The following day, the school’s atmosphere remained casual, but one area was buzzing with movement—between the Library and the Havl Wing.

  Jisfters, sleek levitating transport machines, hovered back and forth, carefully carrying sealed boxes filled with delicate, classified contents. Each box glowed with faint arcane inscriptions, ensuring its security and protection during transit.

  Cami stood inside HoldForth, watching the process with sharp eyes, ensuring nothing went wrong.

  Cami (giving instructions, coughing slightly): "Move them gently—no sudden shifts! If even one inscription is disturbed, you’ll have more than a scolding to deal with."

  She observed as Rashily guards supervised the loading process, their presence ensuring that no Bych or curious fairy got too close.

  Outside, students whispered, some stealing glances at the unusual activity.

  Bych 1 (whispering to another): "What’s in those boxes? Why so much security?"

  Bych 2 (shrugging): "Something important, obviously. Maybe dangerous."

  The transport continued smoothly, with no interruptions.

  But as the day ended, and the night fell—everything changed.

  The school, now bathed in darkness, stood in unnatural silence.

  The Rashily guards remained stationed as per protocol. Two guards patrolled outside the HoldForth, while the other three watched over the Havl Wing, where the boxes had been transferred.

  The security panel on the HoldForth door blinked with protective enchantments, locking its secrets away.

  But in the shadows, a figure moved.

  Silent. Invisible to the eye. Predatory.

  A thick, dark hooded tunic concealed its form, blending into the darkness with unnerving ease.

  It reached the Library, keeping to the edges, moving with precision.

  Finally, it stood behind a wall corner, facing the HoldForth entrance.

  The two Rashily guards, unaware of the lurking danger, were engaged in casual conversation.

  Rashily 1 (smiling slightly, showing a holographic image on her Bracon): "It’s my Nyna’s Aul. She’s grown so fast."

  The holographic image displayed a young fairy, eyes filled with wonder.

  Rashily 1 (chuckling softly): "No matter how tired I am, she always wants me to craft illusions of different lands before bed."

  Rashily 2 (smirking, arms crossed): "Bringer she is, isn’t she?"

  Rashily 1 (nods with warmth in her tone): "Yes… but we don’t mind. She’ll do fine. I…" (pauses for a second) "I think she’ll do fine."

  Rashily 2 (leaning against the door, sighing): "Who knows… The realms are changing. First, our Phinixes left us. Then, cycles later, Tigath attacked. And now? This whole Ethan thing… don’t even get me started on it."

  Rashily 1: "Yeah, it’s like—"

  She stopped.

  Her expression shifted.

  Her head turned sharply, eyes scanning the air around her.

  Rashily 2 (frowning, noticing her reaction): "What?"

  Rashily 1 (voice lower now, controlled but alert): "Vyshek." I can sense it."

  And then—

  A small click.

  Something fell to the floor behind them.

  Both stiffened.

  Rashily 2 (exchanging a glance with Rashily 1, then nodding): "I’ll check it out."

  She moved forward cautiously, her footsteps silent, her Arcane energy already forming in her hands.

  Both guards activated their Arcane abilities, their palms glowing purple, ready to strike at any threat.

  As Rashily 2 reached the corner, she peeked behind it—nothing.

  The library stood still. Silent. Normal.

  She turned back to signal Rashily 1 that it was clear—

  But her stomach dropped.

  Rashily 1 was on the ground.

  Unconscious.

  Collapsed without a sound.

  Her body completely motionless.

  The realization barely had time to register before—

  A sudden Arcane blast.

  It struck Rashily 2 directly, sending her flying backward, crashing into the bookshelves.

  Books rained down. A sharp pulse of energy crackled through the air.

  Darkness reclaimed the scene.

  The hooded figure moved forward silently.

  And just like that—

  The HoldForth was left unguarded.

  The temperature in Medisa’s office was tense, mirroring the anger radiating from Cami as she shouted at the Rashily guards.

