"Noone can destroy you worse than the person within your life"
Entry One: The Gathering Storm
The morning light was dull and cold when the summons came—an urgent call echoing through the stone halls of the academy. The third years were to assemble immediately in the Grand Hall, the oldest chamber in the eastern wing. As I hurried down the winding stairs, my heart thumped not only from the brisk pace but from the shadow of recent events—the attacks on the nearby village still fresh in everyone's minds.
The hall was cavernous, ancient stone stretching high, adorned with faded tapestries depicting battles long past. A chill hung in the air that had nothing to do with the draft sneaking beneath the heavy doors. The students gathered in clusters, their faces tight with worry and anticipation.
Professor Valen stood at the far end, tall and imposing, his dark robes swirling around his ankles. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd, then he began without preamble.
"The Bone Creatures are no longer legend or superstition," he said, voice steady but laced with urgency. "They have crossed from myth into threat. Their attacks have grown in frequency and brutality. Villages are burning, lives lost."
Murmurs swept through the room. I felt Kael's presence beside me, a subtle heat radiating, like a warning flare beneath the cold words.
"They are nearly impervious to conventional magic," Valen continued. "Their bones are stronger than steel, their hunger insatiable. You must understand that facing them unprepared is suicide."
My fingers clenched the strap of my bag. I stole a glance at Kael. His jaw was tight, eyes dark with worry and something else—anger, perhaps.
"We will train harder," the professor said, voice rising. "Learn to fight as one. Your bond, your skills, your unity — these are your only weapons."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
I wondered how many of us really believed we could stand against such creatures.
Entry Two: Secret Fires
The meeting ended, but the weight of the warning lingered.
Kael and I slipped away, hearts pounding, to the alcove behind the northern observatory — our sanctuary from the watchful eyes of the academy.
The wind tugged at my hair, and the moon, just past its peak, cast silvery light on the rough stone beneath our feet.
Kael's hand found mine, fingers warm, grounding.
"I hate that we have to hide," he muttered. "That every glance between us has to be measured."
I nodded, the ache of secrecy familiar and heavy.
"Jaren is watching you," Kael added, voice low but sharp. "His eyes don't miss much."
I swallowed, the memory of Jaren's stormy looks haunting me.
"It's complicated," I whispered. "There's more you don't know."
His gaze sharpened, searching.
"I need to tell you," I said, heart thudding, "about Joren and me."
Kael's hand squeezed mine, silently urging me to speak.
Entry Three: The Weight of Confession
That night, after the others had drifted to their rooms and the academy grew quiet, I found Kael waiting in the shadows near the training grounds.
His fire flickered low, a restless ember in the dark.
"I need to be honest," I said, voice barely above a breath.
Kael nodded, expectant.
"I slept with Joren," I admitted, words tasting like ash on my tongue.
His fire pulsed erratically, anger and hurt flashing across his face.
"It was a mistake," I rushed on. "I didn't want to— I was scared. He's close to Jaren, and I needed to keep appearances."
Kael's expression softened, but the tension remained.
"You should never have hidden it," he said quietly. "We have to trust each other."
"I know," I said, voice cracking. "You're the only one I want. No one else."
His fire flared, brighter and steadier.
"Then we don't hide anything."
I nodded, relief flooding through me despite the lingering ache.
Entry Four: Whispers in the Shadows
The days that followed were a tangled web of stolen moments and unspoken suspicions.
Jaren's glances at me grew sharper, colder. I caught him watching me with an intensity that was almost possessive, his jaw tight with something I couldn't name.
Malrik, ever the looming threat, prowled closer in the halls, his sneers laced with venom and challenge.
But Kael and I met in secret — in the shadowed alcove, in forgotten corners of the library, beneath the arches where no one dared to look.
Our touches were fleeting, our conversations laced with code and half-truths.
I felt the weight of the bond grow heavier, and with it, the danger.
Entry Five: Sisterhood and Secrets
One afternoon, craving some semblance of normalcy, I joined Lira, Nia, and Neris in the sunlit common room. The golden light spilled across plush cushions and heavy curtains, a stark contrast to the storm brewing outside.
Lira tossed her fiery hair and grinned. "You look like you're carrying the world."
I managed a small laugh. "Maybe I am."
Nia, ever perceptive, tilted her head. "You're distracted. Kael?"
I hesitated, then nodded.
Neris smirked, "Took you long enough."
We talked, really talked — about fears, hopes, the growing threat of the Bone Creatures, and the complicated mess of feelings between boys and bonds.
I confessed, "I haven't told Kael everything."
They pressed gently until I admitted, "I slept with Joren."
Instead of judgment, they offered quiet support, their friendship a balm.
"You're not alone," Nia said softly.
Entry Six: Tangled Loyalties
That night, Kael and I met again beneath the moon, the bond between us pulsing stronger than ever.
"I hate this game," Kael said, frustration creasing his brow. "Hiding what we are from everyone. Pretending like none of it exists."
I nodded, running my fingers through his dark hair.
"Jaren's watching," I whispered.
Kael's eyes darkened. "Then we have to be smarter."
The tension in the air was thick, charged like the calm before a storm.
I clung to him, knowing the battle ahead wasn't just with Bone Creatures—it was with suspicion, jealousy, and secrets that could tear us apart.
Entry Seven: Shadows Growing Longer
The Bone Creatures' attacks became bolder, creeping closer to the academy's walls.
Whispers spread — of missing students, strange noises in the woods, shadows seen moving where there should be none.
Kael and I trained harder, pushing our powers, the bond growing fiercer and more uncontrollable.
Each touch sent shockwaves through me — a reminder of what we risked, and what we could lose.
Entry Eight: A Shadow's Threat
The sun was dipping low behind the academy walls, casting long shadows that stretched like claws across the courtyards. Kael and I had just finished training—our muscles still humming with the residue of magic—and were headed toward the common rooms when a dark figure stepped from the alley beside the eastern wall.
Malrik.
His grin was the kind that promised trouble. Eyes gleaming with smug satisfaction, he blocked our path with the ease of a predator cornering its prey.
"Well, well," he sneered, voice dripping with mock surprise. "Look who's playing house in the shadows."
Kael's hand twitched, flames flickering faintly at his fingertips, but he held himself back.
I felt the bond tighten, my shadows rising like a silent warning.
"What do you want, Malrik?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
He laughed, a low, cruel sound. "You think you're special, don't you? With your little secrets and your pretty flame-boy."
Kael's jaw clenched. "Back off."
Malrik stepped closer, eyes scanning us both. "I see you're hiding something. Secrets always come out, Elara."
His gaze dropped to the slight curve of my ribs beneath my shirt, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"You can't hide from me," he whispered, voice harsh and dangerous. "Not forever."
I felt the shadows swirl, ready to defend, but Kael's steady hand on my shoulder was the only thing holding me back from burning Malrik to ash.
"Enough," Kael said quietly, voice low but fierce. "Go before you regret it."
Malrik's grin faded for the first time. He narrowed his eyes, weighed his odds.
"Enjoy your little games while they last," he spat, then vanished into the growing dark.
I let out a shaky breath, the bond still thrumming with adrenaline.
"That was too close," I whispered.
Kael's fingers curled tightly around mine. "We need to be more careful."
And in that moment, I knew the war wasn't just against the Bone Creatures—it was against those who would tear us apart from within.