The moment Aiden stepped back inside the dormitory, the heavy doors shutting behind him, he exhaled sharply. His heart still raced, and the faint warmth of his fire powers lingered in his palms. The darkened hallways of Genvah Academy seemed almost peaceful now compared to the tension of the forest outside.
The echoes of Emmeranne's words played on a loop in his head.
"Headmaster Kairos mentioned something about keeping an eye on you. He didn't say why."
Aiden climbed the stairs back to his room.
He had always known that Genvah was dangerous, but now it felt like danger lurked everywhere, even within the shadows of the academy.
By the time he reached the room, he expected Adrian and Sevan to be fast asleep. The lights were dimmed, the only source of illumination being the faint moonlight spilling through the window.
But he was wrong.
Adrian was sitting on his bed, tossing a small dagger into the air and catching it lazily. Sevan, meanwhile, was perched on the windowsill, his blue eyes reflecting the moonlight as he gazed out at the academy grounds. They both turned toward Aiden as the door creaked open.
"You're late," Adrian remarked, his tone teasing but laced with curiosity. He caught the dagger mid-air and set it aside.
"Where were you?" Sevan added, hopping off the windowsill. His usually cheerful expression was replaced with a subtle frown. "You look like you've seen a ghost—or fought one."
Aiden hesitated, debating whether to tell them the truth. The last thing he wanted was to admit that Emmeranne had not only bested him in combat but also scolded him like a reckless child.
"I couldn't sleep," he said finally, avoiding their gazes. "Went for a walk. Needed to clear my head."
"A walk?" Adrian raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. "At this hour? Past the perimeter?"
"Not past the perimeter," Aiden shot back, a little too quickly.
Sevan stepped closer, crossing his arms. "Then why do you smell like fire and ash?"
Aiden sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. I... might've bumped into Emmeranne."
Adrian whistled low.
"And you survived?"
"She ambushed me," Aiden said, his tone sharp. "Thought I was some kind of monster- a Nosferatu, she called it."
Sevan's eyebrows furrowed. "Nosferatu? Aren't those the creatures rated dangerous? I thought they didn't come near the academy."
"Apparently, they do," Aiden muttered, sinking onto his bed. "Or at least Emmeranne thought I was one. She didn't exactly apologise for trying to take my head off."
"That sounds like her," Adrian said, smirking. "Straight to the point, no room for pleasantries. Honestly, I'd pay to see that fight."
Aiden shot him a glare. "It wasn't a 'fight.' She caught me off guard."
"Caught you off guard or not," Sevan interjected, "you're lucky it was Emmeranne and not an actual Nosferatu. From what I've read, those things are relentless."
"Great," Aiden said dryly, leaning back against the headboard. "Another thing to worry about."
Adrian studied him for a moment before speaking again, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "Why were you out there, anyway? You know Headmaster Kairos warned you not to leave the academy walls."
"I didn't leave the walls," Aiden said defensively. "I just... needed air. That's all."
Sevan tilted his head, his sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Needed air? Or were you trying to figure something out?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Aiden asked, his voice tightening.
"You've been restless since the forest," Sevan pointed out. "And now you're sneaking out in the middle of the night? Feels like there's more going on with you than you're letting on."
Aiden's jaw clenched. He wanted to argue, but the truth weighed heavily on him. The dream of the tree, the whispers, the growing sense that something inside him was changing- it wasn't something he could easily explain.
"Look, I'm fine," he said finally, avoiding Sevan's gaze. "You're overthinking it."
"Am I?"
Adrian broke the tension with a loud yawn, stretching his arms behind his head. "Well, as long as you're not turning into one of those Nosferatu, I think we're good. Next time you decide to sneak out, though, give me a heads-up. I wouldn't mind a midnight adventure."
Aiden rolled his eyes but felt a small sense of relief. Adrian's lightheartedness, as annoying as it could be, was a welcome distraction.
Sevan, however, didn't look entirely convinced. He lingered for a moment, his gaze thoughtful, before finally retreating to his bed. "Just... don't do anything stupid," he said quietly.
Aiden nodded, though he wasn't sure if he could keep that promise.
As the room fell into silence, Aiden stared at the ceiling, his mind racing. Emmeranne's warning about a Nosferatu, Headmaster Kairos' insistence that he stay within the academy made him unsettled, somehow.
But what unsettled him most was the question Sevan had asked earlier, the one he hadn't answered truthfully: Why were you out there?
The truth was, Aiden wasn't just restless. He had been drawn outside, almost compelled to follow some invisible thread leading him toward the edge of the academy's boundaries. Even now, he could still feel it- a faint tug in his chest, as if something out there was calling to him.
He shook the thought away, forcing himself to focus on the present. Whatever it was, it could wait until morning.
Adrian's voice broke the silence. "Hey, Aiden."
"Yeah?"
"You're a terrible liar," Adrian said, snorting.
Aiden groaned, pulling the blanket over his head. "Goodnight, Adrian."
---------------------------
Emmeranne remained rooted at the edge of the perimeter, her gaze fixed on Aiden's retreating figure as he slipped back into the academy.Her gaze remained fixed for a moment, as though weighing something in her mind, before she turned back to the darkness.
From the treeline, a faint shift in the air broke the silence. Without hesitation, Emmeranne's hand hovered near the hilt of her sword. "You're late," she said quietly, her voice barely carrying above the wind.
A hooded figure stepped into view, their movements fluid and soundless. The moonlight outlined their dark cloak, but their face remained obscured, shrouded in shadow. They stopped a few paces from her, tilting their head as though amused.
"Patience was never your strength," the figure said.
Emmeranne's gaze didn't waver. "This isn't the time for games. He's here."
The figure remained silent for a moment, their presence exuding an eerie calm. "So, it's true."
"It is," she replied curtly. Her tone was steady, but there was a tension in her posture, a readiness to act if necessary. "You were right about his aura."
There was a nod, slow and deliberate. "The Headmaster was right. "
"Of course he is. The aura around him is proof enough. It's pulling everything toward him. It's the same aura I felt while I was in London."
The hooded figure nodded once, their form blending into the darkness. "Keep watch. And make sure he doesn't walk past."
Emmeranne turned away, her voice cold as steel. "I'll make sure of it. But if this gets out of hand, I won't hesitate to kill him."
"I never doubted you," the figure replied, their voice a whisper as they disappeared into the shadows.
Emmeranne stood there a moment longer, her hand brushing against the hilt of her weapon as she stared at the treeline.
With a final glance toward the dormitories, Emmeranne disappeared into the night, leaving the silence to close in behind her.