  Her aged voice strained, her fury barely contained.

  Cami (coughing after a long rant): "How can’t you two see it?! Even my old eyes can sense a Vyshek in the darkest of dark nights!" (coughs harshly again, shaking her head in frustration.)

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  The two Rashily guards stood with their heads lowered, silent, knowing they had failed.

  Meanwhile, Medisa remained composed, her focus sharp on the surveillance footage.

  The holographic screen in front of her flickered, showing the repeated scene—a hooded figure moving like a ghost through the library, attacking the Rashily with precision, and vanishing without a trace.

  She rewound it.

  Played it again.

  And again.

  Her usual calm demeanor remained, but her mind raced.

  Finally, she spoke.

  Medisa (simply, but with authority): "Stop."

  Cami turned to look at her, her breathing uneven from the shouting.

  Medisa waited for her to settle down, then asked the most important question.

  Medisa (calm, direct): "Damage?"

  Cami’s jaw clenched.

  Cami: (grimly) "The Book of Kardloh."

  For the first time, Medisa’s expression changed.

  Her usual detachment broke as her brows furrowed slightly—a rare moment of visible concern.

  Medisa (quiet, but heavy with meaning): "Kardloh."

  The name alone carried weight.

  Cami (coughing, voice raspy but serious): "It’s like she was looking for it only. Nothing else was touched." (coughs again) "And the Book of Kardloh is not some simple Arcane book. It’s—" (coughing, struggling to continue) "—it’s the root of Arcane."

  Medisa already knew.

  But her concern wasn’t the book itself—it was who wanted it.

  And why now?

  After a long silence, she made her decision.

  Medisa (firmly): "Transfer the rest of the books and inscriptions. Make it quick."

  Cami nodded, already heading for the door.

  Cami (coughing, but determined): "Right."

  She exited, leaving Medisa alone with the footage.

  Medisa leaned back, her fingers tapping against the desk.

  Her voice was low, almost to herself.

  Medisa: "Vyshek. Here in Arcanaeum? How?"

  The question lingered—unanswered.

  Elsewhere, the world remained normal.

  The garden was filled with carefree voices, laughter, and the sound of Bychs relaxing after long classes.

  Among them sat Elysia, Livia, and Trigaha—laughing, chatting, wasting time.

  Well—Livia and Trigaha were.

  Elysia?

  She was glued to her Prodge, scrolling.

  She wasn’t looking at research this time.

  She was reading Ethan’s latest news.

  Livia, noticing, grinned mischievously.

  Livia (teasing, snatching the Prodge from Elysia’s hands): "OOOOHH!! Ethan!!"

  Elysia sighed, smiling, and quickly took it back.

  Trigaha (smirking): "Come on, Ely! Just embrace it—you’re a fan too!"

  Elysia (rolling her eyes): "What? Everyone is his fan. But not like you two, who watch his videos 100 times a day."

  Livia (shrugging, grinning): "So what? He may be an outsider. He may not be a fairy like us. But he changed our realms. He saved Cleps from Vith."

  Trigaha (nodding in agreement): "Right! That’s worth watching his videos 100 times a day."

  The three laughed together.

  But their laughter was short-lived.

  Because at that moment, Elysia’s Prodge blinked red.

  A school-wide alert.

  ?? SCHOOL NEWS – SECURITY BREACH LAST NIGHT IN LIBRARY. PRINCIPAL MEDISA RELEASED FOOTAGE TO HELP IDENTIFY THE BREAKER.

  Elysia read it aloud, and immediately opened the footage.

  A holographic projection flickered to life in front of them.

  It showed a dark figure—hooded, fast, deadly—sneaking into the HoldForth.

  Livia (chuckling at first, watching the figure move): "Security breach? Like we did two nights ago."

  Trigaha (laughing): "Yeah! But—" (suddenly stops, eyes narrowing at the footage) "Wait…"

  Her expression changed.

  From amusement to shock.

  Trigaha (staring, eyes wide, voice low): "What?"

