67. Kaia
Professor Lira's office feels different in the early morning light—more shadows than substance, with ancient texts floating on invisible currents and strange artifacts pulsing with barely contained power. The dim light casts everything in an otherworldly glow, amplifying the tension in the room, as if the very walls are holding their breath, waiting for the trial's outcome. She looks up as we enter, her silver-streaked hair loose around her shoulders, as if she's been running her hands through it for hours.
"Close the door," she instructs, skipping pleasantries. My shadows spread out, slithering like ink across the edges of the doorframe, their movements fluid and deliberate, as if testing the space before settling into place. Her lips quirk. "Good instinct."
"Professor—" I start, but she holds up a hand.
"The trial begins in less than an hour." She moves to a shelf, pulling down a heavy tome that writhes under her touch. "Shadow constructs aren't just projections of darkness. They're semi-sentient manifestations, and in the wrong hands—"
"They can be corrupted," Malrik finishes, his voice tight.
Lira's sharp gaze fixes on him. "Yes. And corrupted shadows will seek out the strongest source of shadow magic nearby." Her eyes meet mine. "Like moths to a flame."
My hand drifts to the Heart of Eternity. "Darian's going to use them against me specifically."
Fantastic.
"I think," Lira says carefully, "that Darian may not be the one making these decisions." She opens the book, revealing diagrams of shadow constructs that move across the page like living things. "These constructs respond to whoever holds their binding. And given Darian's... situation, I suspect he's not the one holding the strings."
"Thorne," Finn says, moving closer. "But we can't prove it."
"No. Which is why you need to be prepared." She turns to me fully. "Your shadows, Kaia—they're not just extensions of your magic. They're part of you. True shadows will recognize that. Even corrupted ones will feel the pull of authentic shadow magic."
Bob straightens at this, and Patricia's shadow-notes flutter rapidly, the faint script shifting and twisting as though the shadows themselves are reacting to the conversation, capturing every vital detail.
"So what exactly are you saying?" I ask, watching a diagram show a shadow construct dissolving into mist.
"Trust your instincts in the arena. Trust your shadows." The words hang in the air like a command. I inhale deeply, feeling the weight of her trust settle into my chest, and for a brief moment, the shadows around me ripple with a silent acknowledgment. "Corrupted constructs will try to overwhelm you with force. But real shadow magic isn't about force—it's about harmony. Understanding." Her gaze flicks between all of us. "Connection."
The Heart of Eternity thrums warmly, and I feel Malrik and Finn shift closer.
"And remember this," Lira adds, closing the book with a snap. "Shadow constructs can only corrupt or consume. Your shadows?" She gestures to Bob, who stands taller. "They can create, protect, defend. That's the difference between true shadow magic and whatever twisted version you'll face."
"Just defeat corrupted shadow monsters while avoiding death and proving Darian's being manipulated?" Finn's attempt at lightness doesn't hide his tension. "Easy."
Lira's expression softens. "Watch each other's backs in there. All of you." Her knowing look lingers on the three of us. "Sometimes our greatest strength comes from unexpected connections."
As we turn to leave, she calls out once more. "Kaia?" When I look back, her expression is fierce. "Show them what real shadow magic can do."
We find Aspen and Torric waiting in the hallway. Torric paces like a caged animal while Aspen leans against the wall, his calm exterior betrayed by the tension in his shoulders.
"Well?" Torric demands. "How bad?"
"Corrupted shadow constructs," I reply, watching his expression darken. "Darian's using them for the trial."
"Using them?" Aspen pushes off from the wall. "Or being forced to?"
"Does it matter?" Torric growls, but his anger isn't directed at us. "Either way, we're walking into a trap."
Finn steps forward, his usual grin sharp with purpose. "Then we set a better one."
In an empty classroom, my shadows seal the door while the twins lay out the arena's structure. Aspen breaks down strategies while Torric points out vulnerabilities in the magical barriers.
"The viewing areas here and here," Aspen explains, marking points on his quick diagram. "If—when—something goes wrong, we'll spot it from these vantage points."
"They're warded against shadow magic," he adds quietly. "That's why we should be there. If these constructs are corrupted, they can't reach us."
"Which means we can get word to Lira if things go really wrong," Torric finishes.
My shadows swell with approval—Bob actually salutes the twins while Patricia incorporates their strategy into her endless notes.
"Watch for shadows moving against the current," Aspen tells me softly. "Corrupted constructs can't maintain a natural flow. They'll always move slightly wrong."
As we head for the arena, the Heart of Eternity pulses warmly. Whatever Thorne has planned, whatever trap Darian's been forced to set—we're as ready as we'll ever be.
"Ready?" I ask Malrik and Finn.
Finn's grin is pure mischief. "To face certain death? Always."
Malrik's hand finds mine, squeezing once. "Together."
I catch Aspen and Torric watching us, something unreadable in their expressions. The air feels charged with potential and things unsaid—like unspoken fears of failure, or the weight of truths we’re all too afraid to voice. Aspen's blue eyes hold mine for a moment too long, while Torric's usual intensity seems to burn brighter.
"Be careful in there," Aspen says softly, his hand brushing my arm.
"Show them what you're made of," Torric adds, voice rough with emotion he's trying to hide.
My shadows swirl around all five of us for a moment, as if reluctant to break the connection. Then we separate—three to face the trial, two to guard our backs. But the energy between us lingers, full of possibility and unspoken promises.