The forest remained silent long after Machir's voice disappeared.
Rohgah stood between the trees, staring into the darkness.
His father's final words continued echoing inside his head.
Some truths are better left buried.
Rohgah had heard many warnings in his life.
Teachers had warned him about his temper.
Students had warned each other about his magic.
His father had warned him about enemies.
But never before had Machir warned him about a girl.
That alone made Sofia dangerous.
Or important.
Perhaps both.
Rohgah slowly clenched his fists.
"What are you hiding?"
A branch snapped behind him.
He turned.
Nicole, Ashbel, and Bella stood several meters away.
Bella still held the wooden sword.
Nicole's eyes were narrowed.
Ashbel looked frightened.
Rohgah stared at them.
"What are you doing here?"
Nicole crossed her arms.
"We could ask you the same thing."
"This isn't a game."
"We know."
Bella pointed toward the place where the creature had disappeared.
"What was that?"
Rohgah's expression hardened.
"You don't need to know."
Nicole stepped forward.
"We saw what you did."
"And?"
"That creature could have killed us."
"But it didn't."
"Because you stopped it."
Rohgah said nothing.
Ashbel looked toward the trees.
"Who was speaking?"
Rohgah's eyes moved toward her.
"What?"
"Someone spoke."
Bella nodded.
"We heard him too."
Rohgah looked away.
"My father."
The three girls exchanged glances.
Nicole frowned.
"Machir Perez?"
Rohgah nodded.
"What does he want with Sofia?"
Rohgah's expression immediately changed.
"How do you know her name?"
Nicole realized her mistake.
"We heard someone call her."
Rohgah stared at her.
"You've been watching her."
Nicole didn't answer.
Rohgah stepped closer.
"Why?"
Nicole lifted her chin.
"Because she's suspicious."
Something flashed in Rohgah's eyes.
"Be careful."
Nicole didn't move.
"I'm not afraid of you."
"I know."
He walked past them.
"But you should be careful of what you don't understand."
Sofia was running.
She didn't stop until she reached the edge of the school grounds.
Her breathing was heavy.
Her hands were trembling.
She leaned against a tree and closed her eyes.
She had almost told him.
Again.
She had almost confessed everything.
Then Machir had appeared.
Or rather, his voice had.
He was always watching.
Always controlling.
Always reminding her that Rohgah could never know.
Sofia wiped her tears.
"I can't keep doing this."
She heard footsteps.
Her heart jumped.
She turned.
It was not Rohgah.
It was Elena.
The girl from yesterday.
Elena looked at her carefully.
"You were with him."
Sofia frowned.
"Who?"
"Don't pretend."
Sofia looked away.
"Leave me alone."
Elena stepped closer.
"You know who Rohgah is."
Sofia's eyes widened.
"What are you talking about?"
Elena smiled.
"You know more than you're pretending to know."
Sofia's face became cold.
"And you know more than you're saying."
Elena's smile disappeared.
For a moment, neither girl spoke.
Then Elena whispered,
"Be careful."
Sofia looked at her.
"Of what?"
"Of the people watching you."
Elena turned to leave.
Sofia grabbed her arm.
"Who is watching me?"
Elena looked down at her hand.
Then back at Sofia.
"Everyone."
She pulled herself free and walked away.
Sofia stood there, confused.
Everyone?
What did she mean?
The next morning, rumors spread through Ravenshade.
Students were talking about the forest.
Some claimed a monster had attacked.
Others said Rohgah had summoned it.
One student claimed he had seen three girls fighting beside him.
By lunchtime, the story had become completely different.
According to the rumor, Rohgah had fought an entire army.
Nicole nearly choked on her drink.
"An army?"
Bella laughed.
"Apparently."
Ashbel smiled.
"People exaggerate."
Nicole shook her head.
"That's not the problem."
"What is?"
"Sofia."
Bella sighed.
"Again?"
"Yes."
Nicole looked toward the cafeteria entrance.
Sofia had just walked in.
She was alone.
She carried her tray and looked for a place to sit.
Rohgah entered moments later.
His eyes immediately found her.
Nicole noticed.
"See?"
Bella sighed.
"You've become obsessed with watching him watch her."
Nicole glared.
"I'm observing."
"Of course."
Ashbel looked uncomfortable.
"Let's just eat."
But before they could continue, Rohgah walked toward Sofia.
He stopped beside her.
"Sit with me."
Sofia looked up.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want people talking."
"They already talk."
Sofia lowered her voice.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain it."
"I can't."
Rohgah pulled out the chair opposite her.
"I'm sitting here."
Sofia looked around nervously.
"Rohgah…"
"Yes?"
"Please."
Something about her voice made him pause.
She wasn't annoyed.
She was afraid.
He stood.
"Fine."
Sofia looked relieved.
But before he could leave, Nicole approached.
"Why are you bothering her?"
Rohgah looked at her.
"I wasn't talking to you."
Nicole folded her arms.
"You don't have to."
Sofia looked between them.
"Please stop."
Rohgah turned toward her.
