One day before Kaelen Stonehand's group was scheduled to relocate…
My heart pounded wildly in my chest, like a caged bird desperately seeking escape. The elite women's dormitory was eerily silent tonight—too silent. Only the faint whisper of the wind slipping through the stone window crevices accompanied the deafening sound of my own heartbeat. The weight of pressure and fear bore down on me from all directions.
The reply I had received from Elara Meadowlight through the vine communicator days ago… It had been filled with distrust, but she had left a window open for me to prove myself. She needed concrete information about the "Core of Energy" and the "Dark Shadow." It was a dangerous task, but I was determined to succeed—to earn her trust and to help her in a way that truly mattered.
For days, I had been researching in secret, slipping into the deepest, oldest corners of the royal archives, sifting through dust-laden tomes and cobweb-covered scrolls. I avoided the watchful eyes of librarians and fellow students until finally, I found a lead—a record from an ancient mage-scholar who had once studied "unusual energy phenomena" within the Whispering Woods centuries ago. He described a "central core" of immense power, sealed away by ancient magic, and warned of a "dark reflection" that could awaken if the seal was ever disturbed.
This matched part of Elara's inquiry! But I needed clearer details on the "Dark Shadow." The record referenced another book—"Veil of Shadows: The Dark Art of Control and Deception." However, this book was stored in a restricted vault that I had no access to.
Dread gripped me. How could I possibly retrieve this crucial information for Elara?
I sought out Professor Eldrian, an expert in counteracting dark magic. He provided me with a brief overview of the book's contents—illusion magic, mind control, and the creation of "shadow entities." But he emphasized that it was an incredibly dangerous field, one that should not be meddled with. He had no idea if there were other copies, but he had once heard a faint rumor… about a student from House Vanya who might have transcribed it.
House Vanya… Seraphina!
The thought sent a cold shiver down my spine. Could my former friend truly be involved with something this dangerous? Despite our falling out, I didn't want to believe it… But what if it was true? If she really possessed the book, it might be my only chance to get the information Elara needed.
That very night, after ensuring Seraphina had left the dormitory, I made a reckless decision…
I would sneak into her room.
With a whispered spell, I unlocked the door and slipped inside, my heart hammering so violently it threatened to give me away. Her quarters remained as lavish as ever, but the air felt colder, devoid of warmth.
I moved swiftly, searching through drawers, wardrobes, bookshelves—
Time pressed down on me like a vice. I was beginning to lose hope… until my gaze landed on an ornate wooden chest hidden beneath her bed. It was warded.
I hesitated, my breath catching. This was dangerous. But I had come too far to back down.
I focused, unraveling the enchantments with the limited knowledge I had. After a tense moment, the seal dissolved.
I lifted the lid.
Inside, nestled in darkness, lay a black leather-bound book that sent a chill through my fingertips the moment I touched it. I flipped through its pages with haste—yes! This was "Veil of Shadows!"
I skimmed the text, desperate for the chapter on shadow entities. The content was intricate and deeply unsettling, describing the creation of spectral beings, formless yet lethal… This was the information Elara sought!
But then—my eyes landed on another document tucked within the pages.
A map—a rough sketch detailing a hidden route through the outskirts of the city. And beside it, a short note in Seraphina's handwriting:
"Relocation plan for K.S. tomorrow night. This path is dangerous—illusion barriers must be at full strength. Hopefully, those hotheaded fools will listen… As for A.M., if she interferes or becomes a threat—she must be dealt with."
My blood turned to ice.
K.S.? Kaelen Stonehand.
E.M.? Elara Meadowlight.
A horrifying realization struck me.
Seraphina was helping Kaelen's group relocate. But that note… "If she interferes or becomes a threat—she must be dealt with."
What did she mean? Dealt with? Was she planning to harm Elara? Why? Did they see Elara as an obstacle? A threat to their plans?
Panic surged within me. I tried to reread the note, to find another meaning, but my mind twisted it into the worst possible interpretation.
And then—
Footsteps. Right outside the door.
Seraphina was back.
Terror seized me. I shoved the book and map back into the chest, closed the lid, and hurriedly restored the protective wards (praying they looked untouched). Then, with my heart about to explode, I dove beneath the bed.
The door creaked open.
Seraphina entered, muttering complaints about some noble banquet.
I lay motionless, barely daring to breathe.
She moved about the room, sighing, setting things down. Then—her footsteps headed toward her wardrobe.
Now!
I crawled out, as silently as possible, crept toward the door…
And bolted the moment I had the chance.
I sprinted back to my room, slammed the door shut, and locked it. My pulse was still racing.
I had escaped.
But the fear, the confusion—it still consumed me.
Seraphina was working with Kaelen. And that note… "deal with her"… Had I misunderstood? Or was Elara truly in danger?
I couldn't risk it.
If tomorrow night's relocation was part of a greater scheme against Elara, then I had to do something.
But what could I do? I was alone.
Then, a thought surfaced—a reckless, dangerous idea.
There was an ex-military mage, a former special instructor at the academy. Rumors said he now worked as a mercenary, taking on private requests…
Perhaps…
Perhaps I could "tip him off." Not a direct hire, but a discreet warning about suspicious activity in the woods tomorrow night. If he investigated, perhaps he'd merely observe. Or perhaps—if he sensed real danger—he would intervene.
It might buy time. It might force Kaelen and Seraphina's plan to falter.
Hands trembling, I searched for his contact information.
Was I really doing this? Involving an outsider? Potentially igniting a conflict far greater than I could control?
But then I saw Elara's face in my mind—the possibility that she was in danger, that she was walking into a trap—it drowned out all other reason.
I had to act.
I picked up my quill, inked a piece of parchment, and began writing a nameless letter to the mercenary, detailing the "suspicious group moving through the forest tomorrow night."
Unaware that this choice—born from fear and misunderstanding—was about to spark a chain of events that would engulf all of us in chaos.
And destroy me in the process.