Today is a very exciting day for a lot of pure blood, half blood and human born wizards. Today they are getting letters to one of the most prestigious wizarding academies in all off Lucidia. Well for those who know about Yegiths in any way, for those who don't, like Evan Stevens, well let's just say he is in for a big surprise.
∞∞∞∞∞∞
That morning, I woke up feeling different. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but the air felt lighter, almost electric. It was as if something big was waiting for me just around the corner. I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of excitement, though I didn't know why. Normally, my birthday didn't feel like anything special. Sharing it with my cousin Ian meant it always got lumped into one big celebration centered more on him than me. Don't get me wrong, Aunt Melissa and Uncle Mason are good people. They've never made me feel unloved or like I wasn't part of the family. Still, when it came to my birthday, I was often just... there.
Like most mornings, I got up, stretched, and dressed lazily. I reached for my phone, expecting the usual flood of "Happy Birthday!" texts from a few friends at school. But before I could even unlock the screen, I heard Aunt Melissa call from downstairs.
"Evan, honey, you've got a letter!"
A letter? For me? I almost tripped over my feet as I rushed to the top of the stairs. "Coming!" I shouted, quickly shoving my phone into my pocket and bounding down.
Aunt Melissa was standing in the kitchen with an envelope in her hand, a small smile on her face. She looked amused at my sudden energy. "What is it?" I asked, a grin forming as I tried to catch my breath.
"I have no idea. Why don't you open it and tell me?" she replied, still smiling.
The envelope was unlike anything I'd ever seen—thick parchment, with a wax seal stamped in deep green. My name was written in elegant handwriting that seemed to shimmer slightly in the light. I carefully broke the seal and unfolded the letter, my hands shaking a little. As my eyes scanned the words, I felt my heart stop.
"It's from a place called... Yegiths Academy of Witchcraft and Wizarding?" I read aloud, my voice faltering. "What is this? Why did I get one?"
The moment the words left my mouth, Aunt Melissa's expression shifted. Her face went pale, her lips parting in a shocked gasp. For a moment, she looked like she'd seen a ghost.
"Mom? What's wrong?" Ian's voice broke the silence as he came into the room. He looked between me and Aunt Melissa, frowning in confusion.
Uncle Mason appeared shortly after, his face serious as he took in the scene. It was as though he had been waiting for this moment and dreading it all at once. He exchanged a glance with Aunt Melissa, then cleared his throat.
"Boys," he said, his voice steady but grave. "Come sit down. There's something we need to talk about."
The four of us moved to the living room, the tension so thick it felt like a heavy blanket pressing down on us. Ian and I sat on the couch, and I couldn't help but fidget as Uncle Mason and Aunt Melissa exchanged another look. Finally, Uncle Mason turned to me.
"Evan, there's something we've kept from you. Something we hoped we wouldn't have to explain for a few more years." He paused, rubbing the back of his neck. "The night you came to us—when you were just a baby—we had no idea what we were getting into. You see, Evan, you're not... like other kids. You're special."
"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice small.
Aunt Melissa reached over to squeeze my hand, her eyes glistening with tears. "You're a wizard, Evan. A real wizard."
I stared at her, blinking rapidly, waiting for her to laugh and say it was a joke. But she didn't. Instead, Uncle Mason continued.
"Your mother came from a powerful wizarding family. We never met your father, so we don't know much about his side, but... well, the letter confirms what we always suspected. Yegiths Academy is a school for witches and wizards, and now that you've turned the right age, they've come for you."
My mind was spinning. A wizard? Me? That didn't make any sense. Wizards belonged in stories and movies, not real life. Yet here I was, holding a letter that said otherwise.
Uncle Mason sighed heavily. "We knew this day would come, Evan. We just thought we had more time. You'll need to pack your things. You're going to the academy, and we'll send you as soon as they're ready for you."
"Wait, I don't even—"
But Uncle Mason stood abruptly, cutting me off. "Just pack. We'll figure out the rest later." And with that, he walked out of the room, leaving me stunned.
