Halloween came. Students walked around with candy and some even dressed up a little, cat ears and masks were popular. Linus was sitting on his favorite sofa in the common room. His classmates around him told scary stories and carved pumpkins.
Since the bear attack and the conversation with Nerida. Linus had not really had time to do much with the spells he had learnt.
Linus leaned back against the worn leather sofa, the firelight flickering across his face. The common room glowed in warm shades of orange and gold pumpkins lined the tables, their carved faces grinning wickedly. The smell of roasted nuts and spiced cider filled the air. Outside, thunder rolled faintly across the Durmstrang peaks, and the northern wind howled against the high windows.
He didn't mind the noise. It almost felt comforting. A reminder that the world outside these stone walls was wild and waiting.
Sigrun sat cross-legged on the rug near his feet, carefully carving a pumpkin with an enchanted knife. Each time she traced a line, the blade left behind a faint trail of blue sparks. "So," she said without looking up, "what's the scariest thing you've ever seen, Gray?"
Linus smirked faintly. "You mean other than watching Nikolai try to brew a potion?"
"Hey!" Nikolai barked from across the room, clutching a mug of cider. The others laughed, a few nearly spilling their drinks.
Linus thought for a second. "I helped a Chimaera once. That thing was scary."
Everyone looked towards Linus.
"You helped a Chimaera?" Erik said what everyone was thinking.
Linus nodded. "Yeah, it was hurt from a lot of poachers, in southern Sweden"
Linus drank his pumpkin juice. Thinking back at the moment he saved the beast.
"You are in another world from the rest of us." Nikolai scoffed out making the others laugh out.
I stood up and walked over to him as he sat in one of the couches. I looked down on him as I stood before him. "How did you know?"
There was a silence then I laughed. "You looked so scared."
Everyone burst out laughing, Nikolai looked shocked for a moment but warmed up to laugh as well.
The night passed and so did Halloween. the days passed in a blur at Durmstrang. Many classes didn't offer anything new to Linus, his main focus laid on trying to use the veil spells now. And this he could only do after classes, he tried getting the same treatment as with the potion professor Arkadi but failed at that. The others seem to think that you have to attend every class even if you excel in it.
So, I did the next best thing during these classes. I helped my classmates get even better, we even had study night in the common rooms to help those having a hard time. Sigrun had gotten a lot better at charms class, and my roommates Erik, Armin and Nikolai had all gotten very good with potions. So much so that we have begun stacking potions we could use in one of our cabinets in the common room.
'finally,' Linus thought as he stood in the forest, he loved to train in. the weather was colder, as it was now November.
"Alright lets do this veil spells then." He held out his wand. The knowledge he had gotten gave him a lot of spells. "Velum Sanctum" as the spell was chanted a bright shield formed around him. This seem stronger than the normal Protego spell.
Linus made a knight out of a rock with a heavy battleaxe. He made the night attack the shield. The knight swung the axe high, and with all its strength the knight swung down and struck the barrier. The barrier reacted immediately and shot out some sort of magic towards the attacker. The knight was pulverized in an instant.
"So like and automatic stupefy" it was a really good spell and it seem to stay up long too.
The shield shimmered down as it was dispelled.
There were more spells like Caelum Rendis but I already used this one on the bear. A insanely strong spell. There was one spell he wanted to try, Mortis Aureum. This spell from what he could see in the memories he had gotten turned living things into ash in an instant. This could be borderline killing curse but worth a try.
Sneaking around in the forest he finally found a white hare. He aimed his wand and casted the spell. "Mortis Aureum" a white light shot out from the wand hitting the hare. The hare turned into ash that spread out with the wind. It was just gone, nothing remained.
Linus smiled, I like this a lot. How about we make a mess.
Linus raised his wand. "Aurora Veilanth" the energy in the area changed, almost screaming. And then.
Boom. A huge wave of white light shot out in all directions where Linus stood. Trees fell, the ground was thrown up, rocks exploded, animals that were unfortunate be me near vaporized into nothing. And the silence. A huge almost carter had been formed around Linus. No trees were left standing. Around 50 meters around him had been cleared of anything living or not.
Linus breathed, the spell had taken a lot of energy but manageable.
He lifted his wand yet again. "Caelum Rendis" a huge white lightning strike struck down onto a tree, the tree exploded from the power. Leaving the scorched. White lightning still lingered on the tree.
