The moon cast a pale glow over Nate's room, the silvery light doing little to bring him any comfort. Restlessness coursed through him like an unstoppable tide, tugging at his thoughts and denying him the respite of sleep. His shoulder-length black hair lay sprawled across the pillow, a stark contrast to the white linen, while his emerald eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, reflecting the storm of unease churning in his mind.
With a deep sigh, Nate pushed himself up from the bed. The wooden floor was cool beneath his bare feet as he moved silently toward the door, muscles tense, not from the chill in the air but from the anxiety gnawing at him. Just as he reached for the door handle, it creaked open, and to his surprise, Gwen stood there, her expression filled with concern.
"Can't sleep either?" Nate asked softly, trying to muster a smile.
"Something like that," Gwen replied in a quiet voice, her eyes searching his face. "Mind if I join you?"
"Of course not." His voice was warm, though the exhaustion in his eyes was undeniable.
Without another word, they stepped out into the cool night air. Instinctively, their hands found each other's, the warmth of her touch calming the turmoil within Nate. Together, they walked through the academy grounds in silence, the crisp breeze carrying the rustle of leaves as the moon bathed the stone buildings in a soft, ghostly glow.
As they wandered, Gwen finally broke the silence. "Are you alright, Nate?" she asked, her voice gentle but probing.
He looked down at their entwined fingers, pausing for a moment before meeting her gaze. "I'd be lying if I said I was okay," he admitted, a sigh escaping him.
Gwen gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. They continued to walk, the silence between them now more comfortable, but the weight of Nate's admission hung in the air. After a few minutes, Nate's pace slowed, his steps faltering as an involuntary shiver ran through him. The stillness of the night felt oppressive now, the quiet amplifying the dark thoughts swirling in his mind.
"I'm scared," Nate whispered, barely able to get the words out. He stopped walking, his eyes fixed on the ground, his voice betraying the fear he had tried so hard to suppress.
Gwen turned to him, her eyes filled with concern. "What scares you, Nate?" she asked softly, searching his face.
Nate's jaw tightened, and when he finally looked at her, his emerald eyes were clouded with conflict. "When I fought those bandits... there was something inside me," he said, his voice shaking. "Something dark. It felt like it wanted blood, like it wanted to control me." His fists clenched at his sides, the memory of that feeling making his skin crawl. "I don't want to be that person."
Without hesitation, Gwen closed the distance between them and gently cupped his face in her hands. "Nate, you're not a monster," she said firmly, her voice soft but resolute. "No matter what you feel inside, no matter what happens, I'll still love you. You're still you."
He let out a short, humorless laugh, though it was clear her words meant something to him. "But you didn't see it, Gwen," he murmured, his eyes downcast, struggling to reconcile what he'd felt during the fight.
Gwen nodded, understanding the depth of his fear. "I know more than you think," she began quietly. Her expression darkened as memories she rarely spoke of surfaced. "When I was younger, I nearly ended up in the hands of a slave trader. I used my magic to escape, but it wasn't pretty." Her voice wavered slightly as she recalled the event. "It wasn't just my magic that killed him. It was the part of me that wanted to survive at any cost."
Nate's heart ached for her. Without thinking, he pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her against his chest. Her body trembled slightly in his arms, the weight of her own past as heavy as his. "I couldn't sleep for a long time after," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Every night, I'd see his face, hear the sound of what I'd done. It haunted me for a year."
He held her closer, as if his arms alone could protect her from those memories. For a moment, they stood in the darkness, two souls weighed down by the past, yet offering each other the solace of understanding. Neither of them spoke, but they didn't need to. They had each lived through moments of darkness, and now, together, they stood at the edge of it.
After what felt like an eternity, Gwen slowly pulled back, her eyes shimmering with the emotions she kept buried deep. "We'll be okay," she said softly, as much to herself as to him. Nate nodded, his hands still resting on her shoulders.
As they resumed walking, the weight that had settled between them seemed to lift, their burdens shared and lightened by the act of speaking them aloud. The campus, bathed in moonlight, looked almost peaceful, but that peace was shattered by the faint murmur of voices drifting through the air.
Nate's senses flared to life. He stopped abruptly, pulling Gwen down with him behind a cluster of bushes. The voices grew clearer as they crouched low, hidden by the foliage.
"Still not enough power for my revenge," hissed one voice, low and venomous.
"More sacrifices, then," rasped another voice, this one filled with impatience. "And don't forget what you owe me for my... services."
Nate's pulse quickened. Gwen's eyes met his, wide with alarm. Both knew what this conversation meant—the abductions in the city weren't just random disappearances. Something far more sinister was unfolding.
"Soon," the first voice continued, dripping with malice. "The plan is in motion. It won't be long now."
Nate's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing as he tried to piece together what they were hearing. He reached for Gwen's hand, and she squeezed it tightly. They couldn't afford to be caught, not now.
"We part ways tonight," the first voice said, the tone curt and final.
Nate barely breathed as he focused, summoning his illusion magic. He wove a spell around them, rendering them invisible just as the figures stepped into the clearing. Holding their breath, Nate and Gwen remained perfectly still as the two shadowy figures passed by, their faces obscured by the darkness.
Once the figures disappeared into the night, Nate released the spell. The magic faded, leaving them visible again. They exchanged a look, their expressions a mixture of fear and resolve. Something dark was brewing, and they had just stumbled upon it.
"What do you make of it?" Gwen whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
"I don't know," Nate replied, his mind still reeling. "But whatever it is, it's bad. We'll have to keep our eyes and ears open. We can't trust anyone until we know more."
With a nod, Gwen rose to her feet, and together they made their way back to Nate's dorm room. The safety of its walls was a welcome relief, but the conversation they had overheard weighed heavily on them both.
As they climbed into bed, the tension in their bodies began to ease. Gwen curled up beside Nate, her head resting on his chest. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Nate pressed a kiss to the top of her head, his heart filled with a renewed sense of purpose. "Always," he promised.