Aunt Melissa stayed behind, tears streaming down her face as she wrapped her arms around me. "Oh, Evan," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm so sorry. I don't want you to go, but you'll do amazing things. Your mother would be so proud of you."
She pressed a small box into my hands. "These are some things to remember us by. And if you ever want to write, please do. Ian and I would love to hear from you. We'll send you letters, sweets, anything to remind you we're thinking of you."
Her words were kind, but they only made the ache in my chest worse. Still, I nodded, unable to speak as I climbed the stairs to my room. As I packed my things, the weight of it all hit me. My life was about to change forever, and I wasn't sure if I was ready.
∞∞∞∞∞∞
Ian
The tension in the house had been unbearable since Evan got his letter. I could feel it bubbling under my skin, growing every time someone fawned over him or talked about how "special" he was. It wasn't fair. For as long as I could remember, I'd been the center of attention. Now, suddenly, everything was about Evan. It wasn't that I hated him—I didn't. Evan was my cousin, my best friend even. But the way Mum and Dad had been acting, as if he were the most important person in the world, made my blood boil.
So, I came up with a plan.
A ridiculous plan, but at the time, it seemed perfect. I grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled it down:
Plan to Get Evan Into Trouble
Tell him Mum and Dad lied.
Tell him they're going to ship him off to military camp.
Tell him they never truly loved him.
Help him run away.
Tell Mum and Dad he ran away.
It seemed foolproof. Evan wasn't the sharpest when it came to spotting lies, and I knew exactly how to push his buttons. So, I folded up the paper, marched to his room, and knocked on the door.
"Hey, Evan," I started, leaning casually against the doorframe. He was sitting on his bed, staring at that letter like it was going to start talking to him. "Can I come in?"
"Sure," he said, looking up.
I sat down next to him, trying to look as serious as possible. "There's something I think you should know," I said, lowering my voice like I was sharing some terrible secret.
"What is it?" he asked, his brow furrowed.
"Mum and Dad lied to you," I said, pausing dramatically. "They're not sending you to some magical academy. They're shipping you off to military camp because they're embarrassed of you."
Evan blinked, looking completely taken aback. "What? That doesn't make any sense."
"It's true," I pressed. "They've been planning it for years. Why do you think they've always treated you differently? They never really loved you, Evan. They only took you in because they had to."
His face fell, and for a moment, I felt a pang of guilt. But I shoved it aside. "I can help you," I added quickly. "We can come up with a plan for you to escape. You don't have to stay here and be sent away to some horrible camp."
He hesitated, biting his lip. "I don't know, Ian... What if you're wrong?"
"I'm not wrong," I insisted, leaning closer. "Look, I'll help you. It'll be easy. Just pack a small bag, wait until Mum and Dad are asleep, and sneak out the window. Once you're out, you can call me, and I'll help you figure out where to go."
Evan looked at me for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Okay," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
That night, everything went exactly as planned. Evan packed a small backpack, and we waited until the house was quiet. I watched him climb out the window, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and nerves. This was it. My plan was working.
But as soon as he was gone, the guilt started to creep in. I hadn't really thought this through. What if something happened to him? What if he got hurt—or worse?
Unable to take it anymore, I ran downstairs and found Mum and Dad in the living room.
"Mum," I blurted out, my face red. "I have to tell you something."
She looked up, confused. "What's wrong, Ian?"
"It's Evan," I said, my words tumbling out in a rush. "He ran away because... well, because I lied to him. I told him you didn't love him and that you were sending him to military camp. I'm sorry, Mum."
Her face turned pale. "Ian! How could you do such a thing? Where did he go?"
Before I could answer, a loud, booming knock echoed through the house. We all froze. Mum opened the door, and standing there was the biggest man I'd ever seen. He had wild, curly hair and a thick beard, and his presence filled the entire doorway.
"Who are you?" Mum asked, her voice shaky despite her attempt to sound calm.
"Sorry fur disturbing ye at this oor," the man said in a deep, heavily accented voice. "A'm Jesse. A'm fae Yegiths 'n' 'ere tae come 'n' collect Evan. Whaur is he?"
