THE EIDOLON ARCHIVES

Eidolon Hall: 

The First Circle

Written by

B.A. Beatty 

Chapter 1 

Kai stood at the edge of his family’s fishing boat, boots planted wide as the water rocked gently beneath him. The lake stretched out in every direction, dark and endless, its surface rippling with soft silver light.

Something moving below the surface caught Kai’s eye.

At first, he thought it was just the sun catching the waves at the wrong angle. But then it happened again, a faint shimmer beneath the surface, green-tinted and slow, like something breathing far below the water.

Kai leaned forward, squinting. What is that?

The shimmer pulsed once more, brighter this time, and for a heartbeat, he felt something… a warm and humming sensation, tugging faintly at his wrist.

“Kai!”

He jumped and turned his head toward his sister’s voice.

“Stop daydreaming! Grab that line and help me pull this net in!” Samantha shouted from the other side of the deck. “Hurry before we lose it!”

He turned back briefly to the water, but the shimmer had vanished.

Kai tore his eyes from the water and sprinted across the deck. He grabbed the rope beside his sister and pulled hard. The net came up dripping wet… and empty with a fresh rip at the bottom.

“Empty again,” he groaned, kicking the wet net aside. “Are we not doing it right?”

“There’s only one way to do it,” Samantha said with a tired sigh. “The fish just aren’t out today. Let’s try the next one.”

They hauled in the next line together. This time the net bulged slightly, and a handful of fish burst free, flopping wildly across the deck.

“Finally!” Kai laughed, scooping them into the cooler. “Maybe we can have something besides toast and mac and cheese tonight.”

Samantha shot him a sideways look, the one that warned him not to say another word.

“I’m doing the best I can,” she said, her voice tight. “It’s not as easy as it looks, Kai. Maybe if I didn’t have to look after you, I could make something of my life.”

The words hit harder than a wave.

Kai froze for a moment. “Maybe you should just put me in foster care if I’m such a burden,” he said quietly, wiping his face with the back of his sleeve and quickly turning his back to her.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Samantha said quickly, as she set the rope aside and rubbed her forehead. “It’s just hard, okay? I’m too young to run this boat and raise a kid. I’m… doing my best.”

Kai nodded, even though his throat ached. He turned back toward the water. The lake looked the same as before… dark, ordinary, silent. Whatever he’d seen earlier was gone.

Later that night, Kai lay awake in bed, the faint smell of mac and cheese still clinging to the air. His stomach churned, not from the food, but from the day.

“Mom… Dad,” he whispered into the darkness. “Please keep Samantha and me safe and maybe send us some more fish tomorrow.”

The sound of the waves brushing softly against the dock outside his window, soothed him to sleep.

Kai was running through a forest lit by flashes of swirling green, blue, red, and gold lights that flashed past like fireflies. The air around him hummed. The ground trembled beneath his feet.

Something tugged at his wrist… heavy and warm.

A soft vibration traveled up his arm, and suddenly a green light burst from his hand, hurling him backward into a tree.

He hit the ground hard.

A man in a dark cloak stood over him. His face was hidden, but a faint glow pulsed from a pin on his chest. Cold darkness rolled off him in waves.

“Wh… who are you?” Kai stammered, scrambling backward.

The man’s voice echoed unnaturally. “I am your destiny. The Illeni have plans for you. Stay away from Eidolon Hall. If you come… death will follow.”

He reached out. Long fingers tipped with sharp nails brushed Kai’s cheek.

Fire burned across Kai’s skin.

A blinding green light exploded through the forest. Images flooded his mind… a gold coin, a strip of worn leather, and a thick red smoke curling around him like claws.

The man’s laughter rang out as the sound of something scraping against stone filled the air.

The forest twisted, then shattered into darkness.

Kai woke with a scream. 

Moments later Samantha burst into his room, her hair wild and eyes wide. “Kai! What’s wrong?”

He sat up, gasping, his shirt soaked with sweat. His hand flew to his cheek… he felt no mark, but the burning still lingered.

