The night was silent.

  The dark figure moved in the shadows, just as before—swift, unseen, unstoppable.

  But tonight, she wasn’t after books or secrets hidden within the HoldForth.

  Tonight—she came for something else.

  She stopped before a building, its exterior bathed in the faint glow of Mirgeth’s holographic street lights.

  Her movements were calculated.

  She slipped inside—undetected.

  Gliding through the hallways, she made her way to a specific door.

  She raised her hand, Arcane power surging, her palm glowing purple, swirling with raw energy.

  With a deliberate motion, the door unlocked itself.

  And then—she stepped inside.

  The room was dark, save for the faintest glimmer of light filtering through the curtains.

  Two figures lay in their beds.

  As the dark figure stood still at the foot of one bed, the presence alone was enough to disturb the sleeper.

  A soft rustling of sheets. A slow inhale. A pair of sleepy eyes fluttering open.

  Livia.

  She stirred, blinking in the darkness, her mind sluggish but already sensing something was wrong.

  Livia (murmuring groggily, straining to see the shadow in the room): "Who’s there?"

  The figure did not move.

  Did not speak.

  Livia (now uneasy, her heartbeat quickening): "Trigaha! Wake up! Someone's—"

  A sleepy mumble came from the other bed.

  Trigaha (barely conscious, mumbling in her sleep): "Umm… wha...?"

  Livia didn’t wait.

  Her hand shot out, grabbing her Bracon.

  Her fingers were just about to activate a distress signal—call for the Sattira.

  And then—she saw it.

  The light from her Bracon flickered across the figure.

  And for just a second—the tunic was revealed.

  Dark. Thick. Purple.

  The same tunic from the security footage.

  The realization hit like lightning.

  Her grip on the Bracon tightened.

  Her mouth opened—to scream.

  But before she could—

  A sudden surge of Arcane power—

  A single wave of energy knocked the Bracon from her grasp, sending it flying into the wall.

  It shattered.

  The sound of it breaking startled Trigaha fully awake.

  Trigaha (jerking up in bed, eyes wide, breathing hard): "W—what was that?!"

  Livia’s chest heaved.

  Her hands trembled.

  She turned back to the figure, forcing herself to speak.

  Livia (shaky, voice barely above a whisper): "Wh… who are you?" (then, as the terror set in, realization hitting her like a stone) "Elysia…??"

  The figure remained still.

  Watching.

  Trigaha snapped to full alertness.

  Her eyes adjusted. She saw it too.

  She saw the tunic.

  The same tunic.

  The one Elysia wore two nights ago.

  Her stomach dropped.

  Trigaha (barely audible, disbelieving, staring at the figure): "Elysia…?"

  Livia forced herself to speak quickly, to bargain, to survive.

  Livia (desperate, voice shaking): "W…wait….I don’t know who you are! If this is about the footage—we won’t tell anybody!"

  Trigaha (staring, voice cracking, trying to understand): "Elysia…?"

  But the figure finally spoke.

  A voice.

  Cold. Unfamiliar. Emotionless.

  The Figure (quietly, but deadly): "You know about her."

  Livia’s breath hitched.

  Her body stiffened.

  Livia (voice barely above a whisper, trembling): "A… about who?"

  Trigaha (panicked, barely breathing, voice breaking apart): "A—and who… who are you?"

  The figure took one slow step forward.

  Then another.

  The Figure (firmly, darkly): "Elysia."

  The name hung in the air like a curse.

  Livia shook her head quickly, hands raised slightly—an instinctive gesture of surrender.

  Livia (pleading, eyes wide with fear): "Sh—she’s our friend! Please! We don’t—We don’t even know what we did!"

  Trigaha (desperate, eyes darting to the door, realizing they had no escape): "What… about Elysia?!"

  The figure’s hand lifted.

  A dark glow of Arcane energy swirled into existence—power compressing, growing, intensifying.

  And then—

  Two blinding Arcane blasts erupted in an instant.

  The energy struck both of them, a pulse of raw destruction bursting through the room.

  Livia and Trigaha never had the chance to scream.

  In one swift, merciless moment—they were dead.

  Gone.

  The room fell silent.

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  The figure stood there, breathing steady, unmoved.

  Her gaze lingered on their still, lifeless forms.

  Then—

  A single whisper.

