The days following the shadow creature's attack were tense. Though the academy's halls bustled with their usual energy, an undercurrent of unease lingered. Whispers about a screech that had echoed through the dormitory wing spread quickly, and while no one openly questioned Elara or Liam, it was clear some students suspected they were involved.
For Elara, the experience had left more questions than answers. Her Veilmark had reacted instinctively during the attack, unleashing a light so powerful it had obliterated the creature. But now, when she focused on the mark trying to recreate the surge, she found only a faint flicker of energy.
It wasn't just frustrating—it was terrifying. What if the creature wasn't the last of its kind?
Elara sat at the back of Professor Elian's Veil studies class, half-listening as the professor described Veil anomalies recorded over the centuries. Most of the class was engrossed, scribbling notes about ancient rifts and accounts of lost cities swallowed by the veil, but Elara's mind kept drifting.
Finally, she raised her hand.
"Yes, Elara?" Professor Elian asked, her tone patient but sharp enough to silence the murmurs in the room.
"Can marks react to the Veil without a person understanding how?" Elara asked, carefully choosing her words.
Professor Elian's gaze lingered on her, the vine-like pattern of her Insight Mark glowing faintly. " Yes. Marks are not merely tools—they are extensions of the self and the Veil's energy. In moments of great need, they can act on instinct, manifesting power even if the bearer lacks control or comprehension.
"Can that power be… dangerous?" Elara pressed.
Professor Elian's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "All power has the potential for danger, especially when wielded without understanding. But the real question, Miss Ashfall, is whether you fear the power—or yourself."
Elara felt heat rise in her cheeks as the room seemed to grow quieter. Professor Elian moved on, but the question lingered, unsettling her more than she cared to admit.
Later that afternoon, Elara found herself in one of the academy's hidden courtyards, a secluded space surrounded by high stone walls and overgrown ivy. Liam had told her about it after spotting her restless pacing earlier, and she was grateful for the solitude.
She sat cross-legged on the grass, staring at her palm. The Veilmark's silvery lines shimmered faintly in the dappled sunlight, but they were quiet—passive. She clenched her hand into a fist, frustration bubbling up inside her.
"Come on," she muttered, closing her eyes and focusing. She thought about the creature, the cold, the light surging from her hand like a lifeline. The memory was vivid, but the energy remained elusive.
After what felt like hours, she let out a huff and flopped back onto the grass.
"I don't think yelling at it will help," came a familiar voice.
Elara sat up to see Zara leaning against the courtyard's archway, her arms crossed and a faint smirk playing on her lips.
"Very funny," Elara said, brushing her hair out of her face. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you," Zara said, stepping closer. "Liam mentioned you were obsessing over your mark again." She sat beside Elara, her Lotus Mark glowing faintly as she twirled a blade of grass between her fingers.
"Of course he did," Elara muttered.
Zara tilted her head. "You don't have to figure it all out at once, you know. Marks aren't like spells you can learn from a book—they take time."
"I know," Elara admitted, her voice softer. "It's just… I feel like I'm carrying something bigger than I can handle. What if it happens again, and I can't—"
"You will," Zara interrupted, her tone firm. "You did it once. That means it's in you. You just have to trust yourself."
The next day, Professor Kenric's Combat Application class brought a welcome distraction. The students were paired off for a series of sparring matches designed to test their marks under pressure.
Elara found herself matched against Kade Solen. His Inferno Mark glowed brightly on his forearm, the flames licking at his skin as he stepped into the ring.
"Don't worry, Ashfall," He said with a cocky grin. "I'll go easy on you."
Elara rolled her eyes, her mark flaring in response. "Don't hold back, Solen. I'd hate for you to have an excuse when you lose."
The duel began, and Kade wasted no time, sending a wave of fire arcing toward her. Elara dodged, her Veilmark sparking to life as she instinctively summoned a barrier of silver light. The flames crashed against it, dissipating harmlessly.
Kade raised an eyebrow. "Not bad."
As the match continued, Elara felt something shift. The energy in her mark began to flow more naturally, almost as if responding to her confidence. When Kade unleashed a concentrated blast, she countered without hesitation, sending a pulse of silver light that extinguished the flames and forced him back.
The sparring match ended in a draw, but Elara felt a sense of triumph. For the first time, her mark didn't feel like a mystery—it felt like a part of her. The class ends. As Elara leaves the classroom, the other students gawk in awe at her wondering what the power she used was.
That evening, as Elara returned to her dorm, she noticed a group of students huddled near the library, their voices low and urgent. She caught fragments of their conversation:
"Another sighting…"
"...near the north tower…"
"...the professors are hiding something."
