Chapter 20
The academy's west wing ended abruptly at a vast, shadowed chamber. The floor opened into a misty expanse that looked almost alive—a marsh suspended in crimson twilight. The Blood Moon's glow reflected off the water in eerie, flickering patterns.
Elana's heart pounded as she stepped forward, Lucian's hand firm around hers. The whispers of the hall had intensified, layered now with something older, deeper—voices that didn't belong to Kade or the building itself.
"They're spirits," Lucian whispered, his silver eyes scanning the mist. "The hall calls them forth to test our bond. They're neither alive nor dead… and they obey the hall's will."
Elana swallowed. Her boots sank slightly into the marsh, sending ripples across the surface. Shadows swirled within the fog, forming shapes—human, animal, sometimes both. Some stared at them curiously, others with hostility.
"Stay close," Lucian said. "Don't show fear."
A ghostly figure floated toward them, semi-transparent, its eyes hollow but gleaming. Elena felt a cold tingle run down her spine. She raised her hand instinctively, trying to push the spirit away.
"Careful," Lucian warned. "They react to emotion. Anger, fear… they can tear you apart if provoked."
Elana nodded, forcing her pulse to steady. She focused on the mark under her collarbone, letting its warmth anchor her. Slowly, she lifted her hands and whispered, "I don't mean to harm you."
The spirit paused, tilting its head. Then, it bowed slightly before dissipating into mist.
Lucian's lips curved in a faint smile. "Good. You're learning. The mark can influence the spirits here, just like it influences me. That's why Kade fears it."
Elana blinked. "I… I can control them?"
"To some extent," Lucian confirmed. "But it's subtle. One wrong emotion, one lapse… and the hall will punish us."
Suddenly, another spirit appeared—larger, more aggressive. Its form was twisted, eyes glowing like embers. It lunged toward them, mist curling around its clawed hands.
Lucian reacted instantly. His hand shot forward, shaping his silver aura into a spear of concentrated light. He struck the spirit with precision, forcing it to retreat into the fog.
Elana's chest heaved as she realized the full scope of their situation. "This… this is more than just Kade's challenge. The hall is alive."
Lucian nodded gravely. "It is. And it's testing you as much as me. The bond between us… it isn't just a mark. It's influence. We must learn to control it together."
Another spirit drifted by silently, bowing its head in recognition. Elana felt a strange surge of confidence—the first in hours. She looked at Lucian, a spark of determination in her silver-tinged eyes.
"Then we face this together," she said firmly.
Lucian's hand tightened around hers. "Together."
The mist swirled, spirits rising and bowing as if acknowledging their resolve. Somewhere deep in the hall, a shadow shifted. Kade was watching.
And the Blood Moon burned brighter.
The trial of the marsh had begun.
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