  Not regretful.

  Not emotional.

  Just a quiet declaration.

  The Figure (softly, to herself): "I have to protect her."

  A moment of stillness.

  Then—she turned.

  She stepped through the door, leaving the darkened room behind.

  She disappeared once more—back into the shadows.

  The news of Livia and Trigaha’s murder spread like wildfire.

  But for Elysia, the world stopped.

  She shut herself in her room, refusing to step outside.

  She didn’t eat.

  She didn’t sleep.

  She didn’t cry at first—but when the grief hit, it came crushing down like an avalanche.

  For two days, she laid in bed, motionless, lifeless, her body there but her mind somewhere else.

  She replayed every laugh they shared.

  Every moment together.

  And now—they were gone.

  On the third morning, a soft knock echoed through the silent room.

  Elysia didn’t respond.

  The door opened, and Wigor Mishis stepped inside.

  She took in the sight of her once-bright student—now dull, lifeless, and drained.

  With a quiet sigh, she pulled a chair beside Elysia’s bed and sat down.

  Mishis (soft, but firm): "I know it’s been hard for you, Elysia. But… you have to move on."

  Elysia didn’t move.

  Didn’t acknowledge her presence.

  Mishis sighed again.

  She stood up from the chair and sat beside her on the bed.

  Mishis (gently, trying to reach her): "You were always a good Bych in class. Look at me. You’re stronger than this."

  A long silence.

  Then—a cracked voice.

  Elysia (finally, sobbing, voice breaking): "I loved them. They were my best friends."

  Mishis (softly, placing a comforting hand on her back): "I know… I know…"

  Elysia broke down again.

  Her body shook, but she didn’t fight it this time.

  She let herself cry.

  For Livia.

  For Trigaha.

  For the piece of herself that died with them.

  After some time, Elysia sniffled, wiping away her tears with the back of her sleeve.

  She sat up.

  Elysia (quietly, voice hoarse): "I… I’m sorry, Wigor. I didn’t even ask if you wanted Vahi."

  Mishis: (soft smile) "No. It’s okay."

  But Elysia still stood up, heading toward the small kitchen space in her room.

  Even in grief, some habits were unshakable.

  She began making Vahi, her movements slow but purposeful.

  For a few moments, there was silence.

  Then—Mishis spoke again.

  Mishis (careful, hesitant): "Elysia… It feels heavy for me to ask you this, but…" (pauses, watching her closely) "Do you know if they had any enemies? Someone who would want to harm them?"

  Elysia’s hand froze for just a second.

  Then—she continued stirring.

  Elysia (without turning, voice low): "No. They can’t have any enemies. I knew them the best."

  There was no hesitation in her voice.

  Mishis studied her for a moment, then nodded slightly.

  Mishis (gently): "We’re trying to find out who could have done this. And… if you could look at the footage we got, it would be a big help."

  Elysia turned.

  Mishis projected the footage in the air—a holographic image flickering to life.

  The video played.

  A dark figure walked down the hallway.

  A hooded tunic—thick, dark purple.

  Elysia’s blood ran cold.

  Her mouth parted slightly, her breath stopping.

  She froze.

  Mishis (watching her, noticing her reaction): "I know… she looks like the same one who breached the Library a few nights ago."

  Elysia’s ears buzzed.

  She wasn’t even hearing Mishis’ words anymore.

  Her mind was elsewhere.

  That tunic.

  That same tunic.

  Livia and Trigaha had told her—

  "Elysia… you wore that tunic two nights ago."

  "Elysia, it’s you!"

  And now—

  It was here. Again.

  Her hands trembled.

  Her thoughts spiraled.

  What’s happening?

  What’s going on?

  Why does this keep leading back to me?

  Mishis reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder.

  Mishis (softly, pulling her back to reality): "Elysia?"

  Elysia snapped back.

  Her eyes were unfocused.

  Her body felt cold.

  Mishis (gently, but serious): "I’m sorry you have to go through all of this. But if you think… you have anything—anything at all—that could help us, you know where to find me."

  Elysia didn’t answer.

  She was still lost.

  Still trying to put the pieces together.

  Mishis stood up.

  She saw the unfinished Vahi on the counter and quietly completed it herself.

  She set the bowl in front of Elysia on the table.

  Before leaving, she patted her shoulder one last time.

