The air in the academy felt dense and heavy the next morning. Eveline barely slept after her encounter with Marius in the library. His words continued to echo in her mind, repeating like a constant warning: "The true enemy is already on the way."
As she walked through the academy corridors, Eveline noticed the anxious atmosphere around her. Students whispered, exchanging worried glances, clearly aware that something larger was at play. The fencing festival, which was meant to be a celebratory event, had been abruptly interrupted, and rumors about what truly happened between Eveline and Marius in the arena spread like wildfire. Everyone knew that the confrontation was more than just a simple duel.
Aria and Alaric were waiting for her in the training room, both wearing serious expressions. As Eveline entered, Alaric immediately closed the door behind her.
"Did you find anything?" Aria asked, getting straight to the point.
Eveline nodded, pulling out the scroll she had recovered the night before. "Yes, and it's not good. This scroll speaks of an ancient pact. Whoever controls light and shadow is the heir to a curse. The shadows cannot be controlled; they only observe and wait for the right moment to claim what is theirs."
Alaric frowned, taking the scroll from her hands. "This confirms what we suspected. The shadows aren't just a force of power; they have a will of their own."
"What does that mean for you?" Aria asked, concern evident in her voice. "You managed to wield both forces in your duel against Marius, but did that put you in danger?"
"Yes," Eveline replied, her voice tense. "I was able to control the light and the shadows, but by doing that, I attracted their attention. And now, Marius says that something or someone is coming after me because of that power."
"Do you trust him?" Alaric asked, still suspicious of Marius, as always.
"I don't trust him," Eveline said firmly. "But I believe he was telling the truth about this. He was... different that night. Almost like he was trying to help me, or perhaps protect himself as well. Whatever it is, he knows he's involved, but the danger goes beyond him."
Aria crossed her arms, deep in thought. "Then we need to find out who or what this true enemy is before they arrive."
"Yes," Eveline replied. "And we don't have much time."
---
In the following days, Eveline and her friends dedicated themselves to investigating more about the Veiled Alliance and the shadows. They spent hours in the academy library, searching for ancient and hidden information. Many of the texts were enigmatic or fragmented, but one thing was clear: the shadows were an ancient entity, something that dated back to eras before magic as it was known was born.
As the investigation progressed, Eveline began to feel more connected to the force of the shadows. It was as if, with each passing day, they whispered more intensely in her mind, trying to convince her to surrender completely. However, she knew that giving in would be dangerous. Controlling the shadows required balance—yielding too much to the power could corrupt her, just as it had corrupted Marius.
But it didn't take long for the threat to reveal itself clearly.
---
On a night with a full moon, the academy was filled with a sense of unease. Eveline felt the air around her vibrating with a dark, unknown energy. As she walked through the deserted streets of the academy, accompanied by Alaric and Aria, she noticed that the shadows around her were moving strangely, as if they were alive.
"Something's wrong," Alaric said, looking around suspiciously. "The shadows... they're reacting."
Before Eveline could respond, a scream echoed through the academy. They ran toward the sound and, upon reaching the main courtyard, they saw chaos. Students and teachers were fighting against hooded figures whose bodies seemed to blend with the shadows.
"It's them," Eveline whispered, her heart racing. "The Veiled Alliance."
The figures attacked with lethal precision, moving with the fluidity of the shadows surrounding them. The academy was at a disadvantage, but the teachers and students fought bravely, trying to fend off the invasion.
Eveline drew her sword, and alongside Alaric and Aria, she entered the fray. Her sword shone with a brilliant light, pushing back the shadows that approached her. However, the feeling of imminent danger intensified with each moment.
Then Eveline spotted a figure at the center of the chaos—a tall man draped in a dark cloak, who seemed to command the shadows around him. His face was concealed by a silver mask, and his eyes glowed with a red light.
"The true enemy," Eveline murmured, immediately recognizing the power he emanated. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before. The shadows around him were not just magic; they were part of him.
The man slowly turned toward her, as if sensing her presence. When he spoke, his voice echoed in Eveline's mind like a dark whisper.
"So, you are the heir of light and shadows," he said, a cold smile on his lips. "At last, we meet."
Eveline advanced, her sword glowing intensely. "Who are you? And what do you want from me?"
The man chuckled softly, as if her question was naive. "I am Khaen, the master of shadows. And you, Eveline, possess the power we have sought for centuries. The one who can unite darkness and light as one. I come to seek you to fulfill your destiny."
Eveline felt a chill. "My destiny is not in the shadows."
Khaen shook his head, almost with pity. "You do not understand yet. But soon you will. The shadows cannot be avoided. They have already chosen you."
Before Eveline could react, Khaen extended his hand, and the shadows around her moved with frightening speed, trying to engulf her. Eveline felt the overwhelming pressure of darkness closing in, but she resisted, invoking the light of her sword to push back the shadows.
However, Khaen seemed unfazed. "Resist as much as you want," he said calmly. "But in the end, you will realize that the shadows are your true destiny."
With a gesture, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving behind the feeling that the worst was yet to come.
As the students and teachers fought to repel the remaining attackers, Eveline found herself alone amid the chaos. The battle was far from over, but what truly frightened her was the certainty that Khaen was right. The shadows had chosen her. And she would have to face her destiny—whether she wanted to or not.