  Elysia (focused on the footage, tilting her head slightly): "Who is she…?"

  Livia and Trigaha turned to look at each other.

  Their faces paled.

  They weren’t just shocked.

  They were horrified.

  Because they had seen that tunic before.

  Two nights ago.

  On Elysia.

  Elysia (still looking at the footage, oblivious to their expressions): "Looks like she’s—oh!! She hit Rashily too!"

  She sounded impressed.

  Livia and Trigaha?

  They weren’t.

  Their eyes snapped back to Elysia.

  Their breathing quickened.

  Then, in complete shock—

  Livia (mouth wide open, barely whispering): "Elysia…"

  Elysia finally noticed their reactions.

  Elysia (blinking, confused): "What?"

  Trigaha, still staring at the footage, slowly turned to her.

  Her voice was barely a breath.

  Trigaha: "Ely… it’s you."

  The air between them shifted.

  Elysia froze, her stomach tightening at their serious expressions.

  Elysia (shocked, confused): "What?"

  Livia (firmly, almost whispering): "Ely… It’s you."

  Elysia stared at them, her mind refusing to accept what they were saying.

  And then—she laughed, shaking her head.

  Elysia (rolling her eyes, trying to brush it off): "And? I stole… what? We don’t even know what’s inside there." (she shrugged, waving it off) "Come on, you two! Stop messing with me."

  But Livia and Trigaha weren’t laughing.

  They were looking at each other—concerned.

  Livia hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

  Livia (more serious now, glancing at Trigaha): "Ely… You wore that same tunic two nights ago. When we playfully sneaked into the library."

  Elysia blinked.

  Her heartbeat skipped.

  Elysia (calm, trying to stay in control): "Liv. T." (pauses, taking a breath) "I know you love teasing me. But this is enough. Just stop."

  Livia (softly, hesitant): "What? You… remember that night, right?"

  Something about her tone—the way she asked it—sent chills down Elysia’s spine.

  Elysia's expression shifted.

  From annoyance to unease.

  Elysia (tired of this, voice rising slightly in frustration): "What night? What are you even talking about?"

  Trigaha showed her footage.

  Trigaha (patient, voice steady): "Look, Ely… you have this tunic. You wore it."

  Elysia stood up sharply.

  She turned and faced them directly.

  Her voice wasn’t teasing anymore.

  It was louder. Sharper.

  Elysia (frustrated, almost yelling): "NO. I DON’T HAVE IT!"

  Silence.

  For a moment, all three of them just stood there.

  Livia and Trigaha were looking at her confused.

  But Elysia?

  She was more confused than anyone.

  She could feel it—something wasn’t right.

  And then—

  Livia (eyes widening, suddenly scared): "Ely! Your fist!"

  Elysia’s breath caught.

  Her eyes snapped downward.

  Her right fist was clenched—tight.

  Unconsciously.

  And worse?

  It was glowing.

  A deep, intense purple glow of Arcane energy.

  Elysia’s heart pounded.

  Glowing purple was normal.

  For anyone using Arcane, their hands would glow when they summoned energy.

  But this?

  She hadn’t summoned anything.

  Her fist had started glowing on its own.

  And worse—

  She hadn’t even realized it.

  Elysia (shaking, slowly opening her fist)

  The purple glow faded instantly.

  And underneath—her pale skin.

  But her fingertips…

  Still black.

  Elysia took a step back.

  Her breath shallow, her thoughts racing.

  She felt it now.

  Something wasn’t right.

  Something was happening to her.

  She couldn’t explain it—but she knew it.

  Her body wasn’t hers anymore.

  She didn’t remember that night.

  She didn’t know why her hands were turning black.

  And now?

  Now she was using Arcane without knowing it.

  She did the only thing that made sense.

  She ran.

  Without another word—without looking back—Elysia turned and ran.

  Away from the garden.

  Away from Livia and Trigaha.

  Away from the truth she wasn’t ready to face.