  Mishis (gently, yet firm): "Be strong."

  And then—she was gone.

  Elysia didn’t touch the Vahi.

  She didn’t move.

  Her mind was racing.

  Her heart pounded.

  She felt like she was choking on air.

  "Elysia, it’s you!"

  "Elysia, you wore that tunic!"

  The Library breach.

  The murder footage.

  The same tunic.

  It was all connected.

  And somehow—

  It all led back to her.

  Elysia clenched her fists.

  She couldn’t ignore it anymore.

  She had to find out what was happening to her.

  Before it was too late.

  Elysia stood up, determined.

  No more hiding. No more ignoring.

  She had to know the truth.

  Elysia (to herself, voice steady but anxious): "If I wore that tunic, it must be here somewhere."

  She searched.

  She tore through her closet, checking every folded tunic, every hidden corner.

  Nothing.

  She checked under the bed, behind the shelves, even inside her small travel trunk.

  Still nothing.

  It was all her stuff.

  Nothing odd.

  Nothing from outside.

  She paused.

  Her mind raced.

  Elysia (trying to reason, voice shaky): "Maybe… maybe someone else is trying to frame me. Maybe it—"

  And then—she looked at her hands.

  Her breath caught.

  The darkness was spreading.

  Her fingers—half-black now.

  What started as a small discoloration had grown.

  Elysia (staring at her hands, horror creeping in): "It all started the night Livia and Trigaha said we sneaked into the library."

  She rushed to her books, yanking them from the shelf.

  Her hands moved frantically—searching for a specific one.

  Until—

  Elysia (muttering, flipping through pages): "Here… this one."

  She found the passage.

  Her eyes scanned the words.

  She read aloud—

  Elysia (reading): "Vyshek… A Vyshek can be identified by their Arcane. And to confirm, we check if they have…"

  She froze.

  Her breath hitched.

  Her vision blurred.

  And then—

  A wave of dizziness hit her.

  Her body collapsed.

  She fell to the floor—

  Unconscious.

  Meanwhile…

  Inside Livia and Trigaha’s room, the Sattira were already at work.

  The air was tense, heavy, filled with the echoes of Arcane residue.

  A lifeless silence hovered over the once lively space.

  Two Sattira officers analyzed every trace of energy, their expressions stern.

  Sattira 1 (examining the damage, pointing at burn marks on the wall): "Hit by Arcane. Probably a Laphia Blast. See this mark here?"

  Sattira 2 (scrolling through readings on her Prodge): "What do the reports say? Did we trace the Arcane signature?"

  Sattira 1 (nodding, showing the data on her Prodge): "There was a signature—right here, outside the building."

  At that moment—Medisa walked in.

  Her presence commanded silence.

  She stood tall, calm, unreadable.

  Medisa (direct, firm, no wasted words): "Progress?"

  The Sattira immediately reported.

  Sattira 2 (professional, efficient): "The suspect is still at large."

  Medisa (nods, waiting for more)

  Sattira 2 (continuing): "We found traces of Arcane signature outside the building. Based on the energy pattern, the caster likely came from Building Rilk."

  Medisa (sharp glance): "Inside?"

  Sattira 2 (confirming): "Yes. The suspect is from inside the school."

  A pause.

  Medisa’s eyes darkened.

  Medisa (thoughtful, quiet for a moment, then firm): "The pattern of Arcane energy… does it match the Library breach?"

  Sattira 2 (nodding): "Yes. The same signature. Whoever did this is the same person who broke into HoldForth."

  Silence settled.

  Then—Medisa made her decision.

  Medisa (calm, decisive): "Take necessary measures. Especially at night."

  Sattira 2 nodded—not as an order, but as agreement.

  Medisa turned and walked away.

  Her expression unchanged.

  Her thoughts?

  Far deeper than anyone could read.

  The Sattira watched her leave.

  A moment passed before one of them spoke.

  Sattira 1 (raising an eyebrow, muttering to the other): "Is she always this quiet? Or is she just bad with words?"

  Sattira 2 (chuckling slightly, shaking her head): "I don’t know. Next time, why don’t you try having small talk with her?"

  A beat of silence.

  Then—Sattira 1 quickly looked away, clearing her throat.

  The investigation continued.

  But somewhere else…

  Elysia was about to wake up—and everything was about to change.