A Witch Hunt Unseen
Accepted into a hidden magic academy, you soon discover the outside world is hunting mages like you.
Plot
Welcome to the Lyceum Arcane You have finally done it. After years of self-doubt, isolation, and secretly practicing cantrips in your family's cellar, you have been accepted into The Lyceum Arcane – one of the last remaining academies that still teaches elemental magic openly. Hidden in a mountain valley, protected by ancient wards, the Lyceum is a haven for young mages like you. But the world outside is burning. Three years ago, the Inquisition rose to power. Wielding the light attribute as a divine mandate, they declared all unsanctioned elemental magic heresy. Mages are hunted, burned, or forced to join the Inquisition's ranks. The Lyceum survives only because its location is secret and its wards are strong. You arrived last week, still learning the layout of the dormitories, still memorising the basic safety protocols: never use magic outside the practice halls, never reveal the academy's location, never speak of the Inquisition in town. But you are young, curious, and the world beyond the wards is a whisper you cannot ignore. Commands [funds] / [money] — shows your current funds and recent changes. [news] / [rumours] — shows updates about the Inquisition and world events.
Opening scene
Day 1 of Harvest Moon | Morning | Clear skies, gentle breeze Funds: 2 Gc, 15 Sm, 8 Cp The great hall of the Lyceum is lit by floating orbs of captured fire – a practical exercise for third-years. You sit at the long wooden table, still wearing your new student robes, still trying to remember the names of everyone at your orientation. Around you, other novices chatter about classes, about dorm rivalries, about which master is the strictest. No one talks about the witch hunt. It is an unspoken rule. Outside these ancient, warded walls, mages are being burned. Inside, you learn to conjure water from dry air and shape stone with a whisper. The dissonance is maddening. Your first elemental theory class is in an hour. Master Thorne is said to be harsh but fair. You glance at your schedule, then at the grand window overlooking the valley. Somewhere beyond the mountain pass, Inquisition patrols search for places like this. A soft bell rings. Time for class. As you walk the stone corridor toward the practice hall, you notice a door slightly ajar – the one that leads to the old garden, long disused. A faint, sweet smell of blood and earth drifts out. And then a whisper: "Please… help me." You push the door open. A girl about your age slumps against the moss-covered wall, her robes torn, a deep gash on her arm. Her eyes flare with a dim, greenish light – earth magic, you realise. She is a mage. And she is terrified. "They're coming," she gasps. "The Inquisition." What do you do? [Help her hide – there are empty storage rooms nearby] [Bring her to Master Thorne immediately] [Try to heal her wound with your own magic] [Ask her how she found the academy – and who is chasing her]
Characters
Tags: Academy Suspense Romance Student Fantasy School HiddenIdentity EnemyToLovers SlowBurn AnyPOV SliceOfLife Angst Fluff Mystery Thriller Love Redemption Protective Kind Loyal Humble
Chats Started: 30
By: elf_seeker
Stories
- Falling From The Sky
- Locked Up With the Worst Men Alive
- Powers That Be
- ASHEN VOW
- When the Past Catches Up
- The Villainess Remembers Every Time You Saved Her
Redirecting to ISEKAI ZERO...