- Alexia-
The first light of dawn sifted through the trees as we began the trek back toward the school. The air was cool and sharp, carrying the scent of pine and earth beneath our feet.
Kaia walked beside me, her eyes fixed on the small fox cradled gently in Asher's arms.
"So," she said softly, breaking the silence, "What's the story with him?"
I glanced down at the fox, its fur ruffled but its eyes bright and curious despite everything.
"He's not just any animal," I said quietly. "He's connected to the magic in this place - and to Gideon's power. That's why he was taken. I couldn't leave him behind."
Kaia nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "That's…heavy. But you saved him."
I smiled faintly. "We both got lucky."
We pushed forward, the school looming ahead like a fortress of memories and battles yet to come. But the calm was shattered way before we even reached the gates.
Where familiar banners once flew, now hung cold, black flags - emblazoned with the Council's insignia.
The school was different. The air was cold, and the flags were black. The Council had arrived.
"Wait," Jasper said, his voice tight as he pointed toward the high balcony of the main hall. "That's Elder Thorne and Elder Vane. Why are they the ones leading the oversight committee?"
I looked up, seeing the two men standing like statues above the courtyard. They were the most conservative members of the Council—and, as rumors had long whispered, the ones most obsessed with Gideon's old theories of 'Restructuring.'
"They aren't here to keep Gideon out," Soren muttered, his hand dropping to his weapon. "They're here to make sure we stay in. Gideon didn't lose us; he just moved us to a different cell."
The front doors, usually welcoming, were barricaded and guarded with wards pulsing ominously.
Kaia's eyes widened. "This isn't the school we left."
Finn's jaw tightened. "The council has taken control. They didn't waste any time."
A cold shiver ran down my spine. Everything had changed.
"They must have used the attack as a way to show the parents and board that Ms Shade is not reliable as the headmistress," I said.
We exchanged tense glances, each of us processing the weight of what had happened.
Jasper broke the silence. "We need to find out who's in charge now and what they're planning."
Kaia nodded, her usual fiery confidence tempered by concern. "If the Council thinks they can control the school, they haven't reckoned with us."
Finn scanned the shadows near the entrance. "The wards are stronger than before. They expect trouble."
Asher tightened his grip on the fox, still nestled carefully in his arms. "We can't let them root themselves here. Not while Alexia's power is suppressed."
I swallowed hard, a heavy weight settling in my chest. Why is the universe after me like this? The council is fighting me on one side and Gideon on the other. This is just too much for a girl who just found out that she has magic.
The thought echoed in my mind, sharp and relentless. But I forced myself to push it aside. There was no room for doubt now. Not with everything at stake. The others must have seen the thought on my face.
Kaia gave me a steady look, her voice soft but fierce. "You're stronger than you think, Alexia. And you're not alone."
Finn stepped forward, eyes scanning the fortified entrance. "We need a plan. The Council won't just sit back and wait."
Jasper nodded, already calculating. "First, we find Shade. If anyone can help us turn this around, it's her."
I clenched my fists, feeling a spark ignite inside me despite the lingering suppression. "Then we take back what's ours. No matter what it costs."
Asher glanced down at the fox, then back at me. "And we keep him safe. Whatever he is, he's part of this fight now."
The shadows around the school seemed to press closer, but with my friends beside me, I felt a flicker of hope.
As we moved deeper into the school, the familiar hum of its sentience surrounded me like a protective shroud. Though the Council had taken control, the school itself still listened-still recognized me.
A faint pulse stirred beneath my skin, subtle but undeniable. The suppression bracelet bit less fiercely at my wrist, as if the building was quietly working against it.
I stopped, staring at the bracelet in wonder.
"Wait," I whispered. The clasp loosened slowly, the metal shifting as if guided by unseen hands.
Kaia's eyes widened. "It's helping you."
I nodded, heart pounding. The school was fighting for me; it's chosen.
The fox nestled in Asher's arms stirred, and warmth spread from the floor beneath us, bathing the small creature in gentle light.
The building's ancient magic wasn't just old stone and wards-it was alive, protective, and somehow hopeful.
I breathed in deep, feeling the light within me flicker stronger.
"We're not just in a building," I said softly. "We're home."
The school's awakening stirred something deep inside me-a reminder that this fight wasn't just about survival. It was about reclaiming a legacy.
"If the school is with us," I said, voice steady, "Then we have an edge."
Jasper nodded, his eyes sharp. "Its wards, its magic-they can protect us, guide us. We just need to learn how to listen."
Finn glanced around, muscles tense but hopeful. "And use that to outmaneuver the Council."
Kaia smiled, a fierce determination lighting her eyes. "We're not just fighting an enemy-we're fighting to restore what was stolen."
Asher shifted, still cradling the fox gently. "The school's magic…it could help heal more than just this place."
I felt the pulse in my veins grow stronger, warmth spreading through my chest. The bracelet was gone-its suppression broken by the school's will and my own awakening power.
But even with the Council pressing in, there was another shadow looming-Gideon.
His grip on me and my magic hadn't loosened, and his threat was as real as ever.
"We need to find Headmistress Shade," I said firmly. "She's our anchor inside. Together, with the school, we can turn this around - and stand against Gideon."
The path ahead was uncertain, shadowed by the Council's iron grip and Gideon's relentless pursuit. But with the school's magic flowing through me again-and my mates and friends beside me, me-we had a chance. Not just to survive. But to win.