The morning light streamed through the academy windows, but its gentle glow seemed insufficient to lift the weight of the darkness Eveline carried. The confrontation with Umbra's manifestation still echoed in her mind, and the constant sensation of being watched consumed her. Umbra's whispers were silent for now, but she knew he wouldn't give up so easily.
Today, however, was an important day. Eveline had a meeting scheduled with the Academy's Council of Magic. Alaric had warned her that her recent actions had not gone unnoticed, and her powers had attracted the attention of greater forces. The thought of being in the spotlight was uncomfortable. Eveline had always preferred quiet and discretion, but after recent events, she no longer had a choice.
As she approached the Council chamber, Eveline found Alaric waiting by the door. He greeted her with a nod, and something in his eyes indicated that the meeting would be more serious than she had imagined.
"Ready for this?" he asked, his voice low but filled with concern.
"No, but I don't really have a choice, do I?" Eveline replied, trying to remain calm.
Alaric only nodded and opened the door, revealing a large circular room where five Council members sat at a raised table. Their golden robes marked their position and power, and each carried an aura of authority and experience. Eveline took a deep breath and stepped inside, feeling the weight of their gaze on her.
"Miss Eveline," the man in the center spoke, his voice resonating through the room. "You were summoned here today not just for your recent actions at the academy, but for something much larger. Your power, your connection to both light and darkness, raises questions we cannot ignore."
Eveline nodded, maintaining a firm posture. "I understand. I'm willing to answer your questions."
"Good," said one of the women on the Council, leaning forward. "First, we need to understand exactly what happened during the training session. The darkness that emerged... do you have control over it?"
Eveline hesitated for a moment. "I wouldn't say I have full control. The darkness is part of me, just like the light, but I'm still learning to master both. Umbra, the entity you may have heard of, is tied to my essence. He tries to corrupt me, but I'm fighting him."
The Council members exchanged worried glances. "Umbra is an ancient and dangerous force," the central man said, his voice grave. "If he is trying to corrupt you, it puts the entire academy—perhaps even the kingdom—in danger."
"I'm aware of the risks," Eveline replied. "But I'm willing to do whatever it takes to stop him from gaining strength. I won't let him control me."
"You speak with determination," said another Council member, a woman with silver hair and piercing eyes. "But a force like Umbra cannot be underestimated. The balance you carry between light and dark is rare, and we don't yet know if it can be maintained for long. Many have fallen to darkness before."
Eveline felt the weight of those words, but she did not back down. "I won't fall. I've already proven to myself that I can resist Umbra. All I need is more time to learn to better control my powers."
The Council remained silent for a few seconds, as if considering her words. Then, the central man spoke again. "We need more information. There's something about your origin, Eveline, that remains a mystery. Do you have any memory of your life before this world? Anything that could help us understand why Umbra is so tied to you?"
Eveline froze. Her past life was something she rarely mentioned. She vaguely remembered her death in the previous world and her rebirth as the daughter of a count, but beyond that, there were gaps in her memory. There were things she couldn't explain—sensations, fragments of memories that made no sense, as if parts of her former life had been erased.
"I... don't remember many details," she admitted, hesitant. "I know I came from another world, but my memories are confused. I don't know how that relates to Umbra."
The Council members exchanged intrigued glances. "Another world, you say?" the silver-haired woman asked. "That is not a common occurrence. There are few records of reincarnated souls in our realm, and even fewer who carry such unique powers."
"Perhaps therein lies the key to understanding your connection with Umbra," the central man suggested. "If your soul was reincarnated with a purpose, it may be that Umbra was lurking from the very beginning."
The idea that Umbra could have been connected to her even before her reincarnation sent a chill down Eveline's spine. **Could this battle against the darkness have begun long before she was born into this world?**
"We want you to continue studying and developing your powers at the academy," the central man said, in a softer tone. "But we also need to investigate further into your origins and your connection with Umbra. We will assign a specialist to help you with this."
Eveline nodded, relieved that she wasn't being punished or isolated. "I appreciate the opportunity. I will do whatever I can to control my powers and prevent Umbra from breaking free."
"For now, that's all we can ask," the silver-haired woman said with a slight smile. "You may go, Eveline. But remain ever vigilant. Darkness does not rest, and you cannot lower your guard."
Eveline bowed and left the room, feeling somewhat relieved but still uncertain. Alaric was waiting outside.
"So?" he asked.
"They want me to stay at the academy and try to understand more about my connection to Umbra. They're assigning a specialist to investigate my origins."
Alaric smiled. "That's good. Maybe we can find something that will help you get rid of Umbra once and for all."
"I hope so," Eveline said, gazing into the distance. But deep down, she knew this fight was only just beginning. And that Umbra would not give up so easily.
As she walked away from the Council chamber, she felt that faint, almost inaudible whisper in her mind again.
"You can try, Eveline. But I will always be here, waiting..."
Eveline took a deep breath and kept walking.