“It’s nothing,” he said quickly. “Just… a dream.”

She hesitated, then pulled him into a tight hug. “You scared me, little brother.”

After she left, Kai stared at his reflection in the dark window. His cheek still tingling.

“Just a dream,” he whispered. But even as he said it, he wasn’t sure he believed it.

Later that morning, Kai trudged into the kitchen, then stopped short.

Confetti exploded through the air and a kazoo blared.

“Happy birthday, little brother!” Samantha cheered.

Kai blinked. Pancakes sat stacked high on the table, with twelve candles flickering on top.

“Go on,” Samantha said, smiling as she poured juice. “Make a wish.”

Kai closed his eyes. I wish there was more to this life than this. He leaned down and blew out the candles.

Samantha smiled and handed him a small package wrapped in old newspaper. “It’s not much, but it was one of Dad’s favorite things.”

Inside lay a worn leather strap, soft and familiar.

“What is it?” Kai asked.

Samantha smiled sadly. “It’s Dad’s bracelet. He always said it brought him luck.”

She took it from the paper and fastened it around his wrist. “There.” She said with a proud smile.

A warm sensation rushed up his arm, Kai swallowed and looked down at it with a smile, “I will never take it off.”

Later that morning, the autumn air bit cold against Kai’s cheeks as he stood back on the deck. He spun the bracelet around with his fingers, thoughts racing through his mind…

The dream…

The green light…

The leather strip…

This looks just like it…

“Earth to Kai!” Samantha called.

He rushed to help with the net. As they hauled it up, fish spilled across the deck… hundreds of them.

“No mac and cheese tonight!” Kai laughed as he began scooping all the fish up into the cooler.

He smiled as he looked around the empty deck then back to his sister.

Samantha pointed and chuckled. “You missed one.”

Kai bent down to free it from the tangled net.

Something glimmered beneath the ropes. An ancient looking golden coin lay tangled in the net, glowing with a faint green outline.

“I guess this bracelet really is lucky.” Kai chuckled as he leaned forward to grab the coin.

The moment Kai touched it, light erupted around him, wind began to roar, spiraling into a cyclone all around him.

Samantha turned at the sound of the sudden burst of wind. “Kai!” She screamed, her eyes going wide at the sight. The wind ripped through the deck, whipping her hair into her face. She fought to see, shouting his name again and again…

And then the storm stopped almost as quick as it started and the light vanished.

Samantha stood trembling, her hair falling flat. The deck was quiet and the lake was still.

She moved her hair out of her eyes and looked around the boat for Kai. He was nowhere to be seen,

“Kai!” She screamed as she raced to the edge of the boat and looked over the edge, sobbing as she searched across the still lake.

 Chapter 2

The cool autumn air swirled around Mira as she stood on the porch of her home in Talen Springs. The trees shimmered gold and red in the afternoon light.

“It feels like we’re going to be in for a nasty winter,” her father said, his boots creaking on the wood behind her. He rested a warm hand on her shoulder.

“Mira, dear, grab a jacket before you freeze.”

“Okay, Dad.” She smiled and turned toward him. “It’s been three months. When will my Lyra show up?” she asked, tucking a strand of black hair behind her ear.

Her father chuckled. “That’s what all eleven-year-olds ask. But maybe the better question is where it will show up. Look around you, Mira. The world is full of clues. When you really start seeing… you’ll find it sooner than you think.”

He brushed another strand of hair from her face. “Now go on… jacket, hat, and a little exploring while there’s still daylight.”

Mira nodded, dashed inside, then ran back out into the woods behind the house. She took a familiar trail, the one lined with tall pines and whispering leaves, but today she stopped at a fork she’d always skipped.

“Hmm. Maybe today’s the day,” she said, stepping onto the less-worn path.

She searched under rocks, inside hollow logs, at the roots of trees. She hummed as she went, a tune her mother always sang while cooking.

By the time the light began to fade, her mother’s voice was calling through the trees. “Mira! Time to wash up for dinner!”

