The twisting corridors of the East Wing were eerily silent as Alexander and Lira made their way back to the main part of the Academy. Their footsteps echoed softly off the stone walls, the only sound breaking the oppressive stillness.
The recent events still weighed heavily on Alexander's mind—magic mishaps, the attack by the black-robed man, and the discovery of one of Lucian Draven's henchmen, injured and unconscious. There was so much happening, and the pieces of the puzzle were still frustratingly out of reach.
As they navigated the maze-like passages, Alexander glanced at Lira, who walked beside him with a thoughtful expression. "Lira," he began, his voice low to avoid disturbing the quiet, "you seemed to know quite a bit about what's been going on. What else did you find out?"
Lira looked up, meeting his gaze with a serious expression. "We've been investigating for a while now, especially after all the strange incidents started. From what we've learned, all the students who've died or gone missing due to magic mishaps had been to the East Wing within a week before their deaths. That's why we came to investigate today. We thought there might be something here that's causing the instability—something that's affecting the students."
Lira continued thoughtful . "But there's another strange thing... all of the students who've died had no background. They were working part-time at the Academy to make ends meet. It's almost as if they were chosen specifically, but we don't know why."
Alexander frowned, processing this new information. "So, they were all vulnerable—students without any powerful families or connections. It almost sounds like someone's targeting them, to do something more sinister."
Lira nodded, her expression grim. "Exactly. And with what we saw today... it's clear things are getting worse." As they continued walking, the heavy atmosphere of the East Wing gradually began to lift. The shadows seemed to recede, and the familiar sounds of the bustling Academy started to reach their ears.
Over the next few days, the situation at the Academy seemed to have returned to normal. However, Alexander and the others both had a sense that the atmosphere in the Academy became tense, as if the very air was charged with the magic that was slowly spinning out of control. Whispers of fear and speculation spread like wildfire, and the once vibrant and lively campus now felt like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.
One day, Alexander found himself in a shadow magic class with Lira Valen. It was a rare opportunity to practice alongside her, and despite the grim circumstances, he was grateful for the chance to spend time with her. The class was held in a dimly lit chamber deep within the Noctis House, the shadows flickering on the walls as if alive.
Lira stood beside Alexander, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders as she focused on her spellwork. She moved with a fluid grace, her hands weaving intricate patterns in the air as she summoned a shadowy figure that hovered in front of her, its form shifting and flickering like smoke.
"Your technique is impressive," Alexander remarked, his voice low so as not to disturb the other students. "You have a natural talent for shadow magic."
Lira glanced at him, a small smile playing on her lips. "Thank you, Alexander. Shadow magic requires a delicate touch. It's all about finding balance—embracing the darkness without letting it consume you."
Alexander nodded, concentrating on his own spell. He summoned a shadowy wraith, its form dark and ghostly as it floated in the air. As he worked, he felt a strange sense of calm wash over him. Despite everything that was happening, being here with Lira made him feel grounded.
The students practiced their spells, the room filled with the soft murmurs of incantations and the flickering of shadows. But as the lesson continued, Alexander noticed something strange. The shadows around them seemed to be growing darker, thicker, as if some unseen force was feeding on the magic.
Suddenly, a cry rang out from the far side of the room. Alexander turned just in time to see a student's shadow construct explode in a burst of dark energy, the force of the blast sending the boy sprawling to the floor. The shadows around him seemed to pulse with a life of their own, growing darker and more dense as they wrapped around his body like a cocoon. "Help!" the boy screamed, his voice muffled by the encroaching darkness. "I can't—It's taking over!"
The other students backed away in horror as the shadows began to engulf the boy completely, his form twisting and contorting as if the darkness itself was consuming him. Within moments, his body started to change, the shadows warping his features into something grotesque and monstrous. His skin darkened, his limbs elongated, and his eyes glowed with an eerie, otherworldly light.
"We need to stop this!" Alexander shouted, raising his wand. "He's turning into a—"
Before he could finish, the corrupted student let out a guttural roar and lunged toward the nearest group of students, his movements erratic and violent. "Stay back!" Lira shouted, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. She raised her hands, casting a spell that sent a bolt of dark energy toward the creature. The magic struck the monster in the chest, causing it to stagger back with a snarl.
Alexander quickly followed suit, raising his hands and summoning a powerful fire spell. A jet of flames shot from his fingertips, enveloping the creature in a searing inferno. The monster howled in pain, its form writhing as the flames consumed it, but it refused to go down easily. It lashed out with renewed fury, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying speed.
"Alexander, watch out!" Lira cried, grabbing his arm and pulling him back as another student, also twisted by the corrupted magic, charged at them.
As the battle raged on, Alexander noticed more students beginning to transform. Their spells were spiraling out of control, the dark energy feeding off their fear and turning them into monsters. The chamber was filled with the sounds of screams and growls, the air thick with the stench of burning magic.
"We have to get out of here!" Lira shouted, her voice strained as she deflected a blast of dark energy. "There's too many of them—we can't fight them all!"
Alexander nodded, his mind racing. "We need to regroup with the others. If we stay here, we'll be overwhelmed."
With a final burst of magic, Alexander and Lira managed to create a barrier of fire that held the monsters at bay long enough for them to make their escape. They sprinted toward the exit, dodging spells and leaping over debris as they fled the chamber.
As they raced down the corridor, Alexander's heart pounded in his chest. He could hear the sounds of the monsters pursuing them, their growls echoing off the walls. He glanced at Lira, who was running beside him, panted, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "Just a little further—"
But before she could finish, a burst of fire exploded in front of them, forcing them to skid to a halt. Alexander looked up to see one of Lucian Draven's followers standing in the hallway, his face twisted with cruelty and regret.
"Alexander!" the boy shouted, his voice laced with madness. "Get to hell!"
Before Alexander could react, the boy raised his hands, casting a spell that sent a wave of fire surging toward them. Alexander instinctively raised his hands and conjured a barrier of flame, deflecting the attack with a wall of fire. The two spells collided in mid-air, sending a shockwave through the corridor.
"Are you insane?" Alexander shouted, his voice filled with disbelief. "You'll get us all killed!"
But the boy wasn't listening. His eyes were wild with panic, his magic spiraling out of control. The flames in his hands flickered wildly, as if they had a mind of their own. Suddenly, the fire turned dark, black tendrils of energy wrapping around his body like chains.
The boy's eyes widened in horror as the magic consumed him, his body contorting and twisting as he was swallowed by the dark flames. In a matter of seconds, he was gone, his form dissolving into the darkness.
Alexander stared in shock, his mind reeling. This was the first time someone in the team had lost control of his magic, and it was a stark reminder of just how dangerous the situation had become.
"We have to keep moving," Lira said urgently, grabbing Alexander's arm and pulling him forward. "There's nothing we can do for him now. We need to meet with others."
Alexander nodded, his heart heavy as he followed Lira down the corridor. They sprinted through the hallways of Magic Academy, dodging spells and avoiding the monsters that prowled the shadows. The sounds of battle echoed through the corridors, a constant reminder of the chaos that had engulfed the Academy.