Mum just stared at him, completely speechless.
I stepped forward, swallowing hard. "He... he ran away," I admitted.
Jesse's eyes narrowed. "Ran awa'? Ye silly laddie. Whaur did ye guys plan fur him tae gang, 'n' howfur lang ago did he leave?"
Feeling about two inches tall, I told him everything—where Evan was supposed to go, what time he'd left, everything. Jesse listened, nodding grimly.
"Ah'll find him," he said finally. "Dinnae fash yerselves. Evan'll be fine, but ye might nae see him until the holidays. He'll be in guid hands at Yegiths. Ye can write him, though."
And with that, he turned and disappeared into the night, leaving us standing there in stunned silence.
∞∞∞∞∞∞
Running away wasn't exactly what I had planned for my birthday. In fact, the thought hadn't even crossed my mind until Ian told me it was the only way to avoid being sent to that dreaded military camp. Still, here I was, clutching my backpack and trying to make sense of how everything in my life had spiraled so far out of control. What did I do wrong? I mean, sure, I wasn't perfect, but bad enough to get shipped off to a camp for boys who needed "discipline"? The thought stung more than I cared to admit.
The day was gray and overcast, matching my mood as I trudged along the edge of town. My thoughts ran in circles, so loud in my head that I barely noticed where I was going. I kept replaying conversations, looks my aunt and uncle had given me, even the times I'd stayed out late without asking. None of it seemed bad enough to deserve this.
Then it happened.
I ran straight into something—no, someone—solid as a brick wall. The force knocked me backward, and I landed hard on the pavement, my backpack spilling onto the ground beside me. Groaning, I glanced up, ready to apologize—or maybe yell, depending on the situation—but the words caught in my throat.
The man standing over me was enormous, like a literal giant. Broad shoulders, a wild beard, and piercing eyes that seemed to look straight through me. But what really threw me was that he knew my name.
"Aye, Evan!" he said in a thick Scottish accent, a small smirk on his face. "Fit wey are ye off tae the day?"
I blinked, scrambling to my feet and brushing dirt off my pants. "What? Who—who are you? And how do you know my name?" I stammered, heart pounding.
The man chuckled, clearly amused by my reaction. "Och, laddie, dinna fret yersel! A fine introduction that is! Jesse here, fae Yegiths Academy. Headmaster Lee sent me tae fetch ye. Says there's a wee bit ye need ken afore ye set sail for Yegiths. Headmaster's expectin' ye, so let's nae delay, eh? Follow me!"
Yegiths? Academy? What was this guy talking about? And how did he expect me to just follow him like it was no big deal?
"No," I said firmly, taking a step back. "I don't know who you are or what you want, but I'm not going anywhere with you."
I turned to run, but before I could take more than a few steps, Jesse's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
"STREROPIUS!"
I froze. Not because I wanted to, but because I literally couldn't move. My legs were locked in place, and every muscle in my body refused to respond. Panic surged through me as I tried to figure out what was happening.
"Hold yer wheesht a wee bit, Evan," Jesse said, his tone more patient now. "I might just be able tae break this wee spell bindin' ye. But there's a catch, lad. Ye gotta promise me ye'll lend me yer lugs and listen close tae what I have tae say. No sneakin' off before I'm finished, mind ye."
Magic. It had to be magic. My aunt and uncle had told me about it once—about my parents, about the world I supposedly came from—but I'd always thought it was some story to make me feel special. Now, standing here frozen by this stranger, I wasn't so sure.
Jesse muttered something under his breath, and the invisible hold on me vanished. I staggered slightly, still too stunned to speak.
"Now, Evan," Jesse said, giving me a long look. "Dinnae look at me like that. I ken this might sound barmy, but listen close. Ye see, ye're a wizard, aye, a proper spellcaster! Yer mam and dad, bless their souls, were powerful witches and wizards themselves until… well, the Dark Lord did what he did. Yegiths Academy, that's where ye're headed, lad. A school for wee folks like yersel, learnin' tae control their magic. The rest, well, it cannae be said out here in the open. Best wait until we're on oor way."
