The sky began to take on an orange hue as the sun slowly disappeared over the horizon, and Eveline knew time was running out. The academy still buzzed with the excitement of the festival, but for her, the atmosphere was charged with an invisible tension. The shadows on the walls seemed longer, as if the very environment was conspiring with the darkness surrounding her.
"You see it, don't you?" Umbra whispered once again. The voice was like a cold breeze caressing her mind. "They're all playing a power game. But you, Eveline... you could be the key piece. You could have control."
Eveline ignored the whisper. Too much was at stake, and she couldn't let herself be dominated by the voice that had been tempting her since the day she first recognized the existence of the darkness within.
She walked through the academy courtyard, where the celebrations continued. The laughter and cheerful voices of the other students contrasted with the storm of thoughts in her mind. Alaric and Aria were with her, but they too seemed to feel the weight Eveline carried.
"Eveline," Aria spoke softly, breaking the silence as they passed a group of students distracted by their own duels. "We need to make a decision. Something is happening, and it's clear we can't rely on the council or the teachers to protect us."
Alaric, always more direct, sighed. "She's right. Ever since we overheard that conversation, things have only gotten worse. What are we going to do? Just wait for the teachers to fix everything? We don't even know how bad things are."
Eveline paused for a moment, watching the reflection of the setting sun on the academy's towers. The feeling that something bigger was behind the attacks, something involving the darkness and the academy itself, weighed heavily on her thoughts. They needed answers — and quickly.
"We're going to the academy's archive," Eveline finally said, surprising her friends. "We need more information about this dark magic. Maybe there's something in the old records that can help us understand what's happening."
Aria frowned, clearly hesitant. "The archive is restricted... almost no one has access."
"Almost no one," Eveline repeated, her expression serious. "But we can find a way."
Alaric grinned, already excited by the idea. "Oh, I love it when you come up with these bold plans."
---
Soon after, the three of them stood at the entrance to the archives, an old building tucked into a corner of the academy that few students ever visited. Night had already fallen, and the area was quiet, except for the footsteps of guards patrolling the courtyard.
"We're making a huge mistake," Aria whispered, looking nervously around. "If we get caught, we could be expelled from the academy!"
"Or we could find something that saves everyone," Eveline replied, determined.
Alaric, who was scouting the area, gave a thumbs-up. "Let's go. The guard just passed. We've got a few minutes."
They snuck around the side of the building and found an unlocked side window, through which they quietly slipped inside. The interior of the archives was damp and smelled of mold, with piles of books and old scrolls stored on tall shelves that seemed to touch the ceiling. The soft light of a few torches faintly illuminated the place, casting dancing shadows on the walls.
"Where do we start?" Aria whispered, eyeing the endless rows of shelves.
"We need to look for old records on dark magic," Eveline said, already moving toward one of the shelves. "Any mention of past attacks or conspiracies could help us."
As they searched frantically, Eveline was drawn to a specific book, covered in dust and with a worn leather cover. When she opened it, she realized it was a journal, not just a record of spells or magic.
"What did you find?" Alaric asked, watching her flip through the pages quickly.
"It's a journal," Eveline said, her brow furrowed in concentration. "From one of the academy's old council members. He mentions... something about an alliance with a being of shadows."
Aria's eyes widened. "An alliance with shadows? But that's impossible... it goes against everything the academy teaches."
Eveline continued reading silently for a few moments. "There are passages here that speak of a 'Shadow Entity' that promised power in exchange for servitude. This council member... he was trying to use this power to protect the academy but ended up being consumed by it."
Alaric leaned in, looking over her shoulder. "That lines up with what we know about Umbra, doesn't it?"
Eveline nodded slowly. "Yes... But what worries me is that this 'Entity' seems to always be lurking, waiting for a moment of weakness to fully manifest."
"Just like me," Umbra whispered in her mind, her tone almost amused. "You know you need me, Eveline. These old books can't give you the answers you seek. Only I can."
Eveline snapped the journal shut, ignoring the internal provocation. "We need to get out of here. We've found enough to know the academy has faced something like this before. And if someone here is trying to revive that alliance... we're all in danger."
---
Just as they were about to leave the archives, a shadow appeared at the door. Eveline froze, her heart racing. The silhouette approached slowly, and they could see it was one of the academy's professors — Professor Galdar, one of the heads of the advanced magic department.
"What are you doing here?" His voice was cold and calculated. "These archives are not for students."
Aria tried to speak, but fear paralyzed her. Alaric, always the boldest, stepped forward. "We just wanted to understand more about dark magic, sir. Something strange is happening at the festival, and we thought this might help."
Galdar's eyes glinted with something Eveline couldn't quite place. "Dark magic is not something students should be investigating. If you knew what was best for you, you would stay far away from it."
Eveline narrowed her eyes, sensing the oppressive aura around the professor. "And you, professor? What do you know about the 'Shadow Entity'?"
For a moment, Galdar seemed surprised, but he quickly regained his composure. "Go to your quarters. And forget you were here tonight." He turned to leave but added in a low tone: "The shadows are deeper than you realize, Eveline."
The group remained silent as he disappeared into the dark hallway. Eveline looked at her friends, her resolve growing stronger.
"This only proves we're on the right track," she murmured. "Something's happening here, and if we don't do something, we'll all be consumed by these shadows."
Alaric nodded, fists clenched. "Then let's find out who's pulling the strings."
As they left the archives, the moon shone brightly in the sky, and Eveline felt they were closer to the truth — but also closer to danger.