Alaric walked briskly down the empty corridor, his footsteps echoing in the silence of the school building. His mind was already far from the classroom, consumed by thoughts of Lucy and the cursed mark that had almost claimed her life. He had no time for distractions, no time for emotions. Every second that passed without action felt like another step closer to losing his sister forever.
Just as he reached the school gates, a voice called out behind him. "Alaric, wait!"
Evelyn.
Her voice, usually calming, was now laced with a mix of desperation and confusion. Alaric stopped in his tracks, his shoulders tensing. He hadn't wanted to deal with this—not now, not after everything that had happened. But he knew Evelyn wouldn't let this go. She was persistent, stubborn, and far too curious for her own good.
