Chereads / Light a Shadows: Eveline's fate / Chapter 14 - Chapter 14

Chapter 14 - Chapter 14

The echo of the duel between Eveline and Darius still lingered throughout the academy. In the days that followed, the halls were filled with whispers about Eveline's impressive skill. Those who had once seen her only as the "count's daughter" or the "newcomer" now regarded her with different eyes. Her name was spoken in hushed tones, and respect, or perhaps even fear, was present in every glance she received.

 

Eveline, however, did not let the buzz affect her. Her mind was focused on her training. The duel had been an important test of her control over magic, but she knew there was still much to learn. The tension she had felt during the combat, the danger of losing balance between light and darkness, still haunted her.

 

One afternoon, while practicing alone in the courtyard, Eveline was interrupted by Alaric, who appeared silently as he often did. He observed her for a few minutes before speaking.

 

"You did well in the duel against Darius," he said, crossing his arms. "But I have to ask: what did you really learn from it?"

 

Eveline stopped, wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, and looked at Alaric. The question was simple, but she knew he expected a deep answer. "I learned that power is not just about strength or technique, but about control. That duel... was a chance to test my balance, to see if I could keep the magic under control in real combat."

 

Alaric nodded slowly. "And you did. But what else? What did the duel reveal about yourself?"

 

Eveline hesitated. Since the confrontation with the hooded figure and the battle with Darius, she had felt a growing restlessness inside her. The sense that something bigger was at play, something beyond the academy walls.

 

"I... feel that this power inside me is connected to something greater," she finally said, her voice low. "Like there's a link between my magic and the events happening in the world. It's not just about becoming stronger. I feel like I'm being pulled into something I don't yet understand."

 

Alaric remained silent for a moment, as if pondering her words. Then, with a serious look, he stepped closer. "You're not wrong, Eveline. There is something happening beyond the academy gates. The shadows we faced are just the beginning. There are forces moving in the dark, and your power, your lineage, is somehow connected to it."

 

Eveline looked at him, surprised. "You knew?"

 

"I suspected," Alaric admitted. "Your magic is not like that of other students. It carries a rare balance, something that few in the world possess. The light and darkness within you are not in conflict by accident. They are the key to what's coming."

 

"So, what should I do?" Eveline asked, feeling a mixture of apprehension and determination.

 

"For now, you must continue training. Perfect the control you've already shown. But soon, you will be called to something greater, something that will test not just your strength, but your understanding of balance."

 

Before Eveline could respond, a group of students appeared in the courtyard, their expressions anxious. Among them was Aria, running toward Eveline, clearly distressed.

 

"Eveline! We need you!" Aria exclaimed, out of breath. "It's Darius... he's in the infirmary, and something strange is happening to him."

 

Eveline frowned, exchanging a quick look with Alaric before following Aria and the others. When they arrived at the infirmary, an unsettling scene awaited them. Darius lay in a bed, drenched in cold sweat, his face pale and contorted in pain. Around him, teachers and healers were trying to understand what was happening, but no one seemed to have a clear answer.

 

"He started complaining of strange pains right after the duel," explained one of the healers, a middle-aged woman with a worried expression. "But now... it seems like his own magic is out of control."

 

Eveline cautiously approached, observing Darius more closely. The marks on his arms, small dark streaks that looked like scars, caught her attention. It was as if the magic within him was corroding his body from the inside out.

 

"This isn't normal," murmured Alaric beside her. "Something is poisoning him, and this is not a common illness."

 

Eveline felt a chill run down her spine. She remembered the duel, the magic she had channeled to face Darius. Could her own magic have caused this? No, she was sure she hadn't released enough to cause such harm. But then, where was this coming from?

 

"He mentioned something before he passed out," said one of the students who had accompanied Darius to the infirmary. "He spoke of a voice... a voice that called to him during the duel."

 

Eveline and Alaric exchanged a grave look. A voice? That sounded dangerously familiar. The shadows that had invaded the academy, the strange power that was growing around them... could it be that Darius had been affected by something far more sinister?

 

"We need to find out what's behind this," Alaric said, his voice tense. "Eveline, if there's a connection between what happened to Darius and the shadows, you might be the only one who can understand it."

 

Eveline looked at Darius, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her. There was more at stake than just a simple duel. Something darker and older was at work in the shadows, and now it seemed to be infiltrating the academy.

 

"I'll find out," Eveline replied, her voice firm. "And whatever it is, I'll stop it from happening to anyone else."

 

With that promise, Eveline knew her journey was just beginning, and the challenge ahead was far greater than she had imagined. The darkness was no longer a distant enemy. It was within the academy's walls, waiting for the right moment to strike.