truly made Levi’s jaw nearly drop was her choice of attire — a tight, short cloak fastened lazily at her neck, leaving little to the imagination.

Her blouse clung dangerously to her generous chest, and the hem of her cloak barely grazed mid-thigh.

Levi could practically hear Cullen choking beside him.

The woman placed one hand on her hip, her smile wickedly charming. "Good afternoon, little hatchlings," she purred. "I see we have new faces."

She scanned the room before letting her eyes settle on Levi and Cullen. "I’m Professor Aelith Redbourne," she announced with a wink.

"I’ll be teaching you Advanced Elemental Manipulation and Combat Theory."

Cullen leaned toward Levi and whispered, "Advanced distraction techniques, more like."

Levi could only nod in silent agreement, forcing himself to look away from that distraction.

Just when Levi finally began to breathe a little easier — the flood of questions from the other apprentices dying down as they returned to their seats — fate struck once more.

Professor Redbourne’s sultry voice echoed through the room like velvet-wrapped steel.

"Mr. Ashenfall," she called, a playful smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

Levi froze.

"Would you please come forward?"

His heart dropped straight to his stomach. He could feel Cullen smirking behind him, and he barely resisted the urge to kick his shin on the way up. He stood, forcing his legs to move, each step heavier than the last as he approached the front.

All the while, he focused on keeping his eyes firmly on Professor Redbourne’s face and nowhere else. It felt like dodging a landmine — one wrong glance and his soul would ascend.

"Since we’ve already assessed Mr. Callaghan’s abilities, skills, and magic," Redbourne said, gesturing lazily toward Cullen without even turning, "you, Mr. Ashenfall, are the only one left to showcase what you can do."

Levi’s breath hitched.

In that moment, he considered dramatic options: collapsing to the floor, clutching his chest and feigning heart failure; pretending to faint; maybe even summoning an emergency teleportation accident — anything to avoid what was coming.

But the professor’s crimson eyes twinkled with challenge.

He cleared his throat, his voice nearly cracking. "Professor... I don’t think I’m ready yet."

"Nonsense," she cooed. "Readiness is for the timid. Magic demands instinct."

He wanted to cry.

Okay, Levi, think.

Fall had told him — told him — that he could bend air, water, and possibly other elements. He had even tried during their rushed training, but the only thing he’d bent was his own confidence.

He turned to the class, all eyes on him, some expectant, some amused, and a few pitying.

Levi inhaled shakily, holding out his hand toward the center of the room where a large bowl of water sat, probably prepared for exactly this moment. He focused.

Water. Move.

The water sat there. Completely unimpressed.

He clenched his teeth. Move.

Nothing.

There was a cough from the back of the room. Professor Redbourne raised a delicate brow.

Cullen was already hiding his face behind his hand, shoulders shaking in silent laughter.

Levi closed his eyes, reaching deep inside himself, grasping at anything — any flicker of power.

A faint breeze swirled around his fingertips.

Yes!

The breeze intensified, fluttering the hem of his coat. He dared to open his eyes.

The water... was still motionless.

But the papers on the professor’s desk began to lift into the air.

"Focus," Redbourne said softly, her voice warm but commanding.

Levi turned his palm toward the water again — and the papers flew off the desk, scattering across the room like rebellious birds. Several apprentices ducked as scrolls hit their heads.

Everything was floating.

At first, it was subtle — a few loose sheets of parchment lifting off desks, quills tilting in their holders. Then, all at once, the entire room was suspended in mid-air. Books hovered weightlessly, chairs rattled as their legs lost contact with the ground, and even the heavier objects began to rise with a slow, ominous grace.

Levi’s breath caught in his throat. His heart pounded mercilessly in his chest. He hadn’t meant for this to happen. He hadn’t even tried. His hands shook at his sides, and panic threatened to swallow him whole.

Then — without thinking — his fingers clenched into fists.

The room collapsed into chaos.

The floating objects didn’t just fall. They were dragged down with a crushing force. The air thickened instantly, pressing down on every person in the room. Apprentices were slammed into their seats with brutal weight, their breath forced from their lungs. Desks groaned and cracked under the pressure.

Levi heard someone cry out.

The windows shuddered and cracked, long spiderweb fractures splitting across the glass. The floor beneath their feet felt as though it might cave in.

The force was suffocating.

He heard strained gasps, pained whimpers. Even Cullen — composed and unreadable as ever — struggled to keep his head lifted, his arms trembling as though holding back an enormous weight.

And then —

"Levi..."

Professor Redbourne’s voice was quiet, but in the silence of the suffocating pressure, it cut like a blade.

He turned to see her, her elegant composure broken. She could barely stand, her knees bent under the force pressing down on her. Her arm reached out toward him with great effort, her crimson eyes fierce and commanding despite the strain etched on her face.

"Release it," she said, her voice taut with urgency.

Levi hesitated. His breath shook. His heart told him to run, but there was nowhere to run.

"Let go, Levi," she commanded. "Now."

He exhaled and opened his fists. The effect was instantaneous. The crushing weight vanished.

Air rushed back into the room. Apprentices gasped and coughed, clutching at their chests. Papers fluttered back to the floor like autumn leaves. The strained groans of wood and cracking glass ceased.

Professor Redbourne remained still for a long moment before straightening her posture, though she was clearly rattled.

"Holy heck," Professor Redbourne exhaled, her chest rising and falling sharply, one arm propped on her waist for balance.

Her usually composed demeanor cracked as she studied Levi with a mix of awe and caution. "I’ve heard of Gravity magic before... ancient, unstable... but I never thought I’d witness it firsthand."

The silence broke as whispers rippled through the room like an echoing tide.

"Did you see that?""Gravity magic? I thought that was just myth!""Season Apprentices are really something."

Levi braced himself for ridicule, for wary glances and judgmental stares—but instead, he found wide-eyed wonder and excitement. Instead of condemnation, they were impressed.

Professor Redbourne opened her mouth, likely to scold or warn him, but before she could utter a word, the rapid sound of footsteps thundered down the corridor.

The door slammed open with a force that startled everyone.

Amethyst burst into the room, her expression drawn tight with concern, strands of her blue hair sticking to her face from what looked like a sprint.

"Professor Red!" she gasped, chest heaving. "What happened? I felt that—strong, unsettling magic. It reached all the way to the corridor." Her eyes scanned the room, quickly locking onto Levi before flicking toward the shattered glass.

Before Professor Redbourne could respond, another figure slipped in behind Amethyst, her steps slower, more hesitant.

Gail.

Her presence was like a sudden drop in temperature.

Levi’s breath caught in his throat.

The moment their eyes met, the room seemed to fall silent again. Time twisted between them, suspended in a fragile thread.