The soft glow of the hallway lights flickered as Elysia stepped inside her room, her legs aching from the long day.

  As per routine, she was immediately greeted by her bot assistant, Pix.

  Pix (Automated Voice): "WELCOME BACK, ELYSIA! I HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT DAY. YOUR CURRENT ROOM TEMPERATURE IS STABLE AT 22 DEGREES. ALL SYSTEMS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. NO PENDING MESSAGES. WOULD YOU LIKE A RECAP OF YOUR DAY?"

  Elysia ignored the voice and dived into her bed like a lifeless body, letting out an exhausted sigh.

  Pix, however, continued as usual—unbothered by her fatigue.

  Pix: "WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR EVENING PLANS?"

  Elysia (groaning, face buried in the pillow): "No. My evenings are usually busy with research."

  Pix: (cheerfully) "THAT’S RIGHT! I TOO HAD TO WAKE UP LATE WITH YOU."

  Elysia snorted, still lying face-down.

  Elysia (muffled): "Nice one, Pix. But you’re just a device. You don’t sleep, do you?"

  Pix: "NO. YOU ARE RIGHT!"

  A small chuckle escaped her, but then her expression sobered as she pushed herself up to sit.

  Elysia: (serious now) "Pix…?"

  Pix: "WHAT IS IT, ELYSIA?"

  She hesitated for a moment before asking.

  Elysia: "Where was I last night?"

  Pix: (pausing, then responding neutrally) "SORRY, I CAN’T HELP YOU WITH THAT. YOU SET MY CHARGING TIMINGS FOR THE ENTIRE NIGHT. BUT LOGICALLY, YOU MUST HAVE BEEN SLEEPING LAST NIGHT. AND SPEAKING OF YOUR SLEEP, I RECOMMEND YOU TO—"

  Elysia stopped listening. Her thoughts drifted.

  Livia and Trigaha.

  They insisted she had been out last night. That she had done something unexpected. That they had run from something, and that she had enjoyed it.

  But she remembers nothing.

  A strange unease settled over her.

  Pix’s voice still chattered in the background, but it faded into a hum.

  Pix: "YOU SHOULD CHANGE NOW! WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO PLAY SOMETHING FOR YOU?"

  Elysia didn’t respond. Instead, she got up, shaking off the thoughts.

  Maybe she just needed rest. Maybe she had been too tired last night, and her mind was playing tricks on her.

  She went to her closet, pulled out a comfy tunic, and slipped into it. After a quick dinner and a hot shower, she finally returned to her bed, feeling a little more like herself.

  She reached for her Prodge, scrolling absentmindedly through the latest updates.

  And then—curiosity struck.

  She searched for Ethan.

  Her fascination with the Savior had always been quiet, but consistent. Something about him—his existence, his achievements, the way he had done so much without the powers of a Blessed One—intrigued her.

  Her screen filled with the latest news.

  NEWS HEADLINE:

  "OUR SAVIOR ETHAN! HE PROVED HIMSELF ONCE AGAIN. TODAY, HE INSTALLED FOUR NEW DYFOSTS IN SYLVIR, STRENGTHENING INTERREALM CONNECTIVITY…" (continues)

  Elysia's lips curled into a soft smile, her eyes flickering with admiration.

  Elysia (whispering to herself) "I wish I could meet you one day…"

  And with that thought lingering in her mind, she drifted into sleep.

  Somewhere in the city…

  A corner of the streets lay shrouded in shadows, away from the vibrant glow of Mirgeth’s floating holograms and arcane-lit buildings.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Two figures stood hidden in the darkness.

  One was clad in a thick, dark purple tunic, the hood casting an eerie shadow over their face. The other was dressed in a simple tunic, fidgeting nervously.

  The one in the simple tunic was waiting. Terrified.

  Figure in Simple Tunic (hurried, voice shaking): "P-please, make it quick! I don’t want anyone following me."

  The other figure remained silent, unmoving.

  Then—a single hand extended outward.

  A demand.

  No words.

  The nervous fairy swallowed hard, hesitating.

  Figure in Simple Tunic (whispering, barely above a breath): "I know you are Blessed… but I am a Bringer. If they caught me—"

  Before she could finish—

  The hooded figure’s gaze snapped up, piercing, deadly.

  The nervous fairy fell silent immediately.

  The warning was clear.

  Finally, with trembling hands, she handed over a small object.

  A small, unremarkable artifact wrapped in cloth.

  Figure in Simple Tunic (whispering, scared): "What’s… special about this?"