I stared at him, my mind racing. A wizard? Me? None of this made any sense. And yet, a small part of me couldn't help but wonder if it was true.
Still, I couldn't just go with him. "Why should I believe you?" I asked, my voice shaking despite my best efforts to sound confident.
Jesse sighed, his expression softening. "Because, lad, yer life's about tae change. Whether ye like it or nae, it's time tae find yer place in this world. Now, come along. We've got goodbyes tae say before we reach the harbor."
I didn't move right away, torn between fear and curiosity. But eventually, I nodded. What other choice did I have? Jesse smiled, clapping a hand on my shoulder, and together we started walking back toward my aunt and uncle's house.
∞∞∞∞∞∞
The darkness of the mansion pressed in around us, thick and suffocating, as I crouched with Nova in the shadowed corner of the corridor. My little sister clung to my side, her small hand gripping my sleeve so tightly I could feel her nails digging into the fabric. Her breath came in short, panicked gasps, and I wrapped an arm around her, trying to steady her trembling without letting her see the fear clawing its way through me.
The air in the mansion, already freezing, grew colder. A chill slithered over my skin, and every instinct I had screamed that someone was watching us. My heart hammered in my chest as I scanned the corridor, but the black void ahead offered no clue to where the threat was. Before I could move, before I could even think, Matthew appeared, stepping out of the shadows like a barrier between us and whoever—or whatever—was closing in.
"Are you bloody mad?" Matthew hissed as we ducked into my room and he slammed the door behind us. His voice was low but sharp, cutting through the silence.
I set Nova down gently on the bed, brushing a hand over her dark hair as she buried her face in her knees. "Nova wanted to play," I snapped, whirling on Matthew. "What was I supposed to do when your father and his followers showed up out of nowhere? Pick her up and sprint through the mansion? What do you suggest, oh great strategist?" My voice came out harsher than I intended, my frustration and fear bubbling over.
Matthew folded his arms, his expression a mix of irritation and exasperation. "I suggest not hiding out in the middle of a bloody hallway when you know my father's men are stalking around. You're lucky I found you first!"
I ran a hand through my hair, tugging at it as I tried to shake the image of those lifeless eyes I had felt but hadn't seen. "Where's Jason?" I asked, needing to focus on something else. "He was supposed to follow."
Matthew sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "I think my dad's holding him up, probably telling him how we're supposed to deal with the 'Chosen boy' situation from the beginning of this school year. He also mentioned something about two people he'd hurt if this doesn't go his way."
"Who?" I demanded, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.
Matthew shook his head. "He didn't say. Not to me, at least."
At that moment, Jason stepped into the room, his face eerily calm. "The other person doesn't concern either of you," he said coldly, his voice like ice. "It's better if you don't know."
His detached tone sent a shiver down my spine, but he didn't stop there. "Father also reminded me about the capsules. We need to take them once a week without fail. He's sending a two-month supply for us to take with us, and Nova will be sending the rest to us as needed."
I stared at him, stunned at how clinical he sounded. "Right," I muttered, running a hand over my face. "Then I guess we'd better start packing. We'll need to throw some of your supplies in with my stuff."
The tension in the room was suffocating, and I could feel Nova's wide eyes on me, though she didn't say a word. I forced myself to move, opening drawers and stuffing clothes into my suitcase. The others joined in silently, grabbing what I would need. None of us spoke, but the unspoken weight of what was happening hung heavy in the air.
I stole a glance at Nova, who sat on the edge of the bed clutching her stuffed animal. I walked over and knelt in front of her. "It's going to be okay," I whispered, though I didn't know if I believed it. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I promise."
She nodded, her little face pale but determined, and I gave her a small smile before returning to packing. The mansion felt colder than ever, and the shadows seemed to stretch longer, darker. Somewhere out there, the Black Lord was waiting. And for some reason, we were walking straight into his plans.