He turned and yet again raised his wand. "Fulmen Ardentis" a continues steam of white lightning came out from the wand. The sound it made was like a scream from hell itself. The lighting split trees and rock alike, even making the ground catch fire over the stream passed.
"This is fun"
Linus continued training with spells for more then 30 minutes. He didn't try to repair the forest he had now destroyed, he wanted it to be left like this. Maybe people would see this and think twice before doing anything.
The days after that were spent more the same. teaching his classmates, and training on his own.
But as the days passed and the winds of winter started blowing, snow and frost came. Linus also started to see changes and feel them. Small things at first. Dreams of battles with wizards and witches using white flames and lightning to obliterate their foes. Dreams about dragons and potions. They were never ending.
Linus would wake up in a sweat each morning. Something was teaching him while he slept. But it was almost too much.
He felt it. The Veil. It was training him, making him become something.
On a snowy Wednesday afternoon in charms class, Linus sat with Nikolai trying to teach him the Accio spell.
"Look at the feather, and the say Accio feather while doing the incantation."
Nikolai waved his wand and said. "Accio feather" and the feather flew slightly to him but dropped down 2 meter in front of him.
"You are improving. Good" Linus said with a thumbs up toward Nikolai.
During duel classes Linus had been told not to duel his classmates, he already beat the third year Elisa. So Linus joined in and gave some tips to his classmates during this time.
Weeks passed, snow fell heavy. Ice covered trees and lakes. The students were in high spirits. Christmas has finally come.
Linus and his classmates were all standing on the harbor outside the school waiting to board the boat to take them home.
"Finally, some time off" Nikolai blurted out
It felt good to finally go home. Meet Astrid and Alaric again and Hati of course. Astrid had sent letters to Lius to keep him updated on the Gray estate and other important news and business things. She had during this time made sure that it keeps running like it should.
Stepping onto the boat. The student went inside the boat and took good seats for the hours long journey.
The boat creaked as it swam through the cold water of the Baltic.
Linus sat in silence. He was still having the dreams. Countless battles, words he didn't understand, runes. And in the end of every dream there was always the same voice calling out to him. 'Guardian of the veil, Linus Gray.' Why has it started being so aggressive with the dreams and signs.
The Durmstrang ship finally arrived at the Stockholm harbor. As Linus stepped of the ship, he saw a familiar face, Astrid. She stepped towards him and gave him a warm hug.
"Its been a while Linus" she said calmly
Linus just smiled. "it has Astrid." Hugging her back
Astrid pulled back slightly, studying him the way only she could, her eyes sharp, assessing. "You've changed," she said softly. "You look… older."
Linus chuckled under his breath. "That's what Durmstrang does to you, I guess."
Astrid's lips curved faintly, though her gaze lingered on his eyes a moment too long. "It's not the school," she murmured, almost to herself.
They began the walk through the harbor, the sky above painted in streaks of crimson and gold as the winter sun sank behind the snow-heavy clouds. Their carriage awaited at the end of the pier—black lacquered, the family crest engraved on its doors: a silver wolf beneath a crescent moon.
The two climbed inside. The warmth spell activated the moment the door shut, a comforting glow filling the cabin as the horses began to pull them through the frozen streets of Stockholm.
"So," Astrid began, folding her gloved hands in her lap. "How was your first term?"
Linus looked out the frosted window. "Eventful."
"I heard about the bear," she said. "And… other things. Rumors spread, even across the sea."
He smiled faintly. "Rumors always do."
She studied him again. "Linus… whatever you're doing, whatever you're learning—just remember, power is only worth something if it doesn't consume you first."
Linus turned to her then, his expression unreadable. "You sound like Arkadi."
"Good," she said simply. "Then maybe you'll actually listen."
He didn't answer. Outside, the city faded into the distant white fields of the countryside, and before long the familiar silhouette of the Gray estate appeared—a grand manor nestled among snow-dusted pines, smoke curling from its chimneys like breath in the cold air.
As they arrived, the gates opened with a low groan of magic and metal. Hati was already bounding across the courtyard, his thick gray fur dusted with snow. The massive wolf-dog leapt toward Linus with a joyful bark, nearly knocking him over.
"Hati!" Linus laughed, rubbing the beast's neck. "You've grown."
"Alaric's been spoiling him," Astrid said with a grin.
"Of course I have," a deep voice called from the steps. Alaric, stood wrapped in a heavy cloak, his beard streaked with frost. "You'd be surprised what this old wolf can do when he's hungry enough."
