Chapter 7
Seven
SIMON
Lilith’s voice cuts through the heavy silence in the academy’s yard, among the gnarled and withering trees. “Hey, Simon, do you have a moment?”
The sky above is particularly grim today, a swirling canvas of gray that threatens rain. I stop and turn to face her, immediately noticing the worry etched on her brow. Damn it.
I know I’m already late for the Operations meeting, and Bennett won’t be pleased with me, but something in Lilith’s tone compels me to nod and ask, “Of course. Is everything okay?”
My mind races in a million directions as I wait for her to respond. Kai has detected unusual Rogue activity on the northern shore again, but he assured us it’s under control. Knowing him, blood has likely been spilled, and that should be the end of it. Still, I hope that taking a few minutes for Lilith isn’t a matter of life or death.
“Yes… No. Maybe. Sort of?” she begins hesitantly, and my gaze drifts to the purple streaks in her hair as she tucks a strand of it behind her ear. While unusual, they suit her perfectly. “I, uh, wanted to ask about your first Spellcasting assignment during your first year. Did you have any trouble summoning the protective spells Professor Nox assigned?”
Her question takes me by surprise. The assignment isn’t graded, so I can’t imagine why she’d be this concerned about it. It’s merely a test to gauge a student’s general energy levels. But if she sought me out to ask about it…
“I don’t think so,” I reply slowly, slipping my hands into my pockets. “But keep in mind, it’s not always completely accurate at this stage. If you’re stronger in nurturing spells and hoping to be a Predator, it’s not uncommon for the results to be a bit off. Energy can be misleading, and the only way to truly discover what your Shadow will be is during your Shadowing in the forest.”
Although, this is all stuff she should already know. So why the worry?
Her expression should show relief, but instead, she shifts from one foot to the other, her long ponytail swinging slightly with the movement. I frown; if my arms weren’t in my pockets, I might be tempted to grab her shoulders to steady her.
“It’s not that,” she confesses.
Reading her is a challenge—even for me. Since our first sparring session, she’s been an enigma. Those purple-flecked eyes hold a thousand questions and emotions, sharp and intelligent, yet I can’t pin down a single one.
Despite our regular sparring sessions four times a week, we haven’t had many personal conversations, even though I’m dying to know more about her. But the troubled expression she’s wearing now signals that there’s something deeper going on.
“I haven’t been able to successfully cast either type of spell,” she continues anxiously. “I mean, I can manage the basic spells my father taught me, but those are simple compared to this advanced spellcasting. If I struggle with these, how will I ever summon my Shadow? It’s all supposed to be interconnected, right?”
I nod in understanding, though internally I’m at a loss for how to advise her. Shit.
Her situation doesn’t add up, especially given the power she displays in her defensive and offensive strategies. She’s unlike any other first-year student I’ve worked with, so I’m baffled as to why the strength I’ve seen in our sparring hasn’t translated into her spellcasting.
For the past two weeks, I’ve been eager to confirm whether she’s a strong candidate for Operation Nightfall. I’ve been thoroughly impressed with her skills, but this complicates things.
“To be honest, I’ve never encountered anything quite like this,” I say gently, stepping closer despite myself. I want to ease the worry etched on her face, but I’m not sure how to do that without pulling her into a hug. That would be a bit too much, right?
“Even those who didn’t make it through the Shadowing were still able to cast their spells at a satisfactory level. But I can do some research to see if I can find anything that might explain what’s going on. There could be a simple solution.”
While it’s unlikely there’s no issue at all, I don’t want to dampen her spirits right away. She shows immense potential and it’s crucial for her to stay motivated and determined.
“Your powers are still developing. It’s possible that your energy hasn’t fully settled yet,” I add in an attempt to reassure her. “During our training sessions, I can feel how powerful you are—much more powerful than most students your age. So I know your energy is there, and you aren’t lacking in any way. Try not to worry too much, okay?”
Without realizing it, I instinctively reach out to reassure her, placing a hand on her shoulder and giving it a comforting squeeze.
Her eyes meet mine, still filled with worry and uncertainty. I sense her inner turmoil, but there’s little we can do until her Shadow manifests during the Shadowing ceremony. Until then, all we can do is be patient and wait.
“Thank you,” she replies, her gaze dropping as if she’s not entirely convinced everything will turn out fine.
I grapple with the urge to provide more immediate help, but I know that time is the only remedy right now. Still, I’m confident her Shadow will manifest properly. It has to. The Balance wouldn’t waste such talent and potential, especially in these tense times. I firmly believe that.
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning at our practice,” I say gently, feeling an inexplicable need to ease her anxiety, even if just a little. “Seriously, try not to stress yourself out too much.”
My words hang in the air, somewhat lacking the impact I intended, but I give her one last reassuring smile before turning to head toward Bennett’s study. I’m already running late and curse myself for getting sidetracked by a pretty student with an anxious smile.
I quicken my pace, shaking my head to clear my thoughts and focus on the tasks ahead. I know Bennett won’t be pleased when I arrive, especially since I can already hear Kai’s voice coming from behind the closed door, likely briefing her on the latest developments. Ah, fuck.