Elara's stomach twisted. She thought about the shadow creature and the professors' warnings. Whatever was happening in the academy, it was far from over.
That night, Elara couldn't sleep. The whispers she overheard outside the library gnawed at her thoughts. Another sighting? If the shadow creature had returned—or something like that—what does it mean for the academy?
She stared at her Veilmark, tracing the shimmering lines with her fingers. It pulsed faintly, almost as if reacting to her thoughts. Her conversation with Zara echoed in her mind: You just have to trust yourself.
But how could she trust something she didn't understand?
The next morning, Elara was jolted awake by a sharp knock on her door. She stumbled to open it, finding Professor Kenric standing in the hallway, his expression grim.
"Dress quickly," he said. "You're needed in the eat training hall."
Elar didn't question him, pulling on her uniform and following him down the dimly lit corridors. When they arrived, she found Liam, Zara, and Kade already waiting, along with Professor Throne and Elian.
"What's going on?" Elara asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Professor Thorne gestured to the center of the room, where a training construct—an animated figure designed to stimulate combat—stood glowing faintly. It was made of enchanted stone and metal, its form sleek and imposing.
"You're here because your marks have shown promise under stress," Thorne began, His tone measured. "But potential without mastery is a liability. This exercise will test how far you've come."
Professor Elian stepped forward, her Insight Mark flaring softly. "The construct has been enhanced to mimic chaotic energy patterns—similar to what you might face beyond these walls. You'll need to work together to overcome it."
Elara exchanged a glance with Zara, who gave a reassuring nod. Liam looked uneasy but determined. Kade, of course, smirked.
Piece of cake," he said, his Inferno Mark flaring to life.
The construct moved faster than Elara expected. Its enchanted limbs whirred as it launched an attack at Liam, who quickly raised a wall of ice to block it. Kade retaliated with a burst of flame, forcing the construct to retreat, but its movements remained fluid and unrelenting.
"Elara, focus!" Zara called, her Lotus Mark glowing as she sent out sharp petals of energy to intercept another attack.
Elara's heart pounded as she tried to summon her Veolmark's power. She could feel the energy within her, a swirling reservoir of potential, but it refused to take shape. The construct advanced on her, and instinct took over. She raised her hand, and a barrier of silvery light formed just in time to absorb the blow.
The barrier shimmered for a moment before fading. It wasn't as strong as she'd hoped, but it held.
"Nice work!" Liam shouted, launching another volley of ice to slow the construct.
Elara's confidence grew. She focused again, this time feeling the energy extend outward. Sharp tendrils of silvery light lashed out, striking the construct's leg forcing it to stumble.
The room went silent for a moment as everyone stared. Even the professors seemed surprised.
"Elara," Professor Thorne said, his voice low but firm. "Again."
She swallowed hard and tried to replicate the motion, but the energy faltered. Her Veilmark flickered, and the tendrils dissolved before reaching their target.
The construct seized the opportunity, lunging forward. Zara and Kade managed to intercept it with a coordinated attack, but Elara felt a pang of frustration.
When the exercise ended, the construct lay motionless, its enchanted core dim. The students were exhausted, but a flicker of pride burned in each of them—especially Elara.
"You've made progress," Professor Elian said, her gaze settling on Elara. "But your mark is still unstable. You're relying on instinct rather than control."
"I'm trying," Elara said, her voice firmer than she felt.
"You'll need more than effort," Thorne interjected. "The Veilmark is unlike anything we've studied. Its abilities are… dangerous, but they also hold incredible potential. You must push yourself harder if you're to master it."
Professor Kenric nodded. "We'll schedule additional training sessions for you. This mark may be the key to protecting the academy—or destroying it. The choice is yours."
The weight of their words settled on Elara's shoulders as the professors dismissed them.
As Elara walked back to her dorm, Liam fell into step beside her.
"You were amazing today," he said.
"Barely," she muttered.
"No really," he insisted. "You're getting stronger. I mean, those tendrils? That was incredible."
"Thanks," she said, though her thoughts were elsewhere.
When they reached her door, Liam hesitated. "Do you think they're telling us everything? About the creature… and your mark?"
Elara frowned. "No. But I think they're as confused as we are."
He nodded, his expression serious. "We'll figure it out. Together."
After he left Elara sat on her bed and tried her best to ease her mind of all the uncertainties and even more mysteries than when she started. She laid down, turned off her bedside lamp, and slowly dozed off into her dreams.
But what she couldn't know was that the shadows were waiting.