She turned and raced home, cheeks pink and hair wild.

At dinner, her mother smiled. “Find anything interesting today?”

“Yes!” Mira said eagerly. “I took a new path. It led to a cave I’ve never seen before. It was beautiful… but strange. The air felt thick inside, like… I don’t know how to explain it.”

Her father set down his fork and cleared his throat. “Caves can be dangerous. Magical things have been found in them, yes, but also dark things. You know the story; the first resonance crystals came from caves.”

“Yes, back when the Lyras still looked like magic sticks,” Mira said quickly.

He nodded and softly chuckled before turning serious again. “And the first source of darkness was found in one too.” He paused and lowered his voice. “Lord Nihros gained his dark Lyra deep underground.”

Mira’s mother’s fork paused mid-air, and the room went quiet.

Her father leaned forward slightly. “So, what must we do?”

“Always seek the light,” Mira and her mother said together.

“Always seek the light indeed,” her father repeated softly. He chuckled then smiled, “Now off you go, get a little reading in before bed.”

“Yes, Dad.” Mira rinsed her plate and headed upstairs. “Any suggestions on what I should read?”

“I left a few books on my desk,” he said with a wink. “Pick the one that feels right.”

Mira smiled and padded down the hall. Three books were waiting on her father’s desk, all of them were thick, dusty, and old.

She reached toward them, and for a moment, she could’ve sworn the middle one pulsed with a faint pink light.

She picked it up and read the title: Beginner Spells & How to Use Them - Volume One.

“I’ll have to read this someday anyway,” she said warmly. “Thanks, Dad.”

Tucking the book under her arm, Mira raced down the hall to her room. She changed into her pajamas, curled up under her blanket, and opened the book.

After a few hours of reading Mira yawned and rubbed her eyes. “That’s enough for tonight.” She waved her hand toward her bedside lamp. “Umbrae.”

Nothing happened. Not even a flicker. She chuckled softly. “Guess I’m not a Lyran yet.” Then she reached over and turned off the light herself.

Mira woke early and raced down for breakfast, eager to start the day.

In the kitchen, her father leaned in and kissed her mother on the cheek. With a flick of his wrist, the golden ring on his right index finger lit up bright blue. When the glow faded, the space where he’d stood was empty.

Mira’s eyes lit up. “Man, I can’t wait to find my Lyra! Once I learn the spells, I’ll never have to walk anywhere again!”

Her mother smiled gently. “You should never be too reliant on your Lyra, dear. It makes life easier, yes, but it shouldn’t become your whole life.”

She leaned closer, lowering her voice. “We have told you about the first Lyran who became too reliant on his Lyra. And we all know how that ended.”

Mira nodded solemnly, then brightened again.

“So,” her mother said, straightening, “what’s your plan for today?”

“I’m going to explore the cave a little more,” Mira said, grinning. “Maybe my Lyra’s hiding in there.”

Her mother laughed softly. “Just be careful, and don’t wander too far. Oh, and be back before your father returns.”

Mira burst through the door, face full of wonder and streaked with mud.

Her parents turned from the kitchen, startled.

“What in the world happened to you?” her father asked, laughing as he searched her for cuts and scrapes.

“I went back to the cave,” Mira said sheepishly. “It was… muddier than I expected.”

“Well, dinner’s ready,” her father said with a grin. “Let’s clean you up.”

He raised his hand. “Sudi so.”

His Lyra glowed bright blue. In a soft swirl of light, the mud and scrapes vanished. “That’s better,” he said. “Let’s eat.”

After dinner, Mira washed her plate, said goodnight, and raced up the stairs to her room.

She changed into her nightclothes, climbed into bed, and opened Beginner Spells & How to Use

Them.

“Lumae,” she whispered, moving her hand.

Nothing happened.

She sighed and reached for the lamp, but before her fingers touched the switch, a faint silver glow pulsed from the book’s pages.

Her eyes widened. “That’s… new.” The glow brightened, mixing with a pale pink shimmer.

