It was 9:10 in the morning.
The main courtyard was dead silent.
Students stood off to the side, whispering in small groups.
Even the teachers stayed back near the edges.
Nobody wanted to walk into the open space.
A grand black carriage was parked right by the front gate.
The crest of Duke Malric was marked right on the side.
Two guards had already stepped out.
The carriage door was still closed.
Sera stood near the edge of the courtyard.
Behind her stood Caelum, Riven, Kairos, and Lucien.
Nobody said a word.
The air felt completely still.
Then, the carriage door opened up.
Duke Malric stepped out.
He wore a dark coat and walked with slow, easy steps.
He had that same cold smile on his face.
He looked around the whole yard first.
Then his eyes stopped right on Sera.
He started walking straight toward her.
His guards didn’t move.
”Seraphina Voss,” he called out.
His voice carried across the quiet space effortlessly.
”Your three days are up.” Sera took one step forward without shaking.
”I’m not going with you.” Malric nodded once, like he expected her to say that.
”I didn’t come here to drag you away,” he said.
”I just came to remind you that you’re running out of choices.” Caelum stepped up, putting himself slightly in front of Sera.
”Duke Malric, this academy is under royal protection.” ”You need to leave.” Malric looked at Caelum with the same faint smile.
”Crown Prince,” Malric said calmly.
”I respect who you are.” ”But this is way bigger than you.” He raised his hand.
A guard ran up and passed him a small black box.
Malric opened it and pulled out an old, folded paper.
He held it loosely, like it didn’t matter much.
”Look at this,” Malric said.
”It’s one of the notes your mother hid away.” ”I got my hands on it earlier.” Sera stared right at the paper.
It had the same exact mark she saw in the West Wing.
There were lines of text underneath, but they were too far to read.
Malric didn’t even look down at the page.
He just said the words from memory: ”The entity is the last of its kind.” ”Whoever controls it will master not just its power, but its will.” ”House Voss cannot handle this burden.” ”No ordinary bloodline ever could.” He folded the note back up.
”Do you get it now, Seraphina?” ”The thing inside you isn’t just yours anymore.” ”Anyone strong enough can just claim it.” Riven spoke up, his voice low and heavy.
”Are you trying to claim it?” Malric looked him dead in the eye.
”I’m trying to keep it safe.
Everyone else just wants to use it.” ”Big difference.” Kairos took a step forward too.
”The Temple has a say in this too.
You’re not the only one here.” Malric let out a short chuckle.
”Varis?
He really thinks he can handle it.” ”He can’t.
I can.” Lucien shoved his hands into his pockets.
”You’re pretty sure of yourself, Duke.” ”Isn’t that a bit much?” Malric looked at Lucien for a second, then turned back to Sera.
”I’m sure because I know how things really are,” Malric said quietly.
”I know these four aren’t doing this for free either.” Sera’s eyes went sharp.
She didn’t speak, but her posture changed right away.
Malric noticed it immediately.
He dropped his voice so only she could hear: ”Did you ever ask yourself, Seraphina?” ”How did these guys get so close so fast?” ”Was it only after they felt your power?” ”After touching your hand?” ”After figuring out what you are?” A cold quiet hit the whole courtyard.
The watching students didn’t make a sound.
Caelum clenched his jaw tight.
”Watch your mouth, Duke.” Malric just shook his head.
”I’m just asking.” ”They’ll have to answer you themselves…
when the time comes.” He put the paper back in the box and gave it to his guard.
Then he looked right back at Sera.
”I won’t push you today,” he said.
”But next time I show up, we won’t just talk.” ”You’ll have to pick a side, Seraphina.” ”Come with me…
or stick with the guys behind you.” ”Neither choice is clean.” ”At least I’m not lying to your face.” He turned around and walked back to his carriage.
He stopped at the door for one last look.
”Think about it.
You don’t have much time.” The carriage drove off with his guards right behind it.
Slowly, the students started moving again.
Whispers started spreading everywhere.
Sera just stood there, unable to move her feet.
The four guys stayed silent behind her.
Lucien finally broke the quiet, but his voice sounded totally flat.
”Well…
that was something.” ”I’d give it a 2 out of 10.” ”Way too dramatic.” Nobody laughed.
Sera turned around slowly to look at them.
Caelum, Riven, Kairos, and Lucien all looked different, but their eyes said the same thing.
Malric’s words hit right where it hurt.
Kairos stepped closer.
”Sera…
he’s just trying to mess with your head.” Sera didn’t say anything.
She looked at them for a second, then looked away.
”We’re right here,” Riven said quietly.
“That doesn’t change.” Sera looked down at her hands, clenching them tight.
Deep inside, a warm golden light flared up, followed by a cold grey wave.
This time, neither felt good.
They just made her mind more messy.
”Let’s go back inside,” Caelum said softly.
“Clear out of here.” Sera nodded once.
When she started walking, she stayed a few steps ahead of them.
She didn’t walk beside them.
It was a small distance.
But everyone felt it.
Sera looked down at her fingers.
They were shaking a little.
Malric’s question wouldn’t leave her head: How did these guys get so close so fast?
She tried to brush it off, but it stayed stuck.
As they walked through the doors, she looked back just once.
Four guys were standing around her.
And for the first time, she felt completely on her own.