Linus walked up to him and offered a hand, but Alaric pulled him into a rough hug instead. "Good to have you home, lad."
"Good to be back," Linus said quietly.
They stepped inside, the scent of pine, old wood, and burning fire wrapping around him like a blanket. Candles lit the grand hall, and the Gray family crest gleamed proudly above the mantelpiece.
That night, after dinner and stories by the fire, Linus sat in his old room. The window overlooked the frozen lake below, moonlight spilling silver across the floor.
He sat down in his favorite chair, the fire in the fireplace crackled as the pine wood inside burned. He sat in silence, watching the fire dance.
Linus looked at the fire, remembering the dreams he had of the wizards using white flames. With the flick of his wrist focusing on the fire, the fire turned white. It was a soothing feeling it felt, calmer.
"I wonder how maya is enjoying France." He muttered for himself.
Christmas morning came and Linus sat downstairs in the living room. He was looking on the presents people had sent him.
He opened the package from Sigrun. opening it reveled a very fancy bracelet, it was silver and etched into it were Nordic runes. It wasn't enchanted with magic or anything but I still smiled because it was a nice gift from her.
Linus had sent her a ring with a rune that would make her warm even if she didn't wear a jacket in the coldest winter.
Maya had sent him a pair of leather shoes, very fancy. Reading the note in the package 'When we see next time, wear these and train on your dancing skills.' She was still on about this dance.
Linus had sent out a lot of packages to his friends and classmates aswell. Or, he made Astrid get all the things as he was in school.
Hati sat beside him, he really did grow a lot in a few months.
Astrid walked into the livingroom with a letter in hand. "Linus this seem to be an invitation for a new years ball."
Linus raised a brow. "From who?"
Astrid looked down at the letter. "it doesn't say" she handed the letter to Linus.
Linus immediately noticed the thickness of the paper, this is very high-quality paper. Looking down at the envelope, the vax seal had a symbol he had seen before. Every where in his dreams. A ring with a snowflake inside, a line going down through it.
Opening the letter revel a short message 'Linus Gray, invited to the Veilborn new year ball' this had Linus's stomach doing weird things. Are these the ones who attacked us, or the real ones?
Linus felt the weight on him now, the fought about meeting the killers would end in a bloodbath, or if he met the ones like him, he could finally get some answers.
The location of the ball was in Gothenburg. He handed the letter back to Astrid. "Replay that I will attend."
She hesitated for a moment. "I will do so" she said before taking her leave.
This is strange. I might be walking into a death trap and yet, im excited. Maybe Nikolai was right, im a psycho. Linus chuckled for himself.
Two days later a package arrived with the same vax seal. Linus opened the package and was not expecting the contents.
Picking it up revealed a very well-made outfit, robe, pants, shirt everything. the pants were black with a silver line going down each leg, the silver line had patterns embraided into them. The shirt was similar to his Gray family uniform, it looked very militaristic, but black. The robe was a deep gray with the symbol of the Veilborn on the back. The hood had a silver line of the edge with runes etched into it. Black gloves, Deep dark leather boots. And a mask, with the mask came a note. 'wear the mask at anytime when you carry the symbol of the veil'
Picking up the mask, Linus held it infront of him. It was also a deep gray mask, the mask didn't have a face or anything just a plain area. But when putting on the mask, the logo of the veil began appearing on the mask. There were only two eye holes in the mask.
Putting on the whole outfit.
"I really do look like someone part of a secret order…" the runes on part of the outfit made it so parts became like armor when activated.
Linus activated them and scale armor was formed on his arms and legs and chest. deactivating it made them disappeared immediately. "Fancy" Linus muttered.
Days passed and the day of the ball arrived.
Stepping out of the carriage outside of the ministry of magic in Stockholm, Linus found himself walking alone in the halls. According to the instruction he had gotten someone would meet him inside the ministry, and before going up to the person he would put on his mask.
Stepping around the corner where he was supposed to go, he saw someone standing. He put on the mask, the mask responded and the symbol of the Veilborn appeared on the mask. Linus approached the figure, the figure was wearing similar clothes, but not as militaristic as Linus's clothes were, they were more formal.
The figure seemed to have a women's build. as the Veilborn got closer she held out her hand, Linus hesitated for a moment but grabbed her hand. The world spun and the ministry disappeared. Apparition, Linus knew about this magic but hadn't tried it himself.
