Adrian began to notice the way the academy seemed to change depending on where Lucien was.
On mornings when he didn't see him, the school felt colder. Colder in ways that couldn't be blamed on weather—walls felt farther apart, corridors longer, shadows darker.
But on the mornings when he caught even a glimpse of Lucien walking down the stone hallways in his sharp navy blazer, or when their eyes met across the dining hall… the world slowed. Became clearer. As if Adrian was the only one truly awake.
And yet, every time he tried to speak to Lucien during the day, he vanished before Adrian could catch up.
It was as if he only existed at night.
---
One afternoon, during a heavy downpour, Adrian found himself in the old wing of the school—alone.
The halls there had been closed off due to a fire years ago. The lights flickered overhead, and water dripped from the cracked ceiling. He shouldn't have been there. But something pulled him forward. Something… familiar.
That's when he saw it.
A faded photo frame left hanging on the wall, nearly hidden beneath old ivy.
It was a photo of a boy with silver hair, standing beside another boy whose face had been scratched out.
The plaque read:
> "Silvercrest Music Competition Finalists – 1993"
Adrian froze. 1993. That was over thirty years ago.
It couldn't be.
It had to be a mistake.
Right?
He ripped the photo from the wall and ran.
---
That night, he waited in the North Tower.
Lucien arrived in silence, carrying a lantern and wearing a soaked white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, as if time didn't exist for him.
"I saw something today," Adrian said without greeting. "A picture. You were in it."
Lucien sat on the edge of the window. "So?"
"It was taken in 1993. That's impossible."
Lucien didn't flinch. He just looked at Adrian with tired eyes. "Why do you think people are afraid of me?"
"I don't believe in curses," Adrian said, voice rising. "But I do believe you're hiding something."
Lucien walked toward him slowly. "And what would you do if I told you the truth?"
"I'd stay."
That made Lucien stop.
"I'd stay," Adrian repeated. "No matter what it is."
Lucien looked at him like he'd never heard those words before. "Don't make promises you can't keep."
And with that, he turned and disappeared into the stairwell.
But Adrian wasn't afraid anymore.
He was in too deep to turn away now.