“This is it,” she whispered, heart racing. “I’ve found it.”

The lights spun faster, swirling together until they coiled around her hand like ribbons.

A soft hum filled the room, then a flash, so bright she had to close her eyes.

When the light faded, a silver ring with light pink runes glowed on her right index finger. Mira stared at it, a smile beginning to stretch across her face.

A strong wind began to whip around her room. It started as a whisper, then grew to a rushing tunnel around her. Her blanket whipped into the air.

Mira closed her eyes as the room began to blur into streaks of silver and pink…

Then, in an instant, everything went still.

Mira opened her eyes and found herself standing in front of a tall iron gate under a sky that shimmered like glass.

“Where did you just come from? Are you a gh.gh..ghost? Where am I?” a boy’s voice cried out.

Mira turned. A boy a little older than her stood nearby, eyes wide with confusion and fear.

She smiled gently. “I’m not a ghost. I’m Mira, and we’re at Eidolon Hall,” She paused, waiting for any sign of recognition. “You know the School of Magic.”

Chapter 3 

Kai slowly opened his eyes. The wind that had been swirling around him faded to a whisper. An old iron gate came into view, its hinges creaked softly in the cool night air.

He blinked, rubbed his eyes, and shivered. “Th… that’s strange,” he muttered, his voice trembling.

A sudden gust of wind whipped past him, and Kai yelped, covering his face. When he finally lowered his hands, a girl stood before him. Her long black hair shimmered faintly in the dim light.

Kai stumbled back. “Where did you come from? Are you a gh–gh–ghost? What is this place?”

The girl smiled warmly. “I’m not a ghost, I’m Mira.” She paused and looked through the gate her smile widening. And we’re at Eidolon Hall.” She paused, waiting for the name to sink in. “You know the School of Magic.”

Kai’s eyes went wide. “School of what? There’s no such thing as magic!”

Mira tilted her head, amused. “You must come from an Unbound family, then.”

“Unbound?” he asked, frowning. “What does that mean?”

“It means people without magic,” Mira said patiently. “Have you ever heard of Lyra?”

“No. Who is she?” Kai asked, peering at her curiously.

Mira laughed so hard she nearly doubled over. “No, silly! Lyra isn’t a person; it’s a magical conduit; something bonded to each Lyran.” She lifted her hand.

“Mine takes the shape of a ring.”

She waved gently. “Lumae.”

Her ring flared light pink, and a small orb of light floated up, casting a glow around them.

Kai’s jaw dropped. “Whoa. That’s… that’s really cool!” He grabbed her hand to look closer. “How did you do that? Is there a wire or something? Where do you hide the battery?”

Mira pulled her hand back with a scoff. “I told you, it’s magic.”

With the light shining now, she studied him properly for the first time: messy brown hair, hazel-green eyes, and a wiry frame. Then she noticed the bracelet on his wrist, a simple leather band with a gold coin fused onto the top.

“This is probably your Lyra,” she said, taking his hand and turning it over. “Where did you find it?”

“The bracelet was my dad’s,” Kai said. “The coin… I found it on the boat right before...” He paused, looking around. “…before I ended up here.”

“That’s strange, it looks like…” Mira began, but a loud creeeeak cut her off.

The iron gate in front of them slowly opened, the sound echoing through the courtyard.

“Welcome to Eidolon Hall, students,” said a tall man in a robe shimmering with shifting colors. “If you’ll follow me, we’ll be beginning soon.”

“What will begin? Who are you?” Kai blurted.

Mira elbowed him. “That’s Headmaster Kiniloch,” she whispered, “some say he’s the most powerful Lyran alive… but others say that title belongs to…”

“Ahem,” the Headmaster interrupted, his eyes glinting with amusement. “She is correct. I am Headmaster Kiniloch. And you must be Kai Renner and Mira Varlyn.”

Kai froze. “You… you know our names?”

“We’ve been expecting you,” the Headmaster said with a knowing smile. “And Mister Holt, wherever he may be.”

He raised a hand. “Umbrae.”