I knock on the door, pausing to take a deep breath and gather my thoughts before turning the knob to enter.
Headmistress Bennett is seated at her desk, her hands clasped together in that familiar gesture of contemplation. My eyes scan the room and I notice the absence of the crow that usually perches on her shoulder. Thank the gods. I let out a silent sigh of relief; its constant presence always unsettles me.
Keeping it summoned at all times is an impressive feat that demands immense energy, showcasing her skills. Honestly, it’s a bit intimidating. But I suspect her Shadow’s smaller size contributes to it since it’s a much smaller Predator than any of ours. My Shadow is a bear, Kai’s is a snake, and Vaughn’s is a wolf. Keeping them permanent would require a significant amount of energy.
“My apologies,” I say as I approach Bennett’s desk. I catch Vaughn’s gaze; he wears a smug look, clearly relishing the thought of me getting scolded again. I ignore him and continue, “A student stopped me and asked for my assistance on my way here.”
To my surprise, Bennett doesn’t scold me or show any sign of annoyance. Instead, she gestures for me to take a seat, and I do so without hesitation.
“Since you missed the beginning of our meeting,” she starts, “Kai updated us on the recent developments along the northern shore beyond the forest. It seems to be a repeated target of their attacks. He managed to neutralize a few of them, but we’ll need to send more frequent patrols there.”
I shift my gaze between Bennett and Kai, noting the seriousness etched on both their faces. “Again? Where are they getting all these people from? Their numbers have been steadily increasing this year, and we still don’t know why.” My concern is palpable, mirroring the anxiety gnawing at me. I shift my weight, feeling restless.
The Rogues aren’t known for their subtlety. Their movements are typically chaotic and driven by a desire to disrupt the Balance. But this feels different. They’re being more strategic and calculated in their attacks, almost as if they’re trying to remain under the radar.
This shift is unsettling and raises more questions about their true motives, especially here at the academy, where many young, untrained students are not yet capable of defending themselves against such a threat.
“That’s not all,” Bennett continues, her voice low and urgent. “I’ve spoken with the headmasters of the other academies. Their situations remain stable, with attacks consistent with the usual patterns we’ve seen over the years. But here? Our academy has experienced a drastic increase in assaults.” She pauses, scanning our faces for a reaction before she continues. She must see what she was looking for, as she delivers the next piece of news like a punch. “It’s as if we’ve become their primary target.”
A shiver runs down my spine at her words. The fact that we’re being singled out makes the situation even more alarming. There has to be a reason behind it—something specific that draws the Rogues here. But what?
As my mind races with possibilities, Kai remains motionless by the window, his back turned to us. His hands are clasped behind him in his usual rigid posture, making him resemble a statue—silent, still, and unyielding—except when he speaks.
“We could let them show us,” he suggests, turning to face us with an intense expression. “Allow one of them to believe they’ve breached our defenses. They’d be so confident in their success that they might lead us straight to what they’re after.”
Bennett immediately shakes her head. “That’s far too dangerous,” she says firmly, her tone leaving no room for debate. “It would be like letting a bull loose in a china shop and expecting it to avoid wreaking havoc on everything in its path.”
She meets each of our gazes in turn, lingering on Kai before continuing. “There’s also no telling what their magic could do to our academy’s shield. It could become permanently tainted.” Her eyes flicker with an uncharacteristic worry before she adds, “And the risk to everyone here is far too great. I can’t, in good conscience, allow it.”
Kai’s eyes narrow as he absorbs her words, his jaw clenching slightly. He might as well have shouted at her. Though he rarely shows his emotions, this small act is more telling than any words he could utter. Still, he presses on. “I would personally keep an eye on the Rogue we let in,” he insists. “I’ve never failed you before.”
An odd silence hangs between them, filled with unspoken tension. Everyone knows Kai is often assigned the bloodiest tasks, but neither Vaughn nor I understand how far those assignments truly go. As I watch this exchange, I can’t help but wonder if they’re even more brutal than we’ve imagined and what the impact is on our friend.
Bennett meets Kai’s gaze, her own unwavering. “I know you’ve never failed. But there’s always a first time, and I can’t afford to let that happen here. Not with something this dangerous,” she says with finality.
Kai doesn’t respond right away. He’s not one to argue, but I know him well enough to recognize that his silence doesn’t mean agreement. It’s in his nature to take action, to handle things himself if he believes it’s necessary—and that terrifies me. His skill with stealth makes it nearly impossible to keep tabs on him and prevent him from jumping in headfirst.
“I’m sorry, man, but I’ve got to agree with the headmistress here. It’s too risky. At least for now,” Vaughn interjects, breaking the tense silence. He seems to have read between the lines, arriving at the same conclusion I did.
Kai then turns to me, our eyes locking for a brief moment before he looks away, his disappointment evident at what he sees.
“I agree with them, too,” I say softly. “Protecting the academy is far too important.”
Bennett’s gaze meets mine for a moment before she turns back to Kai, searching for reassurance that we all support her decision. Kai gives a slight nod, but I can’t shake the feeling that this isn’t over.
There’s a storm brewing—one I fear we may not be able to weather unscathed.