Restless dreams plagued my sleep, fragments of voices twisted by shadows and suspicion. By morning, I was already bracing for the next assault of stares and whispers before opening my dormitory door. The corridor beyond buzzed faintly—a beehive of rumor, spinning new tales atop the ones already choking the air.
A Gathering of Allies
Just outside, Cassandra leaned against the wall, arms folded. She nodded in greeting, the gesture less wary than usual.
"They're quiet," she said. "Too quiet."
I forced a crooked smile. "Isn't that a good thing?"
Her gaze sharpened. "After what happened yesterday? Silence is just another weapon."
We moved together down the stairs, Mireille and Seraphina waiting at the foot, each wearing their worry in different ways—one in tense stillness, the other in a too-bright grin.
"Big day ahead," Seraphina chimed, twirling a glass vial between her fingers. "No one's poisoning your breakfast, I promise. Unless you prefer lunch surprises."
Liora slipped from behind a pillar, silent, always at the edge. She pressed a tiny rune-stone into my palm. For protection, it whispered.
And Elane, as always, appeared beside us before I noticed, the only sign her presence was the way the hallway felt a little less harsh.
The Test of Trust
Classes that day blurred—a storm of difficult questions, challenging spells, glances that felt like accusations. Professors' eyes lingered longer, searching for cracks in my composure.
During lunch, our group huddled close around the end of a long table. Outside, wind lashed the windows with rain. Inside, the tension was nearly tangible.
Seraphina broke the silence first. "We should make our own study room. No... visitors. Soundproofed. Preferably underground. Thoughts?"
Cassandra rolled her eyes. "We can defend ourselves. But we need to know: do you trust us, Riven?" Her eyes held mine, more vulnerable than usual.
The question burrowed under my skin. My thoughts spun with doubts and half-answers.
I tried for honesty. "I want to trust you. I want us to be safe. But I don't know if that's possible—here."
Silence fell. Then Elane, voice soft as a page turning, said, "We're with you. Even if you can't say everything."
Mireille glanced down, her fingers tightening on her blade's hilt. "You're not alone, no matter what you think."
A Revelation
Afternoon light painted the stone halls gold as classes ended. I let the others go ahead, needing air. Rain had stopped; the scent of wet earth lingered. I wandered through empty classrooms, my mind churning.
That's when I heard it—whispered voices from behind a half-open door.
"…He's just a pawn, nothing more. Remove him, and the rest will break."
"Let the heroines hang themselves on his leash. It'll be less trouble."
I froze, blood icing. The speakers vanished down another hall before I could see their faces. For the first time, I realized the danger wasn't just in being noticed, but in being targeted—deliberately.
The Edge of Night
I hurried back to warn my group. But as dusk fell, I found them already on alert, gathered in Cassandra's study. She pointedly closed the door behind me.
"You heard something," she said. Not a question.
I nodded, voice low. "They're planning something. Not just rumors—something real."
Seraphina slipped a thin blade from her sleeve and balanced it thoughtfully. "Let them try. We're stronger together."
Liora's shadow deepened in the last light. "They're listening for fear. We give them nothing."
Together, we sketched out hurried plans: rotations for nighttime safety, secret codes, places to meet if separated. It was hastily done, but it gave sense to the chaos.
When the others left, Elane lingered by the door, worrying the edge of her sleeve. "Even if you're scared, Riven… I'm more scared to lose you."
I managed a faint smile, heart tight. "I'll be okay. We all will."
Outside, the academy seemed to exhale, torches sparking in the gloom. But I knew safety here was just another illusion—one that would shatter the moment we let our guard slip.
And somewhere, beyond sight but never truly out of reach, the eyes and ears of Arclight waited, hungrier than ever.
[End of Chapter 10]