The hallways of Velmora were unnervingly quiet at night. Liara crept through the stone corridors, the soft glow of the enchanted sconces casting her shadow against stained glass and ancient tapestries. The note burned in her pocket, and her heart beat louder with every step.
Clocktower. Midnight. Come alone.
She had considered waking Tamsin—but something about the letter felt too personal. Whoever "A" was, they knew about the sigil on her collarbone. That wasn't in any class registry.
The Clocktower loomed at the academy's edge, high above the training halls. Liara pushed open the iron door, which groaned like it hadn't been touched in years.
Cold wind swept her face as she climbed the narrow spiral steps. At the top, the gears of the massive clock ticked slowly, echoing like thunder.
And then—he stepped from the shadows.
Aeron Vale.
He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, silver eyes unreadable. "You came."
Liara frowned. "You left the note?"
"No," he said. "But I knew you would come. Because I've seen that mark before."
He stepped closer, pulling something from the inside of his coat—a faded sketch on ancient parchment. It depicted a woman with silver eyes and the same crescent-and-ivy mark glowing on her chest.
"She was one of the original six," Aeron said. "The founder who vanished. Her name was Seralyn. Your mark… it's identical."
Liara's breath caught. "You think I'm her descendant?"
"No. I think you're something rarer."
He pointed at the sigil on her collarbone, which had begun to glow faintly in the tower's light.
"She wasn't just powerful—she was dangerous. And if you carry her magic, it means one thing: you're being hunted."
A shadow passed over the clock face.
Suddenly, the gears locked up with a horrible grinding sound. The tower trembled.
Aeron drew his wand instantly. "They found you."
Shapes emerged from the shadows—hooded figures with no faces, eyes burning with green light.
"Shades," Aeron hissed. "Memory-feeders."
One of them lunged.
Liara raised her hand instinctively—and a blast of radiant energy erupted from her palm, throwing the creature across the tower.
Aeron stared at her. "That wasn't ice. That was light. Pure light."
Liara looked at her own hands, trembling. "I—I didn't mean to—"
Another Shade struck. This time, Aeron blocked it with a wall of shadow. He moved beside her, voice calm but firm. "We'll talk later. For now, fight."
Together, they fought—light and shadow dancing side by side.
When the final Shade dissolved into mist, the tower settled into silence once again.
Liara dropped to her knees, exhausted. The sigil on her chest faded.
Aeron crouched beside her. "You've awakened something no one expected."
She looked up at him, breathing hard. "What does that mean?"
"It means," he said, "this school won't protect you. But I will!.