The Richardson house was warm with the quiet clatter of plates and soft conversation.
Mr Richardson sat at the head of the table, Mrs Richardson beside him. Seylah talked animatedly about her day while little Tyler swung his legs under the chair, half listening, half playing with his fork.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Then—
A faint swirl of orange smoke formed quietly near the hallway.
It twisted softly… silently… unnoticed.
Alexa stepped out of it.
Her eyes flickered orange for the briefest moment — faint lightning tracing across her face — then it all vanished.
She stood still, composed.
But this was not entirely Alexa.
This was the ITE within her.
She walked calmly toward the dining room.
"Any room for me?" she asked lightly, pulling out a chair and sitting down as if nothing were unusual.
Everyone froze.
Seylah's eyes widened — then filled with emotion.
"ALEXA!"
She rushed forward and threw her arms around her.
"To be honest… I really missed you."
Mrs Richardson stood quickly and embraced her too, tears forming.
Mr Richardson followed, placing a hand gently on her shoulder, and Tyler hurried in, wrapping his arms around her waist.
Alexa smiled softly… playing along.
"I missed you too," she said.
They returned to their seats.
For a moment, they simply looked at her — relieved.
As they ate, Mr Richardson finally asked gently, "Alexa… what are you doing here?"
Alexa took a bite calmly. "I came to see my friend Mary."
Mr Richardson frowned slightly. "You're still suspended… and recently they mentioned possible expulsion."
Alexa shrugged lightly. "I'm not going to school. I just want to see Mary."
Mrs Richardson nodded slowly. "Alright. Go and see her… then come back tomorrow so we can talk before you return to Arcadia."
Alexa smiled. "Of course."
She stood.
"See you soon."
And she left.
But she did not go toward Mary's house.
—
Moments later, a portal opened in the living room with a rush of magical wind.
Tedros stepped out first, followed by Ariella, Principal Elowen, Headmistress Seraphine, Instructor Kai, Sarah and the roommates, and Valerina with her friends.
The Richardsons stood in shock.
Mr Richardson blinked. "What is going on?"
Elowen spoke urgently. "Have you seen Alexa?"
Mrs Richardson nodded. "She just left a few minutes ago. She said she wanted to see Mary… her former best friend."
Sarah whispered under her breath, "Oh no…"
Elowen frowned slightly. "Why…"
Ariella stepped forward, voice steady but worried.
"Alexa is in great trouble. She needs our help."
Seylah suddenly lit up. "Wait — you're her twin sister! I've been waiting to meet you. You look exactly like her!"
Ariella froze.
Before she could react, Seylah and Tyler pulled her into a hug.
"You look and sound just like Alexa," Tyler said excitedly. "She's my sister… so you're my sister too."
Ariella's voice softened. "I thought you might hate me… because I was raised by a villain."
Seylah pulled back, smiling warmly. "Being born somewhere doesn't define who you are. From now on — call me sis."
Ariella smiled. "Okay… sis."
Sarah cleared her throat gently. "I hate to interrupt… but we have something serious on our neck."
Mr Richardson looked between them. "How does this involve Alexa?"
Valerina stepped forward, composed.
"We fought Isolde Duchannes. She tried to release a powerful ancient magic — the ITE — into Alexa, Ariella, and herself. Alone, none of us could contain it… it would have killed us."
Ariella continued quietly. "When we were rescued… we weren't fast enough. The forcefield broke… and the magic entered Alexa."
Mrs Richardson went still.
Mr Richardson stared. "What?"
Seraphine spoke gravely. "…That is no longer just your daughter. The ITE is inside her."
Mr Richardson thought aloud slowly. "If this was like a magical flare… when the field broke, it could have spread everywhere, right?"
Sarah nodded. "But it didn't. It converged into Alexa."
Valerina added, "It already knew who it wanted. It didn't need three — only one vulnerable host."
Sarah and Valerina exchanged a glance.
"That's why she's been stirring conflict," Sarah said quietly.
Valerina nodded. "I've been reading about the ITE. They're cunning — magical spirits — tricksters — bringers of strife — incredibly powerful."
Ariella spoke firmly.
"Alexa is powerful — fire and many abilities. I'm frost and others. With Alexa's power combined with the ITE… this realm could be doomed."
The room fell silent.
The room sat heavy with silence after everything had been said.
Mr Richardson paced slowly, running a hand through his hair. "So you're telling me… Alexa is out there… with this thing inside her?"
Valerina nodded quietly. "Yes."
Mrs Richardson's voice trembled. "But she was just here… she looked like herself…"
Sarah spoke gently. "Sometimes she is. Sometimes she isn't."
Seylah crossed her arms. "We're not just going to sit here, right?"
Ariella stepped forward. "No. We find her."
Principal Elowen looked around the room, thinking carefully.
"She told you she was going to see Mary," she said.
Mrs Richardson nodded. "Yes. She said she was going to see her former best friend."
Kai said quietly, "Then that's where she might go."
Seraphine added, "Or where she wants us to think she'll go."
Tyler looked worried. "What if she's alone?"
Sarah answered softly, "Then we go to her."
Mr Richardson frowned. "Mary… that's her old school."
Valerina nodded. "Exactly."
Elowen folded her hands. "If Alexa is searching for something familiar… she may return there."
Mrs Richardson whispered, "Her former school…"
Ariella said firmly, "Then we should go."
Seylah stepped forward. "I'm coming too."
Tyler nodded quickly. "Me too."
Mr Richardson looked at them both, then sighed. "We stay together."
Sarah looked at the Headmistress. "Do you think she'll really go there?"
Seraphine answered slowly. "Places tied to memory are powerful. If Alexa is conflicted… she may seek them."
Valerina added thoughtfully, "Or she may already be watching."
A quiet tension settled.
Kai said, "We should move soon."
Elowen nodded. "Yes. But not recklessly."
Mrs Richardson clasped her hands. "Will she be safe?"
Sarah looked at her with honesty. "We'll do everything we can."
Mr Richardson took a breath. "Then it's settled."
Elowen spoke clearly. "We rest briefly… then we go to her former school."
Seylah asked softly, "To Mary?"
Ariella nodded. "Yes."
Seraphine raised her hand, a faint glow forming as she prepared the portal.
"Stay close," she said.
Sarah whispered quietly, almost to herself, "Alexa… please be there."
Valerina glanced toward the door. "And please still be you."
The room fell into a determined silence.
Because now…
They knew where they were going.
To the place where Alexa's story first cracked open.
Her former school.
Mary's school.
And perhaps…
Where they would face her again.