Mira’s light winked out instantly. Then Headmaster Kiniloch clapped once, and a row of floating streetlamps flared to life along the path beyond the gate.

“Follow me,” he said, turning. His long robe trailed behind him like a loyal shadow as the two children exchanged wide-eyed glances and stepped through the gate.

After they walked along the path for a bit, the headmaster quickly turned to them. “Look at the time, I must go make preparations. Follow the lights, you’ll know when you’re where you’re meant to be.” He swept his robe dramatically, and in a blink, his form folded in on itself and vanished.

Kai froze and his mouth dropped open. “I must be dreaming,” he muttered. “Yeah, that’s it. Fell off the boat, hit my head, and now I’m stuck in some weird dream, laying lifeless in a hospital somewhere. Sam must be worried sick.” He said as he started smacking the side of his head. “Wake up! Wake up!”

Mira chuckled and kept walking. “That won’t work. Mostly because this isn’t a dream. You’re just hurting yourself for no reason.” “Who’s Sam?” she asked after a short pause. “Your brother?”

Kai’s voice softened. “No. My sister. She’s been looking after me since our parents died a few years ago.”

Mira slowed, her smile fading. “I’m sorry, Kai. But don’t worry, after a few days, we’ll be able to send messages home. My parents will already know I’m here, but you’ll get to tell your sister soon.” She rested a gentle hand on his shoulder. “It will be okay.”

A loud crash echoed up the trail. Kai spun toward the sound. “What was that?”

A muffled voice followed: “Hhlp mee!”

“Lumae,” Mira whispered. Her ring flared, and the light floated ahead, revealing two legs kicking wildly out of a hollow stump near the path.

Kai sprinted forward, grabbed the ankles, and pulled with all his strength, but with no luck.

“Let me try.” Mira raised her hand. “Volaras!”

A flicker of pink light sparked from her ring, then fizzled. “It’s supposed to work!” she said, frustrated.

She tried again. “Volaras!”

Kai stepped beside her, mimicking the motion. “What’s it supposed to do?” He swirled his hand clumsily. “Volaras!”

Green light pulsed from the coin on his bracelet, wrapping around the trapped boy’s legs.

A muffled scream turned into a shout as the boy shot straight out of the stump, flailing midair. “Arrgh! Let me down!”

“Say Volarat! And reverse the motion!” Mira cried.

“Volarat!” Kai shouted, and the boy dropped like a stone, landing with a thud.

The boy stood unsteadily and shook his head. “Well, that hurt,” the boy groaned, brushing off some dirt. “Thanks, though. I’m Hienrich Holt,  but everyone just calls me Holt.” He stuck out his hand.

Kai shook it. “I’m Kai, and this is Mira. Are you new here too?”

“Sure am.” Holt grinned, his hair sticking up in every direction. “My mom’s gonna say, ‘About time he found his Lyra,’ when she sees my bed empty in the morning.”

He lifted his wrist proudly. A black metal bracelet gleamed with a fused blue crystal. “This thing nearly took my head off! Crashed through my window, missed my eye by this much!” He mimed an explosion beside his face. “I grabbed it… next thing I know, I’m stuck headfirst in that stump. Guess I should be thankful it wasn’t a boulder.”

“Glad we found you,” Kai said with a grin. “Let’s keep going, it can’t be much further, right?”

“It should just be around that bend,” Mira said, pointing ahead.

They rounded the corner and stopped dead in their tracks.

Before them, carved into the side of a towering mountain, stood Eidolon Hall.

Three vast towers reached into the sky, their stone streaked with glowing charcoal veins that pulsed faintly like living light. Floating lamps lined the walkway, guiding them to a set of grand double doors, tall enough for giants, bound in dark steel and studded with rivets like armor. Warm light glowed from hundreds of windows scattered across the mountain’s face.

Kai took a slow step back, eyes wide and mouth open.

Mira smiled softly and placed a hand on his back. “Welcome to Eidolon Hall,” she said, and gave him a gentle push forward.