Shadows of Change (Arcanum Academy #1)

62. Kaia

The door closes behind them with a soft click that feels deafening in the sudden silence. I sink into Malrik's desk chair, my shadows coiling restlessly around my ankles, more agitated than I've ever seen them. Even Bob, usually so stoic, ripples with obvious tension.

"You could speak this whole time." The words scrape my throat. Mouse meets my gaze steadily, those familiar violet eyes now holding centuries of unspoken knowledge.

"Only when absolutely necessary," he says, voice deep and resonant in a way that makes my shadows stir. "Your mother's magic gave me form, but you gave me purpose. I was bound to guide you when the time was right—not before."

"My mother?" The word feels foreign on my tongue.

"Solveig."

The name hits like a physical blow. Linda wraps protectively around my shoulders while Patricia's frantic note-taking becomes almost desperate, as if trying to capture every detail of this moment. I grip the arms of the chair, seeking any anchor I can find.

"That's impossible. The Valkyries were ancient warriors. They vanished centuries ago."

Mouse's gaze never wavers. "Think deeper, Kaia. The dreams that wake you. The way shadows move as extensions of your will. The Heart of Eternity—why do you think it chose you?"

My hand flies to the necklace, its warmth pulsing against my palm like a second heartbeat. "If my mother was a Valkyrie... if I was there when they fell..." The implications crash over me in waves.

"Look at your shadows," Mouse says softly. "Really look at them."

I force myself to focus, truly seeing them for the first time. Bob's movements become precise, almost military. Patricia's note-taking transforms into something purposeful, archival. Even Finnick's chaos feels directed, intentional. They aren't just shadows. They never were.

"They're them," I whisper, understanding shattering everything I thought I knew. "The Valkyries who fell that night. They bound themselves to me."

I barely make it to the waste bin before I'm sick. Bob steadies me with an awkward pat while Finnick fetches water, their familiar personalities now carrying the weight of lost warriors. Mouse waits as I try to process this impossible truth that rewrites my entire existence.

"The others," I manage, wiping my mouth. "They can't know about this."

Mouse's violet eyes narrow. "They're already involved."

"Then I'll uninvolve them." I push to my feet, my shadows—the fallen Valkyries—rippling with shared agitation. "If Alekir's hunted me across centuries, I won't paint targets on their backs."

"Your mother and father tried to face him alone," Mouse says, his tone gentle but firm. "That's why she had to send you away. Why the Valkyries fell one by one. Don't repeat her mistake."

The words hit like a blade between my ribs. "That's not fair."

"Neither is taking away their choice to stand with you." Mouse's tail wraps around my wrist, the touch grounding me like it has countless times before. "They'll be hunted either way now. The only question is whether you face what's coming together or alone."

I close my eyes, feeling the weight of centuries pressing down. The warmth of my shadows—my mother's fallen sisters—wraps around me like an embrace, their strength flowing into mine.

"Tell me everything," I whisper. "What really happened that night?"

Mouse settles more comfortably, his violet eyes distant with memory. "Your mother was different from the other Valkyries. While most saw their duty as simply guiding souls between realms, Solveig and your father, Idris, believed in something more. But you—" his gaze sharpens "—you changed everything. A child born with both Valkyrie and shadow magic. The first of your kind."

The shadows draw closer as Mouse continues, his voice thick with old grief. "Alekir doesn't want to destroy you, Kaia. He wants to claim you, to make your magic his own. He sees you as the key to reshaping the realms in his image."

"The sanctuary fell quickly that night. Your father fought with his light-blade while Solveig carried you to safety. Their sisters followed, shielding your escape with their lives. But your mother knew what had to be done."

Mouse's voice softens to barely more than a whisper. "The Heart of Eternity wasn't just power—it was a key. Your mother used it to tear through time itself, but such magic demands a price. The Valkyries gave not just their lives but their very souls, binding themselves to you through the Heart. The soul-wisps that once sang to you became shadows, ensuring you'd never truly be alone."

The truth settles over me, heavy and inexorable. Tears fall before I can stop them, not just for their sacrifice, but for the depth of love that would make warriors bind their souls to protect a child. My shadows press closer, their movements gentle now, comforting. Bob stands at attention like the warrior he must have been, while Patricia's note-taking becomes a sacred record of their sacrifice.

"Your mother's magic protected you not just by sending you through time, but by veiling your memories. The forgetting wasn't just trauma—it was a shield."

Footsteps echo in the hallway, drawing closer.

"They're coming," Mouse says, his tail flicking toward the door. "And they deserve to know. Eventually." The violet in his eyes gleams with ancient wisdom. "But that choice, little shadow-walker, is yours."

I look down at my hands, where shadow magic dances like restless waves across my skin. My mother's gift, my father's legacy, my inheritance. The thought of losing any of them— Finn's irreverent humor, Malrik's steady strength, the twins' unwavering loyalty—cuts deeper than any blade.

The door creaks open before I can decide. Finn's voice, light and teasing, floats in first, followed by the familiar cadence of Malrik's footsteps. Aspen and Torric aren't far behind, their presence filling the room like the promise of a storm.