When the spinning stopped, a big mansion appeared. The women figure he had met held out a paper. Linus took it and read it. 'Welcome to the Veilborn Newyear ball. As a newly welcomed member I would personally like to meet you. I will come find you during the ball. Enjoy yourself.' The paper burnt up as soon as he read it.
Turning around the women figure had disappeared. Looking back towards the mansion, the entrance had a line to get in. there were a lot of people. Linus walked towards the line, as he approached a man walked up to him, he wasn't wearing a mask.
"Sir, Veil knights don't need to stand in line this way please."
Oh? I'm a veil knight? So confused couldn't they have given me a book to learn what was happening.
Following the man's instruction I entered the mansion. Linus was prepared for a lot of people but this was ridiculous. Probably hundreds. Some wearing masks and some don't, the robes some were wearing are different from what I'm wearing. So considering I'm a knight there must be some rank system or status, and with that different clothing.
Linus looked around, he saw some with the same kind of robe and clothing as he.
The mansion had a big hall, it seemed to be for just this kind of moments. At the end of the hall was a stage. The curtain behind the stage had the symbol of the Veilborn.
I feel so out of place, everyone seems to know each other. Or maybe I'm just too awkward, yet the other knights don't seem to do much either, the masks aren't the most inviting I would imagine.
Linus stood on the side and watched to crowd, until he saw a familiar face.
Monika Winterholm. So she knew about the Veil, or seem to be apart of it atleast. She didn't wear a mask either so she was in a position where her identity didn't matter.
Talking to her now could go bad, there must be a reason that knights have their identities hidden.
One person walked up on stage, she was different. She wore a elegant white dress with golden details. She had blond long hair, she looked stunning honestly.
She stepped up on the stage and held a wand to her throat "Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the 1991 Veilborn ball." Everyone clapped at the welcome. "I want to thank everyone for their continues work towards our goal. We are getting closer to making sure that this planet is safe against the traitors."
Everyone clapped and cheered to that. The atmosphere was nice, it felt like everyone was having a good time.
The lady on stage kept given her speech, mostly about how good everyone had done this year.
"Now.." she continued in a different tone making Linus listen. "I would like all knights to gather in a separate meeting hall, please follow the directions of the servants."
Linus followed the direction, and entered a hall with a big round table, the table had 18 seats. There were names placed out.
Linus took his seat wear the nameplate said Gray family.
Everyone took their seats except one, probably the lady on the stage was joining them.
"Gray" a crisp voice rand out, deep. Sounded like an old man's voice. "Good to have you finally join us" the man said, when I looked at him, he gave a slight bow with his head.
Linus nodded slightly in return. The man's presence radiated authority, not the loud barking kind, but the clam, crushing weight of someone who has seen it all. his robes were white trimmed with gold, runes shifting faintly along the seams.
"It's an honor" Linus said evenly, his voice low through the mask's slight distortion.
The man continued. "Your father would be proud, not just anyone is chosen by the veil."
Before Linus could say anything, the doors behind them opened, and the women from the stage entered. The knights rose immediately. Linus followed suit, unsure if it was respect or ritual, but the air itself seemed to shift as she approached.
Up close, she was almost eternal, tall, poised, and with eyes that shimmered like pale ice under moonlight. Her presence carried a quiet gravity that silenced every whisper.
"be seated" she said softly, and yet her words carried the weight of command. Everyone obeyed.
Her gaze swept across the room, lingering briefly on each of the knights, then finally landing on Linus. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly. "And here he is. The one the veil ha chosen anew"
Linus straightened in his chair. "You're the one who invited me"
"I am" she smile faintly "Though it wasn't I who found you. The veil itself speaks, and we listen"
She walked slowly around the table, the fabric of her gown whispering like falling snow. "Every generation the veil chooses a guardian, a wielder of the frozen light. A soul capable of wielding its wrath without being consumed."
She stopped behind Linus
"and now" she murmured "It whispers your name Linus Gray, everyone here is a chosen guardian, there is always 18 guardians." She stopped for a moment. "Guardians or as we call them knights. Is the veils sword." She walked around the table until she came to her seat.
"Now do you have any questions?"
"What am I supposed to do?" I said
She smiled. "Nothing, nothing yet. You are still too young and should focus on finishing school." She stopped for a moment. "Unless the veil gives you something to do. If that happens you will know what to do"
The rest of the talks were about things the others had done. It seemed like the traitors or the false Veilborn were a quiet big pain for the veil. As they still kept attacking around the world.