The infirmary was quiet, save for the soft hum of magical wards that surrounded the room. Lorian and Alina stood by the unconscious boy, their faces etched with concern. Madam Elysia, the school nurse, a graceful elf with flowing silver hair, tended to the stranger with practiced hands.
"This boy is not from this school," Elysia said after a moment, her voice calm but firm. "His energy signature is foreign."
"What does that mean?" Alina asked, her brows furrowed.
"It means he came here intentionally," Lorian replied, his tone grim. "But why?"
Elysia gently placed a glowing hand on the boy's forehead, her magic seeping into his skin. "His body is weak, but his mind… it's chaotic. He's been through something traumatic."
Alina shifted uncomfortably, memories of the shadow in the forest resurfacing. "Do you think it's connected to the forest? To the old magic?"
"It's too early to say," Lorian answered, though his eyes betrayed his unease.
Just then, the boy stirred, his eyes fluttering open. They were a startling shade of emerald, filled with fear and confusion.
"Where am I?" he croaked, his voice barely audible.
"You're safe," Elysia assured him, her tone gentle. "You're at Havenridge Academy."
The boy's eyes widened, and he tried to sit up, but Elysia placed a firm hand on his chest. "Easy. You're not well enough to move."
"No," he said urgently, his voice rising. "You don't understand. They're coming."
"Who's coming?" Lorian demanded, stepping closer.
The boy's gaze darted around the room, as if expecting danger to appear at any moment. "The shadow… it's alive. And it's hunting."
The boy's cryptic warning sent a chill through Alina. Before they could press him further, Elysia shooed them out of the infirmary, insisting he needed rest.
As they walked down the corridor, Alina turned to Lorian. "What do you think he meant by 'the shadow'?"
Lorian's expression was unreadable. "I don't know. But I intend to find out."
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Alina couldn't focus in any of her classes, her mind replaying the boy's words over and over. By the time evening rolled around, she felt restless and uneasy.
Deciding she needed a distraction, she headed to the common room, where several of her classmates were gathered.
"Alina!" Ariel called, waving her over. The angelic girl was seated on a plush couch, her radiant smile a welcome sight. "We were just about to play a game. Want to join?"
Alina hesitated, glancing at the others. Fenrir was sprawled out on another couch, his wolfish grin as mischievous as ever. Eira and Darius were arguing over the rules of the game, their voices rising in playful banter.
"Sure," Alina said finally, forcing a smile.
As the game progressed, Alina found herself relaxing, the camaraderie of her classmates a soothing balm for her troubled thoughts. But just as she began to enjoy herself, a sharp knock at the door interrupted the laughter.
Lorian entered, his expression serious. "Alina. We need to talk."
The room fell silent, all eyes on Lorian.
"What's going on?" Fenrir asked, his tone wary.
"It's about the boy we found," Lorian said. "He's awake—and he's asking for Alina."
The group followed Lorian to the infirmary, curiosity and apprehension buzzing in the air. When they arrived, the boy was sitting up in bed, his emerald eyes locked onto Alina the moment she entered.
"You," he said, his voice steady despite his weak appearance. "You were in the forest."
Alina froze. "How do you know that?"
The boy's gaze was intense. "Because it was watching you."
"'It'?" Lorian pressed.
"The shadow," the boy said. "It's not just magic. It's a living entity. And it's been awakened."
The revelation hung heavy in the air. Alina felt her knees weaken, and she leaned against the wall for support. "Why would it be watching me?" she whispered.
"I don't know," the boy admitted. "But I do know one thing—it's not going to stop."
"What do you mean?" Fenrir asked, his voice unusually serious.
The boy's expression darkened. "It's hunting her."
The group left the infirmary in a tense silence, the boy's warning ringing in their ears. Back in the common room, they gathered to discuss their next move.
"We need to figure out what this 'shadow' is," Lorian said. "And why it's targeting Alina."
"But how?" Ariel asked, her wings twitching nervously.
"There's a restricted section in the library," Eira suggested. "It might have information on old magic."
"Great idea," Fenrir said sarcastically. "Let's all just stroll into the restricted section and hope we don't get caught."
"Do you have a better idea?" Eira shot back.
"Enough," Lorian said firmly. "Eira's right. It's a risk, but it's our best chance at finding answers."
That night, Alina couldn't sleep. The boy's words haunted her, and every creak of the old dormitory made her jump. Finally, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
Wrapping herself in a cloak, she slipped out of her room and made her way to the library. The halls were eerily quiet, the moonlight casting long shadows on the walls.
When she reached the library, she hesitated. The restricted section was off-limits for a reason, and getting caught could mean serious trouble.
But she had to know the truth.
Steeling herself, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Alina enters the darkened library, unaware of the pair of glowing red eyes watching her from the shadows.