"I'm not the one who started this."
Nicole stepped closer.
"You always have to act superior."
Rohgah smiled.
"And you always have to interfere."
Bella grabbed Nicole's arm.
"Enough."
Nicole pulled away.
"I can handle him."
Rohgah's eyes darkened.
"Can you?"
The temperature around them seemed to drop.
Students began moving away.
Ashbel felt the strange sensation again.
Water.
She looked down.
The drink on the table beside her was trembling.
She quickly covered it with her hand.
Rohgah noticed.
He looked at her suspiciously.
"Interesting."
Ashbel froze.
"What?"
He stared at her for a moment.
Then he turned away.
That evening, the three girls met in their dormitory.
Bella closed the door.
"We need to talk."
Nicole sat on the bed.
"About Sofia."
Ashbel sighed.
"Of course."
Bella nodded.
"Something is wrong."
Nicole leaned forward.
"She's hiding something."
"Definitely."
Ashbel looked worried.
"And Rohgah is hiding something too."
Nicole looked at her.
"What makes you say that?"
"His magic."
Bella nodded.
"I've never seen anything like it."
Nicole's expression became serious.
"Then we find out what he is."
Ashbel frowned.
"We already know he's a wizard."
"No."
Nicole shook her head.
"I mean what kind of wizard."
Bella looked thoughtful.
"His father is Machir."
"Exactly."
Ashbel lowered her voice.
"Do you think Machir knows about Sofia?"
Nicole smiled.
"I think Machir knows everything."
"Then how do we find out?"
Nicole stood.
"We follow them."
Bella laughed.
"You're serious?"
"Very."
Ashbel shook her head.
"This is a terrible idea."
Nicole smiled.
"Which means it's probably going to be fun."
The following day, Nicole's plan began.
She had expected Rohgah to go somewhere with Sofia after school.
Instead, he disappeared alone.
The three girls followed him from a distance.
He walked through an old section of the school.
Past the library.
Past the abandoned classrooms.
Then down a narrow staircase they had never noticed before.
Bella whispered,
"Where is he going?"
Nicole signaled for silence.
They followed.
At the bottom of the staircase was a large wooden door.
Rohgah opened it.
The girls waited.
After several seconds, Nicole pushed the door open.
The room was empty.
"What?"
Bella looked around.
"Where did he go?"
Ashbel noticed something on the floor.
"Ash."
She pointed.
There were strange symbols drawn across the ground.
Nicole crouched.
"Magic."
Bella touched one.
The moment her finger made contact, the symbol glowed.
Bella jumped back.
"Don't touch it!"
The room suddenly shook.
A deep voice echoed through the walls.
"Who entered?"
The three girls froze.
Nicole reached for her weapon.
Bella raised her sword.
Ashbel's hands began glowing blue.
Then a shadow appeared in front of them.
It formed slowly.
A tall man.
Dark clothing.
Cold eyes.
Machir Perez.
Nicole immediately recognized him.
"You're Machir."
The wizard stared at them.
"Three royal children."
His gaze moved from Nicole to Ashbel and then Bella.
"Vampire."
"Mermaid."
"Babylonian."
His eyes narrowed.
"Interesting."
Bella stepped forward.
"Where is Rohgah?"
Machir smiled.
"Why do you care?"
Nicole answered before Bella could.
"We don't."
Machir laughed softly.
"Lies."
Ashbel felt a chill.
Machir's eyes moved toward her.
"You should all leave."
Nicole refused to move.
"What are you hiding?"
Machir's expression changed.
For the first time, the girls saw something in his eyes.
Fear.
Only for a second.
But it was there.
Then the room went dark.
When the lights returned, Machir was gone.
So was Rohgah.
Outside the school, Sofia stood alone.
She felt something.
A strange pressure in the air.
She knew immediately.
Machir had used magic.
Her heart began pounding.
Then she heard footsteps.
Rohgah.
He stopped beside her.
"Where have you been?"
Sofia looked at him.
"Why?"
"I've been looking for you."
"You shouldn't."
"I know."
She frowned.
"What?"
Rohgah stared at her.
"I know everyone keeps telling me to stay away from you."
Sofia's heart sank.
"And?"
"I'm not listening anymore."
She stepped backward.
"Rohgah, please."
"No."
He moved closer.
"I don't know what my father is hiding."
Sofia's face went pale.
"But I'm going to find out."
"Don't."
"Why?"
Sofia's lips trembled.
Because she wanted to tell him.
Because she was tired of lying.
Because every time he looked at her, the secret became heavier.
Finally, she whispered,
"Because the truth will destroy you."
Rohgah stared at her.
"What truth?"
Sofia couldn't answer.
Instead, she turned and walked away.
Rohgah watched her go.
Behind him, hidden in the shadows, Machir watched silently.
His eyes followed Sofia.
Then he looked at his son.
His expression was cold.
But beneath that coldness was fear.
Because the secret he had buried for years was beginning to surface.
And once Rohgah started digging…
There would be no way to bury it again.