  At the question, the hooded figure’s stare darkened.

  A long silence stretched between them.

  Then—

  Figure in Simple Tunic (quickly, backing off): "Sorry! I—I never asked that!"

  The hooded figure said nothing.

  Instead, they slowly unraveled the cloth, inspecting the object silently, carefully.

  Then, without another word, they turned and disappeared into the night.

  Leaving the other fairy shivering in the darkness.

  Elysia woke up, tired and lazy as ever. The previous night’s sleep had done nothing to ease the strange weight in her mind.

  Ignoring Pix’s enthusiastic automated morning announcements, she lazily checked her fingertips.

  Still dark.

  The color hadn’t faded—it wasn’t ink, nor was it some stain. It was part of her now.

  She sighed, decided to ignore it again, and headed to school.

  The usual morning chatter and movement of the school was different today. There was an unusual crowd gathered in one section—an area where no Bychs were supposed to be loitering.

  As always, Elysia, Livia, and Trigaha stood at a distance, watching the commotion unfold.

  Livia (curious, arms crossed): "What’s this mess about?"

  Trigaha (grinning lazily): "Maybe some rich-glowing-fairy is about to make a grand entrance."

  Livia (playfully nudging Trigaha): "Ooooorrr… it’s our Wigor’s retirement party."

  Elysia (rolling her eyes): "Shut up! Look closely. There are five Rashily. And they’re armed with Gartx. That means they’re here to guard something."

  At the mention of Rashily, both Livia and Trigaha snapped their attention toward the scene.

  The Rashily, were not normally seen like this.

  And yet, here they were. Armed. Alert. On high security.

  Livia (grinning at Elysia): "Classic Elysia. Always spotting what no one else does. But… guarding what?"

  Elysia (shaking her head, still watching them): "Not sure."

  Before they could speculate further, the school bell rang, signaling it was time for lectures.

  As they turned to leave, Elysia’s gaze lingered on the Rashily.

  Something wasn’t right.

  Deep inside the Library.

  Not just anywhere—inside the HoldForth.

  This was a place almost no one was allowed to enter. A restricted section, known only to a handful of fairies.

  And yet, today, Cami stood within its walls, her expression hardened with deep concern.

  Facing her were two Rashily, standing bold and straight, awaiting orders.

  Cami (firmly, despite her rasping voice): "I want no one to even breathe beyond this door." (coughs slightly before continuing) "Not until we transfer the HoldForth to Havl Wing."

  The Rashily remained still, their postures unwavering.

  Cami (continuing, voice strict): "Two of you must be here at all times. I don’t care how you manage your shifts, but this door is never left unguarded. Is that clear?"

  Both Rashily (in unison, without hesitation): "Understood!"

  Cami gave them a final glance before stepping inside the HoldForth.

  The door clicked shut behind her, sealing away whatever secrets lay beyond.

  Meanwhile, Elysia sat in the Library, flipping through texts as part of her usual study routine.

  She had overheard everything.

  Her fingers absentmindedly tapped against her book as she processed what she had just heard.

  Elysia (to herself, whispering): "HoldForth? Never heard of that before."

  But unfortunately, her voice didn’t stay unheard.

  From beside her, a low whisper answered.

  ???: "It’s a restricted room."

  Elysia turned her head, noticing a fellow Bych sitting nearby—a girl she didn’t know well. She had been quietly reading but had apparently heard everything.

  Elysia (lowering her voice): "Restricted? You mean, some kind of forbidden place?"

  Bych (nodding slightly, voice hushed): "They say it holds books that aren’t available to just anyone."

  Elysia: (leaning in, intrigued) "What? You mean like… dark books?"

  The Bych hesitated.

  Bych: "Maybe. I don’t know exactly. But… haven’t you heard?"

  Elysia (narrowing her eyes): "Heard what?"

  The Bych glanced around, making sure no one else was listening before whispering—

  Bych: "Someone tried to break into HoldForth the night before yesterday."

  Elysia’s breath hitched.

  Elysia (whispering back, eyes wide): "No. I didn’t hear that. Is that why they’re moving it to Havl Wing?"

  Bych (nodding slightly): "Maybe."

  Elysia exhaled sharply, realization dawning.

  Everything suddenly made sense.

  The Rashily. The sudden high security. The movement of HoldForth.

  Someone had breached the school’s most restricted place.

  And now, everything was being relocated for protection.

  Her fingers curled slightly.

  What could be inside HoldForth?

  And more importantly—

  Who was trying to get in?